Stay puffed marshmallow man exploded!

It's been a crazy week of prep, and we had a real disappointment yesterday when we'd stayed up late Tuesday night to be ready for foam insulation blowers and they didn't come. But they had unavoidable problems and today were here by 9. They were great - a father and son from Arkansas. The son did the spraying - in a white suit that made me think of Ghostbusters - and the father handed him things and cut off the excess foam. It was sprayed on in a layer that looked like it was about 1/8th of an inch, and within 15 seconds it expanded past the wall studs and in 45 seconds it was firm. In the upstairs room, where it went into the roof line, the floor (for sound barrier), and even some walls it now feels like you're walking into a big marshmallow - or into a pillow. This is supposed to be really good - made from soybeans - and good for sound as well as heat insulation. We can tell a difference already.

Miles to go before we sleep

Pulling down some drywall.

This is MY wall! I'm now a demo-diva.

Kitchen is almost totally gone!

Will this prep NEVER be finished?

Yesterday Mike made it home by noon - and I did too, after almost 4 hours of Lowes/Home Depot shopping. From then until 10:15, when we felt pity on our neighbors and stopped running power tools, he worked steadily and I did a thing or two. Most of these pictures are from Saturday, but represent what we've been up to - all in order to be ready for the spray foam insulation guys again. The school, for some unexplained reason, did NOT cancel the visit of the Trustees, after knowing we had a busy week. Mike has to be "on" all day today, Tuesday, and even my presence is requested this evening. Mr. Optimism says "we'll make it" by working late tonight.

So much - so little time

Two men came with a big truck and white plastic overalls and sprayed some of the insulation in. They were early (see other post) so we didn't have all of the prep done, but the reason they left without finishing was that the foam was a "winter mix" instead of a summer one (it was in the 70's), and that makes it pull away from the wall. Not good. So they went away with a promise to be back on Wednesday and we've been working fast and furiously since. That was Thursday afternoon and we'll do well to be finished by Wednesday; there's so much to be done.

I love the spray stuff, though. I just kept thinking of "Ghostbusters" and the Sta-puffed marshmallow man! With a house this old and the distance between any two joists or studs being like no other, the time it would take to put in regular batting insulation would be huge - and it wouldn't be nearly as effective!

So, here this is the first step!

Thanx dear daughters, dearest of all . . .

Well, as I hear Courtney and Elijah working next door, I also hear the "Green Bean" insulation men working upstairs. Such music to my ears! And while I'm hearing them, I'm working on curtains. Thanks to Angie, the fabric I have now is wonderful Indian cotton - seems to be hand woven and has such wonderful texture and great mingly shades of color. I'm pretty sure one of my "love languages" is touch; I KNOW my shopping language is touch. I really enjoy textures. AND, thanks to Vicki, I'm reminded of how satisfying it is to create something - even like such simple curtains. I once read that one way you can tell if something "feeds" you rather than draining you is if you lose track of time while doing it. And I really do. Simple, straight stitches on simple cotton fabric. As my friend Cathy D. says, "it makes my heart smile."

Surprise

Courtney joined us for supper and Mike used him for a sounding board on several things around the house, so it was after 8 before he left. Wellll, that meant we headed up to watch a little TV and gave up on getting any work done - too late to start. Buuuut, about 8:30 Mike's phone rang. The blown foam insulation folks (yes, they're putting soybeans under our roof and in our walls!) had a cancellation tomorrow. Would it be possible to come start the job TOMORROW instead of next Tuesday?? FIVE DAYS EARLY! Mike had planned to work most of those 5 days just getting ready. Well, of course, he said yes and we started scrambling. They won't do all the work; most of the prep for this part was done. But we still had to take down some beams in the upstairs room; put up some braces; move lots of stuff and generally clean up so they would have space to work. After less than 2 hours, we were ready! So here we go!!

Alternative for contractor bags

The norm during construction phase seems to be to cover windows with black contractor garbage bags. It makes good sense. It's practical - serves the purpose. But the thing is I'm sick of 'em. And I was given a great little simple sewing machine. And this is something I can do rather than work on the mess I've made of another project. So, for a few days, I'm making curtains. Though they'll eventually be replaced, we may actually keep these little things for a while. My contribution of the moment.

The slate is finished!

Some of you have heard us talk about Courtney-our-roofer for a couple of months now. Well, TODAY Courtney, our friend, actually became our roofer. Here Courtney is out on the slate, on foam cushions, replacing slates damaged by Katrina. There were no leaks from any of them, but several were broken. One was in place but had a slit in it where it seemed that another slate had been driven into it. I watched and learned a thing or two from both Courtney and his helper Elijah. Now, on to the part that doesn't have any real roof covering.

FINALLY!!

Well I'm finally able to post something and most of you won't believe what I'm posting. It's one of the things I dislike doing; put off doing; get someone else to do in places where it costs little to have it done. I can iron now!! I put off getting an ironing board because I'm pretty sure I saw that I have one in storage. I kept thinking I was going to be able to drag it out, and even when I tried to get it and failed to see it, I thought it must be there & said, "Who needs 2 ironing boards?" But I broke down and bought one and pulled out the travel iron Phillip left (dear Phillip, dearest of all Phillips, without whom we'd never have survived). I LOVE being able to have a somewhat larger wardrobe just by being able to iron. Some of us are rather easily pleased, huh?

Well, one of us is working

Though this ISN'T our house, since Mike was doing house work, I thought that those of you who have become impatient with my lack of postings might like to see this one. We spent some days in Florida with Vicki and Buck, and while there Mike helped Buck with some windows and a door. Hmm - d'ya think he'd had some practice on this?

