Friday, December 5, 2014

not yet but soon

Remember the screenporch renovation project?
Today it looks about as we left it on 18 November:


After much scrambling, many phonecalls, and two site visits,
I have good news to share with you:
the new carpenter starts next week!

He came out last Saturday morning to look at the job,
when there was all that snow on the ground,
and agreed to take it on. Mid-renovation.
Cheerfully.

I've just been waiting for him to finish up his current job, and this morning he confirmed that he will begin "early-to-mid" next week. So, by this time next Friday (my birthday, by the way), I hope to have major progress to report.
Oh, I hope, I hope!



Meanwhile, I've been busy prepping.
At this point, the only way I can economize at all on this job is to find, buy, and fetch the materials myself, limiting both delivery charges and work delays.

Earlier this week I visited a sawmill and loaded up the hardworking Little Green Sportswagon with hand-selected lumber earmarked for the outside finish work and kneewalls. Today, I went back for a second load, this  time for the ceiling, and that lumber is also now neatly stacked on the porch. Unloading takes me quite a while. It's not hard work, I am just really slow. But it gets done.
A small economy, and a tiny part of the whole process,
but at least I'm doing something.


And I'll be picking up the insulation next.
By the time the carpenter arrives next week, this place will look like...
well, like a little construction site!
~~~

And a different kind of exciting (to me) news!
Tomorrow is the day of my very favorite tag sale of the year:
an annual fundraiser for the Pat Brody Shelter for Cats, in central MA.
Good people with good hearts, doing good work.
I always enjoy this event, and come home with at least one useful treasure or homebaked treat.

Even more incentive to unload the car tonight...
you never know what might turn up for a dollar or two.
Last year I brought home an elegant little rocking chair!


This year, I think Dara would like me to look for
Toys for Good Little Goats.
~~~

I hope your weekend will be wonderful,
wherever you are and whatever you do!
~~~~~

8 comments:

  1. All this is wonderful stuff!!! so happy you found a carpenter, and a cheerful one, at that. Your birthday is just a couple of days before mine. I knew you were good people, you Sag! Happy Birthday!!

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    1. Ha! If we ever meet in real life, we must celebrate out birthdays together...no matter what time of year it is! :)

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  2. Hi Quinn, this IS good news...having the room completed prior to actual winter...you know, the actual HARD winter will be wonderful! Yes, to doing whatever you can to be useful and to drive down costs. The more you can do, the faster the carpenter can finish and no matter how slow you go, you're still moving forward.
    Happy Birthday, early; hope it's wonderful! As to my weekend, it's quiet; a fire in the wood stove, piddling on the I-net, working on my devo book and thinking about joining the dogs for a nap.
    Merry Christmas...you! I'm so glad we met.

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    Replies
    1. Aw, thanks Sandra - me, too! I think we have a lot in common in the way we approach the challenges of day-to-day life amongst the hay-munchers. And yes, "forward" is definitely the part I try to focus on! :)

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  3. I'm thrilled that you found a carpenter to finish your project. Yipee!!!!! Your ideas for saving his time (and expense) are great. I hope hope hope that your porch is moving full speed ahead by your birthday!

    And Dara definitely deserves a toy for a good little goat!

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  4. That's great news. Hopefully this new carpenter is efficient and fast and gets the job done soon. And an early Happy Birthday!

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  5. Dara looks nice and warm. Reminds me of my Bunny!

    And that is great news about the porch! I know you must be so excited. Sometimes house improvements seem to have to sit forever. Progress is always cause for celebration. :)

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