sure, why not?
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
United States
December 12, 2020 11:21pm CST
E'ery time I've mentioned to the hubs that we've leaks all 'round, he's told me "A house needs to breath". This's been goin' fer 'bout 15yrs now. Purty certain one's not the need to breath so much one could claim such's a dependent.
Add to that the water issues. Nope, knockin' wood, the well 'tis still runnin' 't present time. Jest's a 'hiccup' 'r 3.
The house bein' 'ncouraged to "breathe", 't seems such's caught a cold. A bit 'f post-nasal drip occurrin' via both bath tubs, kitchen sink, outdoor water spigot 'n now the washin' machine.
The latter 'f which 'tis quite funny's I must'a not read the "rules of usage". If'n I wash more'n 2 loads 'f laundry, 't spews vast quantities 'f water all o'er the floor. Down the hallway, through a wall.
I decided to test the waters, so's to speak, jest the other day. 2 loads went through without a hitch. I'd thought perhaps washin' the towels'd be a good idea. Ya know, so such'd dry through the night. Halfway through the wash cycle "it" happened. Icy cold water came creepin' 'nto the kitchen. 'f course, I immediately drained such. 'twas too late, ended 'p soppin' water 'til 'bout 4am.
We'd not wish to waken the sleepin' giant who professes that this "breathing" 'tis a necessity to a healthy, happy home with the use 'f the shop vac....
Does yer place do too much "breathing"? Sure's hard'n the utility bills 'n my patience. Any mishaps? I swear I'm cursed 'n wonder who I might'a been'n a previous life.
20 people like this
22 responses
@kareng (54219)
• United States
13 Dec 20
Well I can relate. This old house built in 1860 was built and designed to breathe!! It's cold!! Wasn't such a wise idea if you ask me. Not going to be able to handle winters here much longer. Hubs agrees thank goodness. Hopefully, we can get the other house fixed up enough to sell and find us a winter bungalow with some insulation!!
I hope you at least get the water issues taken care of!
5 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
13 Dec 20
one 'xpects ol' houses to need lots 'f work to get 'em modern comfy. the troubles here'd be lack 'f maintenance. the hubs maintains nothin'. denies any troubles 'til they're massive.
we've hard water, which's not kind to faucets. i've replaced the lil gasket schtuff 'n such 'twas not 'ffective - all still leak. the leakin' spigot...somethin' i should'a made time fer early autumn. gonna take bigger tools 'n more strength'n i possess. cannot get 't off to replace. most likely'll need to cut the pipe. yet 'nother 'patch' job. sigh.. the positive bein' that since such leaks, i put a sprinkle'n a hose. 've such runnin' to the pond 'n makeshift waterfall. the birds 'n ferals happy to've a fresh water source.
best 'f luck to y'all, hon. i win the lotto 'n i'm gonna rip off this ol' crappy sidin', wrap the house (oh no! ya can't do that, a house has to breathe!) 'n put 'new. get new windows, someone to finish the roof. re-hang the front door proper 'n get the skirtin' all ripped off 'n replaced. oh wait, that'd require me to play such...
currently i've gone backwoods redneck. 've horse feed bags stapled o'er all the holes. very 'ttractive 'n not very efficient, but's stopped a lot 'f the wind comin' through. i aint crawlin' 'nderneath this thingy (ferals, pups, skunks, fox, spiders, snakes) to find the damage to the duct work. nope, not'n my life! critters 'side, i'm very claustrophobic...
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (457168)
• Switzerland
14 Dec 20
@crazyhorseladycx Houses are solid and well built here, Switzerland is trying to reduce also the pollution coming from "wasted heat" coming out from the houses. In Italy you have many houses that "breath", it is a shame.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
15 Dec 20
@LadyDuck so, there'd be no ol' breathin' monsters 'round switzerland?
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
13 Dec 20
'tis horrible, but my life. 'd ne'er thought i'd live like 'white trash', but such's come to be. homes're not 'pposed to breathe so well. yer most fortunate to live'n a comfy home year round. i used to... our utilities could be cut'n 't least half if'n the hubs would'a jest tended schtuff like a normal human bein'.
3 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
13 Dec 20
stubborn pride? the 'lternative, fer me, 'd be more'n my heart could handle.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
13 Dec 20
one'd reckon that 'fter spendin' 27yrs'n the heat/air business such'd make sense, no? the train 'f thought bein' that if'n a house's sealed too snuggly, toxins build within. well, his train 's now wrecked. will cost more'n the place's worth, the damages quite 'xtent.
what? ya mean 'xpect him to mop water? his job 'tis to sleep'n the recliner 'r couch with the t.v. blarin' 24/7. ya know, he's retired... not that he tended anythin' here prior, but that'd be a whole 'nother can'f worms.
