tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-227316412024-03-07T23:07:08.074-05:00The Creek House Renovation AdventureAn Adventure in bridge building and crazy cottage renovation.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-82760577080613134332008-01-09T17:21:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:40:13.938-05:00The best birthday present ever - and full house photo tour!<div><br /><br /> </div><div><div><div>We've taken to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">hunkering</span> down at home and mumbling softly to ourselves over and over "I love our house, I love our house".<br /></div><div>We went out of town for New Years (which is also my birthday) to enjoy the city for the night and do all those fun city things for a day. You know, walking out the door and down the street for a morning muffin and coffee. Browsing bookstores and window shopping. Dropping in somewhere <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">unexpected</span> for a late leisurely lunch. We got to our destination around 2:00 pm and did spend the afternoon doing many of those things. Then we had a fabulous dinner and went to an actual bar to see actual live music. It was all wonderful, but what we realized was, well, we'd rather be home. So the next morning when we woke up, we scrapped our plan to have a leisurely day in the city and went home and had a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">fabulous</span> leisurely day there. And that realization, my friends, might just be the best birthday present yet. </div><br /><div>So here are some updated photos for you so you can see why I'd rather be here. We've also been working on the master bath and Matt has finished the incredibly beautiful walnut vanity. Keep working your way down and you'll get to it eventually!!<br /></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155487869754420146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPao5jZy2CDImjsOmjiJRGi9YZMwrTdEoj45hEO4iMlzv0rP7AfLRG3HfHcu3_E20mgOYiyCZBQpq6wESXU9Escgc2veJkGBI32qUVocfEsZzzCJWmHjdXXkpAa9c1y9W0hMi/s400/Picture+981001.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div><div>This is an overview of our main kitchen/dining/living room</div><div> </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155487865459452834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Vpy4yC0j88QKj44CAFCDso206E_DSHjSolyv45Na10MaggvtBcKB3bKhX8MTonFNhuI1IWO9H1IS9hE4Cck4h2ZrmkHBzVeWG2YFar9l-xYoqynMz3RUp7fkRDq7VuOikRlS/s400/Picture+978001.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>View of our living room and the amazing wonder dog Indy. In the upper right you can see the jams for a future set of stained glass doors which lead to the unfinished loft. </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155491726635052082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUq8JCbrxss2i_5m7YCV1uVzPUtd98g9nH_sR0tsCmMjkCPVsoG-BuXeMu6WJlVR4l_WOklQa176GcoBJh_ux-C8h8je6DXdMv8qdpU6s2aotegEnM6mJMlGVsFdE7b_g-EOww/s400/Picture+985001.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>I love stained glass! This is a beautiful piece that was a gift from Matt's aunt this year. It's gorgeous and fits in with our house perfectly.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155487856869518210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXgVnjZcJQKEh-Zr3INqCEJFqAUF93L6Wx0UU97e85Qk7mNv_s9kT7pR9X2xYDJwwnlOFWtHDLSBlHmbEIGx71WyO-np2t0UCvzY_2yX3zjF8gIWx6rvoZUxu5MH92lVxwkEp/s400/Picture+969001.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>The kitchen is my favorite part of whole house. Above the window in front of the sink is a wooden sign that reads "RAW BAR REGULAR" - a gift from our great friends from Cape Cod (and one of our favorite bars).</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155487865459452818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNVX0vUABV3wkGtAiztx42cRWPKMplbYC4dhyyaOe-lsMJnyJPNaCxhvG-nO1f4mxkO7Dj9oxayB4YNemX41cfpPgM02hAdJgFTMrt1jUc26UK8MWNJqmoC1P2koqSsJWvEr4/s400/Picture+971001.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>The stars hanging up high have been collected over the years from antique shops in the area. They are the heavy iron original stars that were bolted to the exterior of homes that had been braced against hurricane winds. </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155491722340084770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEkoag7cjhEYzLZ8AKt81bQE0qe9E1fJJekJSODpDrcMdNErPdLjpgV6wBBZg4c7SKmWxuWoqtovEVMxIo2WWTWDHGOMNmQuK16np8ZUSo4s2vamoo3Gfl4-ahwxUTH8CdqgPt/s400/Picture+975001.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Another thing I am so excited about! Our good friends Johnny Rea and AZ gave us an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">aerogarden</span> as housewarming gift!!!!!!!! Obviously, they rock. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Countertop</span> hydroponic kitchen herbs:) </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155490322180746178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK6dPxQrfP3SvGIBqhIA0AkfZ_L4sfZcXzz5z4RcrP0A_VqZgVvnGcVKF1UtFcnUUMCdod63lGdyrQ7BAqaq_TFPjsSaaZjGfdt5LTjLzCS8VaryLCSnOD5hTvRr7KJbsVOHAy/s400/Picture+983001.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>This photo shows the dining area, and you can see the future stained glass doors up there at the top again. The idea is to build one of the sliding library ladders that will run on a copper rail above the framed pictures and tuck in next to the tall window when not in use. </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155490322180746194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jkzUWBwRPSf8ejJ469744w_ZLiosOtCFCrSqvqZ1MCOdkZ1B_I7Z3hO1-PA0vpnKcYU8aNajREpfPXnnDvoSIfJtRy9Uy3ZGOOmXaY2SZGt6yLr49Asr1p5SWO5qWewgd0hF/s400/Picture+987001.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Another living room view with the new stained glass piece. For those that have seen earlier pictures, that is the window that has the best stream view before the stream goes under the house. If you look all the way to the left you will see the new copper <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">light switch</span> plate.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155491718045117458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqU9gML-p4hZWIpaAvRNyWz5J4RtVP6rzGqfe7q19yvOZ4nC7Ab0IRndfEJvrXrnzp0zZu4-YoSbYUwlB67rEkdXZhD22LeBR1e6SjMwQP8y0Whp8WF4478pPoTUCGOPNAJ5S8/s400/Picture+973001.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>A gift from my mom (we are SO LUCKY)! We are hoping to get enough of them over time to cover all of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">switch plates</span> in the main room. Don't you love them?</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155490326475713506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLp3B1behPjOmVR3H2GKwg7y_k4rZ1HI7JK16pYOmu_zKHCzAb_TNNAJlaQsZ52I96HZsKcac1BX2wIrhjDjoZKgnosbfytJrIB7xvY09HgFHpk3bCvB_quu8QclreuArLXJM8/s400/Picture+991001.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>Our guest room (if you know us (and we like you) COME VISIT)!</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155490330770680818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj215S22OxSvkjoY-FLeD2tOK4648jNVAMLjwSGS0CbNQT62ype6X-DUfLxFlfUrqIJBHkBYNf_tchq1WwJhcyJNsjvGalQIhBju2vXLCHZWa6BOJqXBjbwJhS_qQ_xbPlWheWZ/s400/Picture+992.jpg" border="0" /></div><div>This photo is taken from the bed in the guest room. The loft will be finished with a cherry <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">knee wall</span> and ships ladder at some point down the road. Right now the only way us there is to haul a ladder in from the garage.</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155490335065648130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrghn-cJAXxU0GdojuqmWllGZycYS7-3EOYnJwGl13DQzPcC9zyWDh2ZNGS0JNo7Tfl6MKHgrHnhLo2vpkQNOoxIpoEnny88bom9F55BNrPrM2wDV53hK7woRGYUF5YbRPUzh/s400/Picture+994.jpg" border="0" /></div><br />Our office (which you can tell I did not bother to straighten before taking pictures), but who am I kidding, this is what it looks like.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155491726635052098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKUpqgzWwf2S-iHtC4yYKHPjDQE4sgBtUFavm3g7t1E6WDgsnRhUdhdvuMpH5VICdqqQKTXs7AIL8nEeYoIMNFySP6IzsVPdFB0YqaaNpNL2kIg1ftRbU344iU_cbOR5D1WVI/s400/Picture+993001.jpg" border="0" /><br />We recently <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">resurrected</span> the cradle from my moms attic and cleaned it up. We are hoping to put it to use in the guest room when our new nephew visits.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155491730930019410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnlu3cw3yRib2bp_2Nn8iRgvijp4n4VwuHvU5_g7qcWjBsFmlpeRsek0PeD9SKUt3iUTcOU7NbWAytoOHAVg8GPo1ry8OgFqLfn-F1RowZMor-G2n5gfgcm6Zd7N5i_Z2KpIK/s400/Picture+997001.jpg" border="0" /><br />It is a beautiful hand carved piece that dates back to 1851. The article in the frame is a picture of my mother with me shortly after I was born. My grandfather had refinished the cradle in time for my birth, and the paper did a short story on it.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155493994377784418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdWZrSg6P6E3d8kk1zcXJwOfvkWpw3E5XyA-BWdx2yx9SoMEwvCaEpZG5DpEFwaSUMF31vLW9Jy53gCXaFWu_3czBWPmR1Dzw3xy59u9bS3PuiKdY7yc3BsovBR0xRSmrdzEhM/s400/Picture+998001.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155493994377784434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGM1HCysL1q5Jq1ga4IKVz0RNlTNX2Kl6LRGPNdWmY2O5Mrmpsj46Iy84_e9OYuYnwlDqHevQ5Y35LEkWhE0DXu6zAnyKWP-CmjOPsaIwERspql_Y-IeeDVvvpM0TIlnm1InEU/s400/Picture+1003001.jpg" border="0" /><br />The master bedroom with princess Amelia<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155493994377784450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYo5NkJqzN_Df8GUI2HD0zMlxuf5WRYkVzWJdaKgnh_G49dpeQ38_imBIOumo5fZeBxFIm_t4ukzNdVSyI2XUL1sYEDcvszRqeiKJ7ZcxxqS0rYCXuQ2iIAM4yh3uBLLLQdled/s400/Picture+1006001.jpg" border="0" /><br />The latest and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">greatest</span> of our projects. Matt <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">custom</span> built this black walnut vanity for our master bath. He even dug through the wood pile to find the perfect rough edge with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">remnant</span> bark for the front face of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">counter top</span>.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155493998672751762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrRfN0xyJRm_EzqpL9XzSuQPTLsAkc1FWMD1jWZzIhR1o3rG4trAmMx-qbvHQAr1ArAJ631opZSIszRUYUbloepa2gKXVJXP6sZ5vB_MaRLcu3lL6q9EEX14Vbfvbq3U0EGBZ/s400/Picture+1008001.jpg" border="0" /><br />My sinks. The subject of many debate. They are actually serving bowls. From an outlet. And they only cost $20. But convincing Matt that they could be turned into sinks by simply drilling holes in the base took months. I won.