What I came home to after work ...part two

No, this is not deja vous, although it may seem it.

This is what I came home to one evening after work in my bathroom, does anyone else but me see a pattern? I go to work, everything is in order, no major holes in outside walls... I come home and voila there is a hole.


Yes, this is what my master bathroom looked like, and although I would adore the opportunity to tell you that this is unnecessary, all these tools and chaos are simply part of the process. You can see behind the toilet is the window we were putting in. My parents found this window for 25.00 at Habitat- it is etched glass so it has a great privacy feel for the bathroom. It was made to be a window you would put in your front door but my Dad skillfully created a way to put it where the old bathroom window was!
I'm admiring the hole in my exterior wall. See the smaller frame in the hole? That is the frame to the new window and my Dad specially crafted a way to build this in! Here is the window coming together.

Unfortunately it is hard to get a good photo of the new window in place 1. my camera was dying 2. the bathroom is small and it is difficult to get far enough back to get a nice photo. Thusly- here it is Mom & Dad, this is what you've been calling about to see for two days now.





I will include a few snow photos too. Just for fun, although I didn't get the best photos (camera battery dying) and it was dark...

Armando & Matthew visiting...

"Jess...I need you to come push me out of the ditch"

Thirty minutes in the rain = dinnertime conversation when asked "what'd you do at jess's today?"



No fear it is safe to travel here, we got his car out and well I unhooked the phone incase he has any trouble down the road...


















Because everyone wants to know, this weekend I snagged a ceiling fan with a remote (which wouldn't be so exciting but that it was something I needed for the living room to make things easier- long story) on the end of aisle clearance, on the floor under other boxes for $35 bucks!Once again a quick trip to lowes and I'm returning with more projects that I came across! I honestly had no part in the installation of this, Dad put it all up and Steven did the fan blades which he has become a professional at as I continue to slowly buy clearanced/deep discounted ceiling fans! I think what is most fantastic about this last minute project I brought home is that it is already completed- I purchased it yesterday and it was installed last night! If you knew the waiting list around here for projects you would understand the need for excitement!

We also managed to put up the recessed lighting that goes in front of the sliding glass door in the soffit. - It is just fantastic looking for 30$ it made a great change in look! Of course I still have to paint the soffit but we're once again on the downhill with yet another project!

As we say goodbye to the stock pile of windows on the deck...

"YOUR DAD HAS A GOOD RATIONALE FOR WHAT HE IS DOING"

-These are the words of my Mom when I call her Wednesday night on my drive home from work. It is dark out but has been 70degrees today. I can only imagine what he has rationalized. I come home to see the image to the left, except it is dark and rapidly becoming colder as the low was in the 20s that night. We hung a heavy blanket over the window and I informed my Dad he had won the right to sleep in the master bedroom! I was not sleeping in a room with only a blanket to protect me from an intruder.( Yes, that is Addie sitting on the diving board - it is one of her favorite places to perch outside)

PHEW. This has been a big relief and I'm sure my Dad would agree - a great feeling to know that hurdle is over! Of course there are still things to be done with them (trim work, me needing to paint the brick moulding (wood trim that goes around the window outside), etc. However, they're now installed, no more sitting on the deck and I plan to attempt to take some of the old ones to habitat ...hey we all need a tax credit every now and then right?

Lately we've been going even more GREEN at the house. I was really impressed my Dad managed to reuse a lot of wood to save money (oh yeah and uhh save the earth too) and has come up with crafty ways that make me the penny pincher happy. Side note- instead of purchasing new recessed lighting for the living room I simply sanded/painted the old ones
< savings =" $30+"> I purchased 2 new to me back lights to go outside the 9foot sliding glass door at Habitat for $10, painted with some black spray paint I already had and voila I have saved easily 90$. Of course you can't beat the best deal of all 9 free windows with free installation courtesy of Dad! Should I even admit I scoffed at having to spend 200$ for the trim for the windows when we saw on a house flipping show the same type of windows in a small house cost the flipper 17,000 to purchase and install!? Oh-well- guess I just admitted to it!

Tonight Dad and I are discussing the projects to be completed before he goes home for his "winter break" that will really be no such thing as he plans to help his friend remodel his house while he's home!

Things to be completed:
-New lights installed (although I'm gaining more confidence that I can do this myself, the wiring actually isn't that difficult)
-all light switches/receptacles need replacing but we've been going room by room slowly but surely
-soffit needs put up with recessed lighting for outside the sliding glass door installed
-trim work for windows...
-drywall mudding finishing up- not an inch of my house is untouched from drywall dust
-bathrooms remodeled (this is scheduled for after christmas)
-kitchen countertops replaced, new flooring put down, new trim work(new chair rail, door casing, crown molding, etc)
-living room registers cut open for heating/ac
-light bedroom door jamb work
-dining room remodel ( will be the final room to do)

So the more I type I get a little overwhelmed, but when you're at this point in the game you can see the downhill, the possibility of just doing weekend projects versus working 7 days a week and maybe, just maybe, not having to sweep the floors in the entire house everyday.

Everybody loves photos, how about a little update of the bedroom window fun!

My Dad knew the moment he saw me take this photo (which he didn't appreciate) that this would make the cut for the blog. Yes, this is my bed and now you know why I'm currently washing my sheets!














I only post the photo of what my deck looks like so you can appreciate how excited I am as it becomes less and less cluttered, most of the wood/things you see are from the recent window remodels and we're using the wood for firewood!

...and of course the finished window, with new drywall to boot!

...More windows

This weekend we had even more fun, if you can imagine- we put in a new double kitchen window!

Here's yet another hole in my house, yes on a rainy Saturday and a freezing Sunday we had a HUGE opening, brr!















Now for a picture gallery of what it is like to be a SERIOUS re-modeler!














Mom and I are modeling the hole where we are just about to put the window! Yes, all that is on my deck :)

...it is a wonderful life

Just a little update honestly for my Mom who wants to see the Christmas tree in the very very close to being finished cozy living room. Drastically changed is how I describe the living room. It now has a soothing green color to the walls, the wainscoting adds this element of warmth, elegance and ties the room in to feel very cozy. It's just perfect! The crown molding is up, replaced the existing with 4inch, double the original size. The window/door is trimmed and I've done most of my painting work.

Despite my reservations of putting up a tree in an area where drywall dust is flying daily from frequent sanding in the hallway just a few feet away I went ahead and put up my modest tree.

















....And today we straightened out the front door which originally seemed to be hung wrong. It is now great! The drywall is coming in nicely thanks to my Dad's diligent sanding and somewhat compulsive desire to reach perfection...And notice my $5.00 white light from habitat!