This Old American Foursquare

Over the past two to three weeks, our contractor and his team have quickly installed drywall, taped, and sanded.  Kudos to them - it is a DUSTY job and every time I checked in on them, they looked like they face planted in confectioner's sugar. Since it's still been pretty cold up here, it took some time for everything to dry. Just this past Saturday, Matt started to prime the ceilings. I took advantage of the surprise warm weather and planted forgotten daffodil bulbs in our garage in an empty patch where we removed a dying lilac bush last year. It's up to the garden gods if they grow.... Lessons Learned So Far: Paint is expensive ; there's no way around it Don't forget your Ace Hardware coupons  Did you know that you can add scent to your paint?! We didn't get this, but I saw it in the paint section of Ace Hardware and was very curious about it.  Hallway Bedroom #1 Bedroom #2 Bedroom #3 Another View of the Hallway Bedroom #4 Primer on Bedroom #1's Ceiling!

Over the last year, we have made tremendous friends with a few families here in Sullivan County. When it came time to take down an 80+ year-old pine tree that was literally overshadowing our front yard's and house's beauty, it was a group effort and our friends did not hesitate to rise to the challenge. Before you think that this was an impulsive decision, I will state for the record that we came to this decision based on a number of factors: The quote for removal by a professional tree service = $6,000 😱 Removal of tree was not necessarily immediate BUT it would affect the amount of sun we would need for a future orchard The number of branches falling onto the driveway creating a muddy mess after every storm was annoying At least one or two of these branches were definitely widow or widower- makers that we were not taking the chance on So, we put on our thinking caps and called on our friends with expertise: one is a structural engineer and the other has the larger power tool...

While the kitchen and half bath are not 100% complete, there have been strides made upstairs. Matt and I completed demo and did the insulation ourselves. We are leaving the drywall to the experts, and we think it's totally worth it. They used a crane to get the drywall into the house through a window! Things I Learned: Another Perk of Being Small: I am really good at insulation and getting to the small spots Change up music playlists when insulating to keep the energy up Wear a mask and gloves You may find insulation in your hair even after you've showered Clean as you go You can never have enough insulation Use a painters tool to get a good fit into small spaces Use an electric bread knife to cut insulation to size  Measure twice, cut once Know your limitations (see above about drywall) Make sure your dog doesn't pee on the construction paper Second Floor Before Demolition During Demolition More Insultation in Progress...

It's been some time since our last update, and I'm excited to share there is progress and a light at the end of the tunnel. Matt and I spent the fall of 2024 doing demo in the kitchen and the second floor. Here are some before and after pictures. Our contractor started to work on the kitchen just before Christmas. We also got a new electrical panel so that I wouldn't blow up the house every time I simultaneously used the hot plate and our microwave. Things I've Learned In the Process: Use Zipwalls: If you think you're dusty now, you will get dustier Get two air purifiers Don't put in the cabinets first Nothing will come out perfect the first time Make lists when frustrated Hot plate meals can be creative A microwave can be your best friend Stay patient Pre-Renovation Kitchen In Progress Demolition December 2024... March 2025