Home Improvement: Fireplace Edition, Part 6

After discovering the box o’ ductwork, I spent some time scrambling around trying to figure out what to do. Jim and I met a couple times to try to figure out a solution, but no clear solution proved forthcoming until I met with Pat, the guy we hired to tile the fireplace. I explained the problem to Pat, who does kitchen and bathroom remodels singlehandedly, and he started thinking about what we ought to do.

After some discussion, we agreed that Pat would take over the project from here, since he can finish everything that needs to be done on his own. This choice took a huge weight off my mind — the project may still take a while to finish, but we aren’t going to have the same scheduling gaps and down days just waiting, and I know who’s going to do what. Also, Pat is clearly a creative guy who enjoys problem-solving; his business is called Creative Home Works. A little ducting puzzle doesn’t faze him at all. Continue Reading >>

Home Improvement: Fireplace Edition, Part 5

The subtitle for this post should be “What you’d call good news, bad news.”

Good news: Our rough-in inspection passed! Ian was here for the inspector, who took about two minutes to review his notes, look at the work we’d done, and sign off on the changes. Huge sigh of relief! Maybe I’ll sleep tonight (last night was all wakeful shades of inspection-related misery).

Bad news: Last night, I looked into a box that was in the construction area of the house. It had been sitting there for quite a while and I’d forgotten what was in it, and some insulation ended up on top of it. An unassuming box. Continue Reading >>

Home Improvement: Fireplace Edition, part 2

This morning, bright and early, the Kirkland Fireplace installer showed up to install the actual fireplace itself. He arrived about 8:00 and finished about 10:30, so quickly I didn’t even have time to make a batch of cookies to say “thank you.”

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The stove itself!
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Installer Eric hard at work, having just hooked up to the gas line in the crawl space.
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It's installed and we can even turn it on!
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Not the most ideal location for a vent...

Wow, it worked! All my careful design and agonizing research actually did pay off: It’s not touching the wall in the back; the direct vent was able to bend and go straight out without being too tall; the sides fit in exactly right; the gas line had been run to the exact right spot and he had to do minimal work to hook it up. I have to admit, I’m kind of astonished. Continue Reading >>

Bookshelf Installation: Day 2

Day’s Verse:
Remind the people to respect the government and be law-abiding, always ready to lend a helping hand. No insults, no fights. God’s people should be bighearted and courteous.
Titus 3:1-2

As promised, here’s what the bookshelves look like after the guy spent another full day here doing stuff.

Bookshelves Day 2 - Flash

Looks like he didn’t do that much all day, huh? Well, look again.

Bookshelves Day 2 - No flash

The lights have three settings (brightest setting shown) and are controlled by a touch-sensitive pad that will be hidden in one of the cabinets. These keep getting better and better. It’s like coming home to Christmas every day. And Deborah, notice – with the lights on, and the beginnings of the crown molding, the paint imperfections are becoming increasingly unnoticeable. I bet by the time it’s done, we’ll hardly have to do anything to the wall. I can tell which room I’m gonna be spending a lot of time in. Continue Reading >>

Bookshelf Installation: Day 1

Day’s Verse:
It wasn’t so long ago that we ourselves were stupid and stubborn, dupes of sin, ordered every which way by our glands, going around with a chip on our shoulder, hated and hating back. But when God, our kind and loving Savior God, stepped in, he saved us from all that. It was all his doing; we had nothing to do with it. He gave us a good bath, and we came out of it new people, washed inside and out by the Holy Spirit. Our Savior Jesus poured out new life so generously. God’s gift has restored our relationship with him and given us back our lives. And there’s more life to come—an eternity of life! You can count on this.
Titus 3:3-8 Continue Reading >>

Vacation: Day 3

Day’s Verse:
Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
2 Timothy 2:22

Remember how a month and a bit ago, I posted a picture of bookshelves we were getting? Kenis Loven said it would take about 6 weeks, and I’ll say that those were the fastest weeks I’ve ever heard of: our new shelves (artist’s rendering shown below) are scheduled to be installed starting on October 25, which is nearly upon us! It will take them 2 or 3 days to finish the job. Continue Reading >>

Sleeping Above the Ground! (and a trip to points east)

Day’s Verse:
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:11-13

Ta-da!
Bedroom Set 1

Bedroom Set 2
OK, I know Ian will gripe if I don’t clarify: We’ve been sleeping on normal mattresses on a Harvard frame, so it’s not as if we’d been making do with sleeping bags on the floor since we bought the house. However, this is exciting because it’s the first time in our entire 7 years of marriage we’ve had a real bedroom set like this. Yay! The quality is fabulous…but then, we previously had particleboard with wood veneer, so I guess anything’s better than that. Continue Reading >>