Open the Window!

Nearly 2 years after the new, smaller kitchen window was installed, it is finally open! No more hazy, opaque plastic covering the view- leaving me to look at spiders, stink bugs and other creepy crawlies- trapped behind the plastic sheeting. 

From this...

To this...

I may not have an optimum view but I love the light coming into my kitchen. More so than before, this is my favorite spot in the kitchen.

The hubbs like to be creepy and spy on me...

The outside looked like this for 2 years!

Ignore the tape  and tape residue but here is the inventive framing for the window.

My brother-in-law  and his coworker (both who work for one of my other brother-in-law) installed this while I was at work, so there are no additional how to pictures. Bummer!  Would you believe this is a plasticized material? It is called Azek. It is a highly durable material made of  cellular PVC and is designed to look like wood. It can be be painted (using acrylic latex), doesn't require additional tools to cut, and has a 25 yr warranty. I wish all of my windows were trimmed with Azek and looked this nice! Minus the residual glue, of course

It will probably take us another 2 years, just to remove the gorilla glue tape residue, haha
One more thing checked of the list! Up next, indoor moldings and trimwork!

Already Prepping for Winter

I know summer is not officially over but we have already begun preparing for winter. After our very disappointing summer, I really don't mind, ha. We kicked it off by purchasing a new wood stove for the hubbs "man land" room. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac it is going to be a blustery cold winter!

This is a US Stove 1261 Cast Iron small log stove. We bought it for $189.99 at Rural King (which was $202 and some change after taxes). What is so amazing is this stove was in a crate small enough to fit in the backseat of my Ford Focus! This smaller sized  stove is better suited for the hubb's room (about 120sf).  The added bonus of this stove is you can cook on it! So it has an extra function in the event we lose power and are unable to get fuel for the generator. We can  always hunker down in his man room. 

The biggest hurdle we have will be removing the hulking beast of the old stove. It is very old (we got it used, free from a friend of the hubbs) and HEAVY! The heat bricks have disintegrated. It has rusted holes and is no longer safe. We plan to remove the remaining fire brick, disassemble what we can, and hope to scrap the iron. 

The hubbs is replacing all the stove pipe over the next few weeks. We expect the upgrade will be not only more safe but more efficient, as well. We  have begun to source  firewood and hope to have a cord bought, split and stacked by October 1.

Since the hubbs is going to open up the window area where the stove pipe currently vents, we have decided to upgrade it a bit, as well. The entire window opening and plate glass will be removed. One third will be framed out for the vent. This portion will have cement board, tile the interior with leftover tile  from another project, and trimmed for finished look. The exterior is going to be faced with thin brick veneer or concrete block veneer--Yes there is such a thing!-- if we can find it local at a reasonable cost, which can then be painted the same color as the garage. The remaining 2/3 portion of the opening will have a functional window, big enough to install a small window unit A/C.

The hubbs is unsure if he wants to install the window before winter.  He said he may just board and cover it for the winter but he would finish the stove pipe vent side. He said he wanted to empty the room, paint, install his exhaust ventilation (because he is a smoker) and set up the wood stove. Personally I think it can all be done before the cold snap but he said he would like to focus on the back of our house and installing the kitchen door. I found that to be a logical reason. Shhhh don't tell him I actually like his idea!

This was not a project on our lists and may seem somewhat frivolous given all the other things we need to do. However, I felt we are always focused on the house and the poor hubbs is an afterthought. He works so hard and deserves a nice comfortable place to relax. Since he prefers hanging out in his man room after work, I think it's a fair trade off, as I have a nice updated kitchen.

Anyone else planning ahead for winter?

Projects Galore

Y'all, I have come to a realization... I am a  habitual unfinished project addict (HUPA).  I really think there needs to be a support group for this. Now just so y'all know-- I am not making light of anyone that suffers from any kind of addictions. This is me making fun of me.

It always begins innocently enough. You struggle through whatever project you are working on and in my case they tend to be in years. You finally get the burst of energy or money needed to infuse life back into the project that was dying a slow pitiful death, and take it "this close" to being completed and stop. Why is that?  Does anyone else do this?

I was taking stock of the house and the DOZENS of unfinished projects (and I am excluding all the craft/ DIY and garage type projects) ...in no particular order

1. Kitchen- Still needs paint touched up around the ceiling, baseboards installed, doorway trim work (multiple), and new door installed.