3 people like this
@Fleura (29075)
• United Kingdom
13 Dec 20
@crazyhorseladycx I'm not going to ask what it was you saw in him in the first place...
2 people like this
@Fleura (29075)
• United Kingdom
13 Dec 20
@crazyhorseladycx I'm so sorry it all went so wrong, after what seemed like such a promising start. I really hope things can improve, somehow. xx
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
13 Dec 20
jest one hole? this'un took off the gutters to put a metal roof. which ne'er happened. now leaks from the roofline, down 'nside the walls'n the north side. brilliant, eh?
i hope one day to've not such matters to whine 'bout.
3 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
15 Dec 20
@just4him 'd that happen 't mamaw's. ceilin' fell 'n. huge mess 'n did such'n the midst 'f the night. scared the crap out'ta my sweet ladies.
no doubt there's all sorts 'f mold growin', to which the man denies. the 'ntire long hallway, dinin' room, kitchen, laundry room 'n the small bedroom all 've 'squishy' walls part way down. not a happy gal. but, i'm stronger e'ery day 'n e'en more determined to right the wrongs.
1 person likes this
@just4him (305222)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
14 Dec 20
@crazyhorseladycx That one hole caused a lot of trouble in my kitchen.
I hope you won't either. Having water going into the walls would rot your house from the inside out. Not good.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325106)
• Rockingham, Australia
13 Dec 20
Oh dear, that sounds awful! I can't imagine how I'd cope with water flooding through the house. My machine leaks from time to time but I can't work out why. I thought I was loading it too full but sometimes it leaks with only a few items in it so I can't understand it really.
3 people like this
@popciclecold (35025)
• United States
13 Dec 20
Hope things get better for you. That sounds like a lot of work.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
13 Dec 20
ya got one 'f those mysteriously cryin' washers, too? there'd be no logic to this'un either. i've tried e'ery load size, water level 'n cycles. don't matter. do more'n 2 loads'n yer gonna 've a creek runnin' through the house. i confess there'd be a bonus to bein' deep'n drought. 't least with such i've not water flowin' through the north side walls, front door, the skylight 'n 2 windows'n the south. sigh...
i've fingers crossed i can tackle many 'f these 'issues' come warmer weather. confessin' that perhaps i spent too much time tryin' to get the lands tended. all those poisonous weeds, acres 'f 'em, jest'd to be gone.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325106)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Dec 20
@crazyhorseladycx You must nearly despair at times but that wouldn't help, I guess.
1 person likes this
@prinzcy (32322)
• Malaysia
13 Dec 20
My house is 'breathing' here and there. Not bad but you know, a little dripping in a place or two. I fix what I can but some pipes are just difficult. Calling a plumber would be costly too. The one that other day said he need to cut, remove and reattach and some sort. The cost freak me out. So far the bill doesn't hurt much so I leave it alone.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
13 Dec 20
yepperz, what they wish to charge'll sure make ya question yer profession, eh? i cannot 'fford to hire someone to tend any 'f this. the youngest son 'twas to come help me back'n october, but with the pandemic 'n state closures to travel...well, ya know.
plumbin' can be a nightmare. tighten too much, 'tis a disaster. don't tighten 'nough, 'tis a disaster. i've replaced all the gaskets'n the faucets, but fear such didn't work. purty certain my 40+ yr ol' faucets 're jest plum worn out. we've really hard water, which aids'n such.
2 people like this
@much2say (53801)
• Los Angeles, California
13 Dec 20
Oh gosh that sounds like heavy breathin' - not good when the breathin' is too labored! We've taken this pandemic year to knock out some of the fixings needed around the house - stuff that we could do on our own anyway . . . we know all too well that sometimes these minor things gradually get worse. The rest has to wait til better times, but I think they can wait. My neighbors had to deal with overflooding in their kitchen from their dishwasher like a year ago . . . I think they took days to dry it out and in the end the wood flooring apparently got warped. They ended up redoing the entire kitchen because of it - a can of worm project for them. I'm sorry you had to deal with a river 
!2 people like this
@much2say (53801)
• Los Angeles, California
14 Dec 20
@crazyhorseladycx I know sometimes we gotta do what we gotta do when it comes to temporarily fixing stuff . . . we call "Mickey Mousing" 
, It does the trick for the moment anyway.
Ah, I knew yer hubs had some issues there - that makes it tough not just on him but everyone else. I wish there was a way to help you with the situation out there.
