tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76417360452613979072024-02-22T13:49:02.611-05:00Modern Life in an Antique FarmhousePart love story, part nightmare. Share our journey as we attempt to live life amidst whole house renovation.J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.comBlogger168125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-50013600959852726132017-01-11T18:39:00.000-05:002017-01-11T18:45:45.151-05:00Blogging about the dishwasher<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It has been two years and two months since I last touched this blog... I can try to explain, but I won't bore you with excuses, no matter how good they are. Let's just suffice to say that we have a lot of catching up to do!<br />
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So happy 2017! One of my New Years resolutions is to start blogging at least once a month. This is certainly less of a commitment than finishing my book or sticking to some sort of regular exercise routine and way more fun than the chores I should be doing like laundry or cleaning or driving a child some place.<br />
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What a better way to start the new year off than with a post about the dishwasher. Yup, the dishwasher. It is a point of contention in this household. Did you know there is only ONE way to do it correctly? I live with a master dishwrangler who has turned loading dishes into an art form. I have to wonder if "dishwasher" comes up in divorce proceedings if it is a top unreconcilable difference? The main conflict being one partner just doesn't care enough and the other cares too much. <br />
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If we really want to analyze this deeper, and we probably don't, I would say it all comes down to control issues. And people if there is ONE thing that should be under your control, it's your dishwasher! <br />
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So here are some tips for those of you who are confused or uninformed about dishwasher etiquette. Yes, I admit not all dishwashers are the same, there is no one size fits all. If you would like some help learning about the correct way to load yours, I have a spouse you can borrow. He doesn't even mind being video-taped.<br />
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For all you dishwasher control freaks out there (you know who you are!), this one's for you...the rest of us just smile and wave, boys...just smile and wave. (Madagascar)<br />
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J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-12043899019857376312014-11-20T18:00:00.000-05:002014-11-20T18:00:02.818-05:00Insulation and Wallboard<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHk7yBFWWauuAFZq50B-z358E-6rfft60dcewelOYCg2XxmSvU8Nw8XvgdJHIQmc3sDPaQzpP69twMO39wUdPhQx5Lwb0n6_pBIf7xFauoCdJRzp2MODzAKhvvlSkKA_3X0VKDvqQhbE7t/s1600/IMG_20141119_102514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHk7yBFWWauuAFZq50B-z358E-6rfft60dcewelOYCg2XxmSvU8Nw8XvgdJHIQmc3sDPaQzpP69twMO39wUdPhQx5Lwb0n6_pBIf7xFauoCdJRzp2MODzAKhvvlSkKA_3X0VKDvqQhbE7t/s1600/IMG_20141119_102514.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fitting and stapling moisture barrier to ceiling</td></tr>
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Notes from the upstairs reno...<br />
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The bathroom fan is in. It has a sensor and comes on and off when it needs to remove moisture from the room. This is a great way to fix the problem of folks forgetting to turn it on and off.<br />
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The walls and ceiling are insulated. This was no small feat, and required lots of custom cutting. The walls have faced insulation and the ceiling is unfaced, which requires a plastic moisture barrier.<br />
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We are ready to put up the rest of the wall board. We are using green board which now also comes in purple and is supposed to be even more moisture resistant in the bathroom.<br />
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We are using regular drywall (or white board) in the bedroom. We will be taping, mudding, and painting both rooms.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moisture barrier in upstairs bedroom</td></tr>
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Just FYI - on drywall, sheetrock and wallboard:<br />
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Drywall is compressed gypsum panels, covered with paper facing, that installs directly on wall studs.<a href="http://www.ehow.com/info_12181996_differences-between-wallboard-drywall-cement-board.html"> Read more</a>. Sheetrock is a brand name for a particular manufacturer's drywall. To make things more exciting, drywall can also be called wallboard. It comes in white, green, and purple.<br />
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To add a level of confusion, we are also using cement board (also called blue board or plaster board) downstairs in the main living area. It is gray. We plan to hire a plasterer to come and plaster those walls.<br />
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It is cheaper to tape and mud yourself, but in old houses, the walls and ceilings are finished smooth which takes a certain amount of skill (or lots and lots of practice).<br />
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We are using the cheaper method upstairs in the bedrooms and plan to have a professional plaster the living room, dining room, hallway and someday maybe even the kitchen.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanekg6KuTgVCz7MY-TL14VsA0IuijgoZOe6EsKsWcxv_Z7ZpuJjNOmcrRUdwq2Nx9qRCVxdsQmUEOVV80dE5ycnFuAyOOqYff-aPFPgNOnxMUbm9lwyeF7gjHkuHiYeYlcd76FhtSgyxI/s1600/IMG_20141119_144648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanekg6KuTgVCz7MY-TL14VsA0IuijgoZOe6EsKsWcxv_Z7ZpuJjNOmcrRUdwq2Nx9qRCVxdsQmUEOVV80dE5ycnFuAyOOqYff-aPFPgNOnxMUbm9lwyeF7gjHkuHiYeYlcd76FhtSgyxI/s1600/IMG_20141119_144648.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wall board on ceiling</td></tr>
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Right now we have to get the wallboard or sheet rock up on the walls. <br />
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The upstairs ceilings are nine feet high. It took three of us about four hours to install the moisture barrier, cut and install sheetrock on the bedroom ceiling and the angled wall. Angles are tricky.<br />
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Now we need to go back and buy more to finish the job. <br />
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I can't tell you how nice it is to have walls! </div>
J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-45727525255122962612014-11-20T14:35:00.001-05:002014-11-20T14:35:06.545-05:00Blogging Ketchup<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I realize that I have left my fans and readers in the lurch. I hate to leave you hanging, but the truth is that we have been sucked into the dark whole vortex called home renovation. It can be a very dark, scary place. A place where there is never enough time, money or progress.<br />
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I haven't been blogging because the projects are just too overwhelming. The progress that we have made has been swallowed by the list of things yet to-do. I think maybe we took on WAY too much this summer. The finish line is still hazy, a milestone that we don't dare attach a date to.<br />
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The truth is that it is hard to balance work, the house, and life. And it is not always fun. The house is sucking up every spare cent and looking for more.. It has chewed up my husband and spit out a stressed snarling beast. <br />
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So now you know why I have been neglecting you. I was trying not to drag you down with me. We are too far in to do anything but trudge on, for better or worse.<br />
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Perhaps what we need right now is a break. Or a vacation. Or a winning lottery ticket... Or just a very long nap with the cat.<br />
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J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-58155469043782378422014-07-07T16:44:00.001-04:002014-07-07T16:48:10.181-04:00A lull in the bathroom storm...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
While we pause in the bathroom demolition and wait for the next stage called "dismantling the current plumbing", we decided to take a day (or two, or three) to tackle our summer to-do list. Maybe your summer to-do list is filled with fun things like:<br />
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<li>go to the beach</li>
<li>go on vacation</li>
<li>go to camp</li>
<li>have a cookout</li>
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Our to-do list has some little gems on it like:</div>
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<li>rip apart three more rooms</li>
<li>throw the stuff that was in the rooms everywhere</li>
<li>walk around in a dust cloud for eight weeks</li>
<li>finish painting the side of the house</li>
<li>finish painting trim on the front of the house</li>
<li>re-order window grills that some dummy (me) broke three years ago</li>
<li>re-order window screen that some dummy (husband) tore when replacing front siding</li>
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I will stop there...you get the point.</div>
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This past weekend, while also celebrating the 4th of July (on the 5th of July) we managed to get the first coat of paint on the west side of the house. We actually have replaced all the windows on that side of the house and all the siding, but you can't tell. You can't tell because the siding came primed in gray which blends with the rest of the existing house. We could have had it primed in tan to fool you that it was finished, but that cost more money, so gray it is.</div>
