I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...

It's Christmas time! I love this time of year!

I'm dreaming of decorating my new house... next year...

And of cooking Christmas goodies to share.. next year...

And... of Christmas dinner in the dining room... next year...

Maybe even a Christmas party... next year!

But until then, the work continues! Rich is out getting 2x4s to prepare the walls for wallboard in the kitchen.

The dining room is all sheetrocked. And the foyer has quite a bit done!

Today I've been taping wallboard joints... and dreaming... of Christmases yet to come!

OK.. .enough blogging... back to work!

Walls in the front entryway

Inside the house continues to take shape! More walls!

Over the long weekend Rich & Matthew put up wallboard in the front entryway.

I've escaped for a short break...

Wait... Do you hear that noise? NO?

It is the sound of progress!!!!

It's Richard, and our sons, Matt, & Aaron hanging sheetrock in the dining room! Yeeeehaa!

And me? I've covered in mud... Been slinging mud in the boys' bathroom!

Caution... Mud Artiste at Work!

Finish work begins in the Boys' Bathroom

The Boys' bathroom is being mudded... butt joints are disappearing, corners seamed, ceiling blended nicely... Caution... the Mud Artiste is at work!

Much work to still do...

I'd post a photo but my camera is being fixed!

Guest Bathroom Update

The Guest Bathroom now has a toilet paper holder... and a towel rack. The mirror has been installed and a 4-light light bar illuminates the bathroom nicely! This is the main bathroom right now... but it will be awesome when I finish the boys' bathroom... because even now... one bathroom is not enough!

Ah... running water in the Vanity Sink!

Rich has been working on some electrical work on the 1st floor porch. The outlets for the Christmas lights is now working!!!! Time to pick up some more LED Christmas lights!

Guest Bathroom Update

The vanity in the guest bathroom has just been sitting there for a couple weeks. Well today we picked up the couple parts that we needed to do the drain. So... as of tonight... we now have one sink with running water in the vanity.

I ordered a pretty shower curtain from Overstock.com. I chose the Morocco one, isn't it pretty?

We also installed the 4 globe light bar and went to install the bevelled edge mirror... but found that it had a chip in one of the corners... I'm so disappointed... BUT... being able to brush my teeth with running water in the vanity sink... puts a smile on my face!

I'll tell you, I've come to truly appreciate life's simple pleasures... like toilets... hot showers... and now... running water in the vanity sink! Wooohooo!!!

The Boys' Bathroom

Mudding... I got quite a bit done today!!! Tomorrow... more mud in corner joints & ceiling joints...

Wayne, if you're out there.... I'm dreaming of cabinets... installed before Christmas!!!

Guest bathroom almost complete... and my spotted self...

Today our bamboo stair treads were delivered... and late this afternoon the balusters arrived!

I'm taking a bit of a house building... I mean... finishing... break. After stressing out over the soapstone delivery... I broke out in a massive hive attach... so bad... that I looked like a monster with puffy eyes and mitts for hands. My mother made me promise that I would go to the doctor....

Pushing myself forward... like a spotted lizard with bulging eyes... swollen all over... but full of determination... I finished texturing and painting the guest bathroom!!!

Took my swollen, red-purple, spotted self to the doctor on Monday. The doctor said... whoa... you have hives! 3 medications and two days later... I'm finally looking somewhat normal... well... except for my spotted reddish hands.

Some of the young women from church came by to see me... they were doing a fundraiser... and exclaimed... as they backed away... WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU?

So as I wait for my skin to heal... I'm planning my next attack... the BOY'S bathroom!

Painting the Guest Bathroom!

Wow... does this Wagner Power Roller Max work slick! I had to put it on slow speed to keep up with it... no slacking... got to move fast!!!!
Got the painting started! Here's a little video to share with you!

It's time to finish! Bye for now!

Finished priming the walls in the Guest Bathroom

I'm slowly making progress in the Guest Bathroom!!!

I finished priming the walls/ceiling today... even put together my new texture gun and gave it a go!!!

It took a while to cover everything that I didn't want texturized... light switches... lights... outlets... heating vents... the tub/shower... then... I didn't have any light to work by!!!

Well, actually... I made due with one light...

First, I practiced on some odd pieces of sheetrock... then I started in on the toilet area.

Works great!!! Next... need LIGHTING... and finish the texturing of walls and ceiling!