I know it - it takes funds to do these projects - even the little ones add up. There are some projects that Hubby wanted to get done, but I've said we just can't (or shouldn't) do it right now. Even though we are ok at the moment, the future is uncertain . . . we can't try to spend a crazy amount on such things. One can spend oodles fixing everything and making it look pretty if they had such funds - but it ain't gonna happen - not now and not for a long time.
I have no idea how my neighbors paid for it. When don't really talk much - she's the type of person who talks out of her butt as they say. She said when the kitchen was all done, she'd be sure to invite me to show the results. Never heard a word about that since.
, It does the trick for the moment anyway.
Ah, I knew yer hubs had some issues there - that makes it tough not just on him but everyone else. I wish there was a way to help you with the situation out there.
I know it - it takes funds to do these projects - even the little ones add up. There are some projects that Hubby wanted to get done, but I've said we just can't (or shouldn't) do it right now. Even though we are ok at the moment, the future is uncertain . . . we can't try to spend a crazy amount on such things. One can spend oodles fixing everything and making it look pretty if they had such funds - but it ain't gonna happen - not now and not for a long time.
I have no idea how my neighbors paid for it. When don't really talk much - she's the type of person who talks out of her butt as they say. She said when the kitchen was all done, she'd be sure to invite me to show the results. Never heard a word about that since.1 person likes this
@much2say (53801)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Dec 20
@crazyhorseladycx Oh gosh, so much to think about and deal with - and winter weather doesn't make it easy. I know you are tending to things as well as you can . . . I just wish there was more help for you out there.
Oh I remember that jeep and camper and how they came to be. Sigh if they are just sitting there. If there is an up side to our tiny place and property, we don't have space for big extras like that - I couldn't even park them in the street. I wish they could be sold to help with some funds - and be out of your hair!
That neighbor is tight with her girl friends (they come all the time - unmasked) and it appears she gets along with some of the other neighbors that are like minded. I can get along with her, but I don't care to be close to her - I seem to often be an afterthought anyway, so meh - I'm not going to care.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
15 Dec 20
@much2say i 'mickey moused' more monday, lol. i don't care 'bout such bein' purty, jest so tired 'f freezin' durin' the winter, the wasted funds, worryin' 'bout frozen water, fallin' down 'n dangerous fencin', barns bein' ripped 'part, porch roof half hangin' 'n the house porch now covered with plywood (recycled) coz the wood 'nderneath 'tis rotted. the rest'd be minor. 'tis 'lright though. much i can't tend by myself, but've been goin' through the hubs 'piles 'f schtuff' 'n 've found usable components fer some.
yepperz, fundage. kinda like here, but 't least y'ave a partner fer such. mine? blew funds'n that ol' jeep (sittin' out'n weather, top now rottin'...) 'n that danged camper (which, surprise!, 'tis 'lso leakin' i jest found out yesterday). the initial cost 'f those would'a paid fer me to rip off rottin' sidin', sheet rock, bought new 'n wrapped the house. nah, that would'a made sense.
i'd not worry 'bout that neighbor. perhaps she found someone else to tell her tales?
1 person likes this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
13 Dec 20
My washer drains into a dry well I wonder why yours explodes after two loads? Houses don't need to gasp for breath, a light intake is fine. I think you need a handyman, so so I but not because Al wouldn't do it, but with Parkinson's he has limitations. I do as much as I can myself but Admittedly I am more cerebral than physically blessed. lol
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61047)
• United States
13 Dec 20
@crazyhorseladycx We are doing all these types of repair to the cottage and it really is just about finding a great contractor who charges realistic prices. Kasey has been doing a lot of things at her house as well. It does take thousands of dollars for sure. Our back porch windows 12 of them and a door and storm door were with finish work about $10,000.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
14 Dec 20
@BelleStarr i'm glad y'all've the funds fer such. i do not.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
13 Dec 20
this'un 'tis 'pposed to do the same. not fer certain the 2 load limit? doesn't matter the size 'f the load nor settin'. if'n i'd been'n 'a mood', i'd declared such's an illegal alien when i filled out the census. ya know, padded the numbers a bit. 
sadly schtuff's gone too long here fer minor fixes. the years 'f my inability to do much, barely makin' 't to my back porch 's shown most detrimental. now 'tis gonna take loads 'f funds, e'en if'n i do't by myself. the damages too deep. but, i'm gonna sit down'n see what i can 'ccomplish regardin' such this comin' year.
i fear i focused most all my 'ttention to the neglect 'f the outdoors this past'un.
sadly schtuff's gone too long here fer minor fixes. the years 'f my inability to do much, barely makin' 't to my back porch 's shown most detrimental. now 'tis gonna take loads 'f funds, e'en if'n i do't by myself. the damages too deep. but, i'm gonna sit down'n see what i can 'ccomplish regardin' such this comin' year.
i fear i focused most all my 'ttention to the neglect 'f the outdoors this past'un.1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
13 Dec 20
lucky gal! seems that most others've the say wonder. i've long johns, multi layers, quilts, etc.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (48568)
• Canada
13 Dec 20
I am sorry that your house is breathing like that.