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Here are some pictures of the progress. We need to do a second coat and then all the trim work, but now it looks like we DID SOMETHING!!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mYCZFG5CxJA/U7sFWqGGzhI/AAAAAAAAHaY/9NwaXQgLtDo/s1600/IMG_2433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mYCZFG5CxJA/U7sFWqGGzhI/AAAAAAAAHaY/9NwaXQgLtDo/s1600/IMG_2433.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The west side with new siding...but you can't tell!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdz_W3qY5djoXsrR1dICXXNCoOlj4zlLz6mEKw8mSO_WymZW9rl1GNH6gz4oMsN5bAlfXWUX3y1-JxapPOky_30r0E07stVRLIrcl6vqUt5FIIZt3685JddlugwhY7vACzkTAwJPUdBxB/s1600/IMG_2438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdz_W3qY5djoXsrR1dICXXNCoOlj4zlLz6mEKw8mSO_WymZW9rl1GNH6gz4oMsN5bAlfXWUX3y1-JxapPOky_30r0E07stVRLIrcl6vqUt5FIIZt3685JddlugwhY7vACzkTAwJPUdBxB/s1600/IMG_2438.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The paint crew - they lasted about 15 minutes...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JnfU-3XQoM-n8ESW0VoWpwoBUzpUWWEDD1tWXf_aAXWtv5xxOH4x_WMeusf-nA-7ouHRLd8sCT2Z40u0TRlQo0opkMY98X2haW5H6TCmwGLkxxL7nPG5ClX5R6FPk4aCOtqKFXUsTvs_/s1600/IMG_2462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JnfU-3XQoM-n8ESW0VoWpwoBUzpUWWEDD1tWXf_aAXWtv5xxOH4x_WMeusf-nA-7ouHRLd8sCT2Z40u0TRlQo0opkMY98X2haW5H6TCmwGLkxxL7nPG5ClX5R6FPk4aCOtqKFXUsTvs_/s1600/IMG_2462.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You want help...we'll give you help...be careful what you ask for!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91b5NRbKUHmc9mKEJtXOVlRZmDbYxGBvR0stPotiJwM3DnXRm4u1vjGAx3JxsPH8tcTCszzExC2NmCblgERQYmwFt67r04pDpxicdUpSZh_47fy7Pmy5hWlMjqzCQNsW2hW9vncuW3S22/s1600/IMG_2465.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91b5NRbKUHmc9mKEJtXOVlRZmDbYxGBvR0stPotiJwM3DnXRm4u1vjGAx3JxsPH8tcTCszzExC2NmCblgERQYmwFt67r04pDpxicdUpSZh_47fy7Pmy5hWlMjqzCQNsW2hW9vncuW3S22/s1600/IMG_2465.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is a family project. T said "thankfully it's the back side of the house"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamPlxLBSa9YXrm3Pp1VwA0AGYdm6zc9LkKyG0vbczExGlfDIIQCiYyH-c2w8IU6b1qkNKGV6eZpf0MxoeawjcibqEWcYfMKR0YnhrMdu2FiBxlFQghIAeDCW-DGbs3tjwE2zwURx2MDnQ/s1600/IMG_2470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamPlxLBSa9YXrm3Pp1VwA0AGYdm6zc9LkKyG0vbczExGlfDIIQCiYyH-c2w8IU6b1qkNKGV6eZpf0MxoeawjcibqEWcYfMKR0YnhrMdu2FiBxlFQghIAeDCW-DGbs3tjwE2zwURx2MDnQ/s1600/IMG_2470.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The master painter, inspecting the work...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaygQJ4eEJBD7Rb6MID68DfDe4kHpJCcQOqyzZvhOmZsYC0zl56TOi9owLSD41WCz12UCbYnZIkD18xppxXNMgcSElStEBMua2mzvaVgfWAf-3r3-3K4eP847XCcMF4C_7JVATANCrEdT4/s1600/IMG_2474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaygQJ4eEJBD7Rb6MID68DfDe4kHpJCcQOqyzZvhOmZsYC0zl56TOi9owLSD41WCz12UCbYnZIkD18xppxXNMgcSElStEBMua2mzvaVgfWAf-3r3-3K4eP847XCcMF4C_7JVATANCrEdT4/s1600/IMG_2474.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And body coat #1 is done!</td></tr>
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J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-25637493060088785642014-07-04T11:54:00.001-04:002014-07-04T11:54:27.059-04:00The Bathroom Floor<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The bathroom floor unfortunately deserves a post of its own. Whomever installed the tile, did a good job. The flooring tile pried off fairly easily with a hammer and a crowbar. Underneath was a thick layer of adhesive plaster that the tile was set in. It was level and seemed to have been poured as one side was thicker than the other. Under the plaster was a thick layer of plywood. The trouble with that is that it was nailed and screwed down in random constellations. You could not see where the nails/screws were because they were covered in the white plaster. It took about FOUR hours demo day five to pry up the floor and it came up in small splinters. We still have a corner to go over by the toilet (the tub is going to push back against the taller corner wall. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDafLvISNy6QUOrzN4h4kRMhKLM4uQu3MgyPZKyDvks1dJt2dYu4aujbTXN4d_1RAopC6XlSDvljDwN-Dl6-EX4JjdzXxz49Qck4OkFsdq6in6xHOdo09GmAy1BEDDHHKe0g-UqANLSYh/s1600/IMG_20140621_110527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDafLvISNy6QUOrzN4h4kRMhKLM4uQu3MgyPZKyDvks1dJt2dYu4aujbTXN4d_1RAopC6XlSDvljDwN-Dl6-EX4JjdzXxz49Qck4OkFsdq6in6xHOdo09GmAy1BEDDHHKe0g-UqANLSYh/s1600/IMG_20140621_110527.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bathroom floor with tile being removed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQ_AzRz8H9g/U7a-OvEf4iI/AAAAAAAAHVU/9Sv0IO5a0Zo/s1600/IMG_2407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZQ_AzRz8H9g/U7a-OvEf4iI/AAAAAAAAHVU/9Sv0IO5a0Zo/s1600/IMG_2407.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tile removed, down to adhesive</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5i-YA0Hu8D7CGSQ4r8bp5YBWdwxb9uUrR7obw8EAoM9jINUiJMQyU_Q9TYJuveMr9VOsZ3mH3mIrOE-oT4tMsfAiwaNcr8Mh6VqoHA2Rgx6BOj1e8qBU7yWAEqsXlLr_gNnweTw1HeJpX/s1600/IMG_2415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5i-YA0Hu8D7CGSQ4r8bp5YBWdwxb9uUrR7obw8EAoM9jINUiJMQyU_Q9TYJuveMr9VOsZ3mH3mIrOE-oT4tMsfAiwaNcr8Mh6VqoHA2Rgx6BOj1e8qBU7yWAEqsXlLr_gNnweTw1HeJpX/s1600/IMG_2415.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prying up the plywood sandwich</td></tr>
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J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-77833839677517755242014-07-04T11:41:00.000-04:002014-07-04T11:41:06.682-04:00Demo Day Four...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0E_iZevBou8/U7a9zo2PNQI/AAAAAAAAHUY/lBBj4nb1BkY/s1600/IMG_2400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0E_iZevBou8/U7a9zo2PNQI/AAAAAAAAHUY/lBBj4nb1BkY/s1600/IMG_2400.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome, come on in...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvB_ibm2O6P3oul_VX5Lfk6CXPqOCxD8Io0VVQjTiCictKRXQndrJ0L6fH0W8tiaXQC_fCz47ywMkTRJHV6xhCfyfqqdquIauRQitP0oJYHW_l7oEodVMpU8451bDbIDZRjtGY6eK3jwxG/s1600/IMG_2379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvB_ibm2O6P3oul_VX5Lfk6CXPqOCxD8Io0VVQjTiCictKRXQndrJ0L6fH0W8tiaXQC_fCz47ywMkTRJHV6xhCfyfqqdquIauRQitP0oJYHW_l7oEodVMpU8451bDbIDZRjtGY6eK3jwxG/s1600/IMG_2379.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to catch insulation as it falls out of the walls from the ceiling</td></tr>
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Demo day four was spent upstairs, mainly in the bedroom. I thought I hated dusty horse hair plaster until I encountered itchy foul rock wool insulation. I don't even have words for how I feel about that!<br />
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This demo job was disgusting. It was hot outside. We were covered in plaster dust. The ceiling was full of loose insulation that had been used by mice for years as nests and toilets. The smell was awful. And it itches.<br />
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I had to keep running my arms under water to try and remove the particles. We should have had long sleeves tucked into our gloves. <br />
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It took all day to chuck lathe out the window, haul to the burn pile. We started filling buckets with plaster and T hauled them down the stairs and out to the dumpster. After about the 20th trip, we just started chucking the plaster out the window too. We had buckets set up below, but a lot missed. We also filled bucket after bucket of insulation and hauled those down to the dumpster. At least those were lighter.<br />
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Here are the fabulous surprises that we found:<br />
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>The outer walls had insulation! Some of it was moldy though as moisture seems to be getting in from outside.</li>
<li>We found an inscription in the wall from the Chalifoux's in 1973 which must be when the bathroom was created upstairs <a href="http://antiquefarmhouse.blogspot.com/2014/06/thy-middle-name-is-demolition.html" target="_blank">See it Here</a></li>
<li>We found the original divider between the two rooms (the bathroom was created from taking space from each upper bedroom)</li>
<li>Mice skeletons and fully mummified mice carcasses covered in what looks like creosote (found near the chimney)</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHxMIDPfO0CUJ3yAmeFz_XZOHV8QgFuX_mhNk-ZMrgq-oItN3zAZ8JfmtGncuuqIXwfGCW4w0UjHd_PgRVfkEvL-lbGX_zqLpc0ojTsS9rmQ1LqzQsWldv58dBR8qfsSEjeahXltjlTjx/s1600/IMG_2380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdHxMIDPfO0CUJ3yAmeFz_XZOHV8QgFuX_mhNk-ZMrgq-oItN3zAZ8JfmtGncuuqIXwfGCW4w0UjHd_PgRVfkEvL-lbGX_zqLpc0ojTsS9rmQ1LqzQsWldv58dBR8qfsSEjeahXltjlTjx/s1600/IMG_2380.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a dusty mess!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-deYGjOJiNkw/U7a7_SrUYhI/AAAAAAAAHR8/qnZC94XCBBc/s1600/IMG_2381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-deYGjOJiNkw/U7a7_SrUYhI/AAAAAAAAHR8/qnZC94XCBBc/s1600/IMG_2381.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The back wall with funky electrical wires - some live and dead-ended in the wall</td></tr>
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If I NEVER EVER have to demo any upper room with horse hair and insulation again I would be happy... Unfortunately, we still have two bedrooms and a hallway to deal with (not including the back part of the house)... <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0W9t9A2k68TYscYzDr16g8oSKE-hct7HoKPznvWnaYCkQFrrx0l_VfIz1OaY4k5crBGz7C3dOm9h_0NzmnTO_KwE3suYn8sewpJGIlwuIK4vZdzTY1GKbaenHeC-8xycqkRcFnMrfz0l/s1600/IMG_2382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0W9t9A2k68TYscYzDr16g8oSKE-hct7HoKPznvWnaYCkQFrrx0l_VfIz1OaY4k5crBGz7C3dOm9h_0NzmnTO_KwE3suYn8sewpJGIlwuIK4vZdzTY1GKbaenHeC-8xycqkRcFnMrfz0l/s1600/IMG_2382.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The insulation and cobweb filled ceiling</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-37N4TjilLfg/U7a8OB1iBZI/AAAAAAAAHSY/VJKNz2N6xig/s1600/IMG_2383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-37N4TjilLfg/U7a8OB1iBZI/AAAAAAAAHSY/VJKNz2N6xig/s1600/IMG_2383.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bathroom sink vent</td></tr>
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The husband also wanted to rip out the hallway over the stairs but I talked him out of it. We have just created months (years?) of work to now finish these rooms and we still would have to demo the upper hallway and two bedrooms so if we couldn't finish the job I didn't want any more mess!!!<br />
