A series of entries designed to capture the ongoing adventures of NINA! See how we came to be where we are today, and follow along as we enter the new century of social media!
They’ve apparently finished up on the north side of the street, but the lines on the south side sure seem to indicate they have only just begun.
Blocking the ramp out of the garage, an abandoned car. Apparently, it had been stolen, and this is where the thief chose to ditch the car. Fortunately, I was on my bike today.
Yes, I went back into the addition. I don’t know, there was something about the light, and the blight, that drew me in. Also, some natural light in the original section of the house.
More framing. And, there’s a hole in the second floor!
We made the decision to take out the exterior doors to the basement. That entailed taking out a section of the back deck, so that we could get to it. Also, work on the rear exterior.
Spotted these flowers outside Veeder Place on my way back from the press conference. They are Dianthus armeria, commonly known as Deptford pinks. Lovely flowers, and unfortunately an invasive species from Europe.
The City of Hartford and the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving held a joint press conference this morning to announce 16 projects that would be funded this year by a Love Your Block grant. One of the awardees went to the Center for Children’s Advocacy, which received $25,000 to restore the smaller of the two basketball courts at Sigourney Square Park. The press conference took place on that very basketball court!
Other awards for projects in Asylum Hill included $20,000 for a mural at Classical Magnet School; $10,580 to enhance safety and beautify outdoor space at the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center; and $2,500 to install elevated planters with flowers and herbs at West Middle Community School.
Pictured speaking at the lectern are Arunan Arulampalam, Mayor, City of Hartford; Damion Baker, Community Impact Officer, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving; and Stella Rose, Speak Up Youth Advocacy Coordinator, Center for Children’s Advocacy.
Spotted: a killdeer, as I drove into the garage at Veeder Place.
After just over two months without air conditioning, technicians arrived today to take out the old HVAC unit and then install - an old HVAC unit. They found a unit that worked in another part of the building, and that's what was installed today. At last we have cool air! All of these photos are of the old unit coming out. The "new" unit was already installed by the time I got back from lunch.
One of the intriguing - and distressing - elements of utility work in Asylum Hill is that it can undermine the underlayment of the roads. This hole developed after Connecticut Natural Gas began work to upgrade their pipes. Most of Asylum Hill is clay, and much of that clay is undercut by underground streams. It doesn’t take a lot for potholes to turn into sinkholes under all of the pressures brought on by traffic and road work.
And yes, I did put the pylon back.
