tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61870814740134158962024-02-06T20:21:50.818-08:00GrayNolRemodeling HOME + LIFEpattyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03501727543005028850noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187081474013415896.post-17686732191178936392011-03-30T13:46:00.000-07:002011-03-30T14:03:41.084-07:00sWitChing blOGsHey followers!<br /><br />Yes, it's been a freakin' year since our last post. We are not gone we just got....busy. That's a good thing for us, but not so good for you. Our neglect has probably made you run off for greener pastures. I don't blame you.<br /><br />In two minutes or less, here's what we have been up to. Patricia joined her true calling and became a roller derby girl going by the name Slamburger Patty. She skates for the Dockyard Derby Dames of Tacoma WA. Her joining this cult has left poor old me as what is referred to in the derby world as a Derby Widow. It feels less like death than it implies but still there's a pretty big hole created when someone you are used to seeing all the time now has 4 hours of practice 4 nights a week.<br /><br />So what did I do? I didn't cry like a tough girl's spouse I laced up some skates myself and told myself I was going to join men's derby or M-erby. Well, that didn't last too long. Men's derby isn't as fun as women's derby. This is clearly a sport that men should just leave alone (for a lot of reasons). Just ask me the next time you see me. I'll talk for hours about it (and I'm usually pretty quiet).<br /><br />After a failing bid at men's derby I did what most every other spouse/partner of derby girls does. I became an official. Right now, I keep score and track penalties during bouts. But, my buddy Willie-wanna-konkya and I are going to join the ranks of skating refs in the near future.<br /><br />The other little thing I've been up to is launching my business. In the past year, I began Spark Design under the premise to change the approach architects have taken to working with clients. As a Do-it-Yourself (DIY) kind of person I wanted to focus my practice on these same kinds of people. I've found it inspiring to see the growth of the DIY culture of the past decade. People are empowered by putting their own hands to work for themselves and with a little guidance I feel most people can accomplish what they to with out much help and a lot of encouragement. Or, at least, they can make some small changes that really make big differences on their own.<br /><br />If you want to learn more, click the link about or here is the web code, http://sparkdbl.wordpress.com/<br /><br />See you there!<br /><br />Spencerspencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03938173330375363786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187081474013415896.post-71442479353441001642010-01-26T20:23:00.000-08:002010-02-01T16:55:59.156-08:00fUrthEr dOwn tHe pOrThoLe<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Ha, an interlude starring the door's porthole.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfL76kh8SyYmIT5cmEG4VetUyrTqxL-kPUsc1A7z9PBKBr3FNNkJf4K27XuGrOgcjF8ltLypbrTaJFHrv589xHxJDMV4nWB72ke1pSRMM8kXp04g5tPMPtG7mUZo8r7CQlGBEBxTmdUs/s200/DSC_0023.JPG" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9zt7yK33MP50fKWe5wOYFzfG0u28Rf7hEfwSG4mwtI99Y5zlL2BFxU-35BGIW8TWY03UyvutEcmJufhDt-zgXbAuLGrASbVkikTHjwftFHX2BdXWFa91oOB5lzfncBRWePnZXDHTN2yw/s200/DSC_0036.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpYImh4mqwTDQyJITYyLnjJMp-ssBShEoVGXbljAvJe3wlcCN_QkJGawjQKK14P_XSnYmxB5yXx7Ivsbpi-Mcg2etcQxOU-Xm_Nn6S30ph-Hzy3aFbxvsz7SLWxId9VruYDrkL92GjpEw/s200/DSC_0025.JPG" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGx3VDyEeMI4th46TmNpbZh-n5u8ztwzOqfnL5jGZrrQTvM3HcE4c50jwwMd45eANhKy06aRsbFtRRRXBUzTCfRfWLI_Nbpur60OGw-IfhIicOMqERxQuWy00fs1ycp3nvNAKAbzprUQ/s200/DSC_0029.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgst7yH3zZ4R7BYWk3BFSlPI3U96KDSd1VOtJ0KerYcWYaTbqU0lAFUHL8LHH_CqypUzxfq-4fbWIFMFrV_Nsd2_YJZ5XqMA0FsKOUKXzAEr88pJ9vlCfjLLO28iQ7tbC9EAxYS5bnAcOg/s200/DSC_0041.JPG" /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioTy63TzDRW5gqZdBMQEYeyvvrVoXlU83bk_Uyz_kXgCeX9cBogFP0UU-5m0_UjfhvxQ3A58f2mxdi_nIm4oDW_Xy98MYKLssM-W-5kpskUtEDR7D8JEZZxEoMUbhLpSf9URrFm9ugWfM/s200/DSC_0024.JPG" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03938173330375363786noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187081474013415896.post-29873003600297967762010-01-04T21:37:00.000-08:002010-01-25T23:40:07.632-08:00in through the front doorHi again,<br /><br />Patricia: We are back from a fluffy, white New Years Eve in Bend, OR and have an update for you. The day before we left Spencer installed a near 200 lb. front door by himself. Yes, he is my hero!<br /><br />Spencer: yep that door is dang heavy. But, heavy doors can make great doors. For proof take a look at this <a href="http://fcit.usf.edu/Florida/photos/recreate/tour/coral/coral2/coral224.htm">9 ton gate</a> made of coral in Florida. It pushes open and closed with just one finger.<br /><br />To jog your memory, we bought the door below at the <a href="http://www.re-store.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=56">Restore</a> as our 2nd <a href="http://www.facebook.com/patricialgray?ref=profile#/photo.php?pid=209904&id=785683920">Wedding</a> Anniversary gift to ourselves. Here's what the door originally looked like (rotated for a better visual effect).<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://graynol.blogspot.com/2009/10/agony-of-color-and-thrill-of-door.html"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrbFu3yGVSoLzVbDx_6KrDp-RKtK7YldVA1x6S-5pCuUgxydaPNw_YVbQ-0aUyewBdR5k7YgpUiCBZrN2odpaDXxQ33IQ7c8ZMn_qzwojJyOxJBL5dWh86X_GAANNWg5Eo54t7CCXx6A/s320/front+door.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423139969910999554" border="0"></a>But it wasn't a door we could just install. We first had to lop off 12 inches from the bottom. Here I am clamping down a straight board as a guide for my straight cut.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTAM5eOssF6OFELownsGRGUtJe624DX1snfydIq_zGeZGaLn2OUfEx9Dn-BW43yrar4AIVFXfoKbxW-jGhI0m_XnWwSK7Cf5fNbMUTfy6Fgdb1AoRq79Id7b0bQeGqEt38CQjhfEmvwk/s1600-h/vice+setting.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTAM5eOssF6OFELownsGRGUtJe624DX1snfydIq_zGeZGaLn2OUfEx9Dn-BW43yrar4AIVFXfoKbxW-jGhI0m_XnWwSK7Cf5fNbMUTfy6Fgdb1AoRq79Id7b0bQeGqEt38CQjhfEmvwk/s320/vice+setting.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423503239121866962" border="0"></a>Note the safety glasses. Always, safety first, positioning second and style third.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjag94yrWRU7duixQfXNe9TnvuwYBfz4D8lAnUfT2skZkNnaFSKo24IgQG0cI9JwND6ei2ru5XM64vwu-6Wgvq3e7UhbABr3sZV-zjwTdX4EgNvfpAi9kQvwHM1eS49CwlVBaDE5CG87AU/s1600-h/cutting+door.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjag94yrWRU7duixQfXNe9TnvuwYBfz4D8lAnUfT2skZkNnaFSKo24IgQG0cI9JwND6ei2ru5XM64vwu-6Wgvq3e7UhbABr3sZV-zjwTdX4EgNvfpAi9kQvwHM1eS49CwlVBaDE5CG87AU/s320/cutting+door.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423503359181794562" border="0"></a>BUZZZZZ!<br /><br /></div>Cool. Ready to install? Well, not so fast. There were scratches and holes from the old barn door hardware. To do this we stripped the door with a heat gun [like a super hot hair dryer] and a 5 in 1 tool [currently lost]. The holes were filled with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bondo_%28putty%29">Bondo</a> and the scratches sanded smooth. Then we applied several coats of <a href="http://www.osmouk.com/sheets/park_lane.pdf">Osmo Park Lane</a> finish. We chose Park Lane for its strong, durable coating that will protect our door from UV light rays and scratches and most important is friendly to all plants & animals as well as my lungs. I recommend using a very good paint brush [Purdy or equal] with this finish. The Osmo brand brush I bought frayed after the first cleaning. When the bristles spread on a brush it creates streaks and bubbles that can't be brushed out with a bad brush.