<br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155496240645680306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMF4zof-AggM6cJo5bYB82ZaO6BdyTPFn3s0bwbZCVX5Jh6D36YfC30D_eFeY7mYQQY1hR6UJqsBl9VrbAvHCcPqrDl_PTTM7yvwJ-Ct5ZnaWwiC0QeHO_dRUss43RZQs5pOB/s400/Picture+1015001.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>And last but not least - The finished shower....<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5155496244940647618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyDF7rAJte6NU6nqvmuu5OCvvkIgwMXqP0JbOgo86IctejOvR-H2YH3m1sADh7SWws84dv_DS7urjlSBOaBOjkRBt6KNMOB4T8os1N0EZJoBQkm0zieG8ZDdMR00y08gjyL-hm/s400/Picture+1012001.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>With rock spill over detail</p><p> </p><p> </p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-62569728118857353312007-11-21T14:22:00.000-05:002007-11-21T14:54:32.579-05:00ThankfulPoor Thanksgiving. Caught between Halloween and Christmas, it seems sometimes like the pre-game to Christmas. But it is one of my favorite holidays. No stressful gift giving, not a lot of decorating. Just time to hang out and enjoy the company of those around you, maybe eat a great meal and remember how lucky you are. I have so many things to be thankful for I could not begin to count all of them or write them all down. From the basics of being in good health, to having a entire extended family that I not only love, but like all the way down to being able to live in my own home again and that Matt and I were able to build it together. <br /><br />But I must say, what I am most thankful for right now is having a partner who is brave enough and strong enough and believes in himself enough to strike out on his own. As anyone who has started their own company before, it is not for the faint of heart. It is humbling and frustrating and agonizing at times. And I am thankful that I am spending my life with someone who wouldn't let that stand in his way.<br /><br />So tell me, what are you thankful for?Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-20065124201141706662007-11-07T09:09:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:40:14.330-05:00new pantry and assorted other goodies<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwi0aLY2Wcdnh6arjeV06CQnIjCXgERvI4TCNZKHsdwrrrqEfFYkaB5oY3ch826KCWoEbHJTi0NJBlaO5miBFPi8bthwDhXemHI8NJUNXFonGk1Io_Xa9uGeQ9C7b6kLQXMn6Z/s1600-h/Picture+375.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130104942752158562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwi0aLY2Wcdnh6arjeV06CQnIjCXgERvI4TCNZKHsdwrrrqEfFYkaB5oY3ch826KCWoEbHJTi0NJBlaO5miBFPi8bthwDhXemHI8NJUNXFonGk1Io_Xa9uGeQ9C7b6kLQXMn6Z/s400/Picture+375.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>We have been on roll. This is something that I silently hoped would happen. I did not want to be <em>those</em> people, the ones everyone warns you about when you announce you are going to renovate/remodel/rebuild your house. The ones who get the project 90% completed and then just run out of steam. I'm not talking about the 'burn out and take a break for a couple of months' kind of people, cause we are definitely those kind of folks. I'm talking about the ones who take a break never ever start back up again. I even know of a family who eventually boarded up a door leading to a bathroom they never got around to finishing. I definitely don't want to be them (although that gallon of paint I bought months ago to paint our bathroom is still sitting on the floor, so maybe I already am <em>those people)</em>. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>But seriously, now that fall has rolled in and it is getting darker sooner, we have once again been working on ticking off our punch list one thing at a time. Our most recent accomplishments include:</div><br /><div>1) Finishing our master closet, including all organization involving bins, baskets, and goodwill</div><br /><div>2) staining and finishing all windows in the kitchen/living room (Check out the photo above)</div><br /><div>3) finishing all interior trim in the kitchen/living room</div><br /><div>4) building a stone entrance step up to the front deck</div><br /><div>5) clearing out the loft in the guest room and moving a bed up there</div><br /><div>6) and what I am currently most excited about, THE PANTRY</div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130104951342093170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADpRVErUNd6JlNtkcfDjeP07znaxImXIgTLMZk8W1IIiHgBKC-kV-ccJDjfsoKcyp2sq-IkeNKPNWHSBA2adT9fbR7wZZgy61Htp0WHcPaFpQFs4v_znftTsjA1fKYxg1Cflx/s400/Picture+365.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><p>Matt built cherry drawers with the scraps from our interior trim and then mounted them on 200 lb. full extension drawer slides. We had the pantry wired with several outlets halfway up the back wall, so all of the appliances can be plugged in and used right there if we want. The center unit with the wire baskets also slides out fully, so everything is accessible. He even built a small wooden basket on the inside wall for all of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">vacuum</span> cleaner components.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130104959932027778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3opnYDYuffuRj4WJHdAObaFws9RlGFWjmnXQ5X4E_zq2M6roIHaPzaBK9P3ydCspbu_3gB6rp8BK1f6ZEE9aCiaPbt-qik4rP1w-xCbx4DSZ8Pzc6H7NN59Ce0r-QhWUHwQVE/s400/Picture+352.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>All of the hardware was ordered from Lee Valley, including the full assembly for the center "larder unit". If you haven't ever looked at their catalogue, I highly recommend it for everything from hardware, high end hand tools and gardening tools. </p><p>Next up:</p><p>1) pantry doors - the curtains are only a temporary fix</p><p>2) ship's ladder and knee wall for guest room loft</p><p>3) guest room closet</p><p>4) stain/finish the rest of the windows</p><p>5) stain/finish all interior doors</p><p>6) paint bathroom</p><p>7) build living room loft doors</p><p>8) build over fridge cabinet</p><p>9) build new front doors</p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-26793695232043683572007-10-23T13:22:00.001-04:002007-10-23T13:25:20.622-04:00Check out my photos!!!<span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Seriously, if you are just killing time surfing around on the internet... I recently launched </strong></span><a href="http://www.laurabelangerphotography.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>www.laurabelangerphotography.com</strong></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong> and I am selling prints online. You can check them out be clicking on the imagekind button on the right sidebar, or go to my website! Its almost time for Christmas so SHOP SHOP SHOP!</strong></span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-82996444764800905362007-10-21T18:49:00.000-04:002008-12-10T06:40:14.958-05:00New Closet built ins<div><div><div>We are working on a number of projects, so we should be having slightly more frequent updates for awhile!! Most recently, Matt was able to build and install the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">built ins</span> for our closet. This new system far surpasses the old system, which involved <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">a lot</span> of piles. Much more organized with the actual hanging and folding. I am not a fan of drawers, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">because</span> you can't really see all of your options. So I had Matt build a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">cubby</span> system for all of my folded cloths and then he has all of the drawers in the dresser. We had saved all of the cherry rips from the interior trim, so we face framed the closet with cherry to match <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">the</span> rest of the house. </div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123930350633795858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdgD1R2lSPNcQs0sHzR0IQ69J123roHy9EFtIQauylz411BpTkkj7I7wllYFcF3ya1FfKhziWPjJLVKieLIrzReeHVdtqY1Kc6dj66eKR5yhFTdIN9tJ3kMS4AsbxQqGg-t89/s400/Picture+905.jpg" border="0" /></div></div></div><br /><p>The most major change we have had to make so far to the house was switching the swing of the closet door to make room for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">cubby</span> built in.</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123932592606724386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxgWe0BbSk1DQVc7a_gAbaQjwQsuwFNjKkUYZ_iu2PGsiwsdA0BiczuYo1lugZEzLcQGNLqFUWq3yNxOAmPLZZiBGXfWfZekz-Me6Yq4bkLQ0vP_GpYZRxv1Eqieive_YA6l-/s400/Picture+906.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>We will <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">now</span> be able to actually hang clothes without <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">worrying</span> that the rod is about to break!</p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123945915595276610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxi_lfx4EpUif4s7Z8rWJQCAtw0L5BgQoqHAVTs2-kSDMqdqQH-Bq6je97fg9ngUvOjk5uY3R6iz4lMyiDBn7GtQUS5jS7zmGHTKHPOPhC7smZPZxV1oU_cuUrfT9NlzQgulI6/s400/Picture+909.jpg" border="0" /></p><p>View from the washer dryer. Putting them into the master closet was a great idea that we almost bypassed. I was worried about lint and piles of laundry etc. mucking up the closet and thought they needed to be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">separate</span> spaces, but the only other option was back out in the garage, so I caved, and I am so glad I did!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5123932596901691698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYC-BjgoBUVItPAxLVlHRqckpWFq6G5vpcKWEWoSWav5EHVN67eiYamQkKgVEkPGC8KTmnetnBfx3IOSQkojtG4mj4fPHrvlOJR4zQvjXgJt3mHyyvTa-a5iUrOMN_Pu4r542e/s400/Picture+908.jpg" border="0" /></p>A last minute addition was the shoe rack. I'll admit it does make the closet a little claustrophobic, bit it is better than tripping on boots.Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-42286610166701165672007-09-13T09:30:00.000-04:002007-09-13T09:43:46.690-04:00Momentum<span style="font-size:130%;">Momentum is a funny thing. When you loose it, it's like slamming into a brick wall. Which is about how the progress on our house is coming since this summer. At the rate we are going now, I'm kind of amazed that we ever made it out of the tent...</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Three weeks ago I bought a gallon (hopefully THE LAST gallon) of paint, for the last room in the house that needed painting - the master bath. This morning, I finally moved the gallon of paint from my car to the bathroom. PROGRESS. So needless to say, I do not have pictures of a newly painted bathroom, or anything else for that matter. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I am hopeful that the onset of winter will inspire inside projects like closets and the pantry, or at the very least some doors.