And Another Wall Bites the Dust

This weekend we spent a good deal of time doing demolition.  We made some good progress.  We got the walls down from between the two bedrooms that will become our Master Bedroom. 

This is a look at where you will enter the Master Suite, when we are finished.

 This shows the end of it from the hallway perspective; these doorways will be closed in. 

We got all the light fixtures down and put in temporary light.  We have been trying to take out everything we know we will replace, that might be carrying dust and smoke.

We have a temporary bed (currently covered with a tarp) an inexpensive dresser (to keep our clothes a little cleaner) so we can spend the nights there and be able to get more done on the weekends.

We got a refrigerator and a washer/dryer in the house so we can eat and be somewhat functional, without having a huge pile of laundry, when we get back home after a weekend of working.

We spent some time also cutting down trees, the cedars that are too close to the house and a small shrub tree that was growing into the house.  We also cut and burned a tree that was laying on its side.  

From the distance, I spotted the color of these beautiful spider lilies, by the fence at the back of the yard. 

These are pictures of Steve, with the pitch fork he found on the property.

Next some progress of cleaning up around the lean-to barn.

This is the pile, so far, of the junk left on the property that we need to haul away.

And the lawnmower that needs hauled away.

Steve set out some corn and a salt lick and then set up the game cam to see what comes by to have a snack. 

Next, enjoy some random pictures of nature; here's to good mental health.  I'll update you next week on more of our progress.

Stinky, stinky

When we returned to the farm house a week later, it still stank of cigarette smoke.  So, we spent the entire day, September 17, cleaning.  Steve mopped the walls with a Bona Mop (get yours here) and vinegar, which our research told us was the best for getting out cigarette smell.

Next I burned some more sage.  I also took a potpourri pot and lots of potpourri, with citrus, again to try and absorb the smell.  We opened jars of Fresh Wave (get yours here)

I took lots of coffee beans and ground coffee and kept a pot brewing most of the day.  I cleaned the cook top, oven and kitchen  counter tops again

and Steve tackled the master bathroom.  Just having a bar of Grandma's Soap in the bathroom made it smell oh so much better.  You can buy yours here.

 My sister came to visit and we walked the property, trying to identify trees and plants.  Next weekend we hope to spend three days and set up a refrigerator, washer/dryer and bed so we can get more done.

Some Days are Hard

Today was an emotional day as the reality set in as to how much work there is to be done.  No matter how much I cleaned the kitchen, I could not get beyond the ick factor of how dirty it is.  Steve said the kitchen smelled much better when he came in and that he thought I made more of a difference that I knew.  The living room, however, still stinks of cigarette smoke and we've made a decision that the beams must go.  They are fake beams, not in good shape, but they have absorbed too much cigarette smoke.  The book cases on either side of the fireplace must also go.  They are not in good shape and just scream "70's", if they were in better shape, we might consider up-dating, but, alas, we must say good bye.  The jury is still out on the fireplace itself.  If we can get it cleaned well enough it may get a white wash, part of it depends on how we decide to configure the house.

There were two shining moments.  The first illustrated by this set of pictures, which shows how much difference a quick pressure wash can make.

Then, of course, we ended the day by walking the back of the property, to remind us of why we bought this place.  Steve mowed a nice pathway about halfway to the back of it, including down to the pond and back to the lean-to building.

Next, just a few pictures of the flowers, bushes, which have all been badly neglected.

The garage looks better than I expected; though still a looooong way to go to clean.

But one of the most important things:  DJ had so much fun on the newly-mowed path.

Until next time: 

Day One of DEMO

Loaded up the pickup truck, took the dog to get a booster to protect him from "country" fleas and ticks, stopped by A Cleaner Place to get a vacuum cleaner and more cleaning supplies and headed to Chandler, bright and early this morning.  On the way, got a text from a friend that she was available if we needed any help.  Uh, yes, thank you.  How good a friend is that?

So, we burned some sage to cleanse the air

Then I went to work on cleaning; just so we could use the kitchen while we work on the house.  The sink, the oven, the cook top, how could they be so dirty??

Did I get them clean; no.  But they are better and I will keep working.  We needed a break and needed to be reminded why we bought this property, so we decided to go for a walk on the back of the property; good decision.

At the end of the day, we accomplished two out of three of our goals:  carpet removed and curtains, blinds removed.  We worked on a few things not on the list and did not get the outside pressure washed, but we are going back tomorrow and were pleased with our progress.