The Soapstone Arrives!

Our soapstone is delivered... thanks to the careful forklift maneuvers and Larry the delivery guy running his lift gate!

Man did I stress out over this delivery!!! Why didn't I take this stuff? I really really really needed it!!!

Soapstone is being delivered... Thanks Nash!

Tomorrow our soapstone will be delivered!

A big thank you to Nash of High Plains Roofing for helping us get these heavy pieces off the truck!

Nash installed our gorgeous antique bronze metal roofing... and the beautiful country red siding! Ok... let's just say that he's awesome! We've so enjoyed working with him!

Got my texture gun yesterday!

I got a texture gun yesterday! I'm trying to decide if I should prime the walls first... or texture first... if you have any strong oppinions... please post a comment!

Well, I'll get it figured out!

Here's a photo of the house!

Soapstone is heavy...

Soapstone is heavy...

Our soapstone is waiting for delivery to the house. It's at the local trucking place.

They called to say that they have NO WAY to get it off the truck... and that we're responsible for that part... umm... OK... ya... right...

Dealing with this issue today!

10/7/09 UPDATE ON SOAPSTONE SHIPPING ISSUE:

Our soapstone folks, M. Teixeira Soapstone of Denver, have been awesome to work with! I didn't realize that I'd need to have a fork lift to get it off the truck because of the size of our slabs!

Texture Sprayer...

Tracked down a texture sprayer that has good reviews. It's available at Home Depot. Will be going to get it tomorrow.

Texturing walls in Guest Bathroom

I started to texture the walls in the guest bathroom using a roller... ummm... I think that I'm going to track down or buy a hopper gun... and spray it on... will be much easier!

Just posted a great video in the drywall reference section on how to use a hopper gun over there... on the right!

The work moves forward... but for now... bed!

Finishing walls...

Finishing walls... I mean the mudding & sanding... is an art form...

Anyone in this profession... deserves every penny... dollar... bucket of dollars that they earn!

I now dub myself... Mud Artist... there... I feel better now.

Update: Washing machine was just installed with brand new stainless steel lifetime warranty hoses. Yeah!!! Onto clothes washing!

Final mudding & sanding of the guest bathroom?

Well, I'm totally wiped from moving yesterday... and boxes are everywhere...

But, I am a woman... on a mission to finish the walls in the guest bathroom! So!

Back to work I go... a sanding... a mudding... and hopefully... a texturing! Whooohoo!

How to finish your drywall... step by step.

Reporting from the dust cloud within the guest bathroom...

The work continues on perfecting the walls in the guest bathroom.

This is my first time working with mud. I've found out the hard way that "less is more..."

I've decided to lightly texture the walls using a roller.

Back to my dust cloud for now.... soon... drywall primer...

Finishing walls in the guest bathroom... mud work part 1

Got the tiling job all done the other day... now I want to finish the walls!

I know... I know... I'm doing things a little backwards... but at least now... if we want... we CAN install the toilet!

I've picked a sage green paint... so better GET TO WORK!

Grout done in Guest Bathroom!

Just finished grouting the tile in the guest bathroom! Yeah!!! It took 3 buckets of Mapei OptiColor to do the whole bathroom.

I was a little scared to get going on the grouting... it was my first time. But honestly, grouting was the easiest part of the tile whole project!

It looks really nice!

Now... to finish the walls! I had to switch gears and get the tile done so that we could install a toilet.

Back to mudding...

Grout almost done in Guest bathroom!

Wow... I've been putting off doing the Epoxy Grout. OK... I was scared based on what I've read and what my Lowes sales people shared with me.

The most important thing when doing epoxy grout is to make sure that you get all the epoxy off the tiles.

I just applied 2 buckets of Mapei OptiColor epoxy grout. I think that hardest part is the clean up.

The great thing about epoxy grout is that it's waterproof... and the grout color stays.

If you're about to do Mapei OptiColor epoxy grout, you may find this Mapei video helpful... I did!

Saturday... 9/19/09

-Door installed to storage space under porch! Under porch storage

-Extra thinset cleared from between tiles in preparation for grouting.

-Some things moved to new house including 2 cabinets from kitchen.

-Basement organized so that we can move the rest of our things from the rental this week.

I had hoped to get to grouting today, but looks like that's on for Monday!