</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-55464536807995926392007-08-20T12:30:00.000-04:002008-12-10T06:40:15.218-05:00Buried treasure<div><span style="font-size:130%;">We are slowly starting to gear back up for work on the house. We’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ve</span> taken most of the summer off, which has been nice. We’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">ve</span> still been getting things done, slowly picking away at smaller projects, but with no self-imposed deadlines. We’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">ve</span> also been spending time helping out other folks that seemed to think building their own house was a good idea.<br /><br />For the past couple of weekends, Matt has been working with a friend of ours that owns a local granite shop. In exchange for some weekend work, Matt has been getting <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">truck fulls</span> of granite, which we are using to back fill around one of our pilings. We might just be the only house around here that has more imported polished granite in the foundation than in the house. We seem to have hundreds of different types of granite and several types of marble down there, imported from Italy, Pakistan, India and all over Africa. It is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">mindboggoling</span> to think of all the different countries represented down there, with rock that has all come together to fill a little hole in western North Carolina. </span></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100824289764854002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgguawF0YfEViE_UHN1N86mEtdvMvcNa1brcdvHKarEMp8FWDvxqfvVCdRaURFm4g1nHvd2YBE7Srq3nOuZ5zr1ib7WRT_N8RxDTUXnY6RmmqAor8w59vh2VsabjVdIEVg2pikX/s400/Picture+001.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Oh to be the geologists who unearths this in a thousand years.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"> </div></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5100824311239690498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpX0y7M1A4CC1G-qgt-AcXCl_Zu5JAIA2qrSh44DzaludCJfiPW2wEWnQ9t6Q5QJDI-Omj5GPfavYOsveKMQr4A37gqpVPnRqGVN4sHqqz-0A-atSnd0GSdqSdai_yA8T2cQQX/s400/Picture+004.jpg" border="0" />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-77764290914938836162007-07-11T09:47:00.000-04:002008-12-10T06:40:15.942-05:00rhododendron and garages<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipM4f4PfNb7UR-D2N63bialwevmxWHtWv-lHoGb0LkeQ0bQ6z55_KDMoNShFsgdkBjNKw6GOMUyyXuDA_VQQPc58BgagnKLmIlR-hCMuwuTO4EcKZUaaYZHB_M1RnJ3245aoHB/s1600-h/Picture+046.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085937485897981058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipM4f4PfNb7UR-D2N63bialwevmxWHtWv-lHoGb0LkeQ0bQ6z55_KDMoNShFsgdkBjNKw6GOMUyyXuDA_VQQPc58BgagnKLmIlR-hCMuwuTO4EcKZUaaYZHB_M1RnJ3245aoHB/s400/Picture+046.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> We are very fortunate to live in an area that has four seasons, incredible natural beauty, and an abundance of water. We teeter on the edge of being a temperate rainforest, and that results in extremely lush forests. Native rhododendron grow rampant, and this time of year they are all in bloom. It has often been noted that rhododendron and mountain laurel were contributing factors in the isolation of Appalachia. To tall to see over and too thick to walk through. </span><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;">We have an acre and a half which is covered in rhodo and laurel. We relish the privacy they afford us as there is truth in there ability to isolate. Most of out property looks like the picture below.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085939044971109538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxxQ1ncEpNmsQG8iStuiCIGTsN3VBx2zoeyW4g2Y6F3E-2G5SSInG5fq5whbkTzci1E_t5IzKxlM5OkdWPnA3MKe0D1Jkj_W3AxTQq0RSLprEy-WGgZzaEaLw2GHS78TZmpoaw/s400/Picture+047.jpg" border="0" /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">But, there is one downside. We ( and this time I mean Laura) have spent the last three weekends underbrushing in order to allow for a little more light and air circulation, as well removing an accumulation of downed woody debris. Not all of it, but the excess. And sadly, the pile in the picture below is about 1/100th of what needs to be done. So far I have worked my way up one half of one side of the driveway. That leaves the rest of the driveway, all around the house, and in the back where we are planning a native shade garden. But, before we can continue we need to figure out what to do with this first pile. Its too big to burn, too expensive to haul. So, we are investigating the purchase of a chipper/shredder. Right now we are looking at a 10hp Troy Bilt. Does anyone out there have any experience with these? If so please leave a comment with your thoughts!!!</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085937477308046450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKZr-rYsclNU10dImSoey9jPzGyLV2A3YoxPQKWNHXJ4W0dQGlQaEUs7Hs_Cuxx1ejlp-pv1EPyb-YSNlB4yE4XeHcnt1sHF1TFkhyiNzF_KDlUIDf4y4Wm508dT0P-uZroNQ/s400/Picture+044.jpg" border="0" />So, with the underbrushing on hold, we decided to tackle the garage. It has gone through several transformations over the last year from our living room/kitchen to storage to concrete countertop staging area to dumping ground to Bermuda triangle or all things construction related. Talk about keeping your fingers crossed that it doesn't rain! We did manage to create relative order out of the mess below, but after we finished I was too tiered to hold the camera up to take a picture. But, Matt has his shop back in working order now, full of tools and sawdust. Which is good, because we are excited to announce that he is getting ready to go out on his own! He will be doing custom interior woodworking around Western North Carolina. I'll provide more info and links to his new website soon!!</span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnaYZo8DgE3QiCOORxy6KF6xfU6fJEyGLKhv8p7CmiLt1T4DBNUrtnp16m4aYEXBHRcaywBZ7-WHZho50SsWKd_-M0gPGgrylmq81wANj9nJL_v_7R4NESfKzJJmhIaeV-O79/s1600-h/Picture+048.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5085937490192948370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJnaYZo8DgE3QiCOORxy6KF6xfU6fJEyGLKhv8p7CmiLt1T4DBNUrtnp16m4aYEXBHRcaywBZ7-WHZho50SsWKd_-M0gPGgrylmq81wANj9nJL_v_7R4NESfKzJJmhIaeV-O79/s400/Picture+048.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-58318797202894244192007-06-19T10:50:00.000-04:002008-12-10T06:40:16.476-05:00Master bath tile and kitchen hardware<span style="font-size:130%;">Well, we finally tiered of opening our cabinets and drawers by their sides and decided to put forth a more serious effort to find hardware for the kitchen. We had hoped that we would find something unique and befitting to our kitchen. We looked high and low, scoured the Internet and all local sources. We thought several times we had found what we were looking for (in one case, a beautiful hand cast branch, which unfortunately sold for $750.00 A PIECE!!!). So what did we end up with? The exact same pulls from Lowe's that we had in the old kitchen. Go figure.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhjYqVQmFNRbl2LSXz_r1Yftf8c4n8-pqqjz5DkIIzJGmMWX3Uwnfqv4ELI6TjXjY4vapjDZqfKLBKxgGuH0QzgcL2EDAS78sob65B9dRH-ZtUXIE8vat3d4g-Gv9xBbKr0Kd/s1600-h/Picture+9339.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077794493475556434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVhjYqVQmFNRbl2LSXz_r1Yftf8c4n8-pqqjz5DkIIzJGmMWX3Uwnfqv4ELI6TjXjY4vapjDZqfKLBKxgGuH0QzgcL2EDAS78sob65B9dRH-ZtUXIE8vat3d4g-Gv9xBbKr0Kd/s400/Picture+9339.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVVf_ubBGIdir_jTZHXRUriquW0kCjYA4xg4LcNneyKSMzfFx138ADqPav1IWgLj8zuPnxryEzq8mHrZo2QlFjva5QzwLJnusWsDy-7NjByWvq-poIxsxfKUkuEbQIlYg_RoI/s1600-h/Picture+9344.jpg"></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjohPLT1ZcnyVD-Cc0LgXp5sEPvFYn2AK-Cv4nOCyJ_jGZeG9dHfSe_JEPQSSgs59-nFdZwwg9f_HPw43V528fdTH0p4wZYP8gIEXjpoFJMZfP6rIns6NvGdtglOOSb2WJNtz/s1600-h/Picture+9341.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077791791941127202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjohPLT1ZcnyVD-Cc0LgXp5sEPvFYn2AK-Cv4nOCyJ_jGZeG9dHfSe_JEPQSSgs59-nFdZwwg9f_HPw43V528fdTH0p4wZYP8gIEXjpoFJMZfP6rIns6NvGdtglOOSb2WJNtz/s400/Picture+9341.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">We have also been working on finishing the master bath tile in anticipation of the plumber coming this weekend. Everything is set, including the suspended granite seat, and we are in the process of grouting and sealing (and I must shamefully admit, in this one instance when I use the term "we", I really mean Matt 100%). This project has taken so much longer than anyone anticipated. Slate is beautiful, but tricky. Plus, we decided (I have no idea why), to use slate on the ceiling of the shower as well, so there was the added stress of is the tile or isn't the tile going to crash down and cleave me in the skull. But somehow, Matt eventually got them to all stick in place long enough for the thin set to set up.</span><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMm2uBjPhfQ_jxzQJgyNa_YF6P3K-PPGg7dx0lHb_iY4I3vkk1_yBs2nyfupE-PC2TRa04Kdd1MTgZLbjPWKH3BWhV92gG02F-4ChKoXXxyKPQBpHb5FfPpf08oHE60f5aNmg/s1600-h/Picture+9346.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077791809120996402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXMm2uBjPhfQ_jxzQJgyNa_YF6P3K-PPGg7dx0lHb_iY4I3vkk1_yBs2nyfupE-PC2TRa04Kdd1MTgZLbjPWKH3BWhV92gG02F-4ChKoXXxyKPQBpHb5FfPpf08oHE60f5aNmg/s400/Picture+9346.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4P3tOFUKelehafkRITznQlLfOBxLEwsJkNfdRUPBYIiNbJJHISCvPTZGkcV_k68qxDxsKWnBY62seVw7CMlveDjeeEb9Rvq1B-BqIGucOv6-GTVSD5h1T7o2fFpDRY-lPySE/s1600-h/Picture+9350.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077791817710931010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4P3tOFUKelehafkRITznQlLfOBxLEwsJkNfdRUPBYIiNbJJHISCvPTZGkcV_k68qxDxsKWnBY62seVw7CMlveDjeeEb9Rvq1B-BqIGucOv6-GTVSD5h1T7o2fFpDRY-lPySE/s400/Picture+9350.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">It is hard to tell from these pictures, but the shower has a really cool cave like feel. Sort of like standing under a waterfall rock outcrop. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Hopefully, we will have at least part of a functioning bathroom in another week or two!!!</span><br /><br /><div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-42520916939311462682007-06-11T11:54:00.000-04:002008-12-10T06:40:16.941-05:00Wow. Long time no see.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2V_3zAGSBQIDkeWnEqF_Yml5zFKulYsJTq4WpIohFuNYtf11EZdZC-AtGAmdF93gnYgdp7pY866b0300yCatfdActWk1uGdnecxwoLohcF3MQV2OFbbQB6y9n1MzxgofRHZuN/s1600-h/Picture+9288.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074836570973637634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2V_3zAGSBQIDkeWnEqF_Yml5zFKulYsJTq4WpIohFuNYtf11EZdZC-AtGAmdF93gnYgdp7pY866b0300yCatfdActWk1uGdnecxwoLohcF3MQV2OFbbQB6y9n1MzxgofRHZuN/s400/Picture+9288.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Wow. Long time no see. A whole month, I had no idea!<br /><br />Sorry about being so out of touch, but we’ve just been so busy. But we don’t have any pictures today because we haven’t exactly been busy on the house. Don’t get me wrong, were still working. We’ve been finishing the tile in the master bath, hanging the last shingles for the siding, and unpacking. But we’ve been lazing about, enjoying life, and catching up on all things un-house related. Like finally having friends over for dinner again (no one ever wanted to come over to the tent, we could never figure out why!), actual reading of books, and hiking around now that it is light after work.