The lift goes home tomorrow. Clean-up and put away tools

I had my last ride in the lift this morning. I managed to paint a small section of the shop along the side. I would have liked to have gotten more done, but it started to get a little windy and I was just plumb tuckered out anyway.

Took some photos of the house which still has a lot of work to be done. Will work on the outside next spring and summer.  Nothing has been done to the inside. It just has framed interior walls. The steps in the entryway going up to the second floor has been done but rough risers and treads are there until we get the walls sheet rocked. Don’t want to ruin new oak stairs. Lynn built those about 2004 around the time he had back surgery. He built them so strong, they will be standing long after the house drops around them. It will be a grand entry when it is done.

We did not get the last stained glass window in. It will have to wait for next spring/summer when we rent the lift again.

Brought all the left-over cans of paint inside so they won’t freeze. Cleaned the lift up so there won’t be a clean-up charge. Sun Rental will come and get it tomorrow.

Each year I make a calendar for the family and this year the theme is ‘The Year of the House.’ I put photos of what we did this year in there to share with the kids and my Aunt Betty in Michigan. She likes to see it pictures of this area and the house. Walgreens had a sale Buy one and get two free. Which only applied to the first 3 but I ordered 8 of them. I couldn’t believe it but they were ready to pick up today. I just put the order in last night! I am amazed at today’s technology.

It has been wonderful sharing our trials and tribulations during these last few months.  As this has been a 17 year journey so far, I have lots of reflections that I will post a few time a week.  This coming week I am going out of town combining work with pleasure.  Going to a seminar, but staying with my Son and Grandkids in the Seattle area for just a couple of nights.  Which means it will be a very busy week.  Without further a-do, here are the latest pictures.

Annie, the tuckered-out novice carpenter

The Dream is getting closer.

A view from the sidewalk 10-14-12

Winter’s coming, time to shut down

Well, it’s raining outside and the wind is blowing and expected to be the same tomorrow and Sunday so that pretty much shuts down our home project for a little bit.

I have to give it to Lynn, he has tried to put a little work into it this past week.  He put up some of the soffit and fascia in the other gable.  I know he wanted to get finish putting up the shakes in the east gable, but not sure if that will happen before Sun Rental comes and gets the lift on Monday.  Can’t go up in the lift when there is any wind and we are expecting 15-30 mph winds this weekend.

I am happy about how much we have accomplished in this last 5 weeks.  Would have liked to have done more, but we will get some little jobs done this winter and I will post our progress.

Pictures will be posted tomorrow if the rain lets up enough for me to venture out.

It has been fun to do this blog and I plan on reflecting some during the next few months.  I think I ended with 1998 but remembered some stuff I missed so I will try to get that in there too.  So stay tuned.

Take care and have a wonderful weekend 🙂

Annie, the hybernating novice carpenter

 

One more weekend left with the lift

Ever have one of those days? Yeah, one of those days, when you shouldn’t touch anything electronic or anything that can in any way hurt you. Ugh. I took Saturday off and rested a little and thought I would get lots done today. Well, I don’t usually get all that I envision done, but today was pretty pitiful.

I did finish painting the 42 shakes that we had cut. So I can draw a line through that on my list.  It will at least finish the one dormer. Through the winter we should get the others cut and I can start painting in the spring.   Only about 200 more.

Now for post #3. You would think after I had done two of these it would get easier. Didn’t happen. This one was a son-of-a-gun. I thought I was being really careful, but I managed to really bungle this one up. Not a total loss as I can fix it, but still not easy. The bad part is, in prying it apart I dropped the one side (the heavy side) right on my baby toe. It is broke. I don’t need a Dr. to tell me that, but there just isn’t anything that you can do, but try not to aggravate it. Needless to say it slowed me down a little.

Lynn was snapping and snarling the whole day too.  Got to love it, can’t wait until I retire and we get to enjoy each others’ company 24/7.  He did manage to get up in the lift and put some of the metal around the fascia.  We are using metal as the wood will not hold a paint finish of any kind on the front which is the weather side.    Getting ready to add more siding or work on the other dormer.  Next weekend we will try to put the other stain glass window up.  Anyway that is the plan.

I am back to work now and won’t be able to keep dogging Lynn, but hopefully he will try to get some more done before we take the lift back a week from Monday.  So next weekend with be a busy one.  Then it will be clean-up time and take all the paint and glues and all things that can’t freeze into our storage closet, so they can make it through our cold winters.

The plans for next spring are to get started earlier and maybe rent the lift for a couple of months.  The bad part about spring is we tend to get more rain and the weather isn’t quite as predictable.  We haven’t had any measurable rain for about 3 months now.  But it feels like it may be a cold winter.

