Sunday, March 14, 2010
Friday, October 23, 2009
Done
Yep, it's done. We finally fished up the HUDling in September and it is now on the market...all ready for someone else to call it home! It really does look great, especially after going back and looking at old pictures. For all the nay-sayers out there, we have proof that the HUDling cleans up well! I will post pictures soon. (Someone please buy this gem!)
Ahh, Piss on it!
I realize this post is a little late, but well worth reading anyway.
Our elderly neighbor does a lot of work for us. He is a retired farmer and needs to keep busy, not only to help the time pass, but I think to feel worthy. Unfortunately, he still thinks he can work hard like a farmer and doesn't know when to call it quits. Anyway, he has been cutting the lawn at the HUDling. So one day in August I was taking the boys for a walk and saw that his truck in the driveway over there - must be lawn cutting day. We walked in the backyard to say hi, but only saw the unattended lawn mower, resting in the yard. Where was Ed? My heart began racing as images of stumbling upon a collapsed man formed in my head! Just then Ed came out of the garage from the side door. I said, "Oh, hi. I was wondering where you were." He simply said, "I had to take a piss."
Our elderly neighbor does a lot of work for us. He is a retired farmer and needs to keep busy, not only to help the time pass, but I think to feel worthy. Unfortunately, he still thinks he can work hard like a farmer and doesn't know when to call it quits. Anyway, he has been cutting the lawn at the HUDling. So one day in August I was taking the boys for a walk and saw that his truck in the driveway over there - must be lawn cutting day. We walked in the backyard to say hi, but only saw the unattended lawn mower, resting in the yard. Where was Ed? My heart began racing as images of stumbling upon a collapsed man formed in my head! Just then Ed came out of the garage from the side door. I said, "Oh, hi. I was wondering where you were." He simply said, "I had to take a piss."
Sunday, March 29, 2009
The Dining Room Reborn
Wow. I continue to be amazed at how fabulous the Hudling is looking! The last couple of weeks have been both incredibly rewarding and very frustrating. A week from last Saturday, we planned on spending the entire day at the Hudling working on installing the wainscoting in the dining room. We really wanted to finish it all in one day...not impossible.
A few months ago, we purchased a Bostitch air compressor and brad nailer. I was THRILLED! This would make installing the wainscoting, baseboards and other trim a breeze. Except for the fact that I was very terrified of using it. Once upon a time in a land far, far away, I worked for a construction magazine as a writer and editor. I wrote several articles concerning OSHA regulations on work sites and read far too many stories of construction-related accidents. I'm now scarred for life. Just ask Rit. I am constantly telling her to be careful. I'm worried that the miter saw is going to leap up and cut off a major limb....or at least a finger. I'm worried that the brad nailer is going to impale one of us...I'm SO paranoid. Thanks, OSHA horror stories, thanks a lot.
Arriving at the Hudling bright and early, we realized that we needed some trim pieces. After a quick trip to Lowe's, we returned to the Hudling only to realize that the trim we purchased wouldn't work quite right. Back to the store. We returned with the correct trim pieces, and after pouring over the scanty instruction guide for the air compressor and brad nailer (heretofore known as "the Beast") 237 times, I finally got up enough courage to turn it on.
I checked the cord and plug, check. I checked the connection to the air hose, check. I checked the connection to the nailer, check. I checked the gauges, check. I took a deep breath and pulled the ON switch.
Nothing.
I looked at Rit. She looked at me. I quickly pushed the switch back in and pulled it back out.
Nothing.
You've got to be kidding me. After all of that, it doesn't even work!?!?! So, one more trip back to Lowe's, air compressor boxed up and in hand. After exchanging it for a new one, we hit Jimmy Johns for some sandwiches and headed back to the Hudling. Yes, that's right. By now, it was lunch time. What a day...what a very productive day.
After a quick lunch and psyching myself up enough to turn on the new Beast, we finally got started with the wainscoting. The first section was a little brutal. As you can see in the photo, we had to cut around the telephone ledge...lots of cuts.
