Who Says You Can't Polish A.....

Well I dodged a heat gun bullet, the sanding worked. It's not mirror smooth (what 100 year old cabinet is??) but it looks pretty dog gone good. I used 60 paper with the orbital to knock off the loose stuff, followed by a round with 150 feathering all the rough edges and the chipped down areas. A good prime coat and two coats of color later... it's time for doors and drawers.

To Strip or Not to Strip

... that is the question. It just isn't feathering out with sanding like I hoped. The white is latex which doesn't seem to have a great bond to the older layers of paint underneath. But stripping this beast in 90 degree weather... ugh! I think I'll try the orbital sander a bit more. It's only a few spots that are bad, but once you start stripping it has to be all or nothing.

Built-In Progress

The built-in cubby and cabinet are finished and painted. Lots of storage here and turned out nice with new hardware... not bad for a free salvage cabinet!

Next item, finish the step-back cupboard.

Pickin Up The Pace

Well for reasons I wish were different, work is progressing pretty quick again. Looks like a work strike is unavoidable. Even worse we've been sold to boot and the new company already cut half of management.

Scaffold work is finished and the outside is done except for the dormers on the 3rd floor. So it's back inside to make the final push in getting the kitchen done.


I'm working on getting all the woodwork finished and primed, then it will be some finish work on the walls and finally get everything painted and floor. I'm going to do the back and basement stairs while I'm at it.




Once I can get this done I can gut the upstairs kitchen and hit the front pair of bedrooms. All this work has to be completed before the end of summer so I can pass appraisal for a refi of the mortgage. I did start some small demo in the bedrooms while waiting for stuff to dry so I don't get swamped with trash all at once. I started with the drop ceilings. I'll do the panelling next.


Motivated or not it has to get done! Best case scenario I'll have most of the interior done by the end of the year and the finish line will be in sight. Worst case, there might be a sign out front and someone else will have to finsih this blog. What a crazy year. I almost look forward to gutting the bedrooms. I could really use some sledge hammer therapy!!

Goodbye Gutters

Yep, that's it for the gutters. Good thing, cause how much can you really post about hanging gutters!

Hall House Gardens

The veggie gardens are taking off now! This is my 2nd year using the rasied beds and can't recommend them enough. The irrigation system is a nice feature too and can't wait till I can get the rain barrels going off the garage to feed into it.



Spinach, Kale, Broccoli, String Beans, Snap Peas

Lettuce, Roma Tomatoes, Snap Peas

Mesculine, Eggplant, Cucumber, String Beans, Tomatoes

Carrots, Radish, Peppers, Tomatoes

Waitin For Hangers

Well I guessed 4 short, so waiting for the UPS guy to bring me some more. Another 2 windows are in and another section of gutter. One of each left to go...

Another Pic From the Past

Here's a postcard I just won on EBAY... about 1910, out front at the bend. I would be two houses from the left.