<br /><br />Coming from the basement, the door weighs just enough for me to grunt on every stair step. I had to take a 20 minute rest after I got to the top so my arm muscles wouldn't cramp. After that, getting the hinges lined up was like snapping two Lego pieces together. This part I was unsure of because it took the most to plan out. More planning than I'd care to write about...I then dropped the hinge pins into place and grabbed the door for it's inaugural swing closed.<br /><br />A door with good weight and balanced equally on all three hinges swings smooth and consistent with little effort. This was how it was with our door. With little effort it moved smoothly toward the door frame. Then it stopped and my heart sank a little. The door frame wasn't as square as I thought. The bottom corner of the door hit a full 1/4 of an inch into the door frame.<br /><br />Patricia was due home in an hour and I had only about 45 minutes of decent sunlight left. I wanted her to come home to the new door in place and working. The door sat perfect along the hinged side so I had one of two choices. I could take the door off the hinges and begin messing with the door frame. This meant I would likely have to tear open the wall and that wasn't what I wanted to get into with limited time. So I opted for chiseling away the door frame. Which turned out to be not to bad an idea. Beneath the layer of green paint was a door frame made of fir. Fir is soft, which meant I could chisel it. The chisel work was quick and sanding it smooth took only a few passes with medium grit sand paper. The door was swinging closed in less than 30 minutes.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Patricia was so pleased that she made us pose in front of the house that next morning before we left for Bend. I like to think she did that because she thought the door was so groovy that she wants to keep a photo of it in her wallet. Print out this photo if you do too?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7lWyi8UAYXo0ieVtNTZcGNC-Z3tFOfqKZeccpcKHd2ZTlhho_-pndICwdCVFF0DBYIniCKnPf7w19R0i_G6Jpwcr-MqUuhM6ay6m3ArgeqKKbgawGzUHpkYLdwME_byjOamAIBVOCzQ/s1600-h/Finally+a+door.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN7lWyi8UAYXo0ieVtNTZcGNC-Z3tFOfqKZeccpcKHd2ZTlhho_-pndICwdCVFF0DBYIniCKnPf7w19R0i_G6Jpwcr-MqUuhM6ay6m3ArgeqKKbgawGzUHpkYLdwME_byjOamAIBVOCzQ/s320/Finally+a+door.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423139615149133138" border="0"></a>Yep, that's our Christmas tree in the foreground.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Coming up: A quick Dump and Why Bondo! is better.<br /></div></div>spencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03938173330375363786noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187081474013415896.post-36817402431677652102009-12-27T22:11:00.000-08:002009-12-28T23:35:21.733-08:00Some time off from bloggingHi Everyone!<br /><br />We haven't completely gone away but have been distracted from catching you all up on the progress of our home on GrayNol.<br /><br />When we last left you, we had celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary by purchasing a new front door. Yes, it was romantic, but so much has happened since then....<br /><br />New siding is hung ...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeVMe7l85883bX77UfzKpL_KHKSPGlTnt1SqzouMNyC3SBo9pIcup5VjnyFjtaeK0M1XGk5nC972Y7w-1cL4xOIgbuwJxvXik5DEUYqBwsRwbGM0pb02FX7yTRaHRBkCvuMfSwBjns7jE/s1600-h/P1060142.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeVMe7l85883bX77UfzKpL_KHKSPGlTnt1SqzouMNyC3SBo9pIcup5VjnyFjtaeK0M1XGk5nC972Y7w-1cL4xOIgbuwJxvXik5DEUYqBwsRwbGM0pb02FX7yTRaHRBkCvuMfSwBjns7jE/s320/P1060142.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420551154357441010" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We leaped head-first into fresh paint colors! - save your comments, there's no going back ...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmwdd1qfZ3xN0Zlo4MWDgwMDhxFaZUbOk4EI_3VyraLn6_LX7BPPJq4Sa1u6HYPrhaJBW9eAFsJXyn8X9ozPQHHNAwWdh9bhX9a0mPPdii3bi0QkKN9xH9lE0edycG6OE6dKMYy6rutE/s1600-h/P1060153.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmmwdd1qfZ3xN0Zlo4MWDgwMDhxFaZUbOk4EI_3VyraLn6_LX7BPPJq4Sa1u6HYPrhaJBW9eAFsJXyn8X9ozPQHHNAwWdh9bhX9a0mPPdii3bi0QkKN9xH9lE0edycG6OE6dKMYy6rutE/s320/P1060153.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420551374961775906" border="0" /></a><br /><br />the front porch light is installed - and we're still waiting for it to take-off ...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2pT5RNZVH6VlzIYFgloJ9kolfcXQmytHMdNQhvjxiQohOEz_Ftrg5hhVhdEahw62MvB0kgHPAYXYM5IxCdVAhYfKS7fUS4OMcRjUGV-llq5Lk-4R5Mt-qauIBL61s7SNMFLUDac2ECc/s1600-h/front+porch+light.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2pT5RNZVH6VlzIYFgloJ9kolfcXQmytHMdNQhvjxiQohOEz_Ftrg5hhVhdEahw62MvB0kgHPAYXYM5IxCdVAhYfKS7fUS4OMcRjUGV-llq5Lk-4R5Mt-qauIBL61s7SNMFLUDac2ECc/s320/front+porch+light.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420554585783926418" border="0" /></a><br />and we have a new mail box!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqVqdZL2eavK_I92Uo3znr_YVmftZPcEuWvu6AvTl6rngXwaaLFmkmeRcPkP-lK3iWuB-YP47vsp6c3gBatRm78ITGCSAxwEE-2WloSP0QcKqAtaA8x4mJJ53lnddSJ_i4Uz6zeBL_QM/s1600-h/mailbox+photo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUqVqdZL2eavK_I92Uo3znr_YVmftZPcEuWvu6AvTl6rngXwaaLFmkmeRcPkP-lK3iWuB-YP47vsp6c3gBatRm78ITGCSAxwEE-2WloSP0QcKqAtaA8x4mJJ53lnddSJ_i4Uz6zeBL_QM/s320/mailbox+photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420552439078819106" border="0" /></a>**** Special monthly surprise box goes to the first person to correctly guess the 1st-use of this mailbox. Does it look familiar, yet absurdly out of place? ****<br /><br />So, the winter months mean we are now inside repairing the cuts and bruises the interior endured while we were working from the outside in. However, there are always exceptions - i.e. the sunshine lured us out the day after Christmas to break out the climbing ropes and harness to clean the roof & gutters.<br /><br />To catch you up on where we've been, here are some exciting topics you can look forward to hearing about from us very soon: Depression at the dump, Seattle Rain Screen 101, perfect-fit window trim, minimal off-gassing, Ecohaus finishing products, drywall patchwork, Hardie Plank is your friend, and why Spencer thinks Bondo is a better. We also have some side stories to tell like how to feed three goats while maintaining neighbor diplomacy, birthing a head board in the attic and monkeys mating in Costa Rica! Yes, we've been busy, but we're still having fun :)<br /><br />For now we unveil the (somewhat) current state of our house....<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiBmHUKGtv23lxOcYyLMkszToG_QnlmKKWkv2kucKS4AKlyNEeZgMUaha0YIzcAHXkTRBrQldiZsRsh7r_hp03Iy9XGlqgV2BcIdA7naErsQ1N74tJe_x_mSXbjqd3BwdHZXT3oWO7CU/s1600-h/current+house.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiBmHUKGtv23lxOcYyLMkszToG_QnlmKKWkv2kucKS4AKlyNEeZgMUaha0YIzcAHXkTRBrQldiZsRsh7r_hp03Iy9XGlqgV2BcIdA7naErsQ1N74tJe_x_mSXbjqd3BwdHZXT3oWO7CU/s320/current+house.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420546428357668178" border="0" /></a><br />More to come,<br />Spencer & Pattypattyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03501727543005028850noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187081474013415896.post-25007316865430632182009-10-12T22:58:00.000-07:002009-10-13T22:40:47.398-07:00The Agony of Color and the Thrill of the DoorThe rain broke and we finished the firring task. The sun was saying to us, "it's your <a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=714303343&v=feed&story_fbid=173553941755#/photo.php?pid=209886&id=785683920">2nd wedding anniversary</a>, go do something that freshly wed people would do." So, our love lead us to Ballard's <a href="http://re-store.org/">Re-store</a> for some high-end junk rather than some high-end food.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjIyPhrtX0ZcvQZQ-W69Qgoeucy92DXAfKsHANQtqJomkdJCQKAbW_TkLt4n636mf_u5ejBJ0BRJqdZu4yX3_Ie_9IZ9jcp_XyGI8VUgbexesKNn_9k5ohlylhOnhx7YJ8YeG5_k0eLg/s1600-h/restore.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXjIyPhrtX0ZcvQZQ-W69Qgoeucy92DXAfKsHANQtqJomkdJCQKAbW_TkLt4n636mf_u5ejBJ0BRJqdZu4yX3_Ie_9IZ9jcp_XyGI8VUgbexesKNn_9k5ohlylhOnhx7YJ8YeG5_k0eLg/s320/restore.