Poor Betsy. Comby and Eli have hunkered down under the porch and Claire Bear is hiding at the barn. She's pretty comfortable with that arrangement as that's her normal hide out, but after hours and hours of rain yesterday, she was politicking to move into the Wool House last night.
I think it's interesting that the kitchen's original long ago color was light green, much like the "old" kitchen. I had already planned to keep the same light green and cream color scheme, but it makes me happy that it's an "historical" color. Not that the green is still there now. They decided they needed to just go ahead and completely gut everything this morning.
The laundry room and bathroom were added to the house by closing in a porch - I'm guessing in the 50s. It appears that a major remodel was done then as our old furnace (serial number 9) was installed in 1953 and that would have been when they dropped the 10' ceilings to 8' to accommodate the duct work. How exciting it must have been to get a fuel oil furnace and indoor plumbing!
Interestingly, the porch way back then was gray and white, just like it still is today. I now don't feel so bad about not being able to come up with any significant ideas for color changes. I like it as it was probably because that's the way the house liked it. I hope it likes the updated new old colors.
The house used to be a creamy yellow plank. We know that because when they removed the drywall here in the bathroom to move all the old plumbing into the walls, the old siding was still there. Yep, more demolition :-/.
The contractor and I were talking yesterday morning about using wool insulation. If I'd known we were going to end up taking all the ceilings out and that the outside walls really didn't have much insulation to start with, I'd have looked into ordering wool house insulation. Wouldn't that have been cozy?
Turns out there was some "wool" insulation in the bathroom already. It isn't sheep wool, but some sort of mineral based product. Still, seeing the words "long" and "wool" and "Spintex" brightened my afternoon a little :-).
It does look pretty woolly. At least it wasn't asbestos :-o.
The porch. Sigh. Do you see why I'm having trouble embracing all this? At least we do have a refrigerator plugged in and usable. And yes, that is our toilet over to the left. Throw in that case of Mt. Dew and KFC bucket (not ours ;-) and we are a stereotype for sure.
20 and I moved out to the camper! What a treat it is to have somewhere quiet and clean to hang out. And with indoor plumbing! Thank you thank you thank you!!!
A little bathroom humor for you... We decided someone should really stay in the house at night so the dogs and cats would be more comfortable and we weren't leaving the house wide open if someone figured out we'd moved out to the barn. Tim "volunteered". As he stepped out the door last night to pee off the porch he said "It's raining in my bathroom!" When he came back in he said "And there's a possum in my bathroom (under the bird feeder)!" ;-D
Here are a couple pictures to clean your visual palate. I took these Monday afternoon before the deluge of rain. The bees have really been busy this fall. I hope there are still some blooms left after it dries out tomorrow. The lavender got pretty toasted by the frost last week, but there are still a few blooms. I covered these blanket flowers and the porch and mailbox flowers. I wish I could cover everything.
Speaking of the forecast, the weekend looks okay. If it's sunny tomorrow and Friday we should be okay for parking by Saturday afternoon and it will be cool enough to wear wool :-). Looking forward to seeing some handknits!
I've had quite a few folks email for directions, which is exciting. We're going to be sort of lost without kbdoolin and debky (Ravelry names) this year, but sounds like we're going to make some new friends - silver and gold :-).
Are you ready to come out and hug some sheeps?
19 comments:
I am going to be feeling your pain this weekend. I'm supposed to be getting a bathroom reno starting this weekend and hopefully will be finished the weekend after.
It's gonna be beautiful when it's all done, Sara. I can understand your feelings and apprehension, talk about out side of your comfort zone! Love the colors, both old and new! Love old houses, if they could only talk... Can you only imagine what it was like to get indoor plumbing! What fun! For the time being, it is a camp out adventure! Get some marshmallows, chocolate bars and graham crackers to make some s'mores! Pass out my long distance hugs for me on Saturday! (Ps. Wool insulation and wool carpeting is really expensive here, looked into it)
Good luck!!!
