Progress at The White House

July 12, 2014

Progress at The White House

Before: Sub floors removed- see the dirt?

So how's the progress on the white house coming? Well, as with any old house project it seems like this project is drawing on longer than we had hoped. We have had moments of weariness while working on the house, but have no regrets about purchasing the home and property. On the contrary, every little thing that is completed reminds us that we will sometime (hopefully before the end of the year) be living in this house.

Waylon and I enjoy occasional evenings sitting on the wood swing out in the park area and talking about our plans; sometimes sitting on the swing in the back yard gazing out over the pasture, enjoying the peaceful breeze. Our dream is for our home to be comfortable. For it to be our own country-style farm home. And we are on track to complete it so far, debt-free!

After a couple of months of taking a break during the winter, we kicked in strong during the spring and during the months of June and July. We have been working almost daily or as our schedule has been free. Earlier this year Waylon and his Dad worked on removing all of the old sub floors. As you can see they totally removed them-- all you could see was the dirt beneath the house! Watch your step....

No floors downstairs!

After: Base floor added to hold pray in insulation

After which the guys started nailing on a base floor which was fastened beneath the original floor beams. The purpose of this floor was to hold the spray-insulation which we scheduled a company to come out and install. Hopefully no cold feet for us in the winter.

Sprayed open cell insulation

After: Sub floors installed

Laundry room looking into the kitchen

All last week (after a long break from it) I have been continuing to strip paint off of the old cabinets in the kitchen. We hope to use the original cabinets but also add a few lower cabinets to the right side of where the sink will go. We plan to build wooden shelves up the wall above the lower right side cabinets, and then purchase an old piece of furniture to place along the far right wall (not shown)-- a hutch or table, perhaps.

Stripping paint in the kitchen

The upstairs bedrooms have received the most attention this week, as the guys have been installing the ceilings. They were able to use a lot of the original boards, supplementing with new boards in parts of the two rooms. We plan to paint the wood walls and ceilings instead of leaving them natural.


One of the upstairs bedrooms before ceiling

Progress during the ceiling installation process

Ceiling installed! Will add the trim next.

Some other things we have been up to over the past few months: Square dancing lessons (the two kids and myself). Canning tomatoes, caring for quail http://essentiallyevans.blogspot.com/2014/07/coturnix-quail.html , keeping the Young Living business going (you can find my page on facebook: Essentially Healthy https://www.facebook.com/pages/Essentially-Healthy/550975201649459).
We have also been summer schooling several subjects with the kids. Julia (9) & I spent a week at camp (as a camper/counserlor) with some other fun kiddos and counselors from our old church. http://www.camphisway.com/

Waylon and "Ghost Radio" have played for a couple of city events recently.

Ghost Radio playing for a fundraiser on the 4th

Waylon- plus a couple of short clips of him playing & singing below

In the past two months we have seen two of our nieces graduate; one from high school, the other from the University of Houston. We also got to meet our great niece Natalia a few weeks ago when she, mommy & daddy flew over from Poland for a visit. It has been a wonderful, yet busy summer, so far.

Natalia!

I declare! This baby is the most smart, capable, four month old I have encountered yet. She is already copying people's facial expressions, responding, and trying to crawl. She can raise up on her legs and push forward. She rolls over any direction (well, no somersaults), trying to sit up, and she makes all kinds of noises, even some word sounds like "Da". What a kid! She is growing like a weed and acts more like a six or seven month old. She's going to be one smart lady.

Tomato & squash garden

Watering the herb garden

Baby birds!

Dill

We are expecting our first batch of grand-kittens. Lily is pregnant! Blackie is not the dad, as he had surgery earlier this spring. I promised the kids that we would let Lily have at least one batch of kittens. If they are easy to adopt out to good homes we may consider more. Or not. But, I have so much trouble saying "no" to our kids when they start begging for our cat to have some cute little kitties! Dad might have to be the one drawing the line on the baby cat population. I say we should have no more than three cats.... and I'd like a little dog eventually also.