Thanks, MTN! We did try the white vinegar straight. Unfortunately, the floors have no finish on them at all. The floors are the original wood planks from 1880..... never taken care of, usually covered by cheap carpeting. But when the sun shines in the room, the smell is really evident. We think it may go all the way down to the main floor studs.
We had quite a day here yesterday going from 40 and calm sunshine to 40 with 60 mph winds. Our sun room has no windows in it; just the outer storm windows. We don't know where the original inner windows are.
I went to the church yesterday to do my kitchen job. I was gone a couple hours and then spent 30 minutes at the library to do some paperwork for prayer cards for church. Anyway, I was going to stay longer, but a person I rarely see showed up at the library. Whenever I see her, I have 3 to 5 hours tied up in listening. Not a Christian thing to say or do - but I avoided her and left the library for home. Well, it turns out her showing up at the library was a providential thing.
The winds were going 60 mph, and one of the sun room storm windows was actually blown out - the hook/eye pins that were holding it in were torn out by the wind. The storm is a two pane window (one up and one down) to match the double hung windows on the house. Naturally one the window panes broke when the window fell to the ground. I got home to find Titan pacing inside the house and barking. We had put up those plastic window kits and they were blowing in the wind, the curtains were off the rod and on a chair - and if that wasn't bad enough - THEN IT STARTED SNOWING! I got out the duct tape and struggled against the wind to get the plastic back up. It took about 30 minutes. I kept praying for God to stop the wind long enough for me to get the plastic up.
Then I went out and picked up the broken glass and tried to find another piece of glass to fit the opening somewhere on the property. Unfortunately, all the other windows seemed to be a smaller size. So I measured the frame to get a piece of replacement glass at the hardware store. I didn't have a lot of time because TR was at work while this happened.... and I had to go pick him up at work. So I quickly measured, jotted down the measurements and after picking him up at work, we stopped at the hardware store. TR *HATES* when I have bad news when I pick him up at work.
We got home from the hardware $12 poorer. It was then that TR found that the frame is not the same size all around, so the glass was cut too long at one corner. He found that out when he tried to fit the glass into the opening and the darn glass cracked. So, TR went around the house looking for another storm window to put up until we could get the original storm window figured out. Luckily, one of the downstairs bedroom windows had a storm window (and an inside window) that was the same size. And after a bit of struggle (learning new words) with the window, we were able to get it out and out to the front of the house. After learning some *more* new words, we were able to get the storm window installed. Do you know the side of the caulking says not for use when below 40? I think they must mean if you don't have a 3 foot by 4 foot whole in the house when it is 20 and winds are blowing snow into the house at 60 mph!!!!!
Today I put up new plastic after finishing the caulking job around the window. I am glad that is done for now. This morning it was 18 and the winds are still VERY brisk! Winter is definitely upon us! Of course, the weather is calling for 40 weather again on Sunday.
This coming Sunday is 2nd Sunday Potluck Luncheon and afterwards, any interested church members go Christmas caroling through the community, stopping at the rehab and geriatric centers plus at homes of some of our eldery members. Pat is still recouping from foot surgery, so I will be in charge of set up and clean up for the potluck luncheon. TR does not have to work this week-end (yeah!), so he has volunteered to help me. So we won't be going caroling.
This coming Tuesday is the Christmas Turkey dinner at Christian Cafe. I volunteered to make the bread stuffing/dressing for 150 people. I have a large bin of onions in my mud room/entry way. There are 2 boxes of assorted breads in my dining room. The celery and 2 pounds of butter will be at church in tomorrow's delivery. I will sure be BUSY on Monday!
TR and I have been stripping wallpaper (a very long story) in the upstairs hallway. The original walls are plaster and lath and we are probably going to have to replace at least one wall with drywall because the p&l is in such terrible condition. The wall has buckled and the plaster pellets are crumbling. Old houses are fun! I did not take any *Before* pictures, but we will take pictures afterwards.
I guess I better get onto some research on plaster and lath walls.......
Stay warm!
) in lathe and plaster! 
