SO. The holidays were great. I zipped down to WV for some family lovin' and also made it over to PIT for some love from LP and her family. Xmas done well.
On Sunday, back to Tall Pines. WV to TP? Six and a half hours. Yum. Got back up here to find almost all the snow gone! We had a 60-degree day, I guess that'll do it.
RP is supposed to come to town for New Year's (health permitting), so I am working over the guest room. New paint! New floors! Photos to come, in a gallery once the room is done. For now, know that I am back in action.
This photo is the second floor deck, a holding area for wood panels that are about to become floor.
Who knew I could get so much done on my own!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Migration!
Geese? Birds of some sort, in formation, are headed due south. Making a hell of a lot of noise, too.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Back in the City
There was another ice storm coming Sunday morning, so I hopped the train and zipped back to the warm arms of my GF and her apt. in Williamsburg on Saturday night. Tuesday, back to Tall Pines for the holidays!
Friday, December 19, 2008
The Snow Has Stopped ... For Now!
And we got a lot of it. Easily a foot out there, maybe 14 inches. I was just out in the yard snapping some long shutter speed photos of the house. Got some good stuff back, click the photo for more.
I spent a lot of this evening having another of those disheartening "Why did I buy this place? What am I doing up here?" nights, but maybe the photos answer that somewhat.
I spent a lot of this evening having another of those disheartening "Why did I buy this place? What am I doing up here?" nights, but maybe the photos answer that somewhat.
Snow at TP
Well, here we go. First winter storm of the season. It's 2:30 in the afternoon and there's 8 inches out there already. Wow.
Just got back from a quick run to the store for "what if the power goes out" supplies. Candles. Lamp oil. Battery-powered radio. Batteries. Water.
So, now here comes the snow!
Just got back from a quick run to the store for "what if the power goes out" supplies. Candles. Lamp oil. Battery-powered radio. Batteries. Water.
So, now here comes the snow!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Lotsa Minor Changes
Hi -- Well, its nice and easy to make big projects into big blog news. You redo a kitchen, take some photos, and Pow! It makes for great blog post with Flickr backup. Less so when you've spent the last week working on minor edits like, "silicone caulk windows." Or, "Molding."
Yet, tasks at Tall Pines have been taking place. Weatherproofing. Waterproofing. Cleaning. Sealing. I reclaimed a Linen Closet. I organized the basement with the old kitchen cabinets.
Activity marches on here at Tall Pines. Its just not the headline-grabbing kind of work. But when you come up this summer for the First Annual Tall Pines Lawn Party, you'll notice it.
And don't worry -- there's plenty of big projects left to make for good blog reading all through the next year (Retaining wall! Hello!) Oh, yes. (Gardening! Hi!)
LP comes up this weekend and we're on a hunt for lots of cozy area rugs. That should make for some good art. In the meantime, check out the photos I have been diligently updating independently of blog posts ...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tallpines/sets/
More TK!
Yet, tasks at Tall Pines have been taking place. Weatherproofing. Waterproofing. Cleaning. Sealing. I reclaimed a Linen Closet. I organized the basement with the old kitchen cabinets.
Activity marches on here at Tall Pines. Its just not the headline-grabbing kind of work. But when you come up this summer for the First Annual Tall Pines Lawn Party, you'll notice it.
And don't worry -- there's plenty of big projects left to make for good blog reading all through the next year (Retaining wall! Hello!) Oh, yes. (Gardening! Hi!)
LP comes up this weekend and we're on a hunt for lots of cozy area rugs. That should make for some good art. In the meantime, check out the photos I have been diligently updating independently of blog posts ...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tallpines/sets/
More TK!
Monday, December 8, 2008
LP on Xmas
LP came to visit this past weekend. We hit a few of the local holiday parties (Lomala Civic Center, you know, worked the circuit) and then we did some holiday decorating. Well, LP decorated, specifically.
Pine on the fireplace, lights in the windows, wreath on the back door, and big red hand-made bows -- all courtesy of LP. She sent me down the driveway with a bow, a ten penny nail and a hammer and now we have a pretty bow at the end of the drive.
