Tying up loose projects... Take II

Back in January, I wrote an entry about all the loose ends we needed to tie up around the house. The projects that were 90% complete, but that last 10% seemed so out of reach. Well folks, it may have taken me a couple of years, but I FINALLY got the office ceiling painted. You may recall, we (read: C) moved the closet back in Nov. '06.

This weekend also saw touch-up paint in the new bathroom, re-hanging of curtains I took down to wash a year ago, hanging of new curtains purchased a year and a half ago, adjustments to surround sound installation, installing of the register covers in the new bath/utility rooms, and prep for the hanging of cabinets in the utility room.

Remaining untouched is the trim from the floor install. We have a call in to someone more talented than us to hire out the job. That doesn't seem to be moving too fast though. (Leave it to me to wait 2 years to work on something, then not want to wait a week for a quote). Anyone know a finish carpenter or flooring guy/gal who is both available and good??

We've taken a little break from working on the house, which has been amazing! We've been rediscovering how we spent our time prior to being home owners. So, since my last post ...

C turned 35. We celebrated with a round of golf at Edgefield, followed by a BBQ back at the house. It was a great time, which finally wrapped around the fire pit in the wee hours of the morning.


We traveled to Las Vegas to see our friends Katie & Eric get hitched. While I've been to Vegas many a time, this was my first time staying in a hotel. We were at the lovely Mandalay Bay, and were upgraded to a 60th floor suite upon check-in. While C will tell you this was because "they know class when they see it" I will tell you the truth, which is that they gave our room to someone else. Oh well! Worked fine for me!
















Once we arrived home from Vegas, we met up with my Aunt Ann & Cousin Melissa who flew in from the East Coast for a week in Portland. We set off for a few days at Cannon Beach, where we really, truly wore Rocko out for the first time ever. It only took one run on the beach, followed by two walks, followed by a hike, and the little guy was done.














Back in Portland, we had a birthday party for my Aunt at Plainfield's Mayur. Our friend David B. joined us. We originally met David through my mom, and they did a cross-country bike trip together back in 1982. It was great to have him join us, and to re-introduce him to Plainfield's. It was a perfect night: the weather, the food, the company.




















Melissa headed back to NYC, while Ann stayed for a few more days. We got to be tourist in our own town, taking time to go to a different coffe shop each day. Dine in a favorite resturant each night. Visit Cupcake Jones, and First Thursday, wonder Powell's and leave with a pile of books.

We wrapped all this adventure up with a few days at home, enjoying the yard, and not touching a thing. It was so great that we did it again last weekend. Actually, last weekend was so hot we spent the day trying not to melt.

All of this brings me to the point, that there is very little new to report on the house. BUT, we are moving forward with the window replacement. The contractor was back today to give us another option, which we are happier with that the one first proposed. Now it is just a matter of getting the windows made, delivered, and installed. Can't wait to have new pictures for you!

Windows

This is a picture taken when we bought our house, four years ago. Most of the picture has changed since then, but not the front windows.

I have a love/hate relationship with these windows. They are one of the only original features of the house. While many houses around us once had similar windows the majority have been switched out for something lacking period style. All other windows in our house have been replaced. They open, they close, they have screens on them ... all things I value after living in one too many houses with window painted shut.

But, these windows are single pane with bad aluminum storm windows on three of the four columns (the fourth wraps around the left side). The missing storm window usually results in plastic covering the offending column in winter months.

I've made an appointment to have Classic Sash and Door come give us a quote on replacing these windows while maintaining the character of the design. It will be somewhat of a challenge, as the interior of the house has a solid wooden grid which the windows are tacked to from the outside. Each window will have to be custom made, along with strips to hold them into place. New windows will be thicker than the current single pane, adding to the insallation challenge.

Bathroom is done ...

and, has been done. I've just failed to post any pictures.

We've been awaiting the installation of the floor tile, which we are hiring a contractor for. This pause in house work has given us time to well, do other house work. We spent much of the weekend in the yard. In between fits of weed pulling and flower planting, Rocko and I took a nap in the newly hung hammock which C surprised me with last week. Hurray for summer in Portland!

Sasquatch

I spent Memorial Day weekend with my oldest and dearest friend at the Sasquatch Festival. No, we were not celebrating the rumored beast, but rather enjoying 3 days of live music in the Gorge Amphitheater in George, Washington. It was an amazing few days! We experienced a full range on weather, one moment huddled under a tarp, and the next smearing on sun block.


The shows we enjoyed were as follows:
Saturday - Fleet Foxes, Beirut, Ozomatli, The New Pornographers, Crudo, M.I.A., Modest Mouse, The Breeders, R.E.M
Sunday - 65DaysOfStatic, Blue Scholars, Cold War Kids, Tegan & Sara, The Presidents, Mates of State, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Death Cab for Cutie, and The Cure
Monday - Matt Costa, The Hives, Built to Spill

I was completely blown away by Blue Scholars and Crudo. Generally, I'm not a hip hop fan, but both of these groups put on an amazing show! Tegan & Sara, The Presidents, and The Hives, who I knew a little of each, made me love them all. Great energy!! R.E.M., my all time favorite band, and the sound of my youth, played through the nastiest rain, managing to pull of a terrific show despite the conditions. And, the Cure, who I've mostly ignored since 1993, played songs dating back to 1978, completely confusing all of the teeny boppers.

It was a good thing that the music was so amazing, 'cause the conditions were not. We were camping on-site, which we were well equipped for. However, the advertised showers were hardly sufficient for the thousands of campers. After waiting in line for two hours, we decided that we'd shampoo in the sink and sponge bath our way through the weekend. While I know I took a shower Saturday morning, and one Monday night, I still felt like I had three days without bathing.

Which brings me to the update on the house. The second shower is done, done, done!!! It is fully functioning and lovely. I just installed the shampoo/soap rank thing-a-ma-bobber.

In tile news, C has indeed been pushed over the edge. He interviewed contractors, and found a guy to install the floor. And, I don't know if I've mentioned it on here, we are putting in radiant heat!

We are getting closer to being truly done, but we aren't there yet.

Shower Tile - DONE!

I lost count of how many days it took. I think nine to lay the tile, and two to grout it, but the shower tile is done! The fixture is not in yet, nor are the shower doors hung, but we are one step closer nonetheless. Upon completion, C told me he wants to hire out the tiling of the floor.