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391963129525230034" border="0" /></a>If you look closely, you can see Ned's back door is holding our 2nd Anniversary Present, can you guess what it is? If not scroll down for the answer.....<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivL40ziiWgglVL0HMhAMbUAw_GVIsnLbpWLZ7ZTEzoeeSNgrHil7OStLmPt758EBZkzmf_EZmcI9H0YZfdP6mKncU73E2pKh7Q5lbSyS1dfepVxqJUZcQqqejAmxfKVceyHicITL2GlXg/s1600-h/download.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivL40ziiWgglVL0HMhAMbUAw_GVIsnLbpWLZ7ZTEzoeeSNgrHil7OStLmPt758EBZkzmf_EZmcI9H0YZfdP6mKncU73E2pKh7Q5lbSyS1dfepVxqJUZcQqqejAmxfKVceyHicITL2GlXg/s320/download.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391964892071190946" border="0" /></a>Patricia spotted this beauty on the clearance rack (as clearance as anything can get at a building salvage shop in the heart of the most desirable neighborhoods in Seattle). Since we all know the 2nd Anniversary is the Wood Door Anniversary we had take this door home with us.<br /><br />As a side note, when searching for a new door in a salvage yard, take careful measurements of both your existing door and its frame. Our new door only needs some slight shaving along the sides and a few inches trimmed from the bottom. Most doors made now are not solid wood and neither is our new door. Many are made with wood fiber center covered by a thin layer of wood ( a veneer) on the front and back sides. These doors are all made with a short section of solid wood at the bottom, top and along both sides for making adjustments. We need to take a mere 1/4 inch off the width and about 4 inches off the height. It will be tricky to do and our friend Brian has lent us his circular saw to get the job done right. That job will have to wait. Patricia and I, tired from the previous day's work and looking for some pampering on our special day retired the remainder of our afternoon and all of our evening to <a href="http://www.banya5.com/">Banya 5</a> for some earned hot and cold therapy.<br /><br />While we rest in the Eucalyptus Steam Room you can have a glimpse of what our house will look like with the new door installed....<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtmt9OPyemNPJFVqwVM9JOA_-jau08P7fRtwV4SZChhlTLeiGvHKqoxHY3Xlly7Fom4huxThg3ND2NPORwzmv9tTB-dxd6fWTztyS02wf-b-DrvS-lnfo1Irkx7nc5NF_AgfbwcwRtOc/s1600-h/Northwest+View01.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtmt9OPyemNPJFVqwVM9JOA_-jau08P7fRtwV4SZChhlTLeiGvHKqoxHY3Xlly7Fom4huxThg3ND2NPORwzmv9tTB-dxd6fWTztyS02wf-b-DrvS-lnfo1Irkx7nc5NF_AgfbwcwRtOc/s320/Northwest+View01.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391969957575339378" border="0" /></a>... at this late date (9/02/2009) we were still agonizing over the best colors.<br /><br />By now (10/13/2009) we've made up our mind, and the true colors our up on our house. For you locals, you'll have to do a drive-by to see for yourself. Don't be shy - tell us what you think in person :) For the rest of you, well, you'll just have to wait until we catch up on our blog writing. Trust us, you'll love it - at least from afar.<br />:) Patty-homemaker & Color Master Spencepattyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03501727543005028850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187081474013415896.post-11620512609539485132009-10-12T22:31:00.000-07:002009-10-13T22:26:15.917-07:00The Rain Came But so Did the Blue Tarp<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dnYVR9rTWrAUPRwvz_LjuDI5Ld-MdR26J5_rqvboOG-I6Ee4QvNsZWJsMIMH-Ux9jOIMfghnNK4gW78YkhMnrb3oz-DjVE8REHHX365jFeWkiDt_m223B6PuWYj-OmQGjdUmBdglTeA/s1600-h/rainy+day.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-dnYVR9rTWrAUPRwvz_LjuDI5Ld-MdR26J5_rqvboOG-I6Ee4QvNsZWJsMIMH-Ux9jOIMfghnNK4gW78YkhMnrb3oz-DjVE8REHHX365jFeWkiDt_m223B6PuWYj-OmQGjdUmBdglTeA/s320/rainy+day.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391954899740152754" border="0" /></a><br />Like many Seattle days we were visited by several days of rain. While our grass enjoyed the much needed drink of cool moisture bound in from the Pacific Ocean, Patricia and I pondered how to keep the progress going. Team work brought the best solution. While I knew we could work and stay dry under our two-feet-deep-eaves I hadn't many ideas about how to stay dry while cutting materials. Patricia then pepped up with, "let's use this blue tarp," which was large enough for one of us to run the saws under while the other worked under the eaves.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kz4uDqimhSyI59gp6FBhcX123b1KgwJDTYHG9Q40RDlshwUQhv-tTaVDDeAcU8b52qYpjIxW797hKR2QKy5GSNR_ncRFg6RqGaLsdeyXw2e4stKwKqG4K5xSDIEpZepNYpO0nrO-eFs/s1600-h/pgray.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-kz4uDqimhSyI59gp6FBhcX123b1KgwJDTYHG9Q40RDlshwUQhv-tTaVDDeAcU8b52qYpjIxW797hKR2QKy5GSNR_ncRFg6RqGaLsdeyXw2e4stKwKqG4K5xSDIEpZepNYpO0nrO-eFs/s320/pgray.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391957181996790258" border="0" /></a>With our problem solved we were able to return to our best working relationship. With Patricia measuring and cutting and I nailing we both quickly finished the next stage of installing the firing strips needed to hold the siding slightly away from the house...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIJaFWCfsdt_4aibS8QNW9q2YX6d2YBewV8fVmKQo0dYSewBGXONZhsVb96vxMHnCPI8JQEW07QKZeDOBKvk0Hlc3Zi2A7OjfYp-GgNYVl9XU1SbUxpmBJi4YSD83KfUS-wn_s81-ZqA/s1600-h/Spencer.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIJaFWCfsdt_4aibS8QNW9q2YX6d2YBewV8fVmKQo0dYSewBGXONZhsVb96vxMHnCPI8JQEW07QKZeDOBKvk0Hlc3Zi2A7OjfYp-GgNYVl9XU1SbUxpmBJi4YSD83KfUS-wn_s81-ZqA/s320/Spencer.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391958433555522594" border="0" /></a>...This is not the traditional way houses are built but for our wet climate in Seattle this method is better for reducing the chance of our house "catching" The Mold. Later, I will explain with diagrams and pictures how this system, called a 'Rain Screen', works.<br /><br />'til then my friends, I'm signing off. It's been another hard day of labor in the rain, while Patricia's back at work, cozy in her new office digs.<br /><br />Spencerpattyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03501727543005028850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187081474013415896.post-62521651841098894862009-09-20T10:09:00.000-07:002009-09-20T19:31:16.061-07:00Windows and people we adoreDear Followers,<br /> Our apologies for the 2 week delay in posting an update on our GrayNol home project. I know we've left many of you holding your breath wondering what happened after we cut all of those gaping holes into our new home?! Believe me, I've been holding my breath right along side you. Now I'm breathing again ... here's the story:<br /><br /> By the time we managed to successfully rip the 12th window out our house - we had boards over our windows at night, heaps of building debris all over the yard, plaster in our bed and on our pillows, and a skittish kitty who learned to cuddle-up and sleep all day next to the shock waves of the nail gun compressor.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAS0oy-zD-mnRJgUdu6HZDBJxHLg6h3lJ2hq28fxPZxd8aGzU_TUwVcoJom1-Wk7Yrb6zGT1lA5Ld_AtzcKYvwED2_nQrP4CR_CrQmGEYsEnnRHqlCSaj-gKbGz3VaKy3ynXyvXzZpY8/s1600-h/cutting+bigger+bay+window.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAS0oy-zD-mnRJgUdu6HZDBJxHLg6h3lJ2hq28fxPZxd8aGzU_TUwVcoJom1-Wk7Yrb6zGT1lA5Ld_AtzcKYvwED2_nQrP4CR_CrQmGEYsEnnRHqlCSaj-gKbGz3VaKy3ynXyvXzZpY8/s320/cutting+bigger+bay+window.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383599019542194210" border="0" /></a><br />Pat Noland's back in action! - thanks Pat.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHGVJXBYXG8q617LWBzKO9G0Duf23dTNK6_KJwTCCPCVxZvuOWpnqp8ienIXuV2I0hrvJq62yTEXG09eWHInKLTL-MT7Xk-3zjlo2L5CSb8owXf8l5Ut8K8AZT7u2QVC2vYB-BUHjQng/s1600-h/no+windows.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVHGVJXBYXG8q617LWBzKO9G0Duf23dTNK6_KJwTCCPCVxZvuOWpnqp8ienIXuV2I0hrvJq62yTEXG09eWHInKLTL-MT7Xk-3zjlo2L5CSb8owXf8l5Ut8K8AZT7u2QVC2vYB-BUHjQng/s320/no+windows.