Are You Ever Done?

Just when I was ready for retirement, the weather broke for a day. It seems like it has been forever since I have been able to work...so now the excuses are gone... it's closet time. I built the closet in Tug's room pretty similar to the ones in our room. I was able to use the old Chestnut laundry room door for one of the side panels and scrounge enough scraps to piece together the rest. I did not build any doors because we will probably do the old quilt thing here as well. I did not get to fancy with the box because in a short little while, it will be so full you won't be able to see the inside anyway. Because kids clothes are so small I was able to hang two rods one behind the other with plenty of room for now plus double the hanging space. This project officially gets me off the hook in the nursery(today...you never know what tomorrow holds)

THIS IS IT

Well folks...It has been quite a journey and although I could go on forever with endless little projects, it is time to call it a wrap. We have finished up so many little things I can't remember them all. We got some nice stained glass window treatments for downstairs which really set off the living room. We have moved in the Bird's Eye Maple bedroom suit of Maranda's, a new dining table of Roger and Daisey's, and many rugs to boot. We have almost completed Baby Tugs' room (the nursery) with every part so far reused from somewhere. I still have to build out a closet but not now. I have begun to work on the antique sign ceiling over the kitchen and dining but waiting on that could take forever. It is way to rainy and cold to start the landscaping so that will be a spring time event. We are so blessed to have this home and to have friends and family who have checked in along the way. We are so thankful for all of you and your support...Now that the guest room is complete(we bought a new mattress today), there is now excuse for anyone to come visit and enjoy our home and see all the progress first hand. For you faithful blog readers I would cut back your views to once a month so you are not disappointed. I will continue to update but who knows when or what about. The bottom line is I could not have done this without the most patient wife, the love of my life, and all the help from anyone silly enough to stop by with free time( or not). We never had to leave and Lord willing we never will.

Don't Let the Sun Fool You

Had a rather large punch out list to do today and was quite successful minus the painting. I have some outside paint to touch up which is a little hard to do when it is 20 degrees. Don't let the sun in the photos fool you...it is freezing. We got the furniture moved in and all the miscellaneous boxes and bags stuffed with things unpacked inside and put in the proper spots. I spent most of the day building the set of stairs off the side of the deck. I was just going to build a temporary gate to pass inspection but I figured I might as well finish. That was not so bad in the cold but the front door however...different story. I had to nail up a moving blanket on the barn wood trim inside so you would not notice the holes. Then I leaned up two scaffold walk boards and put a space heater between them so that I could make that area warm enough to paint. I thought it was warm enough but the first couple brush strokes with out the rig froze immediately. I got a couple coats on the front door (red of course) and got everything put back together.

Roots

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It is still a little premature for the "D" word, but for all intensive purposes we are pretty much done. The floors are finished and look really good and I got the shoe mold put down yesterday. I finally figured out how to transition the gaps in the floors between the laundry/bathroom/and main house. The floors sloped left to right and were different elevations so making a threshold proved to be quite a challenge. After a few failed attempts I bought a bag of flex grout and grouted the whole gap. I am sure a 2" grout joint is not preferred but neither is a house where every floor is a different level. Anyway, a fix... and that is the point. The last big interior project is the handrail for the stairs. I have tossed around so many ideas and landed on what you see for lack of patience and available materials. I just planed down some old yellow pine 2 x 8's and made the parts...and while doing it I realized they were old ceiling joists and a rafter from the family room remodel in the house on Center Grove. For those of you who don't know, this is the home where my roots are planted...and I can't think of a more fitting place to run my hands every day, remembering where my construction days began.

Almost Ready for Furniture

Well..it is snowing here and quite nasty. The first coat of poly is on the floor and dry so we are able to be inside for a couple days this weekend instead of crashing at the Sheffey's. The floors look great and they are going to second coat on Monday. I was able to shuffle some things in the shop yesterday and make room for a little repair and refinish project. I got this old cabinet which will go in the living room. One of the sides was pretty busted up but no problem for the Kreg jig. Most of the doors and drawers were all warped and did not close properly and the thing was covered in cob webs and dirt. I used a few planes and fixed the working parts and put a new plywood back on it..leftovers from the kitchen. I also fixed a couple drawer slides and gave her a fresh coat of oil and I think it is all that is needed. I was going to sand it all up but it takes some of the character out of it. We were able to get our re-fi paperwork done at the bank so the appraisal should be soon and this baby will be done.

12.01.09

I can't believe how the months fly by. I was getting depressed about missing the mortgage rates at the end of the summer but I called today and they are lower now... so I have to kick it in gear for the next week or so to finish. Floor guys got the rough out done and the corners pulled so all they have to do is buff sand and put the sealer on in the morning. I went and got some rough sawed pine for the back porch ceiling because I was tired of looking at it and finally had time to finish it. I used more cedar from the old living room beam to trim the ceiling and some old pieces of Douglas Fir as well. At this point I am trying to use anything I have up to get rid of it. I was unseasonably warm today so I was able to get the first coat of paint on all the siding that hasn't been done yet...at least it looks like it is done...second coat to come. I got the outside of the back door 2nd coated with the red paint so it is done.

I See Sparks

Nothing but flying dust and sparks today. The floor finishers ran into a few too many fasteners for their taste but are making good progress. They got most of the rough out done today and should be able to finish sand and apply sealer by the end of tomorrow. I painted outside for awhile until it started raining...not a good combination. I got pretty much all of the first coat done on the siding that was bare and the first coat on the backside of the back door. Should finish tomorrow and be ready for the punch list outside.