46. Front Door ICU... And A Little Fencing Drama

After all the build up, I hate to tell you that the building next to Grandview did not get torn down today.  Could it be that my source's sources missed something somewhere?  That's just the way it is sometimes.  I'm still hopeful for tomorrow - it's been 30 days now since the fire.

I have to start with what happened over the weekend.  Roscoe was scheduled to go in for his "Pet Visitation" evaluation with the behaviorist at the SPCA on Friday.  I gave him a bath, trimmed (and filed!) his nails and even scrubbed out his ears.  Loaded his tea-tree-oil-smelling butt in the car and then the phone rang - the woman who was to evaluate him was home sick!  All cleaned up and no place to go!  However, within minutes Dave called about the front door.  He suggested that he pick up the door and take it to the shop/door hospital where all the groovy tools are, and of course I said yes! Roscoe and I visited a few yard sales, and then met Dave at the house to give him the door.  I have to tell you a little about this door, and why I want to save it at all.  First of all, it has that cool old-timey wibbly glass, which I think I learned somewhere is because glass is a liquid even at room temp and it's always sagging - the older it gets, the more ripples are in it.  I think that's so awesome.   Plus, it's one heavy SOB!  I actually had to ask for help getting it from the porch to my truck.  Totally worth keeping!  Of course I'll wait until after all the inspections are done to reinstall it, because someone is bound to say it's not hurricane proof or some such malarky.  Hey, it's lasted this long, hasn't it?

This is what the door looked like originally.  The hole to the right is where the handle would have been, the deadbolt having been added later on.  Back in the old days, the lock set would be a huge amount of machinery inside the door, so inside this area of the door was empty, and has been filled with a few different products - foam and putty type stuff - before modern day handles could be added.  Thanks to Dave, it's going to be good as new before it's reinstalled but it's just a mess at this point.

This is the door with the router-bot attached.  I think it was Doug who actually handled this part - Dave was supervising.  I had no idea their shop was so technologically advanced!

This is Dave pointing to the block that was inserted to fill the void - in the hole you can see the special heavy-duty epoxy used to fasten the block.  Once it hardens, and is sanded down - well I just can't wait!

Here's what the inserted block looks like from the top.  So pretty:

So that was Friday.  Today is Monday, and even though there was no demolition next door, the good news is that I got in early this morning, a fresh start after a wonderful three days at home.  I was expecting the AC guys, and also Don... not sure what he would start on, but I was a little apprehensive about so much going on at once.  Sean arrived first, and began the excavation of the left side of the back yard - just to see what was there and lay out a plan for the retaining wall.  I'm going to have them use railroad ties over there, just for something different... I'm already feeling guilty about all the concrete that's going in.  As he was digging, he found another old retaining wall like the one on the right side - so when Don got there he stopped working, because more excavation means more $$.  Now I wish I had a picture of it, but you can use your imagination here ______.

We had a meeting and we're kind of hoping that maybe the guys that come to take the building down might not mind one more scoop of concrete chunks to add to their pile.  If we ask nicely?  I'm also going to hit them up for some of the landscaping rocks that are in the front yard - if I see them going into a dumpster I'll see if I can intervene.

Don and Sea shifted gears (the AC guys were already at work - they didn't finish so I have no pictures of that either) and went to get some fencing materials.  Here they are putting some of the posts in - I think the whole neighborhood is going to want to come to my house if there's a hurricane - those things aren't going anywhere.

They made a lot of progress in a little time - here you can begin to see the outline of my little back yard.  I love it!  They put in a couple more fence panels, while I was working on some other stuff inside.  Then Don came in and said the Code guy was out there and they shut him down - he said the fence was too high!  OK, don't panic.  I went out and we all talked.  Mike (Code Police) said that we could only build 6' up from the street - which would mean cutting 2' off of that beautiful fence!!  *take a deep breath*  I was actually responsible for this - in my laziness I still hadn't been back to the City with my revised fence plan since the block wall went up.  That's really tempting fate there.