I did take a few pictures and hope to have a picture of the completed dormer next weekend.  With all my grumbling today, I really love working on this dream house and can’t wait to see it completed so I can get started on a potting shed, maybe a chicken coop, paint and clean up the horse paddocks and on and on and on……

Boy my little pinky hurts and it is turning black and blue.  Looks like I will be wearing flip-flops a few more weeks.

Annie, the clumsy novice carpenter.

House wrapped before the porch was put on

House with the porch added this was the end of 2011

10-7 progress

1st finished post

Working on the posts on the front porch

Just a little more and the dormer is finished

Last day of a working vacation

Last full day of vacation. Lynn and I worked until about 3:30 for Lynn and I put in another hour.

Lynn spent about 4 hours in the lift painstakingly cutting and fitting all the acorn cedar shakes one at a time. I think we are going to run out before we get this one side done. Lynn thought that he would finish that side today but didn’t happen. Ran out of energy before he could finish. I’m sure he will be up there tomorrow while I’m at work.

The last thing we did was remove another post and put the finished one in its place. Oh, it sure is an improvement. Now post #3 is sitting on my back deck waiting for me to take it apart and start working on it.

In the meantime, I have to paint some more cedar shakes. We have 42 cut and ready to paint. I put the primer on the edge then on the top surface. Tomorrow I will add the red which has to be two coats then two coats of the sage green. Looks like I will only have about an hour of work after I get home each day this week. I guess it will be Lynn’s night to cook tomorrow.

I have been taking pictures each step of the way.  Every year I take photos that I have taken during the year and make a calendar to send to the kids.  This year’s calendar will the be “The Year of the Dream Home.”  I am thrilled that we have got done as much as we have.  We waited rather late in the year to get out there and get started.  We had a wet spring, and I thought we were going to hire some work done as Lynn just wasn’t feeling very well.  But in the end, I just made an executive decision.   Oh, Lynn hates those.  Decided that I had waited long enough, and I went and rented the lift.  He thought we should have fixed the “bucket truck.”  Oh that is a whole other story.  I’ll fill you in on that in another reflection post.  Anyway, he thought it would just cost too much.  Well, it did cost a lot, but it has been worth every penny.  For one thing it has forced he and I both to focus on getting as much as we can get done while we have it.  Also, he is doing the work which is always a good thing, because he is a real craftsman and does a wonderful job.

I probably will not be doing too much on my blog until next weekend as I have to go to my real job and earn money so I can pay my bill collectors.  Ho hum.  Now for the photos.

Annie, back to the real world for the working girl

Lynn cutting each shingle one-by-one

Where we stopped today

Another view

42 more shakes to prime and paint

Edges primed

Post #3 awaiting my attention.

Ground work, the lift rests for a day.

Today was getting all the work done on the ground. Went to Walla Walla to pick up groceries and more supplies. Took my list and got everything on the list, even the Blizzard, yum. I couldn’t believe the bill. The cedar shakes were outrageous at $45 a bundle. We bought 2 bundles. Finish nails for the nail gun. We had been unable to find them until today. More primer and of course a new putty knife. I am a happy girl 🙂

Got home at noon and unloaded the car. Lynn was so tired, but he went out and cut the shingles so I could get them painted so he would have them for tomorrow. We ran out of the first course which are just straight. The others have to be cut in the decorative acorn pattern on the scroll saw. I have a bunch of those, but not sure if we have enough. We will know pretty soon.

I have included pictures from the bundle stage to the finish stage. I also included my I-pod which has my audio books loaded on it. There is nothing I like more than reading from my Kindle or listening to my audio books. I would much rather listen to a good book than music, though I like music too. I am now listening to the third book in the King of Thrones series. Interesting, but my favorite series is the Outlander series. Waiting patiently for her 9th book, I think. Due out next year.

This is going to be a short update as I need to go back out and put a final coat of green paint so they will be ready to put up tomorrow.

Annie, Painting the Cedars

A bundle of cedar shakes

Ready to paint.

Palm sanding for a smooth finish

Primed and ready for 2 finish coats

Drying and will be put up tomorrow

Faced my fears and lived.

Okay, today we got some stuff done.

After yesterday, I didn’t hold much hope that I could get Lynn out there again today. Fooled me. After seeing how good it looked yesterday he was excited about going out there to finish up the trim. He thought it would take about 4 hours and he didn’t even stop for lunch. He said if he stopped he may not want to go back out. What a guy 🙂

I started out sanding and sanding some more on the post and had it ready to paint about 10:30. Put on one coat of primer and waited for that to dry, then two coats of Behr White Semi Gloss Exterior Paint. Letting it dry between coats. Now the post will rest for a couple of days before I can tape and paint the rings. Then on to the 3rd post.