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I have enough mess. Almost a week later, I am still dusting and sweeping and vacuuming up plaster dust. Fun.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTWTFzVrbb8G_iv2I33XUBS0e1ohsHxuTIhUbuH7xr9VTdpCxSHefTOzDSY6-CRTUMCG3X892y5OhvQVXi1xdvbMspJ9WaNPLBZG19yDm1slRlfr5llaGwFI6EDJN9WYpCphvumiAr4Qn/s1600/IMG_2384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTWTFzVrbb8G_iv2I33XUBS0e1ohsHxuTIhUbuH7xr9VTdpCxSHefTOzDSY6-CRTUMCG3X892y5OhvQVXi1xdvbMspJ9WaNPLBZG19yDm1slRlfr5llaGwFI6EDJN9WYpCphvumiAr4Qn/s1600/IMG_2384.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The double layer ceiling in the bathroom - gutting around the tub</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXc2igbVgd2ymZVrZg8X4NXIQyeHQCwaCPUemwmz_mztValbo8oJmlxhMmxEPcGb7eNts8PtCnDxO167aKf0yd-OdYR_XGH32XU6LO3G3xmO-fHVqP0iOIewXQAbMmJ5eRG6md5UKdWkf/s1600/IMG_2398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmXc2igbVgd2ymZVrZg8X4NXIQyeHQCwaCPUemwmz_mztValbo8oJmlxhMmxEPcGb7eNts8PtCnDxO167aKf0yd-OdYR_XGH32XU6LO3G3xmO-fHVqP0iOIewXQAbMmJ5eRG6md5UKdWkf/s1600/IMG_2398.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Removed outer wall leaving angled sink and tub for now...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sZUT1PUGsqA/U7a9r6zjDdI/AAAAAAAAHUQ/uE0LlFl1j4Q/s1600/IMG_2399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sZUT1PUGsqA/U7a9r6zjDdI/AAAAAAAAHUQ/uE0LlFl1j4Q/s1600/IMG_2399.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More of the ceiling...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlIeEWIRrhT5ODPBZN3_VKAWawifyIPexGGjmqv2pk6fvNRH3M-9EjoYs4Djvy1EUNtoHLjZrNgwkTY4YnnhFi9ETMb71KpjO7mMsw3OhcWKN3rXuYCgt2bacVrEsVv957MifX2SZ08BT/s1600/IMG_2401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlIeEWIRrhT5ODPBZN3_VKAWawifyIPexGGjmqv2pk6fvNRH3M-9EjoYs4Djvy1EUNtoHLjZrNgwkTY4YnnhFi9ETMb71KpjO7mMsw3OhcWKN3rXuYCgt2bacVrEsVv957MifX2SZ08BT/s1600/IMG_2401.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More of the wall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fs1L3A42QRY/U7a93cO4LWI/AAAAAAAAHUo/uhiE8KC5C8o/s1600/IMG_2402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fs1L3A42QRY/U7a93cO4LWI/AAAAAAAAHUo/uhiE8KC5C8o/s1600/IMG_2402.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">more of the gutted walls</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaq6tflbLp4DlkmSQCgxbShTBdj2DfaOgOw0p1sqLaCZUd8z31OOXq2Z73RGQBTcsaPdcawE-r9RFJWb761L3Ofmvo5TcQ_sQq2N2Q_U8IW7EYdGyFX6IBhdfDPLXRRdFnE-tDH3fiPXk/s1600/IMG_2403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikaq6tflbLp4DlkmSQCgxbShTBdj2DfaOgOw0p1sqLaCZUd8z31OOXq2Z73RGQBTcsaPdcawE-r9RFJWb761L3Ofmvo5TcQ_sQq2N2Q_U8IW7EYdGyFX6IBhdfDPLXRRdFnE-tDH3fiPXk/s1600/IMG_2403.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The EVIL ceiling</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXGHy-l9YmgizRJK8K-HpL_6J8JuKb0P7EFJ2P40LJe6UExFRmGEwiOiwTBtdpztzQ35bU6U3yGkPhZEaLUtq-EvqlKnySDXyEV70BZuQ05grwBiN5rAbfAp8O-OajaSwBzMzO-H6MxYM/s1600/IMG_2404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJXGHy-l9YmgizRJK8K-HpL_6J8JuKb0P7EFJ2P40LJe6UExFRmGEwiOiwTBtdpztzQ35bU6U3yGkPhZEaLUtq-EvqlKnySDXyEV70BZuQ05grwBiN5rAbfAp8O-OajaSwBzMzO-H6MxYM/s1600/IMG_2404.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gigantic light fixture</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1lrx9AlygAtHB_Mg1AzoxZBodOw4h9YwfkgoDk5E5ZpSOq9w0PCmTcmW70xAfJnPPzvoIIqiJKdzWAD6IEnsuAN4BiFxAQ5fdwnqLsEt1G_zaEu-kh18sCEu_dl_ToEOR_Bg9PDjVd_q/s1600/IMG_2405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1lrx9AlygAtHB_Mg1AzoxZBodOw4h9YwfkgoDk5E5ZpSOq9w0PCmTcmW70xAfJnPPzvoIIqiJKdzWAD6IEnsuAN4BiFxAQ5fdwnqLsEt1G_zaEu-kh18sCEu_dl_ToEOR_Bg9PDjVd_q/s1600/IMG_2405.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More ceiling</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kPsbpstuUmNkHpHNj373NwqEUT_SEC2hkpKc27Ea4TZ3YgGmBLGfxD_4x4IX0_ep9WAFKbk_-Q4lUvFIf_vE3sillkAyYfcQs-DqpaQUdn3ULcUDyhK5U_0qVIiji0fU6tLB5GAd4UPh/s1600/IMG_2406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-kPsbpstuUmNkHpHNj373NwqEUT_SEC2hkpKc27Ea4TZ3YgGmBLGfxD_4x4IX0_ep9WAFKbk_-Q4lUvFIf_vE3sillkAyYfcQs-DqpaQUdn3ULcUDyhK5U_0qVIiji0fU6tLB5GAd4UPh/s1600/IMG_2406.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The outer wall</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNU-ejxIBFIiZiR98BIY6mUdPr2-xM9BLgN0NGkgkFUaZtXUpv5HCXMLcwa-uBbnGqaK31GQgc-2RUWyBsNppuymGZJyrMMDaaDLmoKuhwPqAZEjUAn3X9eQeo_kXHzz2qwxr2842bx-T/s1600/IMG_2408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNU-ejxIBFIiZiR98BIY6mUdPr2-xM9BLgN0NGkgkFUaZtXUpv5HCXMLcwa-uBbnGqaK31GQgc-2RUWyBsNppuymGZJyrMMDaaDLmoKuhwPqAZEjUAn3X9eQeo_kXHzz2qwxr2842bx-T/s1600/IMG_2408.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bathroom ceiling and chimney that runs through it</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8BhIyFhKBOGVceM2ro6FuU25TGlzlHdbTibLxCohULWYXa6XHYDDAp9_ejUhXW57ZHYpwZGXMbNmAzjFOPTIqjhDbVw7mx0vcsguneyOUBsFP2zi0IEBbnherYJoUHynQG6fh6XXoaSJ/s1600/IMG_2410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8BhIyFhKBOGVceM2ro6FuU25TGlzlHdbTibLxCohULWYXa6XHYDDAp9_ejUhXW57ZHYpwZGXMbNmAzjFOPTIqjhDbVw7mx0vcsguneyOUBsFP2zi0IEBbnherYJoUHynQG6fh6XXoaSJ/s1600/IMG_2410.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The MESS!!!!</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TKBRaTLA-9Y/U7a-h3TjDwI/AAAAAAAAHVk/emzbFMqIX08/s1600/IMG_2411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TKBRaTLA-9Y/U7a-h3TjDwI/AAAAAAAAHVk/emzbFMqIX08/s1600/IMG_2411.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More of the itchy awful mess...</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZD-bbjZWGA6nvyycRZ7-O2Ss9evuXrad39kV9bi97fztVb3RGtZK0Xe7iKPrNAjq_yy4p24NrNikuNlx0kaq6blkQfYfzw4bokmLM6EaQhPZgaHr-p6v1TR63nLzwY3P659Fn9WwsxkJR/s1600/IMG_2412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZD-bbjZWGA6nvyycRZ7-O2Ss9evuXrad39kV9bi97fztVb3RGtZK0Xe7iKPrNAjq_yy4p24NrNikuNlx0kaq6blkQfYfzw4bokmLM6EaQhPZgaHr-p6v1TR63nLzwY3P659Fn9WwsxkJR/s1600/IMG_2412.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And still more - this all fell out of the ceiling from the attic</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UtiKRPKWzDQ/U7a-vcproGI/AAAAAAAAHV4/k9qSE-lzFBo/s1600/IMG_2413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UtiKRPKWzDQ/U7a-vcproGI/AAAAAAAAHV4/k9qSE-lzFBo/s1600/IMG_2413.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What didn't fall and had to be knocked down with a broom...</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWlaeqcEUQ-Qp0FVifkrKsjwRrKYZLpvbkT5d07fk1ylLn2M8o8b8olyPev1zL4GVgYSbgt3iBvomJjE4xCt64gHP-g29Id02kgEyv4PPszxek6QDg3BflNEZRan4Qgf7s9LDIp2KqeGZ/s1600/IMG_2414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWlaeqcEUQ-Qp0FVifkrKsjwRrKYZLpvbkT5d07fk1ylLn2M8o8b8olyPev1zL4GVgYSbgt3iBvomJjE4xCt64gHP-g29Id02kgEyv4PPszxek6QDg3BflNEZRan4Qgf7s9LDIp2KqeGZ/s1600/IMG_2414.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bathroom ceiling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-75705925743268486152014-07-02T10:50:00.006-04:002014-07-04T11:42:01.061-04:00Demo Day Trois...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Demo Day Three consisted of the dining room. I know, some thought this was the nicest room in the house. Alas, no longer! I have to say that I hate horsehair. It served its life of 114 years, but it is so dry and crumbly, it falls apart in your hand and has become a permanent part of the wall paper.<br />
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Yes we did put up plastic and attempt to seal off the room, but the fine dust makes its way everywhere anyway.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H0ZwqSXM3-E/U7QAGmPYEsI/AAAAAAAAHOg/M9bfPPmmJ1M/s1600/IMG_2365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H0ZwqSXM3-E/U7QAGmPYEsI/AAAAAAAAHOg/M9bfPPmmJ1M/s1600/IMG_2365.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining Room before</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YweY4hXVaVA/U7QAFnp77qI/AAAAAAAAHOc/F3dQ-4l1m5Q/s1600/IMG_2366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YweY4hXVaVA/U7QAFnp77qI/AAAAAAAAHOc/F3dQ-4l1m5Q/s1600/IMG_2366.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More dining room BEFORE</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7V_F_VOvYBqjU2XTEOrKRsFOfZdagkHz3eHMF5jlB6w2u7wPVMrPI9xEbSw4kD_KUcY9x6EelH4Sjb4jgU6nbhOGop33vBO8p_mA2U1hO2ZguXnE0Tti3Bd560kkq3ercA2tKDQm7BbHi/s1600/IMG_2367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7V_F_VOvYBqjU2XTEOrKRsFOfZdagkHz3eHMF5jlB6w2u7wPVMrPI9xEbSw4kD_KUcY9x6EelH4Sjb4jgU6nbhOGop33vBO8p_mA2U1hO2ZguXnE0Tti3Bd560kkq3ercA2tKDQm7BbHi/s1600/IMG_2367.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining Room interior wall BEFORE</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vS6OFHQuMpQ/U7QAO1hjIVI/AAAAAAAAHO0/JTRuaJkZCPg/s1600/IMG_2368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vS6OFHQuMpQ/U7QAO1hjIVI/AAAAAAAAHO0/JTRuaJkZCPg/s1600/IMG_2368.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close of of the wallpaper which had faded to a preppy pink and mint green...</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9mNAkJiwvPdXftPDWtKTSj-RlD-INdfXnMMsHNO8GoChRkmsJDcXIloOBqa4Ge9OXFJlop_LvY5737Lu1icGUYD5adzymdqBQNmU95RP8rpYKkyjGJ1oV6SgvnRy6mpRzOW5X4FS0qog/s1600/IMG_2369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9mNAkJiwvPdXftPDWtKTSj-RlD-INdfXnMMsHNO8GoChRkmsJDcXIloOBqa4Ge9OXFJlop_LvY5737Lu1icGUYD5adzymdqBQNmU95RP8rpYKkyjGJ1oV6SgvnRy6mpRzOW5X4FS0qog/s1600/IMG_2369.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wallpaper underneath the wainscoting</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6VM-PMPgeGCNM86XHL_0_uw4h6cfnuU5X_Y8cdI_O-WP6U6jsn23iB1WeDc8MANRyv05yXa0Ajv3tmxSxz3EtWqBX-gdkdrKOac73lhZvhjjBmsJQRiTPbY_bJNWmlhac6pb0A0-Ws91L/s1600/IMG_2370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6VM-PMPgeGCNM86XHL_0_uw4h6cfnuU5X_Y8cdI_O-WP6U6jsn23iB1WeDc8MANRyv05yXa0Ajv3tmxSxz3EtWqBX-gdkdrKOac73lhZvhjjBmsJQRiTPbY_bJNWmlhac6pb0A0-Ws91L/s1600/IMG_2370.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What was under the wainscoting on the wall that backs up to the kitchen</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7Itwbit6INow5dJC_wypLUpTGHKpCRgde01W_x68uL7aIVH4YQgRDRtow9Nq99TuVMMppc3XH3tW4Wpm7e_nrWQedraAvxf50CmeVVhWggwo6k16r9VPzzeg0hsgh3SkLzUJd9jVa_9E/s1600/IMG_2371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy7Itwbit6INow5dJC_wypLUpTGHKpCRgde01W_x68uL7aIVH4YQgRDRtow9Nq99TuVMMppc3XH3tW4Wpm7e_nrWQedraAvxf50CmeVVhWggwo6k16r9VPzzeg0hsgh3SkLzUJd9jVa_9E/s1600/IMG_2371.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 1970s wallpaper under the "wainscoting". The kids wanted to keep it!</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAZo0_9cJ04Zhcdmod1Ina29vfbfAhvml3gOmVLZ7aka71LEc84PFoH-yxtDgkHp5R9AStbzVloS8iMqZIuG0kZsJrvxdCvadKHAd-w9Ruu0C-WzblBRIY3Yot6_LDZwIC96flRrQkFUB/s1600/IMG_2372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuAZo0_9cJ04Zhcdmod1Ina29vfbfAhvml3gOmVLZ7aka71LEc84PFoH-yxtDgkHp5R9AStbzVloS8iMqZIuG0kZsJrvxdCvadKHAd-w9Ruu0C-WzblBRIY3Yot6_LDZwIC96flRrQkFUB/s1600/IMG_2372.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">114 year old horse hair plaster ugh.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9yh32jQMKxUF4qXCwDLQt5HE0UrbTCUL7Q7R-Kc3D7Vd1XMtY6aEPkxjmulNsF7-pcZTNz3nQRiPrT-XqUGZqt4ELBiZ6Qb52nYY6-ma3VJJ0WPTkVPAc-R6LUuwvcZCzccIRnq7TfH9/s1600/IMG_2373.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9yh32jQMKxUF4qXCwDLQt5HE0UrbTCUL7Q7R-Kc3D7Vd1XMtY6aEPkxjmulNsF7-pcZTNz3nQRiPrT-XqUGZqt4ELBiZ6Qb52nYY6-ma3VJJ0WPTkVPAc-R6LUuwvcZCzccIRnq7TfH9/s1600/IMG_2373.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hauling crew...transporting wood lathe and trim boards.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X05tk7uZtdY/U7QAoEnItgI/AAAAAAAAHPg/9k7d5ADvCwc/s1600/IMG_2374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X05tk7uZtdY/U7QAoEnItgI/AAAAAAAAHPg/9k7d5ADvCwc/s1600/IMG_2374.