Masonry

We now have the finished steps on the Kerlerec St. side of the house to match the ones on our side. Mike came up with the idea of a brick lattice chain wall and C did a beautiful job of that. Now he's working on back steps for the rental side. Between the nice weather & C being free to work for us, it's been great timing!

I love this look - I want it everwhere!

Now R & M can sit on their stoop too!

More steps!

It's time! Slip to the bottom of this post to see what we're up to. We did this same thing almost 2 years ago - on the Burgundy St. side. Now the rental/Kerlerec St. side gets the same treatment. Yay C.!!

Where we are today.

Evie helped show off the progress - the Vanna white of new construction.

All gone

There they go.

They worked fine, but left a bit to be desired on the aesthetic side.

Closer yet

As we met with prospective renters tonight we were excited to have most of the inside work done and to know that since they have no car, the automatic gate installation is not the highest priority. Not a lot to show, but here are a few more shots. While Mike was working on finishing the backsplash on our side (I'll do grout tomorrow) I was doing touch-up paint & cleaning on the rental side.

I love the glass tiles - they are just enough for me. Our kitchen.

Driveway was almost finished - and may be modified now.

Touch-up and second coats on trim have made a real difference.

Moving ahead

Today Mike worked to nearly finish the driveway area for the rental side - but I forgot to take those pictures. And I now remember other things that I haven't pictured, so tomorrow should have a few extras. I've posted a couple of other things tonight, so scroll down for some catch-up.

We're supposed to be finishing the rental side BUT I get a backsplash too!

I can't wait to see it finished!

Looks like curtains - but it means the cleaning & painting of these windows & doors is DONE!

Three helpers worked a long day in the miserable heat & we have a finished wall!!
From the neighbor's side.

May work

Four months since I posted I see! Since we had a good working day today I'll post a few other things. There were actually lots more things done while I was gone in May but I just didn't take pictures. Still haven't figured out how to post in proper order, so I'll just have separate posts for the sets of stuff.

Pantry got started while I was gone to Egypt.

Mike rearranged the bedroom - MUCH more usable.

Early May, Mike finished getting the gate for our driveway to work.

Gate 2!!

Another week, another gate! You will notice that this, the rental side, has the traditional horizontal board placement. While he made this whole gate, I got one silly glass put into a french door. Read them from bottom to top.

Finished product! Needs only hardware and the automatic opener.

Half done - from the driveway.

The first one of the day.

This is the side fence with the pretty brace Mike created for support.

Gate day!

So due to the help of a friend who made the frames, another who brought them to us in the middle of his busy schedule, my little brother who gave us wood, and a long day of work in beautiful weather, we have a gates! Well, we have one and the beginning of another one. There's more to be done but whoo hoo! It was a fun day. And if you want to see it in order, start at the bottom of this posting. By the way, any suggestions on paint? Black? Shutter green? Stain? Leave alone to weather?

Close to the end of the day

I think it's really pretty; I love the varied wood colors.

Our gate from the inside.

Rental gate - frame's up & painted.

Drill the holes in the steel frame, screw through the wood into the hole.

Checking to see if the frame would fit.

Before - with the partially primed new frame leaning in place.

More bits of work

It was supposed to be a week of writing work for Mike, but he jumped in and did some more house work - while I did a bit and went to play with long-time friends, B & E. So here are a couple of shots - just so Ginny doesn't get ahead of me ;-)

This is the frame for one of the gates - almost ready.

Finishing concrete for the gate post.

Nice border for the "yard" between fence and driveway

You can't tell the difference but I cut in brown around all the white. Done!

Closure

Well Mike finished graduation and started other work at school BUT he also worked here at the house. And it all seemed to be about closure. First, he dug up the old gates put in by the former tenant and put in a couple of new ones on the rental side - now just need the big one for the car there. Believe me, that came out in a quick sentence but meant so much! A jackhammer and sledge hammer all day is not a happy thing! But he gave us a really solid gate area. Adding a threshold, some door knobs - it says Merry Christmas to meeee!

Bit by bit

The wall is so big; other things are so little. But these bits are important too. So here are a couple of things that have been done in the last week or so.

Pull chain lock means I can actually reach it and open both doors!

This was on our old shop doors - part of the old house.

I finally began priming the beam.

Finally have a threshold! What a beauty!

C. examining his threshold! Just 5 more - more or less.

Wall -- Khallas!!

Yesterday was exciting. J., a friend from Albany with masonry skills, came at 7 AM and by 1:30 they were finished! Paint (maybe shutter green?) will finish it off. These guys were great!