Things went smoother for Lynn as he learned better ways to do things.

I wanted to help, so after he put his time in on the lift, I went back out and tried to face my fears of heights by walking around on the porch roof, hanging onto the lift, of course. That was tough, but I did it a little bit. Put up some of the tar paper, but when I ran out, I couldn’t make myself go back up there. I will try it again later, you can bet your britches on it.

With the day ending, I had some Domestic Diva stuff to do.  My friend Mary has a Birthday tomorrow, and she looooves to celebrate her Birthday.  I made my famous cheese-ball, past down through the family.  I will share the recipe with you at the end.  Then I made German Chocolate Brownies.  Her request.  Tomorrow we will feast.  Guess what I am at the end.

Annie’s Cheese Ball – only 5 ingredients (double batch)

2 – pkgs cream cheese (not low fat)

2 – Tbls dehydrated onions

1 1/2 – tsp. garlic salt

1 – pkg (sm) Budding wafer meats (torn in small pieces) (I use chicken)

2 – Tbls Pace Picante Sauce (secret ingredient – I like medium)

Remove your rings.  Put all the above ingredients in a medium mixing bowl so you will have room to get your hands in there and smoosh it altogether.  There really isn’t any other way to get it done so it is blended well.  It will be tackie so just form it into a ball and put in the frig to firm up.  Before serving I roll it in pecan chips, but you can roll in sunflower seeds or parsley if there are pickie eaters who don’t like nuts.

I make sure I bring crackers to serve with it.  I like Wheat Thins and/or Triskets.  I make sure the crackers are plain, as you want to taste the subtle flavors of the cheese ball.

Annie, The Fearless Domestic Diva

Ready for the shakes. I’m loving it.

Some day it will be done.

Grounded, for the day anyway.

I spent the day working on the post. I have been the “Bondo Queen”. Still not satisfied with the results. Two sides done and two to go. Almost there. Should get it painted tomorrow.

Lynn took over control of the lift today. He actually spent more time in it than I thought he would. He was actually living up to his monicker of ‘ole snap & snarl’. He was one cranky guy this morning. I didn’t even want to be around him. But he eventually came out of it.

He spent about 3 hours working on the right gable. He hopes to finish the trim work tomorrow and then we will start adding the shakes. Maybe have it done by this weekend. One can only hope.  He doesn’t trust me to do it. I think my expertise is in the ‘post area.’ Too many angles on the trim work.  I spend the day cutting pieces and running up and down the stairs handing pieces of trim out the window to ‘Snap.’  Oh, and mind reading.  That was what Lynn expected me to do.  Kinda good at it after 24 years, but not perfect yet!!!

I sure hope Lynn feels up to working on it tomorrow. I have to go to work on Thursday and then will be off for 3 more days.

A fairly productive day.  Now for some proofing and new shows to watch with the hubby.  🙂

Annie, the Bondo Queen

The right side of the gable with some of the trim.

Two more sides to go

More work on the post

Another Monday out of the way.

Put in a full day. Finished putting 2 coats of Cream paint on the shop. Then trimmed the white and put a final coat of white on the garage door. A full day. Not sure what I will start on tomorrow. Need to migrate to the front of the house again, but the weather side of the shop also needs attention. I guess I will wait until tomorrow morning and see what feels right.

I have also been working on the post, will probably do a little more on that in the morning.

Lynn still isn’t feeling up to par, so I am thinking about seeing if he will walk me through the front.  I know that I can do it.  I did put the cedar shakes on the garage, so I think I would be able to handle the front.  We will see.

Too tired to write much tonight, but I did take a couple of pictures.

Going to spend some time proofing the book I have and then some quality time in front of Dancing With the Stars tonight with my hubby.

More photos to come tomorrow.  Maybe.

Annie, novice painter and Master and Controller

The front is done. Yea, can mark that of the to-do list.

Removing the blue tape. The way I use it, I need to by stock in the company.

Nice door, now about the rest of the garage. Just need to turn away, that isn’t happening this year!!

Good days work, dog ass tired.

Up and ready to go by 8:00. Had a bowl of cereal and out the door. On a mission to get lots done on the shop (aka Lynn’s dog house). At least it will be if we ever get moved into the house. Luxury dog house at that.

First thing I did was sand and get the post ready for bondo. Put Bondo on one side so it could be drying while I was painting on the shop. Put another coat of Premium Kilz Primer on all the weathered wood on the shop. I can’t sing the praises of this primer enough. I had put it on the side of the shop last year. That was as high as I would go on the ladder. Then 2 coats of Behr Semi Gloss Exterior Paint. The color is Cream. Which is a creamy yellow. It held up real good through the winter. The siding doesn’t seem to have a problem holding paint. The bare wood is another thing. So two coats of primer on it.