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "beams" are actually boards sandwiched together and difficult to remove!</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFMglhTooWOfkUQHh91GkS_9bSZ4OVLBpkx2KZ-SzoxhkUKOsv-V-Tf6xpQHrv61k2VpLnH9_q6mvBvJLfe7u8_N6HlHmZbXr7SQys-riNgdwYUTrI_LlAvR1I8sI8PnLV6k7Mkr02GK6/s1600/IMG_20140628_131214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFMglhTooWOfkUQHh91GkS_9bSZ4OVLBpkx2KZ-SzoxhkUKOsv-V-Tf6xpQHrv61k2VpLnH9_q6mvBvJLfe7u8_N6HlHmZbXr7SQys-riNgdwYUTrI_LlAvR1I8sI8PnLV6k7Mkr02GK6/s1600/IMG_20140628_131214.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gutted and very dusty room...</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xkTbgiDg7TevLxXkMfZkhViKNoN2EkKkEJiU6Yfl6IB631RsSXHR4ygSObyMrJHMFU3SgZdCwS1EAH29r-sOxSNR96k-WJ2fLGmFGFvE6leus845wfRbZNlATUXEWtAjHZZ1Dl-1bJYX/s1600/IMG_2376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xkTbgiDg7TevLxXkMfZkhViKNoN2EkKkEJiU6Yfl6IB631RsSXHR4ygSObyMrJHMFU3SgZdCwS1EAH29r-sOxSNR96k-WJ2fLGmFGFvE6leus845wfRbZNlATUXEWtAjHZZ1Dl-1bJYX/s1600/IMG_2376.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Funky wiring - you can see an old doorway that went into a bathroom that was carved out of the kitchen space.</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWu9ertGO3e-Dui6V-ppeWtIP81Uw29UUZ7qENVZ0t0PvV2MZCM6UfwIbJxoRB13giehtMKQxErIqPuFTYilDSsBuvSDrneMqgH5IdDtSXrrifcV0HoMNsF8_vb5ngc_j23z1OiHjFplJP/s1600/IMG_2377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWu9ertGO3e-Dui6V-ppeWtIP81Uw29UUZ7qENVZ0t0PvV2MZCM6UfwIbJxoRB13giehtMKQxErIqPuFTYilDSsBuvSDrneMqgH5IdDtSXrrifcV0HoMNsF8_vb5ngc_j23z1OiHjFplJP/s1600/IMG_2377.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More dusty dirty house.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
We did find two interesting things in the ceiling...<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-si1ukZfViAM/U7QbXDYFfMI/AAAAAAAAHRQ/YOiK5Idj-3A/s1600/ceiling2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-si1ukZfViAM/U7QbXDYFfMI/AAAAAAAAHRQ/YOiK5Idj-3A/s1600/ceiling2.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">U2? </td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8s0-rydU1anIehHHXjoBSzpZ1_v9T1n_autP7Qgvya-9vk83woexXbeYBBhBqRyAk2_y7nm-nwL2clTTrI7A7i8mH-WaNqm29GWr4i7SYMvjPeLJG7jVELmSd0Ia0tc-gLt87t45jzaj7/s1600/ceiling1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8s0-rydU1anIehHHXjoBSzpZ1_v9T1n_autP7Qgvya-9vk83woexXbeYBBhBqRyAk2_y7nm-nwL2clTTrI7A7i8mH-WaNqm29GWr4i7SYMvjPeLJG7jVELmSd0Ia0tc-gLt87t45jzaj7/s1600/ceiling1.jpg" height="400" width="298" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1980s clearly...not sure who...</td></tr>
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</div>
J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-65088360415200099882014-07-01T15:32:00.001-04:002014-07-01T15:32:31.899-04:00Outdoor Temporary Shower...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xCrvjVCXiPQ/U7LCgjGogUI/AAAAAAAAHNk/t4nJv5_Hyfo/s1600/IMG_2361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xCrvjVCXiPQ/U7LCgjGogUI/AAAAAAAAHNk/t4nJv5_Hyfo/s1600/IMG_2361.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrestling the shower into place on the back porch</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1c5DHeUQrdO2KHjkP7aBm4FH7Tqvg5jv-s7dcMlnuq5YA8FP_ADqAi6L4HQ_JECEYK1TRDmgLxRQ5PSBYHVksOwUHUXgtxMzUiku1aypy6kxSGNJly9Q-Gpo_jxx3IlBM_LT_T-8MWGA/s1600/IMG_2362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1c5DHeUQrdO2KHjkP7aBm4FH7Tqvg5jv-s7dcMlnuq5YA8FP_ADqAi6L4HQ_JECEYK1TRDmgLxRQ5PSBYHVksOwUHUXgtxMzUiku1aypy6kxSGNJly9Q-Gpo_jxx3IlBM_LT_T-8MWGA/s1600/IMG_2362.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And it fits!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When you dismantle, and by dismantle I mean gut down to the studs, the only full bathroom in your house, temporary measures must be taken to ensure members of your family are still able to bathe. Believe me, the children of this household would happily go the entire summer without touching a bar of soap. It wouldn't be quite so joyous for the adults.<br />
<br />
We intentionally timed this renovation during the summer months when an outdoor shower is ideal. And yes, we are hoping to complete the project, at least to the stage of being able to shower indoors again, before fall, when an outdoor shower becomes not quite as refreshing.<br />
<br />
I have to take credit for the location of the shower. It is on the porch, but steps outside the kitchen door and it FIT. The location does require disrobing outside the glass slider door, on the porch, but the location is out of eyesight of the neighbors. You might want to stay out of the kitchen during evening bath time! <br />
<br />
The children are enjoying showering outside on the deck and my youngest couldn't wait to be the first to try it out. <br />
<br />
During this past weekend amid dirty, itchy demo work it was a life (and skin) saver! Much, much more enjoyable than our current bathroom, even in its pre-demolition state!<br />
<br />
I highly recommend installing one. You don't know what you are missing!<br />
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oTPVayhRR7vz2y7lF5VlX1ZT2kQejUNwywHW_y6gAQwy7RZLkeCRCPC0f-APNd9uKuzypQxmlvrl6tSa4ih7O_hz-iNCPJBATJAedPiRU8zSn7IArMdWecmCxlIzRk98Ob3_azHmoOjL/s1600/IMG_2363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3oTPVayhRR7vz2y7lF5VlX1ZT2kQejUNwywHW_y6gAQwy7RZLkeCRCPC0f-APNd9uKuzypQxmlvrl6tSa4ih7O_hz-iNCPJBATJAedPiRU8zSn7IArMdWecmCxlIzRk98Ob3_azHmoOjL/s1600/IMG_2363.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the back porch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-91236104943251004402014-06-24T14:26:00.001-04:002014-07-04T11:42:19.861-04:00Thy middle name is demolition<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uNmoSw1z_HM/U6m8OZghJcI/AAAAAAAAHEU/PDxZc8GdeFE/s1600/IMG_20140621_132541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uNmoSw1z_HM/U6m8OZghJcI/AAAAAAAAHEU/PDxZc8GdeFE/s1600/IMG_20140621_132541.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Partner in Crime...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Demo Day Two...</h3>
This summer I have been told that I have to increase my home renovation contributions. Apparently blogging, documenting and picking paint colors aren't helping the timeline. So, unfortunately I will be getting my hands dirty this summer. Very dirty.<br />
<br />
This is my partner in crime. No we are not surgeons. If we were, I assure you we would pay someone to do our dirty work!<br />
<br />
Here are photos of the second day of demolition...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnfQ3yuS9fY/U6nAHTraQfI/AAAAAAAAHEg/ND-NcxRNFaA/s1600/IMG_20140621_110527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnfQ3yuS9fY/U6nAHTraQfI/AAAAAAAAHEg/ND-NcxRNFaA/s1600/IMG_20140621_110527.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun with the Sawzall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTw9JQq2Z2tT0wY5JEaELnvi9NwS2kxuGTHZdefqQXbOBrxccdyNPnmhDEtHq_eP-zi_0XU26aicdxqWf6Jhq56DLt_LgZlVIR8Ryt8lPkDOr0ceQNOU_tOhQQD9WzMigrGQIdpsUBqyDf/s1600/IMG_20140621_132604.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTw9JQq2Z2tT0wY5JEaELnvi9NwS2kxuGTHZdefqQXbOBrxccdyNPnmhDEtHq_eP-zi_0XU26aicdxqWf6Jhq56DLt_LgZlVIR8Ryt8lPkDOr0ceQNOU_tOhQQD9WzMigrGQIdpsUBqyDf/s1600/IMG_20140621_132604.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Electrician baffled by the circuitry...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQOxbDII2B9w1FSwbXIKCYRhtthGblBGv5N0O_t_WO_OL7elQy1EC7gvqqwu1ODfvyZ4y20fSgw9ulAAuX504rrFgcFWUSWQWRBHYtjZAhAzP9GDYY22ublSZkUsd334Temdzs_61STiP/s1600/IMG_20140621_134054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKQOxbDII2B9w1FSwbXIKCYRhtthGblBGv5N0O_t_WO_OL7elQy1EC7gvqqwu1ODfvyZ4y20fSgw9ulAAuX504rrFgcFWUSWQWRBHYtjZAhAzP9GDYY22ublSZkUsd334Temdzs_61STiP/s1600/IMG_20140621_134054.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unfortunately you really can't get a good sense of how gross this is. So here are some dead things that fell out of the wall.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Pu56Ju7v4l8k-LOcEQWciuZ3k07j5nQXuq2kTHoeJ-A0qJNKw4PDxKN3Wrm4uogFVfT6h-srT8roaIn0h8At2-MTDjG7kwNjZcbXmUU4tLFa1z_aYdAmp1_qjRToCmt-gSq5yZlmvuUu/s1600/IMG_20140621_152215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Pu56Ju7v4l8k-LOcEQWciuZ3k07j5nQXuq2kTHoeJ-A0qJNKw4PDxKN3Wrm4uogFVfT6h-srT8roaIn0h8At2-MTDjG7kwNjZcbXmUU4tLFa1z_aYdAmp1_qjRToCmt-gSq5yZlmvuUu/s1600/IMG_20140621_152215.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bathroom was added in 1973. Space was carved out of the two bedrooms. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cwv3aQvZkk4/U6nAHYXyYLI/AAAAAAAAHEg/Wy195mpS56g/s1600/IMG_20140621_152316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cwv3aQvZkk4/U6nAHYXyYLI/AAAAAAAAHEg/Wy195mpS56g/s1600/IMG_20140621_152316.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Removing the wall between the bathroom and Cassie's bedroom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUeXFsMmrTHje_KGWp9sKb_ZUI-R4C2Hfqlask_6sgCrzmVDwVRteBaMdYD6u_UOvsp4Re2y0E5ovwq_FAYlOn2jxqyUnplT9tc7Rfc8QqxBq95596TP0OD1YVmN-sBsIa3M0gfcSgMvO/s1600/IMG_20140621_152331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTUeXFsMmrTHje_KGWp9sKb_ZUI-R4C2Hfqlask_6sgCrzmVDwVRteBaMdYD6u_UOvsp4Re2y0E5ovwq_FAYlOn2jxqyUnplT9tc7Rfc8QqxBq95596TP0OD1YVmN-sBsIa3M0gfcSgMvO/s1600/IMG_20140621_152331.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another shot from the bedroom of the now-exposed bathroom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7W3qELpml0t6hHhbnulk9nxsRTWK0c9y4N5fkRehn9ChKTx7_dG-zRQ8KQy2eyulmxEQ2tUB3_bWVbi3GMMmZWZXg_HirvtM1tiW3oT874MIBczzEuwoy6CCqe6r_prVSosqIJRuN48yL/s1600/IMG_20140621_152346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7W3qELpml0t6hHhbnulk9nxsRTWK0c9y4N5fkRehn9ChKTx7_dG-zRQ8KQy2eyulmxEQ2tUB3_bWVbi3GMMmZWZXg_HirvtM1tiW3oT874MIBczzEuwoy6CCqe6r_prVSosqIJRuN48yL/s1600/IMG_20140621_152346.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bedroom/bathroom. Not sure how my foot got in there...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasgXKwlklgSBK7Eu0K1dvZBuaEtRgMLkyifhwMOL9nwwQMf3r9iieY2EM9iUIhIy4MmoOGLgsYHghPCbjmQNxZ4A_g80pQP7YY32JMz03-7n6x2Cds0tALiwP-fRPOxip2DyyvsOkv4Zn/s1600/IMG_20140621_110457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjasgXKwlklgSBK7Eu0K1dvZBuaEtRgMLkyifhwMOL9nwwQMf3r9iieY2EM9iUIhIy4MmoOGLgsYHghPCbjmQNxZ4A_g80pQP7YY32JMz03-7n6x2Cds0tALiwP-fRPOxip2DyyvsOkv4Zn/s1600/IMG_20140621_110457.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bathroom when there were some walls left...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzEzGO4ga7o2491I8lx4ntddX-FUlS5i9RVBKVm4gZ9O9q54f5SPi55Jv_jzm8DWU3Z4uN7EWw_RM0hWgW3XlH848hLJPtluZi5NaaLBaueZ0HJGwyzoDoBEs4Hn3GfDqsccZY1H4a9Qw/s1600/IMG_20140621_110437.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVzEzGO4ga7o2491I8lx4ntddX-FUlS5i9RVBKVm4gZ9O9q54f5SPi55Jv_jzm8DWU3Z4uN7EWw_RM0hWgW3XlH848hLJPtluZi5NaaLBaueZ0HJGwyzoDoBEs4Hn3GfDqsccZY1H4a9Qw/s1600/IMG_20140621_110437.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the hallway...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The highlights...<br />