2. Living room- Baseboards installed, trim work painted, and  3 outlets updated.

3. Upstairs bathroom- Paint touch up, install the exhaust fan, finish painting the door and trim, install the last piece of window trim and paint.

4. Spare bedroom- update the outlets, touch up  wall paint, and finish painting the trim work.

5. Dressing room- finish framing the entry, paint the the trim, touch up wall paint, finish painting the interior of both cubbies and replace/ move the light fixture.

Now those are the unfinished projects for inside the house. On to the exterior unfinished projects.

1. Kitchen window siding patch--I am really tired of looking out my new window only to see plastic sheeting.

2. Living Room- 2 window screens replaced, convert unused door to a window (frame, install new window, insulate) and patch siding.

3. Upstairs Bath- Replace the screen

4. Spare bedroom- replace 1 window and replace 2 screens.

Then of course I have a litany list of NEW projects

1. Downstairs bathroom and laundry room--total gut to the studs. Separate into 2 separate and functional rooms. 

From this...

To these...

This would be the view looking in from the kitchen. The door at the end the room would be a pocket door for the half bath

Which now becomes this!

Just gotta love the visualization software!

2. Dining room-floor repair-level or platform? Finish flooring,  install trim work,  install molding, install new window, exterior door, update the outlets, move the thermostat, replace thermostat with programmable thermostat, install new light fixture, build/ install closet doors  (Don't forget--clean, organize and reconfigure the storage closet) and paint EVERYTHING. 

3. Master bedroom- where to begin.  This will be a gut job to the studs. We need to address insulation, ceiling height and ventilation issues.

4. Upstairs flooring-  hallway and dressing room. Patch/ repair sub-floor, install new floor, update several outlets, install baseboards, and paint everything!

5. Stairwell- Seal off the door at bottom of stairs (frame, insulate drywall and patch exterior siding), repair plaster walls, paint, install hand and rail, and  refinish stairs.

Sadly not much has changed since this was taken in 2009

I have this as an inspiration. The textured wallpaper would cover a multitude of  flaws. Paint it in a nice cheery color?

6. Update furnace and install return vent upstairs cha-ching! ($$$)

7. New Roof-House and Garage

8. Siding

I really like the color combination

9. Fence

My dream!

So...what are my priorities?

Finish all the unfinished projects. I hate being the adult sometimes, making all these adult decisions!  Items affecting the performance of the house (windows) will come in next, then siding repairs. I really believe the fence needs to move up the list of priorities. "Fences make good neighbors"--or at least makes the neighborhood more tolerable!  After that it is a matter of deciding on small manageable projects (which would be interior) or bite the proverbial bullet, go big and hit the most expensive projects.  Obviously, some of these projects will overlap-such as dining room/ bathroom/ laundry room due to flooring install. Master bedroom, stairwell and furnace duct work will overlap.  

I feel very overwhelmed trying to manage all this but it has helped to write everything down. This is just a brief summary, I have a notebook with very detailed notes concerning each project. So, um, maybe we might just finish all these stuff before we pay the house off?

Pallet Pinspirations--Choose a project

So the hubbs has been bringing home pallets with the intention of burning them in the fire pit. HOLD UP! Burn these?  Yeah, so. not. happening.

So many projects come to mind, yet where to begin? With Pinterest, of course.

Here are some of the projects I have in mind..

Idea #1 Pallet bar--perfect for the pool area

http://www.1001pallets.com/2014/05/easy-diy-project-pallet-outdoor-bar/

Idea #2 Pallet headboard

http://www.taushpointo.com/2014/12/pallet-headboard-a-basic-tutorial-of-mostly-pictures.html

Idea #3--Pallet plant stand

http://palletfurniturediy.com/pallet-table/diy-pallet-potting-and-entry-way-table/

Idea #4 Pallet art

Idea #5 Pallet fence

http://theownerbuildernetwork.co/recycled-and-repurposed/pallet-fence/

Idea #6 Pallet Firewood Shed

http://www.nextdoorwoodstore.org.uk/reseiclo.html

Ermehgawd--I am gonna need more pallets!

