Basement Renovation Progress

The basement renovation has been a long haul and we are nearing completion. Last time I posted on this topic, we hadn't started the basement guestroom redo (although Farm Chick at Heart let you know that we were making progress a while back) and now we are finished and ready for company in our "lower level"!!

We have been doing the pesky little things that have been on our "to do" list for a l...o...n...g time - like building window sills and frames and coming up with a remedy for the exposed plumbing by the rock fireplace (which was noisy AND ugly).

Check us out...

Aren't we clever?? We wrapped up the pipes to cut down on the noise and Pop modified the cabinet to hide the pipes.
I got really tickled at a good friend of mine who didn't think the guest room was too bad...I have to give her credit because the last time she saw the room, it was FULL of wedding stuff for Pretty Princess and Romeo and I must admit that all the sparkly, glittery, beautiful wedding things did take the focus off the state of the room.


Anyway...here's a before and after and I'll spare you all the ugly details except to say that it involved a complete and utter demolition before we put it back together. If you really want details, let me know and I can even show you some pictures (for some reason, I'm big on documenting the good, the bad, and yes...the ugly).

So...we are ready for guests in our basement apartment and looking forward to the renovation for the main floor. Mostly, I'm looking forward to having it all done! I can't wait until we are simply living and maintaining Four Sisters Farm.

I know there will always be special project and that's okay...we all look forward to updates and new things...but we've had more than our quota for a while. Check in on us later...we'll still be working.

Done! The Interior Staircase

We finally pulled down the curtain hiding the mess that we call the interior staircase. I put away all the things I had stored (okay, hidden) on the steps and drug the rolls of carpet down and out of the way so we could get going on it.

What we thought was about a four day project turned into a bit more than that but it always does...and we just keep doing more.

The purple wall you see is actually a special type of sheet rock that helps deaden noise. Good thing since our bedroom is on the other side. It's worth the extra cost.

My hero, Pop, took the lead and figured out what all we needed and how to put it all together. He always asks my opinion and listens to my outrageous ideas, then we get to work. I've beome a pretty good construction assistant. Most of the time I know when to be quiet, when is a good time to ask questions, which tool will be needed next, how to work certain equipment (like the air compressor powered nail gun), etc; so Pop and I make a pretty good team.


My latest outrageous idea was to put drawers into the last step/landing to house family games in. Pop's idea for the last step/landing was to have a place for the grandkids to use as a stage. I think both ideas were good ones and Pop figured out how to make it happen.

The cowboys thought we should just take out the stairs and put in a slide. That would be fun!

Pop graciously acted like Vanna to show off the newly completed project in the following pic. I think he's pretty proud of his work - and he should be!


I think I'll keep him around another 35 years or so. The better he gets at doing these projects and the more tools he accumulates makes me think I'd better add some items to my honey do list!

You'll see another post about our next project soon. Stay tuned.

Progress...Remodel Update

Pop's been a bit distracted lately with some tree house planning and construction. The grandkids are delighted and I have to admit so am I. We can hardly wait until the weather warms up a bit so we can enjoy it. Pop has big plans for sort of a "Tree House Village" with several tree houses connected by a bridge. There is a climbing wall and a zip line in the plans as well.

In spite of the tree house and wedding plans, we have managed to finally pull the kitchen cabinets together...they have been functional for quite a while but we needed handles, toe kicks, and crown molding. Pop, Grammy, Bubba, and Wubba all worked together to get things done.  Bubba enjoyed running the vacuum to clean up the mess when Grammy ran the drill to install the handles - he said it was really loud!  It came together quite nicely!  Take a peek...

In honor of the season premiere of "The Office" - Grammy's Office

I've been given an incredible opportunity...to continue working for the folks in Charleston, SC...remotely...what a great idea! My alarm goes off (yes it's early and we don't have a rooster in the hen house at this point), I commute from the bedroom to the living room (routing through the bathroom and the kitchen) and I'm at work. It's a beautiful thing. My overall office is extensive and I'll show you more of it later but for now I'll show you my work space, here it is...all 20 cubit feet of it.

The scenery is nice and getting better all the time as Pop and I continue to finish out our space. I'll put pics on showing the finished space soon...okay, as soon as I can since I don't know quite when it will be completed.

Like any new work environment, adjustments have to be made...you know, for lighting, ergonomics, sounds, etc. Well...I was on the phone a while back - utilizing the speaker phone for hands-free working - when my BIT (Brilliant Information Technology) guy asked what the noise was. I realized he was hearing the washing machine waste water making its way down the outgoing sewage pipes that are currently open near my office space. Since these pipes handle all outgoing water for one entire end of the house, it isn't just the water from the washing machine I hear...

which makes me think of another office I've seen...enjoy the following video clip (thanks for supplying it, Romeo)and stop by my office sometime - I'll make you a cup of coffee or tea.