We only finished the first section by the time we had to head home. I was so disappointed. We headed back yesterday bright and early to finish the job. We pretty much cruised through the rest of it. What a sense of accomplishment to look around at the Hudling and see so little left to do.
Almost finished in this photo. We did finish it yesterday. Now all it needs is a little caulk and a coat of paint. It looks phenomenal! I'm so excited! It really gives the Hudling the cottage feel we were looking for. Here's the new light fixture in the dining room:
I can't wait to finish up the last things on our list and show off some official AFTER photos of the entire project. Oh Hudling, you're looking good!
A few months ago, we purchased a Bostitch air compressor and brad nailer. I was THRILLED! This would make installing the wainscoting, baseboards and other trim a breeze. Except for the fact that I was very terrified of using it. Once upon a time in a land far, far away, I worked for a construction magazine as a writer and editor. I wrote several articles concerning OSHA regulations on work sites and read far too many stories of construction-related accidents. I'm now scarred for life. Just ask Rit. I am constantly telling her to be careful. I'm worried that the miter saw is going to leap up and cut off a major limb....or at least a finger. I'm worried that the brad nailer is going to impale one of us...I'm SO paranoid. Thanks, OSHA horror stories, thanks a lot.
Arriving at the Hudling bright and early, we realized that we needed some trim pieces. After a quick trip to Lowe's, we returned to the Hudling only to realize that the trim we purchased wouldn't work quite right. Back to the store. We returned with the correct trim pieces, and after pouring over the scanty instruction guide for the air compressor and brad nailer (heretofore known as "the Beast") 237 times, I finally got up enough courage to turn it on.
I checked the cord and plug, check. I checked the connection to the air hose, check. I checked the connection to the nailer, check. I checked the gauges, check. I took a deep breath and pulled the ON switch.
Nothing.
I looked at Rit. She looked at me. I quickly pushed the switch back in and pulled it back out.
Nothing.
You've got to be kidding me. After all of that, it doesn't even work!?!?! So, one more trip back to Lowe's, air compressor boxed up and in hand. After exchanging it for a new one, we hit Jimmy Johns for some sandwiches and headed back to the Hudling. Yes, that's right. By now, it was lunch time. What a day...what a very productive day.
After a quick lunch and psyching myself up enough to turn on the new Beast, we finally got started with the wainscoting. The first section was a little brutal. As you can see in the photo, we had to cut around the telephone ledge...lots of cuts.
We only finished the first section by the time we had to head home. I was so disappointed. We headed back yesterday bright and early to finish the job. We pretty much cruised through the rest of it. What a sense of accomplishment to look around at the Hudling and see so little left to do.
Almost finished in this photo. We did finish it yesterday. Now all it needs is a little caulk and a coat of paint. It looks phenomenal! I'm so excited! It really gives the Hudling the cottage feel we were looking for. Here's the new light fixture in the dining room:
I can't wait to finish up the last things on our list and show off some official AFTER photos of the entire project. Oh Hudling, you're looking good!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Two Steps Forward, One Step Back...
So progress on the Hudling as been stilted at best over the past several months. We took a bit of a hiatus over the holidays, and it's taken us some time to get back in the groove. But we've officially arrived...back in the groove, that is. The hudling is coming along nicely. I think we've finally solved the problem of the shower surround, and the bedrooms are well on their way to being finished and ready for carpeting.
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Sigh.
I've spent a couple of days over at there this week. All of the upstairs bedrooms, formerly known at the green room and the blue room, each have two coats of paint now.
The green room:
The two smaller bedrooms are finished, except for touch up and edges.
The blue room:
The master bedroom, the one with the paneling, is going to need one more coat, but it already looks 2000 times better than it did prior to the paint job.
This Saturday we're planning on putting up the wainscoting in the dining room and baseboards up in the downstairs bathroom. Then the fixtures can go in. It's going to look incredible! We're a little nervous to use the nail gun for the first time. Wish us luck!
