313 E. Main

313 E. Main
Left: Then (1991) & Right: Now (2010, though still in the works...)

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Bye Bye Pipes and Wires

Well, for the last two days we've been in an excessive heat warning, with heat indices around 110 degrees. So much for working outside. Last night at 10:30pm it was still in the upper 80s - today was hotter in general so looks like I may actually have to drop the AC from 80 to 75 tonight...

Another project was finally completed today, minus a few minor touch-ups with a mud job. During my childhood, our dining room always had a corner full of pipes and wires, those running from the first floor/basement up to the second story. However, those pipes are now behind a wall! While it took some creative thinking to figure out how to attach the 2x4 and sheetrock to the 6x9" section, but I got the frame up without too much trouble and I've got to admit, it looks pretty good. (see pics below)


Another wall that was falling down has also been fixed - the wall where the washer and dryer used to go before being moved has been replaced and recently painted. I still need to figure out what to do with the old washer connections, but I'll save that for another day...

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Back to the Future...

Happy 4th to all! A little late, but better later than ever, right? After a nice, relaxing break with the family on the lake in Branson, it's back to work. First thing to take care of was the lawn, which couldn't be mowed until this evening with all the scattered thunderstorms and damp grass over the last few days. The mower still wasn't quite happy with me, but we got it done. As for the house work, this morning I destroyed the small wall on the stair's platform which had been ruined over the years with the water damage from the roof before we re-roofed the house years ago. I didn't completely destroy the wall :) but there is new Sheetrock now up and mudded at the top of the stairs, which I'll have sanded down tomorrow and hopefully wallpapered (if we have any of the old wallpaper left, I'm not sure and haven't looked yet).

Since I was on vaca for the last few days, I thought I'd share some old pictures taken a few years ago when we added the addition onto the back of the house, knocking out the old bathrooms and adding a breakfast nook onto the kitchen. I'm sure I'll have more to come later for those interested...


This picture was taken before the construction began - you can see the bathrooms between the two eastern/western wings. The double windows is where the entryway into the breakfast nook and dining room became...


Looking towards the back of the house, through the dining room and into where the nook will eventually be. We've already knocked out the windows and pulled down the old plaster and lathe - no fun by the way.


And here is the back of the house after the addition. We're still hoping to put a small deck on the back to connect the two back doors.

That's it for now...back to work :)