We sold our forever home in the country a few years ago because it was too big for us, but we also foresaw it needing some work on the foundation in the next decade. The home was warm and dry while we lived there, but all homes require upkeep and that one was due for some.
3 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
13 Dec 20
the hubs used to be good't buildin' schtuff. a shop, garages, big barn, lil barn, gazebos, etc. maintains none. 's ne'er maintained 'em. all 'tis fallin' 'part. he cares not.
i'm glad y'all found ya a place that makes ya happy. gonna take'n 'ndertaker to remove me from here.
2 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38616)
• Midland, Michigan
31 Dec 20
I would wonder who your hubs was in a previous like I'm sure you were wonderful.
We got new insulation about ten years ago or so which helped but this year for whatever reason we're both cold most of the day. It doesn't make any sense either because blown in insulation is supposed to stay put. We don't feel any needed though or draftiness.
Prior to getting it done we could feel cold air when we put our hands a foot away from outside walls. It's not longer that bad anymore. We also wrote a cost in the house a lot and don't have to do that either. But I may begin wearing an extra sweater.
You've written some years ago about the breathing your house does I thought he finally fixed that. Did he ever get that for taken care of?
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
1 Jan 21
nary a clue, but i feel yer incorrect. i must'a been mighty wicked. 'r 'tis that now??
if'n ya don't put that house wrap which's water/air proof yet breathable, yer still gonna get lots 'f air movement. e'ery electrical outlet, fuse box, etc let'n way too much air. particularly if'n the winds're blowin'.
no ma'am, he did not. took off the front sidin', put some new'n those horribly damaged. refused to wrap the house, didn't seal the roof where the gutter 'twas (yep, he ripped that out, too), put metal fer the skirtin'. surprise! the metal skirtin'n no waterproofin' rotted said new sidin' within a year. such e'en held the smallest 'mount 'f dew. when 't rains (prolly a good thingy we're severe drought?), water pours down most all the north side 'f this place, includin' the new front doors he poorly 'nstalled. there'd be a near 4" gap 't the top 'f the outer door there'n one side. he didn't seal 'round the windows when he put said new sidin' either, so waters run through those's well. i could go'n, but fear i've 'lready bored ya..
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
1 Jan 21
@MarshaMusselman i keep waitin' fer a feral to pop through a heater vent coz they've torn 'part the duct work 'n insulation 'nderneath. 'tis still standin' though, that's a start, eh?
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38616)
• Midland, Michigan
1 Jan 21
@crazyhorseladycx I'm not bored but it sounds like you barely have a house to live in what with the elements coming inside when they want.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
13 Dec 20
lots 'f buckets, towels, shop vac 'n shampooer. the latter 'f which 'tis quieter, jest don't hold's much. the 'sleepin' giant' 'tis been quite ill the past year. uses that's his 'xcuse. which'd not e'en be'n issue if'n he'd maintained through the years when he 'twas fit's a fiddle.
quilts, i've lots 'n lots 'f quilts. long johns, got plenty'f those's well.
2 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
15 Dec 20
@HazySue one 'f the perks 'f makin' 'em, lol. he aint doin' well coz he'll not get'p'n move. 'tis barely drinkin', 's not eaten a thing'n o'er 2 weeks. he's convinced now that such 'tis not a good thingy, but uses his health's the latest 'xcuse.
1 person likes this
@HazySue (39264)
• Gouverneur, New York
14 Dec 20
@crazyhorseladycx It's a good thing you have those extra quilts. How is the hubby doing physically now. I hope better. Maybe you can somehow persuade him that maybe the extra breathing the house is doing is what is partially responsible for his illness.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129333)
• Israel
3 Jan 21
@crazyhorseladycx
I would say every place has problems, but, will hubby do something or can you afford to call for help or know someone that can fix your problems there?