<br /><br />We even finally took our much overdue first anniversary trip this past weekend to the Natahala River for a two day whitewater kayaking workshop. Our first anniversary coincided with the start of this project, and in my naiveté, I scheduled the trip for Sept., sure that by then we would be ready and able to take a break. But, you know, I was only about ten months off, so we jokingly celebrated our second anniversary with the trip. And it rocked. We’re already scheming the quickest way to sell off all of our sea kayaking boats and gear so that we can replace it all with whitewater boats and gear.<br /><br />But I promise, more pictures this week. A little updating of the small projects and loose ends as well as a preview, perhaps, of the projects awaiting us at the creekhouse. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074837013355269138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg17wqP2iqI_bRM2nOAFyPyRR1blEuqnNPDgwhYcLkjdm0HJKkbTNWNgQGNHxNiWAa7Y5mrHCoJgP42t0bNORa9z-R6r4UJ0vKb6HRcfMiSImFtcVh6OeZUC1w3ipDwxranP9bA/s400/Picture+4395.jpg" border="0" /></span></div></div><br />View from the living room couch - I never get tired of it!!Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-85527899926574673452007-05-02T17:18:00.000-04:002008-12-10T06:40:20.112-05:00Ta Da - LOTS of picturesHere is a preview of our house now that we are close to finished!! We had the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">appraiser</span> here yesterday, so now we are both just relaxing and enjoying the house for a few days before we get back to work on it. Check out the pictures and let us know what you think! If you want to see the before and after layout, check it out here <a href="http://creekhouseproject.blogspot.com/2006/08/theres-no-place-like-home.html">http://creekhouseproject.blogspot.com/2006/08/theres-no-place-like-home.html</a>. Pictures of the house before can be found here <a href="http://creekhouseproject.blogspot.com/2006/06/before-and-after_19.html">http://creekhouseproject.blogspot.com/2006/06/before-and-after_19.html</a>and here <a href="http://creekhouseproject.blogspot.com/2006/06/before-and-after-part-2.html">http://creekhouseproject.blogspot.com/2006/06/before-and-after-part-2.html</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WloOP31wmHLsOQKtsg9SIhGvhn7Ln414pteyuFuaTasWVo8CWol8PvMHUt2fgv4qKDTDk5fmHSnCxcI2JrOhZhYdFM7eDJAbCNrM8ZHpnFHEZAPcDSA4vAzZ1bm5UuphlB2v/s1600-h/Picture+9288.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060081829311349954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WloOP31wmHLsOQKtsg9SIhGvhn7Ln414pteyuFuaTasWVo8CWol8PvMHUt2fgv4qKDTDk5fmHSnCxcI2JrOhZhYdFM7eDJAbCNrM8ZHpnFHEZAPcDSA4vAzZ1bm5UuphlB2v/s400/Picture+9288.jpg" border="0" /></a>All new exterior and roof, original deck and hemlock<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2Dm8FAr8f5zDIlojHQELZXRyPz8uA34YsRh2UkxaC8f9gd8rpqTYVfsdZq_s7f6DfqL_pfZ8YcL4mmYObxM-eJFjF6SBE8BDhyphenhyphenSAbNCJO3lxSftcNeNArzTTBhyc9r6MrvFz/s1600-h/Picture+9281.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060081837901284562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT2Dm8FAr8f5zDIlojHQELZXRyPz8uA34YsRh2UkxaC8f9gd8rpqTYVfsdZq_s7f6DfqL_pfZ8YcL4mmYObxM-eJFjF6SBE8BDhyphenhyphenSAbNCJO3lxSftcNeNArzTTBhyc9r6MrvFz/s400/Picture+9281.jpg" border="0" /></a> Brand new back deck overlooking creek<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dwloMCrVioWdjCYhbV0n3PjNiWFRXe2QQskkcK6si8Pg39Ues2RzGxQkIPgWhLa5SUOUF60Musff1KfyH5v2rEB-KxBgY43jagGvzNSotWL9_fwsehS7f5NnkPurKRZiD5L4/s1600-h/Picture+9260.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060081842196251874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dwloMCrVioWdjCYhbV0n3PjNiWFRXe2QQskkcK6si8Pg39Ues2RzGxQkIPgWhLa5SUOUF60Musff1KfyH5v2rEB-KxBgY43jagGvzNSotWL9_fwsehS7f5NnkPurKRZiD5L4/s400/Picture+9260.jpg" border="0" /></a> original window in living room looking out at cascading creek</p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PTjWjKd5rNvAr9Af0TphhdSQM06AynQR3Mb36PLYXEk_UorevzWtxBKtoX84N8rQTUFR7HWASsv95KVKCZjJCTDEyEbmNn8SEi8DSnx72jlWYWr26r8UCH2cWoDe40GswPXa/s1600-h/Picture+9267.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060080875828610178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PTjWjKd5rNvAr9Af0TphhdSQM06AynQR3Mb36PLYXEk_UorevzWtxBKtoX84N8rQTUFR7HWASsv95KVKCZjJCTDEyEbmNn8SEi8DSnx72jlWYWr26r8UCH2cWoDe40GswPXa/s400/Picture+9267.jpg" border="0" /></a> looking at the main living area and kitchen from hall<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsw9KpYDD4MJex7dKf5Ik1kdoQd0ick8K3gfS9gdsqPA-8s4kMFRrIq-shcasdo1esyCRyYNNEGfLWpMz87E2DUuDM83Ta_xCxvjau8wmQM8nBd_HqF6wZyhxHRkxU_zFAwHJ/s1600-h/Picture+9268.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060080884418544786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsw9KpYDD4MJex7dKf5Ik1kdoQd0ick8K3gfS9gdsqPA-8s4kMFRrIq-shcasdo1esyCRyYNNEGfLWpMz87E2DUuDM83Ta_xCxvjau8wmQM8nBd_HqF6wZyhxHRkxU_zFAwHJ/s400/Picture+9268.jpg" border="0" /></a> guest bedroom with loft in new addition, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">creekside</span> left</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzKv0hiTy1QI0chBScKBTKpGTklxBppGGD2gK-ArZVp6XzhOklHEGJrbm5WsMedIF-ktecu-dXCSRlkyOuMgFn9maIk5qjELsCu-2UKa39d3Fsd9AxC7Z-F2f8CNymwya2BB5/s1600-h/Picture+9277.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060080893008479394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzKv0hiTy1QI0chBScKBTKpGTklxBppGGD2gK-ArZVp6XzhOklHEGJrbm5WsMedIF-ktecu-dXCSRlkyOuMgFn9maIk5qjELsCu-2UKa39d3Fsd9AxC7Z-F2f8CNymwya2BB5/s400/Picture+9277.jpg" border="0" /></a> new guest bathroom </p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQC9tY7XUowBCX8z3QpbJqbi4u8yPtqIXOti6dgxM6ZmyQmHnD7mwGlO8KpEyYxyTWRGPpqvq52wOmptxooL_NnZsJNfqIpRyJsdtFpZ9tdNUKijqInmfuqLd-lbfML1rw9Qf/s1600-h/Picture+9279.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060080897303446706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNQC9tY7XUowBCX8z3QpbJqbi4u8yPtqIXOti6dgxM6ZmyQmHnD7mwGlO8KpEyYxyTWRGPpqvq52wOmptxooL_NnZsJNfqIpRyJsdtFpZ9tdNUKijqInmfuqLd-lbfML1rw9Qf/s400/Picture+9279.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />renovated office in the same space as original guest bedroom<br /></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6gpXl5B40P4bZ9veCUrNfV6gmamRbi30EdXTuLCmJPdezRO5824FD-E5c0doLVrJWm75bjGTR1NbKdwX7Dhix7jl7rKPP40wkFzWsw2deakQ_kSS04qDTrHKxbdk03kIrT2F/s1600-h/Picture+9247.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060079810676720706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6gpXl5B40P4bZ9veCUrNfV6gmamRbi30EdXTuLCmJPdezRO5824FD-E5c0doLVrJWm75bjGTR1NbKdwX7Dhix7jl7rKPP40wkFzWsw2deakQ_kSS04qDTrHKxbdk03kIrT2F/s400/Picture+9247.jpg" border="0" /></a> new kitchen (located in former master bedroom space)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bvUdRqwYceq9h6KekHE60PE8GwhI1uP-AAw07BC39J7-Gn2MVObJQjK1mc4kvYDlkmn6No6hpaNYwAfzNB2QxExmNbBWzCgfWmW-XlYGypX646cZxbeEpg2_RWPndvbT_baU/s1600-h/Picture+9258.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060079814971688018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bvUdRqwYceq9h6KekHE60PE8GwhI1uP-AAw07BC39J7-Gn2MVObJQjK1mc4kvYDlkmn6No6hpaNYwAfzNB2QxExmNbBWzCgfWmW-XlYGypX646cZxbeEpg2_RWPndvbT_baU/s400/Picture+9258.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFn3IUWXah9GbVZJCFH6yTzu4TYDeXJH4GhRc67p4RTBO92DAczD7SvvdcN9T-8BtyBVy7PcJOeh2zscEgJJ-Kdem5-MQsd3rMmk49iH06labd6fmgbVVqPJG7oCiE5Y3zwDo/s1600-h/Picture+9259.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060079819266655330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzFn3IUWXah9GbVZJCFH6yTzu4TYDeXJH4GhRc67p4RTBO92DAczD7SvvdcN9T-8BtyBVy7PcJOeh2zscEgJJ-Kdem5-MQsd3rMmk49iH06labd6fmgbVVqPJG7oCiE5Y3zwDo/s400/Picture+9259.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimX0Foer1ixiax6BmunxWb831bSK_m9vIS4TgzvRcOWD4JgjPzbU0CRd3ZhZVh4nSXrO7zB04npUoHsb8V25JAnxGFno25RjPN9hUjTFUbiBCE_VtVPm18fBm3DowhHB2e5io1/s1600-h/Picture+9254.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060079827856589938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimX0Foer1ixiax6BmunxWb831bSK_m9vIS4TgzvRcOWD4JgjPzbU0CRd3ZhZVh4nSXrO7zB04npUoHsb8V25JAnxGFno25RjPN9hUjTFUbiBCE_VtVPm18fBm3DowhHB2e5io1/s400/Picture+9254.jpg" border="0" /></a> concrete <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">countertops</span>!!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gLGnFRubmIf8EeO_tHKb057LSzGUhsff8_89dGCAfXa-Y-wFSY4_YUbhdPLudR2D7_kXG8XUAcPG5eQU79rqNQkHVyMd1jt5_WRhqh-d6lHY1vQq1w8qdtW-FGAL8t76wFNF/s1600-h/Picture+9245.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060078410517382162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6gLGnFRubmIf8EeO_tHKb057LSzGUhsff8_89dGCAfXa-Y-wFSY4_YUbhdPLudR2D7_kXG8XUAcPG5eQU79rqNQkHVyMd1jt5_WRhqh-d6lHY1vQq1w8qdtW-FGAL8t76wFNF/s400/Picture+9245.jpg" border="0" /></a> living room view from doorway to new master bedroom</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNs9zI6QkYZmreDL5CwZVIujuB88XbonWCLAR-omAjJzfyltl0I8S06AIXmXQmmVR6zqr1HHHM5MC8LbBRuVYpcqfSGHLQGarh6qwwXmtHy-_76ohmAFLxplb_CG6FRtpEy7H/s1600-h/Picture+9251.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060078414812349474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWNs9zI6QkYZmreDL5CwZVIujuB88XbonWCLAR-omAjJzfyltl0I8S06AIXmXQmmVR6zqr1HHHM5MC8LbBRuVYpcqfSGHLQGarh6qwwXmtHy-_76ohmAFLxplb_CG6FRtpEy7H/s400/Picture+9251.jpg" border="0" /></a> dining area which opens to new back deck<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhz4z3odhT1FSN5hrJlgLbcxeIfihDHVj_ZOTXBThxSPvOwLQJ8zQIkx9OTbSuoYWWEvSdrEoL7mFKBBzmd_NlmPFhNUmOEg9l2TjkQ8WcRBcRZYS0qhOxbuX-FDAipeYvfI3/s1600-h/Picture+9253.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060078423402284082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFhz4z3odhT1FSN5hrJlgLbcxeIfihDHVj_ZOTXBThxSPvOwLQJ8zQIkx9OTbSuoYWWEvSdrEoL7mFKBBzmd_NlmPFhNUmOEg9l2TjkQ8WcRBcRZYS0qhOxbuX-FDAipeYvfI3/s400/Picture+9253.jpg" border="0" /></a> view from kitchen<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgt1Ni8XLWRxetqxS3w5dZXbJn-5U_L2rvevaB96XhcT1jpmGObNrnYmCWB-cSpRIrJ3pTbZ0SV4CB7eLKP5r_RlYH6lTvRMao2HTvS954X_wEY1OxEkjUYnzyAwJcvp553TS/s1600-h/Picture+9237.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060077066192618466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgt1Ni8XLWRxetqxS3w5dZXbJn-5U_L2rvevaB96XhcT1jpmGObNrnYmCWB-cSpRIrJ3pTbZ0SV4CB7eLKP5r_RlYH6lTvRMao2HTvS954X_wEY1OxEkjUYnzyAwJcvp553TS/s400/Picture+9237.jpg" border="0" /></a> new master bedroom addition creekside right</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGIrhyphenhyphenuOWGCrzfrW0s8jeClKBzfnsPrDyVI8cFTPObvVzEqC_H88gbEKPv2-C232XM5_nq_bBtRLw_W7IIDCEabch51hEgX2dudXIrZ9JG4eQZG1NtW5sm9PCj7S7zwVRIiC3/s1600-h/Picture+9241.