We know you're wondering...

Days 'til Christmas: 26

Mantlepiece status: Patched and sanded; Cait's painting this weekend

Firebox install status: Cait cornered saw our neighbor at Market Basket, who said he can get it in by the deadline

Halston front status: Good question! Guess we need to call on that.

Hearth and surround status: Getting a quote on Black Cleft Slate from the fireplace vendor (when I call on the Halston front!)

Giving Thanks

We enjoyed the holiday sharing meals with some of our nearest and dearest, including Thanksgiving dinner with the McSheras in Southborough, lunch with the Gentes (unexpectedly accompanied by a very good Grateful Dead cover band!), and a second “Friendsgiving” feast at the Wardleys with some of our Ipswich family.

We are thankful for many things this year.  We are thankful for the love we share and for all the love we felt from those present at our wedding; we are thankful for our families (by blood and by marriage); we are thankful for our friends (North Shore and longstanding); and we are thankful for Big Yellow Dogs. 

As we close out work on the mudroom exterior, it only seems right to give special thanks to all those family and friends that have assisted on this project, as well as our many other undertakings at the Wee House.  If you’ve ever picked up a hammer, paintbrush or yard tool on our behalf, thank you so very much.  And finally, thanks also to my Dear Readers out there.  I enjoy sharing our progress and I’m glad some other folks like checking up on us from time to time!

With all that feasting (and recovering), we didn’t have too much time to work on the house this weekend, but did get some little stuff done.

We raked the yard and pulled up most of the hay.  The grass hasn’t exactly come in the way I’d pictured, but we’ve been told the seed can lie dormant all winter and still be good.  I’m wondering if snow and snow melt will push the remaining seed deeper into the ground so it has a better chance to sprout come spring.  (Good theory, right?)

We also installed the rope railings and I’m honestly blown away by how awesome they look.  I hate to gloat, but COME ON.  So good.

You'll notice we also finished the majority of the remaining exterior painting.  Still need a strong tall husband to help me out with the high stuff, but he’s in his end-of-semester push and was unavailable for Tall Guy Gigs (TGG) Sunday.

I also took advantage of a great “Black Friday” promotion at Home Depot and (FINALLY!) placed an order for our cellular shades.  I was able to get the cordless (which looks so much better – clean, no fuss) top-down/bottom-up options at no extra cost.  

I chose an off-white shade with “room darkening” lining (which is different than blackout). The lining still allows a glow through, but does block more light than the "translucent" option.  It also insulates against cold in the winter and heat in the summer.  This option wasn’t any more price-wise and I liked the idea of dimming headlights from the road.  And, they guarantee delivery within 14 days!  Exciting stuff!

Sneak Peek: ROPE RAIL

We spent the weekend with friends in NEK and so no major updates, but check out what was waiting for us when we got home. Not quite a perfect match to our inspiration, but pretty darn close (not to mention weatherproof and within our budget).

Can't wait to see them installed.  Hooray!

Indian Summer - one more time for the people in the back!

A few weekends late, we had our Indian Summer weekend and we're not complaining.  The mild fall has been a blessing both for the yard work and deck project.  It's infinitely more enjoyable to work outside when you have feeling in your fingertips.  Trust me.  We've done field research on this.

On Saturday, I patched the posts with more marine epoxy (darn you, Sandy) and then whipped out the green house paint and covered over the new back facade.

While I did that, Ryan added more framing and a beadboard ceiling under the exterior gable.  Hard to photograph, but it looks great.

Around that time, my dad showed up to lend a hand. Very much appreciated by me since prior to this,  every 15 minutes Ryan called me over "for a sec," always when I had a brush loaded with paint and was perched at the very top of the ladder.  Big assist there, Dad.

Since two people working on the deck is a squeeze and three is near impossible, I turned my attention to refinishing the salvaged mantlepiece.  I scrubbed it down and then applied a de-glosser.  Next, I sanded, and filled with wood putty.  I also did some patching on the existing trim that we won't be addressing this time around.

Meanwhile, Dad and Ryan finished up the remaining pieces of trim and shingling and talked loudly about reveals and things I still don't quite understand.  They used a nice bed moulding detail to finish the beadboard ceiling.

Sunday was even nicer than Saturday.  Especially nice for those tailgating in Foxboro for the 1:00 Pats game (hint: this is what Ryan was doing). While Ryan enjoyed some well-deserved time with the boys, I primed the posts one final time to seal in the epoxy and then patched and primed Dad and Ryan's new work.