Wall part deux

Two weeks ago he was at it again. A long day but he made some progress.

Wall part I

So I should have been posting this in three stages - on three different days. But I didn't, so you get it all at one time but three posts. So, 3 weeks ago, Mike began to work on our back wall. Here we go with beginnings.



How it looked.

















Mike's first block.















See that head?

Forced shuttering

For more than a month now, the shutters for the dormers have been ready to be put up. We had the hinges, the latches, they were painted - but there was no time. Last weekend there was really no time either BUT Saturday it happened. It had to - or we would have had to spend time buying, cutting, and putting up plywood. Instead, despite my doubts, Mike pulled it all together. I picked up and put away things in the yard; emptied the fridge & freezer; packed important papers and clothes. By 5:30 Sunday morning we were ready to leave in front of hurricane Gustav. It felt good to leave this house all ready. They were made just for this!

If you want to see something about the fun we had with Gustav, check my other blog here.

Finally - another post

I haven't been posting because we really haven't had any work going on the house. These are my flowers pics. First I found a nice little shelf in a garage sale and have put some of my plants in the upstairs, Kerlerec side dormer. That incredible orchid I got for my birthday is still alive, and I have added a few others since I took this picture.

Yesterday at the office, just as I was about to leave, a box came for me - roses from Mike!! These are called petite roses and there were bunches of them. Many years ago, our first few months in Cairo, Mike rode off on his bike to practice Arabic and came back with 12 DOZEN Egyptian roses, all packed together in one bunch. That's what these reminded me of. What fun! I have them in three places in the house and they are really even prettier as they have opened up a bit more.



About 3 weeks ago, leading up to my birthday, we tried to get the shutters up on the dormers in case of a hurricane. Mike dutifully climbed out the window and painted and I got the shutters painted. Umm - then my extended birthday celebration surprises began happening and Mike started traveling. However NO hurricane has come near, so we're safe so far. Soon our renters will leave and we will try to get some help in to actually get some more work done on the house.

O me of little faith!

I think it was the cry-wolf syndrome but I really didn't believe we'd get a driveway today. Much less a signed driveway with a cool little decoration. I think Autumn and Vicki may be somehow related 'cause I can just see you doing that, Vicki. Anyway, WHOO HOOOOOO!

Decoration in upper left

I love the little fleur-de-lis

Autumn's name is above Kimo's

Current doings - no house stuff

Well, we have promises made for Monday but I'm not holding my breath so I won't tell you about it again. In the meantime, Sydnie came and stayed a few days - but we made her work for her stay. Talk about "making your bed", the poor kid had to blow her own up. But we rode the streetcar and had a picnic at Audubon park and played lots of Slap Jack and War. Fun was had by all!! Then yesterday was my mom's 82nd birthday. Her cook-out was only a slight surprise but it was fun too.

Keep going kiddo.

She really didn't seem to mind. She'll do floors next time she comes!

My brother loves doing strange things with his animals.

Birthday girl blows out the candles. Daddy will be glad when he can get his new glasses!

Sydnie and Stella, apart for 3 days, were inseparable at the party.

Mama, Daddy, Sydnie, Rachel, Aunt Bobbye, & Ray

Ray & Mike contemplating the festivities.

Alice's hyacinths stand up tall and smell wonderful!

Happy Easter!!

Alice's hyacinths

Spring!!

Well, we have no driveway, gate or fence, but . . . In the dead of winter Alice gave me hyacinth bulbs which I had sitting in my fruit bowl for many weeks. Finally, a few weeks ago I threw them in the ground - along with some irises from Mike's mom. I did nothing right with them. I planted too late; I was too lazy to dig well and move all the mulch away; I wasn't even sure they were in a spot which got rain. Looks like it doesn't matter. Spring comes anyway!! Click on these to enlarge them if you really want to enjoy them. Hopefully I will fill you in on progress later.

Bits n pieces

Life is leaving little time for work on the house, but bit by bit we're still working. Hopefully the renters will also be working on Monday on the driveway/gate. I painted a bit of trim today, but most of it is hidden behind furniture. Mike put up shelves for my glass bottles - makes me smile.

This is where you can see the difference.

The bathroom door has improved.

Ahh-h-h good to get them up.

You have any ironing??

It's been a while, huh? Well, while Kimo and Autumn worked on the fence today, we went shopping for doors and Mike fixed one on my ironing closet!! It's so exciting to be able to iron without bending over the bed to do it - send me anything!