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Sigh.
I've spent a couple of days over at there this week. All of the upstairs bedrooms, formerly known at the green room and the blue room, each have two coats of paint now.
The green room:
The two smaller bedrooms are finished, except for touch up and edges.
The blue room:
The master bedroom, the one with the paneling, is going to need one more coat, but it already looks 2000 times better than it did prior to the paint job.
This Saturday we're planning on putting up the wainscoting in the dining room and baseboards up in the downstairs bathroom. Then the fixtures can go in. It's going to look incredible! We're a little nervous to use the nail gun for the first time. Wish us luck!
Monday, March 2, 2009
The One Where the Furnace Breaks in the Middle of Winter
Yep, we spent the weekend babysitting the temperature inside the Hudling hoping that it wouldn't drop below freezing causing the pipes to burst. We all made it through the weekend and the furnace is now repaired.
Please, Hudling, please get finished and find some new owners...
Please, Hudling, please get finished and find some new owners...
The HUDling shivers
We are ambitious with a new deadline to get this beauty done. So this past weekend was going to be a productive one. That was, until we showed the progress off to Casey and Sonja Saturday morning and discovered it was a bit more chilly than normal. Turns out the furnace got sick. We coddled it through the weekend, and the heat doctor came today and got everyone feeling better! Back to work!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Down to one hand
I've had some finger pain and hand stiffness following strenuous days at the old Hudling. But now, I'm getting concerned. Last night I awoke multiple times during the night with numbness and tingling in my hand. Perhaps I was sleeping on it funny. I repositioned every time only to awake again in complete agony...the pain, the tingling, the stiffness, the weird sensation.
This is not entirely new. I've had a number of similar night time episodes, only the discomfort was limited to my middle finger. I'm not one to let obscene hand gestures fly easily, so I know it was not overuse in that way, but my hands seem to be getting stiff and sore from all the manual labor at the Hudling. My middle finger swells during the night and is very stiff and sore in the morning. Bending it causes pain in my wrist. I complain, but live with it.
But now, my pain and discomfort have reached a new level. My entire hand hurts and flexing fingers hurts my wrist. And last night was miserable. After getting up the numbness faded but returned when I was showering. And I've lost strength in it...most of my hand strength during the peak pain times. I'm thinking it might be carpel tunnel syndrome. We'll see how tonight goes. Will I ever be able to finish the Hudling?!
This is not entirely new. I've had a number of similar night time episodes, only the discomfort was limited to my middle finger. I'm not one to let obscene hand gestures fly easily, so I know it was not overuse in that way, but my hands seem to be getting stiff and sore from all the manual labor at the Hudling. My middle finger swells during the night and is very stiff and sore in the morning. Bending it causes pain in my wrist. I complain, but live with it.
But now, my pain and discomfort have reached a new level. My entire hand hurts and flexing fingers hurts my wrist. And last night was miserable. After getting up the numbness faded but returned when I was showering. And I've lost strength in it...most of my hand strength during the peak pain times. I'm thinking it might be carpel tunnel syndrome. We'll see how tonight goes. Will I ever be able to finish the Hudling?!
Little Brave?... Found!
OK, this is long overdue....
I made a very exciting find shortly after posting about Anne's Remodeling Project - I connected with Scott(ie) a.k.a. "Little Brave"
It was thrilling to connect with the Hudling's past. We have emailed a handful of times and it was fun to learn that Scott's family lived in the Hudling from 1940s unitl 1997, when his grandmother passed away. Chief Anne is his mom. To those of you who have been following Hudling treasure finds closely, they claim no ownership to the Mistress of the Whip. I have no evidence to prove otherwise, so I guess I have to take their word for it! :)
Anyway, I hope to share some of their stories and or pictures soon, shedding light on the Hudling's younger years. So cool! Stayed tuned.