The house of 1000 unfinished projects

Okay...MAYBE I exaggerated a bit.  Maybe  it is not a 1000 unfinished projects. It just feels as if there are that many. I can say with all honesty I do NOT have 1 single room in my home that is 100% complete. What is it with the hubbs (and I hate to admit this) and  sometimes ME that will allow us to complete 90% of a project and then  just say...MEH, good enough. (Don't judge me...)

I can tell you based on our professions (he is maintenance technician) and I have been a Chemist for 20+ years. Good enough just is not our typical Operatus Morandi. It isn't shoddy work. Just incomplete. I am waaaayyyy to much type A and a control freak for any work to be shoddy or to allow unfinished projects. Yet...here they are. Mocking me. Disrupting me sleep.  I am OBSESSING over these unfinished projects.

 I wonder is it my pursuit of perfection in a VERY imperfect house that causes the hubbs, me  us to burn out before the job is complete?. Perhaps it the stress of working and dodging all the missiles life launches in a daily assault.  Have we become complacent and lazy? Did I really pick the right color/ finish/ should I have installed that???...(My brain can be a very scary place)...I become mired in the details and begin to second guess myself. This when the project begins to stall. The hubbs senses this and it is his cue to exit stage left. Or out the back door . Whatever. 

I often feel I am the only one tying up loose ends.  

Don't get the wrong ideal. The hubbs is a great guy. He works really hard. He WANTS to have a nice house. He just doesn't want to do the work and is willing pay someone. I am far to cheap for that. And did I mention control freak? Perhaps that is part of the disconnect. (What is the old adage about the great mechanic who drives a crappy car?) Same principle applies. He does great work...for everyone else. His customers are satisfied--except me. He doesn't see "us" as our own customer...siiiggghhh

I am ever so slowly (as in molasses going upward on a cold day kinda slow) tackling what feels like the never-ending list.  It is forcing me to learn new skills. Drywall, tiling, improving my painting skills, learning how to properly use a level, understanding the need for slope on plumbing drain lines. Fun times. Except I draw the line at electricity. No way Jose. If I want a perm I will get it the old fashioned way. With scalp wrenching curlers and noxious chemical fumes. 

If you have read any of the posts on my blog there is a litany list of  incomplete projects, so I won't bore you with all the tedious details. Unless you are into that kind of thing. No judgement here...haha  well, maybe a little.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled program...

Well, as regular as things can be, I suppose. I am settling in to the reality of no longer having a permanent job. Although every morning I am awake the same time as I did when I had my job. Granted, it has only been a week. No sleeping  until noon, yet! I peruse the job boards daily and have applied for a few online postings. We'll see how things shake out.  I keep hoping for the epiphany that shows me what I am supposed to do with the rest of my life, haha.

The good news,  I have purchased some very nice paper for my resume. While I am not keen on being unemployed, I have to admit this is my favorite part of the employment search. I love the feel and look of fine cotton resume paper. I am a little majorly nerdy like that!  I purchased 100% cotton, 32 lb, watermarked Ivory. It feels like new money (and I guess in some manner of speaking that is an accurate statement!)  

I have been hard at work around my house, tackling all the projects I never seemed to have time to complete when I was working full-time. It has primarily been cleaning closets and de-cluttering. I cannot believe how much stuff we have! I already have a carload of  donations to take to Goodwill. Now the trick will be to drop off the donations and NOT go in the store and buy things. Or stop at any of the other 10 local thrift stores. Um, yeah....

Speaking of de-cluttering, the last vestiges of Christmas were finally packed away in totes. The hubbs hauled everything down to the creepy dungeon cellar for me. Someday when ALL the other projects are finished I will work some magic on this space.

I told you it was creepy!

 I didn't have the heart to tell him he will need to bring everything back up in a few weeks. I plan or re-organizing and inventorying all of my Christmas stuff. I currently have 12 totes (in various sizes) of only Christmas related items. I plan on purging some things we don't use and cataloging the rest. All the containers will be assigned a number (recorded on a master list) and when I need something all I have to tell him is bring me container # whatever. No more digging through each tote to figure out what we are looking for. I love organization!

I must say my house feels a bit empty with all the Christmas decor gone. Albeit is good to have a slightly more spacious feel. Well- as spacious as 985 square feet can be, haha. 

So what does the regular day entail for you now that the holidays are over?