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383599037773212114" border="0" /></a><br />Life without windows - it gave our home a cabana-like feeling by day (like Jamaica!) ... um, not so cozy by night with boards blocking out any light and wondering if we might encounter a squatter inside our house the next morning!<br /><br />We were up to our neck in construction, and there was no turning back. After ripping out all of the windows, we furred out the house by creating another wall surrounding the existing frame of the house. This allowed us to build the exterior walls of our home out, flush with the edge of the foundation (it looks like the foundation was built for brick, but it had no brick!). That also allowed us to keep the existing insulation and house wrap and add a second layer of both insulation and house wrap. So, we easily doubled the efficiency of our home, while adding more water protection and a frame to attach the new siding to.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPk14WLl45oorvjGrIHUiWPGSnDngNlXdM0JCu8Lcv4d8k8fCmJcylUCF4H3WcyXABFWT_g6uFsdtjjHOTz13PtVbO2WIPVOimJoIWuhpEZ9_MaIOjGf2lN-RFb7gzLya4H0V0qM0CNA/s1600-h/building+bay+window.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPk14WLl45oorvjGrIHUiWPGSnDngNlXdM0JCu8Lcv4d8k8fCmJcylUCF4H3WcyXABFWT_g6uFsdtjjHOTz13PtVbO2WIPVOimJoIWuhpEZ9_MaIOjGf2lN-RFb7gzLya4H0V0qM0CNA/s320/building+bay+window.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383599020818057186" border="0" /></a><br />Notice on this corner of the house, we are building a bay window :)<br /><br /> Yet, we couldn't install one new window until we finished framing the house and called for an inspection. Luckily, bureaucracy was on our side. The same day we called the City of Seattle Department of Planning and Development for an inspection - they arrived and we passed inspection! After getting some great tips (adding smoke alarms and proper house ventilation) from a friendly building official, finally, we could start putting our house back together.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKV57GKRJ8SYhIP3ibcAcgzIdM5ik2vYUUlMsKpKFQJ2mmwjx9is5ALqDXqjsffVE2ChhScjNsHMp2U0NJBIOjSzAqV29DxbblorMQqSVoyC2kJtbyjlsRLGTxESSwfVaYDlobtjZoH8/s1600-h/Ready+for+windows.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLKV57GKRJ8SYhIP3ibcAcgzIdM5ik2vYUUlMsKpKFQJ2mmwjx9is5ALqDXqjsffVE2ChhScjNsHMp2U0NJBIOjSzAqV29DxbblorMQqSVoyC2kJtbyjlsRLGTxESSwfVaYDlobtjZoH8/s320/Ready+for+windows.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383599044437170018" border="0" /></a><br />Ready for inspection.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmNMBe86VDhhyvTS0PSOeqOPfQeyZN6xt_NevJ7xJ2DajwgrE-CF-NWojniZ_Ak6JWsHcOtdwR0BTabGXz_wVWFhha2Va8hsdDPG49gVdL_Mg8CwPuepZzKoo8a26SFnRZeqAUIufmmw/s1600-h/Jtsen+on+Miter+saw.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVmNMBe86VDhhyvTS0PSOeqOPfQeyZN6xt_NevJ7xJ2DajwgrE-CF-NWojniZ_Ak6JWsHcOtdwR0BTabGXz_wVWFhha2Va8hsdDPG49gVdL_Mg8CwPuepZzKoo8a26SFnRZeqAUIufmmw/s320/Jtsen+on+Miter+saw.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383599031962216226" border="0" /></a><br />Jimmy Tsen came back to help frame! Thanks, Jim!<br /><br /><br />A few days prior, the big yellow truck arrived with our new windows! Two friendly guys from Pella Windows unloaded our latest investment - 14 new <a href="http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=windows_doors.pr_windows">Energy Star</a> qualified, <a href="http://web.pella.com/products/productlines/proline/Pages/proline.aspx">Pella - Proline Windows</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wz_Va36E0uRyZIpcUhXohccJP6FjdP1VZ1iB-eoKEiyde4h1wvk8DmmjuX0X_AaNWKu05lj8jY5cnmsQbCARBBpdOb4hZJMfqnFh-2KN2ly59w4Ho0jgBfzhERBMZ06MjaaANdLJrw8/s1600-h/windows+arrive.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9wz_Va36E0uRyZIpcUhXohccJP6FjdP1VZ1iB-eoKEiyde4h1wvk8DmmjuX0X_AaNWKu05lj8jY5cnmsQbCARBBpdOb4hZJMfqnFh-2KN2ly59w4Ho0jgBfzhERBMZ06MjaaANdLJrw8/s320/windows+arrive.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383601972313637698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Then the crew was ready to help - Christian, Fred and Fred joined in for the fun of window installation. These guys managed to install 9 windows in one day!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkF4_yd_gcrmRKYZZEhtrT-eXVX8VKT8c0KayoNdJiDRKR8oj-_2G3EVUFrv0zxO-EFp0gyir2KyvYuoP3I2oHgrJeaFNQj3TmD8nyl4g-l5zy3aUwuKeqeN17KQOyCN7BoSsDPFjg69o/s1600-h/First+new+window.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkF4_yd_gcrmRKYZZEhtrT-eXVX8VKT8c0KayoNdJiDRKR8oj-_2G3EVUFrv0zxO-EFp0gyir2KyvYuoP3I2oHgrJeaFNQj3TmD8nyl4g-l5zy3aUwuKeqeN17KQOyCN7BoSsDPFjg69o/s320/First+new+window.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383599852450573058" border="0" /></a><br />First new window!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGoImWKgWycSv64E7PY-F6obAnvXia07BDniotLXmLOxHK0knTt3cWC3bh6tHToRIlmaD_hZKOVWc3ED34u89Ny4fClAJJTP-2Da8rykd9aJ3XD8AA9OtK8OTiBhIugMSo9Uk29zR2ic/s1600-h/christian+getting+it+set.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGoImWKgWycSv64E7PY-F6obAnvXia07BDniotLXmLOxHK0knTt3cWC3bh6tHToRIlmaD_hZKOVWc3ED34u89Ny4fClAJJTP-2Da8rykd9aJ3XD8AA9OtK8OTiBhIugMSo9Uk29zR2ic/s320/christian+getting+it+set.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383599833024462706" border="0" /></a><br />Christian prepping for the next window install<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihspVuocfO9r9HMahkgs0Rre2pxWHUvuBNUvGdyD5IjK6tBADMIcxDYRoF-9qt9DB7DIOmLwGI7NJuiKKoPKYEC0QjyygflSPfontZ9q9vlY-J34wu-J-pMJG01U4Gzq4Qcbix0iYvWHo/s1600-h/FredP.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihspVuocfO9r9HMahkgs0Rre2pxWHUvuBNUvGdyD5IjK6tBADMIcxDYRoF-9qt9DB7DIOmLwGI7NJuiKKoPKYEC0QjyygflSPfontZ9q9vlY-J34wu-J-pMJG01U4Gzq4Qcbix0iYvWHo/s320/FredP.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383599830667983826" border="0" /></a><br />Fred Perry installing house wrap<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0v-ky0Kw3clU0ke_mqWHfTs_sHIJvdtZN1yHHmr0u6MyxItuHGXviO1JjR3L4VIwQPHTr0FwqlWTKDMVxYu43d6lndnD30Qn-AT549xSt7HYR0A8sn3TL7uTN3ZfWbnoVe3JA3PzGxsE/s1600-h/FredJ.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0v-ky0Kw3clU0ke_mqWHfTs_sHIJvdtZN1yHHmr0u6MyxItuHGXviO1JjR3L4VIwQPHTr0FwqlWTKDMVxYu43d6lndnD30Qn-AT549xSt7HYR0A8sn3TL7uTN3ZfWbnoVe3JA3PzGxsE/s320/FredJ.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383599818215265874" border="0" /></a><br />Fred Johnson spraying foam insulation - just after this photo was taken he caught an important mistake. This spray foam was not the kind with minimal expansion, designed for windows and doors, and if left to dry could have bowed our windows to the point of making them unable to open or operate. Good catch, Fred!<br /><br />Now we're sitting prettier with new windows, insulation, and lots of light pouring into our house. We still have lots to finish: siding, paint, staining, and cleaning up and finishing all of the windows from the inside.<br /><br />More to come.<br />Stay tuned,<br />patty homemakerpattyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03501727543005028850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187081474013415896.post-68607986463652897272009-08-31T17:51:00.001-07:002009-08-31T19:03:37.146-07:00The talent behind Carter OosterhouseAfter 2 days of hard labor, well, not so hard, we nearly surrounded our house with new wall framing. My dad, Pat, kept us moving at a good pace while making us laugh with tales of his early days of construction as side-kick to his mentor Bob Ranski. Pat had anecdotes for every tough moment in our two days with him. He explained the practical points of proper positioning to Patricia and I all while executing exacting cuts with the circular saw from over his head and chewing gum. I now understand that it is my dad's knowledge he passed on to Carter Oosterhouse that made Carter both into a famous host of several HGTV home <a href="http://www.hgtv.com/carter-oosterhouse/bio/index.html">improvement shows</a> but also a <a href="http://electric949.com/blogs/media/blogs/jingerizzy//carter_oosterhouse.jpg">handsome male model</a>. I am feeling prettier today and Patricia now cuts 2x4s with ease on her Chop Saw.