Day Eight: Why is a visit from the cement truck as exciting as Christmas to me???

Today was CONCRETE DAY!!!!!!! That’s right, folks, we (hired professionals who) poured nine yards of concrete on our property today… I had been looking forward to this as we saw the formboards take shape, but I was really giddy to see the actual truck, pumps and workers who transformed the broken slab blight at the back of the house into an amazing new patio that overlooks the river. They also shored up two new retaining walls, filled walkway cracks and reinforced the back corner of the house foundation (where the previous owners had oh-so-brilliantly dug out the supporting soil to make more room for storage. Good grief.)

This marked a big day for us, as these two problems (foundation and back concrete slab) were probably the biggest factors that allowed us to bid on and purchase this property. Others might have been scared off by the prospect of the house sliding down the steep slope, but not us!!! Problem solved… and we still have money to fix the roof!

The main worker bee pouring and spreading the concrete was a gentleman named Jon – with a giant rose tattoo on the back of his shaved head (to go with the giant old-English script of his last name across his back, and a myriad of other such tats.) This guy was *busting* his butt while others looked on… I felt guilty for not jumping in with a pair of boots to help spread the muck evenly. In between pours we had a lovely conversation about the property, the upcoming arrival of our daughter, the state of the health care system and the latest books we’ve read. He was unbelievably polite – a statement that has been true of the entire foundation team. We’ve really lucked out on this contractor! He even left a designated space for me to doodle in the drying concrete – and provided a really long nail for my etchings.

Mom and Dad tirelessly painted in the kitchen and both bedrooms. We all took occasional breaks to watch the concrete progress – can you tell how much I loved watching the concrete day?!? ;o) Jon came down from Humboldt to help out – we went back to the SC house to dig out some of my favorite plants for transplant. It was pretty hard work and I think I may have overdone it a bit… but the plants are ready to join their new bedmates in the mountains! I am anxious to see what does well in the new climate… Will the salvia collection thrive? How about the native grasses? The herbs? What will the gophers eat first? Only thyme will tell… (Oh wow, so bad…)

We all trotted off to Taco Bell for a gourmet dinner in our grungy clothes, covered in paint splatter and sawdust. I am thrilled beyond belief that we will soon welcome our daughter in to the world… but as we race to fix up our house and move in by the end of the month, I find myself wishing I could take her off for small stretches of time to get more done. Ah well, at least we always know where she is at this stage in the game!

Day Six: What's Behind Door Number Two?!?...

...or in our case, what's behind the plastic "tile" sheeting? Hoo boy.

We did not work on the house yesterday - between work work schedules and our Birth Preparedness Class ('cause you can be soooooo prepared for birth...) we didn't get to play on our fantabulous project. The foundation contractors continue to plug along, adding in retaining walls and getting ready to pour our future back patio on Friday. It's looking good!

Today, however, we were back at it!

I made the mistake of thinking that I would get tons of work done this afternoon, following my morning prenatal yoga class. Ha. Yes. Didn't happen. First, it was OVER 90 DEGREES. AGAIN. This is *NOT* ok with me. At all. Second, I was already pooped by the time I got up to the house. And third, I was slightly creeped out by the locksmith replacing our knobs and deadbolts for three hours while I tried to focus on bathroom demolition. He did a fantastic job, and really was quite a nice guy, but there is something unsettling for me about being alone in the house with contractors of any type. I really appreciate the fact that our great foundation guys always ask me to join them outside if they need to discuss something. I'm sure that the whole pregnancy thing is playing a large part in my feelings of anxiousness and vulnerability. I've also found myself rather nervous when working at the house by myself... The extra 45 pounds and diminished ability to run like hell starts to seriously effect one's feelings of safety.

In any event, the guy did a great job reinforcing the overly-hollowed-out door knob openings, adding metal plates and refitting the non-knobed door so that it locks on the top and bottom. We said "buh bye" to the scary fire hazard lock thing on the back door (that needed the key in it at all times so that you could open it.) I love the antique bronze handles - even though they aren't true black - and think that they will look great with the eventual color scheme changes.

