Delivery : Sheet Rock

The order of sheet rock arrives at the rental project.

Off loaded through the windows.

Our tax dollars at work!!!

We requested the city to take down this dead Elm tree that was at the corner of a very busy intersection.

It took two days for them to do the work.

They had to stop at 3 pm to make sure the school buses could get through.

Lots of catching up, but I'll make it short

Of course, more renovations!
this time putting a pipe up thru the floor, counters, cabinets, ceiling & into attic

THANKSGIVING IN NEW YORK CITY!

Relaxing after the busy Holidays.

Porch interior finished.

Porch Project keeps us busy.

Installing this new Window was easier with the help of
our brother-in-law and the truck.

After insulating the exterior wall, the vapor barrier went on.

The windows are trimmed with simple pine.
4 inch pine bead board tongue & grove went on the wall.
The ceiling has 4 inch tongue & grove cedar planks.

Charlie & Nick ran new wiring and lights were attached inside and out.

This view is from the kitchen.
The old entry door and frame have been removed.
(We took it out to the street and put a free sign on it
and a few hours later it was gone.)

This view is from the porch to the kitchen with the new window
installed where the old door was.
The guys installed cedar shakes on what would have been the
exterior of the house before the porch.

Now it's my turn: Paint and Stain.
White wash on the bead board, exterior paint color on the shakes.
The cedar ceiling we are going to leave for now and see if it will gray naturally.
When I'm done spilling paint, the guys will come back and install oak flooring.

Roses and Renovations

This rose bush planted long ago by the former owners; the Muzzeys, is like a gift from the past. Last year I think it had one or two blooms. I cut it back hard in the fall and gave her a new trellis and a little food. She has thanked us by providing 50 plus blooms this year.


The renovations are in full swing. The new screen door above goes into the basement. Another place for the indoor kitties to view the chippys and now much easier to bring out the laundry to hang on the line. We customized the size; 10 inches off the top and fit the cross piece back in and restrung the screening. I added heavy wire cloth to the bottom in case one of the cats tried to scratch their way out.
Something is missing!? We are making the back-porch into more than just a hallway. Down came the ceiling, off came the paneling on the walls, up came the rug and tiles on the floor and lastly the door and storm windows gone.

The plan: put in insulated windows and door, rewire this whole end of the house (that includes part of the kitchen, the garage and out-door lights), new beadboard ceiling and walls and then lay down hardwood floors. Oh yes, we'll be building new temporary stairs because we are moving the door location. (The deck is next year.)

I still can't believe it

Fireplace during construction,
before insulation, lighting and wallboard.

Now in working order.

I am so thankful every day that we were able to pull off buying and renovating an older house and selling the one we were in. There were times when it seemed like it might not happen. We still have work to do here. Take the mantel piece, I'm thinking Vermont Soapstone. Black with a touch that is smooth and somehow soft. For now the pine 1 x 4 is in place until we scavenge the right piece.

Papering the sewing room

I finished this weekend. I haven't papered since my 22 year old was born. I really enjoyed it. Challenging like a puzzle but not so difficult you throw the wet soggy paper on the ground.

The pattern reminds me of peonies. It looks antique and gives the room a warm, calm feel.

Watching Sammy Squirrel from the window.

Oh, don't mind the mess. Things are coming together.

Kitty approved flooring

Stella is sitting by the Front Door.

Orion basks in the afternoon sun in the living room.

Last weekend Stella went to the Vet for an unscheduled visit. Something was wrong you could tell. Poor thing just sat in one spot and wasn't interested in playing. Stella had a temperature of 104. 2 degrees above normal. Blood work was done to check for liver & kidney functions and white & red blood cell counts. Those were normal. The Vet guessed a virus. So home with Kitty Tylenol and antibiotics with close supervision. Stella is back to normal now!

Flooring...getting closer to move in status

There are hardwood floors through-out the first floor.
We took on three of them last weekend.

