Chances are if you live in one of these wonderful old Craftsman style homes, you have what are known as gravity heating vents and chances are they look like this one or worse.
The one we removed from our bathroom was rusted and they had to cut a huge chunk out of it to fit in the wall & when we replaced the floor, we began looking for wall vents. NOT EASY!
We checked old stores in our area, contacted the local lumber yards, Home Depot and even electrical and heating contractors. No one had these, no one had sizes close to these.
This one is in my living room. We have one in each of the kids room, however, for some reason there isn't one in the master bedroom, kitchen or dining room.
I looked all over the internet and sorry to say, I truly did not want a vent like this one. The flaps come open depending on the air coming up from the basement and they are noisy. I wanted something that fit the hole and kept in the design, but not with such a large flap.
Air Rite Services out of Cleveland, Ohio came to my rescue. They were super friendly, had what I wanted in stock and they were very knowledgeable in what I wanted. They aren't cheap, just under $60 plus the cost of shipping, but if you replace it with the same type of vent (if you can find a refurbished one) you will pay the same price.
Today, UPS arrived and inside the box, was this beautiful, shiny white, brand new vent. It fits perfectly where it needs to go and I can finally removed the cookie sheet from the duct so the cat won't get into it.
Once it is in place, the 5" old world Craftsman baseboards will go in and the bathroom will almost be complete with the exception of tiling around the tub and putting in a new glass shower door.
So, if you have a Craftsman home like we do and you find something great from a company that makes replacement parts for these old homes at a reasonable cost, pass it on.
Not all of us can afford the costs of shopping at Rejuvenation where the prices, to be honest are just not compatible with my budget. If you are looking for quality vents, you can't beat Air Rite.
Every year on Girl Scout Sunday, our troop leaders church invites the girls to come in and participate in their worship service. Since our church doesn't do this, I see a great opportunity for them to share scouting and to learn about other churches.
They had the girls do their readings, collect the offering and hostess the hospitality table and as you can see, the cookies of choice were of course Girl Scout Cookies.
They even graciously allowed the girls to sell cookies for about an hour after services and every little bit 
helps them to earn money for cookie rewards and the troop.
After this, they braved the elements and sold cookies at a local grocery store for 3 hours and it was sooooooooooo cold, but they hung in there with smiles.
My family drove into Olympia yesterday (about an hour away) and stopped by the mall and what a culture shock. We are used to malls being busy, people running here and there, but after living in a very small, depressed community that rarely has very few vehicles in the parking lot, looking for a parking space, was an adrenaline rush to me!
We went into Macy's first and everywhere you looked were people shopping and smiling and having a good time. We stepped outside of Macy's into the main mall and there were people all over, teens having a good time, giggling and laughing and hanging out with each other, families smiling, shoe stores, clothing stores, kiosks full of ogglers, I was in heaven!
It isn't that I dislike where God has put my family, it is the fact that the community isn't just depressed for lack of jobs, their mentality is one of oppression and depression and WalMart rocks!
Homes are literally falling down around people and yet, the powers that be do not condemn them, nor do they try to get grants that would help them repair them (I worked for a city that went out of its way to get grants to improve peoples lives).
Homes and vehicles are covered in slimy green moss that could be washed easily away with a garden hose, but people don't! Vehicles are parked on the sidewalks causing school children to walk around them in the street, we have businesses down town that are deplorably taken care of, we even have a resident pan handler who has stood in the same place for almost 3 years now....last sign she held was that her grandchildren needed cereal and milk....I know her grandchildren, they don't even acknowledge she exists they are so embarrassed by her....she doesn't need the money!
Anyone I have talked to that doesn't live here and even those who do, say the minute you drive into our area, you feel depression coming over you & that is sad. Could it change? Yes. Do they want it to? No, those in charge want to be in charge, continue things the way they have always been done, they do not care!