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060077070487585778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGIrhyphenhyphenuOWGCrzfrW0s8jeClKBzfnsPrDyVI8cFTPObvVzEqC_H88gbEKPv2-C232XM5_nq_bBtRLw_W7IIDCEabch51hEgX2dudXIrZ9JG4eQZG1NtW5sm9PCj7S7zwVRIiC3/s400/Picture+9241.jpg" border="0" /></a> master bedroom looking out to new deck<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEo7H9NCSFDK6IN2_y82CyQMnwPuf1l3OucZzaLLceD404W2VqTJFbCS9gAYVoLvouIZbbnrI20D-KJ7s-08WugvxpJ4MADApgxXXoebhOJt5kYY7vrb6Zaz9G9xfy6UqPaurA/s1600-h/Picture+9239.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5060077074782553090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEo7H9NCSFDK6IN2_y82CyQMnwPuf1l3OucZzaLLceD404W2VqTJFbCS9gAYVoLvouIZbbnrI20D-KJ7s-08WugvxpJ4MADApgxXXoebhOJt5kYY7vrb6Zaz9G9xfy6UqPaurA/s400/Picture+9239.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />beginning of new master bathroom!<br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-64001315429042023942007-04-27T12:56:00.000-04:002008-12-10T06:40:20.810-05:00Final push, round 1<span style="font-size:130%;">This is the big weekend. The final push before our appraisal. The house is far from done, but we are trying to wrap up as much as possible by Tuesday. It feels kind of like cramming for exams, only more exhausting and nerve wracking. The whole house building process would be so much more pleasant without the financial part...</span><br /><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rJuhw3E-sUzKotbN-0eSbBZuGOB7axEo5iND61kI5seEIxMbg5G5fr7qXngkmljGvCndoECq7dbfErGarE3cLHJxvfJ7r5o8uxUadbpiBWsvgmnms3SOdwA50P084ywVNWul/s1600-h/Picture+9094.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058154578701386498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rJuhw3E-sUzKotbN-0eSbBZuGOB7axEo5iND61kI5seEIxMbg5G5fr7qXngkmljGvCndoECq7dbfErGarE3cLHJxvfJ7r5o8uxUadbpiBWsvgmnms3SOdwA50P084ywVNWul/s400/Picture+9094.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;">If you ever wondered what a years worth of Roth IRA contributions would like if you converted it to wood, here you go. All of the cherry for the interior trim.</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058154574406419186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFc1TZgj9IXtQwASHXye4z2_SW74swujr30AVJZVXFmYWSTcLW0X8kwXoZ1f9H0c1guHhwDnKUgz6o2d6CV1ejZKkrBCznsKF9ob9GbbNitJalBByoHFCA5lFJZBiLbel-tTx/s400/Picture+9228.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-size:130%;">So this weekend, all of those boards will be making their way to the windows, doors (and hopefullybaseboard areas).</span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058154582996353810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsW-e1P4b-UX_ttQVKTDxLkapkSETPfSIymiaOzwLKjQkkMzI8b6HetA9D0ZQUM-im8ouhpbGRX2zBfBS2WMiR78gVYL-D4JFXbhGpQswlk_We3YPhniKiJQD5z_NXAVORr4m/s400/Picture+9001.jpg" border="0" /><span style="font-size:130%;">And after that we have just few (!?!) more things on the list. But hey, at least some of them are scratched off!</span><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5058154973838377762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi21H4ixAMUkSPazgQLZdhRwtQ1UmLd_j2mL8zP64rdpINAb4aelwiGrU5SGHXz_333frCMuQO3m3WPRrxAuqaqMxw9qSeJ_c5oQzj8BZNKXART_-iBPvmAziOXEPpODN6SXlfJ/s400/Picture+9002.jpg" border="0" /></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-58548353404408675562007-04-24T13:04:00.000-04:002008-12-10T06:40:22.711-05:00Concrete countertops - a reflection on process<span style="font-size:130%;">We are well on our way to having concrete counter tops! They are out of the mold and looking fabulous so far. We hope to have them finished and installed by Sunday, so this post will detail the first part of the process and I'll have follow up next week.<br /></span><div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">So here it goes, the good, bad and stupid:</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">1) We first consulted with </span><a href="http://www.concreteexchange.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;">www.concreteexchange.com</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> and researched a lot of Cheng's books. We ultimately ended up using his mix as well, which we found very easy to work with. With so much going on, we didn't want to mess with recipe of additives to the sacked concrete. We knew we wanted dark grey solid color counter tops, something with an effect similar to soapstone. this eliminated any grinding on the surface and need to consider decorative inserts or aggregate. </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">2) Building the molds was very strait-forward for us. Accurate measurements, solid construction and wood are all strong points so we didn't run into any problems here. We followed a number of the suggestions made by Cheng, some of which may or may not have been necessary, but I like directions. The material to make the molds cost approx $75, as we did not have any melamine on hand and we needed rebar, wire mesh, silicone, etc.</span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057052369479069090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6a-agLB9AgqLXuO80bKdzq0YjiyjKVtpub84KAphsHLqNxQnPqTApwljgv45XWR4irV7aq12osdoIyn0qytSZ-DIq0VPcVDWndh43MMFOh68Kz332QPvG0RndUU0l5PBHQhCO/s400/Picture+9073.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">3)A level area to set the molds for the pour is critical, so that you end up with level counter tops and not wedges. Since we were pouring all three counter tops at once, we needed a fair amount of space under cover. None of our work benches in the garage were large enough, so Matt built a level platform on the garage floor. The platform worked well, but was only a couple of inches off the ground. Ideally, it would be much higher, so you a) wouldn't have to work all crouched done, and b) wouldn't have to lift the ridiculously heavy counter tops off of the ground.</span> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057052378069003698" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUw-lliJLp5Ekt_48-1OdekbelVNjyCiMQEoZiBq6OduejzVbOzQdO61M8ViekOOlzMoquldphaFBoLUR2B1mIjL5l29oPXTEl25l2lw9nw6ohK1V8ktYVr3cAyVN9yrttgBvW/s400/Picture+9074.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">4) Based on my calculations, we were going to need 5.9 cubic feet of concrete. So, we ordered 6 cubic feet of charcoal mix. The directions specifically indicated that we should not use air entrained sacked concrete, and we had a little difficulty locating the right stuff. We eventually ended up having to go with 4000 psi instead of 5000 psi. We got the concrete, rented a mixer, and got ready to pour.</span> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057052386658938306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BLV8uAVYk5ue6njoiAtL1KoPTifQY48Vx2MedlF3PBIHF6CkoJEMKzNYr_oa-zIZM2XGY8jKVWE5B6YF62BeGzCtAd2_IpsN0moOpoWd7VnLn97UhjSmauZCUdNJBYyr2FZb/s400/Picture+9071.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">This is were things went a little askew...<br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">First, we mixed the first batch a little too dry. We were both so worried about adding too much water and running the risk of cracking that we didn't add enough. This made the concrete very difficult to vibrate into place. I mean it was really dry. We even added more than the directions on the mix initially called for, but it still wasn't enough. We decided to mix the second batch a little two wet and figured that the two batches would mix with all of the vibrating, and the problem would be solved (which it was!).</span></div><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057052390953905618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0Chg1mEwFELww8aRDJaWFCTaTRxArAobwJjsQ_wD2s6t_SvEnPoEeWKM8ZQpKlrji4WWzzuNtc8iRhkTwHuxgHl4-pbw8cMOTL2Aa4KjFz7UXVIjD1K6KslsJzVxMNhL1VWq/s400/Picture+9086.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Unfortunately, even though everything I read had said make sure you have extra concrete and mix, I cut it too close. We ran short, which really sucked. Once we distributed all of the mixed concrete evenly amongst the molds, they were all about 1/4 inch short, so we weren't able to screed the tops. Needless to say, I whacked myself on the forehead several times.</span> </div><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057053928552197650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigtT-AgtlAmi-l2jiRfU6oFry3_p941xIDd5YPfAtxxVO590MWeohfPfuKTFfJx_V8RAMPRlw4TcomY05vyIx0zuyhF5cpDZJ3EPD68pL2u8ea4O8jv8_vvKeeklTmiqR7NgO1/s400/Picture+9084.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">But, after a week, they popped right out of the molds looking pretty fabulous.</span> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057053919962263042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXwrxAUmhyphenhyphen62IfGLlMLwxhQ3Sns81rbB_iSpUD-hDgWNMh5wdlZcXA76O-AgsES-60s24ASycc28a2w08aQv7BlQe505hpbbkSxc82XJb3DbgP8fyEYTCsxOXDNrk9POPoS6L/s400/Picture+9003.jpg" border="0" /></div></div><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5057053911372328418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFHoY5JdJdTRSPe0bbD5yVLv09diW0NLbD0U86ljkZsomBGB6nCegrUfC2yD3GXXgbg4Vu_7mjt21yhLLWR87isU4iI2F_rVk0uuaNFeIWH7zBbh3kpZpIhO2TnFrASHbCfIdC/s400/Picture+9233.jpg" border="0" /></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Normally, you need to dis-assemble the mold any pry it away from the counter top, but I guess because our mix was so dry, ours just popper right out. So our mold are intact and can be stored to use again should we decide now or later that we want to try again.</span> </p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Next up...</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">I'll be spending this week grinding the underside of the counters because they are really rough and a little uneven since we were not able to screed. Once that is done We will apply a slurry to all of the surfaces to fill in the air pockets and then seal and wax them once they are in place. The sealer and wax will bring them back closer to the color they were when wet - a dark dark grey, almost black.</span> </p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-7241279839533215912007-04-20T15:59:00.000-04:002007-04-20T16:06:32.110-04:00Teaser<span style="font-size:130%;">We popped one of three <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">counter tops</span> out of it's mold this week and they look FABULOUS!!! Which is such good news because, well, we weren't so sure. The pour didn't go quite as planned, mistakes (or what we thought were mistakes) were made, and we became doubtful. Which is really sad and frustrating as anyone who has made molds for concrete <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">counter tops</span> knows. A lot of work goes into mold making, so to blow it on the pour - well that's just wrong. So, after a week of thinking somewhere in the back of the mind that maybe all of that hard work was for not, we are elated, and the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">counter tops</span> are just plain cool. There will be much more on this in my next post, with a blow by blow of what we did well, what we thought we did <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">wrong</span>, how we tried to fix it, why we weren't sure they were going to turn out and PICTURES!!! Stay tuned...