Punch Out

Still just working on the page long punch list for finishing the upstairs. Our bedroom will be a wrap tomorrow barring the dressers and such to be built in later. I finished the paneling in the bathroom and began work on our vanity. I have never built a cabinet before so it was a challenge getting started. I was able to use the top of one of the old chestnut doors from the house as an accent on the side facing our bedroom. I lack some base and door trim for the office and other bedroom and then I will be down to some odds and ends. The cable company came yesterday and hooked up the underground line I buried in August. We should be moved in up there by the end of the month at the latest.

Laggin

I am really gettin behind on this here blog because I have begun trimming out the upstairs and things are moving slowly. I often forget to take any pictures and days fly by without any ground breaking improvements. Mom and Maranda headed up team varnish knocking out our bedroom trim and base board. I milled up some chestnut boards for windows and doors and some white pine for the base. We got the final coats of varnish on the doors and coated all the trim twice before putting it up. Things are looking much better than I had expected.

2.20.09

I got the last of the doors hung upstairs and they turned out really well. The knotty pine matches all the paneling and floors and you can never have to much wood. Chad finished laying the tile stoop outside the shower which finishes that project as well. I spent some time this afternoon running all the trim for he upstairs. I hat to cut up such nice wide chestnut boards but if I don't, I'll keep them lying around forever. I am going to case our bedroom with it and run pine in the other bedrooms. We got the HVAC upstairs hooked up and running so now we got a little push button heat.

Happy As A Clam

Well the shower is finally complete and I bet you can feel Maranda delight through the screen. The electricians came and trimmed out the upstairs so we are all lit up. I got the floors finished upstairs and sanded with a coat of sealer on them. Mom and Dad came in Saturday and Sunday and put two coats of poly on them. They turned out really good...better than I expected. Wade and I worked downstairs on the hardwood floors in the kitchen. They are not going as quickly as I wish they would but at least there is no cost in putting them down. I am finally burning up through some material I have been saving for so long. We don't lack much and we will be having a move in party upstairs.

2.10.09

It has been a few days since I last wrote but not because nothing has been done. We have been really busy trying get things wrapped upstairs and dealing with Chewy s recovery has got us both distracted for now. Maranda has spent the last week engulfed in some serious homework which has put a damper on the amount of noise I can make at night. I got all the backer board laid so Chad could install the shower pan and start the tile in the shower. I have learned quite a bit about tiling showers which is one of the early rewards from this project. He got started last night so I went downstairs and began running the hardwood floors in the kitchen and dining rooms. These are the oak floors that Maranda and I took out from upstairs in August of 2007. It is a great feeling to know that we are able to recycle so many pieces of the old house. I had to trow in a couple of shots of our "lost" cat who was upstairs sleeping and also how calm Charley really can be after she is worn out.

Down But Not Out

As some of you may know our lives and house have sort of been on hold for a few days as we are caring for Chewbacca. We had to take him to VA Tech Vet School for surgery on his paralyzed throat...come to find out it was not paralyzed at all but that he had a large tumor obstructing his ability to breathe and swallow. After the first vet meeting discussing all the potential dangers of his procedure they were able to operate Friday with no problems whatsoever. He received highest marks for behavior and his recovery is going great. Thanks for all the prayers and concern. We should know today his biopsy results and how to further proceed. As for the house...I was able to finish half of the floors in our bedroom yesterday despite a trip to Tenn, some dog care, and sideways snow. It was one of those days where the pieces just fit and it was a spirit boost for sure. I got the slope finished on the shower floor so Chad can lay the pan and we can get this tile knocked out. Everything is starting to take shape upstairs but I find it a little unnerving having an area of our house that I am afraid of banging up. I am very nervous and careful upstairs and thrash around downstairs...I just have to keep reminding myself what floor I am on.

Ride The Pine

We are laying the pine that everyone would be proud to ride. Wade came by to help on Saturday and we got the floors laid in the office. He belt sanded the good side and I nailed it down with our old fashioned lead head nails. Last night I was able to get the small bedroom done by myself but not quite as efficiently as when I have help. After the floor I took a break to give Chewy a bath before his trip to VA Tech for surgery on Thursday. It was the inaugural pet bath in the new tub. Maranda has been busy with her graduate school homework so tonight I took advantage of the quiet and got two stained glass windows installed in the transoms over the office and small bedroom. They are 100 years old and they give the landing a really special feel.