Baby Steps

I just finished putting the final coats of paint on the ceilings in the 1st floor bath and the former red area. A very difficult job - the ceilings consisted of rough sawn (still see the saw marks) lumber used as a suspended ceiling. I guess they were going for the barn look, which makes perfect sense in a brick Italianate/Victorian. People do the stupidiest things. I wasn't able to put the primer on the ceiling in the niche outside the launry area - the caulk hadn't fully cured.

Day 5

This certainly could have been worse. Our street is still closed (see photo below). Ice, as it melts, is going to be a big issue. One of our downspots is completely frozen (at least six feet of the ground). I'm fearful that the weight is going to rip all of our gutters right off the house.

I did do some paint preparation yesterday. I caulked the area outside the laundry room. The siliconized caulking better be paintable!! It would be nice to be able to paint the finish coats on the ceilings of the 1st floor bath and former red area. And to paint the first coat of the primer on the ceiling in the area outside the laundry. The timbers have been taking four coats to completely cover the brown stain.

Would like to post more picture today or tomorrow...

And later that day...

Things seemed to have settled down.  Another tree fell and I may be blocked in.  Had to abandoned the shop to make room for one of the cars.  No more bad weather, but it will be cold.   I can't imagine having school tomorrow.

We are/were very lucky...so far.

It's going to get worse

I might have to cut the phone line free later.

We lost part of the birch. I love that tree.

You can see where our car was (I backed it up to where it is in the photo) - right behind the car that got it. We were SO lucky!!

While taking this picture I saw another house lose electric.

If we get the wind they are predicting, this is going to get really bad. We are luck so far, but for Old Louisville, this is worse than the wind storm of September.

Another Benchmark

Just hauled the last of the tree debris to the dump!! An event four years in the making.

Nothing New

Didn't get to do much. I am getting the 1st floor bathroom ready. I have a 3-day weekend coming up. I hope I can get something done. I will post some before pictures later

Wood shop?

Yea, not much happening in the wood shop. It's just too cold. One of the projects on the table to is make the garage a three-season work shop. It will be much easier to heat than to cool.

One of my resolutions this year is to not be at school so much. Being a teacher 24/7 has taken its toll - both mental and physical. For my sanity, I need to be away from school more and more. This should mean that I can work on the house and develop the shop more.

New Year

The new semester starts tomorrow. Well, at least we are half over with the semester. I am sad that the holidays are over and will be going back to school.

Happy New Years!!!!!

I wish a very happy and prosperous New Years to everyone. I am certainly glad to see this one go. I know they say you shouldn't wish your life away, but 2008 was not a very good year.

Here is a list (incomplete I'm sure) of what was accomplished in 2008

1) Finished the front room on the second floor
2) Found the parts to do the handrail on the 2nd floor (see #4 below) - that was a couple of very dirty and hot days
3) Replaced three exterior doors (the front door is original and just fine)
4) Worked (but did not complete) more on the shop
5) Gutted the 1st floor bath and 'former red area' (see #1 and 2 below)
6) Repaired and painted the ceilings for #5 above
7) Converted to digital TV (I really thought I was going to cry when I got PBS without static-for the first time in my life)
8) Installed the granite on the hearth for the master bedroom fireplace
9) Installed the marble threshold in the 2nd floor bedroom
10) Installed new roof!!!!!! (OK, I hired someone to do this!!!)
11) Continued installation of interior trim

But, that is the past, here is what's on tap for this year. I usually don't make New Year resolutions, but here is my to-do-list for 2009:

2009

1) Finish the 1st floor bath
2) Finish the 'former red area' - soon to be TV room.
(speaking of TV, I LOVE THE DIGITAL CONVERTER BOX!!!! Now there is no need for cable. We are getting stations we couldn't before and the reception is fantastic)
- When numbers 1 and 2 are finished, I will buy the LCD TV.
3) Redo the cornice modeling on the front of the house
4) Finish the 2nd floor handrail (I have decided to do it myself)
5) Build the tansom windows on the 2nd floor
6) Start the renovation of the front entry trim detail (the word escapes me at the moment)
7) Make garage into three-season shop
8) Continue interior painting
9) Continue installation of interior trim
10) Build closet doors
11) Purchase and install all door and transom hardware (finally found a source)

And a look into the future

2010

1) Replace 2nd-floor east and north windows (four total)

2) Refinish 2nd-floor center and front room floors

3) Complete interior trim

4) Continue interior painting

5) Complete shop

2011

1) Replace 1st-floor windows (all-12 total)

2) Refinish 1st-floor floors (entry, hall, and living room)

3) Repaint exterior (trim and windows)

4) Complete interior painting

2012

1) Rededicate house on its 130th anniversary!!!!

2) Renovation of backyard

2013

1) Remodel kitchen (start and complete)

2) Removal of front concrete porch

3) Renovation of front yard (including moving stone steps to original location)

Well, let's see how I do.

Happy New Years!!!!!!!!!!!!