Two great things; no pictures.

Two really exciting things have happened regarding the house but I have no pictures of either. First, the weekend after Mardi Gras, but before I returned from rambling around, Mike found a detailed note on our door. Michael from Chicago, had rescued this house from sure ruin in the 1980s and he left his phone number. I was able to talk to him and look forward to learning more from him and letting him see what we're doing.

The second thing is kitchen cabinets. I had very particular ideas of the cabinets I wanted in the rental kitchen, and I was really concerned that in a small kitchen there wouldn't be room for much. We found out that one of our dearest long-time friends makes cabinets, now that he's retired. Last night we got to go see the BEAUTIFUL cabinets - exactly what I wanted but so much more than I expected. He does such gorgeous work and in true Jackie-generosity he won't take a penny for his work - or that of a friend who helped him! Nearly 30 years ago he taught Mike to be willing to take a gift and just say thank you. So I want to say here, I THANK JACKIE PURVIS!

A whole month

Well, with my last post being 29 Jan and today being "29 Feb", it's been a whole month since I posted. My ego says it was all sorely missed; reality says, "who noticed?!" There are a couple of reasons nothing's gone up. First, Mike's work has kept him really busy, and with Mardi Gras going on, it was just hard to get anything done. Second, when he DID get something done, I wasn't around to properly document it and say ooo and aaahh. The main thing accomplished was leveling the old porch/hall floor. It slanted only 1.5 inches, but since we will extend the rental kitchen a bit onto that floor and the kitchen was level, he had to crawl under the house again and do a good bit of work to get it jacked up. Hmmm I didn't ask, but I do suppose it was the car jack coming into play again. This will look like more dirty wood to you - indulge me.

Seeee? Almost perfect!This is looking from the kitchen into the hall. And yes, there is a hole in the kitchen floor.

Cosy

We've made quite a few purchases already for this house, but I have a favorite. Especially when it is 38 degrees IN MY KITCHEN as it was this morning. I spend a lot of my time - like right now - sitting on the floor in front of this thing with my computer on my lap, or standing in front of it, or with my folding chair scooched right next to it. We have the TV working near it, and we have a temporary floor, though that changes from time to time, . We can run the central heat, and without ducting installed yet, it warms upstairs really well, since the unit is up here, BUT give me my little gas log heater any time!

Jack of all trades

The last couple of days Mike has spent playing carpenter, electrician and plumber. He got a door hung and the locks put on - each job a lot harder than it looks! That means we now have two doors - front of the rental and back of our side - working and lockable! Today, after coming home from the work, he did some floor leveling (carpentry) and checking and rewiring some outlets, and then installing some more pipes for upstairs. Progress!

Last one

This final window is the only one of the original french windows that we've been able to use. I really hate to get rid of the others because they're obviously part of the true history of our house. Makes me wonder all the things they've looked on, all that others have watched from them. The new windows that were made for the house will bring in lots of light and be better for heating and cooling - but I'm glad we have at least one of the old ones.

Final windows

Things may slow down considerably since Mike has begun to work on a day job, but up through now, he's been working to get the windows finished. The last two were the ones I like the best. First, his brother, Terry and nephew, Ben came to help put in the bathroom window. We took two of the transom windows that were over the old doors, and used them on top of each other. It's different but I love it. You can see over the scrap wood and AC units that the two windows are different from each other.

A door that locks

Well, it took two days, but we got a door yesterday and handles and locks today. When I checked at 7 PM it was 44 F in our ground floor; Mike worked all day in that but at least was mostly out of the rain.

Light in the house

It's been a week of windows. Yesterday, after necessary paperwork, a friend from out of town came by and stayed until we went to lunch. So, after a 1:30 PM start, it was a nice surprise that he was able to finish a window. Today, with a full day of work, he got TWO done - though he did end up working a little late. We have only two more windows and two doors left!

Briainard St. house - before

Remember this house? We posted it early on our blog; it was one we looked at when we were house shopping.

Brainard St. house - after

This photo and an article were in the paper yesterday. Well, maybe we made the right choice. BTW, not to be too tacky, but what was Frances THINKING when she let the press photograph her dressed like that?!?

After - stove

This is the stove (see post below) now!

Before- stove

Well, the craigslist ad said it was a commercial type stove made in a standard household stove size - for $49. Heavy cast iron, full of rust and what looked like some animal fur (I DON'T WANT to speculate!) I still wanted it for the really cool burners. All the web info says that what I've done with high-heat and appliance paint won't hold, but for now, I love this thing!

Week One, 2007

After a late start on the week due to travel, Mike hit the ground running. Though the windows were made to fit the openings in the house, installation is definitely NOT just “plug and play”. First the old windows must be removed, and then nothing fits just right. So, it’s basically been one day for one window. First, he began with the rental unit’s master bedroom. The first window he did, he realized that those windows were original to the house - as evidenced by finiding more square, hand-made nails holding on the window facings!

Which one hit the falling board?

Thursday – the day after LSU’s victory in the Sugar Bowl – Mike had help from Jake again, so they got a window done AND the final large beams removed from the last room.

Saturday January 6

Today, Saturday, January 6th, 3 of the 4 windows on one street side were finished. So many people enjoy walking by and commenting on the progress and that’s always encouraging. With the house being on a much-traveled corner, many people are watching it daily. Between homeless guys who want to work - but always "tomorrow" - and others who are amazed that we're doing this ourselves, it's always an interesting day when there's work visible from the street.