You Can't Always Get What You Want ...

When you got all your ducks in a row, who guarantees none is dropping out? But first, let's do the numbers:

one kitchen floor sealed
two second floor window sashes installed (resulting in two sets of window sashes for renewal)
one window sash renewal started
one piece of blueboard test-plastered (still drying, let's see how it looks)
one pizza dough made (only to be not eaten today)
one pitcher of sangria made (to make up for the non-eaten pizza, and to simply drown this day)

Today was somewhat on the disappointing side. Granted we got things accomplished, but there were setbacks, minor and less minor.

I was playing with plaster today (while waiting for paint to dry, which ended up being washed away by the rain, and now is drying again after reapplication), which we would like to have our walls covered with. Plastering is expensive, if you hire the big guns, and I don't want to give up on the idea of plastered walls yet. I can do this. Anyhow, I read in a construction manual online about a product called Keene's Cement, which would create stronger plaster. So I called around my usual suppliers (after a year and a half of remodeling you know whom to call), but all I got was the acoustic equivalent of a dropping jaw. Fortunately I found a manufacturer, who carries the product in their line, so I requested a sample.

The bigger disappointment came when our favorite steel meister Tom stopped by, only to tell us that he could not do the beam job in the bar. That is really unfortunate, because we really like him. We have three other bids, but we would have liked to throw it his way (we like to support small businesses). We'll get it done, one way or another.

Dirk

Mix Up ...

Not much going on yesterday, despite the nice weather (it was supposed to rain, what happened?). We stopped by United Rentals for the annual equipment sale, and picked up a cement mixer (so far I have been mixing cement and mortar by hand; anyone interested in a membership to Dirk's Gym?).

As we were out and about, we stopped by a German butcher just down the road, and got ourselves some yummy wurst.

Off to Beacon across the river for lunch at Poppy's (100% grass fed beef burgers), and for dessert to Zora Dora's Paleterias (home made ice cream on the stick; I got the ginger beet one, oh sooooo yummy).

Dirk

The E!dition ... (Updated 1x)

It has come to my attention that I talk too much about myself, and don't give much credit to my wife (yes, you know who you are, good, because I don't). Anyhow, here is praise to E!:

Look at the tough job she has right now:


What you are looking at is the kitchen floor. Doesn't it look nice? Well, now it does. Look at the tools, E! used to get it there? The blue thing, by the way, is McSteamy, one of her best friends.

Aside from that she managed to whip up a yummy green chili, do dishes, go shopping, and pick up this evening's entertainment.

Update 1: I forgot, she also painted a window.

She is great, I love her.

I didn't do anything today, as you can see:


Dirk

Mud Slinger ...

I told ya it would happen, and it did, so here's your day in mud:

Lunchtime, almost one third done:


Action shot, notice the overalls and t-shirt:


At the end of the day, two thirds done:


Most likely I could have finished more, but:

1. we had a visitor, Paul, a neighbor, stopping by to say hello
2. Amy and Celeste brought cookies, YUMMY
3. Tom (our steel meister) stopped by to have a second look at the bar job
4. I had to perform some landlordy tasks
5. the day was over, and it started getting dark
6. what kind of slave drivers are you people, I work my butt off here, I can always finish tomorrow
   

Dirk

M*E*S*H ...

The kitchen outside wall is all wired up (even if you can't see it in below picture), which means tomorrow there will be more mud slinging, yeah!!!


E! meanwhile applied coats of high gloss paint in the kitchen (I know, you don't believe it until you see it, so here is the picture of a white wall and ceiling):














Gotcha!!! Seriously, you wouldn't see much else in an actual picture. Having the painting done, though, means that we are getting closer to putting the kitchen to work.

Dirk

No Pictures, Lots Of Text ...

Seen the picture of a white wall lately? Well, I ain't gonna post one (today)! Anyhow, E! was very busy in the kitchen, sanding and priming ceiling and walls, and it looks great, take my word for it.

In the meantime I was busy installing more metal lath. This is pretty easy and straightforward, thanks to our Remington 479. The problem is, that too often the cartridge gets stuck after firing the shot, and I have to dismantle the gun to get it out, and that takes time.

The afternoon was filled with cleaning up the old garden area (E!), and mowing the lawn on the parking lot side (me). We are planning to till the lawn over there and turn it into a garden, with herbs, veggies, and berries.

Dirk

Lots Of Pictures, Little Text ...

I know this is how you like it, so let's cut right to the chase, the day in pictures:




As you can see, t-shirt and overalls are back, so it must be Spring.

E! was busy (no picture, sorry, only text; oh, don't complain, you can read a few lines) in the kitchen today, cleaning the floor so we can reseal it, and start moving appliances in.

And we have been freeloading again. Right now, the power company has tree pruning teams work the streets, pruning trees to avoid potential power outages from fallen tree limbs. Anyhow, they produce a lot of wood chips, which they are more than willing to give away. Well, so far we got three truck loads full, which we'll use for our garden, and whatever else we may come up with.


Dirk