</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-29653139905601326142007-04-10T14:35:00.000-04:002008-12-10T06:40:23.243-05:00Countertop forms and a back deck<span style="font-size:130%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Countertop</span> forms are built! All we have left before this weekends pour is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">rebar</span>/wire mesh reinforcements. Matt built a level platform on the garage floor so that none of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">countertops</span> come out looking like wedges, and we've sealed all of the seams with silicone so that the melamine won't swell. Our forms are pretty basic, since we have a small kitchen and an apron front sink, we only have one seam and no knockouts (except for the faucet). We are having a smooth, polished top so we don't have to worry about inserts or exposed <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">aggregate</span>. Just simple, dark charcoal <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">countertops</span>. I can't wait!! After this weekends pouring of the concrete, we'll let it cure for about a week and then cross our fingers next weekend when we break the mold.</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIC7Fir699E5JK8V_UDzaXnVkszvMRpkO-7W_OirmC4-VuI1s0EBiZ0BEDs0LseRwagjHRrV_-cKSKrAiRXVlNIP2Egdr4rsFpt8QX9iA9OSygujZQTlR4xvvNWzv7qzaPsbn-/s1600-h/Picture+4443.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051873145666277874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIC7Fir699E5JK8V_UDzaXnVkszvMRpkO-7W_OirmC4-VuI1s0EBiZ0BEDs0LseRwagjHRrV_-cKSKrAiRXVlNIP2Egdr4rsFpt8QX9iA9OSygujZQTlR4xvvNWzv7qzaPsbn-/s400/Picture+4443.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;">We also got the back deck of death a little closer to finished (at least temporarily). We know we are re-doing the front deck in another year or so, but haven't had the time to really think about what we wanted to do with it or what kind of material we wanted to use. So, we didn't have any idea what type of decking we wanted for the back, since we do want it to all tie together. But, we had some pressure treated lumber, and a free handrail some friends had unloaded on us, so for the time-being we are having a plain, green tinted pressure treated deck. Not exactly what either of us had in mind, but it will do for the time being. At least we can actually use it. More than likely, the handrail will be replaced this summer with a handcrafted rhododendron railing, once we have a little free time to get creative. </span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmhvjbcbtExgef-J-14ZiGtraA5jzH4nOItAjeA1XllxfT_5-49dE8xzpiXFSZH3k_nvSftzAY-iMcg1kfWIoxxNBeyrxKVZtZF4EsNouJyIeGquJkQ2fdrjHSqEuA1SUOstq/s1600-h/Picture+4445.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051873154256212482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibmhvjbcbtExgef-J-14ZiGtraA5jzH4nOItAjeA1XllxfT_5-49dE8xzpiXFSZH3k_nvSftzAY-iMcg1kfWIoxxNBeyrxKVZtZF4EsNouJyIeGquJkQ2fdrjHSqEuA1SUOstq/s400/Picture+4445.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW79ERVDjYcH7_gUv4BEJkZMRQrGkbL6xLb-wCXzycBlLX-bTeMgd3Leq5GMfUIUyq9idwgx8m1H1sBOUa3Kb6-6dtQmdfFIyzqXtNHCMA8URcSn6bvqbAe4po6jYCPOZU2mGv/s1600-h/Picture+4444.jpg"></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUU5GMw4s62aQUF6fMSa-8UHODqPmeKqJYKWcQ9B14jdVl6_HGZEnA5LUYgg1SH9ungLa-7hfr2Ac1Lpu3WqM4XuvX5gt73UKmw2c190jztvHya-hn__t33QNNlqqStFOW8A9/s1600-h/Picture+4447.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051873175731048994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUU5GMw4s62aQUF6fMSa-8UHODqPmeKqJYKWcQ9B14jdVl6_HGZEnA5LUYgg1SH9ungLa-7hfr2Ac1Lpu3WqM4XuvX5gt73UKmw2c190jztvHya-hn__t33QNNlqqStFOW8A9/s400/Picture+4447.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;">The view from the bottom of the creek at the back of the house. Another upcoming project this summer will be to put stone up on the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">cinder block</span> piers. But once again, we need to figure our what kind of stone - we have no idea and have not even really looked into it. Oh well.<br /></span><div></div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-302440137287497732007-04-06T10:07:00.000-04:002008-12-10T06:40:23.608-05:00It's been awhile, but we're back<span style="font-size:130%;">We needed a break, but we're back in action. After the push to get into our house, and then the unfortunate timing that forced us to be sidetracked with our rental house, we needed a break. As Matt pointed out, we had not had a single day off since out trip last summer. We were burned out and a bit frazzled and our motivation was almost non-existent. So we headed down to Florida to visit with my dad and my brothers and sister. We hung out at the pool, wondered around the beach, and basically did absolutely nothing except eat and relax, which was just what we needed. Because we need the energy to tackle this list:</span><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050321818635349858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjysqLrfkxEA3_QJEG5e-01e8suoRPLK1ewSbXtQaGVWCboxLd1LASMplsVObyBKrWG5PZOFFy6S-zrrcZyMYuBowFuG9mELC6GNxhSXLnW-KaLJ2p-01__1oQ5dSrnJQB8QjTz/s400/Picture+4414.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;">And although you probably can't read it, there's a lot to do, trust us. And quite a bit of that list must be accomplished in the next month, because we are having the house reappraised. So with that in mind we figured the first thing we need to do is finish the back deck, 'cause</span></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5050321822930317170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXHrdJJMcZIYeJe4PnAdrE8dGNZQfEe75t51zTo5vaht6igrAsgwnM5at5bkLXYCYQ_dppqsBDnL8mQpA8uHonHxK_t4EXos0EyFdgA9G_OHbF3JPSRyy0YNINrzwA2OGIs-fl/s400/Picture+4416.jpg" border="0" /></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">this just doesn't look good (or safe for that matter). And we'll probably finish up those french doors too, because the 'newspaper/insulation between the doors' look doesn't go with the new couch.</span> </p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-13869804513383981522007-03-23T10:30:00.000-04:002007-03-23T10:31:54.646-04:00We cheated<span style="font-size:130%;">We’ve been cheating on our house. Its hard to admit, but its true. But we promise, after this weekend its over.<br /><br />You see, almost two years ago we bought another house. A “project” house. An investment if you will. We were not ready to start on our house, but Matt wanted a project, and the right house came along and we bought it. We never even got a really good look at it. It already had renters with 6 months left on their lease, so we bought it and they started sending the rent checks to us and we began making plans for what we would do to fix up the house once their lease was up. We closed on it on Matt’s birthday, and joked about it being his birthday present. <br /><br />By the time the lease was up, we were starting to plan the overhaul of the creek house, and we worried that we didn’t have the time or money to put into fixing the rental house. The renters were happy and they wanted to stay, so we let them sign another lease. And so it went. Until January when they were officially two months behind on rent* and we went to talk to them, and they announced they were moving to Kansas in two days. What they left behind was a horror show I prefer to block from memory. If I was of the criminal persuasion, I would have set fire to the house and claimed good riddance. It was a disaster and in my humble opinion, threat to human health. <br /><br />So the first weekend in Feb., when we should have been trying to finish up the creek house enough to move in, we were instead filling a 40 yard dumpster to the brim with all of the trash and rotting food and unidentifiable items they left behind. We changed the locks, shut everything down, and walked away. But then we got a call from the neighbor, and they had someone (a relative) that wanted to move in right away. And call us crazy, but somehow, we promised to have the house in a livable condition by April 1. Why? I have no idea. But this entire month has been devoted to working on the rental house. And, after this weekend, it will be livable – because my husband is a rock star.<br /><br />So far we have (and by we, I mostly mean Matt)<br />-hauled out 40 yards of debris and trash from the inside of the house.<br />-disinfected and scrubbed every surface with hospital grade disinfectant (twice).<br />-gutted the kitchen<br />-gutted the bathroom<br />-ripped off the fake paneling on all of the walls<br />-patched all of the plaster<br />-installed wainscoting in the living room and chair rail (as a way to cover a large hole in the plaster that we could not patch).<br />-put down new flooring in both the kitchen and bath<br />-tiled the kitchen countertop<br />-replaced all of the kitchen appliances (this was easy, because we saved all of the appliances from the creek house for this purpose).<br />-replaced the tub surround<br />-primed the entire house<br /><br />This weekend we will reglaze several windows and put a new epoxy coating on the old cast iron tub. Then, hopefully, we will be done. I have no before pictures, because as I said earlier, I am attempting to block the original condition of the house from my memory. But I will post some pictures after this weekend of what it looks like now. Then, we will return to our regular programming. </span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-73407260724676244002007-03-07T10:31:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:40:24.227-05:00We've Moved In!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bXyUP6N3jZ3ZXAtXvXvGjxJ8AyUi5xd0IorVtEPxA7-V2FrVJ8jG_Sv1nbXb_6KQyMOgp_Gg6qXj_ZBWZ99rFmG0h434DJlNIJBe25Is_a6kvdI-1_BLD_58ZjXeqtzb4MCk/s1600-h/Picture+4395.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039209818174167362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bXyUP6N3jZ3ZXAtXvXvGjxJ8AyUi5xd0IorVtEPxA7-V2FrVJ8jG_Sv1nbXb_6KQyMOgp_Gg6qXj_ZBWZ99rFmG0h434DJlNIJBe25Is_a6kvdI-1_BLD_58ZjXeqtzb4MCk/s320/Picture+4395.jpg" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039209809584232754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQn2FyJgRftCatEQ1pozgzNYdHq2W9xab8Yvacb2c33AmL2tOQJ_qRMj_0HpWAvgbQDgaVwPNOyKST-vQv4N-ic6yYwqnTN5LS5rRKiygLdAj7X-RYXFECTSRxH-vzA73zOKwb/s320/Picture+4373.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">This past weekend was a blur . One big whirlwind cleaning frenzy. It began at 7:00am Sat. down at the neighbors house as we packed up everything of ours and moved it out, and then gave their house a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">thorough</span> scrubbing in an attempt to remove all dog hair dust and construction debris we have dragged in over there this winter. We revved up bright and early again on Sunday to move out as many tools, etc. as practicable from our house and then <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">began</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">shopvaccing</span> and scrubbing <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">everything</span> in sight in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">preparation</span> for moving in. By the time we collapsed on Sunday, we were pretty well situated with minimal furniture, dishes etc. </span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;">And then it finally happened. As soon as we were in the house it hit. The past year of non stop work caught up and I hit a wall. Monday, I barely got up off the couch. Tuesday I worked late to make up for Monday, and today I'd do just about anything to lay on the couch all day. My whole body hurts, I feel like I have a migraine, and my back and neck have enough knots in them to rig a tall ship. It is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">definitely</span> time to rest.