O.K. This is getting out of hand.................

The drain pipe freezes in this house because the heat is run overhead and not under the house any more. Don't ask.

I thought the drain was starting to break open. When I woke up this morning there was no water left in the sink. I filled a big pot up with water and put it on the stove to warm it up, thinking if I dumped that down the drain, it might get rid of whatever frozen matter was left that was keeping it to a slow drain. Dumped the water in the sink, and it came gushing out from under the cabinet and out onto the floor. After running for every towel in the house I could find and sopping the stuff up I look under the cabinet. The drain pipe came off the sink. I guess the expansion of the pipe from it freezing from the -8 my weather bug shows right now was just enough that the hot water I poured down it knocked the pipe off.

I guess I'll get some Teflon tape from the hardware store and try to put it back on myself before I call my dad's house for help. Bet the stupid thing still won't drain. Anyone want to loan me their husband for about an hour? This is one of the few times I wish I had one around.

No rest for the wicked, heh?

frustratedly yours,

Busy Mom

This Drafty Old House

It's minus one here right now. One of the things I can count on when it gets this cold is a clogged up kitchen sink. I don't have frozen pipes. The crazy sink drain freezes. I can't use the sink. I can't use the dishwasher. All I can do is wait it out. I've been digging in my closet to see if I have a space heater. I wanted to set one near the pipes and see if I could hurry the process. I can't find those heaters anywhere! How does something that big hide? One of the very few times I miss having a man around is when something goes wrong and I need help fixing it. I can't wash dishes in the bathroom, because ever since the plumber fixed(actually disconnected) the leaking ice maker line, I haven't had hot water to the tub or sink. Thank goodness the kids are both old enough to use the stand-up shower.

I love old houses. They have character and history. You can feel the life in them. The structure holds energy from past residents. But they are drafty, quirky, and cold. This one is no exception. I think I'm nuts because my dream is to own one of the huge, two story Victorians on Washington Street. One with big rambling rooms, little nooks an cubbies everywhere, and big wrap-around porches. I want a second story porch outside the master bedroom. And a room to use as a library with one of those ladders. A room for my art studio. A room as a game room for the kids. Don't want much, do I? And when I get my gas bill for heating my 1500 square foot bungalow type old house, I'll rethink my dream. But I'm an eccentric, so it won't change my mind one little bit.

Everyone send thawing thoughts to my kitchen sink, O.K?