New Pipe

It isn't pretty, but it is fixed! No plumber needed. Definitely a relief. Also, the same kind of pipe was replaced in P's apartment before we bought the house. One less thing to worry about.

~ E

Good and Bad

Good News: We are 90% moved in. We had so many helpers this weekend. We even got the old washer and dryer out of the basement. The stairs are narrow and windy, so this was quite a feat. We left them on the curb, and within twenty minutes a stranger happened by and put them in his truck.

Things are looking great. Our desk did not fit up the stairs but we think we found a good spot for it in the living room/dinging room. Lights, curtains, and blinds are installed for the most part. Makeoverhill is really starting to look like a home. Some friends got a sneak preview this weekend and it was exciting to see that they liked the place.

Bad News: There is a very leaky pipe in the wall. My dad already cut out some of our freshly painted kitchen wall and might have to cut a hole in the brand new ceiling. (We also noticed that someone someone painted right on top of wallpaper in the kitchen many layers ago.) This leak has set us back a bit. We were hoping that P's kitchen would be all set by tomorrow. But, without a new pipe we can not take showers our use the upstairs bathroom at all.

Luckily, my parents don't live too far away and there's always P's shower. (Right?) We are currently discussing if it would be worth it to pay a plumber even thought he had a pretty pricey estimate. That would free up my dad and K to focus on kitchens. But, if the boys can do the work instead it would save a lot of money. And we definitely could use the money since we give all of ours to Lowes. We were definitely expecting this part of home ownership, it just would have been nice if the House Gods held off until the new year.

~E

Living Rooms/ Dining Rooms

E & K's Living Room/Dining Room

Complete
-Removed wall
-Installed windows
-Painted walls
-Installed lights
-New ceiling

To-Do
-Buy shorter radiator at New England Salvage
-Install new outlet
-Fill in molding
-Crown molding
-Paint front door (Hey, I can do that!)


P's Living Room/Dining Room

Complete
-Installed windows
-Painted walls
-Installed light

To-Do
-Install outlet covers (is that really all?!)

Happy Thanksgiving, dear reader! K, DD (my father who does almost all of the work), and I are working through the holiday. We will take a pie break, though.

~E
P.S. You can click on any picture to enlarge it.

Progress

Everything is coming together on Makeoverhill. We need to be moved in by next week, so that is great news. This weekend, K and I got to live it up at a wedding while my parents and aunt slaved away. I have recently discovered that I am a terribly slow and messy painter, so I am very happy that they finished most of the house.

Here are a few recent pictures, I'll try and take lots more this week. Although I do have to start that whole packing thing....


P's Kitchen Nook



Our Bedroom


New Windows



~E

Our Next House

I am totally done with painted surfaces. Especially ceilings. When you have no upper body strength, painting ceilings is the hardest workout ever. Also, I got paint in my eyes and mouth.

Next time we buy a house, I'm thinking glass and concrete. Nothing to paint. Nothing that has been painted over fifty times or has telephone lines painted into it.

Off to scrub my hands......

~E

Faucet Fixes

Remember my bathroom sink? Everyone was complaining about it today. "What if you children burn themselves with the hot faucet?" they asked. First of all, hopefully it would teach them not to do it again. Second of all, what children?!?

The real answer is that one is supposed to mix the water in the basin. Hardly anyone in England has "mixed taps" and they get along fine. (That's probably an exaggeration.) The modern convenience of instant warm water would be nice, though.

My trusty friend, Apartment Therapy lists a few solutions for this problem. (Also, the librarian in me needs to give them credit for the photograph.) The solution in the picture allows you to keep the existing faucets. I like it, it's a little steam punk-y. There are nicer looking bridge faucets you can buy, but you know I how I feel about old things. And British things. And old British things.

~ E

Giving Thanks

Today, I am thankful for:

-The Ikea Man who loaded two kitchens into my Focus Wagon with the ease of a Tetris Word Champion.

-Our families for helping us day in and day out.

-New windows!

-Veterans (both for their service and a very much needed day off at the end of this week).

-My husband, who saved our front door instead of giving up and buying a lame generic new one.

-The fact that P's apartment has a new renter so he can move out and move in to Makeoverhill in a few short weeks.

~E