11.27.09

Thaksgiving has come and gone with so much to be thankful for. On Friday the ultimate paint squad was assembled for the last minute indoor touch ups...including the back door(Maranda's color), back splash, dining room, and all the little spackled spots that have accumulated for the last few months. Uncle Loren was here today and was a great help at troubleshooting quite a few last minute things as well. Dad scraped the driveway and unloaded the last of our possesions that were produced during their move last week. I got the area under the stairs covered temporarily until we put another heat and air system in...that will be a cold air return. The flooring guys will be here Monday and the inside will be about done after that.

11.20.09

We are getting by with some unusually decent weather in November which has allowed for some progress outside. I got the hand rail finished on the deck as well as the staircase in front. The original stairs were not square to the house so at the bottom you can see the discrepancy...who is looking right? I also got the varnish work downstairs done which was a second coat on all the T & G as well as a few doors. I got the Cherry bar top planed and finished which really looks nice and sets off the kitchen well. I have a little touch up paint to do in the kitchen and it is done. Things are wrapping up nicely so far.

11.15.09

Pecking away at more little projects but they are really aking this place feel good. I got the bathroom bright work all completed woth the help of a sunny day. The window was so small that it was easier to varnish if removed. I got the one access panel under the bar hinged and operating. I was able to put a catch magnet and knob to match the cabinetry. I also put on the last 5 door handles downstairs so every door functions properly now. After our day we had a little fire in the stove and the pups got their attention too.

Four More Checks

I am checking off lots of little aggravating tasks that are keeping us from being finished inside. I got the last section of the stairway trimmed out leading into the wood stove area as well as around the chimney in the laundry room. I cold have done this months ago but as I always say...why do it now when I can take care of it in a few months. Kids...don't procrastinate! I got the closet repainted from the puppy birthing project and a spankin' set of shelves made. I painted them red for Maranda and used some more recycled ash flooring for the trim and border pieces. I had to use an old sign to cover teh upstairs water shut-off valves but you would never know once they get filled with junk. I got the varnish work done in the downstairs bath and made a set of shelves in the cubby out of leftover stair treads. . . they were left over because I screwed them up and had to tear them off. I knew I stored them for a year for some reason. It is starting to feel close now... we will keep plugging away.

I Might Do Dishes Now

My buddy Jason came by last night to hook up the range wire and outlet because I am too much of a weenie to do it. Out with the old, hello convection. We can't believe the kitchen has an oven. The plumbers came early this morning so the fridge and dishwasher would be done by the time I leave town today. I had to epoxy a wood strip to the bottom of the granite in order to fasten the Dishwasher, buy hey, if it went right in it would not be our house. I also had to notch one of the drawers so it would go by the handle. Yes it has caused a little stress in the last 24 hours but it is all good now and Maranda has my kitchen...I mean her kitchen.

Are You Serious

So we went to Charlotte because we found such a good deal on a fridge and I went through all the specs with the salesman....sure everyone has heard that before. For some reason this fridge had some goofy electrical box on top of it so it was 1/2" short of fitting in the hole. We spent so much time on the cabinets I was not going to modify them. In my furry and impatience, I cut out the hardwood floor under the fridge and what do you know...a perfect fit. We have been doing some lst minute things to get ready for the hardwood floors to be refinished but I am traveling some so it could take awhile.

Almost a Kitchen

Well...we got plumbing and sinks and hose bibs and all that other normal stuff now...well most of it. Maranda is in hog heaven having a sink to do things in other thatn that laundry sink that is so low. I got the Chestnut trim run downstairs as the back splash and window over the sink. I ran all the base board in the living room and prepped the rest of it for next time. Mom was up and she did all the brush work while I cut and sanded. We are using white pine for the trim mostly which is not available in trim sizes so I have to mill and sand everything. I was able to use the bi-fold doors from Center Grove Baptist Church, where us kids grew up, as the surround for the bar. They worked out perfectly and it is so cool to have another historical piece in the house. These doors witnessed my baptism and things like that so they are special. I roughed out one of my cherry slabs for the bar top with a live edge facing the dining room. I have to do some planing on it to flatten the bottom and sand until my heart is content and then the kitchen will be ready for floor refinishing and appliances! Thins are really coming together.