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
5 Jan 21
yepperz, lack 'f routine maintenance makes's so. says he will, 's said such fer years. cannot 'fford to hire someone, will 've to figure 't out'n my own.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
7 Jan 21
@Hannihar no worries, 'tis jest life. i'll get'er figured, jest's gonna take a bit. hard to tackle some with the high winds.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129333)
• Israel
6 Jan 21
@crazyhorseladycx
I am sorry and hope you will be able to figure out something.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
31 Dec 20
I hear that saying a lot. When I started putting plastic up to the windows someone kept saying that we needed fresh air in the house. Um, we live in the northeast where the temperatures vary, but it can get freaking cold! As my grandmother always said, we are not heating the outside, close the doors!!!
We do have enough ways for the "fresh" air to come inside. We live in an older trailer and it isn't well insulated. Trying not to spend a small fortune to heat this place is a joke. I do draw the insulated curtains at night. The fact that we have had strange weather lately with temps sometimes in the 40's and even 60's, it has helped with keeping the furnace from kicking on so much.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
1 Jan 21
@crazyhorseladycx ours is a '74. The walls are thin and not well insulated. The backroom is colder than the rest of the place. Hubby ripped up the old mustard colored carpets because they were nasty. Now the floors are cold.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
2 Jan 21
@ElusiveButterfly oh my. 'tis a shame they didn't build 'em back then like they do now, eh? 'f course, such'd not been 'ffordable... i've a bedroom which's 'lways been the same, either the hottest 'r the coldest. no 'nbetween. odd how that works. i've found that rippin' out that carpet 'tis a purty big mistake 'nless ya plan to replace. ya learn quickly there 'tis no insulation 'nder the floor :(
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
31 Dec 20
i hear ya'n can empathize with'n ol' trailer, this'un 'tis an '84 model. which'd not be bad if'n'd been maintained. which aint happened. i'd need to wrap this hole place'n plastic coz 't aint jest the windows that leak. the logic 'f fixin' schtuff 'n lower utilities falls'n deaf ears.
1 person likes this
@jaboUK (64362)
• United Kingdom
17 Dec 20
@crazyhorseladycx Isn't it possible to kick him out?
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
17 Dec 20
@jaboUK 'tis possible, but there'd be lots more complications from such. that'd i'd be the 'bad person' coz he's ailin'. i oft suspect he ails so 'n refuses to do anythin' to get back'n top fer that very reason.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
17 Dec 20
don't reckon he cares, hon. he spent a lot'ta years convincin' me i deserved no better. aint like i'm askin' fer a mansion, jest want crap fixed proper.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
14 Dec 20
funny? 'tis a shame one cannot travel, i'd slap him'n a plane'n send him to ya :)
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38223)
• Philippines
14 Dec 20
@crazyhorseladycx I like his sense of humor so go go go lolll
1 person likes this
@Namelesss (3368)
• United States
19 Dec 20
Good Lord, 'needs to breathe' 
Haven't heard that one before. But I feel ya. We've a recurring water leak as well. Always something different and it sure gets old trying to keep things dry. Otherwise we're fairly sound now that we've got the roof repaired.
Haven't heard that one before. But I feel ya. We've a recurring water leak as well. Always something different and it sure gets old trying to keep things dry. Otherwise we're fairly sound now that we've got the roof repaired.1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
19 Dec 20
yepperz, needs to breathe. which 'tis true to a point. toxins from 'ndoors need to 'scape, jest not't this rate. all that frigid "fresh air" 'tis jest not 'cceptable.
what? ya mean y'ave not a waterfall from yer ceilin' when 't rains? i love waterfalls, jest prefer 'em not to be comin' from the ceilin', doors 'n windows...
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
20 Dec 20
@Namelesss i can relate 's we'd a rather large pond o'er 't mamaw's lil house this past summer.
1 person likes this
@Namelesss (3368)
• United States
19 Dec 20
@crazyhorseladycx We did have but it's fixed now. The latest leaks was keeping our yard flooded. The mosquitos were happy till the cold ran them away.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
17 Dec 20
oh, we've 'd lots 'f conversations regardin' such o'er the years. none 'f which've been fruitful. nor purty...
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
18 Dec 20
@nela13 no worries, hon. jest proves that some folk're mighty cunnin' to get what they wish.
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
14 Dec 20
'tis not much fun, saddened y'ave 'xperienced such, too. the hubs's no longer concerned 'out that waterfall that comes 'round the skylight. ya know, coz my chair catches 't... no worries, jest needed to whine. been a stressful past few weeks.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
14 Dec 20
@crazyhorseladycx You can send me a message here any time you ned to talk. I can listen if I can't do anything else. 
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
15 Dec 20
@CarolDM aw, thanks, hon. fear i've burdened folk more'n 'nough 'lready. but, that goes both ways, ya know?
1 person likes this