Moving Day

After a 3 day delay, the moving truck arrived! Grammy and Pop are officially moved in! Here are some pics from that day...Bubba aka Spiderman preferred to stay inside during all the chaos.Wubba was happy to be with Romeo.So happy he gave him a big smooch-a-roo! Romeo and Pretty Princess show off their wicked cheer leading moves.

How often do you hear this from a moving crew, "Where do you want your deer?"

Thelma & Louise (aka Annie Oakley & Grammy)

So our road trip from South Carolina to Kansas was memorable. We had Pop's little pickup STUFFED with stuff...lots of stuff...we barely had room for our luggage...in fact, at one point early into the trip we had to move some luggage from the bed of the pickup to behind the seats. All I can say is that it's a good thing that Oakley and I have short legs...and that's all I have to say about that.

We stayed the first night in Charleston's Riverview Holiday Inn...of course it was so late by the time we got there we couldn't see the river view...but we went to the scenic restaurant for breakfast and the view was stunning. Oakley and I don't quite get the attraction of "marsh living" but it was pretty (and you can't smell it) from the restaurant. Oakley took some pictures from there and we stopped to photograph a group of ladies with their cameras so they could all be in the pictures. They were grateful. Then we toured Charleston just a bit so I could show Oakley some of my favorite sites - like the Battery and the Market Place and Waterfront Park.

It was time to head toward Kansas after that and we chose to drive through the Great Smoky Mountains. Stunning scenery and well worth the mountain driving...partly on two lane road...in the rain...fabulous.

Our destination was Nashville, TN and we almost made it there...but we got too tired and made a call to PhoJo and Rock Star so they could get online and make some room arrangements for us in Cookeville, TN which was a nice place to stay and I think it was less expensive and less crowded than Nashville would have been. Oakley ran into a friend at Ernest Tubb's Record Shop so I took their picture.

We sang at Music City USA but don't want to brag...Oakley has a picture just like mine below but we only have so much space. Like I said, we don't want to brag.

Our next night's stay was in Springfield, MO and PhoJo made arrangements again...this hotel was beautiful with a fountain inside and glass elevators...I decided that I should always have PhoJo make my accommodation arrangements from now on. One of the highlights of the Springfield, MO stay was that I finally got to eat a hot Krispy Kreme doughnut the next morning with a great cup of coffee before Oakley and I stopped at the mall...we decided that no good girlfriend trip was complete without a little shopping. :-) At one point, Oakley was waiting on me and decided to try out one of those massage chairs...I found her there fighting the chair and when she could get out of it she invited me to try it...OUCH! We just are not tough enough for that kind of rough treatment!

Our last day of driving was our shortest day on the road but the excitement kept building as we got closer to Kansas...we were a bit shocked and dismayed and began to wonder about our navigation skills when we spotted a sign that said, "Charleston 13 miles" and I wondered aloud if we had been driving in circles! We discovered that there is a Charleston, MO and all was well - we were still on track. We also managed to see a sign for "Goose Creek" which is about 4 miles from our Charleston house!

But our "homing" abilities are strong and the closer we got to home the more sky opened up and easier my breathing became...we were getting closer to Kansas...closer to home...closer to Pop and to Oakley's hubby...closer to family and long-time friends. By the way, Oakley and I both missed our wedding anniversaries because of the timing of this trip (Pop and I 33 years, Oakley and Big Dog 27 years) so when we all met up we celebrated with dinner out at Outback complete with the world's best cheesecake.

Here's to Kansas, to family, to great friends. There's no place like home.

Thanks for making the trip with me, Oakley..thanks for the memories, the meals, the prayers, the company, and the long overdue time together. I love you and thank God for you and for all our family and friends who have been waiting, watching, helping, and praying for our return to Kansas.

Oakley says "Thanks to Grammy for our many years of friendship, both long and short distance, through difficult times as well as happy ones. It's very special to me that I got to make this trip with you and develop these many new memories. I know we'll create many more in the years to come since you are now 'home'."

Pop's and Grammy's Living Space Update

Here's our new welcome mat...come see us soon!

Here is our entrance - it isn't finished yet but will be soon. Pop picked out a great door and I love it! He had good taste!
This is what you see beyond the door...we've picked out some cabinets but haven't ordered them just yet. Farm Chick is such a good cook and she and EJ such good hosts and the cowboys so much fun that we are not hurrying. :-)

This is a view of the living space from the kitchen area. We're really pleased...and when our furniture finally arrives we will like it better so we can sit somewhere!

This is our bathroom...the vanity is my favorite thing so far and the inspiration piece for our kitchen cabinetry...I can't wait until it is all done!!

We still have several phases of construction before we are "done" with the basement but we'll get there...watch for updates as we go.

"Four Sisters We Are There!"

Kind of a fitting picture since Pop has to wear dress clothes every day now. Grammy, you better throw on your jewels before you get here!We are in transition mode...