<br />
<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li>When the husband tells you a circuit is dead, <b>NEVER </b>believe him. </li>
<li>When you gut 100+ year old outer walls, be prepared for a shower of mice feces and unidentifiable skeletons...Also the occasional intact mouse (dead and mummified). WEAR A FACE MASK!</li>
<li>Be prepared to vacuum and mop at least 100 times to get rid of the dust. Then demo again. </li>
</ul>
<div>
The daughter is not impressed by her new bedroom/bathroom combo. She is plotting to move in with the neighbors for the summer. She said "How am I supposed to get dressed?" "How are people supposed to shower?" "This is disturbing". Wait until she sees the new (temporary) outdoor shower on the back porch (coming soon)...she may just give up bathing for the summer...</div>
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<br /></div>
J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-22390723378441898212014-06-23T14:07:00.003-04:002014-07-04T11:42:47.569-04:00So it begins...(again)...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Summer has arrived. The kids and I finished our last days of school and work together this year and now I am off for eight weeks. Usually summer is about fun and recharging, the days are much less structured and we sleep in. This year we are demoing the bathroom. The only full bathroom in the house. And I only have eight weeks until we return to the whirlwind that is fall - we hit the ground running with work, and school, and soccer.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ETHgXLsYasLfxL02y01ZgFP1yQa3glPn4_zyvzS65PVZlrCbtrklPyfjt2PM5cceIN8X7amQRFO8NBiOJ0OdmQfSPSdYSC-5QL-mzFO601bV0hXHHwPpCIXHFzOXvCbQOpCu5nU2Lzer/s1600/IMG_20140615_134224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ETHgXLsYasLfxL02y01ZgFP1yQa3glPn4_zyvzS65PVZlrCbtrklPyfjt2PM5cceIN8X7amQRFO8NBiOJ0OdmQfSPSdYSC-5QL-mzFO601bV0hXHHwPpCIXHFzOXvCbQOpCu5nU2Lzer/s1600/IMG_20140615_134224.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bedroom Corner BEFORE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You would think that demoing the bathroom would be limited to the bathroom, but we have this small problem called a large window. <br />
<br />
Originally there were two windows. We had to gut the wall with the window to get a sense of what was originally there so we could order appropriate sized new windows.<br />
<br />
We want to remove the one window, put the two windows back with a wall in between to separate the bedroom from the bathroom. A STRAIGHT wall. The Current wall angles in to avoid the window and creates a very awkward bathroom space. We want to make the bathroom a square instead of a trapezoid. Crazy, I know.<br />
<br />
Demo Day One:<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhfuL-Ki1W4tRQVYnjgU7O8SiX1izhfIMlREo3-UD2wT9s6E0OAXrtLcxtDwabWtkambwj_saNAUrzm4DefZvWC8gIyCr-6LlQaAmGoKilccEW8O0ru6lwrAwFfL46LPcI87p9l3sHLfY/s1600/IMG_20140617_201722.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhfuL-Ki1W4tRQVYnjgU7O8SiX1izhfIMlREo3-UD2wT9s6E0OAXrtLcxtDwabWtkambwj_saNAUrzm4DefZvWC8gIyCr-6LlQaAmGoKilccEW8O0ru6lwrAwFfL46LPcI87p9l3sHLfY/s1600/IMG_20140617_201722.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Removing the first wall...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The first wall wasn't so bad. It was covered with rough boards, but no plaster or wall board, so other than the occasional splinter it went quickly.<br />
<br />
Of course then we had to peel off the thick plastic and get into the mouse dropping filled insulation. Itchy and gross. <br />
<br />
The first lively discussion was held about only wanting to do in this room what was necessary for the bathroom vs. just gutting the damn room. The trouble with only doing part is that you live with a partially gutted room for a long time before having to go in and finish wrecking the place. While your hands are already dirty, well... I won't spoil it for you and tell you which side won...<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-66yMunb_iBY/U6hsImnrA6I/AAAAAAAAHEE/SlrLDH9qwBE/s1600/IMG_20140617_192552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-66yMunb_iBY/U6hsImnrA6I/AAAAAAAAHEE/SlrLDH9qwBE/s1600/IMG_20140617_192552.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gutting the window</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Yesterday we went to Home Depot and ordered two windows to the tune of $1K. Ugh. Yes they are Andersen 400 grade, traditional colonial style windows with wood inside and 3 over 3 grids. We went crazy and got the stool. If you don't know what that is, well let's just say I am jealous!<br />
<br />
The bad news is that the windows take "about four weeks" to come in. It is that word <i>about</i> that worries me. That puts us half way through our timeline. Ouch. But don't worry, there is lots we can do without windows.<br />
<br />
Stay tuned for more demo fun...</div>
J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-20707040597733861422014-05-22T16:17:00.001-04:002014-05-22T16:17:55.967-04:00because what we really need right now is a puppy...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Just like there is no good time to have a baby, there is definitely no good time to get a puppy. Especially when your entire house (life) in under renovation and there just aren't enough hours in the day (week, month, year) to begin to make a dent in the to-do list.<br />
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We had a dog for 14 years. He died seven years ago. We have had seven years of doglessness (note: not petlessness which is an entirely different category). Two of our three children have been pleading for a dog. For years. As the years go by the pleading gets more creative, with letters to Santa and the <a href="http://antiquefarmhouse.blogspot.com/search/label/puppy" target="_blank">Easter Bunny</a>. We have said: no, no, no, no, no, no, NO, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, NO, yes?? <br />
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Which of course teaching them that the more persistent you are, the more you can possibly finally wear down your parents. Great life lesson. But I digress.<br />
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Actually, we have had two close calls... My helpful Mother actually brought a puppy to last June's birthday party. We said NO and made her take it back. That was fun. Then we went to Puerto Rico in November and found four puppies born under the neighbor's truck. The mother was a starving stray, very skittish and we couldn't get near her never mind catch her. We took the puppies to the animal shelter who tried to save them, but they didn't make it. It was absolutely heartbreaking. We considered adopting a different dog from the PR shelter, but we were too sad. Then we found out they fly the dogs to Massachusetts and a number of them end up at the shelter in OUR HOMETOWN!<br />
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If that isn't the universe speaking, then it certainly is a lot of puppy-related coincidences.<br />
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In December, our Elf on the Shelf, Jolly received a letter stating "I would really like a puppy for Christmas, but if you can't I understand..." followed by a phone call from the big guy himself (AKA Santa) and finally we agreed, that in the summer, once school was out and I had 8 weeks off of work we would rescue a puppy, hopefully from Puerto Rico.<br />
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So, this spring I did what any potential future dog adopter would do, I began stalking the adoptable puppies at the local animal shelter and saving them to my Pinterest board (note: all these puppies pictured have been adopted).<br />
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<a data-pin-board-width="900" data-pin-do="embedBoard" data-pin-scale-height="300" data-pin-scale-width="180" href="http://www.pinterest.com/jlund151/the-pigeon-wants-a-puppy/">Follow The Pigeon Wants a Puppy on Pinterest.</a>
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I discovered that the puppies usually arrive on Monday or Tuesdays. They are spayed/neutered usually the day after they arrived, and then they are available for adoption at the end of the week, usually on Thursdays or Fridays. Most were adopted within hours of being available! Those puppies go fast! I had no idea there were so many other crazy people out there looking to rescue a puppy.<br />
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Anyway, last Friday we decided to go a <i>look</i> at the puppies. This was a bad idea. You cannot go and look at puppies and play with puppies and then go home without one. What was I thinking? I blame it on my subconscious. <b>Of course</b> we met the sweetest puppy who loved playing with the kids, who didn't bark (not once until we got home and she saw herself in a mirror), who seemed very friendly and who came home with us that day...five weeks early.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAHG7xned-6-4aiIEun8go73OK0E7VCMHgJT4eLa-AOob_avm__95iYkm9KKiij04hCx8fCp11onvn-kr0QGLUZnsZUW0cIJ1SktVTCDTDVMJawZYF8sEhPQXA4seeXEfSIe5U1inOGoV/s1600/IMG_20140517_173615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAHG7xned-6-4aiIEun8go73OK0E7VCMHgJT4eLa-AOob_avm__95iYkm9KKiij04hCx8fCp11onvn-kr0QGLUZnsZUW0cIJ1SktVTCDTDVMJawZYF8sEhPQXA4seeXEfSIe5U1inOGoV/s1600/IMG_20140517_173615.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>The husband has not quite forgiven me yet. He wants to know what happened to our summer puppy agreement. The last time he checked, it was still spring. I need to encourage him to get these things in writing. So I am in trouble. Again. <br />
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In time he will come around. I am sure he will, and until then, well...perhaps I can give distract him with a bathroom to renovate...<br />
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J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-42874011371347219052014-05-07T12:40:00.001-04:002014-05-07T12:41:10.941-04:00The birds have been busy this spring!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The kids have discovered two nests with eggs in the yard. This one is at the top of the slide near their swingset. They put a wooden shelf that they made up there and some bird brain decided that would be a good place to build a nest and lay eggs.<br />
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If you look closely you can see a piece of the tarp from the shed that made it into the nest materials (it's blue near the bottom). I wonder if the bird is rethinking her choice of a home since the kids disturb her about once a day to peek at the eggs. <br />