So... The guys wrapped it up and I headed in to the City, armed with pictures and my most innocent "responsible new homeowner" face.  I didn't walk in and say "what the heck are you guys talking about?", instead I put on my best Dale Carnegie, and it worked.  I spoke to the head guy, Mark, and began by apologizing for not getting back with my revisions sooner.  We went over all that, then I said that I decided on a 4' fence instead of a 6' fence, but someone said it still was too tall.  He asked me one question:  what is the level of the land INSIDE the wall, and when I said it was about a foot below the level of the block, he said I could go as high as 6' from there.  Are you with me?  In other words, I could put another foot on top of that fence with no problem.  Phew!!

Here's a little bit of what I got done inside the house today.  This is where the one living room ceiling fan had been attached - the one that was hanging by a toggle bolt?  Looks like the "What Not To Do" picture in the ceiling fan installation booklet.  I cut back the "drywall" which is really some kind of thick papery stuff they used to use back when.  I knocked out that pathetic excuse for a ceiling brace, and ...

Here's what it looked like when I was done.  Two braces between the joists, and one across to hold the fan box.  I cut everything back enough that I can patch a piece of drywall in there.  This stuff is so thin that I need to use something thinner than regular drywall - not sure if they make such a thing but I'll find out.  The good news is that both ceiling fans were installed with huge decorative circle things that will probably cover any imperfections when it's done.  I always like to think that Mike Holmes would be proud of me.  He's my hero.

Then I moved on to install a ceiling fan that Jake and Bobbie had just taken out of their guest room, and gave to me over the weekend.  I put it on the front porch - but for some reason it wouldn't turn on.  It may have something to do with the way it was taken down - there were some wires to the light fixture that were cut.  It will take a little analysis, maybe a call to Jake - I'm sure we can figure it out.

Maybe tomorrow some DEMO!!

45. A Little Woodwork With a Side of AC

One of the things I always do at the end of a work day is clean up.  I put all the tools away, or at least in some semblance of order.  I sweep and hit the edges with the shop vac.  I organize materials, and take stock, writing a list in my trusty notebook of anything I will need when I come back.  It seems like a lot of work, when I'm all wiped out - but that last push makes coming back in the morning so much nicer.  I like walking in and having a fresh start, especially since it's not long before everything is in total chaos again!

This morning I began on the paneling in the living room.  You can see the 1x8 I installed as a base board at the bottom, and the first few tongue-in-groove 1x6 panels in place.  At the top of the unfinished space, see that black area?  That is a clear shot into the space over the porch ceiling, which gave me an idea - that having this open was the perfect opportunity to get my wire out to the porch ceiling fan without tearing up the bead board ceiling.  It worked like a charm.  I had to use my 4-foot level to reach all the way in there to get it over that last beam.

This is the sunroom ceiling, where Steven had removed one course of bead board that day last week.  This was the access point where the ceiling fan wire went down the wall into the switch - so it was now ready to close up.  I had to remove one more row, just to get the pieces to fit right - there's a bit of a gap, but I am also a professional caulkstress so you'll never know the difference once it's all done.  PS you might want to buy some stock in DAP caulk before I get to that point - this is just one of those houses where every thing has a crack between it and the next thing that needs a little goop.  I'll probably buy a case or two before the whole place is done.  Watch for the Caulk Tube Count coming soon.

Anybody recognize this contraption?  It is a thoroughly modern "Air Condeeshuning Dee-vice".  Also known as a heat pump.  They got this installed, and some of the duct work done - the air handler is in the basement but not hooked up yet.  They will be back on Monday as I AM TAKING THE NEXT THREE DAYS OFF.

After I got all cleaned up at the end of today I found an amazing thing:  A living room!  Right in the middle of the house, can you believe it?  Who would have thought?  I haven't really started work on the windows (that's coming soon) but today I removed the wooden valances that I never really liked (sorry Duke) and about sixteen different kinds of window treatment hardware plus misc. staples and other things screwed into the top of each window.   I guess I'm the only one that has come along that wanted a fresh start!  Monday I will get that ceiling fan hung - I promise.

This is the door that will eventually be my beautiful front door, if it survives a trip to the hospital.  I brought it home because this weekend Dave is coming over with his router to help me repair some things on it, fill in the gaping hole in the side and otherwise return it to it's former glory.  Just structural - I'll deal with the paint refinishing later.  I promised him he could use my canoe and go fishing, and there might even be a barbecue dinner in there somewhere as well.  Fair deal?

