Progress, Plans, and Ponderings

A bit more than a week ago, a surgeon redesigned the layout of my internal organs.  He removed some original equipment, so there is a fear my resale value has fallen.

But I hired him for the remodel, and agreed with the plan.  I do not plan to sell myself anytime soon anyway.

But sitting at home, giving my body time to heal, gives me time to look at some of the progress we have made recently, look at the plans for the rest of the year, and just let my mind wander about this farm house, the land, and our responsibilities as current owners.  This most likely will stretch out over a few posts (not sure how many yet), so stay tuned!

                                                                    My Biggest Issue

When we first toured the house before purchase, as we looked at all the water damage, the destroyed walls and ceilings, and the old plumbing and heating system, there was one item that really bothered me.  The whole house was original wood work, except for a doorway added to the top of the stairs.

 

I hated that door.  And after thinking about it for a bit, I also realized that the plywood above the stairs was out of place. I needed to take it out.  So as we are fixing up the upper hallway, I was finally able to get rid of that evil door.

Yes, that is the original post where the banister used to end.  It is now missing about 6 inches, and is also missing the top.  But we can deal with this.  The whole stairway has a less cramped feeling now that we have opened it up.  This should increase a bit as we take out the old plaster, which as you can all see, has a few problems, and replace it with thinner drywall. 

Fourth of July Weekend - 2019

Holidays & Birthdays

It has been beautiful summer weather here on the farm.  The biggest news is Liz has arrived, and will be spending the summer, and maybe more at the farm.  As a result, we have added a phone, and yes, even a mailbox.

Mailbox time!

The lettering was done by Laurie.

The Pledl Farm en Plein Air is officially back on the map!

We also spent the first part of the weekend working on the upstairs hallway.  There is a lot of water damage to the plaster, so it was decided to cover it all with drywall.  We stripped off all the moldings and pulled out all the nails to prepare it for new walls.

Prepping the upstairs hallway.

Waiting for the new drywall.  But it will have to wait.... guests have arrived.

To help celebrate Bill's (Greg's Father) 87th birthday, the family arrived on the farm with a tour of the farm and a trip to Monroe for lunch at Bumgardners. We had 12 family members present and the weather was gorgeous. It took away from getting things done, but was worth it. After everyone left, Greg, Liz, and I took a nap. Then, we got down to business.

 As I (Laurie) began putting another layer of joint compound down on the drywall in my studio,

 Greg started yelling my name and asking for some help. Liz stumbled across our visitor, the bat. While Greg tried to stir up the bat Liz knew was in a corner by all of our electrical supplies, Liz and I held up two quilts to block the entrance to the upstairs. No bat emerged. Liz kept hearing it in that same corner and Greg slowly put each item from that corner into bags and boxes to take outside. Eventually, Greg and Liz found the bat hiding in an empty light bulb box and set it out over by the silo. 

After that everyone was very productive and we got about half of the upstairs hallway covered in drywall.

Measuring time!

All done, for today anyway.

It's Spring!

Spring is Finally Here!

Well, we survived the winter. We have been going back to the farm mostly to cut the grass, which takes about 2 hours on a riding mower.  However, I have also been planting and digging up weeds. 

It's great to be back at work on the farm!

I remember when this was nothing but long weeds.

Wildflowers starting in front of the brick wall. Sunflowers growing in the planter.

 This weekend we actually got some work done inside as well. We took out a wall and a window to build a hallway that will lead to a downstairs bathroom. We also built the new frame for the new wall and boarded up the window that we took out. This was a big project, and was the first real "remodel".  The past tasks were just fixing up rooms that needed repair.

You will enter the bathroom through a small hallway (on the left).

This will become our downstairs bathroom.

 With the continued work inside, and the increased gardening outside, this farm is slowly becoming our home.  It is hard to believe that we have only owned it a year, and the amazing progress we have made in that time.

 Memories

This is the upstairs bath we remodeled last year.

 

Our last weekend

Goodbye Farm, See you in the Spring

Well, last weekend we closed up the farm for winter. Greg built his box around the pipes downstairs to keep them from freezing. A light will go on when the area reaches a certain temperature. 

I put up the other panels of drapes and we put in a white bookshelf Greg got from his mom's house. I have now bought a new bedspread for our bedroom and so the gray one on our bed will be moved to the yellow room. I am still thinking of putting up some white wains coting but I have all winter to decide.

I also did get to priming some of the walls in the room that will be my studio.  Staying away all winter will be hard. I miss it already.  However, spring will be grand.  I can't wait to see the bulbs, peonies, and day lilies I transplanted.

A little white wains coting will really match this bookshelf.  

 

This will be my art studio.

Still Thinking but Done for Now

Letting it Rest Awhile

Well, we went to the farm this weekend and installed the carpet and put up the drapes. Of course the drapes I bought were only one set with two panels. I thought it would be two sets of two panels because the package said it was a 2 pack. So, for now, there is only one panel on each window. 

We also put up a day bed that we got from Greg's parents. I am now on the lookout for a matching comforter.  What is on there now is just temporary until I find what I am looking for. 

I am trying to decide if there is too much yellow in the room and if I should possibly put up some white wains coting or paint a wall white or gray. I wanted a bright room but some say it looks dark even though it is a very bright yellow. It could be the lighting and the drapes blocking any sunlight from the cloudy day. 

For now, she rests while I think.

We have only one more weekend at the farm before we close her up for winter. This will be hard!

Laurie

Finishing Bedroom #2

Almost There

Well, this weekend we went to the farm in hopes of finishing bedroom #2.  As usual, we forgot to bring some things such as the "kicker" to put in the carpet. We also forgot the staple guns for the padding but we used small nails instead. We got the carpet and padding down but not installed fully. As Greg began to unpack the curtain rods I bought, one of the decorative ends broke like a glass Christmas ornament. So, those did not get put up. Hopefully, next weekend will be more successful.

Here's where we are now.

Getting ready for carpet.

Padding has been added.

Greg vacuuming the new carpet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next weekend we will fully install the carpet, hang the drapes, put in the trundle bed and put up the rest of the base boards. 

This old farm house is getting renovated.

Finishing Bedroom #2

Holding Back

I have to hold back, I feel, and be patient.  We are on our second bedroom and things are going well. This weekend I finished priming the ceiling, painted the ceiling, and painted the walls. I had to touch up the baseboards, clean the windows, and sweep the floor. I wanted to hang the drapes I bought; I'm so excited to see them up because they will look great with the wall color. However, I don't want them getting dirty and Greg and I have decided to look for some carpet remnants so we can truly finish the room. Once we get carpet in the room, I will hang the drapes. We still have to put up the baseboards on one half of the room.  All in all, it was another productive weekend. Oh, we also have a bed in our room now and it was so nice to sleep on a real bed. Still looking for a head board and foot board though. We are getting most things from Craigslist or restores, auctions, Estate sales etc.

On our trip up on Friday night we saw the most amazing sunset.

Simply amazing!

Doing some last minute touch-ups!

We found this great ceiling light/fan at the Habitat for Humanity Restore.

Oh, I also worked on my garden. I transplanted some peonies, planted spring bulbs, and transplanted Day Lilies and Mums.  I'm all set for fall and spring.

I'm so excited to look for carpet, head and foot boards, and hang the drapes. Hopefully, we will have some luck locating some of these items this week. I'm also very excited about next spring so I can see the results of my work in the garden.