Thankfully I was able to soak and scrape off most of the wallpaper remnants in the bathroom - hopefully the walls will only need a light sanding before priming and painting. Matt continued to add outlets and switches and wires and boxes and all sorts of fun electrical stuff in the bedroom and kid room. Did I mention how much I love being married to such a handy stud?

I tried to get sandwiches for our dinner at New Leaf, but, of course, today was their employee appreciation night. The one night of the year that they close early. Figures. So instead I trotted down to the Taqueria (in 91 degree heat) and picked up a few burritos. I will definitely be back, as that place has GREAT AIR CONDITIONING! Ha. It's the simple things in life! Dinner out on the porch again, enjoying the slightly cooling evening and relative quiet of our property.

Which leads us to the main event of the evening: DEMO ROUNDUP!

We couldn't wait anymore - the bathroom "tile" had to go. After a bit of quibbling over demo technique, Matt decided to use his favorite method - *grab and yank*. It worked rather well when combined with my *carefully use the proper tools to loosen the edges* method. Unfortunately our original plan to remove and use the pine paneling behind the tile for future repair or patch jobs was dashed as soon as the sheeting came loose... Giant swaths of tar-like sealant mar almost the entire area of panelling. We may have to tile further out than previously planned... But in the general scheme of things, this is NOT a big deal. Thankfully we were too tired at this point to really care! Wahoo.

Packed up, locked up, shoved off and came down to the 20 degree cooler house by the ocean.

Poop. I'm in trouble if this heat keeps up...

Day Four: I Love Wallpaper...

...but I love it even more when it comes off the wall in nice, easy, wide swaths. Our bathroom? Not so nice, easy or wide.

I spent Monday holed up in the tiny bathroom that will become grand central in a few weeks, starting the demolition process that I have dreamed of since I first laid eyes on its rather gross interior. Think plastic "tile" sheeting, mismatched vanity and mirror, random universal handgrips in every direction, 3/4 sized tub with tile border that overhangs the tub edge by a good half inch, wallpaper so horrid it is guaranteed to cure you of your hiccups at first glance... But other than that... Oh, and a window that opens out to the enclosed porch room. Lovely.

When I pulled the vanity off the wall, two condoms fell out of their high hiding place, making me wonder just who was getting some in our house lately... since the previous owner passed away in 2007... at the age of 98... Hmmm... The step-grandson, the almost-20 son of our neighbor, perhaps? Eeeewwwww....


Matt cut off and capped the shower pipes on Sunday (I married a total stud muffin...), so we will be ready to do even more intensive demo work on the bath when someone who can actually lift a crowbar is around. I'm trying not to overdo it, but it is so hard to look around the house and helplessly count the unending projects that I would *really* love to have finished or at least started by the time we move in... The bathroom is DEFINITELY near the top of that list!


The foundation crew continues to build retaining walls, pour concrete posts, reinforce the perimeter and prep for the BIG POUR coming up on Friday... That's right folks - a massive load of cement is coming our way at the end of this week! Stay tuned for pics... Maybe we will write our names in the slab!!! "Sara was here." So original.


We did not make it up to the house this evening, as it was the return of our small group after a lovely summer break. It was great to get caught up on what has been happening for each family (...and there is altogether-too-much going on...) and to have a little break from the stress of the house. But I found myself making lists in my head as I was munching on Cassy's delicious chocolate chip bundt cake (OMG...), contemplating kitchen skylights as I tried to focus on what each couple had been up to over the past month, even mentally running through painting technique pros and cons as we talked about how excited we are for our daughter to arrive in the next six or so weeks. Does this make me a bad person? Or just a really focused remodeler? In my current state of "preggo-brain" I seem to only be capable of contemplating one topic at any given time... Lately it seems that the old adage is true: The house always wins.

Day Three: Warning - Do Not Paint Inside an Oven...

Ahhh, lazy Sundays. A day for church, for brunch out, for lounging about in the warm sun while cool breezes rustle the pages of your book...

But not for us!

We played hookie from church and set out to gather supplies at the Depot of Homes and the Space of the Green, meeting up at the new casa just in time to welcome back my parents for another fun-filled day of renovations and demolition. (And kleenex - Mom's sniffle had transformed into a full blown nasty cold. Ugh.)

