Chip Away

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I was able to finish up the siding today after a couple days of sun. It feels good to have it all up even though it is short a couple coats of paint. The electricians are coming tomorrow to finish the rough in downstairs so I had to spend some time framing up the last couple of walls and make sure all my nailers were in place. I would rather them be in so they can drill through them as opposed to me blocking around wires in hard to reach places. They should take a couple days and then on to insulation again.

Bonus Room

I dropped a bomb downstairs this morning...I threw a fair amount of our possessions in the dump and made room for a new closet in the living room. I took about 2 hours to finish. I spent awhile installing nailers for the finishes downstairs also. After lunch, I got out the old desk GP built years ago and fit her with a stylish new set of white pine legs. I threw out the originals some years back so it was time to improvise. The boys at Gallery received a couple six packs in exchange for the wood and a little shop time. I also picked up a stylish file cabinet from Rams' Rack thrift store and outfitted it with a fresh Maxey Manufacturing sticker...it's only downfall now it that it is Carolina blue...it will give the dogs something to pee on I guess. We got the office officially set up with the desk, computer, cabinet and spankin new rug. It's funny...yesterday I forgot this room was here and now it is a new clean quite office.

5.12.09

A pretty significant day at the Maxey's...it is like the theme from the Jefferson's....we're movin' on up. I got pretty fed up with moving all my stash of material over and over again in the shop so I decided to cut up some of the Chestnut for drawer fronts. I am sure this would make some flip in their grave but I figured if I did not start using up this hoard I may never get the chance to enjoy. I had to beat back the miser inside and live a little...and by the way, they are beautiful. I have completed my second cabinet system ever and things work pretty good. I still used the old pocket screw connections but you can hardly tell. In an effort to stay green, I used the drops from building drawers for the face frames and any little scrap chestnut for trim details. A great feeling of acomplishment.

5.8.09

10 straight days of measurable rain as of this morning and the progress is a little slow. I have to move all my saws inside and then back out again depending on the weather at any particular minute. The siding is on hold and so I shifted back upstairs to finish out the built-ins. I had one set of drawer parts roughed out so I slid them in to show what it will look like. I have 15 to build and that does not include the fronts or hardware or face frames so there is still quite a bit to do.

5.1.09

Well..I have almost got the siding finished up around the house and things are looking better than ever. I would finish this weekend but we have to take a time out for some birthday celebrations. I only lack the area around the back door and things will be pretty well buttoned up. I need to drop the back porch ceiling and then the electricians will have everything they need to start finishing the downstairs. If there is anyone out there who is dying to paint give a call and I'll give you directions.

No More Primitive Church Look

Well...we just knocked out pretty much the last big project on the outside of the house. There is plenty to do don't get me wrong but the roof was the largest by far. I spent most of the morning paranoid about the material coming up short but we actually had 1.5 feet leftover so I guess I ordered to much...ha ha. I had never installed metal roofing before and I must say I like it more than toting shingles. We used a gray metal to match the shingles and that baby makes all the difference in the world. I could not have done it without Mike, well I probably could have but then I would not have had anyone to blame the problems on.

4.24.09

A perfect day in the mid 60's to finish out the stripping and to get the painting done above the porch roof. It will be so hard to get to after the roof is on, I wanted to do it while it was the easiest. Wade came over after class to help me out. Things go so much faster with two sets of hands and amazingly things weigh only half as much go figure. The support beam closest to the kitchen penetrated the wall and was resting above a window without an adequate header. I would have been fine with it but I had a feeling the inspector would not like the situation...so I tore it out and replaced it. We got all tightened up and ready for metal roof tomorrow.