Our Kitchen Bay Window Before and After Renewal by Andersen

 On October 12, we both went ahead and arranged to have new windows installed by Renewal by Andersen®.

A sales representative came to our home and about a week later another person came to take exact measures of the thermopane glass that needed to be replaced.

Those specks are actually in–between the double glass...

To the left bottom my iPhone is visible.

We moved into our home in November of 1990, after it got newly built.

Sure, all windows were shiny and perfect but not forever!

We'd asked a local company if they could replace them but got told that it was impossible with that type of windows...

It got really ugly and in the beginning I thought that I lost it when cleaning windows...

Going back and forth from inside to outside and rubbing really hard—in vain!

So we contacted Renewal by Andersen and ordered new ones.

This sun glare was perfect for actually showing how ugly they became—embarrassing.

The wait for new ones has been quite long—three months but there they are... on January 17, 2023

The evening before I took this photo from outside.

Pieter had already removed the Flower Framers of Cincinnati window boxes a week ago.

The center window from outside and our white picket fence is reflecting in it...

Woke up early and checked the weather—perfect with rain later in the day!

7°C or 44.6°F and high 22°C or 71.6°F

At 10:20 AM the crew of 3 had arrived from Fayetteville, Georgia a good two hour drive.

Loved this logo on the t–shirt:

The Better Way to

a Better Window®

With a huge suction devise from outside and work from inside this was at 11:08 AM

At 11:10 the first of 3 was out... Pieter is looking on in the back.

At 11:36 the new one was in and I took a picture of how it looked so far...

At 11:41 getting the center window out...

At 11:42 the other side window was in.

They meticulously used drop cloths inside and outside on the patio.

We opted for the FibrexⓇ Energy–Efficient Glass.

At 12:27 a detail of the new window...

At 14:29 after they'd already left... All DONE!

The new windows face more outward.

To the left is the BEFORE and to the right is the AFTER and you notice that the entire window is more outward. 

Both of us can't get over the CLEAR view of our garden with birds!

Very pleased with them and they were excellent workers.

The special glass quality we chose is also keeping the heat out and the cold—Saving Energy on cooling and heating.

This also comes with a great Limited Warranty

20.10.10 Years

Glass & Fibrex, Installation, Hardware

Fully Transferable

Our Miele Vacuum Cleaners

When we came to the USA on August 1983, there of course were no Miele vacuum cleaners available here in Georgia...

BUT, we received a catalog from B. Altman & Company in New York.

Benjamin Altman being the son of Bavarian–Jewish immigrant parents, was born in Manhattan in 1840.

He started a dry–goods retail store that rapidly grew out into New York's most successful department store.

AND they listed a Miele vacuum cleaner—so I ordered it!

UPS did ship it—but as often was the case, when we were not home—they left it at the Campbell Soup mushroom farm, knowing that Pieter had his training facility there.

BUT they just had a new warehouse boy—who didn't know Pieter. So he'd put it somewhere in the back corner.

When the warehouse needed cleaning—the box came out...! 

Here is my Miele Electronic S 234i

Received it on August 1, 1987 after months of calling, writing to B. Altman & Co and once more—to apologize to them!

Sadly, that great company filed for bankruptcy protection in August of 1989.

Photo is taken on Monday, October 17, 2022 and yes we still use it!

For downstairs and for the car as it saves us from having to take it up and down the stairs.

Yep, I sure had to get this Miele ART Rose Vacuum Cleaner... 😉

Photo is from Monday, October 17, in our Rose Suite where it resides!

This one also comes with Hepa filtration.

And for upstairs we have our 3rd Miele...

Our newest from Miele: Complete C3 Calima PowerLine – SGFE0 Curry yellow  

With HEPA AirClean filter

On November 30, 2021 this Curry yellow Miele came to live with us and it is another great helper!

LOVE its color!

Have you had or have a Miele vacuum cleaner?

Miele Dishwasher and Oven Installed with Some Help

 It was now December 18 of 1998 and the Miele dishwasher and oven would be installed.

Pieter did all the prep work for the connections and also closed an enormous hole in the wall that we uncovered behind the previous oven.

One often wonders how those workers handle things—like the Flinstones whacking a hole in the wall?

And thinking we will never find out?!

They are IN by 5:19 PM.

Our dear friend Paul Kellam had two of his guys help Pieter with getting the dishwasher and oven built in.

Yes, Miele is the Cadillac of appliances—pricy but if you talk about quality, longevity and eco friendly, energy saving—Immer Besser (forever better).

