Hey ChickaDDD, I know what you mean about Chicklet's story. He sounds super natural or something. Sleeping on roof, resetting his own arm, Typhoon or something and his birthday. WOW. But like you said if it is true your are surely helping them and thats all that matters. I must have missed it when the unwelcoming committee killed a catbird chick. That is awful!!! And it is not FUN to get rid of HOSP. I dont know why they would say that and it makes me sick. I cant believe they said it was fun, that is disgusting and shows how stupid they are. I hope you dont dislike ME for it but I have seen them with my own eyes terrorize my other birds and not just the cavity nesters, but i dont enjoy it. I just want to save my other birds. They were after Braveheart today when he and Scardycat would try to feed their babies AND they are building two nests in two of my boxes right now :-( When papa tries to bring food they jump him and fall to the ground. It is just pure harassment and today i noticed his right eye was closed up. I dont think it was the HOSP because he was fighting two mockers today too and they probably got fed up with him getting in the middle and decided to kick him around awhile. My blue is insane they are twice his size. But now he will be at risk of hawk attack because he cant see from that side. Ahhhhhhh SIGH. I am having such stress this year with the bluebirds. I love them and all the birds except the HOSP and it is hard on me because I worry so about the birds. My other little sparrows are building in my holly bush that the robins used three times this year ( they were busy ), you know the little ones that i keep blowing there little babies out of the bush. So at least i know where they are this time and wont blow them out. Birds are so funny. She fusses at me every time i go out there but then builds her nest right in my back steps. Go figure :-) Why would they kill a catbird? I dont understand that, it must have been before i joined because i dont remember seeing it. Do you know what month and maybe i can go back and find that post. That is very disturbing, maybe they are just animal killers? Maybe they do enjoy it. They almost had me convinced that the house wrens were evil till Bet got on there. Maybe they kill all birds except bluebirds. That's sick :-( Well im glad you didn't have any little jets get confused and end up in your house today :-) Maybe they realized that outside is where they belong. Hopefully for you and your families sake. All summer without air conditioning is a horrible thought for me. You are a very strong and sweet person to sacrifice your comfort for the little jets. I bet Daisy was hot too with all that hair. My Mary is very hairy like that ( 4 layers of fur ) and she doesn't even like to be outside in the summer. We are very spoiled. Im glad your kitties got bored with the swifts, i know you were blaming yourself for the deaths but you didn't know they were coming so im glad all is good now :-) I better go because this is long but i know i could talk a lot more!!! LOL. She who is to long winded~~~~~~~Bonnie

In regards to the comment on the compression release, my suggestion was to loosen the rockers a few thousandths- attempt to crank and it should struggle to do so. Hence it has a form of compression release when adjusted properly. Best repair procedure when performing the valve lash service is to inspect what is happening when you are under the cover. Cold engine before adjusting. Verify that valve lift is relatively equal when cranked, rocker bolts, adjustment nuts and set screws are tight and that valve guides protrude from the head relatively equal. You will have to account for the valve seals on the intake (top) valves. The intake valve opens and closes on one cylinder and as that piston travels upward, let it continue 1/4" past top dead center. Various manuals will tell you different settings. .004" intake and .006" on exhaust is generally excepted. That's not to say .003" is too tight as this is what spec is on the singles. Rotate the engine an extra cycle and repeat on the other cylinder. Different set up true, but if that allows you to have a good crank- I'd do it. If not personally seen a worn cam cause a hard crank condition, but I've seen them with a worn lobe cause an engine to become "anemic". If you are still having a hard cranking condition, you could safely jump direct to the starter or do a voltage drop test. Depending what this is on, a belt could be dragging things down on the PTO side of things.

Thanks so much everyone. Sorry I wasn't able to respond to this sooner - I didn't realize anyone had posted on this recently. Yes, its the same cap molding used to frame out the niche. The pocket door is fine since this is off my bedroom but its a pain to lock. I think thats because I have an extra thick vintage door rather than a standard one. If this were a bathroom that was more "public" like a guest bath or off a hallway, I'd definitely be looking for a better lock than the cheapo one we found at Home Depot. I did use the basketweave in the shower as well. No issues at all with it being too slippery (I was concerned about that but its a non issue) I love the lighting in here. In addition to the side lights, I have overhead recessed lights as well a skylight. Its great for makeup application, eyebrow plucking, etc. My old bathroom had a single overhead light and now Im totally spoiled! Hope that helps. Thanks so much for your kind words!

Sharon, I would love to see you and meet Bobby and Cathy in Florida next year. Kevin and I have a place to stay in Tampa at his friend's house, and I think I would enjoy exporing Tampa Bay and the surrounding area. I would love to see Clive again also - I enjoyed talking with him very much when I first met him. Kevin has lots of vacation time - me not so much, and so I have to ration it carefully. What time of year were you thinking of going? I don't do well in heat, and so May through September might be uncomfortable (I'm remembering when I lived in Houston). I remember September still being hurricane season. Jasper is a beautiful cat, Bobby! Lars