Bye-Bye Useless Upstair Overhang

About a month ago, we decided to stop movement towards a house addition and started movement towards a house remodel.  It is more cost effective to make this decision.  We are disappointed but we know this is the right decision for our family.

One of the first major projects is the upstairs bathroom.  The bathroom had this weird overhang that was completely useless.  On the inside, the overhang was a large tiled area in which the water would slope down.  Whenever one of us took a shower, the water would spray onto the tile area and, unless we remembered to use a squeegy wiper each time, the water sat and ended up molding out a corner.  This overhang was not one of the weird construction quirks of our home that either of us enjoyed.

When Alexander and I were in Chelan for the weekend, Eric started tearing out the wallboard and insulation in preparation for wall removal. 

Here is what it looked like from the upstairs, once Eric tore off all the siding.

Ron starts work from the inside out.

The overhang starts to disappear, board by board.

Is Eric sweeping or trying to row a boat with that broom??

While they worked in the blazing sun (it was about 90 degrees today), I was burning wood from the overhang in a blazing fire!

Alexander couldn't wait to get in on the action.

Until he touched fiberglass insulation with fingers, transferred it to his eyes, and had enough of construction for the day.

He's a pretty cute construction guy, though.

He decided he would rather sit in the shade with Umma and watch.

Can't say I blame them; today was a scorcher! 

A few more hours pass by and...

Voila!

No more overhang!!

The two soon got to work on framing the new wall

I spent my time cleaning the decks and trying to organize the mess that had been made.

I don't think I was very successful!

The final nailing of the plywood and the guys were done for the day.

Eric and I spent the rest of the afternoon burning more of the smaller pieces but we'll still need to take most of it to the dump this week.

All that remains is ordering a window, putting on the siding and getting new gutters.  I think we're planning on a new roof too but I am not exactly sure of that timeline.

Today was a good day.

Summer Yardwork

Well, hello! I'm pretty sure we're the only ones who read this thing but I want a record of all we've done to the house.  I suspect someday, I'll just make a book of this blog which will sit on a table to collect dust.  So, here's the latest.  We STILL do not have approval from the fire marshall to move on the house addition, we decided to put our focus on the yard.

PROJECT 1

Move the maple tree. 

The thing had tripled its size in the last year.  Originally, we were going to transplant it but then we decided to pull it with Eric's Land Cruiser.  If the roots came up with it, we'd transplant it.  They didn't.

Since Project 2 is to level the round in the middle of the yard, we transplanted that rhody instead.  We planted this rhody when we first moved in and found out we were pregnant.  It's my favorite.  It's still a baby but just like my baby, it grows a little bit every year.

PROJECT 2

Removing the round from the middle of the yard.

I've spent the past four years, weeding this thing out every spring.  Each time, Eric reminds me that we could flatten it out but I was pretty attached to the area.  I don't know why so don't try to figure that one out.  Tonight, we tackled the round (it's that overgrown thing in the middle of the yard).  If you look closely, you can see the maple tree in the lower right corner - yea, I'd say it grew a bit!

Eric removed the rocks a few weeks ago and we've slowly removed the other plants to different areas in the yard.  The peonies are the only things remaining because I won't move them while they are blooming.  When we do move them, they will go under the lilac trees. 

Isn't Alexander so cute working with his daddy?  I love it.

It's going to be terrific for Alexander and his friends to have that crazy round gone.  It was a nice effect to the yard but it was SO MUCH work to keep the weeds under control. 

Up behind the shed, we will make a little sports court for him and if all goes as I plan it, our house will be the place the kids want to hang out...

Update

Remodel Update: 
Eric called our architect today.   It's been almost two months since we finished the driveway.  Ideally, we would like to break ground this spring.  Oh, wait.  It is spring (although the way it keeps raining, pushing it off to summer might actually be ok).  Nothing can be done until we know whether or not the fire marshall is going to approve the changes or ask for something more.

We've done our part.  And, we are happy to report, our architect actually did his part.  He submitted everything two weeks ago and is in a holding pattern. 

Hopefully, hopefully, hopefully we will hear from the fire marshall in the next week.  Our architect is making a follow-up call tomorrow so keep your fingers crossed we have good news soon!

Love, Us 3

Three Months Later...

The view from our front door has gone from this...

Nov' 10

TO THIS!

Feb ' 11

SO MUCH PARKING! 

Tim and Roger came by for the last time yesterday.  They leveled everything and spread a deep layer of gravel.



Now, we wait.

We wait to find out if the changes are good enough for the Fire Marshall.

If all goes well, we'll break ground on the addition this spring!

Keep your fingers crossed.

Love, Us 3

HoHo Papa's House

Today, Eric sent Tim to my folks house to work.  Since there is nothing he can do at our place (thankyouverymuchgascompany), we knew there was plenty to be done at HoHo Papa's house.

For those of you who hadn't heard, in the past two weeks, my parents had two trees (including the GINORMOUS 120 year old cedar tree) removed from the front the house and had the stumps ground down.  They also had Tim dump three loads of dirt from our yard into their yard.

So, what did Tim do today? 

He removed all the rocks that were in the yard (my parents haven't had a grass lawn for 15? 10? years) and scraped them to the side.  When I arrived today, this is what I saw: 



Standing in garage



Standing on street

Within minutes of my arrival, the decision was made to bring in three loads of topsoil.  

Alexander has a bad cold but he had an awesome front row seat to the show.

Finally, the topsoil was spread and the yard has doubled in size.  The far tree line is the neighbors property line but it had always been obscured by the giant cedar tree. 
I don't have any final pictures from the street because it was pouring when they finished and I needed to get a sick boy home.

Imagine it with grass, a few plants and it will only be a matter of time before the neighbors start asking my folks when they are moving.

PS.  They aren't.

Drainage

In order to keep the driveway clear of standing water, Eric asked Tim to put in drainage pipe on the western edge of the driveway. 

150 feet of drainage pipe.

I like this next picture because it gives perspective of how wide the driveway has become.

A dumptruck and a digger.  Side by side.  With room to spare.

The gas company surveyor has visited and we have an appointment on Monday for them to bury the gas line deeper in the ground.  Once that happens, Tim will finish leveling and graveling the top. 

Phase One of the remodel will be complete!

Digging in the Driveway

Is it a landing strip?  A parking lot?  A new street?

No.  It's our driveway!

Before it all began

Looking toward the road, house is at your back



Standing on road, looking toward the house



 Mid Progress (about a week ago)

Standing on road, last set of trees being removed

The Current View

Standing on street, looking towards house, all trees have been removed.

The top third of the driveway remains to be widened.  Dirt has been dumped at Michelle's parents house and in our yard, where it will wait for summer projects.

I bet if you need dirt, we can find it for you.

Us 3