We were up at our usual early hour on Sunday. And, inspired by a Saturday burn by our neighbor up the hill, (and not to mention my stick-gathering of two weeks ago) Mike went downtown at 9am and got a burn permit. Needless to say, we were burninating by before 10am. Awesome.
Shortly after the fire was self sufficient, Mike went about moving stuff in the yard. The camper - back to the gravel driveway. Those old logs - pushed down the hill with the skid steere. One lawn tractor - gave to a neighbor. Snowmobile - on the side of the garage, cover on. Junk - loaded in the truck for the dump. Sweet.
Although I must admit, this after photo doesn't look like much. But it looked a lot worse before. Additionally, Mike considered the grading project. He'll need to get himself a bigger machine, that's for sure. He estimated about an 18 inch difference from the garage addition to the edge of the hill. Plus, this nasty bit you see in the bottom third of this photo? All that has to be cut off as well. I'll be prodding Mike this week to remind him to source out a machine he can borrow on the cheap/free. Sounds like a plan.
And if you think that's all we've got on this edition of the Sunday Show - well, you're wrong! Around 12:30pm, Timmy and Richard came over and got right to work finishing the siding. Mudroom/Kitchen Side - done. (Save for a bit of trim and trim-painting.)
It's all one cohesive side! Imagine that.... Mike also cleaned up that side driveway whatever-you-want-to-call-it area. We had a buncha dirt piles there from snow plowing and sanding over the winter. Plus, we had our garage doors stored there on saw-horses. No more. Mike moved those, dug out the dirt, and put in some pea stone from the gravel driveway to fill in. Sigh of unexpected relief. I'll be prodding Mike some more to schedule his friend for garage door installation as soon as this upcoming weekend.
The last little triangle of siding up on top? (There on the right.) Oh yeah, it's done. Trim's back up. All is well with the world of siding.
If you simplify all and everything - you could call our siding half done. But, as Mike is quick to point out, the left hand side of the house is barren - no windows (save for an octagonal one yet to be installed), no doors, no additions, no porch, no nada. And without any of those strange cuts and jags, it will be quick work to side the left. (Not to mention less wasteful as well.) We're so much more then halfway there.
Nearing the end of the Sunday Show, Timmy made us a materials list for another upcoming Sunday Show. And believe it or not, it's not going to pinch my pockets too too badly.
Wrap for the last of the porch posts
Two more railings and a stair rail
Misc trim - and not much of it
Weather permitting, I will be prodding Mike to order everything on Friday. (Lotta prodding going on this week.)
Now it's time for the most Unexpected thing to ever happen on the Sunday Show. And I Missed It. MISSED IT! I'm so pissed. Ken Thompson stopped by. Name ring a bell? As in, just a couple weeks ago I was talking about Mr. and Mrs Robert Thompson, previous owners? And how the strange coincidence of my friend Christine having visited Mrs. Thompson caused me to reconsider all the unanswered questions about my house in my own mind??
And the dude shows up and Mike gives him the grand tour and I'm not there. Oh, I was livid.
Needless to say, he was impressed. Surprised that the bathroom had gone basically unchanged. Loved the kitchen, loved the tile. He did tell Mike in regards to the yard that they dug out a huge hill in order to build the garage. They dug it out and pushed it down the hill in back. It used to be just one giant hill in back of the house. And the family had always wanted to renovate, but didn't have the means to do what we did.
He said he usually has to go to the Cape for something every couple months. Mike encouraged him to stop by at any time, and I hope he does.
After that, Mike cleaned up the gravel driveway with the leaf blower.
And that's all we have time for this week on the Sunday Show! If you can't tell, I'm just giddy with excitement. Everything all of a sudden seems so close and easy again. If we can get that garage door installed next weekend.... If we can get the last posts trimmed and the last railings up next weekend.... If we can grade the backyard the weekend after that....
It's never that easy though, is it?
4 comments:
Indeed, the siding is there and all seems well in that world. The place looks nice! It's wonderful and very relaxing to have a home with some trees nearby, right? It feels so peaceful.
Thanks! The back yard looks so much better now. I love that we have no one behind us! http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KQlDrlWfGPE/TjiYbiYL5hI/AAAAAAAABFo/zm51TEO5eOk/s320/DSC09498.JPG
Home renovation is a long process, but it’s a good feeling that before the day ends, you all accomplished one area – and that is the sidings. Your house in the picture is in pretty good shape. I bet it looked good now that all the work is done. Anyway, how’s the house so far? I read on your recent post that you already completed the flooring and plumbing in the bathroom. I wish you well and hope to see the result soon. ;-)
Kylee Groves
Yes - I need to find some time to update! For moving right along in the bathroom and yet I can't seem to get myself in front of the computer for more than 10 seconds at a time. All is great and I promise an update this week!
Post a Comment