44. The Lights Are On...

Well, I didn't finish everything I set out to do before lunch, but it was a successful day.  I started out by wrapping up some of the electrical - so little left to do!!  I had a conversation with Jake last night in which I learned about something that I had done wrong - some of my junction boxes would be inaccessible once the wall was closed up.  Hey, it's not like I went to school for this or anything!  I promised him I would rectify the situation, and I did, even though it added about an hour of work and removal of some paneling that wouldn't otherwise have to come down.  The result is that I won't have to tear the whole thing apart if I ever want to get into the junction box - the logic makes sense, but I missed it somehow.

Then I got to do some fun stuff.  I re-hung the exterior fixture that I had taken down to do the siding on the front porch.  When I took it down I realized it's not ancient, the stickers are inside that show it's probably only a few years old.  But the thing is incredibly rusty, which is the way things get in the beach air, I guess.  Looks good huh?

Then I hung the foyer fixture, which is one of the ones I found at St. Vincent's thrift store for $10.  It looks weird here - I straightened it up later.  It's going to be a headbanger, for those of you who are over 6' tall - I'll probably have to put a table underneath it or something.  This is as high as I could get it.  After seeing this picture I decided that I'm going to start tomorrow with a little window cleaning - Oy!!

Moved on to some other wiring projects, a few switches that I forgot about yesterday, and the outlet for the oven.  This little guy really put up a fight - there are four wires (#6) which are almost as big as my pinkie.  They are supposed to be 6" long when you attach them to the outlet and then you have to twist and push and force them to behave before you can screw those little screws in the front.  What a wrestling match that was!  He's now safely behind bars.  Jake and Bobbie are going to visit tomorrow and I'm going to have him supervise putting the other end of that wire into the breaker box in the basement.  He knows the number for 911.

After lunch, I moved on to some fun stuff - straightening up!!  I had been making piles of wood all over the house - cypress siding, yellow pine ripped out of various places, new wood that was left over from miscellaneous projects.  I went through it all, including the old siding that Steven and I had tossed off the porch by the side of the house.  I decided what to keep and pulled the nails out of it.  Here is some of the wood I will need to re-trim the door opening when this door is reinstalled in its final resting place.  I'm going to break out the heat gun and see how much paint I can get off, and Dave is going to help me do some repairs on the door before it's put back in.

This is the load of wood I brought home tonight to throw by the fire pit - it's been so hot who feels like having a fire!?  I have so much wood I am ready for a little cooler weather.

This a view of the living room wall, where the door was closed up.  The cypress siding is on the outside, and I need to replace the paneling on the inside.  You can see one piece in place there on the left, which happens to be a little thicker than the original stuff but once it's caulked and painted it will be barely noticeable.  I'll be darned if I'm going to order specially-milled lumber for every project in this house!! (No offense, Dave).  I was going to finish this today, but decided I'd better get the piece of baseboard first since it's under the paneling not on top - go figure.  On the left side of the door you can see the little junction box that I moved to keep the inspector happy.  It will have a solid switch plate cover when everything is done.

OK now for some real exciting stuff.  Number one:  the AC guys are supposed to show up at 9:00 tomorrow morning!  I can hardly wait.  This is big, folks!

Number two:  I got a call from Marilyn, the Realtor who sold me the place, on the way in this morning.  She also happens to represent the people who own the burned-out building next door.  She told me that the City is going to level the place Monday or Tuesday - and if I want the lot, I should put an offer in as soon as possible...  I'm  thinking about it, it all depends on the price.  If it's too much for me, maybe one of you out there in blog land would be interested?  I'll keep you posted.  I'm planning my first sleepover there Monday night - that way I'll be sure to catch all the action.  Maybe I'll do another video for you, shorter this time so it's not so garbley.

43. Random Updation

Since I took the day off today, thought I'd take a minute to update you on a couple of things.  Yesterday I didn't take any pictures because I worked installing outlets and switches all day.  I am almost done - all I have left to do in the electrical department is to put up a ceiling box on the porch for the fan, wire two more switches, hang the light fixture in the sun room and secure and rehang that one ceiling fan in the living room that I yanked down a week ago.  Hopefully I can get all that done before lunch tomorrow.