</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039210750182070610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqahdYAeZBkmkynwIaHctESC4-WpmFrASyPlc__ss6ICW4MO_ALd96SBPGZMzzpZRgx4Ai0-pqQ6h-vwzDHr8jYg-gE7zfjjPRAHAKwbEnx_TW-zA_92qCQvAo4d-5J6VN-BAo/s320/Picture+4389.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039210758772005218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilNa83m5MPUx8gRl0N_GD-nJwnlNfBymquHhpvXLOFkTuBo6C8v9vOXgqqVhS94ihBfnkUjh3XzTD0DSeBWQFObTcNEE9AMu1sLMB2f2T2dwJhF77BW57yZ_j3b8ML3xXjuXeG/s320/Picture+4386.jpg" border="0" />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-4987535120003148012007-02-28T10:44:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:40:25.271-05:00Behold the kitchen!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8MuMUf9ZqpyGa5IUY7fL_gknuRU8PobZZ_oFDrLT9Uz7_CXI_APa5AK7DJ5DNsOsdj6L_XwH8iiF0xIXZJeWWUZNicVK0X_7r04C07RBRlygS21-Au_YQuUw8XORBSca-Mpw/s1600-h/Picture+4358.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036613924367609618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8MuMUf9ZqpyGa5IUY7fL_gknuRU8PobZZ_oFDrLT9Uz7_CXI_APa5AK7DJ5DNsOsdj6L_XwH8iiF0xIXZJeWWUZNicVK0X_7r04C07RBRlygS21-Au_YQuUw8XORBSca-Mpw/s320/Picture+4358.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Behold the kitchen! We will install the downdraft stove tomorrow (in that big white spot where I didn't bother painting) and all of the plumbing should be connected by Sat. We plan on building our own concrete <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">countertops</span>, so we'll start that project in the next few weeks. Until then, we make some temporary plywood tops.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036613937252511538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvn1JULfWivjCegGymzUhw4kKCWw12R0SBxPXq3QbHRUSz2BDSfdebV6UGQ_bilCn7f3Hz5GbJ5quHX5-JbrG9xbXhVzXBkuD1r9DpGbFi5NYF3AMxQvrPkUn5uCk9a0zNuuvi/s320/Picture+4355.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:130%;">We'll also need to repair this:</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036613932957544226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH_DCb9D5uYcpNuK8sjK818N1fnAUPgA5ejP7RM8Uvvksy88aa7Om1CiXiXPHC4x8txYPbWKb5eyaiV2Hujc860-vZibgKbS8o2i2uVHJ1Y37N6NweweZ-cjxfWRviUsq_QWV1/s320/Picture+4353.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036615496325640018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kgt-UgzZSFreLcuFVIQVWQObcMaGex07wXrtVm3EADQ33bjbyoKW_poP6wHCVrk1Q0YhjXpSJqidQN8LAlEMU-UsmFToKmekITvA4Uz6WWg9Rqr-Tucnwqe6HsddI_AZRz_a/s320/Picture+4351.jpg" border="0" /><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:130%;">We got a little too "custom" and after the drywall finisher was done, the fridge didn't fit into it's built in.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5036615058238975810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRbASNYlAKkv5I1_MbF_5-VI6H2MNTZoZGFUu7_pUl-pw2v3AfMsAK51JPJopupvzmbBolgnKGf_TqzZxD0f-1Iy_QqJT-6txuAGUvQGArCvlc_2YyizDWQdt0wy1e5VbJ9xTB/s320/Picture+4363.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">My favorite part of the kitchen!</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-90064990589911582842007-02-26T13:32:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:40:25.863-05:00Racing to the finish line<span style="font-size:130%;">Wow, what a huge weekend!! We are <em>so close</em> to being able to move in. Last Thursday we had the power turned on and then Friday the radiant floor system was turned on. And it is fabulous. We installed <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">hydronic</span></span> radiant heat throughout the house and within two hours of turning the system on, the house went from 46 degrees to 70 degrees. I still can't believe that we didn't have a hole in any of the piping (Jim King, if your out there reading this, you now officially owe us $100!). Once it heated up, the system barely ran all weekend because the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">icynene</span> is such a fabulous insulator. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035915147950640514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39Ih5p2c1FQdcz7-nq2XhkX1IYRG-z0zwkfZ0XQYf9RGfQyrq36_g-G_UBidNMX0LplLv2MBvir37vNt4Y60Lcyt96ITLU57fboeD2u2Klq1QTcZy98soxINLEZs9evRmuJvt/s320/Picture+4338.jpg" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Nothing beats warm floors, they are even better than we had anticipated - I just want to lounge around on the floor all day!</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035916427850894738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS03tvBXrhMIrbcN2vh2slzaEoElm1d9G_5Luu8339Zhw8AGvxTWg_EK_x5Ymd_3KoGQ2EsvHLkAaxTMwCtJXBCMQbFNuKayHqTvp2a-_RRKUgxkKNqAM1HFFGJf4V99eQ2ngV/s320/Picture+4350.jpg" border="0" /></span><br /><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;">So yes, <em>of course</em> we spent the weekend at the house. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">In fact the only thing keeping us from moving in is the lack of a bathroom. So part of the weekend was spent tiling the guest bathroom so that the plumber can come this weekend and hook it up. Then, once we are in the house, we will work on the master bath, its just a little more time consuming and all we want to do right now is move back in!</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035916436440829346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMnOYsA7VKZDyoqX49CbMFqET_Y9Gia-CD0bHdKyt1bwpKzWcqk4ttPc6s2INod2F56P1C4VM-qUrLqh95LKJSvGOsnyJYR-xVg9MXbhDA7QjXUsRNQx8DFxvQEsNj0nO0_xv/s320/Picture+4349.jpg" border="0" /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5035916445030763954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA73w1tXrp9i-wyFNzx7ye5DcTkbZXIIgBgzXaKqC-ua8PDM_lp1sV46D33T0KRWw8nmLrplNMVlRkSaEkjICFtwcOyyeFrzPPh5cedhGECivEHEomDP-qBQBZz0UjhkmtDxTz/s320/Picture+4343.jpg" border="0" /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">We did a natural tile with these little glass <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">mosaic</span> inlays. I kind of wish now that we'd gone with a dark gray grout for more contrast, but once the bathroom is finished I think that I will be glad we went with the light brown <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">grout</span>. But at this point, as long as we can shower in here next week, I really don't care if the grout is hot pink. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Two other big things happened, we got all of the kitchen cabinets in and most of the appliances. We still need to install the downdraft stove and repair the wall that was "reconfigured" to get the fridge in place, then we can start working on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">countertops</span></span>. We've decided to create our own concrete <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">countertops</span></span>, so if anyone is out there that has done them and has any tips, we'd love to hear them! I'll post pics of the kitchen later this week. </span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">The other thing that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">happened</span> was we had this guy come in from Atlanta to paint the ceilings. He does <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">astronomically</span> correct night skies that are invisible during the day and look very <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">planetarium</span> like in the dark. It took him two days to paint three fairly small ceilings, and I must say without a doubt it is the coolest part of our house (besides the creek). The ceilings are stunning. I'll give you the link, but I must warn you the website is cheesy and in no way does justice to the work. But I guess it is kind of hard to take a picture of... <a href="http://www.stellarvision.com/">http://www.stellarvision.com/</a></span></p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-34777741758153009492007-02-19T12:46:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:40:26.814-05:00It almost feels like home<div><span style="font-size:130%;">A huge weekend, with more pictures to come! We finished up the pine tongue and groove ceiling so we could move the staging out of the living room, and then finished up all of the heart pine flooring. Somehow, we managed to avoid hitting any any of the radiant floor pipes. We now have signs posted in the house <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">instructing</span> all subs to NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES drill into the floor. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Because</span> don't you just know that after we managed to install the entire floor without hitting any tubing that something like that would happen!! We also managed to get the living room painted just before the flooring went down, so that I was able to take advantage of the staging before we broke it all down. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033305847944138066" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4raXks5TCN5-56pMQacV_wrXO_1tBPADpmFuf2TqTWk3lHXlPlFAZIMeJFDdJVt5MZ_0FJ0MdhUsurJH8dnVlf0Y72ZBo0qs-OWSy_jtANovQ6dWPgfgmHSocVtDCn95OV-hy/s320/Picture+4320.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;">One of the homeowners Matt helped build a house for (check it out at </span><a href="http://www.kengaylord.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;">www.kengaylord.com</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">, just go to projects and click on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Onnick</span>/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Farash</span> Residence) dropped by on Sat. to lend his own very skilled hand to our house. We are hoping that he is going to design/build the gable end detail to our house, as he has an artistic sensibility that very much appeals to us. He even stuck around to help Matty move the new kitchen cabinets into place! Thanks Paul!!