I made a very exciting find shortly after posting about Anne's Remodeling Project - I connected with Scott(ie) a.k.a. "Little Brave"
It was thrilling to connect with the Hudling's past. We have emailed a handful of times and it was fun to learn that Scott's family lived in the Hudling from 1940s unitl 1997, when his grandmother passed away. Chief Anne is his mom. To those of you who have been following Hudling treasure finds closely, they claim no ownership to the Mistress of the Whip. I have no evidence to prove otherwise, so I guess I have to take their word for it! :)
Anyway, I hope to share some of their stories and or pictures soon, shedding light on the Hudling's younger years. So cool! Stayed tuned.
Grout for the tiles....and a little for my phone
Well, I grouted the kitchen, hallway, and downstairs bathroom tile yesterday. Wow, what difference grout makes! Here's a shot in the kitchen (I have not yet wiped off the haze and buffed the tiles to a pretty shine so just imagine the finished look). The grout color: malt.
So, about the phone...yeah, I dropped my phone in a freshly mixed bucket of grout. Had I not been in a panicked frenzy to clean it off as fast as I could possibly move, I would have taken a picture of the the dreadful sight. It still works, but it is amazing how many little grooves are on a cell phone! And every little one of them is now malt! And it makes an irritating crunching noise when I open it!
So, about the phone...yeah, I dropped my phone in a freshly mixed bucket of grout. Had I not been in a panicked frenzy to clean it off as fast as I could possibly move, I would have taken a picture of the the dreadful sight. It still works, but it is amazing how many little grooves are on a cell phone! And every little one of them is now malt! And it makes an irritating crunching noise when I open it!
Finally, a tub
Yes, the tub is in. Ok, it has been in for a while, I'm just behind in my blogging! Anyway, here it is :)
The next puzzle is what to do with the walls and ceiling. More to come about that...
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Frost Warning
Hard work demands serious breaks. So we had a frosty break with our recently acquired free frosty coupons (Thanks Gadds!). When was the last time you saw any fast food item so small (and cute)?
Hey, Nice Doors!
Paul finished installing and our doors and windows yesterday. Nice. Very nice. Here's a first look at the doors (old and new).
The new front door does not have the character of the old one, but the old one was well beyond its best days, not to mention probably completely energy (d)efficient. Speaking of energy efficiency, the old back door had plexiglass in its window....but the window opening was about an inch bigger than the piece of plexiglass! Anyway, as flurries fly, its nice to have new doors :)
The new front door does not have the character of the old one, but the old one was well beyond its best days, not to mention probably completely energy (d)efficient. Speaking of energy efficiency, the old back door had plexiglass in its window....but the window opening was about an inch bigger than the piece of plexiglass! Anyway, as flurries fly, its nice to have new doors :)
Jim's Falling for the Hudling
So our plumber, Jim, tripped going up the stairs and fell into the recently textured and painted wall. Unfortunately, Jim's a big guy and drywall is no match for his stumbling, bumbling body. Needless to say, the wall needs TLC.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
The Week Ahead...
So, lots going on this week at the old dame. Bathtub installation upstairs, more painting...mostly upstairs, dining room wainscoting installation (and first-time use of my new air compressor!!! :) ), new front and back doors, installation of new windows upstairs, kitchen tile...
Uck, I'm tired just thinking about it! Here are some photos of the front and back doors...the "before"...
BACK DOOR
FRONT DOOR
More photos of the new doors to follow this weekend!
The Random Photo Spread
As I was looking for the photos of the wood floor from yesterday on our digital camera, I came across months of forgotten Hudling photos. So, enjoy this little montage. Hudling, this is your life...
That is A LOT of cracks...and a lot of plaster repair, believe me...A LOT!
Our good buddy Mel rockin' more of the unending plaster repair.
Oh Hudling, the sorry state of your plaster walls...This is the master bedroom ceiling during the patch and repair phase of The Master Plan.