The AC company, Broward Factory Air, should be coming out on Thursday to begin their installation.  Supposedly they will get everything done that day except the new ducting to the upstairs.  I had told you I was getting a high-efficiency system (16 SEER rating) for $6500 and would qualify for a $1500 tax rebate.  Well that has changed, since I found out I can't change my homestead exemption to the house in Daytona without claiming that that is my permanent residence.  You know, there was a time in my life when I might have pulled that off - it probably wouldn't take much besides changing the address on my driver's license.  But I'm not interested in being dishonest - no matter how you twist it, this place is not going to be my primary residence and I won't lie about it.  So... no $1500 tax credit for me.  I let Broward know about this decision last week, and we met and re-worked the numbers.  I agreed to purchase a system with a 15 SEER rating, a very slight drop in efficiency, for $5700 instead.  I will still get the new ductwork, air handler, heat pump and water heater, but it's costing about $700 more because of the loss of the tax break.

I have been keeping track of all my expenses, along with my hours on the project and $25 per trip to Daytona Beach in gas and mileage.  After the AC installation I will be at the $80,000 mark for what I have put into the house.  I really feel good about the numbers, I believe it is worth much more right now, never mind what it will be worth in a few years.  I have saved some money here and there, and a few items have gone over budget - but with good reason.  I have spent more than double what I had allotted for a fence, but that was because my original plan was not a good one - if we just did the wooden fence, it would be just another back yard with a whipped-up fence.  Now I have a retaining wall that will last a lifetime, and a drainage system. and my yard won't ever ease it's way out into the street again.  It's a nice sized back yard in which I can barbecue and entertain guests, garden, and let the dogs play around.  I really love it, as much as I complain about the cost.

Don and I met yesterday to go over plans to apply for the City "Facade Grant".  In that grant proposal will be a concrete driveway, removal of all the asbestos siding and painting of the house's exterior.  It will take a while to get the proposals together (I have to have two quotes on each item) and get the City's approval, so in the mean time I will continue to work away on the inside.  After the electrical there will be some paneling going up, some work on the windows and getting the kitchen and at least one bedroom put together.  Honestly, things are moving faster than I could have hoped, and I would love to be able to accommodate guests by the third week of October which is Biketoberfest.  Of course work will be going on long after that!

Another thing I didn't tell you about... sorry I've been too pooped to think of these things most days... was a phone call I received about a week ago.  The Realtor, who seems to know everyone in this town, got a call from her friend at City Code Enforcement that I needed to modify my fence permit.  I kind of knew this - changing from a wood fence to 1/2 block and 1/2 wood is a major deal.  I was lazy though and didn't follow through.  Anyhow, I immediately dropped in to the City permitting department, and told them about what had happened - that when construction started, we decided that a retaining wall was really necessary.  I was very honest and asked them what should I do at this point.  I also asked them about the stairs that Rob and Ken built, since I had a feeling that really should have been permitted from the beginning as well.  They were very helpful - you have to remember the City is on my side, since I'm doing my improvements one of the neighborhoods they are so intent on improving!  Nothing to it - a new permit for the stairs, and a revision for the fence and I was out of there.  Once again, nothing hanging over my head and when the Code guys wander through the neighborhood I can wave and say hello without worry.

I may sound like I know what I'm doing all the time, and have a plan, and  so on, but there are plenty of times when I wonder if I'm going to be able to do this, when I wish someone else was in charge to take the pressure off.  But it doesn't last long.  I just put those doubts to bed and keep moving - I have such a wonderful support network of friends, confidantes and volunteers that I never feel like this is a one-woman job.

I spent about $35 at the thrift stores today.  Yes, Kathleen, that is the scrabble game I am going to kick your butt on when you come to visit the beach house!!  Also some more linens, throw rugs and cookware.

Got another addition to my set of Revereware... this one needed a little work-over with my trusty and favorite cleanser:  Barkeeper's Friend.  And a cool trash can for somewhere.

This Egret print also caught my eye - Florida, but no flamingos please!!

I have been buying a lot of stuff willy-nilly, but today I took an inventory of what I have and really need.  I decided I'm good on  towels (unless I see some that are too fabulous to pass up).  I need sheet sets for a king mattress, end tables and a dresser for the bedrooms.  Aside from all the miscellaneous, the big items I still need, that I will probably need to buy new are:

Flat cook-top electric range
Microwave oven
Toaster oven
Stainless steel sink
King mattress set
Queen mattress set
Nice barbecue grill


Balance Forward:  $164

$30  today's haul

Remainder:  $134

42. Lots of Progress

I had a great title picked out on the way home, but at this hour it escapes me.  I was going to wait until tomorrow to post these, but since my neighbor decided to serenade me with Mexican music at 3am I decided "what better time to update my blog?"

