Love-ly Reno Weekend

After a few weekends away, it was great to get back to work on the house. We were again at work in the front rooms. The day started off with a little framing for Ryan and some design work as we nailed down the specifics of the gas fireplace and the mounted flat screen above. We’d previously selected the gas fireplace kit we’ll be using, but had to figure out the requirements of the flat screen mounting system.

That all sorted out, Ryan was able to rough frame out the fireplace.

In anticipation of an electrician coming next week, we then moved on to demo’ing the rest of the front room.

Archeological findings along the way include:

The first non-offensive wallpaper in an awfully long time:

Some creative cardboard and paper bag insulation from 1954 (it has held up well with no water damage, so we’ve got that going for us… which is nice) and a new name of a resident at 84 High Street.

An 1894 Indian head one-cent piece, which for about 40 minutes Ryan resisted the urge to look up the value of online (he’s placing it at a solid $30), another one-cent piece, a hat pin, a newspaper from 1890, and a cool ice sign we’re holding onto for the barn.

Saturday night we had our lovey-dovey dinner out at The Landing in Manchester-by-the-Sea. When we lived in Salem, we used to go to The Landing in Marblehead and between you, me, and the interweb… we like the Manchester-by-the-Sea location much more. Friends and family, you may just get brought here when you come to see our “soon to be complete” first floor.

Sunday morning, we visited our friends at Mello Dump. It was everything and more… at least Tela thought so. She’s figured out that when we go to the dump, she gets a treat. The dog can hardly contain herself. It’s a scene. In our small Ford Ranger cab. But I digress.

We no short of Moved Mountains on Sunday. Ryan framed out walls on the dining room side and then pulled wires in preparation for the electrician, and I insulated more.

Then Ryan (with my expert supervision) finished rough framing the fireplace. We’re really starting to get a sense of what the finished space will look like, and it’s really going to look a-mazing!

This Hallmark Holiday also marks a year since we first looked at 84 High Street. So crazy that it’s been a year! The Phantom Gardner also sent us a valentine. Someone’s been paying attention to the blog…

I’d be remiss if I did not mention that Valentine’s Day is a bittersweet holiday for Ryan and I, as this week marks the one-year anniversary of my cousin and Ryan’s friend Gary’s passing. We miss you so much, Gary, and hope you are having a couple laughs at our expense as we navigate our way through this “small little reno project”…