LP, in this picture is hanging a bow on the metal detail at the front door. She's smiling because she likes Xmas so much.
Thanks, LP. Because if not for you, there would be no lights in the windows or bows on the driveway. Its an LP Xmas at Tall Pines.
Pine on the fireplace, lights in the windows, wreath on the back door, and big red hand-made bows -- all courtesy of LP. She sent me down the driveway with a bow, a ten penny nail and a hammer and now we have a pretty bow at the end of the drive.
LP, in this picture is hanging a bow on the metal detail at the front door. She's smiling because she likes Xmas so much.
Thanks, LP. Because if not for you, there would be no lights in the windows or bows on the driveway. Its an LP Xmas at Tall Pines.
Friday, December 5, 2008
JCPenny Delivers via Sneakernet!
I was down by the shed, trying to get the lawn mower started (no luck). I wanted to chop up some more leaves, get a jump on things which I waited for JCP to come bring the sofa.
I'm yanking on this mower, priming the engine, pulling the cord. Still no luck. Then I see this big whit delivery truck go right pass my driveway and hit the brakes.
I've seen that a million times up here at Tall Pines. The Verizon guy. The gas guy. The lumber guy. My Mom. They all miss the driveway, and find themselves hitting the brakes halfway down the street.
So, this van hits the brakes, and I know immediately what's up: My couch and chair are here from JCPenny. I abandon the mower, and head inside to make some room for them and get the door open while they figure out how to turn the truck around and get it up the driveway.
I look out my front windoe to see how they're doing with the truck, and here I see one of the delivery guys (pictured, foreground) running up the damn driveway with the couch on his head, like it's the '70s blackout or something!
Right behind him? Another dude (pictured, center), running right up with the wingback armchair on his head! Well, I ran for the camera, and got this shot. Amazing work.
The best part is dude number three (pictured, background) who didn't carry anything at all. He could have helped with the sofa, but nope. Guy #1 didn't need any help. He had it all covered.
They were a jovial bunch and happy as hell. Turned down beers. Were real gracious about me giving them some "lunch money."
All in all, a great delivery experience.
I'm yanking on this mower, priming the engine, pulling the cord. Still no luck. Then I see this big whit delivery truck go right pass my driveway and hit the brakes.
I've seen that a million times up here at Tall Pines. The Verizon guy. The gas guy. The lumber guy. My Mom. They all miss the driveway, and find themselves hitting the brakes halfway down the street.
So, this van hits the brakes, and I know immediately what's up: My couch and chair are here from JCPenny. I abandon the mower, and head inside to make some room for them and get the door open while they figure out how to turn the truck around and get it up the driveway.
I look out my front windoe to see how they're doing with the truck, and here I see one of the delivery guys (pictured, foreground) running up the damn driveway with the couch on his head, like it's the '70s blackout or something!
Right behind him? Another dude (pictured, center), running right up with the wingback armchair on his head! Well, I ran for the camera, and got this shot. Amazing work.
The best part is dude number three (pictured, background) who didn't carry anything at all. He could have helped with the sofa, but nope. Guy #1 didn't need any help. He had it all covered.
They were a jovial bunch and happy as hell. Turned down beers. Were real gracious about me giving them some "lunch money."
All in all, a great delivery experience.
JCP Linden Club Sofa
OK so you know -- it turns out that JCPenny had some really great leather couches, and all on crazy-bad-economy-sale. The sofa I wanted? Yeah, it was $1,939 marked down to $989 -- basically a thousand dollars off.
Then, because I went on Black Friday, it was on special sale -- buy the sofa, get the Houndstooth Wing Chair ($899, on sale for $499) thrown in for free.
After the delivery fees, taxes and a five-year extended protection plan on the sofa, I was out of there for $1,225.
Then, because I went on Black Friday, it was on special sale -- buy the sofa, get the Houndstooth Wing Chair ($899, on sale for $499) thrown in for free.