Don is almost finished with the wall construction.  Here he is using the skid-steer loader to put dirt back inside the wall.  It's important to let the concrete cure before you do this - for obvious reasons.  That wall is solid - I don't know all the lingo but there is concrete going up, down and all the way around the top.  I may have them help with the driveway, asbestos removal and painting of the house when I apply for that City grant I mentioned way back when.

Here's the view from the top - there is a little bit of the wall left  - and then the fence can go on top.  It's turned out to be a nice sized back yard for the dogs and barbecues and a swimming pool - well, probably not the swimming pool.  Wouldn't mind having a hot tub out there though... just a thought.

Now for the part you've been waiting for:  today was the day the siding goes up!  Here we have the front door removed, a couple of studs added in it's place.  The wiring for the front porch light, foyer light and ceiling fans is complete.  You can see the first board in place on the bottom - and Roscoe is officially the last one in 100 years to ever use that opening as a doorway.

And yes, my mystery guest did show up - this is Dave.  If you remember a few weeks ago I mentioned him a few times, he's the one at Superior Trim and Door that helped me locate a supplier for the siding.  It just so happens that he started out in his business as a trim carpenter, and ran a crew for many years.  When I heard that, how could I help but ask?  He was happy to volunteer and we had a fun time working together - an 11 hour day!  He is earning a free room if he wants it for bike week and speed week, which he attends every year.  It's a win-win situation.

Of course Roscoe wanted to be right in the middle of everything - all covered with saw dust and taking a nap on the chop saw.

I still have to finish the trim on the window - I'm actually going to repair the sash cords first, and get as much of the paint off of it as possible.  Then do the same for the trim - I may break out the heat gun in one of the upcoming episodes to get the old paint off.  I just love it.

Thanks to Dave I didn't even have to lift the framing nail gun I rented at Home Depot for this project - I would probably have my arm in a sling by now if I had to do it all myself.  I actually had a good laugh thinking about the fact that I had planned to do this project without any help - once we got going I saw how ridiculous that would have been.  I made Dave the boss for the day and I was the assistant.  I have been so excited to get to this point - to see the front finished like this.  Sometimes I am amazed at how well things work out - all in their own time.

The Mexican music just shut off so I'm going to try to go back to bed.  I'll leave you with this parting shot.

41. Boardwalk and Park Place

The term "day off" is really a misnomer.  Ok, I didn't tear anything down or wire anything up - haven't even gotten sweaty enough to take a shower today.  But I've been busy!  I have a lot of catching up to do around my own house - the grass is so high some visiting kids last week were making a game of "which patch of grass is the tallest".  My weed eater has been on the fritz, and I haven't had time to mow.  I don't know why I brought that up because I didn't do that today either.

I spent the day hitting the thrift stores - gotta see what's out there that I might have missed.  I know I mentioned waaaay back that I would be talking about colors and I'll touch on that here.  All during this process, I've been toying with color ideas in my head - I need to pick a color for the exterior of the house and a front door color.  I have to decide what color to paint the walls on the first floor, and how to treat that cool ceiling and all those beams - do I paint them an accent color, leave them white, what do I do!?  I have a few ideas, and I'll share a little of the progress with you here.

This is a page from a Pottery Barn catalog I got in the mail recently.  I will never buy anything from it, but it has pretty pictures!  And in it I saw the color schemes I want to use in the bedrooms.  I've already decided that one room will be "Boardwalk" and one will be "Park Place".  The Boardwalk reference is obvious - beach, 1920's, Daytona Beach Boardwalk.  Park Place refers to the street I grew up on in Sea Cliff, Long Island NY, just a couple of blocks from the beach - and that is the room I am going to do in this theme.

Pale sage green, lavender, sky blue, cream, white and natural accents - 'shabby chic' and gardeny.  This will be a more girly room, and probably the one I will stay in when I am there.

The other room, which is the smaller of the two, will be "Boardwalk" and done in darker blues and dark woods, maybe a little nautical motif here and there.  This picture will give you an idea of what I am going for.