It was 84 degrees at 10am, mercury steadily rising... I don't know about y'all, but I do *NOT* do heat gracefully. When Matt came back from an errand in the afternoon and cheerfully shared that it was 97 degrees, I just about had a heart attack.

Matt: "It's 97 degrees outside!"

Me: "Don't tell me that! Geesh! Ack! I'm melting!"

Matt: "What? I thought it would make you feel better to know that it actually is really hot and that it isn't just you suffering in the 80's or something..."

It can NOT be that hot up here on another work day, or we all just might melt and die.

I must admit that the milk paint is not going according to plan... Instead of gliding effortlessly over the pine paneling, creating an artistic whitewashed effect, it is glopping (perhaps the heat had something to do with this...) and not covering very well. Some of the wood panels are warped, making roller application rather difficult (and less than attractive.) The wood is causing the paint to yellow in some areas, creating a very sallow wall color.

(But it will be great! Yes! The power of positive thinking!)

Dad continued to plug away at the kitchen, sanding and priming most of the walls and ceiling despite the uncooperative nature of the paint in the extreme heat... (and that room gets HOT in the afternoon... HELP!) Mom gamely went back and forth between projects, taking her kleenex and iced tea wherever she landed.

Matt continued to kick ass in his quest to rewire the house. Methinks perhaps he had the best job location of us all on Sunday - under the house was actually cooler than outside or up inside. We did our standard two person electrical show: I bang on a stud to let him know where to drill, he puts holes in the house and shoves wire thru... I am pleased to report a 100% accuracy on Matt's drilling for Sunday. Don't ask about Saturday. Remember the pine paneling downsides in regards to hiding holes? Yeah...

After much sanding, prepping, taping, priming, painting, drilling, wiring and oh-so-much more, we were ready for BBQ time.

BUT FIRST: THE TREE REMOVAL!!!

Those of you who know me might think it a tad strange that I would willingly remove any live plant from my gardenspace... but this thing HAD to go. There was a rather hopeless fir tree in front of our house that looked as though someone had planted their live Christmas tree a while back... after little Timmy broke off the top of the tree while trying to put the angel on straight! It needed to be gone. Immediately. Dad brought their chainsaw over and HANDED IT TO MY HUSBAND. OMG. Heart attack number two of the day. But in all fairness, Matt did a great job taking the tree down (and even wore safety glasses while using the chainsaw! Shocker!)

The lot looks even better with the fir tree gone... but we'll have to figure out what to do with the stump remnant. Perhaps when Matt and his brother have their digging party to replace the plumbing main they can also turn their excavating efforts towards the root ball...

We enjoyed our first cooked meal at the house (thanks mom and dad) and ate our BBQ on the porch steps. I have a feeling that those steps will see quite a bit of sitting over the years - such an awesome place to perch and observe the property! We didn't die in the heat (although I feared we might at times...) and are only a few days behind schedule in my preconceived notion of how much work we would accomplish in the first weekend... Ah well. Onward!

Day Two: You Aren't a REAL Homeowner Until...

...your plumbing has blown up in your face.

We, my friends, are *REAL* homeowners!

There I was, minding my own business, pulling and thrashing about to get the last of the wallpaper and backer board off the kitchen walls (next to the faucet) when, out of the blue, the faucet began to leak.

And drip. (Try pulling the faucet tighter.)

And pour. (Take off the faucet handle to see if we can replace the gasket or even just tighten the handle's internal valve a bit more.)

And, eventually, gush out faster than the still-needing-to-be-snaked drain could handle. (Oh poop.)

At this point, we discovered that *tada!* our pre-1950's faucet pipes do NOT have shut off valves. The hot water valve attached to the water heater is too corroded to shut. The bucket that I have placed under the heavy stream of increasingly hot water is almost overflowing. Mom and I take turns running buckets of water out to the side yard while my dad valiantly tries close the faucet valve with various pliers, wrenches and brute force. No such luck. We turn off the main, only to be visited by the oh-so-friendly foundation contractor who needs water to set the concrete posts in the back. Ah. And Matt has just showed up from a half day of work, filthy from the job and needing to shower. Yes. Well. We took turns monitoring the main valve and the buckets in the kitchen sink as the water was turned on and off, on and off. And then we left my poor dad on his own to attend my baby shower down in Santa Cruz... Matt ended up sneaking out of the shower with his BF Jim and heading back up to the house... where he installed a brand new BEAUTIFUL WONDERFUL FABULOUS faucet as his first plumbing project, ever. I am SO damn proud.

