Dry rot

Outside on of our kitchen windows is dry rot. We knew we would have to take care of it this summer but we keep putting it off. You see, in order to take care of the outside dry rot, we have to open up the inside kitchen wall. We thought the kitchen was lath and plaster and knew how incredibly messy it would be. Imagine our surprise when we found out it was sheetrock!

This saturday I thought it was time to see what was in there. I casually mentioned it to Brian. He agreed we *should* but really didn't want cut into the wall right then. No problem, I'll do it. I took a screw driver and smashed into the wall. I gleefully pulled out sheetrock until I got nervous that all sorts of bugs might pile out. Brian sighed and took over. Wow! We found lots of dry rot. The wood was so brittle and rotted we just broke it off. There was insulation in there but it was rotted too.

Brian sealed the hole up with some paneling and we will tackle that project on Saturday. Our fear is we may have to take out some of the kitchen cabinents. So a fairly small project can turn into a whole kitchen remodel. I'm kind of excited though. Once the dry rot is taken care of we can install the new floor and paint. My ugly kitchen will look pretty soon.

The roof

The roofing guys took a break and I snuck outside to see how it's coming. This is what I saw.
Oh you can see our new chimney from the last pic.

Locks of Love

Ava had long hair and she refused to brush it everyday. That meant tears and frustration when I had to get all the tangles out. I suggested that maybe we should chop her hair off and it would be easier to care for. She agreed and wanted to donate her hair to Locks of Love. This is a great organization that makes wigs for kids who don't have hair. Ellie said she wanted to also but I was hesitant. She's 3 and has never had a haircut. I loved her long hair but told her she could do it too. I figured that she would chicken out. She didn't.

I about fainted when I saw Ava but I'm used to it now. Here short hair suits her.

Before:

After:

I need sleep...

We are getting a new roof on this house. As I have previously stated, the roof is currently being held together by moss. The roofing guys are tearing up all three layers, including the original cedar shakes from 1938, replacing with one layer of asphalt, redoing the gutters and adding a dormer addition. The dormer will be huge and be our second bathroom (yeah!) and another bedroom.

The work has started. Early. In the mornings. Like 7:00am. We hear pounding, we hear roofing material sliding off our house, we hear plywood being cut. As I make my way into the bathroom, I notice a ladder right outside. Hi everyone. I quickly pin a towel over the window so they couldn't see in.

The work is slow going. Only one side of the house is completely torn off and has plywood. The back side is barely touched. Which means another week of this. I can't wait until it is done! Not only will it look nicer and we won't be the eyesore of the neighborhood but it won't need to be done for 30 years!

Of course now that we have the best looking chimney on our block and will have a nice new roof,our house will need to be painted. That is our project for next summer. House painting and deck building. I really like dreaming up what to do to the house - I don't like actually doing the work myself ;)

Happy B-day Lauren...

11 years ago yesterday you screamed into the world with the distinction of being our first child. I had never held a baby or even changed a diaper before. Dad changed your first, second, third diaper as I was ordered not to get up due to enourmous blood loss. I vowed to never have anymore kids ;)

The sun rose and set with you. I have so many pictures of every outfit you ever wore. You were our guinea pig and our invitation into the wonderful world of disipline. What a willful child you were. We had our battles and some days I carried the "spanking spoon" in my back pocket to have it handy.

When you were 17 months old Maddie was born and you loved her immediately. No jealousy here. You were best friends from the start. Another 17 mths and Ava became your second sister. Same story - what a great big sister you were.

Now you're 11 and growing up so fast. Your body is slowly changing as is your personality. You are sensitive to what God expects of you and want to please Him and us. I honestly didn't think that day would come ;)

I'm a little frightened that we don't have a lot of time left to "raise" you, but I do praise God that He has blessed us with you.

Thank you for being a great help with your little brother and sister. Thank you for helping around the house. Your work and helpfulness is truly appreciated. Dad and I love you and Happy Birthday.

More chimney antics

Yesterday the chimney guy (Dennis) left for a break. He was gone a long time so it was an event when he pulled back into our driveway with his huge truck. The girls were in the kitchen watching. The driveway is only a couple of feet from the window so they had a great view.

I was at my computer at the other side of the house half listening to them tell me that the chimney guy was here and he had an orange bottle with him.

"An orange bottle?" I said.

"I think it's shampoo,"said Ava.

"It's not shampoo," I said.

"He's going to wash himself because he's really dirty" said Ellie (age 3).

"I sure it's not shampoo," I said. "Why would he bring shampoo with him? And get away from the window because I'm sure he can hear you."

"Oh it's sunscreen," said Maddie.

"How do you know it's sunscreen?" I said, willing them with eyes to get away from the window and leave the poor man alone.

"Because he's rubbing it all over his face," Ava said. "And it says sunblock 80 on the bottle."

That's when I noticed that the window was open and he could hear them talking. I motioned agressively for them to come to me.

"The window is open girls. He heard everything you said."

"Oops...." was the collective word along with a little shuffling of embarassed feet.

Then I saw him walk by the window with a small smile on his face. Hope he found it amusing.

Of chimney's & diapers

Yesterday, today and tomorrow we are having one chimney rebuilt and the firebox repointed and the furnace chimney taken down to the roof. I will post before and after pictures in a few days (when we have an after). This is the first step. The second step involves a complete roof tear-0ff, a dormer added to the back of the house, re-roof and new gutters.

It will be nice when it's done. The dormer will provide us with a second full bath and a 4th bedroom.

When the chimney guys were here yesterday, we couldn't go outside for fear of falling bricks. As soon as I noticed them moving around to the front chimney I begged them to let us go to the back of our back yard. I even offered cash and they agreed (and didn't take the bribe).

Right before we made our way outside, I noticed them taking a break in our back yard. They were eating lunch and sitting under our apple tree. No problem, that's the best spot in our yard.
After they were done we went outside. That's when I noticed the diaper sitting right in front of where they were sitting. Not just a diaper but a used diaper. I was so embarrassed. Not only was I embarassed with our roof, falling gutters and chimney's. I was also ashamed off our air conditioner sitting on our back porch held up by duct tape and plywood. Nice.

Wonder what they thought of as they were munching on their sandwiches and looking at the diaper? I don't want to know.

Oh and one of the young guys knocked on the door and asked to use our bathroom. Maddie had just finished cleaning it - whew! So as he was coming in Ava snapped a picture of him with her new little camera. He said "Did you just take a picture of me?" She giggled and so did I. Hey at least it wasn't while he was in the bathroom. That happens around here.