I also rewarded myself with a walk on the beach with Tela's and my friends Erin (human) and Tank (lab).  It was  glorious.  No other way to describe it.  Lucky, lucky us.

Monday was the best of the three-day weekend.  Ryan had to work, so I guess he gets a pass on being called out as a slacker, but I had one more delightfully sunny and warm day to work outside.  Worse ways to spend a Monday, that's for sure.

I applied a top coat of the cream satin finish paint on the posts (they are done, Praise Be!) and all the trim I could reach with the step ladder.  I didn't get to put the top coat on the shingles, but I did pull off all the tape and clean up any goofs so it looked nice and spiffy for when the foreman came home.

I also spent some more time on mantlepiece.  I switched to a fine grit and sanded a second round of patching, washed it to remove paint dust and left it to dry.  I now have to decide if it's time to seal the raw wood with a layer of paint (no doubt followed by another round of patch and prime). When I do, I plan to use B-I-N because it is very thin and dries fast, avoiding drip marks or pooling that could fill in the beautiful carved details.  It's not going to look brand new or perfect, but it will look much better when I'm done with it.  Quite honesty, a very crisp, fresh mantlepiece might look a little out of place at the Wee House... and I swear I'm not just saying that!

Did I get enough done, Boss?

Hint, hint

Because we know you’re wondering…

Days ‘til Christmas:

48

Status updates:

1) Our neighbor Bob(-the-plumber, a Very Good type of neighbor to have) is going to handle the gas hook-up. He's booking a few weeks out, but will work us in as soon as he can.

2) While Ryan is at the Pats game Sunday (lucky duck), I’m going to prep the mantle for paint and on my Monday holiday (no such luck for Ryan), I’m painting it. (Anyone else feel like all I ever do is PAINT?!)

3) We need to measure for the hearthstone surround. Ryan likes my idea of soapstone and we’ve found a vendor in New Hampshire. Now to determine how costly this design inspiration is... stay tuned.

4) Halston door is still on order.  Ler sigh.

 

Rad Door

We had a short work weekend this week.

Ryan had an all-day sketch problem at school and 10 hours later, had a (no doubt brilliant) design for an intrusion along Harbor Walk. (He told me he got an A++++. Gosh I married a Very Smart man!)

As for me, I was at the museum Saturday afternoon, night and into the wee hours of Sunday morning for the annual gala.  A beautiful event and great fundraising success but My Goodness it was exhausting!

That said, I did have some time on Saturday before my beautification began to put the first layer of red paint on the door and trim.

We both were dragging Sunday morning (architectural genius is also exhausting, I'm told) and so we took a little bop over to Gloucester and Rockport before brunch at The Landing in Manchester-by-the-Sea.

Recharged by French Toast and a spicy Bloody Mary, we were ready for an afternoon of work on the Wee House.

I finished up the door and other trim while Ryan did a much-needed clean out of the barn.

Here are our latest glam shots.

And as for the grass... we have liftoff! Thank goodness for a mild fall.

Built to Last

North Shore was spared the brunt of Hurricane Sandy, though we did experience 60 mph winds and 8-foot-high waves, according to local reports. And though 50,000 households are without power, Ipswich municipal power kept the lights on (despite a couple flickers here and there). Nothing compared to what many of our friends in NYC and Hoboken are contending with. We’re thinking of you all. XO

Work was cancelled for me on Monday, but Ryan went down to Salem until mid-afternoon, when the storm hit its peak. We considered venturing to Crane’s Beach for a looksee, but Ryan reported that limbs were down and the canopy of a gas station in town had been blown off, so instead we hunkered down, fueled by Franken Chili and a hurricane-themed vino, 24 Knots. Here’s my tableau of hurricane preparedness (the wine had a great label, but disappointing taste; I’m loving my new book).

 

I was so impressed with the Wee House. Despite the gusts, the house took it like a champ and really stood up to the weather. Ryan reminded me that that’s why the house has been standing for almost 170 years. I think it might also have something to do with all the extra structural framing my talented husband has added.

Our damp basement was damp, but nothing more than what we’ve come to expect during April showers (or this year’s case, May showers… heavy, heavy May showers which lasted until about three days before our Sunny and Perfect wedding day). Addressing the basement is a Very Expensive project we’ll be ignoring for the time being.