Not only enormous cracks in the kitchen wall, but also years of grease and...yeah, I don't know what that is. Ew.
The master stud finders. Yes, that is our beautifully patched and sanded and textured master bedroom ceiling. Although they were small holes...holes which will be re-patched and painted, the Hudling still wasn't too fond of the whole experience. Little did she know, that was just an inkling of the demolition to follow that day.
One of the bedrooms following the great texturizing event. Textured walls rock.
Yep, those are some mighty fine looking windows. This is the dining room pre-wainscoting.
Hudling Forewoman...Rit, hard at work. I believe this was taken during The Great Kitchen Tile Layout Design Debate of 2008. Check out the phenomenal kitchen cabinets in the background. They look fabulous!
The upstairs hallway, halfway through the paint job and mid bathroom demolition and wall reconstruction. Notice the lack of subfloor in the bathroom.
Ouch. The bathroom wall is no more. And yes, the air really was that dusty. Luckily, I was working downstairs that day. This was Rit's party.
I hope you have enjoyed this stroll down memory lane. Stay tuned...
From Ugly Hudling to Beautiful Swan
It's not that I don't love the Hudling...it's just that I am way past ready to bid her a fond adieu. Wow. What a lot of work! But the old dame is really starting to sparkle...all dressed up, head held high. She's shed her cobwebs and creaks and cracks and we're almost nearing the point where some finishing touches are all she'll need to be ready to welcome her new family.
I have to say how proud I am of Rit. She was able to see past the mess to envision the majesty of that beautiful old house.
We have encountered more than our fair share of hiccups along the remodeling road, but it's been such a great ride...full of interesting projects and new experiences.
Yesterday, for example, we thought we'd take advantage of the extra hour that daylight savings affords and get in a very long day of work. We dropped the dogs off at Ed's house and headed over to the Hudling at about 7:15. Rit played around with the kitchen tile layout, while I finished painting the living room windows. Wow, talk about a lot of work. I love plaster and wood putty and caulk. I love manipulating them until all flaws seem to disappear. Add a crisp layer or two of paint, and it's like the gouges, scratches and cracks were never there. LOVE IT! The windows took a lot of time and elbow grease, but they look amazing...practically new! That bright white against the warm creamy butter on the walls is perfect.
Here's the first couple of rows. We took a short Wendy's frosty break mid-afternoon and then a short dinner break around 6.
We finally headed home around 8:30, wood floor finished and looking rather stunning. It's all starting to come together!
Anne's 1966 Remodeling Project
Found this on the back of a piece of paneling...Chiefs & Indians (and Little Brave) involved in Anne's Remodeling Project, December 10, 1966. I'm trying to find out more information about Anne's project and the crew involved. Stay tuned....
Sunday, October 26, 2008
21st Century Stud Finder
This is a technical as you can get (and one thing to try when your actual stud finder bites the dust).
Calgon, Take Me Away!
Well, the upstairs bathroom has caused more headaches (see Damn Bathroom) than we anticipated. Much to our dismay, we could not find a tub to fit into the space available. So although the claw foot discovery was a delightful find, putting that tub back in was not even an option given the space available (someone cut into the wall studs to get that tub in and still allow the door to open so the only way it would fit was the make-shift built in job that had been done....remember that? I've added a picture to refresh dusty memories)
.
Anyway, after exploring the options, we opted for the labor heavy choice - bump the wall out into the bedroom. So, today was the day for that job. My brother-in-law, Justin, and my dad came to help with this task. To my mom's (and Annika's) disbelief, we finished mid afternoon....well before dark. The heat vent still needs a hole, but the bathroom is tub ready :)
.Anyway, after exploring the options, we opted for the labor heavy choice - bump the wall out into the bedroom. So, today was the day for that job. My brother-in-law, Justin, and my dad came to help with this task. To my mom's (and Annika's) disbelief, we finished mid afternoon....well before dark. The heat vent still needs a hole, but the bathroom is tub ready :)
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