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The kids also found a second nest on an old tree out back that is covered with grapevines. There were four eggs in this nest. The eggs are also a fabulous aqua blue color, but bigger than the ones in the swing-set nest.<br />
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Imagine their surprise when they went to check on the eggs and instead found these alien creatures. Baby birds are quite freaky looking, but they certainly know how to eat!<br />
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The three fuzz balls. More wisps than feathers. About 1 day old. It was nice of Momma bird to put this nest at eye level!<br />
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If you look closely, you can see the fourth egg that has yet to hatch (or not). </div>
J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-11723804956750678222014-05-04T23:30:00.000-04:002014-05-04T23:30:00.130-04:00Another long night...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I had another one of <b><i>THOSE</i></b> nights...but I think I might know why...<br />
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I was so angry with the husband. Really, really angry. Furious actually. I don't have any idea why, but he did something bad. I was so angry that I propelled myself out of bed, still asleep and I recall a lot of yelling. I remember walking around the end of the bed and approaching his side (why? when I could have just rolled over) and then I caught myself, suspended between the dream, confused about the anger, and no idea what I was trying to do.<br />
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Sheepishly, I bent down and patted the cat, then walked back to my side and got back in bed. The husband snored on, none the wiser. I fell back asleep only to be awakened a second time, equally furious, and again jumped out of bed. I yelled, "That's it. I've had it. I will not sleep in here!" and stomped off into the hallway.<br />
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Here I remember pondering which bed I should go sleep in. I am a bit like Goldilocks. I chose the Baby Bear's bed. He happily snuggled into me and we went back into a nightmare-free sleep, until I woke in a puddle of wet. Yup, it had been over a year, but I managed to choose the night when there would be a bed-wetting. So at 3:30 am, after a change of clothing and a trip to the bathroom, we both headed back to my bed. The husband probably thinks it serves me right. Maybe it does. I really should stay in my own bed.<br />
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The next morning I asked him if he remembered being yelled at during the night. He said no, that he was tired and he slept. <br />
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Then two nights later, it happened again. Only this time I had only been asleep for a little while and I KNOW why I was so mad at him. I am reading this book (he gave it to me) and the main character has Tourettes and is very OCD. The husband came into the bedroom and didn't follow the correct tapping ritual for walking through a doorway. The thing is, this ritual, if not followed, had some pretty dire consequences (don't ask me what they are, but they are bad). The worst part was that he was not following it on purpose and he was smirking. I think he was trying to see what would happen if he didn't follow the rules. Or maybe he was pushing my buttons to see if I would react. (Reminder, none of this is real).<br />
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So now I have to make a tough decision, do I discard this book that I am about 3/4 way through and opt for something safer, or finish the book and deal with the sleepwalking? It doesn't seem to happen every night when I read it. Perhaps I can get the husband to sleep in some sort of helmet to be on the safe side... </div>
J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-35079505586169821242014-04-29T18:30:00.000-04:002014-04-29T18:30:01.052-04:00More Spring...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forsythia starting to bloom</td></tr>
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This has been a cold, wet spring. April has behaved more like March. In like a lion, still waiting for the lamb... I think the temperature has hit 70. Once. I wore sandals without socks. Twice. <br />
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This week, the last week of April, temperatures are back to the 40s! April is hanging on, the lion still sinking his teeth in. I shut the heat off in the upstairs of our house only to have the husband turn it back on last night. It is cold and damp and overcast.<br />
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Hopefully May will be different. It would be nice to enjoy some spring weather before the humid summer. There are signs that spring is here. The crocuses have bloomed (then froze and died). The daffodils are emerging. The Forsythia is just starting to bloom and the tulip tree is getting ready to burst into full bloom. It is late this year, but proof that the warmer weather is coming.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tulip Tree ready to burst into bloom</td></tr>
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We have two more days left on our burn permit. Always a last minute scramble to get as much done as possible, until next year. <br />
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In May begins the outside work of finishing the painting on the front of the house, adding lattice and landscaping, and beginning painting the side of the house that we re-sided late last fall.<br />
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The to-do list is ominous and lengthy. Welcome spring!</div>
J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-53505296806217135362014-04-29T18:00:00.000-04:002014-04-29T18:00:06.311-04:00NaBloPoMo Ends<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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So NaBloPoMo April 2014 will end on Wednesday. I have to admit that I did not make my goal of posting each day. I think that I started off strong, but life has a way of sucking the time out of each day and somehow you turn around and a week has passed!<br />
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I am not too disappointed with my progress, I've got about 15 or more posts this month, which is more than usual and works out to be about half the month or posting every 2 days. I can live with that!<br />
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Thank you for following along with me this month. It has been an interesting one, from viral skunks, to the decimation of the collapsing shed, some sleep-walking activity, a snake in the basement and another in shed, and lots of yard work and clearing and burning in anticipation of spring...<br />
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J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-90167955949644499052014-04-29T17:30:00.000-04:002014-04-29T17:30:01.571-04:00The State of the Tree House...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Somewhere along the way, the husband got the brilliant idea that he needed to build a tree house. I guess rebuilding a real house isn't enough for him...or maybe building the shed inspired him...or maybe he is trying to relive his childhood, just a little bit.<br />
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I veto'd the purchase of the wood. I insisted that his to-do list was too long, his time frame too short and it would sit. I wanted to spend the money on something that was needed and could be used now. <br />
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As sometimes happens, the husband takes matters into his own hands and does his own thing. I strongly voiced my [negative] opinion, but he went ahead and purchased the wood anyway. <br />
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Mind you, this happened in the fall. It is now almost May, and here is the state of the tree house. The wood has sat in a nice pile for about six months now...waiting...<br />
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Maybe one day it will become a magnificent tree house. Perhaps the elves will show up and build it. I will keep you posted, but I believe it has fallen down the list, behind finishing the front, painting the side, gutting the bathroom (dining room and part of the upstairs bedroom), and finishing the bathroom... As you see it may be years yet...</div>
J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-21962314455251285722014-04-22T17:00:00.000-04:002014-04-22T17:00:01.270-04:00Spring Plantings...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The FedEx truck delivered our seedings this weekend. Yesterday, we got most of them into the ground.<br />
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After debating how far from the front of the house shrubs should be, me insisting they are too far, the husband too close, we planted two blue hydrangas and one weigela. These are very small right now, but should fill out nicely in a few years...if they live.<br />
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This is what the mature plants looks like (images thanks to <a href="http://www.bhg.com/" target="_blank">Better Homes & Gardens</a>).<br />
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<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/02/BHG148054.jpg.rendition.largest.ss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/02/BHG148054.jpg.rendition.largest.ss.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/plant/HGL100904.jpg.rendition.largest.ss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/plant/HGL100904.jpg.rendition.largest.ss.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weigela </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Hydrangea</td></tr>
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We also planted some old fashioned lilac near the driveway and a reblooming lilac, that blooms all summer long, near the kitchen window.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2006/03/BHG114312.jpg.rendition.largest.ss.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://images.meredith.com/content/dam/bhg/Images/2006/03/BHG114312.jpg.rendition.largest.ss.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn0.michiganbulb.com/images/uploads/320/71656.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn0.michiganbulb.com/images/uploads/320/71656.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old Fashioned Lilac</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josee Reblooming Lilac</td></tr>
