Making The Details Just Right

The tools that I thought were put away for good - guess not.

Well the past two weeks have gone 'well' and we're starting to make progress again. A lot of painting and focusing on details has gotten the ball rolling again. The summer schedule will hopefully be kind once again and allow some major progress to be made in the next 2-3 weeks, but before we worry too much about the past, here's what's been going on the last two weeks.

Due to the a/c unit not having the proper drainage, then having to install a new drain line, then having to repair the ceiling on the first floor, I finally got back to painting the ceiling and eventually got to put the living room back to some sort of order again. It was almost a month of setback, but it got finished and we're looking forward. Amazingly, it looks just as nice the second time around ;-) While finishing the living room ceiling I also finished the sun room ceiling after Brittany had already painted the walls a fantastic 'burnt sand'. We brought back the furniture to that room as well and now the entire first floor is 'usable' once again.
I prime the ceiling/Then paint it its final coat

Then finish the sun room too


I say 'usable' because the light switches and outlets still don't have covers and the light fixtures are still not installed. Shana spent the day Saturday spacing the outlets out so they are flush with the drywall and then installing the covers. She the entire first floor! It seems like and easy thing, but it takes more effort than I originally thought that's for sure. She of course totally ruined her fingernail job with a smile and a 'ready-for-more' attitude. Yep there's still the switches to go;-)
Shana works in the entry way

The before and after shots - very nice!


Ron stopped back in for another round of mental toture in rebuilding and installing the soffet for the air line in Ellie's Bathroom. We had kept the last one when we demolished the old tile walls and such, and reused 1/2 of it for the new one. but like most things it required a bit more thinking to fir the new space and he was a one man crew that knocked it out in no time.
Ron de-constructs the original frame/Then hangs the new


I was busy in the first floor 1/2 bath redoing the P trap on the hand sink because allegedly it won't pass code it the drain line goes straight up THEN over to the sink... it has to always come out of the wall level and the drain must drop to meet it. Ugh all the details - especially when the supply lines get in the way because the header of the adjacent floor is in the way. Needless to say it took me longer than anticipated (4 hours) and more trips the the hardware store (4). It's done and a good thing came out of it - I re-adjusted the drain so that it doesn't plug up anymore when the water is turned on all the way! (Stick with me, I need the little victories.)
I dismantle the sink drain/Then cut a hole in the base

Rehook up the drain and all is well


Have you noticed any sort of pattern to any of this? Yeah, re-doing a lot of things has put a damper on the progress. well, I hope that most of that is behind me and we can actually move FORWARD. The switch covers are small but huge. I think I mentioned starting that 3 months ago - seriously things like this sometimes just seem like mountains and I'm walking up backwards with snow shoes on to get there. I think I might end here and leave some of the other points on interest for a later post and hopefully let the summer, time and a cold beer or two take care of some of the other mountains. Before I go though, if I could please ask for your renewed efforts in prayers and thoughts as this is really dragging on (still without a shower) and I need all the patience and strength I can get. If you also find a few hours free in your schedule, be it on a Saturday or some evening, drop me a line and I'll have food and drink awaitin'.

Til then, here's to the cold brew taking off some of summer's edge. Cheers.