Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Long Overdue Updates or a Long Update

First
I have some good news to share....
we are...
Thank you for all your prayers and well wishes
for the sale of our current home!
In this economy, we are truly blessed to
be under contract after only 3 1/2 months.

Second,
It brings me to a long overdue update on my
week at "Camp Provision"!
For those just visiting for the first time
we are in the process of renovating our new home
which we have named
"The Provision"
We "played" in the sand!
After knocking it (the walls) down..
We would load it up into buckets..
Aren't you digging my camp uniform?
While gutting the upstairs we
had the opportunity to use our camps
own version of the "Stair Master!"
Buckets were then dumped in the wheelbarrow.
The wheelbarrow then was taken out the front door,
down the ramp and out to the dumpster
at the side of the house!
At "camp" we studied nature...
Unfortunately, this "nature" was of the
destructive variety in the form
of termite damage!
I want to take a minute to explain the sand.
Our walls are, according to our neighbor,
made up of three to four layers of different
material.  Nailed to the studs is a 1/2 in drywall
lath board, on top of the lath is a 1/2 in layer of sand,
next comes a 1/8in layer of plaster...
finished with a coat or two of paint.
In the corners, embedded in the layer of sand,
is heavy gauge chicken type wire.
All this to say...
the pieces of wall are heavy!
Poor Wayne has been stuck with wire
removal in the corners.

I wanted to also share some
 before/ after photos with you!

 What will be Madison's room before!
Door looking into her bedroom.
Same door with the walls removed.
Same view, minus the closet and scary bathroom!
I was so excited to see the bathroom go!
The small door on the left side
goes to a small room that
will be framed in and become
Madison's new closet!
Another change I love is
the removal of the closed in banister!
The kids bathroom will be built in this wing
to the left!
We are also hoping to have the stairs
reversed, making the window
where the top of the stairs come up to!
We will then add a new open banister to finish
the stairs!
Working your way down the stairs
you come to the side door
and this room....
Before
Same room and view after!
Same room, view from the front door!
This room will house our washer and dryer
and a wall of storage and closets!
Moving next door to the Living/Dining room
we removed the mirror,
or lets say that we played 1000 piece pick up!
Down came the closet across from the front door
and the stone fireplace surround,
Since then, the fireplace wall has come down too!
Before- Bedroom Suites
We are taking out two small bedrooms and
a bathroom to make a Master Bedroom, Bath,
Guest 1/2 Bath and Master Closet.
Here is the same view from above,
minus the closet and walls.
This is the same room before from the hallway.
 
Same view after walls are removed.
We decided to remove all outside walls,
when we discovered none of them were insulated!
The back bedroom - before!
And after!
We even found the old window opening,
 in the same room,
which was used prior to the addition!

All I need is a pitchfork
and we could pass for a modern day American Gothic painting!

Since I end each update with a photo
of trash, why should this week be any different!
Dumpster One -Full
(we are currently 1/2 way done with #2)
Have a great day!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

DeeDee,

I am so very proud of you and Wayne. You two are the Energizer Bunnies. It is fun watching your vision become a reality. Congratulation on the sale of your other home!

All my love, Mom

Judy@judyfriendphotography.com said...

Congratulations on the sale of the "old" home and WOW on the new home! You guys have been very, very busy. I've been waiting for a blog update and I can see why it's been awhile. I'm tired just looking at all the work you have done. Congratulations again and love you both. Aunt Jude

Gloria said...

WOW! You and your hubby are fantastic workers! You also must be totally exhausted! LOL! Seriously though, congrats on the sale of your old house, and congrats on all the hard work you've done so far in your new home! Great photos to have to look at years from now.
Best,
Gloria

Gillian Layne said...

I'm tired just seeing the pics....but it's going to be amazing. Keep sharing! :)

michelle@decorandthedog said...

Love your American Gothic photo!! And Congrats on the contract!!! :)

Sue said...

I'm thrilled about the house selling, and exhausted as always looking at how hard you are working. This is truly going to be amazing when it is done...you have to really enjoy home improvement projects to take one on this size! I thought we'd done some big projects, but I never had to wear a "gas mask" to do mine!

Wendy said...

Dee Dee,
Congratulation on being under contract! Oh my, you guys have been very very busy! So many changes...it is going to be beautiful when you are finished! So very happy for you and answered prayers!
Wendy

Lakeshore Cottage Living said...

Great news on the house sale! We just sold our previous home as well and it is a relief. Um...where are you going to live?

Looks like you guys have done some major work there!! WOW!!

Ok, the overalls...love them. I have a pair just like them except the buckles at the top are broken so I have them pinned with diaper pins! lol

corners of my life said...

I am exhausted from just reading. Keep up the good work and I know from your "sold home" decor the results will be perfect.

Michelle said...

Hey, Dee Dee. Thanks for visiting my blog this morning. :) I left you a note on this post before Blogger had issues, so I'll leave you another in case you didn't see it.

First of all, great work! Second, I love how creative you posted this by playing in the sand, observing nature, etc. at "camp." Very clever & fun to read! I also really liked the parallelism to the pitchfork painting. Ha!

And finally...CONGRATS (yes, I'm shouting) on being under contract!!!!!!!!!!!!! Whoo hoooo. So happy for you...I'll be praying that all goes well!

Diane said...

WOW, what an undertaking! You have my utmost respect Ü Everything will be gorgeous I'm sure and I can't wait to follow along with your progress.

Thanks for visiting me over at Pittypat Paperie and I hope you will drop by again soon.

Christine said...

Pleased, happy, but now surprised that you sold your house.
Busy, hard at work, and exhausted, you must me.

Just know that I'm over here cheering you and Wayne on! Yea!

Jane said...

All I can say is WOW! The energy you and your family has is amazing! You have accomplished so much in such little time....you are all to be commended!!
Congrats on selling your house, I know it must be a huge weight off your shoulders.
I love the updates so keep them coming.
Jane

a woman who is said...

Wow...I feel a little better. I just posted about our garden restoration...and I have been overwhelmed. I feel better now=) You have a lot of energy, and apparently a good attitude.

Blessings on the work of your hands and on your home!