Now take a deep breath!

We actually got the finish on the kitchen floor AND dried AND the kitchen back in order, P2, before our guests arrived.  John even had time to screw on the metal strip, P1, that covers the crack between the concrete floor and the wood floor.  (The floor looks a LOT better than the photo.  Your amateur photographer here just doesn't know how to take the photo so reflections don't occur...)

A few dry hours over the last couple of days also let the house painting go on (mostly thanks to John - my time was relegated to cleaning and, dare I say, the fun activity of going to the regional farmers market with Susan of the tea party to stock up on provisions for the winter).  P3, P4, P5 - those walls are all done.  P6 - John is finishing (now done) the grey on the back wall.  He still has to give the trim one more coat of white.

So is that it?  Not quite.  Stay tuned.  I'll do another post at the end of next week to keep you in the loop.

The unexpected...

 If you were expecting to see photos of the finished outside, you will be very disappointed.  Rain, fog....  However, life and birthdays still go on.  Today was our friend Susan's birthday - Happy Birthday Susan!  And to all of you who also had birthdays in October (Rita, Joey, Peyton and probably a few more), Happy Birthday to you too.  It was only because Susan came over and told me it was her birthday that I managed to shove aside enough paint cans to make room for a tea party P1 for Susan and for Gus P2 who's birthday is also in October.

P3 - Taken in Sept. you can just make out the kitchen.  Today we decided to clear it out P4 so we could redo the finish on the floor tomorrow.
P5 - The cats had never seen it so clean and were dazzled by their reflections.
P6 - I needed another photo so threw one in of the dining room - cleaned out of "extras" stored there as well.  No "before" shot of that one.
P6 - The Adirondack room as you last saw it the beginning of October and P7 now that it's finally back together.
P8 - The music room filled with stuff we had moved there while we renovated.  P9 - after sorting things out again.
P10 - The new room as it was yesterday.
P11 - The new room today filled with all the stuff from the kitchen.

We have B&B guests coming on Friday.  Will we have things back in order?  Stay tuned for my next post on Saturday...

And since I almost certainly missed it, Happy Birthday to you too!

Where to paint...

First things first - John finished caulking today.  That means everything between the windows and their casings got caulked; where the siding meets the trim got caulked; where the soffits meet the roof on one side and the trim on the other got caulked; and, for good measure, his hands, fingers, pants etc. also got caulked.  And this was in spite of what felt like 40-50 mph winds, strong enough that he couldn't keep his hat on.

What needs to be painted, you ask...  While we used mostly pre-primed wood, any exposed cut edge such as the trim under the roof line has to be primed before it's painted.  I managed to at least prime everything that needed it on the door wall of the sunroom.  After caulking and priming, everything needs at least one if not two coats of paint.  I started painting the white trim on the front of the porch (you can see it's now white instead of the yellowish color) but the wind forced me to give it up.  Painting will have to take place another time.

Back inside, Gus was hard at work testing fabric being considered for curtains? slip covers?

Because painting isn't very exciting and because rain is predicted and because this project is winding down, I won't be posting again until next Wednesday.  Hopefully by then I'll have some great pictures to show you...

Let the caulking begin...

It's hard to believe but finally finally finally the siding is all up and nailed down so there won't be any surprises tomorrow!!!!  Of course that doesn't mean it's done.  There's still the little (or perhaps it's not so little) matter of caulk & paint.  However we're VERY happy to have gotten this far!  We're keeping our fingers crossed the weatherman will be right - no rain tomorrow during the day.

Changing our minds...

P1 - At the end of yesterday.  We weren't happy with the siding above the window and door which is one reason I didn't share this photo yesterday.
P2 - At the end of today.  We took off the top clapboard & cut a new one slightly wider.  Also decided not to put any siding above the door but instead fill in with solid wood.  With a little paint we think it should look better.
P3 - It's a two cat night...

PS - I picked up paint today so keep your fingers crossed the weather will stay warm enough for us to actually get in on...

Fall scenes...

P1 - The siding is now up on the end of the sunroom (although no one is likely to see it except you in this photo).
P2 - Our side yard with leaves waiting for collection and shredding for the garden.  (And you thought we only had this house project to keep our attention.)
P3 - Our old barn where's there currently a lot of junk that occasionally comes in handy.
P4 - Camouflage kitty.
P5 - Another yard photo.
P6 - Almost got the south wall done but then the rains came.
P7 - The last of the fall leaves on the road past our house.  Please note ALL the trees on the left side of the road John & I planted many years ago from seedlings we dug up in the woods.  I'm not quite sure whether I should feel awed or old.
P8 - Tag along kitties with the newer barn in the background.

To the person who commented on the last post... Yes, we do go away but try to make up for it when we get home.  The photos requested of the last of the fall leaves make me suspect we aren't working nearly fast enough.

Home again, off again...

While we're home at the moment, be forewarned there won't be another post until Monday.  And, for the person "out west", I'll try to post some photos then of our beautiful fall foliage.

P1 - We reached the peak on the big window wall even though I had to climb a ladder to help.  My brain said "would you rather be scared of a little height or go through a winter without siding?"  The siding won.  Also started work on the "old house" wall.  Ladders are one thing.  Standing on roofs quite another.  I did the cutting firmly on the ground and John did the nailing above the roof.  Please note the angle over the roof as well as the angle on the other end of siding that went under the eaves.  Miracle of miracles it actually worked out so the siding came out as it needed to next to the window upstairs.  I forgot to take a picture of that section finished today.

P2 - If you look very close on the roof, you'll see John putting in the last bit of siding "up there".

P3 - Also started the siding on the short wall and to the left of the back door.  Our first frost is predicted for tomorrow night.  After that I'm counting on a full 2 weeks of Indian Summer to wrap up the outside.

Where have they been?!

Where have they been?
a) Marooned...
b) Just old & tired...
c) Distracted...
d) Unsetting sail...
e) All of the above...

You're right!
a) We were/are marooned at least until Wednesday when the phone company is scheduled to fix/restore our internet line.  Does that mean we get a week's credit on our bill?  Wishful thinking.
b) Oh so true.
c) There were potatoes that needed digging and laundry that needed doing and and and...
d) Columbus weekend is the time to put the boat to bed for the winter.  Sailing in 40-50 degree weather may be bracing but...

Back at the homestead the siding nailer finally arrived and in between showers we've at last started putting siding up.  The upstairs window was taken out (P1), painted, and put back (P2).  And the end wall of the upstairs bedroom has been primed and is awaiting further "messin' with".

It looks like it will be Wed. or Thursday before you'll see more.  From the windy shores of our little island, over and out...

Cut off at the...

The old porch post (cut off years ago by who knows who for who knows what) seemed to be just the ticket to hold the bottom end of the handrail.  Compare this photo to yesterday's and you'll see I painted the blue wainscoting  and filled the holes in those old stair boards (the white spots).  I'm waiting for the filler to dry so I can stain it to match.

Lots of other things going on tomorrow so don't expect a post...

Step this way...

A bit more trim went up in the room you saw yesterday but nothing picture worthy (mainly because I forgot).  The room is not done though... Just wait.

Meanwhile, remember those stair treads I sanded eons ago?  We finally put the risers in today and put those babies in.  The first coat of varnish turned them beautiful.  They're not done yet but at least you can see the potential...