After the delivery fees, taxes and a five-year extended protection plan on the sofa, I was out of there for $1,225.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
First Frost at Tall Pines
Well, its not exactly snow, but it frost is a new element. A nice juxtaposition to all the summery photos I have been posting. These were all taken on November 30, the first frost of the season.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Phase One of Upstairs Flooring Project: Complete!
The story --- Ugly carpet. Had to go. Nice floor underneath? Nope, brown vinyl tile from the '50s. The solution? Phase one is seal it up with vapor barrier, then lay down 1/2" A/C grade one-side-sanded pine plywood.
The result is at once both warm (as wood will do) and unfinished and full of potential (as plywood and visible drywall screws will do).
This rest stop on the way to a new floor serves two purposes -- it seals away an ugly floor of yesteryear and lays the foundation for a new floor, cut and kind as of yet undecided.
It took Jason and I all day to get this job done, but look -- it's worth it.
The result is at once both warm (as wood will do) and unfinished and full of potential (as plywood and visible drywall screws will do).
This rest stop on the way to a new floor serves two purposes -- it seals away an ugly floor of yesteryear and lays the foundation for a new floor, cut and kind as of yet undecided.
It took Jason and I all day to get this job done, but look -- it's worth it.
Phase One of Kitchen Renovation: Complete
Looks pretty good, huh? The Thanksgiving wrecking crew (Mom Sharon and Brother Jason) were responsible.
The work was immense -- Mom had to remove all that Strawberry wallpaper (holy shit -- she was the only one who noticed: it was hung upside down for ... 30 years?).
Then, all the appliances got moved and major cleaned out. Behind them. Under them. All around them. Mom can tell you how it looked behind the refrigerator. I won't. And I refused to take a photo.
Interlude -- Home Depot. New oak cabinets.
Mom asked me to paint the kitchen ceiling while she got some air outside. I thanked her by painting the whole kitchen.
Then, Jason and I ripped out all the cabinets. Taking out the top cabinets, we found the (thankfully, DEAD) beehive, Just about the kitchen window. In comes the Shop Vac, and out goes the hive.
Bottom cabinets came right out. They kinda crumbled without much guff at all, and were the sole easy portion of the job. Then Jason and I went to work getting the new ones in place and all hooked up. Took about 5 hours, but really wasn't that bad. Essential advice? Have PLENTY of shims around. They make everything nice and level with such ease.
We tossed the old counter top and sink (this is phase one, remember) back on the the new cabinets, and viola! It's Miller Time!
Next steps -- nice white shelves above the sink running up that now white and bare wall.
The work was immense -- Mom had to remove all that Strawberry wallpaper (holy shit -- she was the only one who noticed: it was hung upside down for ... 30 years?).
Then, all the appliances got moved and major cleaned out. Behind them. Under them. All around them. Mom can tell you how it looked behind the refrigerator. I won't. And I refused to take a photo.
Interlude -- Home Depot. New oak cabinets.
Mom asked me to paint the kitchen ceiling while she got some air outside. I thanked her by painting the whole kitchen.
Then, Jason and I ripped out all the cabinets. Taking out the top cabinets, we found the (thankfully, DEAD) beehive, Just about the kitchen window. In comes the Shop Vac, and out goes the hive.
Bottom cabinets came right out. They kinda crumbled without much guff at all, and were the sole easy portion of the job. Then Jason and I went to work getting the new ones in place and all hooked up. Took about 5 hours, but really wasn't that bad. Essential advice? Have PLENTY of shims around. They make everything nice and level with such ease.
We tossed the old counter top and sink (this is phase one, remember) back on the the new cabinets, and viola! It's Miller Time!
Next steps -- nice white shelves above the sink running up that now white and bare wall.
Mom and Brother -- Thanksgiving Work Session
Well, talk about giving thanks -- Let me give some mad thanks to my Mom, Sharon, and my brother Jason. You'll be seeing them ina lot of the new renovation photos. My goodness, did they give it their all. They drove seven hours on Wednesday to come to Tall Pines to orchestrate a four-day action-oriented face-list of Tall Pines. I mean, I told you the place needed work, right?