Case in point....there was a push to paint all the homes on the main streets as you come into town to brighten them up. Cost...FREE!! Labor and paint was being provide and yet, many homeowners refused to have their chipped paint, moss covered homes taken care of. It was sad!
I have tried to reach out to help and had the door slammed in my face each time. Volunteer to work with the city...they told me I couldn't! Volunteer to work with emergency management? They didn't want me! It is a dreary and sad place to live and yet, there is little crime, the kids can play, our neighbors for the most part are awesome!
I wonder sometimes if God put me here and forgot about my family. Then, I go to get my car washed yesterday at a function for church youth and a young girl I hadn't seen in over a year, sees me, jumps off the ground, grabs me and just holds on....she was so happy to see me.
Perhaps my family was placed here to help a child, I do not know. Things are changing rapidly and I go to God often asking His guidance to help me, to shape me and show me what He wants, why He moved us here to this particular place instead of another city .
What is my purpose? What is it that I have or do not have that God is trying to show me?
Then, I remember one of my bible study partners who told me last week: 'God wants you to know, you are not defined by the job you have.'
We had lunch in the mall, a small snack and went to Costco....I feel so very blessed to have my husband 24 hours smoke free (thank you Jesus!), my 3 grandchildren so happy to be with us and enjoying scouts, music lessons, etc., to be able to open my eyes and see things around me that others can't.
Perhaps that is Gods purpose. For, if I was still a police dispatcher, I wouldn't have all the freedoms I have now, my grandchildren wouldn't be so very wonderfully happy.
Now, if we can only find a boat for hubby to go fishing, I think I will know why we were moved here.
Lord, thank you, for showing me how to help myself!
Easter is coming up around the corner and I would love to be able to have a giveaway based on Easter products, colors or designs.
As many of you know, I have promoted and continue to promote women, men and in betweeners who work from home or create handmade gifts. I believe it is important to not only promote handmade works of art and love, but to purchase from the people I list in my giveaways.
If you know of someone or you are someone who makes something from home and would like to get the word out, drop me an Email and I would love to have one of your products for the April giveaway. I have been working on getting more handmade soaps, bath salts, etc. shops for promotion, but so far, all my efforts have fallen through, but I am still working on it. If you know someone that makes handmade soaps, ask them if they would like to participate....2 bars would be plenty.
I am also working on something for Mothers Day.
So, if you are interested in participating as a promoter, please let me know!
The winners were chosen on the 28th, however due to the way I posted, I forgot to leave the information on how to contact me and there was a bit of a communication glitch with the first place winner until she sent me her request.
Drumroll please....................
First place winner is Angie over a Jeff and Angie's blog. Angie took the Infinite God and Worship CD and will be passing on one of them to some very lucky person and blogging back to us to let us know about it.
Second place winner is Suzanne from Sew Delightful and she will receive the Grand New Day CD and Prayers that Avail Much for Mothers.
Thank you to everyone of you who left a comment, congratulations to our two winners and keep watching, the next giveaway is coming soon.
I ordered some new notions and decided to show them to you via video.
I am also looking for anyone who would like to donate to the next giveaway with an Easter theme...craft paper, small candle mat, hand soaps, etc. Let me know!
This sadly, is the hardest part of a giveaway...tracking people down who only leave you a blog address and reply with a no-reply Email so I cannot contact them to let them know they have won.
With that said, Angie at Jeff and Angie's is the first place winner of the Women of Faith giveaway. If I do not hear from you by the end of the day, I will give the second place winner her choice and choose another random number for second.
I don't mean to sound harsh, the reality is, when you do not reply with an Email, I spend time trying to hunt you down. Usually I require a valid Email to contact contestants and this time, I dropped the ball.
Please, when commenting or entering any giveaway, unblock who you are and leave information for the hostess to get back to you. Thanks!
Chances are if you live in one of these wonderful old Craftsman style homes, you have what are known as gravity heating vents and chances are they look like this one or worse.
