Progess Being Made

Aaron has been back at it, and progress is being made. We found out that, even though the addition for the wood stove is 80x30, we have to have an permit. Since we also have the rest of the living and dining tore up, we decided to eliminate one project right now. Getting a permit takes time, and since fall is fast approaching, we don't have a lot of it. We plan to put in a temp place for the wood stove, then pick back up the project when the weather warms up again this spring.

Here is what we are going to be working on this winter. 

1. Finish getting the walls and ceiling insulated (needs to happen before we put in the stove, and before it gets COLD) . This involves taking down the three layers of stuff on the remaining walls, and getting the electrical where we want it (or where code says we need to have it haha)
2. Put new window in the dinning room. Since the window is much larger then the old, that involved re framing the window frame and patching siding to make it water tight until we reside the whole thing)
3. Hang, tape, etc the drywall
4. Finish the beefy floor joices in the reading loft. Lay down the sub flooring up there and put the carpet down.
5. Built a railing for the loft. 
6. Paint
7. Take up, and re lay the flooring in the dinning, stain and seal all of it.
8. Kitchen counters, toe kick, end plates and finishing touches, like open shelves around the window, and paint on the ceiling/walls.

This is not an any set order save the insulation.  We are discovering that 1/3 to 1/2 of all the walls are NOT insulated! That would make the HUGE heating bills the previous winters understandable. I can not wait to see what all this work looks like in lower power bills! :)

While I am disappointed to be putting one project aside, I think everyone will agree that we have a LOT to do, and will be kept busy. I am no longer stressing about getting it all done before nasty weather (could be in a month for us, or shortly there after), and looking forward to having things in a finished place again, well, at least until we attach the bathroom and back entry way! haha

I will get some pictures up soon!

FOUND IT!

I found the cord! :) Here are some pictures of delivery day and Aaron working on the loft and getting the ceiling insulated.

6 huge packages of insulation...

Moving the stuff into the yard...it was hot that day!

Keepers of the gate. They were very helpful! :)

3 pallets, 150 cinder blocks, 15 80lb bags of concrete and 15 60 lb bags of mortar.....hence the reason for Lowe's delivering!

30 sheets of dry wall and the sheets of OSB for the floor in the loft.

20 foot long 2x6's on top of our car.....we got some odd looks.

Attic access ladder that will be used to get into the loft.

Getting some of it up...with nothing at all for insulation, it was getting HOT. It's amazing that the layers of ceiling helped as much as it did...So excited about my valted ceilings and loft! :)

Picking Fruit

A sweet neighbor lady, after picked what she would use, gave us her raspberry patch for the rest of the season. We picked once and got a large bowl full. This morning we picked again, and got my largest soup pan full! What a blessing!

We also were given two pie cherry trees to pick. Some of them are too ripe, but there was still enough to get to large bowls today, and Aaron will go again early tomorrow to get the rest that are up high and need a ladder. I think he can already taste the pies! Andrew and the old farmer (who is rather hard of heading) where quite a pair. Andrew openly admired all his "big huge" machines and Andrew just chattered on, even though the farmer didn't hear most of it!

Aaron worked his hind end off Friday and got the last beam up and the ceiling fan wired and installed. All between 2 calls and needing to do things like eating and such. I am LOVING this. We pick up part of the needed supplies on Wed and I am hoping to get the rest delivered either this week or next.

Living Room

Outside

With the awfully long spring we had, Clara has gotten into a habit of saying, " It's a great day to play out side!".

I do not blame her, and today (yesterday), the kids and I were outside ALL day, in fact, I am typing this while the kids run around enjoying a last bit of play before time to get ready for bed. And then posting it this morning while listening to rain on the roof..it's lovely and refreshing!

We have been busy on the house again. Aaron very practically pointed out that we needed to get the rest of the DEMO stuff done, while the kids could be out and we can vent the house well.

SO, the ceiling is coming down in the living room in prep for adding in the wood stove and another plan I have up my sleeve. This being the reason we are out today....out of the way of the dust and mess. I hung up canvas drop clothes and sheets in the door ways (to keep the dust contained and it worked WELL!) and we moved everything out to make clean up easy.

We will focus on getting the things done that need to be done in the warmer weather, then do the finished stuff this fall/winter. I am very excited to be seeing more progress. Although..the unpractical side of me wants things finished. All in good time right?

And go figure....the one day the kids need to be out (or they get in Daddy's way) they wanted to be in where all the excitement is!! Haha...