<br /><br />Windows and a large order of building materials arrive in our front yard this morning. Two very chatty, jolly men unloaded our future windows to our storage shed. They were looking forward to their long trip to the cooler shores at Ocean Beaches to drop off their other order today and maybe an ice cream. And they were right. By mid afternoon the sun crested our cedar trees and added to the dark tan on the back of my neck.<br /><br />Patricia worked the saw with skill, cutting lumber for me to nail up to the house. Only a few feet of the south side of the house and the whole west side is left to frame. We hope to complete the remaining framing tomorrow, get our inspection and begin with the insulation and vapor barrier installation on Wednesday. This all means our windows and siding will go in later this week!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GPhd9QZ_85zPcfssJzXVovUuB0lXn0K0aWRL-sVHYyqBiTfqBVVOOscQC3ddOu8K9KYSBC92nlQLvJzo7YklfxRzwhvzL_ODjS6ysIZABcbETlKAQG1PqKeDoKZYOa0UycCH7Lfw5go/s1600-h/Pat+cut+the+house+open.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GPhd9QZ_85zPcfssJzXVovUuB0lXn0K0aWRL-sVHYyqBiTfqBVVOOscQC3ddOu8K9KYSBC92nlQLvJzo7YklfxRzwhvzL_ODjS6ysIZABcbETlKAQG1PqKeDoKZYOa0UycCH7Lfw5go/s320/Pat+cut+the+house+open.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376297926010996914" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Pat executing Bab Ranski's favorite vertical cutting with the circular saw.<br />patty says: I'm glad Pat was here to give us a confident nod that cutting a hole through your house is okay. So far, so good! I told Joanna we live in a Jamaican house now - no windows and boards up in the evening.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPBHLznb3rXyCvTxdIguh08CJvSTfPwvzGs8eKTfuFMzHVZux7wQ4gMQ9ceLWbdkCI3o-nhXtsjJZUTHbEzvkhnhXXQ-1X9gNE8_0yXuOhqiPZZgfVInqWCzwC6skMH7FbULDKftWMn8/s1600-h/pat+through+the+hole.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrPBHLznb3rXyCvTxdIguh08CJvSTfPwvzGs8eKTfuFMzHVZux7wQ4gMQ9ceLWbdkCI3o-nhXtsjJZUTHbEzvkhnhXXQ-1X9gNE8_0yXuOhqiPZZgfVInqWCzwC6skMH7FbULDKftWMn8/s320/pat+through+the+hole.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376297793211375890" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Pat peeking through the hole in the guest room. It's drafty now! Anyone up for a tropical breeze at our place?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRXtm0cRKehVZT-F26YaUpft6VlZoZ8GrF4w077maYNdZF7WLDYdWnPivqiXvBUXQIKiL1g4CwTP4J_voYP5My3vstv-hdxAP7w5ewXydmNHLr9AFGocieoitNol4Fh3kTGJESf_iDcw/s1600-h/pat+did+it.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisRXtm0cRKehVZT-F26YaUpft6VlZoZ8GrF4w077maYNdZF7WLDYdWnPivqiXvBUXQIKiL1g4CwTP4J_voYP5My3vstv-hdxAP7w5ewXydmNHLr9AFGocieoitNol4Fh3kTGJESf_iDcw/s320/pat+did+it.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376297646384445106" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Three seconds after this photo Pat leaped from this window doing a reverse back flip to remove a nail above his head.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8bpwnTV0DhzeRuQwupFp8z_UepKeumEr6SzQHN0UbtEhyphenhyphen0po5FTjigq_MMS9X5FrRYFgMRRimUaYqFYp3r8RUgW8S1N0U8L3mt6ckI10P8P_ccKk3h79oJ0842UUumwqi8uLyM-LQ28/s1600-h/bedroom+window.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-8bpwnTV0DhzeRuQwupFp8z_UepKeumEr6SzQHN0UbtEhyphenhyphen0po5FTjigq_MMS9X5FrRYFgMRRimUaYqFYp3r8RUgW8S1N0U8L3mt6ckI10P8P_ccKk3h79oJ0842UUumwqi8uLyM-LQ28/s320/bedroom+window.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376297449179701426" border="0" /></a><br /><br />That's how big the window's in our bedroom will be! - 4'11"<br />Patty says: I can't wait to sneak out my bedroom window!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuCx6JgtY-V1N-RCdDuggk3FEofQY57kwvkNfIwN0Cymy8oqpcNcPz2trpwbKl7LyFrdFmjjo-siFX0D6MlUPKDjXf8hum5pWelD2Mpqyt90LlGdowO0MXb1Vj1mO08c5FE5RUEzLLkM/s1600-h/patty+saw.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpuCx6JgtY-V1N-RCdDuggk3FEofQY57kwvkNfIwN0Cymy8oqpcNcPz2trpwbKl7LyFrdFmjjo-siFX0D6MlUPKDjXf8hum5pWelD2Mpqyt90LlGdowO0MXb1Vj1mO08c5FE5RUEzLLkM/s320/patty+saw.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376297280231121362" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Keeping up with Patricia is not as easy as dancing tango at our wedding.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynAPsoYX5Q6CRyYJzE2mEwipXOd_ZCh4-CW7ecuI0761QVyIw1yxL-p6tXXNr4KTAAwKkJGhQzWjLP8OWUmkQiroEN5q6J-ZrPkjVt_O0l87VX2hn9E9_tpWWwhmvdpNBQF0BcH2u-Xw/s1600-h/nice+cut+patty.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjynAPsoYX5Q6CRyYJzE2mEwipXOd_ZCh4-CW7ecuI0761QVyIw1yxL-p6tXXNr4KTAAwKkJGhQzWjLP8OWUmkQiroEN5q6J-ZrPkjVt_O0l87VX2hn9E9_tpWWwhmvdpNBQF0BcH2u-Xw/s320/nice+cut+patty.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376297095416460450" border="0" /></a><br /><br />She just told me to, "get back to work, chump."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJA2NXg4s3BRslutPKkmZNAudrvwG33F1A1PPB4Ls8boP_6rZAPD1s9NBADznTmEoLG9qKhn5ejpPWCbB_mXrm9eGIEpuB5kEO-qheY2P9iNWW4e871AT1tnzUmr2VDrUOs5_nMWL4oE/s1600-h/back+early+frame.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFJA2NXg4s3BRslutPKkmZNAudrvwG33F1A1PPB4Ls8boP_6rZAPD1s9NBADznTmEoLG9qKhn5ejpPWCbB_mXrm9eGIEpuB5kEO-qheY2P9iNWW4e871AT1tnzUmr2VDrUOs5_nMWL4oE/s320/back+early+frame.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376296122467078338" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The cut that made Carter famous.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNtvYMTru8W9RfjhHrjO4606hKn8t9AxyyuwYxyLtAShb0djiVFoMM7zhgF6HCiR69tqQ7mRx_G3vX_6YqTDAXWstinsb7pr9bDlwXLbj6E48bB1-_rA7a2v0O2muPaumoPSwjcqYeb4/s1600-h/back+frame+progress.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYNtvYMTru8W9RfjhHrjO4606hKn8t9AxyyuwYxyLtAShb0djiVFoMM7zhgF6HCiR69tqQ7mRx_G3vX_6YqTDAXWstinsb7pr9bDlwXLbj6E48bB1-_rA7a2v0O2muPaumoPSwjcqYeb4/s320/back+frame+progress.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376296490805724450" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My cut was no where near as successful. Note the final location of the saw at my feet.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6W08Igkl1j-r0CYJUbKm90s5fOmNPdoyRjHKigYrX9LHO3hUUJwQq_EloVSymn6MmSkDs57ihMTvuXtFnav_5-oxGw4UIg6azzeEH9IieRjQmMvKtm3OOLLxnev7EpjniduXNquHZgI/s1600-h/spencer+yawns.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb6W08Igkl1j-r0CYJUbKm90s5fOmNPdoyRjHKigYrX9LHO3hUUJwQq_EloVSymn6MmSkDs57ihMTvuXtFnav_5-oxGw4UIg6azzeEH9IieRjQmMvKtm3OOLLxnev7EpjniduXNquHZgI/s320/spencer+yawns.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376296906984612578" border="0" /></a><br /><br />See, Patricia works hard! It's only 4:59 pm and I'm falling into REM sleep.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxi6nydjxpsjIRhbcTgu4vbVgvwyezIZx3c2OPT4j1uQdIHmvDPgeDHttP_eMvzrWMz0SbZQ3KCgXiOA3IRqE47T8hqqw7sEFGMM-rYRs2cR8AGNYI7nH6V0oSzP7eWytLAQcUj9ySf8/s1600-h/break+time.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmxi6nydjxpsjIRhbcTgu4vbVgvwyezIZx3c2OPT4j1uQdIHmvDPgeDHttP_eMvzrWMz0SbZQ3KCgXiOA3IRqE47T8hqqw7sEFGMM-rYRs2cR8AGNYI7nH6V0oSzP7eWytLAQcUj9ySf8/s320/break+time.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376296798268729538" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And out cold by 5:01.......<br /><br />patty says: it's beer-thirty!<br /><br />Good night all,<br />s & ppattyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03501727543005028850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187081474013415896.post-56448225399261599272009-08-30T07:53:00.000-07:002009-08-30T11:00:40.520-07:00We tore apart the house yesterday - literallyBefore we get into the full demolition story of Saturday, we want to thank everyone for all of the advice on color choices. Brent V by far pulled off a brilliantly executed coup to persuade us to make different color choices - he colored 20 different images of our model with alternate choices. Thank you, Brent!