THE SUMMER PROJECT

The following two photos are just a reminder of what once was...

 Spring 2010

Removed patio roof and pavers Summer 2010

 First of all, let me apologize for not Blogging since May.

 It was not my intention to take the summer off! 

 I swear it was as if the snow melted
and we headed outside and that's where we stayed. 

 We have had a wonderful summer here in Colorado,
 lots of exploring, camping, swimming, hordes of company along with bringing in  firewood for our long cold winter!
Oh yeah we worked on the back of the house!
We chose to work on the back of the house first
 use it as a learning tool (basically trial and error if you will)
I have never prepped or painted the exterior of a house before or worked with mortar and stucco, so the entire summer was a learning experience for me.
I spent more time in the prep...
washing, wire brushing, repairing damaged corners with mortar and filling the cracks with Stucco Patch ( I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!)  

After... Summer 2011

Then finally rolling on the paint!
I chose Manchester Tan by Benjamin Moore
 and I am very happy with the color it is light and bright but still warm.

The windows received some new wood, new glass for one and new glaze for most.

Garage corner

Meanwhile...

 my husband had the daunting task of replacing all the rotten wood,

 trimming rafter tails, and finding a solution for the electrical 

before a good wind storm rips it from our house!

Apparently this was OK to do 80 years ago!

    He is the man.

Because he fixes things and brings me chocolate!

Perfection!

 I still have a short list of things to do out here before the snow starts flying!

    -Priming and painting under the eves.

    -Paint the glaze on windows.

    -Install new porch light.

    -Attach storm door.

     -Michelle- 

P.S. I almost forgot!

We started our summer with...

  -The removal of  6 trees (and their stumps) all  in various stages of decay and leaning towards the house!

  -10 tons of gravel that we spread around the side of the house and formed a back patio!

           ( because I live with 4 males and 2 puppies, all of which attract mud!)

THE BACK DOOR

The original back door was in pretty bad shape, having been 

 exposed to 80 years of Colorado weather and numerous dogs.

The window was a piece of plexi glass that was framed and being held in the door frame with wing nut type hardware. We knew we could not go into winter with this door.

We happened to have another wood door inside that was a perfect match and still had its original wavy glass intact.  So while my husband planed the door and jam to account for some minor settling of the door frame ,  I took that opportunity to strip the hinges of decades of paint and grime. 

                            The project took the two of us only a couple of hours and cost us nothing.

 This spring I plan to apply a fresh coat of paint both inside and out.- Michelle

P.S. The back door window at -35 degrees! 

OUR FIRST DEMO

  

This was the backyard May 2010.

( before we bought it )

Saturday Morning...

Michelle -"This thing has to come off before it falls off and kills a kid!"

Brian -"Sooo,  that's what I'm doing this weekend?  I wanted to go for a hike "

Michelle - "You can,  after we get this down...it shouldn't take too long"

Michelle - "The kids can help,  it will be fun!"

Yes, folks, that's the four year old pushing over the rotted
support posts. 

Michelle - " Ta da!,  look at all the light we've brought into the house!  Now wasn't that fun?" 

              Brian - "Yep"

                                                                    Sunday Evening...

                                                         Brian - "Can I go for a hike now?"  
                                                         Michelle - "Yep"