Even smarter Mirror

News

My SmartMirror that my brother Karel made has been serving Ozuye well over the last 5 years. But when I arrived it had old information on it and an update did not help. Being a software developer that also creates Raspberry Pi apps, I decided to make my own Smart Mirror App;

Here’s a first version of it. The font is more in style and the mirror is even smarter; it now talks to the Tempest weather station, and shows the data in both metric and imperial units. The API was pretty easy to use. I also included a new feature; burn ban status. Here in Texas, a burn ban can be active when there’s a risk of fires due to lack of rain. I found a way to read the fire department posted data to display an icon indicating the burn ban status.

The forecast information shows the week ahead, with both an icon per day, minimum and maximum temperatures and an hourly temperature curve.

The green line is comfortable, the red line the highest recorded temp ever in Texas and the blue line the lowest. That way the curve gives an easy overview on what kind of temperatures are expected.

One thing I still have to do is read the PIR sensor (Passive infra red) to blank the screen when nobody is around for a while.

The large centered text will rotate between 5 different messages, which I will be able to set from the cloud. That way I can even show a custom message for guests when needed.

In the future, I will try add a location chip in each of the outdoor seat cushions. Then when it starts to rain and the pillow are outside, I can show a message to store them inside.

Smooth first floor in.

upstairs,

Today I put the remaining 7 sheets of Birch on the upstairs floorboards.

It’s definitely more smooth and feels more rigid than when the floor was just the boards.

I did have to remove the railings, and afterwards put it back on top of the sheets. Next step will be priming the floor to get a stronger bond with the vinyl tiles that will be placed on this floor.

Above is a picture of the ceiling above the couch downstairs. Before, you could see through the cracks, and dust would fall down on the couch, table and bar. Now that the birch floor is in, that issue is solved.

Smooth floors upstairs

upstairs

The floors upstairs are pine boards, most of which, but not all tongue and groove. Especially where they’re not tong and groove, the floor isn’t 100 % flat and smooth. And if I want to put something like vinyl on the floor, it does need to be smooth.

So today I got 10 sheets of 4×8 5/8″ birch. I picked them up returning from my (failed) attempt to get my truck inspected. Apparently the crack in the windshield that was there 6 years ago, now is a reason to deny passing inspection. So I’m working on getting the windshield replaced.

The floor is now very smooth and ready for vinyl tiles, which I still have to get. The bed is moved back in, so I’ll be able to sleep there again tonight.

Office setup

Office

As a software developer that works from home, it doesn’t matter where that home is, as long as it has a good internet connection and at least 4 displays. 🤠

Picked up this second hand corner desk from the south shores of Canyon Lake. The chair is still one of the chairs from the downstairs dinner table. I will likely buy a new chair, as a good chair is important. On the right hand side, under the desktop, is my printer. The windows face west, so the sun should never hit the displays.

Joy Tutus

Camping, Truck

To convert my truck into a low cost camper, I purchased a Joy Tutus camper shell tent for my F150. It’s strapped down to the truck and with the tailgate open, there’s enough room for 2.

To make the truck bed comfortable, there are air mattresses that fit the truck and follows the shape of the truck bed. I did not order the mattress yet, but if I do head out to Big Bend national park, I’ll likely order one.

Rolled up it’s a small and light package.

Ice storm damage

News

Although this happened a lot earlier, during the ice storm, I now get to see that it affected my truck too;

That branch on my truck hood broke off. I had to cut some off before I could pop the hood to reconnect and charge the battery, which was completely dead. We’ll know in an hour or so if it survived. After one hour of charging, the truck started on the first attempt, so I could get groceries.

Taking nr 1’s and 2’s in style

News

A floating toilet is always a bit nicer than one that has an exhaust going down through the floor. Especially when it’s on a floor that is right above the kitchen stove. A bit of work to the pipes work and to get it to lock with the bolts, but it’s in and all works well

The green will be painted white, and the gaps filled (in reverse order). It’s the first floating toilet with soft close seat I’ve ever owned (or installed). Scratch that of my bucket list. The seat closes very very softly and there are separate buttons for number 1’s and 2’s