<br /><br />All of this feedback has left us thinking - actually, agonizing - even more over this choice. I guess, you get what you ask for! - and thankfully we do have a group of people out there willing to be thoroughly honest. We thank you for that. Despite popular opinion, we proceeded to by small quarts of yellow and green paint to test on the house. We even demoed the look of the hardwood by nailing them up on the house. This is what it looked like:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7QzNMh0upgqn8D4dVR7nLPfZnL7wNzN1VufAsona_VAxkcg__MldsjN8vjPsVuTZcArVGx-Ed1oQEU1Q9F_JJz_0dvhVGrNoDbpDAWH6IvUK-cCQm-JHi994q8zHO1lEa3szCHJcrcQ/s1600-h/colortesting.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu7QzNMh0upgqn8D4dVR7nLPfZnL7wNzN1VufAsona_VAxkcg__MldsjN8vjPsVuTZcArVGx-Ed1oQEU1Q9F_JJz_0dvhVGrNoDbpDAWH6IvUK-cCQm-JHi994q8zHO1lEa3szCHJcrcQ/s320/colortesting.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375774597909915410" border="0" /></a> We decided against the pastel-looking yellow and green on the left of and below the wood slats. We do still like the goblin-green color on the right. And after much thought we are now leaning toward a slightly more conservative combination. Goblin-green, natural fir wood, and a dark chocolate brown. We're still playing with the color of the door, but for now we'll make it sunshine yellow. Check it out:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23K3RWRdggZolHagSN12LhBz4hq9ivSW7ntb6szmTvjhBBeHYyB06h7YmmfV-C0S_jczx-V-ioxDB_b0rpLTm5a7YJboenRNxzyWPj8B03JkFZmbrXRhXOhzDaZhF1sUB-TQExOoSrIU/s1600-h/mOdeL09-3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh23K3RWRdggZolHagSN12LhBz4hq9ivSW7ntb6szmTvjhBBeHYyB06h7YmmfV-C0S_jczx-V-ioxDB_b0rpLTm5a7YJboenRNxzyWPj8B03JkFZmbrXRhXOhzDaZhF1sUB-TQExOoSrIU/s320/mOdeL09-3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375798392893878578" border="0" /></a><br /><br />While these colors are still hopeful dreams in our mind - we know there's a lot more work to be done before we arrive at the fun of adding the final color touches to our labor of love. In the meantime, we're moving forward with demolition and reconstruction of the exterior of the house, including all new windows on the first floor.<br /><br />Siding and windows arrive Monday! - I have the week off of work to sweat, labor, and learn alongside Spencer. Yesterday we tore all of the old siding off of our house. Apparently, our siding is a<a href="http://www.weyerhaeuser.com/"></a> particleboard-style product that was recalled 20+ years ago. Luckily, our house did not sustain any water damage with this defective product fronting some kind of protection. I think our deep <a href="http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/article.asp?article_id=60487">soffits</a> and low-lying home contributed keeping our exterior in good shape.<br /><br />Pat Noland (Spencer's Dad - and master builder) is in town and we have the good fortune of his help this weekend. Jim Tsen showed up in the final hour to help us pluck off some of the soffit boards, and he stayed to make us a fabulous dinner of salmon, new potatoes, and green beans - thanks, Jim!<br /><br />Tools: shovel (pat's favorite trick), crowbar, <a href="http://www.mikestools.com/Cats-Paws_1019.aspx">cat's paw</a> (my new favorite term - <a href="http://wordsmith.org/words/cats_paw.html">the origin of the name</a> is ever better), hammer, ladder and staple gun.<br /><br />Here's the destruction we accomplished Satruday:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwaUME3H8xwdZ5J07N7b6CH0VAeSoh3S-hIdpBAaNsb9d5UZRiW2ZxOpy5vs8Zb6x8zBNIvrqwoHnDMo0jZV2BKrwVqFqyOa5Q8HoGwDkgE3NrtVlweQhkc3aWlEnE6CwuIFkgEb9UIA/s1600-h/Pat.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwaUME3H8xwdZ5J07N7b6CH0VAeSoh3S-hIdpBAaNsb9d5UZRiW2ZxOpy5vs8Zb6x8zBNIvrqwoHnDMo0jZV2BKrwVqFqyOa5Q8HoGwDkgE3NrtVlweQhkc3aWlEnE6CwuIFkgEb9UIA/s320/Pat.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375804241667103026" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OozY40QB2m0t0vYN3jzS-sH6cTy5WJ6c2eaGsT9ZeuCvO5OgHt1Y7Qy3Mckadu3aqE0_1QvjOiqXlGCPSqFxRYMyP9FJt4QDZB2_yVJ-qT7Uhyphenhyphenr7fLnP4ZC6Fc-V7tde8xNUQUGWVo0/s1600-h/Spence.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-OozY40QB2m0t0vYN3jzS-sH6cTy5WJ6c2eaGsT9ZeuCvO5OgHt1Y7Qy3Mckadu3aqE0_1QvjOiqXlGCPSqFxRYMyP9FJt4QDZB2_yVJ-qT7Uhyphenhyphenr7fLnP4ZC6Fc-V7tde8xNUQUGWVo0/s320/Spence.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375804834883967746" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LR23k393p0LLDI6taRLAvGFnw4rSb7QWpB2qpbdXiVZsobCUBegmYdNnp11SFMzt8IB4iQJX1oiDMTEGbSoiaMPNyAdbwdmxI4r6uqUYCMAhVpWYP-c5pRAw60HAtUJ2paXLNmMBHAs/s1600-h/pattyg.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_LR23k393p0LLDI6taRLAvGFnw4rSb7QWpB2qpbdXiVZsobCUBegmYdNnp11SFMzt8IB4iQJX1oiDMTEGbSoiaMPNyAdbwdmxI4r6uqUYCMAhVpWYP-c5pRAw60HAtUJ2paXLNmMBHAs/s320/pattyg.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375805042786582498" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8C6COGDhOBX8vm6BBbW37O-Ws8FHj-DYyv8sAbDBIrQhDriacK_MZzzoDVYT2wlxVuIJ7rIjTYlZlZSVtqRsMZmhqxlDIxPJbPenEaHo2aL9d9JoeRrQ4Xy3bObyCPC0uzlb8o73inzw/s1600-h/Pat2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8C6COGDhOBX8vm6BBbW37O-Ws8FHj-DYyv8sAbDBIrQhDriacK_MZzzoDVYT2wlxVuIJ7rIjTYlZlZSVtqRsMZmhqxlDIxPJbPenEaHo2aL9d9JoeRrQ4Xy3bObyCPC0uzlb8o73inzw/s320/Pat2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375805249487449394" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUs7kMUdoVX8am8NMczufj44gPAKO04A9zHBreuqygeqoUHK98luzUArS2TM_XrkZ-ke6n4CQdcpWeafU9PSZXjiVzg5lJHMMX47ZQMwFmtzZDqj2T3omgrnV00ZCAwY8rjHSi3gHaFhs/s1600-h/Jim+%26+Pat.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUs7kMUdoVX8am8NMczufj44gPAKO04A9zHBreuqygeqoUHK98luzUArS2TM_XrkZ-ke6n4CQdcpWeafU9PSZXjiVzg5lJHMMX47ZQMwFmtzZDqj2T3omgrnV00ZCAwY8rjHSi3gHaFhs/s320/Jim+%26+Pat.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375806453584223570" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7iXfNkBEyHAlXk-DSvqWKjV3P4vu6dDnJdFuMhNRBwuZTCSTbKioGJb2609Ic6eqaTTUNm3aZ3S3r2H7ufNHUdlJLhvXy63Rmnb4FO9btmHKmhyYeVZ03X_8wqlG9glGFr1vii4DIhg/s1600-h/pat's+reflection.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7iXfNkBEyHAlXk-DSvqWKjV3P4vu6dDnJdFuMhNRBwuZTCSTbKioGJb2609Ic6eqaTTUNm3aZ3S3r2H7ufNHUdlJLhvXy63Rmnb4FO9btmHKmhyYeVZ03X_8wqlG9glGFr1vii4DIhg/s320/pat's+reflection.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375806697560503154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBXVBYHszA5qaDuizxSZGGvVmc1PS4tzI-54x1cQe83PfgCkTz-_p59Rd5AulvArE3Y-8tS7SlPp1O0imCc9H5aL30Dco5PgHtFrqka82fw64G7AVXP7KdFzH1nVsqWDGdVUFilXP24M/s1600-h/backyard+heap.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFBXVBYHszA5qaDuizxSZGGvVmc1PS4tzI-54x1cQe83PfgCkTz-_p59Rd5AulvArE3Y-8tS7SlPp1O0imCc9H5aL30Dco5PgHtFrqka82fw64G7AVXP7KdFzH1nVsqWDGdVUFilXP24M/s320/backyard+heap.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375806887505171522" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkafKHAWxR2Yla6tcg0bs-ErCcEOKcpGM0aVDnWZCATKHb2EoNNkXBANB3pEs8ObdzirIDUSLw4Fj1fkAhfOHg6nC0X6JgqagTG8yk1oF2xMuK_dhx7tVp4ZuM98uysYXdWFzxZ9n1H8/s1600-h/frontyard+heap+%26+house.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGkafKHAWxR2Yla6tcg0bs-ErCcEOKcpGM0aVDnWZCATKHb2EoNNkXBANB3pEs8ObdzirIDUSLw4Fj1fkAhfOHg6nC0X6JgqagTG8yk1oF2xMuK_dhx7tVp4ZuM98uysYXdWFzxZ9n1H8/s320/frontyard+heap+%26+house.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375807059763506402" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0buggvmGSzOH6G3c45GzL9FsAtsTljXDPAV-jmqvaLdPSv8cTec_KhyphenhyphenNpgHW_f58FMM1z_bUE4XOBrj_6ev3GuamhZKOFi5CY-ujif6p6i7CB9wFBJfmEY0eM-wJzJbNtD7LgJwWLY9U/s1600-h/porch+light.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0buggvmGSzOH6G3c45GzL9FsAtsTljXDPAV-jmqvaLdPSv8cTec_KhyphenhyphenNpgHW_f58FMM1z_bUE4XOBrj_6ev3GuamhZKOFi5CY-ujif6p6i7CB9wFBJfmEY0eM-wJzJbNtD7LgJwWLY9U/s320/porch+light.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375807372371415074" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZbHxVrYZB4Uk-1jwyal1WHgLwuk2jLCCOjb2vKR_5WsNqbEMkPQoReb_WzfHqUdcuPv8WIG6zqAqQRNwrHKLPVWypNgBnbhv3CooJOeLaL8VPBQo_gLJ8MvQfGPnnwySgaXUdeRTlsY/s1600-h/stairs+to+nowhere.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcZbHxVrYZB4Uk-1jwyal1WHgLwuk2jLCCOjb2vKR_5WsNqbEMkPQoReb_WzfHqUdcuPv8WIG6zqAqQRNwrHKLPVWypNgBnbhv3CooJOeLaL8VPBQo_gLJ8MvQfGPnnwySgaXUdeRTlsY/s320/stairs+to+nowhere.