Timber!

Yesterday was the first day that we could start working outside. The snow melted in the morning, leaving the afternoon wide open for yardwork. We started by taking away the ugly black fence and removing a side fence. We dug up plants and contemplated taking down the tree. After some discussion and extensive research on how to take down a tree via youtube, Steve was off to rent a chainsaw. I am sure there are different or safer ways to remove a tree, but here is what we did.

Step One: Cut as many of the branches off as possible. 

 

Step 2: Tie a rope to the middle of the tree and ask a friend to hold on to it. 

 

Steph 3: Make a few cuts with the chain saw. Pull on the rope and get out of the way.

 

Step 4: Cheer!

 

Step 5: Take off the remaining branches and cut the tree into logs. 

 

Step 6: Clean up. 

Peeling Back the Layers

This week, we dared to peel back the first layer of our house. First being the key word here. I was naive to believe we would be at the exterior sheathing after removing the stucco. But, this is the house that just keeps on giving - giving more than we had ever asked for. Under the stucco was a layer of siding - hundred year old siding. The back of our house is now sporting exposed forest green shakes.

We even managed to expose a bit of the porch and what a difference it has already made to the lighting in our home.

BEFORE

DURING...check back in a few weeks for the end!

I need to clarify what I mean when I say 'we'. I, being the 'weaker' one, was excused from this hundred years of heavy dust build up. Instead, Steve hired a 17 year old boy with muscles to take my place. While they were hard at work, I resorted to finishing up the last odd bits of drywall.

How To Remove An Old Door

After living with two back doors, we finally found the time to remove the old exterior door and fill it in. It was a team effort:

 

Step 1: Remove the door - Steve

Step 2: Frame in the opening - Steve

 

Step 3: Instulate, cover with plastic and seal - Deona

 

 Step 4: Drywall - Steve & Deona

 

 

 

Step 5: Mud & Tape - in the works

 

 

Step 6: Prime and paint - TBA

 

 

Step 7: Utilize the space for storage - TBA

Colour Choice

Well, it is summer time again. This means we have put down our marking pen and picked up the hammer, wonderbar, puddy and paint brush.
At the moment we are focused on the exterior. In a few weeks we hope to be sporting a new roof and stunning siding. First we need to choose a colour.

Iron grey or red?

Weekends in November

Slowly our list of things to do before December is diminishing. This month we made progress in small areas, mostly in the way of decorating. It has been a busy month with a few long Saturdays and even evenings of painting, nailing and gluing. The most recent additions to our house have been a rug, three counter stools and our brand new 100-year-old coat hook and key hook. We are looking forward to getting our very own washing machine delivered to us on Wednesday. It has been a long 4 months of doing our laundry at friend's homes and the local laundry mat.
As always, pictures will tell it all.

Finishing the bathroom. We repainted the bathroom leaving only one wall yellow. The colour was just too much, so we went with something a little more neutral. Steve was busy last week putting up the towel rods.

Creating a coat hook. After looking for a few weeks for just the perfect coat hook, it dawned on us that we should just make our own. On Saturday we tidied up the shed and retrieved two 100-year-old window frames that we had removed from our house last Spring. I cleaned them up, sanded them down and Steve drilled in the hooks.  We are pretty pleased with the results.

Our new stools are finally here. We are so excited to be using our peninsula to it's fullest potential. We also finished the trim around the bottom of the peninsula. It is looking so much better.

 Finally, our living room rug and shelf. We are beginning to collect items to furnish our house. It's slow, but coming along nicely. The next item on the agenda is to order some couches that actually match.

Stay tuned as the stair guy, Bryan, stops by this week to finish our stairs! We are both looking forward to that.

Behind Closed Doors

When you visit our home, you will now be able to exercise you regular bathroom rituals behind closed doors. Yes, that's right. We have a bathroom door. I am not sure I really need to same too much more. I could, of course, express to you what it's like to live in a house for 1.5 months without a bathroom door, but I am hoping your imagination will suffice.
As always, I will leave you with pictures to explain the stages of putting in 3 interior doors.
 Note: novice workers at work.


1. Inspecting the door. One may employ his/her father(-in-law) to inspect the door to approve it's structure.

2. Prep for the door. Cut out little blocks to secure door. This is especially important in the event that your opening is larger than the door casing.

3. Place the door. Ensure that it is level and above all else, make sure you can close and open the door before nailing it in. In the event that your wall was built out of level, this could prove to be tricky.

4. Admire. Stand back and admire your handy work. Put aside the rising feeling of disappointment when you realize you still have to paint it before you can add door knobs. That will come soon. For now, enjoy that fact that you can sleep, change and crap in private.

main floor bathroom

spare bedroom

master bedroom

master bedroom - inside view

Saturdays in September

Our focus in September has been on school rather than the house. Every once in a while we get out our tool belt and take a Saturday to work on our project. It still seems to be slow and steady...with many bumps along the way.

Here is a picture walk of our Saturdays in September. 

Counter Tops - For a month we lived without counter tops. It didn't seem to bother us too much. The only down fall was doing the dishes in the bath tub. 

The original dishwasher is me. The new one came right after the counter tops were installed! Then, Steve took an interest in washing the dishes. Hmm...

Our backyard apple tree produced so many apples. We are loving the apple pies from this tree. 

 My parents are amazing. I can't even thank them enough for the time they have spent helping us out. My mom worked on painting the house. My dad tore up the back yard.

One Saturday afternoon we got ambitious...too ambitious. We decided to take apart the brick flower bead. Half way through we discovered more rocks. Steve also disturbed a hornet's nest. I paid for it later on.

 The hornets attacked my eye, side of my head and neck. I stayed home from school because..well... I would have scared the children.

One Saturday we hung blinds. I mean, Steve hung blinds. After he did this, I immediately removed the disgusting curtains that were in our front entry.

Immediately after the curtains were removed, Steve took down the bars. Our house no longer looking like the Ogden Jail.

The NEW and improved backyard. My parents came back last weekend and worked on our house while we were gone. Who does that? Did I mention how awesome my mom and dad are? My dad took his skitster and had the best day ever. Our yard looks huge and ready for the winter.

We are finally feeling a little more settled. We still have a lot to do. The stairs need treads, the bathroom needs a door, our windows need trim and so much more.

There is always next Saturday. 

Stay tooned to see what happens on Saturdays in October.