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033305856534072674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPq6x_VMOYay7csFqZVcGlSowuPIvbV-zTvNQ9Ns1VufUnfTPBH5BVtLCUx_Mi8ox-v-LFQ_NtPkBvzwas0xgqYcjAyeN05BilZVonWtfNxs685Ss1qWpGnd9y8aQgCjeLHVpz/s320/Picture+4319.jpg" border="0" /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033305860829039986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXM0mF0E-5OCtKjfHS8vbDYBq0v4DdsLJ8DkeWKq3xlSGE7IfZAo-Nw59nPy9dWHke_1FMvE22zb5Ht5CDQ4_rpJ79np7waPYrEB_y3ibV5gAGT57fbiTFDs_UO6Rj2izRvGK/s320/Picture+4317.jpg" border="0" /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Without all the staging and power tools laying around, it really started to feel more like our house. We got so excited that by Sunday afternoon we were moving all of the new appliances in to see everything in place. The idea was I would get a couple of pictures, and then we would pull everything back out so that the electricians could get in and out to connect all of the outlets, etc. We were really worried about the washer and dryer fitting in as we had originally <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">envisioned</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">stackable</span> in the space, but had found that the combo <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">theoretically</span> would just fit in side by side. Well, they went in with no problem. Unfortunately, the problem was with the fridge. I had given Matty exact measurements of the fridge and he had built a a space for it to slide into with allowances for drywall mud, etc. But our finisher used A LOT of mud. So after several failed attempts (several as in 9 or 10) to get the fridge into the space, we ended up ripping off the drywall bead and sanding the sides down to create just enough to get the fridge in with a good bit of coaxing. Somehow, during this process, it never <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">occurred</span> to me to grab the camera, so you all will just have to use your imaginations. For the full effect, incorporate a lot of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">expletives</span>.</span> </p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-43374905176514798792007-02-09T15:36:00.000-05:002007-02-09T15:55:02.423-05:00Copper Farmhouse Kitchen Sink<span style="font-size:130%;">Well, we've got everything but the kitchen sink. A few days after we received the shipment from the Expo Design center, we got the call that our kitchen cabinets were ready. All we needed was the kitchen sink... so I ordered this:</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i17.ebayimg.com/03/i/05/47/ae/15_1.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://i14.ebayimg.com/04/i/05/47/cd/23_1.JPG" border="0" /></span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;">It should arrive in a few weeks, so I'll post pictures of the actual sink. There is a lot going on in the coming weeks and we should be posting a ton of pictures. We are trying to be in the house by the beginning of March, although it will be far from done. The plan looks like this:</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">This weekend - finish putting up the pine ceiling</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">During the week - finish painting guest bedroom, hall and living room, pick up kitchen cabinets </span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Next weekend - finish putting down the floor, durarock the bathrooms</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">During the week - tile guest bathroom, plumber and electrician in to do all finish work</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Final weekend - put down decking on back deck and railing. Grout and seal tile and paint in guest bath.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">At that point we will still be miles away from done, but hopefully ready to move back home! Keep your fingers crossed!!</span></p>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-52488375870531324222007-02-06T11:51:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:40:27.306-05:00Pine ceilings and amber shellac<div><span style="font-size:130%;">We now have half of the tongue and groove pine ceiling up. I know, half seems to be the theme... half the ceiling up, half the floor down. We spent the first part of the weekend finishing the boards on the ground, and then Sunday was spent putting them up. Matt was a little worried about the shellac, nothing like the word "orange" to strike fear into the heart, but it turned out really nice. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028467176775110130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvhrYhvW9Sej1gcD_7hkUhxWrH2YQlywgTH0RkdMdR3pgq0a7Pujpk0U4GbgvxQUzp3l99SMNri8fph6G3u-gnqYE4Sdv3RSYWFbyJB4iMb8lSsNo9c3GPo_Wh4WUaAfjzNqFd/s320/Picture+4261.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">The pine itself is really knotty with a ton of character. We got it really cheap, so we've been having to pick through it quite a bit as a lot of it is either unusable or at least portions of boards are unusable. But all in all, I think we still got a great deal and we love the feeling of warmth.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028467185365044738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglI95IAD96JQ5DpP-o4wYa44H4tR2V1m_i0dzcEGCzN0c2LzAHrFLREEaHC7dm5Lxw1S0B4HjXWjEbr4hxieTjRbMDkmCDw-IE2Ag3YtJvlkAhnA4QL_DUXOHFCuZy0-aWR_9q/s320/Picture+4275.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">As I mentioned earlier, we used amber shellac, or what was formerly known as orange shellac. We chose it because it has been around for ages, so it gives the wood a much more antique type finish. It dries ridiculously fast, in about 30 minutes, which is great when you have a couple hundred boards to finish. And its all natural, non-toxic and comes from a completely, renewable resource. Oddly enough, its actually made of resins excreted by the Lac Beetle. But, we like bugs, so it works for us!</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028467198249946658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAFZVWG4OZIBDD7_s1UFS2tEhBFsCafKRDiljVBlnoDNKp19oR8V7IXZiRw0s6aiGBuwDxvunxMWC3HZveKXMzs_QPIliPKbVrx4e68EEq2F0bdv_Hl7cDhR-jH-7z5jIZd5Y/s320/Picture+4267.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;">Our halfway point. Matt is going to build barn doors for the loft up there. One day we might come back and finish it for a library/office/reading nook space. </span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5028467189660012050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdnBSrGNLizR1sDwlkF-1XC3ZuH5DsWcWqXuRXv7JdS6GjhtPKg7sHHncjoFsZrD-GDkOfd3lgZGtySYWMW68i3C-7Io6MP0oaCQiN6nXRSqV5i7y3T3-DMwNzT1QVI250Fi-/s320/Picture+4292.jpg" border="0" /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">And, in other news, we finally received out shipment of everything we bought at the Expo Design center back in November. Now that it is all stacked up in the garage, it doesn't seem like all that much. But low and behold, what you see there will soon be transformed into everything that goes inside our house that makes a house a house and not a shell of a building. Lights that light, toilets that flush, fans that spin, dishwashers that clean...</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-82915695818427391292007-01-30T17:40:00.000-05:002008-12-10T06:40:27.704-05:00reclaimed heart pine engineered flooring<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTM1En_8-4PNZPcg-3aOSSdmlqZ6A1axvgRUb6xFoNy19FA7G_TR4kQgFBQq0p9SIz46lrwFL4jgYsc13AAIeaxZQFHjfbZPwI8Mp0ZpBGNBxMNJUlHSC9BIOfs3lC5qOF63RQ/s1600-h/Picture+4253.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025958904827409522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTM1En_8-4PNZPcg-3aOSSdmlqZ6A1axvgRUb6xFoNy19FA7G_TR4kQgFBQq0p9SIz46lrwFL4jgYsc13AAIeaxZQFHjfbZPwI8Mp0ZpBGNBxMNJUlHSC9BIOfs3lC5qOF63RQ/s320/Picture+4253.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:130%;">I must say, we are pleased as punch at the way the new floor looks. The picture above was taken in the master bedroom. In case you missed it a few posts back, we decided to switch from hardwood to reclaimed heart pine engineered flooring, as it is better suited to radiant heat. And this weekend we put down half of it. Yes, only half. I know it may seem like we should have been able to put it all down this weekend, I mean after all the house is only 1400 sq. ft. But you have no idea. We had to lay the floor around this:</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5025958556935058530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQE4a_JHesQFJDX43kVI2Q-LsHoH9r6CVo9OKLDfDL9WtzhGyqMhm1nswijAWj22lq8ZdGLjZ38102lGUSo8IataI1CBmfTIXkayvj6AphaAtTQ1nN8kBQvr5h8ZjAX8hASQ3/s320/Picture+4251.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The radiant pex tubing. The tubing that will soon hold water, and therefore should not have any holes accidentally poked into it with a floor stapler. Because if it did get a hole in it, we would not know until it was filled up, and then we would have to pull the floor up to find and fix the leak. The brand new floor that we just spent all of our money on, that looks so pretty, that I love. So it was a slow, methodical, nerve-wrecking process. One that we will hopefully only have to endure one more time to get the living room/kitchen finished, and then never again. Ever, ever, ever.</span>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22731641.post-71241742392501059382007-01-25T15:55:00.000-05:002007-01-25T16:24:52.546-05:00Wishing and Dreaming<span style="font-size:130%;">I can't wait for spring and landscaping and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">yard work</span>. Maybe I'm just over winter. Or maybe I'm just over this whole ongoing, seemingly never ending transitional lifestyle we have been living for the past year. The one with all of our stuff in storage and us walking around for the last eight months in the same six outfits cause <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">that's</span> all we kept out of storage and hauled around in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Rubbermaid</span> bins with us from garage to tent to the neighbors house. And of course landscaping and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">yard work</span> always come after building a house, so my longing for them might just be a longing for our being sort of kind of finished, my stuff being unpacked and us living back under our (new) roof. Or it could just be because I want these cool landscape lights so bad I can feel it all the way down to my toes (</span><a href="http://www.escortlighting.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;">www.escortlighting.com</span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">).</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 193px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 280px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="356" alt="" src="http://www.escortlighting.com/images/products/WFLR_TH.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 318px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="372" alt="" src="http://www.escortlighting.com/images/products/LB6-18_TH.jpg" border="0" /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 228px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 311px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" height="375" alt="" src="http://www.escortlighting.com/images/products/T1014-1_TH.jpg" border="0" />Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15649118628875241840noreply@blogger.com2