1.26.2010

NEED LESS PROJECT Underway!

This week began in earnest our, what will heretofore be called, NEED LESS PROJECT! We have worked all last week on painting and siding our garage. Yes, it's cold here, so that is why we are painting inside and hanging the painted siding outside. It does present some issues that will have to be addressed later such as painting all the scratches and nails. It still looks better than Tyvek! It's also much easier to paint horizontally as opposed to vertically!


Oh yes! I have been pushed into the realm of power tool usage. It's a little daunting to use something that can saw my leg off, but I'm fortunate to have a very safety minded teacher. As you can tell below, we have opted to forgo the "ladder of death" in favor of a slightly better option of a real extension ladder. It's still scary to me, but my fearless leader is undaunted.

In case you were wondering, this is our garage "loft" that happens to have a 12/12 pitch. That's really really really steep. We still have to put on the soffits, but all in good time!
On an inside note, we have also been working on redoing our spare bedroom. It's a tiny little room that just fits a bed and a dresser. It really needed some work. Talk about selling to motivate one to fix things up! We figure if we don't sell, we'll have an incredibly nice place!

Seriously. People post signs like this up here. We can't quite figure out if 1st grade exists or if the meth use just eliminates that year from people's brains. Don't make fun. You have these people in your neck of the woods, too!

1.16.2010

Artist at Work


We've been fortunate during this time of less formal employment to have picked up some projects that have provided well for us! Pat had a project of a handrail to build for some friends of ours. This particular handrail was for a spiral staircase, but needed to go on the inside curve along the wood post on which the stairs stood. After much thought and figuring, he came up with a beautiful design and asked me to help! Oh dear.
Yep, that's me! I thought I really looked like I knew what I was doing here. Actually, I had a very good teacher who set me up to not fail! He's good like that.
I thought he was pretty genius in the design and execution. I'm not biased or anything.
He took it in and installed it soon after it was completed. It turned out gorgeous and fits the home's rustic but craftsman feel!

1.09.2010

Puppy Lovin'

While we contemplate our lifestyle change (that sounds wrong, somehow...!), we are engulfing ourselves with puppy therapy. They are quite the little playful critters now with most of their teeth very clearly in use. One might say that your fingers are left out at your own risk. Though they play hard, they crash hard! It's when they snuggle up and fall asleep that we just fall in love!

We laugh at their silly positions chosen for sleeping. They seem to like to dig into the couch cushions, but in your arms, limp they go! (Focus on the puppy, not the bed-hedded, bath-robed woman in the shot.)