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5375807630565181266" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Spencer and Pat just returned with lumber and nails to start framing. We're building out the exterior of the house to match the foundation - it looks like the previous owners may have built the foundation with the intention of adding brick to the house someday.<br /><br />Today, the skilled labor and lessons begin. Wish us luck!<br /><br />:) patty homemakerpattyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03501727543005028850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187081474013415896.post-32477420854066387132009-08-09T18:08:00.000-07:002009-08-13T20:53:57.946-07:00Color TestOkay, we've been chewing over a tough home decision for the last month. Now, we're looking for your advice. How do you go about picking the exterior colors for your house??! I've read tips such as: coordinate, don't clash with the neighbors; choose historic colors to match the style of your home; don't go too bold or bright on a small house, but use bold accent colors; choose colors from inside of your home - what color combination are you drawn toward?<br /><br />We have a gray house to the south of us, an electric-blue house to the north of us, and a green house looming over from the hillside. We like bright, warm colors. We've walked the streets of our neighborhood looking for inspiring color combination - we've found a few. We definitely like a houses that use multiple colors in interesting ways.<br /><br />What we keep coming back to is the vibrantly colored houses we fell in love with on our travels - it seems loud colors exist close to the equator where the sun shines all the time. We would love it if the sun did shine every day in Seattle, but that's just not the case, even though Spencer says different. So, why, I wonder, do so many people have a muted colors on their homes, when the sky is of the same tinge?<br /><br />So, here's where we're at - Spencer being the brilliant architect he is, whipped up a 3D model of what our house <span style="font-style: italic;">could</span> look like. We haven't bought the paint yet, and we're honestly looking for input here. We've landed on a bright, golden-yellow, goblin green, and a natural wood accent - that's the orange-ish/brown in the rendering.<br /><br />Tell us what you think - honestly! Give us your suggestions, advice or your color-choice story.<br /><br />Happy Homemaking,<br />Pattyg<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin79zf6rxhYMiHKHsiro0Tehx6MFIhwHx-mSzKzGlzJHyMKstfX0lmWvFmK0fYn3tsoo_pcHxu65A-dSc6Bz5LnqXYRWXMw_g8pobdK7REAoWgPzDlFYf6dVi6kdQIVR3MBVMsokibzLE/s1600-h/Northwest+View.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin79zf6rxhYMiHKHsiro0Tehx6MFIhwHx-mSzKzGlzJHyMKstfX0lmWvFmK0fYn3tsoo_pcHxu65A-dSc6Bz5LnqXYRWXMw_g8pobdK7REAoWgPzDlFYf6dVi6kdQIVR3MBVMsokibzLE/s320/Northwest+View.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368136253628657442" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFGjii0oncQFxskpg5joODZT8Irmkscp4t2Qz4JGt53u4Ck3pjOIU9jyFOyGOA9_IfmXqturJmZs7YDWdfXI0b8OROuM_kKdQhSfK858qAl4-hS_XkpOghQec6a15R91ypi56ivRubWI/s1600-h/Southwest+View.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJFGjii0oncQFxskpg5joODZT8Irmkscp4t2Qz4JGt53u4Ck3pjOIU9jyFOyGOA9_IfmXqturJmZs7YDWdfXI0b8OROuM_kKdQhSfK858qAl4-hS_XkpOghQec6a15R91ypi56ivRubWI/s320/Southwest+View.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368136464189444306" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6Hp13Lu7XfVt_jYiqx1BCxU3mWyQ3-V0Z6ouOJacN9bFBZ68Ova6o4DvRn89r_ZUW30br0ASv0y6P3fHnxBO1RfUd1gBTSnoWsFrAljutDbIdmCOudNrHVcPhtl34FSiKp83i6rMmzU/s1600-h/Northeast+View.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6Hp13Lu7XfVt_jYiqx1BCxU3mWyQ3-V0Z6ouOJacN9bFBZ68Ova6o4DvRn89r_ZUW30br0ASv0y6P3fHnxBO1RfUd1gBTSnoWsFrAljutDbIdmCOudNrHVcPhtl34FSiKp83i6rMmzU/s320/Northeast+View.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368136796288414770" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgtvJPOh6UJ-bgGUrvIJEgVoOIedKndBEZvrPMXcj9qAdFCzJnZdbDfftaL8tqDcPjTK3i30UmKi4bDnem061BC8EMtPjKkPd_svn-o8LAGZiNxYWHsCSFdXCjVi63ghLoh_L_9NSXDc/s1600-h/Southeast+View.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHgtvJPOh6UJ-bgGUrvIJEgVoOIedKndBEZvrPMXcj9qAdFCzJnZdbDfftaL8tqDcPjTK3i30UmKi4bDnem061BC8EMtPjKkPd_svn-o8LAGZiNxYWHsCSFdXCjVi63ghLoh_L_9NSXDc/s320/Southeast+View.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369659353996098450" border="0" /></a>pattyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03501727543005028850noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187081474013415896.post-28180567803494395392009-08-02T22:06:00.000-07:002009-08-03T08:37:51.376-07:00Project I - Mom's RoomMay 16, 2009<br /><br />So, we actually started work on the house 2 months ago - these next couple of posts will be us catching up with what we've already finished. The project that quickly rose to the top of our list was to provide cozy accommodations for my mom who was arriving in late-June to help with my <a href="http://wellspringfs.org/make_a_difference/events.php?view=photos&eventID=18">Grand Opening events at work</a> - thanks, Mom! The least we could do was provide her with a nice, comfy room to call her own.<br /><br />However, after moving in to the house in late-April, we quickly noticed a musty smell radiating from the back bedroom. This was supposed to be our guest room! We kept the door shut and proceeded to move in and settle into our home around <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">that</span> room. Mold, and unhealthy air-quality was a real concern for me - I already had my summer allergies coming on and had heard unfortunate stories about <a href="http://www.toxic-black-mold-info.com/moldhealth.htm">what breathing mold can do to a person</a>. The last thing I wanted was our new home to cause harm to us or anyone else in our home.<br /><br />It was obvious that condensation was a problem around the windows - single-pane, original 1950s windows left black mildew stains all over the window sills. We tried wiping down the sills with a solution of warm water and bleach, but the musty smell still prevailed. Spencer carved small sections of wall board out to see what he could discover in the walls - nothing visible. I'm not sure what he was expecting to see - <a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images14.fotki.com/v224/photos/1/106083/2666299/mold03-vi.jpg&imgrefurl=http://operationeden.blogspot.com/2005/09/creeping-mold.html&usg=__OS8zYhwYkjQMRu081-U_uQr--sk=&h=346&w=500&sz=48&hl=en&start=13&um=1&tbnid=vMkkj5BuLM8l5M:&tbnh=90&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmold%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1">something </a><a href="http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://images14.fotki.com/v224/photos/1/106083/2666299/mold03-vi.jpg&imgrefurl=http://operationeden.blogspot.com/2005/09/creeping-mold.html&usg=__OS8zYhwYkjQMRu081-U_uQr--sk=&h=346&w=500&sz=48&hl=en&start=13&um=1&tbnid=vMkkj5BuLM8l5M:&tbnh=90&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dmold%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1">like this??! </a>- Luckily, that was not the case. Regardless, we needed to rid our house of the smell and whatever harm was lurking in the room, so we decided to demo the outside walls in this bedroom - removing the wall board and insulation.<br /><br />Spencer quickly saw a new talent of mine - efficient and effective destruction! We had fun :)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eituPRLRUgf-9RI4HN_gwDUVvSDPUOZEPrjPPE32QOwCsDzGuNxkJzeDCPEqXdnbNSjHsN9CoOCJGDTXNn0YK6Ud3QqBX25ktwlZxb6m8rfkORVKr7xic-OV4V2yX5Tg1A7kcxzUd24/s1600-h/SpareRoom+Demo.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365609369012070978" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1eituPRLRUgf-9RI4HN_gwDUVvSDPUOZEPrjPPE32QOwCsDzGuNxkJzeDCPEqXdnbNSjHsN9CoOCJGDTXNn0YK6Ud3QqBX25ktwlZxb6m8rfkORVKr7xic-OV4V2yX5Tg1A7kcxzUd24/s320/SpareRoom+Demo.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Ifrik3xyJ1Z93oLTYaAW0JKG72D5K_mGWPUe9HRCx29zmk3ppa5Bd1FNS8xaAn7cc_VNhEsoHbjMl-MxYhF2yR89GuY_GIInqOuuicfMPSuRY9mkLlhOfbnC8bq1o_GNP3x_9tQ06ek/s1600-h/SpareDemoSN.