We'll Leave the Light on for You

Loyd and Wilma - Leaders of the "Work For Ribs" Program
Jan and Dave came over for Sunday dinner
New fan and light fixtures in the kitchen
Loyd and Bo working to satisfy OSHA Babe's fever for more beadboard
Master Bath - Before and ...

Master Bath - on the way to being finished
Downstairs Bath has come a long way - from this...
....to this

We'll leave the light on for you!

.

.

.

.

For the week ending September 9, 2007

HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Although it has been a while since we reported construction progress, you loyal blogsters have noticed that we have been active. After last week's birthday party (see the blog entry from the previous week) with a whole housefull, we had a slow visitors week. Loyd and Wilma came from Houston this past Wednesday and worked on tile floors, painted, and played cards at night. Loyd had some tile work to do back home so he took the "Master Tiler" saw back with him. Wilma and OSHA Babe painted their hearts out in the Butler's Pantry, Master Bathroom, and Friedrich Memorial Mud Room. On Thursday night, OB cooked excellent ribs in the "magic pan" and upheld her end of the "Will Work For Ribs" program. We appreciated their help working with us and value greatly their friendship of more than 25 years.

Newer friends, Dave and Jan, came over after church for Sunday dinner. That seems to be a custom that has fallen by the wayside. Dave is retired from the Army and he, Jan, and their family have lived in many different locations. We look forward to getting to know them better.

2. We got some electrical work done since last report. By the title of this week's blog, you can see that we are particulary happy to have a new light on the porch. There is now an outlet in the wall for the washing machine. I'm really going to miss the extension cord that had been running across the floor. The kitchen now has a light fixture over the sink rather than a dangling electrical wire and a new ceiling fan with the smallest blades I've ever seen.

3. Bathroom floors have taken shape. Both the master bathroom upstairs and the downstairs bathroom now have tiled floors. Loyd was a big help in getting the downstairs one done much quicker than I could have done by myself. The floors look nice and will really add that "old time" feel when the claw foot tubs and fixtures get set in place.

4. Four additional rooms have been added to the "Painted" list. The Master Closet, Butler's Pantry, Mud Room, and Downstairs Bathroom all look better with the walls painted. There is still beadboard to be painted but we're getting there.

NEXT STEPS:

1. We're closing in on completing the bathrooms. The list of "to do's" is down from 20 items to a handfull - beadboard wainscoating, baseboards placed, tubs and fixtures set in place, doors refinished. It will be nice to have more than one functioning bathroom in the house for your next visit.

2. We have talked to the cabinet guy about some additional work that includes a plate rack in the kitchen, locker type seating and a utility sink in the Mud Room, a vanity stand for the Master Bath (that will hold one of the original sinks), and a nice enclosure to cover the ugly opening where the AC unit downstairs. This could be a slow process.

3. We've had no luck finding someone who can/will work on doors. There are several that need to be hung along with some that need to be adjusted. Also, we want to get the pocket doors worked on. This one doesn't look like it's going to be easy to wrangle up the help. But we'll keep after it.

4. We're down to doing some serious paint preparation on the three main rooms that are left. The Entry, Parlor, and Dining Room are large in size but don't have a lot of intricate work to do. After we get the trim sanded and painted as well as the walls and ceilings painted, we'll get on the floor folks' schedule. Stay tuned.