We had a week of "off"- a nice break from the hammering and people everywhere.  A brief respite from the noise and dust.  Since then- it's been fast and furious.......

The front entry- gutters installed!  I've got gutters!  Just in time as we also got some major rain- I was out adjusting the downspouts and adding on the run-out tubes as the rain poured down but finally the water is away form the foundation and out giving some much needed water to the lawn and gardens around the house.  The front door is still not installed- waiting on delivery from Oregon.

The floor was poured!  They arrived mid-morning and by noon I had a floor covering all the heat tubes and solid.  I was able to walk (carefully) on it the next morning.  It really creates a solid feeling under my feet and it should only be MORE so once the tile goes down on top of it all.....

The insulation is batt's in the wall but foam filled in the ceiling-  I had them foam fill the old door as well since it is so shallow and I wanted the higher R-value.  As they were working on the ceiling one of the hoses busted open and suddenly I had a small mountain in the kitchen.... They got it all cleaned up by just lifting the plastic they had put down for protection but it was pretty exciting for a moment or two!  The material is really interesting- a closed cell foam, expands about 2-21/2 times it's size when sprayed and then dries to a HARD surface.... no mice getting in here!

 

The installer, Jose, fully suited up in protective gear to spray the foam and everything carefully masked off for protection!

After the insulation was complete I had a few days to spend on cleaning the walls and re-chinking.  I used soap and water and lots of scrubbing but the walls really cleaned up well.  I chinked over any cracks and where I had pulled chinking for the electrical runs.  Looking good!

Drywallers arrived with delivery of drywall on Tuesday and then installation the next morning.  I had to folks drywalling and they just smiled when they looked up and saw the ceiling.  I think they must also like to have a challenge in their work.  They were very neat and cleaned up nicely after themselves.  Miquel was the lead installer and they had it done (beautifully) by mid afternoon and all trimmed out for the mudders to arrive.

Meanwhile in all my extra spare time I've been cleaning my old cedar siding and priming it in the house stain- a beautiful gray.  I measured the new walls and created a cut list so I would know what lengths I would need- then it was just a matter of sorting thru the stacks of siding to cull out anything split or unusable, making piles of the right sized pieces and staining it all (front, back and sides), re-stacking and labeling it for where it is to go.  I have enough siding from what I saved off the old house, combined with what I have in the barn left over from when we put on the little house addition, to completely re-side the new kitchen and entry.  What a cost savings!  Yes, it's been a lot of work but it is recycling perfectly good cedar and using it all again for the same purpose.  Having the time to paint it BEFORE it goes up has been a luxury and the weather has been perfect.  I try to be up and out painting, cleaning, sorting by 7:30 and am able to work in the shade until 1 when I stop for lunch and to check out what is going on with my "workers" in the kitchen.  And when they see me working on this I think it has also created an opening to talk with me and not just have me be the owner of the property and them the "workers".  I am very aware that I am extremely lucky to own such an amazing piece of property and to live in this incredible home.  I know many of the folks who are coming here to work have no idea of what it has taken to have this home or the work I've put into it but I do think they have a small glimpse into all that when they see me scrubbing away on the cedar to clean it all and then the careful painting, stacking, labeling.  They get it... and they appreciate that I am "working" as they do their job.  At the end of the day or as they are cleaning up to leave we usually find ourselves chatting for a moment and they are supportive, appreciative, and caring folks.  I've enjoyed having them to my home... and they take pride in what they have brought to the project.

Stacked, labeled and ready for installation.

Sonya and Miquel came Thursday to mud the joints and install the mesh- clean neat work.  She did most of the tall stuff on her stilts- working overhead smoothing and feathering it out.  It won't require much sanding!  We are to have nice 70º + days thru the weekend so it should dry nice and slow making a durable blend to the drywall.  I've chosen to do an "orange peel" texture since that should be easier to clean than a stucco or sand finish and I want some texture for "breakup"....

I spent all of Friday morning at the table saw ripping the cedar that was too broken to be used as siding into all the trim pieces for the windows, door, eve edge, etc.  first I trimmed off the "tongue" from the edge of the siding and then was able to rip down the board to the right width for all the trim.  Nancy BichaDale came to help me paint it on Saturday.  By the end of the day, all the siding and all the trim was primed with at least one coat of the stain and we are ready for installation!

And on Sunday... we rested...and I updated the blog.