So many things that seem simple at the onset. One thinks, "Oh, just rip down the wallpaper and then you paint -- what could be easier?" Or -- just take out cabinets and bolt up new ones. Or -- man, that door is chilly, let's insulate it. Oofa -- that floor's ugly. Let's lay some plywood on it.
Sounds so simple. Sounds so, so, simple. Just 1-2-3. Do it!
And we did. You can imagine the results. Nothing was anywhere near as easy or an simple as was imagined. Even toward the end, when we all would say, "should be simple, but we'll probably have some problems," what would we hit? Unimaginable, unforeseeable, increasingly complex problems.
But for four days, Mom, Brother and I stuck through it, surviving on a diet of McDonalds (breakfast/lunch) and Outback Steakhouse (dinner). We spent the first Tall Pines thanksgiving together as family, with a meal cooked in the house. Steaks from the grill that my Mom says were among the best she's ever had.
Dear readers, I can't even begin to describe how much it meant to me to have these two give up their holiday and come work on may house. I am indebted beyond years, and a little driven to tears just thinking about it. The importance of family, at the holidays. Means so much.
So we did a lot of work -- kitchen, both bedrooms, a basement insulation project and so much cleaning and reworking that I can't even do a bulleted list. But you'll see a whole slew of new photo sets -- kitchen renovation, etc. that my mom and brother worked on.
It would mean so much to them if you, dear reader, reached out to them and told them both what a great job they did. Or comment on the work they did. Even just say hello. It would mean the world to them.
Mom ... stgoeres ... at ... yahoo.com
Jason ... jason ... at.... frontporchsales.com
And from me -- to you Mom, and you Jason: I love you both, and I will never forget all the work you put in this Thanksgiving.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving from Tall Pines
Today -- Happy Thanksgiving to everyone out there. There's a lot to be thinking about this year, bad stuff, what with the economy and the wars, but on the other hand there's also a new president, our friends and family, and so on. Well, let's remember to be thankful for what we have, and helpful to those who have less.
And eat turkey.
Or, as we do up at Tall Pines, we grill steaks to perfection and eat like beasts. Well deserved after a very heavy project and renovation day. Well needed protein, and plenty of it.
Today we did bedrooms and kitchens. Big time. Photos to come (TK), but for now you'll have to take my word for it. We ditched the kitchen cabinets and laid flooring in the bedrooms -- not wide plank, just pine ply. Its not final, but its a solid step in the right direction. Oh -- the cleaning my Mom gave the kitchen? My God. Wallpaper, ceilings, floors, you name it. You never really think about what happens behind a refrigerator for 20 years until one day you take a look. Seriously, when the Shop-Vac saw the mess back there, it smiled.
And oh yeah!! BEEHIVE!! No kidding ... that's a whole post in itself. Got photos, too.
Last -- My brother Jason brought his 55-pount black lab Nulla up here for the visit. It is so nice to have a dog on the property. I can't even tell you how much more enjoyable it makes the whole damn place.
Anyway, lots of photos and stories to share soon. Until then, good night from Tall Pines. Happy Thanksgiving!
And eat turkey.
Or, as we do up at Tall Pines, we grill steaks to perfection and eat like beasts. Well deserved after a very heavy project and renovation day. Well needed protein, and plenty of it.
Today we did bedrooms and kitchens. Big time. Photos to come (TK), but for now you'll have to take my word for it. We ditched the kitchen cabinets and laid flooring in the bedrooms -- not wide plank, just pine ply. Its not final, but its a solid step in the right direction. Oh -- the cleaning my Mom gave the kitchen? My God. Wallpaper, ceilings, floors, you name it. You never really think about what happens behind a refrigerator for 20 years until one day you take a look. Seriously, when the Shop-Vac saw the mess back there, it smiled.
And oh yeah!! BEEHIVE!! No kidding ... that's a whole post in itself. Got photos, too.
Last -- My brother Jason brought his 55-pount black lab Nulla up here for the visit. It is so nice to have a dog on the property. I can't even tell you how much more enjoyable it makes the whole damn place.
Anyway, lots of photos and stories to share soon. Until then, good night from Tall Pines. Happy Thanksgiving!
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