Dad spent the day sanding away at our kitchen walls. Mom spent the day removing carpet staples and tackboard from our front room floor. (Did I mention it is gorgeous?!?) Matt spent the day working to rewire our lovely knob-and-tube riddled house. And I spent the day experimenting with milk paints. We accomplished less than half of what I had on the "to-do" list, but I am quickly coming to realize that lists and goals and expectations are *WAAAAAY* overrated when remodeling a house... And I need to be ok with that!

Day One... Searching for Bloodstains

...is always the hardest.

We got the keys to our new home on Thursday and took possession on Friday. After all the crazy setbacks, problems, breaches of national security, wrong turns and disappointments, I fully expected the car carrying our title papers to be hit by a semi on the way to the county recorder office, burst in to flames and further delay our close of escrow. In fact, I was *very* surprised when our FABULOUS realtor, Caren, called early Friday morning to say that the house was ours.

Caren: "Congratulations!"

Me: (to self: "Good Lord, what have we done!?!?!?!")

Matt and I met up at the house after work on Friday with a picnic dinner in tow, anxious to see what lay under the carpets. For weeks I had the same dream: we pull up the carpet in the front room and expose a blood stain the size of a small car. Pregnancy hormones or too much CSI? I can't tell... Carpets were ripped, breath was held, and VOILA! They are gorgeous! No blood! Not even a single chalk body outline! Old fir floors, excellent condition, waiting for us to rediscover them... Come to mama! Matt began the fabulous process of rewiring the whole house while I started ripping out old wallpaper and backing board in the kitchen.

Did I mention that the whole house is (uninsulated) original knotty pine paneling?

Oh yes!

The upside: AMAZING wood walls, perfect for oh-so-many different styles of cottage or bungalow refinishing.

The downside: no insulation. No mistakes allowed when cutting a hole for electrical boxes or new faucets. No hiding the past mistakes (and holes) left by previous owners' attempts to add new light fixtures or faucets. Paralyzing fear when starting to paint over the previously plain wood surface, even when I am absolutely, completely, fully 100% positive that the house is too dark, dated and "cabin-y" with the pine paneling as-is...

We ate our first dinner out on the small porch, homemade sandwiches, salt and vinegar kettle chips and a bottle of sparkling apple cider. The good life. Our new life. Starting our new home.

So it begins...

I haven't been on here much (at all) in months... there is too much going on in our lives, and a brief pause from cataloging it all online seemed appropriate. I just couldn't get in to the whole "blog your way through pregnancy" thing... particularly since ours has been a bit of a doozy.

Bottom line at this point: we're due September 23rd, and we just bought a house.

What?

Yes, a house. In California. With a baby on the way. In the worst recession in decades. With construction jobs still unstable. Because we like to live on the edge (of reason...)

In a few weeks we will move in to our new home - a 1940's cabin that is more of a project than a house at this point.... but it is ours, nonetheless. If I wasn't the size of a manatee (and just about as mobile) this wouldn't be a problem: Matt and I love to work on home renovations or upgrades and are incredibly excited to be able to transform this "charming" and "rustic" cabin into a home for our growing family. BUT I happen to be very large, very uncomfortable and very limited in the scope of projects I can tackle at this point. I'm trying to do all that I can, but combine my size with a difficult pregnancy and I really should be resting at home on a couch with a book, jug of water and a fan. (Sounds heavenly. Not realistic.) Did I mention I'm large? I'm sure all pregnant women feel this way at this point, but COME ON! My frame is not meant to be carrying an extra 45 pounds (with more to gain as the weeks continue.)

But I digress...

The house. Yes. Here we go. Onward. Home.

Let's start at the very beginning...