Pop is working hard to finish up the apartment downstairs.
EJ and I are clearing more items from the basement and moving them to storage.
Pretty Princess signed the lease on her apartment and she is preparing to move soon. (I'm trying not to think about this. I have enjoyed having her here this summer. What an awesome blessing she has been!)
Grammy is in charge in SC! She has been organizing the movers, obtaining renters and planning to drive to the farm. A long time friend of ours will be flying out and driving home with Grammy. Another huge blessing!

I know this time of transition will be a distant memory before we know it. I have mentioned to Grammy that this whole thing feels too good to be true. I am praising God and thanking him for this incredible opportunity for our whole family.

All of the sudden I am thinking about something that happened 4 years ago. Grammy, Pop, and Pretty Princess were preparing to move to SC. All four sisters were together at the house going through our things and clearing them out. It could have been a really sad time. You know, even as a grown child, the idea that your parents are moving the "homestead" so far away is tough. Instead of tears of sadness, there were tears of joy. We tried on old prom dresses and found old memorabilia from our growing up years. We laughed until it hurt.

After they were gone, our oldest sister and brother-in-law (DW and Doc), stepped in. They opened their home to all of us. Anytime. They hosted Christmas each year and gave us a place to be a family even though Grammy and Pop's home was far away. We also developed some of our own traditions during that time. Thanksgiving was always spent with our husbands' families but the day after Thanksgiving we (the 3 sisters in Kansas and our families) would gather at a restaurant to eat together.

God has been so faithful to our family during this time of separation. Each of our in-laws have stepped up in tremendous ways to bless us. Pretty Princess' future in-laws have done this as well! You all know about the leg incident. Grammy and Pop have sacrificed in many ways to be with us during all the important times. When we look back at the pictures our children will probably never realize just how far away they were!

You have to know Boz the Bear to truly appreciate my closing prayer...

Thank you God as this season ends for our family and our friends.
Taking time to sit and pray. Thank you God they are moving this way! :)

AMEN.

More Floor

Whew! It's done! Here are a few pics the first one looking toward the fireplace and the second one at the bottom of the stairway from the mudroom. The colors look different in the pictures but they are actually very similar in real life.

If you want info about staining your own concrete I highly recommend this low cost way to do a really stellar floor! There are tons of info on the web - Don't pay big prices for the stain - explore homemade recipes (I used water and Copperas which is brand name for Iron Sulfate which is a plant food so to speak...the only warning on the label is "may stain concrete!"). Basically you clean the floor, stain the floor (multiple layers as desired), clean the floor, seal the floor. It's hard, time-consuming work but it pays off in HUGE dividends in what you save.

Concrete Staining

Grammy has an agenda: she needs to get the concrete floor stained in the basement.

The cowboys have an agenda: they want Grammy to dance with them while they blast their kid's praise CD.

They compromised and Grammy danced with the cowboys during her much needed breaks.
When Pop got home he assisted Grammy in the floor staining project. Don't they look like they are having fun? Looks can be deceiving! This is hard work and they have been in the remodel business for what feels like forever!

Do you like Grammy's fashion statement? She is wearing plastic bags on her feet in order to protect the floor and her feet. I don't see them being featured in En Vogue but they certainly serve a purpose.

At this point the staining is done! Here are the next steps...

Wash/Dry Vac the floor

Seal the floor when it's dry (we are hoping to do this around 9:30pm tonight)

Second coat of seal on the floor in the morning

Making Progress

Whew...we are getting some things done in the basement of the farmhouse! It's been a slow go and we are clearing the hurdles as they come. We have encountered a few problems like plumbing leaks and logistical issues (you know, the domino effect - like electrical needing to be done before sheetrocking, etc.). Our electrician (who is also a family friend) was delayed due to his mom (also our friend) was in the hospital twice. We are praising God with them that she is recovering from a near death bout of infection in her bloodstream due to an abdominal abcess. Yikes!

Here are some pictures so you can see the progress...

The Kitchen! There is one of our plumbing leaks...soon to be fixed!

Master Bedroom

Bathroom

A beautiful phone jack...to be hooked up today!

Our test spot for concrete staining...also occuring today.

The entrance light.

Temporary bedroom in the basement.

We'll post more when more progress is made...We're getting excited!!

I've never been so excited to see walls in my life.

This is the view when you first step into the "apartment."

Here is the north wall of the kitchenette area.

This is another shot of the kitchenette area.

The bedroom.



The closet in the bedroom

In the bedroom looking into the kitchenette and bathroom.



The Bathroom



Looking into the main area from the bathroom.

The south wall - in the living room area.

The stairway in the living room.

The west wall in the main living area. You can see the doorway to the 2nd bedroom (which will be phase 2 of the remodel).

What do you think, Pop and Grammy? Pretty exciting to see walls, isn't it!!! It looks completely different down there.