The fence - and Kimo's boat - from Madelon's

I love the big wide planks. Creole fences had these horizontal boards.

It needs paint and a doorknob but it's in!

The board hangs on a hook here.

I fold it out and hook it the other way. FUN!!

More inside

We have spent the holidays doing little things such as lights, doorbell, straightening, taking down the tree, etc. Today was freezing, clear and windy, and the morning was spent tearing out concrete for a driveway on the rental side. Pics of that when we get a bit further. In the meantime, I feel like we're really in a house - without some closet doors, with gaps for wind to get in, and with a few other problems, but a real house. In particular, I have loved being in my kitchen. Christmas Eve, I decided that we would have cinnamon rolls for breakfast the next morning. About 9 AM Mike got on the phone and went out knocking on a couple of doors and we had 7 neighbors in for a quick bite before we all headed out for our Christmas plans.

View from the front door

From the kitchen - look, no tree!!

View toward the kitchen

Finally found the spot for the shadow box; makes me happy just to see it!

There's the Turkish light!

Looking up the stairs.

Christmas morning. Kimo, Autumn & Bill look toward Mike.

Bill, Autumn, Kimo, Madelon and Mike

Our Jewish med student neighbor stirs gravy. Ben says any holiday with cinnamon rolls is good for him!

Courtney and Joe in intense conversation.

What a surprise!

Well, for about 10 days now, we have done almost nothing on our house - on purpose!! It was about then that we got renters for our unfinished apartment. A very smart friend put two and two together when he met a finish carpenter who wanted to be in our neighborhood. As soon as they signed papers Kimo and Autumn moved in and will begin working on the place in lieu of part of their rent. What a wonderful relief! How much fun it's been to be able to hang a few pictures, empty boxes and otherwise get our side of the house in some sort of shape instead of always needing to go to the other side and get things finished. This means our side will wait on paint and finish details, but it's great. I said to Mike they seem to be an answer to a prayer I would have never thought to pray. So, I have taken the advice of our girls and hung some of our pictures - pretty much as they showed me - and I've been able to clear away bags and bags of old paperwork and share some what-was-I-thinking clothes. So while Mike has a bit of a break from school, he can get Kimo working and we can get truly settled. So, see what's up - yes, girls, drawing the eye up to the great old ceilings.

From the stairs - it's not chiming yet but it's there!

I stole one of the embroidery pics for my office.

Masri is up - that makes us home, right?

Maybe not quite as you had 'em, but close

STEPS!

This is belated - and not nearly as beautiful a shot as it can be - but here is where we have spent some minutes and will spend many hours. Gorgeous, huh?! Thanks, Courtney!!

Mike at the end of the day.

Great place to sit. Can you see "NOEL" in the window?

Furniture!

The steps are finished and are great - but unfortunately I haven't taken any picture of them because other things began happening. First, we brought in our furniture, and then almost immediately the girls and their guys began to arrive. So we spent Thanksgiving visiting with my parents, opening some boxes, getting advice from the girls about wall art placement, and sitting around our own table. So much of what we have has been packed for many years, and it was as much fun for the girls as for ourselves to sit on the rattan stool, around the old table, using the Cairo glasses. The day after Thanksgiving we decorated our tree, so in the middle of the chaos we have some beauty! No, we're not done with everything. But it is so good to be at this stage.

Lagniappe

These don't have anything to do with anything but I love these two sights. Here the camellias are blooming beautifully.

The view from the parking area back to the rental garden.

Coming and going

Well work has slowed down a bit, but we're getting steps - the back door of the rental side and our front door.

Rental steps to parking area

Courtney talkes with Elijah

End of Thursday - our front steps

Nice left side, huh?

wellll

Goodness, there's been a bit of progress since my last post. The house appraised for what we hoped plus, and we signed papers. Aaand, Bill has continued to work as have Mike and I. There are pictures for Bill's work, but I never show mine and Mike's missed the photo ops too, this time. I spent time putting down shelf paper and polishing our cabinets and I love our kitchen. I've done more painting, never leaving the big bedroom of the rental side, and Mike has the plumbing nearly all connected over there. Since we plan to have you family there for Thanksgiving, we'd BETTER get plumbing finished! Bill has worked on our back steps and the sidewalk for the rental side, preparing for steps there and then the driveway. Today we stopped at my folks after a trip and came back with a couch and part of a table and a lot of my dishes. It makes me SO very happy to see these things here - new couch and old familiar things.

Our back steps - or as Alice says, our deck.

The first piece of the rental sidewalk.

