I Can See Clearly Now

Sing along if you wish, cuz I just put in the LAST of our 47 widows!

We used Marvin Ultimate Wooden Double Hungs and a few Marvin Wooden Casement and Awning-type windows as well. They are sweet...and look much more appropriate than the 1970's aluminum windows that were present in the home when we purchased it.

In our town, windows are a big bone of contention for historic houses--it is perhaps the single most discussed building material discussed during our town's "Historic Preservation Review Commission" meetings And for good reason--windows are such a character defining element that bad window replacement can really take a toll on the historic integrity of a home...While, not authentic, the Marvins are much more appropriate regarding dimensions and materials.

My preference, of course, would have to been able to keep the original windows, but like so much on this home, they were removed long ago. Too bad. I think original windows look best, and with some upkeep, I don't think one loses much in energy costs. That being said, I'm doing the best I can to bring back the look and style of the home...Is it perfect? No. But it's not bad either. And now I can see.

A Million and One Small Details

I'm in the process of wrapping up the outside of our house--after 5 freakin' years. It has been a long an ardouous process and it nice to know that we are near the end of wrapping up the outside of the home...but it is the process of wrapping up that take a frustratingly long period of time...A little bit of this a little bit of that, and each doesn't have the huge impact that installing a window or painting the side of the building.

Details. They make all the difference, I know. But they seem to take forever, making the process slow to a crawl. I can see unfinished examples all over town of people giving up on the details...it is not easy to finish things up. I need to focus. Focus on the details, now, and not on the entire house. Shift my view from big to small, rough to fine. In the end it will make all the difference.

Why My Blog Is So Boring

I want get some pretty pictures. I want spunky graphics. I want to have more posts...Why can't I, you ask? Because our home is gutted. Gutted I tell you. Down to the studs.

No electricity down stairs. Very little plumbing. No computers. No internet connection. Most of all of our belongings are in a metal storage container on our property. I can't access much at this point and so it is hard to get to my digital camera (in storage container), my computer (in the storage container), my "before" pictures (in the storage container), yada, yada, yada.

One thing we STILL have is T.V. cable--Hey! we aren't completely stuck in the dark ages...we will overcome...and someday, I'll have a nifty blog with some great before and after pics. Not now, however. Right now I have studs. Lots and lots of studs.

I'm Alive!

After reading so many great blogs on home rehabilitation, I've decided to start my own...Although I'm a little late in that I'm into year 5 of my home restoration. In the near future, I'll try to play catch up and provide a narration of all the work that we have done to date. For now, let's just say "I'm Alive!"

One thing, before I begin in earnest: I stole the title of my blog from Aaron and Jeannie over at House In Progress...As all home renovators know, misery loves company...and I began searching for blogs of others who are in the same boat as I am and I stumbled across HIP. It was great to read their blog. In one entry, Jeannie, I believe, described the whole renovation process as "Camping With A Mortgage." That, I felt, described it perfectly.

In the future, if I can figure this stuff out, I'll post pictures and provide some more background...but for now, this will suffice as my "first post."