We installed wool carpet when we moved here in 2003. It would have lasted forever, but we couldn't keep it clean. It hurts to watch everyone walking all over it as they work :-(.
Extra hugs for everyone!!! :-D
Just in time for Halloween! I do feel your pain. I've been through it many times and can tell you that you will be so, so happy when it's done.(Not sure if you saw our old house "before" - remind me to show you some pictures that are pretty scary! We lived in the midst of construction for almost 4 years-which I don't recommend!) The bad memories and inconveniences fade away and soon enough you'll get to enjoy sparkling new rooms.
Dear Crazy Sheep Lady, I think I can comment again!!! I haven't been able to comment on certain blogs for some time now. I don't know what I was doing wrong, but I think I got it all working again. I have been reading along with your sheep adventures and renovation woes and your Baaxter yarn (more on that in a minute), and I have wanted to comment. Baaxter's yarn!!! Oh, it is so very, very beautiful! What an amazing sweater that Baby B. will make! I CANNOT wait to see your house all put back together the way you want it. It is going to be so beautiful and so worth the headache! Wishing you a quicker timeline than you are expecting! *hugs* :)
What a project! Good thing you have that camper to escape to! I hope you have good weather for the weekend! :)
I do not envy you having to live through this project, but peace will prevail in the end ! Stay calm, and camp on!
OMG! The upheaval! At least it's happening all at once so will be done sooner. I think that is the only positive spin i can find to put on that mess! :)
I had a weird thing trying to comment on someone's blog last night. I wasn't able to comment on one post but was the other. I have no clue.
I am HOPING to knit a bit on Baby B. today! I need to get more mentally in the game. I do have time at night, but by then I'm so beat I just collapse. Hopefully after today I won't have to make so many decisions about everything. I'm am happy though that the contractor goes out of his way to keep us in the loop so we are getting exactly what we want and need even though it does keep my hopping.
Today will be a better day. I tell myself that every day ;-).
I know. We were going to do this in two stages, but I'm thinking now that we should probably re-do the master bedroom too while we are at it....because I doubt I'll be getting talked into this twice ;-).
It is always difficult to live with renovation and upheaval. I always want to put things in tidy piles but of course you just have to stay out of the way and it will eventually be done. Poor kitties. Do they venture out to the camper and do the sheep take notice of all this activity? I hope you have a marvelous Saturday with lots of hugs.
Wow! That is the spirit. Redo the master bedroom go big and go crazier!!!
Ooooh I just love demolition photos- then you can do a before and after. It will be beautiful.
Wish I could attend Hug a Sheep Day- have a great one!
I sympathise with your remodelling plight. The previous occupants of our townhouse let their dogs pee and poop everywhere. Oh, and didn't use anti-flea preventive. So the flooring had to be ripped out to the subfloor, the subfloor sprayed with cleaner, the walls painted, and new flooring put in. Makes me itch just thinking about it.
I think wool insulation would be lovely. Wait - what am I saying? My craft room is full of wool. There! I can justify it to DH as "insulation"!
With your artist touch your new remodel will be outstanding!!!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
Oh Godfrey..........you'll want to kill me but I couldn't stop laughing............bad susan bad susan Been there and I was NOT laughing, like getting home from a vaca with my daughter and NO stairs to get upstairs, had to get in with a ladder thru a window. OK, that thought made me stop laughing :( It will be wonderful esp without a possum in Tim's bathroom!
i love your porch - she has lovely bones. and that screen door ... i also like the old colors. our old porch, kitchen and utility spaces at the farm were those light greens, grays and creams. someday ... my house (which isn't the farmhouse) will have those colors, i hope. --suz in ohio
Oh...the joys of living in an old house. Tis the season for renovations. We are contemplating a major bathroom make over that will disrupt my kitties haven , not to mention my own as one of my bedroom walls will have to go.
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