There are many good reasons for choosing Miele. Here are just six of them. ←click link

Do you have any Miele appliance?

Related links:

{Our Kitchen Improvements} | previous post by me

{More of Our Kitchen} | previous post by me

Whirlpool Dishwasher versus Miele

 Well, when Pieter took out the Whirlpool dishwasher I was quite shocked that it had NO sides but only insulation material—that was IT!

That's all... NO WONDER they are so noisy!

That's the Miele with a beautiful outside...

Perfection—built in Germany.

One learns so much from comparing the two brands of appliance!

Sure there also is a price difference but you get a nice Eco Friendly piece of appliance and great for saving energy!

Related link:

{Our Kitchen Improvements} | previous post by me

Our new Miele 24” Built–In Wall Cabinet Hood by husband Pieter

 Okay, on December 9, 1998 Pieter started taking out the old Whirlpool hood and now preparing to build in the new Miele 24" Built–In Wall Cabinet Hood.

A very sleek model...

As Pieter states in the beginning—still a lot of headache for getting it built in...

But one day later, he used boxes as a support to prop up this rather heavy piece of appliance.

The shipping weight is 12.5 kg or 27.6 lbs.

The exhaust ring was too wide so Pieter solved that by placing a wooden ring inside.

Later he had to take that wooden ring out again and use one from foam because this Miele comes a bit more to the front with its exhaust pipe.

On the 15th it is all DONE!

I was done cleaning the kitchen a little past midnight and used the video for showing that to Mom & Dad...

Video shows summer time!

My Rado watch shows correct winter time...

Light shuts off when pushed inside.

Such a sleek model!

Pieter did an excellent job making it perfectly flush!

Stainless steel filters that can be taken out to place inside dishwasher

Happy with this mega task being done and what a perfect appliance!

Indeed top quality made in Germany and a big help in saving energy.

Stay tuned for more...

Our Home Freshly Painted

 Our home once again needed a fresh paint...

We used the very same Benjamin Moore Golden Mist.

Last time done was in May of 2013...

A lot of intricate painting work needed to be done on all the Vintage Woodworks spindles, ginger bread and trimmings. Painters Stanley Jessup and Randy Slaughter did a great job.

So after having it pressure washed on November 16, the painters finally started on November 29...

Our Interlock Metal Roofing, Interlock® Aluminum Slate in Aged Copper looks very nice as it is protected for a lifetime by AlunarⓇ embedded with TEFLONⓇ surface protector for ultimate durability and protection. See links of previous post below.

Above photo is taken under our Magnolia Grandiflora, which is now trimmed up and allows for a much nicer view of the home.

Since we'd requested the painters already in April of 2021, Pieter started doing preparations prior to their job... The lowest step, coming down from the gazebo into the garden was broken.

To the right, it is still missing its fulcrum on the left (only a brick) and right. This was on May 16, 2021.

Notice to the top left how the underside of the gazebo used to be white...

And yes, we removed all the boxwoods as they'd become rather lanky after 30 years.

When Pieter took this photo on January 9, of course, Spooky boy wanted to go with him.

Here the left and right fulcrums are clearly visible and the underpart is in Benjamin Moore Golden Mist, just like our home.

To the left you also see a brick for support, just in case...

Pieter took this photo from the side and back of our freshly painted home.

Taken on January 9, as well.

You can see where the newly DOORBRIM added (next to the chimney is visible ←click on link).

This photo shows more of the area to the left, where the retainer wall curves alongside our driveway.

Pieter did paint the retainer wall himself, after we had the fiberglass window boxes removed and placed inside the garage, out of the way for ladders and such.

You also see the bare spot where the huge live oak tree once stood near the chimney.

We got that first done...

This photo got taken on January 17, from the neighbor's lot over our vinyl picket fence.

The Japanese magnolia is already opening its buds; two are fully open!

And that with frost coming our way this week...

Both of us are so happy to have this mega task once more DONE!

It took forever till January 6, as it was raining on and off.

Yesterday, January 19, EXCEED Wash Solutions LLC cleaned the tiled patio near the Rose Suite entrance as well as the Rose Arbor.

You also can see the newly added DOORBRIM above Rose Suite's entrance door, see previous post below.

The Rose Stepping Stones got repainted by Pieter and are ready to be laid, once we have grass growing where the huge live oak tree once was.

Also yesterday, EXCEED Wash Solutions LLC cleaned our driveway as there were marks from the heavy equipment, used by the crew from 🌳BUCKEYE PREFERRED SERVICES LLC when cutting down and trimming our trees.