Bill working on another piece - with all 3 sections finished now.

Like Christmas!! Mike unwraps dishes.

Out with the old (paper and plastic) in with the - well - older.

Boy does that make me smile!!!

Couch is new but the table - needing its top - is a great old friend!

We don't know yet

Well, yes, the appraiser came - the day after my last post. No, he didn't exclaim over how beautiful it was - no taste, I think. He was, after all, the helper. He only took pictures, notes and measurements and took it all to the real appraiser. This gentleman called Mike to verify and clarify some things, but as of now, we STILL DON'T KNOW how high he appraised it. HOWEVER, the bank must feel OK about it because we are set up to sign papers on Wednesday. In the meantime, I'm still painting. I was discouraged at the speed - or lack of it - on the window painting UNTIL I realized that each window has 24 panes to paint around! I'll be at this a while. While I went off to a birthday party Saturday Mike connected our kitchen sink and dishwasher. I have few pots and dishes, so I'm hand washing, but I COOKED TONIGHT!

It's just chili and cornbread - well like a cornbread pancake - but it sorta feels good!

Look closely - you can see some water! It's soooo nice.

So THIS is what he'll see

So you now have the newest view of what the appraiser will see - since he was delayed. While the weather kept the brick guys away, Bill put in a mighty good day!

All dressed up and . . .

We worked until midnight, got up at 5:30 and worked more - this time with the rain pouring down - and feel like we finished for the appraisal. Today, with lots of rain coming all day, the appraiser said he couldn't come; it's not good for pictures. So, here's what he would have seen today.

Rental kitchen - toward living room

Rental kitchen - toward the parking area.

View from the entrance of rental side

Our kitchen

Our kitchen door - NO raw wood, Vik!

Rental bath - left side

Rental bath -right side as seen in the mirror -take 47 or so

Closet of rental small bedroom

Appraisal tomorrow

Not so many photos, but I'll take some tomorrow. Other than putting away a few boxes and sweeping a bit tomorrow morning, I think we're ready for the appraisal man. Mike worked on the driveway and plumbing and electrical stuff, and Bill worked on the stair rail, and I painted and cleaned.

On 3 or 4 fronts!

Today we worked on 3 fronts - or maybe 4. Courtney and Elijah worked on bricks - and got more delivered. Bill worked the stairs. Mike worked the rental kitchen and then the bath. I did a bit of painting - between running errands and remembering that I had to go back to work today. So it was productive. I now think that if I can stay here and not run around, I'll get my part done. And if Bill makes it to work on the stairs - and Mike can work some with him and some on the rental bath plumbing. And C&E plan to be here for at least some of the day tomorrow. So, when the appraisal man comes on Monday, hopefully we will be ready enough for him. Keep in mind that these things connected to water (dishwasher, sinks, etc.) are NOT, yet, and won't be for the appraisal. But we're a lot closer than I thought we'd be. Have a look.

We decided to use barge-board posts. Tommorow, more.

Shine first because otherwise we won't be able to get to the whole step.

Niiice vents, huh?

One side of the rental kitchen.

The other side of the rental kitchen. Pretty nice, huh?

Getting to be fun!

This week has been a productive one, though I don't have some of it on film. I don't have the fact that Courtney, Elijah and Mike all spent time under the house. And I took no pics of the trim work done by Bill or the bricks in the chain wall. None of that is really exciting to see, but it's really important. However, with Fran's help, we did have some fun developments - see below.

These storage boxes went away!

Mike hung my pot rack.

The sink is in - will be connected this week, in sha allah.

With the pickling done, Fran helped get all the rental kitchen cabinets finished.

She's a fiend at painting baseboards - left me in the dust!

Sinks in rental were set - now to finish plumbing them!

Test

This is for my subscribe now link

MY kitchen!!

Yesterday I worked on cabinets for the rental side - and no, they aren't finished yet. Today, my countertops came at the same time that Elijah & Courtney gave us solid floors. I debated long and hard about spending the money on the countertop I wanted, but I am sooo pleased. These brothers who did the countertops also drilled some holes in the granite of the rental side for us. And E&C were crawling around under our house ALL DAY, in and out of the rain, keeping our side of the floor from sagging.

The sink isn't installed yet so I still don't cook. That will come soon!

It's the blue that drew me to this. The island is a cabinet we faced in some of the barge board from the house. I just hated to lose all of those original boards that we weren't using in the construction, and I really wanted to be able to see some of them in their rough state. I think this goes really well - the rough against the smooth, shiny man-made stone.