When I am shopping around, I think of these themes, and it helps me pinpoint things that I might be able to use.  Right now I am picking up random bedding, curtains, and accessories that I think will fit in either room.  That being said, I want you to know I am not into shells, lighthouses, or fish nets with starfish dangling from them etc.  No Gorton's Fisherman lamps.  If there is any "beachside kitsch" it will be the odd item, and it will have to be something really special.  I would like those of you who do the thrift store circuit to keep an eye out for something for me though:  I would like to have artwork that represents marine life, but more of the zoological kind - I've been hoping to find an old biological illustration print of a horseshoe crab, and things like that.  Maybe I'll draw one of my own.

I found these three small framed goodies today - the sandpipers are a signed and numbered print of a watercolor, and the flowers are dried and pressed.  The other is cutesy, but I just liked it.

Today was also a beach towel bonanza day - sometimes I see none, but today I hit the jackpot.  On the left below is the pile - this isn't even all of them.  Underneath is a bed skirt I may use in the Park Place room.  On the right is  some more misc.  Some really nice waverly valances with blue hydrangeas and polka dots on them.  Also a fuzzy bath rug and really nice cotton sheets.  The clock is one I already had - of course it has to go to Grandview!

I also picked up some mugs and glasses - have I told you how much I love Goo Gone?  I use it to take off stickers and any other unidentified sticky stuff, and the grease pencil they use to price things at the thrift store.  If you've never used it, you should try it, it works on skin, clothing and everything.  Plus it smells orangey-good.

Last but not least, I'm not big on schmaltzy coffee cups, but I liked this one.  At the bottom it says "Apache Blessing" which might be BS but I wish this for you all anyway! 

Balance Forward:  $213 

$49  lots of misc.  

Remainder:  $164

40. Little Buddies

Today is my daughter Alli's birthday.  Guess what she got?  The one with an 'A' is for her, the 'S' is for Steven, the 'M' is for me, and the 'G' is for a guest.   Dave helped me by cutting the keys the other day at Superior - we had some fun figuring out the key machine and the hieroglyphic instructions scrawled on it with a sharpie.

Steven and I arrived today around 10am, and after inspecting what the guys were working on in the back, he suited up for work, which in his case means removing clothing I guess. So ladies, I can safely say my son is hot, without being totally inappropriate. We started by tearing off the trim from the door and window, and then went to town on that siding you see there.  It wasn't bad, once we got the hang of it - we each had a hammer and a pry bar.

In a couple of places I used the reciprocal saw (mmm, power tool) so we wouldn't break the window sill as we pried the wood off.  Steven took all the nails out that were still in the studs, and we cleaned up the almost 100 years worth of funky mystery crumbs that had accumulated in every crack and cranny.  He piled up the used siding by the side of the house, to be used for any patching I might need when I uncover the rest of the siding on the house.  The porch is the only place where the cypress lap siding was painted - the rest of it (covered for  40+ years with asbestos shingles) is stained red!  When the asbestos comes off, I'm hoping to find the cypress well-preserved and ready for it's first coat of primer and paint.  Won't that just be fantastic?

This is the wall all cleaned up, and some of the wiring re-done.  I didn't completely remove the door, so I could shut and lock it.  When I go back with my mystery guest to put up the new siding, I'll remove the door and frame up the opening, then run the necessary wires through that opening, for the exterior porch light, exterior GFI outlet, the ceiling fixture in the foyer/sun room, and the ceiling fans in the living room.

Part of the wiring process for today was to put a pancake box (a flat round junction box) for that foyer light I mentioned.  I found the center point and gave Steven the pry bar to take one piece of the bead board down.  He was thrilled when a "waterfall of bug poop" showered down upon him.  I let him hit the shower and take the rest of the day off after that.  There wasn't much else to do - I ran as many wires as possible so I'd be ready for my next day's work.


I'm so excited about everything we got done - thanks Steven!!

Don's chihuahua "Little Buddy" (which was also my nickname for Steven when he was a lot smaller) spent some time with us inside today.  He immediately started collecting Roscoe's bones from around the house - they played a little "hide the bone" until Little Buddy decided it was time to get on Roscoe's bed and take a break.  Sorry big guy!  They were having a good time, but I eventually had to separate them because Roscoe kept stepping on him by accident - he really jumps around a lot.

This is the house as we drove off... a little naked in the front, but not for long!!