Friday, June 20, 2014

My grandpa's drill on D-Day





I was working on the kitchen tile and my drill was burning out while I was mixing the mortar.  Dad brought his father's drill over who was involved in part of the organization of D-Day.  It was such a beautiful tool and using it while commemorating the anniversary seemed too good to pass by.  

It was a dream to use.



Hank tried his hand at the tile saw.  He was ripping through these like nobodies business.  I love his no fear attitude and how hard he works when he has a purpose.  So so cute.


He did most of the cuts for the second day of the kitchen.  So on D-day, we used my grandpa's drill, Dad was working away, and I was laying tile that my son cut.  Makes me sort of teary eyed.   



Thursday, June 19, 2014

Little Red Brick House... the walls

Just a few pictures and stories about the walls....
  



The plan was to seal up this wall so we could create the master bedroom again.  The other rooms were too small to fit a queen sized bed.  When dad was working by himself one Saturday, a woman came by.  She had offered on the house when it was on the market.  She was quite outspoken about sealing up that wall.  She thought we were crazy, because "people need a place to do things".  She went through the house and bluntly criticized everything we were doing.  

I wish I was there for that interaction.  



My dad's cousin, Jim Harvey, is our drywall guy.  He helped with the last house we did.  Everything I know about drywall and mudding, I learned from him.  Whenever he shows up, it is a good day.  He is happy, full of energy, and progress is always made.  His allergies would act up around this house, so he hasn't been around as much.  I am so grateful for him and for all he has shown me.  I would have been at a loss otherwise. 



This is the view of the dinning room on the left side and the hallway.  Silly, but just getting texture on the walls made such a difference for the house.  


Mudding and texture seemed to take forever.  I was so happy to finally be done.  It is funny, though, because once you accomplish something, you have a moment to analyze all of the other things you need to do.  

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

The Little Brick House's Floors


 There has been such a push to get things done before the boys are out of school, I haven't had a second to post.  Because I have so many things to show, I thought I would focus on the floors today.  

We took out the kitchen floor to the joists.  


This is the view of the basement room underneath the kitchen.  


Plywood and cement board.  Love the clean, non-creaky floor.  



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This slanted picture is the before shot showing where the wall of the bedroom used to be.    It was centrally located, so every time I walked through, it would bug me.  


 I shouldn't have worried.  It was a bit tricky but smoothly executed by my dad.  The channel is one inch wider on one side than the other.  I always laugh at how critical he is of his own work.  We have refinished the floors and you can't tell where this was channel was located.  Another great job by Paul C.





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Sigh, the bathroom tile job was the best ever, because of the previously owned tile saw I picked up.  I might be more excited about this than anything else on the project.  I can tile until the cows come home because I won't be in a hurry to take it back to the rental place by the end of the day.

Isn't it pretty?






I am still really enjoying the project.  I can't believe how lucky I am to be doing this.