The orange cord visible, is from two long extension cords connected for Pieter being able to work on the underbrush with his electric chain saw, alongside the creek in our wood garden.

Looking neat and clean, all the way to the road.

This is our majestic Magnolia Namnetensis Flore Pleno to the right.

EXCEED Wash Solutions LLC also took care of our garage tiles.

So all the signs from different mega tasks have been 'erased' and the Vedder Estate looks nice!

Pieter's electric chain saw is visible in his hand wagon.

Related link:

{Our Home with Aluminum Interlock Roofing and Benjamin Moore Golden Mist Exterior} | previous post by me

{Energy Efficient GREEN Roofing Arrived} | previous post with details about AlunarⓇ embedded with TEFLONⓇ surface protector 

Big Trees Down and others Trimmed  | pevious post by me

Our Home Pressure Washed by EXCEED Wash Solutions LLC | previous post by me

DOORBRIM added | previous post by me

Wet Monsoon - Magnolia Namnetensis Flore Pleno and BATS

So longing for sunshine and a dry surrounding instead of the soggy lawn that cannot even be mowed! The forecast however does not show such a sunny day in sight... 

Husband Pieter just managed to take this photo with raindrops from our Magnolia Magnolia Grandiflora 'Namnetensis Flore Pleno'.
 They have been blooming but no chance to take a good photo from the balcony.

Rain does make them look wilted sooner...

We did notice this on the driveway... just in front of the cat door?
What IS it.

Pointing to the Attic Gable Vent...

Our Kia Soul with Bike Rack is visible here as well.

Husband Pieter did go up in the attic to inspect...
There is the attic fan, in front of the attic gable vent. Installed in 2011 for Going Green... and for Saving Energy by removing the heat from the attic.

Holding the camera up high and yes, there are bats visible behind the screen!

There they are; little brown bats hanging onto the screen, behind the louvres of the attic gable vent.
Smart mammals for finding such a sheltered spot!

Probably those are juveniles...
But we welcome these Garden Critters to our property.
We have had bat houses for decades but hanging up high on a tree, how does one check on them?
Here it is visible that they are present.

4 Facts About Georgia's Batty Creatures of the Night: Did you know? A single bat may consume 3,000 insects in one night. (click on hyperlink)
Bats! | Georgia Outdoors a beautiful video (click hyperlink) Bats are one of the most important animals on earth...

No, I did not dare to get onto the attic.
Still healing my double (closed) pelvic bone fracture.
June 12 is the date the orthopedic surgeon gave me for having to be without pain; an indication of healing.
So I'm anxious for getting outdoors again, walking and biking!
Did not get to sing and dance at the annual Revue on May 19, at the theatre with my choir... A big disappointment but I understood that the risk of falling could have been disastrous.
So for the time being I've been a Georgia Rebel on Crutch!

Hope you enjoyed reading and thanks for your visit and comment!

Update: Sad that upon our returning home from the mountains at the end of July, 2019 we noticed that the driveway didn't need any sweeping up of the dry droppings.
Pieter did check on the attic and they were ALL GONE! 
Now I got mosquito bites and so did Pieter and before there were none in the driveway or near the home... WE MISS THEM! 

But the next year they were back and we're quite happy!

Related link:

{Going GREEN with Attic Fan} | post from 2011 when Pieter placed the Attic Fan

{Saving Energy and Our Attic} | post from 2013 where Pieter managed to save us more energy with mega project

{Who Wants to Become Our New Neighbor? - LOT for Sale}

Yes, we both have made the decision that it is time to SELL our adjacent LOT.

So, the question arises as to Who Wants to Become Our New Neighbor? 
We have a LOT for Sale.

Our adjacent lot where we did cultivate several rare species of trees, shrubs and plants is getting too much to handle for husband Pieter, at his age...

So here it is: FOR SALE

It is to the right of our home.

Maybe somebody else wants to build such an Energy Efficient Green Roofing like we got? You can check out the details here: {Our Interlock Aluminum Aged Copper Slate Roofing}

This is how such Energy Star Aluminum Aged Copper Slate Roof looks like.

We have definitely lowered our Carbon Footprint for the rest of our life.

YES, this roof is guaranteed for LIFE!

Back to the street, where our adjacent lot is waiting for its new owner...
It is approximately 1 acre. 

It is being sold through Century 21

Photos are from October

For all information you can call Century 21 at the number shown below

Or you can email them via contact us at c21dublin.com

Oh, and we promise to be very good neighbors!

Thanks for your visit and wishing you a happy weekend.