2004 improvements

Not much new, but did finally get the last tiles in the bathroom done a week ago...didn't get them posted as I forgot the camera and left it at Cobb! Also have a picture of the fantastic quilt cousin Mary Jean made for us. It's absolutely perfect...

the fabric is flannel and has all different little cartoon animals on it--the quilt design is mountains and trees.

Got the bathroom done...just need for the grout to dry enough that I can seal it before we use the shower. Also still looking for a decorative tile for the top of the shelf area...Doug brought "Muffin" up on Thursday and moved him into his new bedroom! We may go ahead and put floor throughout the basement--it really does make it much nicer down there than a gravel floor. Next project will be to finish up the floor in the master bedroom, but that may take awhile. I'm ready for a break!

The master bath is almost done. I ran out of tile so didn't quite finish, but I got the grout in on all but the front of the shelf area, cut and put down the linoleum and put fresh stain on the cabinets, window frame and doorframe. Need to put in the toilet and baseboard trim...that's next week.

We did all this over a long weekend--Doug took off Friday and started work on the floor in the basement so he'll have a place for his motorcycle.We decided it would make a great dance floor!

10-2-04 Getting the tile in the bathroom: Doug set up Roger's tile saw outside and I worked on setting the tile. We used a bucket on a rope to haul tile up and down--I'd mark it, Doug would cut it, and then I'd haul it up and set it in the glue! Worked great.

9/26/04--Doug finished up the bathroom walls so I can tile next weekend. I got everything painted, including enamel on the shelves in the closet. A little here, a little there...it's all a slow process!

We used the same color paint on the back wall in the bathroom as the bedroom, and a lighter shade on the wall with the mirror.

9/12/04--Work goes on! We've had the house for a year now and, though it doesn't look like a lot, we've really completed or started a lot of our planned projects.

Ready to tile around the shower, across the front of the shelves and lay the linoleum in the master bathroom.	Rufus is checking out the "new" leather couch in the TV room. It passed inspection--Doug and I both fell asleep in it watching TV!
Found a duvet that actually matched my weird paint colors! Who paints a room moss green when they've got blue blinds? Okay. So I did.	Found the perfect bench for the deck...check out the roses blooming by the front door in the picture below. We've really enjoyed this one. It's bloomed all summer, and the deer haven't found it yet!

7/8/04--Finished the last deck, the small one off the master bedroom. Doug powerwashed and I applied the water sealer. I think I got more on me than the deck, but at least it shouldn't leak...Doug also framed in the shower stall and put up drywall. Next he'll build shelves in the narrow space between the shower and the wall, then tile the area that is covered in drywall. We bought a new toilet to install, but still need to find the right linoleum. The third picture is the master bedroom/workroom.

6/8/04--Have finished painting the family room on the first floor and Doug got the deck powerwashed and sealed. It looks really nice. I got three half-wine barrels potted up, and now we're just hoping the deer haven't eaten all the plants. Darned things come up on the deck to eat the roses!

I've tacked bird netting against the back side of the deck and then pulled the extra over the top to hide the plants! Sure hope it works. The deer have been coming up on the deck and actually moved the netting aside to munch on my roses....I didn't protect the one by the front door as I don't imagine they're THAT brave!

5/10/04--Spent the weekend doing a lot of "little jobs" that needed doing...moved the woodpile, planted a bunch of new buckeye trees and checked the drip system, Doug worked on the deck with the power sprayer...but everything we do makes a difference! Had a huge group of deer show up for breakfast Sunday morning. Shaw Whitney, the plumber, got the shower stall in. We still need to do the finish work.

4/18/04 -- Got the den painted this weekend. Removed all the molding, sanded and stained it, and painted the walls a light "parchment" color. Looks good. The carpet is in good enough condition that we just need to have it cleaned but don't have to replace it. One room at a time! This room is on the ground floor.

2/15/04 -- Finally got one of the guest rooms painted. The carpet is like new, so I'm going to keep it--just needed a good cleaning! The blinds are sort of a dusty blue and look really pretty with the green/gold paint and the dark wood. The door with the mirror is a clothes closet, the other one is storage with really nice deep shelves.

These photos were taken 11/20/03...colors are just gorgeous! All the oak trees are changing to shades of gold and yellow.

My project this past week was spreading out the ugly burn pile that was next to the driveway. You can see a ridge in the photo to the right--that used to be a mound of burned pine needles and garbage. I cleaned the garbage out of it and spread the ash and dirt around, then covered it all with pine needles. After a couple of good storms it should all blend in.

11/9/03 We had the most amazing thunder and lightning storm last night! Flashes and booms were practically non-stop for close to an hour, and the hail was still thick on the ground when we got up. Rufus was terrified! The sound of the hail hitting the skylights and the thunder crashing was absolutely deafening. Really exciting! In the photo to the right, you can still see the hail on the ground and the roof is covered.

10/12/03 Spent the weekend working. Doug got the rest of the shower/tub out and tossed the remains off the bedroom balcony...I think that had to be gratifying! He also screwed in part of the deck to get rid of the squeaks. The chimney sweeps showed up--about three hours late--so we had our first fire Saturday night. I got the linoleum laid in the laundry room and the trim back in. The kids were all up for lunch on Sunday, and of course ABSOLUTELY NO DEER showed up at all that day! Still, it was fun to have lunch on the deck with the whole family.

We're still camping...sleeping on an airbed that's really comfortable! Moved the tools off the kitchen counter...a lot of work to do here.

My first attempt at laying linoleum...I'm really pleased with it. Everyone here for lunch on the deck. Luca's inside.

10/9/03 Lots of stuff going on--we've started tearing out the tub/shower combination in the back bathroom. What a horrible job THAT is! Doug's got it sawed into quarters and I've been chipping away the old tile and pulling nails. We've got one quarter section out. I finished the front door--it was badly cracked and weathered a pale gray with moss and stains all over it. Turned out just beautiful, and you can no longer see daylight through it!

9/18/03 Finally! One room is finished--the bathroom was originally wallpapered in a floral print with an ugly medicine chest. I've scanned a picture of how it originally looked -- and how I USUALLY look in "remodeling mode!"

Since you look right at the bathroom when you walk in the front door, I decided to go sort of "in your face" with the color scheme...I think of it as "country bordello..." The shots below will show you how it looks now--

Still adding brass and gilded stuff. Found a really funky soap dish at the Salvation Army that's going to look great. Next project, master bath and bedroom. Also the laundry room.