Sunday, April 09, 2006

Useful Weekend!

So Brother was late Saturday but that was no big deal. He showed up, we got things accomplished! We took out the 8 foot glass sliding patio door. I carried the heavy door on my back--Duckie would be proud! It took awhile to get the track and casing out especially on the north side because wallboard has been nailed through the casing. Father used huge 3 inch nails.

I took a bit of a break and Brother began filling in concrete where a gap existed between the house foundation and the sunroom add-on foundation. I filled concrete too; I like that. It's fun, like frosting a cake but with fewer calories! What next? We then decided to attack the "eye-sore" in the dining. It used to be a window to the back yard but the sun room blocked it. Father put up wallboard, "distressed mirror" and shelves. It had been a long time but it came apart much like I remember it going up: lots of brute force. There were a couple of points where it became too much or too dangerous (I would've broken a window swinging the hammer) so Brother decided it was a good idea to cut instead. I let him do that because he wanted to use the reciprocating saw which is not my favorite power tool. These are saws they use to cut roofs off of cars. Anyway, it did the job and were got the shelves out. Next Brother wondered if we should be brave and take down paneling. Now you have to know that in America, in the 1970's, paneling on your walls was a big fad. Father used lots in the public areas of the house. But we'd been lead to believe that he used glue and nails meaning we would have nothing left but the "bones" of the wall, the studs and joists and have to put up new sheet rock / wallboard. And, of course, we'd have a mess in doing demolition. Father thought he used glue everywhere and so did Mother.

Guess what!? That wall did not have glue! Only nails! I was rolling with glee. Money and torment saved! The original walls are in pretty good shape considering they've not seen any light for 30 years. I have the nail holes to patch and of course they'll need painting but that's in pretty good shape. Do need wallboard to fill in the old window area so it matches the wall, though. That is project for another day, a day when I have ability to transport the sheets to the house! I could beg neighbor for truck or wait for brother to bring van since Mother's truck is still not fixed. I slept pretty well considering. I did stay up too late but that meant I could finally chat with Duckie. He hides offline too much! I suspect I'm on block but he won't admit! (kidding)

Got up at an OK time, before 9:30am. Cut down old paneling for trash bin. Still have to cut the aluminum casement of the old patio door. I was too lazy to do it by hand this morning. Will probably use reciprocating saw. I would recycle but city says "no scrap metal" on pamphlet! Waste of aluminum! Oh well. Not much else done today besides eating and some talking with neighbor. He came over and looked at progress and offered ideas. Kitty did some hiding today but stopped when I told her, "no guests today." I think she understands my words!

I wish Mother had been here to see the paneling come off. It was evil!! When put up it was very dark stain, almost black which made the house seem dark. When I was at uni, Mother painted it white which sort of helped but the paneling was very rough texture and not good looking. When Father died she and I painted it green. We'd have taken it down if we knew we could! Of course, that's just one wall which doesn't use a full panel just smaller cut pieces. Other walls may have glue. Will take it out of dining if there is no glue, only nails. That will make big difference. I'm excited looking at it. I wanted Mother to let me try this before but she wasn't ready for what she feared would be evil, hard project. Instead it only took a few hours. Brother had glee too! Was best surprise all month?

More later.

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