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The kids also picked out some edible plants - we added a row of four sand cherries by the stream, one almond tree in the back and we have yet to plant a thornless blackberry.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-oYbhv1kL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-oYbhv1kL.jpg" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Prunus_dulcis_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2%80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Prunus_dulcis_-_K%C3%B6hler%E2%80%93s_Medizinal-Pflanzen-250.jpg" height="320" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dwarf, flowering cherry</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almond tree<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://store.isons.com/content/220634/product_images/Blackberries/Chester_thornless_blackberry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://store.isons.com/content/220634/product_images/Blackberries/Chester_thornless_blackberry.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thornless blackberry</td></tr>
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J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-64162792807752740912014-04-14T01:00:00.000-04:002014-04-14T01:00:01.617-04:00Pickle Town<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaf1kYX0j7pISNzIoZJUMKcQk8sQaYLscEur5v4whaY35rgdTPAd3Ukw-CD84YqsDo9GeKGyDaidpRN2wQrxXJdsxpUMOffHHAXXduhT9dNYg-48IiZ6h7slwPc5gtztUajZOo4ClrlPri/s1600/IMG_20140411_130047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaf1kYX0j7pISNzIoZJUMKcQk8sQaYLscEur5v4whaY35rgdTPAd3Ukw-CD84YqsDo9GeKGyDaidpRN2wQrxXJdsxpUMOffHHAXXduhT9dNYg-48IiZ6h7slwPc5gtztUajZOo4ClrlPri/s1600/IMG_20140411_130047.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
Welcome to Pickle Town.<br />
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What you see here are pickle houses.<br />
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The laws to abide by in Pickle Town are very simple:<br />
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1. Do not hunt, hurt, maim, eat, or otherwise bother pickles in all their forms including cucumbers, tartar sauce and relish.<br />
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2. Do not call the Mayor by his nickname, "Mayor Big Buns."<br />
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Apparently there was a problem with the citizens of Pickle Town, referring to the Mayor of town by his nickname. He got very upset and banished himself (okay he ran away). Then he came back as a farmer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZq_Zt21mzm1CbT9hqUqXBdOpL1Q1Z4sMDx7wPvSgE8a3ccF_KYjI2aWvFDNW8ZZ1P21J8Q-SFchiqazS-E8Go-8AmrYcFVlPwAIkLDCwbDwCALF7YIhpeIrNdYpMa7TDDuhpp4vM1GjZ/s1600/IMG_20140411_130104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZq_Zt21mzm1CbT9hqUqXBdOpL1Q1Z4sMDx7wPvSgE8a3ccF_KYjI2aWvFDNW8ZZ1P21J8Q-SFchiqazS-E8Go-8AmrYcFVlPwAIkLDCwbDwCALF7YIhpeIrNdYpMa7TDDuhpp4vM1GjZ/s1600/IMG_20140411_130104.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
Now the town has no Mayor and it is a pretty lawless place. I hear there are squatters, taking over vacant pickle houses.<br />
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I am not sure what will happen to the poor people of Pickle Town, if they will be able to live again in harmony or if the town will become a ghost town full of tumble weeds, or worse a town of pickle eating people. Some long for the return of Mayor Big Buns, wherever he may be...<br />
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I did not make this up. This was documented and told to me by the inhabitants themselves (otherwise known as my children).<br />
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J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-83664323751974412822014-04-13T23:00:00.000-04:002014-04-13T23:00:02.102-04:00Shed down and a friend...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5J7GP2sJbfeGX4yx5p7gX3txzocp7YuQHOWXpXa4INyoclt_qi4YSfVopJM502P5ofKYkN9_hCoJGWCAvep2tuOgwK4rr0908mil9glg8_z99ApiyebtNcBkxjHCvqlqw8NqVHUKerRgO/s1600/IMG_20140413_123627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5J7GP2sJbfeGX4yx5p7gX3txzocp7YuQHOWXpXa4INyoclt_qi4YSfVopJM502P5ofKYkN9_hCoJGWCAvep2tuOgwK4rr0908mil9glg8_z99ApiyebtNcBkxjHCvqlqw8NqVHUKerRgO/s1600/IMG_20140413_123627.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inspecting the progress</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wGgGDyvByPYAqj9Ioscw9GGrjHIVSMrORvlSVMnaFlTIPmlNDciNOrL0JfodcY55ZJEeWpKcpFCtpqy_D7CVP7Wh9BGdOKwKz8kjj2WiE-jARZVP3dwZ7t1BLtue6OJtzwsihcIbYce5/s1600/IMG_20140413_123943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2wGgGDyvByPYAqj9Ioscw9GGrjHIVSMrORvlSVMnaFlTIPmlNDciNOrL0JfodcY55ZJEeWpKcpFCtpqy_D7CVP7Wh9BGdOKwKz8kjj2WiE-jARZVP3dwZ7t1BLtue6OJtzwsihcIbYce5/s1600/IMG_20140413_123943.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The burning of the shed</td></tr>
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The shed is being dismantled. The wood supporting the roof is so rotted that it comes apart by banging it with a crowbar. <br />
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The husband spent the day taking it apart and burning the pieces. He says he will salvage some of the front boards as they are "true 2x4s", you know back when a 2x4 meant a board that was 2" by 4" and not todays 1 1/2" by 3 1/2". This can be problematic when you are working on an old house and cannot find replacement boards of the right dimensions (no matter what they call them).<br />
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I guess calling them 1.5 x 3.5s just doesn't have the same ring...<br />
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Anyway, the point is not the boards, but the removal of the fine shed. <br />
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Our projects are not without their little (or big) surprises. This one was found in the rotted shed sill. Don't worry he let it go. I don't think it is in my basement or behind my fridge, or in my bed, but you just never know.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNgUlqT5lIrlvDCHU7_5iuIeSGajLtDHdssPz7WcHyBLzZkeKZfgPj1Qvkoc9w6IDZVR4zFOAJ7O5FIGbXnKWJGE1wn6Nt_6GEGjavtYlETxmQnCGA6BenHWKs8TLmPwFt0uyf0FXj0Ti/s1600/IMG_20140413_124018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjNgUlqT5lIrlvDCHU7_5iuIeSGajLtDHdssPz7WcHyBLzZkeKZfgPj1Qvkoc9w6IDZVR4zFOAJ7O5FIGbXnKWJGE1wn6Nt_6GEGjavtYlETxmQnCGA6BenHWKs8TLmPwFt0uyf0FXj0Ti/s1600/IMG_20140413_124018.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ripping down the shell of the Shed...</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDo2ohyphenhyphencwx-0WfbH-Ih9uarJnw0c_oCVQI98H_RQTnHGocmZnynxWTEroimXceXWOp-KDRbuJKNMcgD6Hbx2bWtRLCkkQkEV230SDu4Lh_iPXQm6hRikXSEIxX8z-QL8lhf0bOhBSa9Vw/s1600/2014-04-13" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDo2ohyphenhyphencwx-0WfbH-Ih9uarJnw0c_oCVQI98H_RQTnHGocmZnynxWTEroimXceXWOp-KDRbuJKNMcgD6Hbx2bWtRLCkkQkEV230SDu4Lh_iPXQm6hRikXSEIxX8z-QL8lhf0bOhBSa9Vw/s1600/2014-04-13" height="350" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Shed Snake</td></tr>
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J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-62311706610635358012014-04-11T13:31:00.000-04:002014-04-11T13:31:28.022-04:00Farewell to the shed...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFa-w5cjBMrltX-Dpaa2sgr3n9A2URER6vYQ4mZTbo9e0jyFjgNOWVZxgktQgr3UQFjYpj0YyDtcBF9Wgq9eimUH73ZGwqVNHrbicxuS5sXSCuRVCptujfqDdHN2d4dVxCsznnQtYd8Sa/s1600/IMG_20140411_125814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrFa-w5cjBMrltX-Dpaa2sgr3n9A2URER6vYQ4mZTbo9e0jyFjgNOWVZxgktQgr3UQFjYpj0YyDtcBF9Wgq9eimUH73ZGwqVNHrbicxuS5sXSCuRVCptujfqDdHN2d4dVxCsznnQtYd8Sa/s1600/IMG_20140411_125814.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
The tarps and roofing are off and now it is time to begin dismantling the caving in shed. <br />
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I took some pictures to remember it by as the next time you go to look for it, it may no longer be there (let's hope).<br />
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It is sort of pretty though, the way the sunlight filters in through the holes. The other two photos are not so pretty, but that is why we are taking it down.<br />
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I never thought it would take us four winters...or that it would make it through that much snow. Maybe it is stronger than it looks! Yeah, I doubt it. Must be luck.<br />
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J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-60851555131553528592014-04-11T13:25:00.001-04:002014-04-11T13:25:58.500-04:00I might have a problem...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Three nights in a row, we may be going for a new record...it seems so real, only I guess it isn't.<br />
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Last night, I woke up to the sound of something hitting the side of the house (the wall that my bed is against). It sound like a handful of rocks or marbles. It was loud. It woke me up. At least I thought I was awake, but apparently either my dream woke me up or I wasn't awake at all. <br />
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"Did you hear that?" I asked, sitting straight up in bed.<br />
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"Hear what?"<br />
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I jumped out of bed and went over to the window, peering around the curtain, looking for whatever it was that made that sound...car, kids, aliens...<br />
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"Aren't you going to go and check it out?"<br />
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"No."<br />
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"Well, if you're not going to then I will."<br />
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"Where are you going?"<br />
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"Outside to see what the noise was."<br />
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"You<b><i> really</i></b> have to stop doing this."<br />
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So I decided to let it go and went back to bed. I may have left the bed, but I didn't leave my room. Progress?</div>
J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-2044537926791488552014-04-09T17:30:00.000-04:002014-04-09T19:48:26.783-04:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u9KX_EEFWSU/TYD7TFhihYI/AAAAAAAAAMY/O39pYiiwb2w/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u9KX_EEFWSU/TYD7TFhihYI/AAAAAAAAAMY/O39pYiiwb2w/s320/010.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spooky sleeping during the day, demanding attention at night.</td></tr>
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There is definitely some bad juju going down.