The eagle has landed (and so has Sandy)

Days ‘til Christmas: 56

Fireplace Status: Unit in hand, Halston front on order

I’m starting to dream about hearth materials.  I like this combination of bluestone and marble.  

Bluestone or soapstone all around could also look very nice.  I know, dream on.

I’m still hoping we can use the faux slate from the yard for at least the horizontal surface and find a cheaper substitute for the vertical (the "slabs" are thick and very heavy, probably too heavy to use on the face).  While this isn't an element we can frankly afford to drop much more money on (after the purchase of the unit), it's also something very permanent, so we can't cheap out either.

In mulling this over with Frank, he offered up his sandblaster to resurface polished granite, which sometimes you can find thin slabs of on the cheap. I don’t generally love the look of granite, but here are a few ones that caught my eye while roving the interwebs. If they had that honed granite look, I think they'd work.

As for Sandy, we’re awaiting the eye and will catch you on the flipside!

(Not) Indian Summer Weekend (2 of 2)

Guess I jinxed the weather with last weekend’s blog title.  Oh well, we had a good run there and it made our outside work much more pleasant.

Saturday morning’s visit to Home Depot was longer than usual, thanks to Frankenstorm. Generators, bags of sand and water jugs were flying off the shelves.

As we drove back into Ipswich, we saw a much better confirmation of a storm a-brewing. A mist rather ominously rolled into town off Plum Island Sound and sat over us for a few hours. Kinda creepy.  Frankenstorm indeed.

First up was breaking out our latest power tool toy, a 3-inch planer to shave just a small bit off the top corner of our new door, which had been sticking.  It's not sticking anymore!  After that, Ryan attached our lovely oil-rubbed bronze doorknob.  

While Ryan worked on the door, I sealed some of the horizontal surfaces on our posts with a marine epoxy to protect against rot where water will gather and the end grain of the pine lumber was exposed. We also previously primed the posts with B-I-N, a shellac-based primer that goes on very nicely and dries super quick. B-I-N also provides another barrier layer against moisture. The epoxy needed 24 hours to cure, so once Ryan was done adding the doorknob, I prepped it for paint and primed both sides. Before calling it a day, Ryan also finished shingling in the old mudroom entrance.

Our plan on Sunday had been to paint trim and the door, but a misty rain settled in and we didn’t want to mess up the topcoat.  So instead, I primed the new shingles on the back while Ryan attached our lovely rough-hewn red cedar brackets. There’s been a lot of discussion about best ways to do this, so it’s very nice to see them finally up.

After hearing the latest dire weather predictions, we also battened down the hatches and cleared the yard. 

The rain began to kick up early afternoon, so we called it an early day and watched the Pats game in nearly real time (DVR is a lifesaver for fall renovation-football schedule conflicts). We’re disappointed we didn’t get the topcoat on, but it clearly wasn’t the right conditions to be painting in. 

That all said, check out how the exterior is looking.

Pretty sweet, right?

As for a lawn update, I’d just about lost hope for our grass, but as I was clearing the yard this afternoon, I noticed a small patch sprouting!  What a relief.  We didn't do it wrong! 

We think despite the warm days, the nights have perhaps been too cold to get the seed going this fall.  The seed can stay dormant all winter and still come up in the spring.  And so, we wait.  No doubt we’ll have to spread some additional seed in thin spots come spring.  And in the interim, the salt marsh hay will prevent against a mud pit.

Lots of chatter on the news and web about what to expect as Hurricane Sandy hits New England in the next day or so.  Our dehumidifier and sump pump are ready, just in case.  Flashlights are charged and out, and we have a crock of "Franken Chili" to keep us fed.  Time will tell what this lady's made of.

Frankenstorm?

Last week it was an earthquake (we felt it at the Wee House and were relieved to find out it was a Seismic Event and not a Structural Failure) and last year it was a Halloween snowstorm.   

Good thing we have the mudroom exterior pretty closed up since forecasts are predicting another crazy Halloween storm, and instead of the white stuff, there is talk of a tropical storm, perhaps even a hurricane. 

 

Here’s my prediction: I’ll be painting trim this weekend, but Ryan will be swinging a hammer. And we’ll both be finding homes for all the yard equipment in the barn.  Batten down those hatches!

Fireplace update

Days ‘til Christmas: 60
Status: Order has been placed

Here’s the slender model we went with that will fit nicely in the Wee House front room.  We chose the "halston" doors in a New Bronze finish.

Time to get working on refinishing the mantel!