Chipping away at the list

So this weekend we chipped (Masters pun intended) away at the 8 Week Countdown list.  Some of our work involved actually finishing up projects, but some of it involved prep. 


We were able to patch/spray the office wall.  When we removed the broken Brinks panel from the wall, we found the old paint color, and no wall texture, both of which we were expecting.  We had some spray wall texture and paint from other projects, so this was an easy, free fix.  


I washed and ironed 4 curtain panels, so I could get started with putting up curtains in Nick's office/lounge.  


We have finalized a plan for the walk-in closet as well.  It will probably change a little from the plan during the construction, this summer. 

So here's the progress on the list

 8 Week Countdown
Curtains-office, guest room, living room

Paint post on front porch

Finalize plans for walk-in closet

Plant grass

Put down rubber tiles by dumpster
Shop for sideboard
Patch/spray office wall
Clean cubes in living room
Photograph bedroom

Move hose corral

Install light over dining table 

I've been told I'm slacking on photos, so here are some:

Any projects planned or completed recently?

8 Week Countdown

There is just under 8 weeks until my birthday, so I decided to get going on a 8 week countdown list of items that need to get worked on.  Once we get most of these projects done, it'll be time to work on the walk-in closet project, which was one of the New Year's Resolutions projects. 


8 Week Countdown
Curtains-office, guest room, living room

Paint post on front porch

Finalize plans for walk-in closet

Plant grass

Put down rubber tiles by dumpster
Shop for sideboard
Patch/spray office wall
Clean cubes in living room
Photograph bedroom

Move hose corral

Install light over dining table

As you can see, we've already completed some of the projects.  They were easy, but needed to be done.  

Any projects you're working on?

 

Exterior Progress: Part 2

We have been working on finishing up some of the loose ends on the front landscaping.  So this weekend we tackled the lawn and front post.  

We bought some all-in-one lawn seed, mulch, and fertilizer, and put it down in the front yard.  For the post, I used exterior wood filler to fill the holes, and cover screws and nails.  Then, I used some paintable, exterior caulk.  I hate caulk.  

 I initially used the my finger to smooth it out, but I decided that I liked the sharp, angular look better, so I used the putty knife to make nice sharp edges.  This week I plan on painting the post white.

Packer/Razorback House

Nick and I both love football.  Our first vacation together was a road trip to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, four months after we started dating. 

We had engagement photos taken with us in our NFL teams hats.

Nick prefers college football, and I prefer the NFL.  As you've seen throughout the past couple months, we have filled our house with Razorback and Packer items.  Nick's office has been updated as you've seen here, here, here, here, and here.  

The Packers are my team (literally), and you've seen that evidence here, here, and here.

Our obsession has spilled over into the living room.

Any Packer/Razorback fans out there?

Our family is expanding!

Welcome:

 

We have adopted 2 adult cats.  They are brothers, originally named Goose and Maverick, but we are going to name them Dino and Frank.  They are hiding from us now, but hopefully soon, they will warm up to us.  I really want them to like us.  I don't want to have to find another home for them. 

 

Exterior Progress

My parents and I have been busy working on the front landscaping this weekend.  It really has come along nicely.  Much more color and better designed. 

If you look closely we have made several changes.  The light fixtures on the outside have been changed.  I was against a flood light on the right side of the house, so we found this exterior light that washes light down the wall towards the new Hibiscus tree.  My dad also fixed the siding flap that was wonky, replaced the light on the porch, and replaced the post that had water damage at the base. 

 My mom, Nick and I planted a Gardenia, a Bird of Paradise, boxwoods, Bougainvilleas, Trailing Lantanas, grasses, Dianthuses, and a Plum Fringe-Flower, along the front.  They are very colorful, and should flower for a couple months, or year-round depending on the plant.  I have some openings available to plant some other seasonal plants later in the year. 

We are about 85% done with the front, I believe.  We have remove the old walkway, plant grass throughout the lawn, paint the new post, caulk the post, paint the front porch and steps, and potentially add pot gardens and a bench to the porch.

It is a vast improvement to the front, which used to look sad, poorly planned, and poorly completed.  The cost of the whole project, including plants, top soil, mulch, light fixtures, and lumber for the new post was about $500, and about 3 easy weekends, and 1 busy weekend.


I will take pictures in a couple months so you can see how the plants and yard are doing.

Office and Landscape Updates

We have been very busy finishing up tasks and preparing for my parents visit next weekend.  Nothing gives you a deadline like a visit from your parents.

Nick's office has been getting some additions.  

We got a pillow for the pillowcase by sister made Nick for Xmas, and we got the custom mat for the SI cover.  We have another mat on order for another SI cover.  I made Nick the "Woo Pig Sooie" wood banner.  So the office is evolving nicely.  

While we were working on these things inside, we were working on the landscaping in front of the house.  When last you saw, we had a trench around the flower bed brick wall.  That has been removed, and the bricks below the stucco were painted to match the exterior color.  We have also installed an edging. 

So we are now ready for my parents to come visit.  I am planning on working on the front landscaping with them.  So the next pictures should have plants.  Yeah!

Demo Day 2: Exterior Edition

This weekend (and some of the week) Nick and I worked on the front landscaping again.  We dug the dirt around the old flower bed brick wall, and sledgehammered the wall out.  

We cleaned up the exposed brick below the stucco, to prep it for painting.  

We will be finishing up the landscaping, and cleaning up the house in preparation for my parents' visit. 

Demo Day: Exterior Edition

My parents are coming to visit the beginning of March, and I planned on working on landscaping while they are here.  There is some prep that needed to be done, so we started it this weekend. 

Here's what it looked like before:

 

We took out all of the plants, weeds and all.  There must have been a ton of bark chips in the area, which we removed as well. Next came the fencing.  As you know, we removed the front fencing as soon as we moved in, but waited until spring time to get rid of this little section.  

 

After we took out the fence and stepped back, Nick immediately said that it looked so much bigger without the fence.  I told him the front yard will look twice its size once we finish.  

If you look closely at the bottom picture, you can see a brick wall.  It goes a couple more feet down.   I think it might have been the original flower bed from the 50s.  Wonderful surprises when working on a house. 

Xmas Gifts

As you know, we were in Wisconsin for Xmas last week, and we took home quite a haul.  

We got all this, and we got cash (we're buying power tools) and gift cards to Target and Best Buy.  I can't wait to go on my Target shopping spree.

This is what we gave for Xmas.

I took all of  my family's recipes and made them, photographed them, and put them in a cookbook.  It took a couple years, but it's great.  We are thinking about doing one with recipes from Nick's family. 

While we were in Wisconsin, we went shopping and Nick found a cool metal sign for his office.

We had so much fun in Wisconsin, and can't wait to see my family again.