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First, the germs hit - staff infection, scarlet fever, viral coughing. I believe we are at the epicenter with mailbox bashing going on at one end of the road and rock wall dismantling and hurling on the other. Then an infected skunk turns up. Hmmm...coincidence?<br />
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Monday night, after six weeks of no nocturnal wanderings, my "stay in my bed all night" streak ended. Yup. It's not entirely my fault, the husband was doing things he shouldn't be (besides touching wild skunks) and trying to put me (or my essence) into a canister and send me into space for FIVE YEARS. I was having none of it! I found myself flying out of bed and pacing the hallway. I was so mad.<br />
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I went back into my room to yell things like:<br />
"Do you know what you are doing?" No response.<br />
"You can't do this." No response.<br />
"I <b>KNOW </b>what you're doing!!!!"<br />
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Still no response, so I stomped away and went to sleep with my twelve year old, who at least has a full-size bed.
As I reached his room (after tripping twice over nerf guns and whatnot) he said "what are you doing in here?" I didn't know if *he* was asleep or awake (he talks in his sleep but stays in his bed). I didn't bother trying to explain, just climbed into bed, commandeered some covers, stole a pillow and attempted to get back to sleep.<br />
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Unfortunately my plan didn't entirely work as my son and I, and two of his friends were stuffed into canisters and sent into space anyway. Probably by the evil husband. But, the good news is that we didn't have to stay for five years.<br />
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The bad news is that he sleeps with our large 18 pound Maine Coon cat who decided to walk on me and wake me up no less than twice during the night to be petted. If that wasn't bad enough, the ducks started quacking loud enough to wake me up at the crack of dawn, wanting to be fed. "How do you sleep in this zoo?" I asked him. I am not sure that I am invited back.<br />
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It turns out the husband did get up (not until 5am) to check the youngest bed (nope), the bathroom (nope) and then looked out the window to see if my car was in the driveway (it was). Then he went back to bed, assuming I was at the gym! I might need to get a watch dog. You know, one that can follow me around while I sleepwalk, and then I can let it outside in my fugue state and we can wander around the neighborhood together. Hmmm...<br />
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Actually I blame Dr. Who, even though I watched it two nights prior... That show is the reason my six year old will not go anywhere in the house alone (including the bathroom)...<br />
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Last night I did manage to stay in my own bed the whole night, except for one trip to the bathroom. Prior to leaving the room, I asked the husband if he would like to come with me. Apparently I am under house arrest and not supposed to go anywhere unsupervised. I think that was also a dream, but maybe not. He didn't respond so I risked it and went alone. And came back.</div>
J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0New England42.520699529149638 -71.7187539.517173029149639 -76.882324 45.524226029149638 -66.555176tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-40670381936228885212014-04-08T13:55:00.003-04:002014-04-08T13:55:42.288-04:00Skunked.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PVNXTiBsdKQ/U0LhP6-Lz3I/AAAAAAAAFdg/R7BLqqD558g/s1600/skunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PVNXTiBsdKQ/U0LhP6-Lz3I/AAAAAAAAFdg/R7BLqqD558g/s400/skunk.jpg" /></a></div>
There is something about this house and spring and animals coming here to die. <br />
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When we bought the house there was an odd smell in the outer rooms of... well... putrefaction. That smell turned out to have been a decomposing possum. The following spring <a href="http://antiquefarmhouse.blogspot.com/2011/04/more-stinky-dead-things.html"> another one showed up and died a smelly death</a>.<br />
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Now that we are taking down the old shed, this guy shows up. He dragged himself from the road to the shed and promptly collapsed. We are not sure what is wrong with it, but his hind legs are twisted and it seems to have some sort of spinal injury. He is young.<br />
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I looked up lot of skunk information online and I told the husband <strong>You should NEVER approach a skunk who appears to be ill! Call animal control to handle this animal. </strong>I also freaked myself out reading about <a href="http://www.wildskunkrescue.com/rabies.htm" target="_blank">dumb rabies</a>.<br />
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The husband was not afraid, and thankfully he is in charge of "wildlife management" at the homestead. I helpfully warned him not to get bitten.<br />
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He called animal control who said they come by tomorrow if he is still there and still alive. It rained last night and most of the shed roof has been dismantled. The next thing I know the skunk is on the back porch in a box with straw and someone (with gloves) scooped him up and fed him. He is definitely getting rabies.
Later when it started to get dark, the skunk crawled out of the box, down the ramp and lay in a heap in the middle of the backyard in the rain.<br />
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The husband put it back in the box. It was still there this morning, still breathing. Today, he called three different wildlife rescue folks and found someone who would take it to a vet in the western part of the state for gas money and a donation for medicine or euthanasia. Sounds like an Internet scam to me...<br />
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The husband went home at lunch to check on his ailing friend. He is still alive, but clearly suffering. He spoke with the wildlife person again who asked if he had crusty eyes (check), twitching limbs (check), runny nose (check) and said it was neurological. After speaking with a vet in Springfield it was determined that there have been a large number of cases of Canine Distemper in Massachusetts this spring. According to <a href="http://www.mass.gov/eea/agencies/dfg/dfw/fish-wildlife-plants/mammals/skunks-diseases.html" target="_blank">Mass Wildlife</a> <i>Canine distemper virus, can cause symptoms very similar to rabies. Canine distemper virus is not transmissible to humans and most domestic dogs are vaccinated against this virus, however, any skunk that comes into direct contact with humans or domestic animals should be treated as a potentially rabid animal.</i><br />
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The next thing I know he is calling me from the police station, having animal control follow him home so that the skunk can be euthanized and the head cut off to examine the brain tissue for distemper. Ugh. It looks like we might have an outbreak in the area... I think this may be what is causing our wild youth to dismantle rock walls (and throw rocks in the road) and take out mailboxes. Perhaps they have also taken to biting skunks.J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-8077108121353180902014-04-06T17:18:00.002-04:002014-04-06T17:32:31.452-04:00Adieu to ze olde shed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ze Olde Shed...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJGwmqwBQyHr49-cr6azQ_of5s8P95bnSsNMKE5gfeaCDiMPyxQ9bAlboGi4-5MUYjNY-Ao4z2X0-gv8StOqL_0RFHFh9_Y24ljfn4Fv4UbiaEO1hWBo34_wxsHljP7CdBTKfQzMZsAhp/s1600/IMG_20140406_115952.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJGwmqwBQyHr49-cr6azQ_of5s8P95bnSsNMKE5gfeaCDiMPyxQ9bAlboGi4-5MUYjNY-Ao4z2X0-gv8StOqL_0RFHFh9_Y24ljfn4Fv4UbiaEO1hWBo34_wxsHljP7CdBTKfQzMZsAhp/s1600/IMG_20140406_115952.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the shed, nice view of the collapsing roof</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Removing temporary tarps and roofing asphalt</td></tr>
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I heard sounds of a chain saw outside today, and went out to investigate.<br />
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I guess this is the year we take down the old collapsing shed that somehow has made it through four new England winters since we inherited it.<br />
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I wouldn't call the structure exactly "safe" and it is quite an eye sore. The husband remarked that it was originally cobbled together with bits and scraps. He found some knob and tube wiring and thought maybe it once had electricity, but upon further investigation seems that they just reused a board that had once been in the house and didn't both to remove the electrical conduits.<br />
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He is a little sad to see it go, because he now has to figure out what to do with the stuff he keeps inside it (um yes that is why he built the other shed, but apparently a shed can never be big enough). <a href="http://antiquefarmhouse.blogspot.com/2011/09/man-builds-shed.html" target="_blank">More on shed</a><br />
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I am not going to miss it one bit.<br />
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Phase 1: remove tarps and asphalt roofing material<br />
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Phase 2: dismember shed, salvaging usable boards (?!)<br />
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Phase 3: have a big bonfire<br />
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Phase 4: Rake the area and maybe reseed grass or plant shrubs<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Man defying odds of falling through roof of shed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZJhbA7ciurP_58g0TjTX4_ZiSGcwlE85Qqpv5ueTvXpwGG4NK-Ckdxrqmkcw_XmXMBS4mD78gHkHbPPX5p5gWsFbsgW4IDnM_Ap8mUt7GadnoGnGQp0NPB51J1HaA_awSRXdhS5RgxbK/s1600/IMG_20140406_120114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZJhbA7ciurP_58g0TjTX4_ZiSGcwlE85Qqpv5ueTvXpwGG4NK-Ckdxrqmkcw_XmXMBS4mD78gHkHbPPX5p5gWsFbsgW4IDnM_Ap8mUt7GadnoGnGQp0NPB51J1HaA_awSRXdhS5RgxbK/s1600/IMG_20140406_120114.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the back - can you see why I want this gone?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view from the back with that crazy man on top...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Removing the weather-beaten tarps...</td></tr>
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<br />J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7641736045261397907.post-37600681695651790222014-04-06T16:42:00.002-04:002014-04-06T16:42:56.461-04:00The dining room closet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here it is... the start of finishing the closet. If you lived in a house with very little closet space, you would understand why this is so exciting...<br />
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Basically we are creating closets and built-ins as we go. Someday I have hopes of unpacking my attic and re-discovering what we left up there four years ago when we moved in, due to having no book shelves, built-in, closets or otherwise...<br />
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An outlet with USB plug is going to go on the left wall (then the other side can be plaster-boarded). The ceiling needs some reinforced joists and boards to attach the plaster-board to, and the black cord for the dimmer switch needs to be moved to the other wall. <br />
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Once again, nothing is simple, but I am just happy to see progress being made! Don't worry I will have no problem filling up the closet once it has shelves...J. Januaryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14663041507844680660noreply@blogger.com0