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.

Tile - Day 5

A few pictures to get you current on the state of the tile. C has spent 5 days tiling, I believe. One wall down, one and a third to go. And, no, we don't have polka dotted tile ... those are the spacers.




















A closer look at the accent tile.















The medicine cabinet is in, as are the sconces.

Tiling the Shower

Day 1



















Day 2


C is a trooper, but I think this may be too tedious for him!

Meanwhile, I finished priming the hallway. I have only 2 coats of paint, and cutting of trim to return it to the state it was in only 5 days ago. I know I really wanted to have the walls skim coated but now I don't know what I was thinking!!