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365608960380700322" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Ifrik3xyJ1Z93oLTYaAW0JKG72D5K_mGWPUe9HRCx29zmk3ppa5Bd1FNS8xaAn7cc_VNhEsoHbjMl-MxYhF2yR89GuY_GIInqOuuicfMPSuRY9mkLlhOfbnC8bq1o_GNP3x_9tQ06ek/s320/SpareDemoSN.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Even after ripping the guts of the wall out, we still didn't find much of anything to find that real ah-ha moment. We proceeded to wipe down the inside of the walls with warm water and bleach and then we added another layer of <a href="http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100654369">Mold Control solution.</a><br /><br />During our demo and clean-up, it was incredible to find what lay behind the flat painted walls: 1 x 12 planks of knotty cedar. Sap lay behind these walls crystallized, revealing the purity of the product. A true testament that this is a tried-and-true Northwest home.<br /><br />We let the room sit for a few days and went back in to find only the fragrant smells of cedar radiating from the walls. No hint of must survived. Satisfied with our remediation, Spencer proved to me that he was better than <a href="http://images.fanpop.com/images/image_uploads/He-Man-Masters-of-the-Universe-he-man-604199_500_768.jpg">Heman</a> and <a href="http://www.spiderman-3-trailer.com/spiderman_6.jpg">Spider Man</a> combined - I got home from work to find that he had hung the room full of drywall and perfectly mudded every seam and crevice by himself.<br /><br />To add the final touches, we needed a fresh layer of paint and curtains to match. Spencer's technique of choosing paint colors scared me at first: he hits up the Oops! shelf of mis-matched paint and chooses the colors he likes. A gallon of <a href="http://www.environmentalhomecenter.com/shop.mv?CatCode=PRODUCT&ProdCode=YOLO">Yolo</a> paint (No VOC, GreenSeal Certified) at <a href="http://www.ecohaus.com/default.htm">Ecohaus</a> (Environmental Home Store) runs $40. On the Oops! shelf it's a mere $8. At first my reaction was - We are going to choose the colors of our house, based on other's mistakes?! - Now that I've faced the daunting color charts myself and see the fun that these Oops! colors have brought to our walls, I realize the uncanny luck of turning one person's mistake into our indomitable first choice. We choose cloud blue and light olive green. I, too, choose a fabric from the clearance rack at <a href="http://www.pacificfabrics.com/">Pacific Fabrics</a> for curtains - a funky African-print in greens, browns and blues would finish the room perfectly.<br /><br />Our spare room was ready for our first guest - Welcome Mama Gray!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18ovgL5DMAjo6biqAH9VyCW5Lj89IjrFyu6aeIoWt-KTKyBnZz7QU951XDqp03uOPbfVYXerK_L2qyCg0g0biK-uD1Gx83dv6m08MYhRc-DDAyHVEDnY5hrD0lwljDvV7LmXO07g95iE/s1600-h/GuestRm2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365745423030643346" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18ovgL5DMAjo6biqAH9VyCW5Lj89IjrFyu6aeIoWt-KTKyBnZz7QU951XDqp03uOPbfVYXerK_L2qyCg0g0biK-uD1Gx83dv6m08MYhRc-DDAyHVEDnY5hrD0lwljDvV7LmXO07g95iE/s320/GuestRm2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />For our friends and family who are out there reading - know that we invite you to come and stay and experience our cozy guest room too!<br /><br /><br /><br />:) patty homemaker<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3t9x2Jr2tqGm29SLAEog0mztNbAWt54IzH3lcYmmlk7yZQtniztAMTCigac7Yos5Wx43NF6WAFk7E07dQepa-YGjIy1AhNRqTPZauxrLr9v9HjRfNClsQTyKePmkz_UARhDU1D6BWow/s1600-h/GuestRm3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365745910179437490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3t9x2Jr2tqGm29SLAEog0mztNbAWt54IzH3lcYmmlk7yZQtniztAMTCigac7Yos5Wx43NF6WAFk7E07dQepa-YGjIy1AhNRqTPZauxrLr9v9HjRfNClsQTyKePmkz_UARhDU1D6BWow/s320/GuestRm3.JPG" border="0" /></a>pattyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03501727543005028850noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6187081474013415896.post-38105525111608581072009-07-19T20:04:00.000-07:002009-07-26T21:08:27.627-07:00HOME at last<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSPVDSBq6qBianVPIsPJBnDn90ILiXUX1Yii3SKJGSRA7O97xIFXcCEZ_bXapmImpbmBOGi82M3vYgXItInazVKYdL90FftjD7nPBxCFA371Eevk1pWRuz7FMX2jyiS8wDR529DjkNHA/s1600-h/Our+new+HOME.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSPVDSBq6qBianVPIsPJBnDn90ILiXUX1Yii3SKJGSRA7O97xIFXcCEZ_bXapmImpbmBOGi82M3vYgXItInazVKYdL90FftjD7nPBxCFA371Eevk1pWRuz7FMX2jyiS8wDR529DjkNHA/s320/Our+new+HOME.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360373379602260370" border="0" /></a><br />Spencer and I are on a new journey in our lives. We're settling into our first home and are eager to dig in and unleash the beauty that surrounds us. After 15 months of a full-on housing search, 3 failed attempts to buy, and a real estate market that crashed and burned, we found this little unnoticed gem tucked quietly behind Safeway in Mt Baker/ Columbia City neighborhood. It sat stagnant on the market for 9 months, the price was down considerably and we able to purchase this place under ideal terms: a mortgage based on one salary, 4.5% interest, <a href="http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=206293,00.html">$8K Home Owners Tax Credit </a>and a low-low price (for Seattle, that is!).<br /><br />We bought our house from four sisters who grew up in this small 750-square-foot home - along with a mother, father and brother - I can't imagine a family of 7 in this house! Their father built the house with his own hands in 1954 and the family owned it for 54 years. From what we've heard both parents passed away and the house sat empty for 5 years. The sisters would come and visit from out of town, care the lawn, not willing to part with their childhood home.<br /><br />The subtle 50s charm of the place is what caught our eye - a huge corner picture window in the living room, a low-pitched roof, simple wood trim, and clean lines throughout the house. Well-worn <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">treds</span> on the stairwell- Spencer says that's called "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabi-sabi"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">wabi</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">sabi</span></a>" in the wood - take you from the kitchen down to a concrete cellar. I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">immidiately</span> thought: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">rollar</span> rink! Spencer thought <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Speakeasy">Speakeasy</a> one night a week. Low-and-behold, as all of our friends warned, it's now full of our tools, toys and junk! However, this <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">unfinshed</span> basement contains luxuriously-high ceilings, windows, plumbing and heat - this is our best bet to expand the house and increase our livable space one day. <br /><br />No fancy modern embellishments made it on this 1954 house - no built-in wood cabinets, no brick fireplace, not even brick on the exterior, although it strangely looks like that was the intent. We fully intend to change this reality.<br /><br />Spencer and I are committed to making this home a charming mid-century modern home with the added personality all our own. Spencer's artistic mind is already running wild full of ideas - I've already told him multiple times "No, let's finish this project first, then start on the next". He has the creativity, talent, and knowledge of design and construction to allow us to take on our dreams into our own hands. Although I wasn't born with a hammer in my hand, like the Noland family - I am the lucky woman who gets to listen and learn in awe beside the youngest Noland. I've offered to do my part by documenting this process and sharing it with whomever will listen.<br /><br />This will be the "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">GrayNol</span>" - an active and honest place for us to tell the story of the making of our home. Will you join us??<br /><br />:) patty homemakerpattyghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03501727543005028850noreply@blogger.com7