When you buy an old house, it is bound to need some repairs. Well, one of the bathroom faucets was leaking, and I determined that it probably just needed some new springs and seats, and maybe a new washer (even washerless faucets need washers, you know). So I decided to replace the parts in both bathroom faucets.
Anyways, it turns out that the shut off valves for the faucets were calcified so badly that they didn't work. I located the main shut off valve, but that was also in bad shape - the handle was so badly rusted that it came off when I turned it. That led to having to locate the utility shut off valve next to the water meter and getting all the tools and parts.
I managed to get the shut off valves for one sink to work, and replaced the springs and seats with no problem. Then I couldn't get the cap off of the other faucet and decided to replace the whole faucet and the shut off valves.
Then the main shut off valve started leaking (I used a wrench to turn it, but I guess something came loose.) So my small maintenance project suddenly became a bigger one. I thought the pipe was galvanized, but once I sawed the valve out with a hack saw, it became apparent that it was copper. Then I needed to install a patch, because I cut off too much - which meant 2 soldered joints. The soldered joints don't look pretty, but at least they don't leak. If anyone needs some plumbing advice - Let me know. Here are the before and after pictures.
It is "only" 30 years old.
I have developed an interest in digital imaging, and recently bought a Canon G2. Typically, I use a LensMate adapter and SunPak UV filter. I also have a 43mm Tiffen 2x teleconverter that can be attached to the LensMate adapter with a Tiffen 49mm to 43mm step down ring.
I had previously been using an Intel Pocket PC Camera, mostly to figure out how a digital video/web cams worked, but was not satisfied with the image quality of the photos. (Intel has subsequently improved its Pocket PC Camera and added a built in flash.)
What intrigues me about digital imaging, is the instant feedback - you can see whether or not you have a good picture and either keep it, or delete it and take another one. Since you don't have to pay for film or developing, you can take as many pictures as you like. If you must have a print, you can have them printed inexpensively and since you already know how the image looks, you won't be spending money to develop bad prints.
I'll be posting some of my more interesting pictures to share with family and friends on this site.