Repairs Continued

One of the dumbest things about how they built on to the house with the shed/laundry room was that they didn't make it even with the house. Now it is finally joined to the house. It was this open space and looked awful. John did a good job making it fit. I am making a list of things for him to do in June when he is done with a cruise he is taking. One of the items on the list is to put a frame around the laundry room window which you can see in this picture. They didn't do that. Or to the kitchen window, either. It is amazing to me the massive amount of things that were wrong. I often wonder if I hadn't make a bid on the house if they would have sold it even though it was inexpensive and a foreclosure.








The front door did not fit. There were large gaps up at the top and the bottom and the locks didn't work properly even though they were put in new when I first bought the house. That's because the frame didn't fit with the door. John fixed all that. The locks work easily now, there is no rush of air coming in and it's exactly how it should have been all along! There is a little roof overhead right outside the front door on the stoop. It was nothing but a hanging light and open beams. It looked terrible. Here is how it looks now (picture on right).





And one final picture... I used money Den gave me for Christmas to buy security doors for the front and back of the house. Here's a picture of how the one by the kitchen door (back of the house) looks:

Now hopefully the house will appraise at what it needs to for my re-finance which is already underway!

I love my house! If I can get things fixed this summer (a shorter list) then maybe at some point I can paint the wood frame that was the patio roof and maybe sometime I will do something there. That was a big job. There were 3 roofs on top of the frame because every time one didn't work they just put another on top! Now I like the frame open because there's light but I'm not real fond of it when it rains.

I finally put up the wireless door bell out front. The instructions were intimidating but it turns out all you do it plug it in because the codes already match. Geez. Next up is to get a door knocker for outside the kitchen door. I am looking for a moose head. I found a couple but they're $40 plus shipping. So maybe when I'm east I will look for a lighthouse one near the beach. Even if it costs the same at least I'll have it. Or maybe I'll ask my brother to look around for one. But I have an idea of what I want.

And one final thing. I bought a bunch of plastic boxes (big) with lids and completely re-organized my closet floor. Sweaters and other winter things are in one, shoes and tote bags in another. This is in preparation to hang the curtain rod I bought the other night when I went out with Susan. I measure and we bought a curtain rod and a set of curtains with grommets and that will be my closet door. Easy to use and it'll look nice. And because there are grommets it won't wear out with use.

Finally my house is taking shape. Yes, new furniture would be good. And later this spring I am going to invite friends over to help me sort and throw stuff. I need to do some major organization in the Yarn Room because I have way too much stuff. I am thinking perhaps it's time to create a section up in the attic or in the eaves (more likely the eaves) to store yarn in big plastic boxes like I used in my closet. The more I think about that the happier I become. I have some plastic storage in the Yarn Room but I have too much yarn. I'm trying not to buy anything new. Anyway, for what's been happening craft wise, go to my Crafty Rantings. I'm posting there next!

Until next time, know that I am really, really happy these days despite the fact I don't have much contact with Ally or Matt. I miss them terribly. I will give her a call later today when she's off work. I'd love to see them more than 3 days a year. But I guess we take what we can get, right? At least I have a house that is affordable and comfortable and mine.

And Thursday night I can watch the Celtics play! Yes, life is going along pretty good these days!

Repair Pictures

OK I've had a 4 day weekend and there are no more excuses for not unloading the pictures from the camera and posting them. Those who have seen the house before the repairs and afterwards know the big improvements. Here are a few of the "after" pictures with a picture of the inside of the shed once the moldy boards were taken off. The picture shows the insulation which is the bare way the reconstruction started.

As you can see it looked pretty awful in there. But my repairman, John, did such excellent work! Below are pictures of what it looks like now. The floor is even and yes, it should probably be painted, but it will never have a problem with mold again. And I can use it! I have things stored in the shed now! Yippie! (It took probably 2.5 full days to finish it but so worth it!)

On the left is a picture of how it looks inside the shed fixed. The purple stuff is moisture resistant so the mold problem won't happen. The picture on the right is of the ceiling which was completely re-done as well. It really is a great little shed now!

OK I am going to do another post to show you more pictures because this one is getting big. Hang on!