After I put the second coat of primer on the bare wood, I had to caulk all the cracks and joints.  It is very important to put caulking on.  It is better to put it on before the finish coat of paint because, even if you use clear, it gets dirty.  I put on the primer first then the caulking, then two finish coats of paint.  Then it look like a job done by a pro, not a sixty-plus (my son’s name for me) grandma.

While I was up there painting, I decided to get some pictures of the view. God I love this place. It is wonderful working for the American Dream, my Dream. Not afraid to work, just wish I could work faster. I am a picky painter, as I am with most things. Not a perfectionist, just picky.

Put the Cream on a big part of the Shop before I had to stop for the evening.  It was 5:30 and I was pooped.  Went out on the back porch and worked on the post, sanded then put more Bondo on.  Oh, the photo I have included in this blog, is what “not to do” to a post.  At some point, in the past, when trying to squeeze the posts together, I hit it with a hammer that looked like a meat tenderizer.  It was a hammer Steven, my son, sent to Lynn from Japan.  What possessed me to do that I don’t know.  Now I gotta fix it.  No problem, I got Bondo.

For the next 4 days, I will be skipping work, unless it gets to be bad weather.  Only have another 3 weeks to get oodles of work done.  Lynn may be giving me lessons to fix the front of the house.  I have been his apprentice for 24 years now.  I have learned a lot and still learning.  I am amazed at all the things he can do.  The amazing thing is he taught himself as he was raised by a single mom.  All you have to do is not be afraid to work.  That is truly the key.

One of the pictures is of the garage and the kitchen side of the house.  It really looks bad there, but that will be done this year too.   The weeds are really high around the house, that darn gardener has been playing in the lift.  I guess I am going to have to talk to her.

When I am not working on the house/shop then I am proofing my favorite author’s (Shanna Hatefield’s) books, working on a quilt, hand quilting, or playing on my Facebook page.  I have neglected all my flower beds so that is something I am going to need to prepare for winter too.  Well for now, I am just going to end this post and see y’all tomorrow.
Annie, the novice shop and post painter.

Kitchen side of the house

Pot with hammer marks

Primer is on

View of the front pasture and my neighbors across the highway

Mooney the llama & April the paint.

Out of paint in the roller pan, means it time to call the quits for the night.

Done for the night.

Back on the working vacation, wahoo

Think polyester. I think everyone has some polyester clothes that they absolute hate. Well, I have found a good use for my polyester clothes. Use them to paint in. You just don’t care how much paint to get on them. As a matter of fact they look better with paint all over them. So I put on my best poly and set out to make them look great. What a palate for all the different colors. When the house, garage and shop are done, I will celebrate by burning them in the fire pit out back.

Well today started slow as I thought it would.  I went out first thing in the morning at 8:00 and painted the white trim around the garage door which took an hour.  By that time Lynn had his coffee and was ready to go.  So we to Walla Walla for groceries, making several stops and having lunch in the park.

Home around 1:00, the groceries are unloaded and I am back in my best poly.  We have to re-position the lift and I am on my maiden voyage in the lift.  I had Lynn take some photos as proof that I really did go up there.  You know it was a little wobbly, but when I got my sea legs, I was good.  I began to put on the Kilz Primer on the weathered boards and siding.  I used a brush and roller.  It sucked the paint up like a sponge.  As a matter of fact, I will probably have to use two coats of primer on some of the weathered boards.  The photos show where I was at about 3:00, well I went back out and painted for another 2 1/2 hours and got more primed, but still have more primer to do.  Luckily, we didn’t have any wind or thunderstorms which were a possibility.

You are probably asking, why didn’t I rent a sprayer and do it the easy way?  It would have been faster and easier, I am sure.  And, I have tried sprayers before, as a matter of fact we had one in the hardware store that we rented out.  The problem that I always had was they would get plugged up, or wouldn’t spray enough or would spray too much.  I just don’t have the patience to mess with it.  So I do it the old fashion way.

Tomorrow I will be back up there first thing, as Lynn isn’t ready to use the lift again.  His legs have been giving him a lot of pain.  He will be doing other things like mowing and changing the sprinklers, and giving the horse, April, carrots.  On occasion, he will stop and give me some pointers or words of encouragement.  If I get an early start, I may get around to putting on the main coat.  I tend to work slow and deliberate.  Not very speedy.

Now for the pictures.

Annie, the happy little painter 🙂

Annie flying solo

Moving the lift into place

Get familiar with the up and down buttons

Two more hours of daylight, and the hard part is behind me

Annie’s new toy. Photo taken from the front porch of the house.