LET THE REMODELING BEGIN

The first remodel job that we had to do in our new house was the storage room. The existing shelves were probably about 60 years old, really deep, I did not dare put my hand clear to the back for fear of what I would find.  They were dirty, and smelly.  When we were tearing them out we found evidence of mice.  It better have been long ago because I hate mice.  We have taken all precautions to prevent any future visitors.  (did you know that if you put dryer sheets around your won't have mice they had the smell)  So here are some pictures of our process.

The old shelves, I left most of the food we moved and that I had bought in the boxes and bags so they weren't on the shelves.

When we got the old shelves torn out, we were left with a concrete and cinder block room.  We put studs on all the walls

                                      Then we put sheet rock up, and boards to rest the shelves on

Up went the new shelves

We have a lot of room, I am so excited.  Tomorrow we will start moving the storage we have in the shop at the old house.  I am very greatful that Lynn is such a handyman.  But I am getting pretty good too.  Next is putting in an atic ladder ( we are hiring that done) so we can use the atic for more storage.

New House

  In October we made the long distance ( one-half of a block) move to a new Home.  We are really enjoying having more living space.  We are renting our other house.  This house has a lot of fun architectural features that we just love.  But it has some updating that we want to do also. 

Our New House 198 E 23rd St.

New Years Day 2011

Usually on New Years Day we take down the Christmas Decorations, relax, maybe do a little Shopping. We like the Dillards extra 50% off lowest marked price sales.
Not this year, we had quite the New Years Day!!!
Let me start the story: Earlier in the week our microwave stopped working. What did we do before the days of Microwaves? Well we decided that instead of going to K-Mart and getting another one that fits in the cubby hole in the cupboard that we would replace it with one that goes over the stove. Now we had never done this before because we thought they all had to be vented outside and that would mean cutting a hole in the ceiling, and then through the roof. To much work. But then we found that they make some that have charcoal filters rather that being vented outside. So we went to look. We found the one we wanted at Lowe's.


Now Lynn had mentioned awhile ago that this year he wanted to change the fuse box out to a box with breakers, and since we were going to have to come out of that fuse box to put an outlet in for the new microwave, I said why don't we just do that today. Boy I wish I could take back those words.


We measured the box, went to Lowe's, bought a new panel box and breakers. With great difficulty we tore out the old box. We could not figure out what was holding it in, well there were two little like flaps that had nails in them that were covered with the plaster. So we finally got it out. then we found out that the studs were 12 inch centers not 14 inch center. So the box that we bought would not fit. Back to Lowe's we went, while I returned the box, Lynn went to find a new one to fit. Well, I have go to find him and he says. they don't have a smaller one, now what do we do. Well we decide to buy the other one back, so I go tell the guy at the return desk that I want the panel back. We will run the wires down in the basement and put the panel box in the Laundry Room.


We needed wire to do that, so we go back to the electrical department and a Lowe's worker measures some wire for us. He asks what we are doing. we tell him and he says O' you don't have to tear out your old box. They just came out with new insides for the old boxes, the you will replace the fuses. New Guts! and it only costs 30.00. We had just spent a lot more on they new box and wire. But we had pretty much demolished the old box getting it out. so guess what we could not put it back. Plus they did not have any in stock but could get us one. Well we had a box at home with wire hanging out and our power had already been off for a few hours.
So off we went with our New panel box and wire. Mike and Lynn got the new panel wired, after another trip to get more wire.


We then had to cut the cabinet down that was above the stove to make room for the microwave, put in an outlet, and the whole thing took us until 10:30 that night. It was quite a day but we now have a nice new microwave that cost us a lot more that we were planning on to install.


I am just glad I have a husband that can do anything!!! Thanks Honey I really appreciate it.

Christmas 2010

It was so nice to have all the kids home for Christmas this year. We really enjoyed spending time with each other. The boys enjoyed playing X-Box together and we went sledding etc.

We went to the annual Jorgensen Christmas Eve Party held this year and Kerry and Bruce's house. We missed getting together with the Romrell's do to conflicts in schedules. And Grandma Oakey went to Utah to spend Christmas with the Oakey's and Dennings.

We went sledding on Christmas Day so here are a few pictures of the event.

WE HAVE GRASS!!!!

Today we had the sod laid. I am so excited, i was getting tired of all the dirt being tracked in. Hopefully we will have enough warm days that it will take root. It is borderline for getting it down but I just did not want all that mud in the spring if we did not. So hopefully it will be ok.

We are pretty much done doing things in the backyard until next year. Then it is a walkway out to the sewing room and play houses for the Grandkids.

Fence

Next came the Fence on the west side of the yard. Lynn and Whitney put up most of it one Saturday and then Lynn and I finished it the next saturday. We just used the existing metal posts from the chain Link fence, used some brackets that they make for that to screw the rails to and then screwed the planks to that. it is a little wobbly so the neighbor is putting 4x4's on his side inbetween the metal posts to make it alittle more stable. It is nice to have a little more privacy. Lynn thinks it makes the yard look smaller but we like it alot.

Sprinkler System

So we decided that while we had the pipe puller for the sprinkler system, we would do the front yard and the back. Mike and Lynn pulled most of the pipe one evening, then Mike put in the heads in the front yard. Lynn ( with a little help from me) put in the heads in the backyard. It will be so nice to not have to drag hoses around and have it take all day to water the lawn.