On Friday we began to see shape taking place in the attic. Studs were set to begin to define where the walls will be. As Duane got to one of the gables, he could see how frustrating it was going to be to put the furring strips and later, the sheetrock in that area. It's all angles and nothing matches! It will be a test of his expertise (or whatever).
He has begun getting some placements of wiring receptacles, and will close in the hole in the hallway ceiling by the stairway. This morning he enclosed the chimney (kind of makes the room seem even smaller, but it needed to be done). I have to remember that children like cozy, small places to play. And that's what this will be when it is done.
Thankfully the forecasted weather has not hit very hard. We had rain, but our temps have remained warm enough so that the ice that had formed on the branches of the trees last night seems to be gone now. The branches were waving pretty good in the wind last night. Our power has cut out 3 times so far, but each time has come back in about a minute. FOR THAT WE HAVE BEEN PRAISING GOD!!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Friday, January 22, 2010
THE STAIRWAY IS IN!!
The new stairway was in as of 3:00 p.m. yesterday!! Hooray!! That was a great sense of accomplishment for Duane & Carrie. And it changes everything. Whereas the attic was formerly off-limits unless we pulled down some very heavy steps, now we can walk into the guest bedroom and walk right up!
Later in the afternoon Duane, Justin and I went to Watertown to do some major stocking up on supplies at Menards. We bought the supplies for wiring in the outlets, a box where we can later add lines to update the upstairs wiring, lights in the attic, gables, storage area & stairway, a heater, etc. We also got furring strips to build up the rafters to accommodate attic chute vents (basically styrofoam that goes in before the insulation to prevent moisture buildup), 2" x 4"s to put in studs for the walls, etc. Of course, we needed nails, screws, saw blades, etc. We were very thankful for good driving even if there was fog closer to home.
Today Duane & Carrie have already done one wall with the furring strips and were putting studs to the north wall. It is really amazing and encouraging to see progress that makes the attic look more like a room.
We continue to believe God for cool enough temps to keep the precip from being freezing rain. WE DO NOT WANT THAT!!
In case you don't know--I have the best brothers and sister in the world! We're having a good time together. And Duane and Carrie really have quite a sparring time together! He says she got more than enough of the sass in our family!! (I think her teasing makes the tough jobs go easier.) I reminded them during our morning hot cocoa/cookie break that they will now share memories to remind each other of every time they see each other (like how Duane looked bedecked with insulation--even hanging off the end of his nose!).
Until next time--Annette
Later in the afternoon Duane, Justin and I went to Watertown to do some major stocking up on supplies at Menards. We bought the supplies for wiring in the outlets, a box where we can later add lines to update the upstairs wiring, lights in the attic, gables, storage area & stairway, a heater, etc. We also got furring strips to build up the rafters to accommodate attic chute vents (basically styrofoam that goes in before the insulation to prevent moisture buildup), 2" x 4"s to put in studs for the walls, etc. Of course, we needed nails, screws, saw blades, etc. We were very thankful for good driving even if there was fog closer to home.
Today Duane & Carrie have already done one wall with the furring strips and were putting studs to the north wall. It is really amazing and encouraging to see progress that makes the attic look more like a room.
We continue to believe God for cool enough temps to keep the precip from being freezing rain. WE DO NOT WANT THAT!!
In case you don't know--I have the best brothers and sister in the world! We're having a good time together. And Duane and Carrie really have quite a sparring time together! He says she got more than enough of the sass in our family!! (I think her teasing makes the tough jobs go easier.) I reminded them during our morning hot cocoa/cookie break that they will now share memories to remind each other of every time they see each other (like how Duane looked bedecked with insulation--even hanging off the end of his nose!).
Until next time--Annette
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wednesday--More of the Same
Wednesday's work went well, even though Duane would have liked to accomplished more. There was more tearout to do. Duane also had to take out some of the ceiling into the hallway to accommodate the stairway at the top. All of that demolition meant more plaster & lathe, more insulation, more studs cut out. The hole going up into the attic is now open.
So this Thursday morning he and Carrie began putting some sheetrock on the walls of the stairway. The first step comes into the guest bedroom. Then there is a landing, and from there the steps will be laid up into the attic. Duane intends to have the steps in before this day is done. He and Justin also plan a trip to Menards in Watertown after Justin's home from work. They have quite a list of supplies to lay in for the attic work.
Weather here has been foggy so far all day today. It is mild, just very heavy with humidity. We had some wintry mix yesterday--rain that sounded like pellets and light snow. I guess the main roads are okay, but side roads are slippery. Please pray with us for a downgrade in the forecast. We need the electricity to stay on and to miss out on freezing rain here.
(We celebrated the victory by Brown in Massachusetts!)
So this Thursday morning he and Carrie began putting some sheetrock on the walls of the stairway. The first step comes into the guest bedroom. Then there is a landing, and from there the steps will be laid up into the attic. Duane intends to have the steps in before this day is done. He and Justin also plan a trip to Menards in Watertown after Justin's home from work. They have quite a list of supplies to lay in for the attic work.
Weather here has been foggy so far all day today. It is mild, just very heavy with humidity. We had some wintry mix yesterday--rain that sounded like pellets and light snow. I guess the main roads are okay, but side roads are slippery. Please pray with us for a downgrade in the forecast. We need the electricity to stay on and to miss out on freezing rain here.
(We celebrated the victory by Brown in Massachusetts!)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Tuesday--A MESSY DAY!!
What a great day of accomplishment on Tuesday! But it was a terrible mess. Duane kept tearing out the walls and ceiling for where the stairs will go, and Carrie carried boxes of wood slats and barrels of plaster down the stairs and out the door. Duane discovered insulation in the ceiling (a surprise to him), which really added to the mess as it came down over both of them in the tearing out process.
