House update: The week

[electricland]

By far the most difficult thing for me in Montreal was being away from my house reports. Everything else was just delightful (including the opportunity to vent to a whole new set of people about the house!). I must admit, having a break also allowed me to hope that great things would happen in my absence. And indeed, I do have a working kitchen sink now! And a finished bedroom floor. Most of my apartment is now down to the small details. (Oh so many small details. I'll make a list on the streetcar this evening. But small details nonetheless.)

Here's what we missed.

Friday, June 9th:

Today for lunch, John and I had cheese fondue and coconut shrimp.

John went to both Rona and Home Depot and bought last remaining pieces of channel to fix Jen's duct stack, which he was/is doing.

William is working on windows, sashes and stuff.

Love, Helen

Monday, June 12th:

Today for lunch, John and I had left-over lasagnes.

Ed the floor called at 8:30 this morning and said he had some spare time. So John and I cleared and cleaned the third floor, and Ed came and it's all done. Ed will come on Friday to do the second floor.

John also bought some more wood, and will work on finishing Robin's kitchen counter. William is working on Jen's ducts.

Cheers to all, Helen

Wednesday, June 14th:

Today for lunch, John and I had penne with meatballs and sautéed veg.

Since yesterday, William has put up drywall and been working on door casings. Re door casings (most of us call them frames): John got wood at Central Fairbank and William wasn't satisfied (not poplar) and asked John if he got the wood at Rona. John passed this comment on to the man at Central Fairbank today when he replaced the wood. The man groaned and winced.

John has been changing wood, working on Robin's kitchen counter, reconnecting the heat recovery ventilator control and wiring some plugs. He's off to buy primer.*
Your friend, Helen

*Five gallons worth.

Thursday, June 15th:

Today for lunch, John and I had Thai curry (aka leftovers, including the coconut milk).

John has Robin's sink and dishwasher operational, and is working on fastening down the cabinets and countertops, and on electrical stuff. He will call for a gas connection.

William is working on doorways.
Cheers, Helen

Sunday, June 18th:

Today for lunch, Jen, John and I had all-day breakfast, including giant Portabello mushrooms.

Jen sanded this morning, wearing a not altogether-becoming sanding outfit. (She snuck home through back streets.)*

Jen presented us with what she calls "an officious list," accompanied now by a grid. We have A PLAN. (If it doesn't work, there's always Plan B.)
Cheers, Helen

*In the afternoon, crankygrrl and I came over, or at least Cranky came over and I came down from the cottage; she primed, Jen painted her bedroom, and I tried to find light fixtures. I still need to buy a lot of them. Oh dear.

And at last, today:

Today for lunch, John and I had submarine sandwiches.

John is removing the sill from the window between Jen's bathroom and bedroom. I am off to paint.

Jen, in front of witnesses, I would like the point out that the phrase "casting nasturtiums"--a phrase for which you have castigated me--is found in James Joyce's Ulysses, p. 415 in my edition. So there.
Helen

A milestone in the offing: My stored goods and chattels are arriving on Friday. Have requested the day off. My area of the house is definitely close to livability, although probably not comfort.

Comments

[fairoriana.livejournal.com]

OK, OK, ok... I've kept putting off asking for this for like several months now but... what's up with the house? Do you own it? Did you buy it as fixer-upper? Is the crew who's working on it, friends and family I believe, there full time or weekends and evenings? And if it's weekends and evenings, do they get lunch every time?

What's the background here? I've read these house updates for like, ever, and wondered every time and never asked.

[raithen.livejournal.com]

*hee*

yes, they purchased the house about 13 months ago. It was known upon purchase that it would Need. Work. No one EVER expected it would take this long ;).

The crew is a combo of hired professionals and family and friends, some working full time, some parttime. They are their own general contractors ;)

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Pretty much what raithen said! I bought the house with my cousin Jen last year -- we took possession April 21st.

We did sort of know what we were getting into. (http://electricland.livejournal.com/300546.html) Sort of. *sigh* We have now spent a lot of money and (obviously) time on it, but we're CLOSE to ready to move in (and out of money, which will simplify life).

We don't have full-time hooligans any more, just William, who doesn't take lunch with the rest. When they were full-time, they always got lunch. When we entice friends and family over we try to provide sustenance of some sort. (Yesterday I went on an IGA run and got bottled water, Fig Newtons, bananas, apples, a lime, string cheese, two-bite brownies, and microwave popcorn -- this is a much richer bounty than the House has supplied up to now, but OTOH I now have a working fridge.)

[raithen.livejournal.com]

*sigh* I looked for that post. I did not go far enough back ;) Hope you didn't mind me butting in.

and *SQUEE* END IN SIGHT!! ;)

working fridge and sink and dishwasher means that with a working toilet and shower you could like, almost move in!! ;).

[electricland.livejournal.com]

I KNOW! And in fact we do have a working toilet and sink. So really, we just need a bath. But to do that we need to finish the tiles and get the paint tinted and paint the room and paint the tub and clean the tub and it would be really nice to have a towel rail or something and... well, at least it's not THAT far off.

and please feel free to butt in any time. ;)

[claris.livejournal.com]

when your house is done, can helen make me lunch every day? because even her leftovers are better than what I make myself. ;)

[raithen.livejournal.com]

this is a truth ;).

though my "what the hell" thrown together lunch of leftover mashed potatoes, green beans, asparagus and corn tossed together with ceasar dressing was surprisingly delicious!

[electricland.livejournal.com]

the mashed potatoes part of that surprises me! I don't think of them as salad food!

[raithen.livejournal.com]

I KNOW! me too! I just needed lunch and had no time, and thought, what the hell, if it's AWFUL I'll just go get something at the store.... And it was YUMMY!

[electricland.livejournal.com]

well, I can ask. I worry it might get cold on the trip, though.

seriously, it makes me want to quit my job or at least take a week off to work on the house and eat.