Under the years of dirt and wear was gorgeous Maple flooring.
I'll try to remember to snap a shot of the finished floors.
Done 4 coats of clear polyurethane.

Carpeting for the upstairs Master Suite. Heather Gray.
Three week lead time for this and professionals will install.

Keep you fingers crossed, we have a P & S on the Country House.
Closing date is to be November 2nd.
Now waiting on the buyers bank.

Right back on the job.

They passed their check ups with flying colors.
Bright eyes, clean ears, good teeth and sleek coats.
And a quick shot surely wasn't going to slow these 2 down.

Orion on the attic stairs.

Stella checking out the camera.

Renovation Update:

• 2 bedrooms finished
  
• bathroom finished
  
• office finished
  
• living room only needs two pieces of base board installed.
  
• attic master bedroom is now insulated, sheet-rocked, mud & primed. Ceiling painted. Wired and lighting installation 1/2 done.
  

Lots more painting upstairs. Flooring and trim to install upstairs.

Anywhere will do.

Quality Control crew. Everything needs to be just right and these two are always on top of it!
This photo was taken a few weeks ago. Stella & Orion are bigger and today they go for their vaccinations.

Tile Inspector

Floor tile is done.
Yes, Orion the grout is gray.
Next up: bead board and moulding for the walls.

Bath renewal & a little kitty action.

We laid out the marble tiles in the living room 1st.

1 day to cut and lay the tiles.
1 day to grout, clean and install fixtures.
I know. A window in the shower?
The opening was there and we hated the idea of giving up the daylight.
The window is vinyl and the trim is PVC.

Whirling dervishes.
When they aren't climbing up your jeans while your tiling or painting they are tumbling around having great fun.

There is a setting on the camera for capturing motion I just haven't taken time to investigate.

Introducing the City Kitties....Stella & Orion

Our daughter rescued these precious little guys when she heard a family was going to abandon them due to hard-times.
Our count is now 5 cats. 3 country cats and 2 city kitties.

Stella

Orion

Oh and look at the wonderful sun shining in through the windows. Yeah! We had wonderful weather for the holiday.

I hate ceilings.

In order to get the job done right my trusty music box is ever present. Late night radio on The Mill plays classic rock mostly from the 80's . Their motto: Embarrass the kids and turn it up.
At first I thought is was extravagant to by purchase another step-ladder. Turns out it has paid for itself 10 fold. Couldn't have done the job without it, I'm too short to reach the ceiling with the "guys" 2-step model.


OH! SEE! yuck, that means yet another layer of compound to feathering out and sand and wet-sand. The ceiling light just magnifies the imperfections. This is in my husband's office (he is a Tax Accountant), he said that most people won't notice they'll be too busy worrying about how much they own in taxes. Maybe so but it is getting another coat.
Stairs to the attic room. They actually curve and exit into the dining room. We had to remove the wall into the living room in order to get 4' x 8' sheetrock up there, and furniture someday. The guys have got half of the 2nd floor wired and insulated and sheetrocked. woohoo

The Middle Room is getting closer

Mudding, sanding, sealer/primer, sanding, sealer/primer, ceiling white, weathered sandstone for the walls......let me catch my breath, eat, sleep, repeat in next room. Renovation bliss.
We are reusing the original baseboard, the window and door trim. It is sturdy yellow pine that seems to clean-up well. And well, it seemed like the Eco-friendly thing to do. Now to set the nails, apply putty, sand, prime and paint. Then the guys will finish wiring the outlets and fix the flooring where we took the closet out. REPEAT on 4 more rooms!

Mudding (inside)

I really wish I was outside enjoying the mud but this needs to get done.

This is my first time applying drywall compound.
It doesn't seem too hard but it takes time and patience.
Oh, and loud music, really loud music!
Poor neighbors...but no complaints.

First layer done and now to sand, wet sand and apply layer 2.

Under construction!

Its been a busy week at the new house. DIY: Walls down, insulation in, wiring in progress, sheet-rocking, etc, etc.