I went outside before 9:00 a.m. and started a fire to burn the slats and other throwaway wood. I also bagged a lot of bags of plaster.
Justin came home after work with some supplies in his pickup and the bags of plaster were loaded into that for later dumping in Brookings. The upstairs bathroom, hallway, dining room, etc. are all now depositories for carpenter's tools, building supplies, etc. Duane commented to me that not everyone has a table saw in their living room. I informed him that we prefer to be "on the edge" when it comes to decorating innovations!!
Today Duane is putting in supports for the stairway, and Carrie is closely observing the details of measuring, leveling, using shims, etc.
By the way, Duane said he was pooped out by 5:00 p.m. yesterday. We were all thankful! And he didn't get up until 7:00 a.m. today--a real forward step!
(to be continued)
I went outside before 9:00 a.m. and started a fire to burn the slats and other throwaway wood. I also bagged a lot of bags of plaster.
Justin came home after work with some supplies in his pickup and the bags of plaster were loaded into that for later dumping in Brookings. The upstairs bathroom, hallway, dining room, etc. are all now depositories for carpenter's tools, building supplies, etc. Duane commented to me that not everyone has a table saw in their living room. I informed him that we prefer to be "on the edge" when it comes to decorating innovations!!
Today Duane is putting in supports for the stairway, and Carrie is closely observing the details of measuring, leveling, using shims, etc.
By the way, Duane said he was pooped out by 5:00 p.m. yesterday. We were all thankful! And he didn't get up until 7:00 a.m. today--a real forward step!
(to be continued)
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
THE DEMOLITION MAN IS HERE!!
Duane arrived here about 4:00 p.m. yesterday (Monday) after driving straight through from Oklahoma. I think he started out about 3:00 a.m. and drove in fog most of the way!! (Glad it wasn't me.) As soon as he arrived, he, Justin & Carrie started carrying all his supplies upstairs. Now our bathroom is more interesting than ever--not only is our tub filled with boxes of Christmas decorations, the floor is half-covered too.
Before long I could hear the sounds of pounding and crashing. That kept up until suppertime. Thankfully Duane allowed himself time to eat a good meal, relax and visit. He didn't start in again until 6:00 this morning! So we have a good idea of how this is going to go. He is taking out the walls of the closet where the new stairway will go. I think the ceiling will go too. It's the messiest of jobs to remove old plaster and lathe (as you know if you've ever done it).
We'll see where our progress is by tomorrow.
Before long I could hear the sounds of pounding and crashing. That kept up until suppertime. Thankfully Duane allowed himself time to eat a good meal, relax and visit. He didn't start in again until 6:00 this morning! So we have a good idea of how this is going to go. He is taking out the walls of the closet where the new stairway will go. I think the ceiling will go too. It's the messiest of jobs to remove old plaster and lathe (as you know if you've ever done it).
We'll see where our progress is by tomorrow.
Friday, January 15, 2010
A NEW PROJECT!
The holidays are past; blizzards and snowstorms have changed the landscape of our town and the area in several states, and now we refocus on the promise of a New Year.
So what has occupied our past week and a half? Carrie and I have been emptying the one and only storage closet we have in our house in anticipation of converting it to a permanent stairway. That stairway will lead to our small attic, which will be converted into a kid's "hangout". This coming Monday my brother Duane will be coming to begin the project. Duane is one of those preachers who will tackle about anything and has done so many times. His experience with fixup and construction jobs (wiring, plumbing, sheetrock--you name it) will be a HUGE blessing to us. Since we don't know where or how to start, we are very thankful he has offered to come and do that for us.
I will try to do updates, so you will know about our progress. The neighborhood girls are very excited about this project, because they have been promised they will be the first to have a sleepover in the newly-converted attic. And the grandkids know of our plans, so they are excited to see what the room will become. I know at this point they can't visualize it at all. We did show the empty attic to Tori and Logan at Thanksgiving. I wanted them to see the "before", so the "after" will be very dramatic for them!
I guess today was partly prep for Duane's arrival. I ended up baking 3 kinds of cookies. We'll feed him good so he'll have energy for work!
So what has occupied our past week and a half? Carrie and I have been emptying the one and only storage closet we have in our house in anticipation of converting it to a permanent stairway. That stairway will lead to our small attic, which will be converted into a kid's "hangout". This coming Monday my brother Duane will be coming to begin the project. Duane is one of those preachers who will tackle about anything and has done so many times. His experience with fixup and construction jobs (wiring, plumbing, sheetrock--you name it) will be a HUGE blessing to us. Since we don't know where or how to start, we are very thankful he has offered to come and do that for us.
I will try to do updates, so you will know about our progress. The neighborhood girls are very excited about this project, because they have been promised they will be the first to have a sleepover in the newly-converted attic. And the grandkids know of our plans, so they are excited to see what the room will become. I know at this point they can't visualize it at all. We did show the empty attic to Tori and Logan at Thanksgiving. I wanted them to see the "before", so the "after" will be very dramatic for them!
I guess today was partly prep for Duane's arrival. I ended up baking 3 kinds of cookies. We'll feed him good so he'll have energy for work!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
SCHOOL CHRISTMAS PROGRAMS
It's that time of year again. Carrie and I decided we would plan to take in all of the Christmas programs in which our Superkids were involved this year. Can you imagine that with about a dozen kids, that meant 4 programs to attend? We made 3 of the 4, but opted out of one due to the distance and very cold temps. Yesterday afternoon was the rescheduled jr & sr high program at Deubrook in White. Excellent job by the choirs and bands!! We had not been to a concert there in years and were pleasantly surprised at the level of musicianship and crispness of the music. And it was fun to see so many friends and family members of the musicians that we knew. Great job--all of you musicians!!
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