1 Yr. Anniversary

     Welcome to a very special edition of the Dueselhouse Blog. 365 days ago (Actually, it was May 31. I forgot to post this on time), we signed a pile of papers and became owners of a ramshackle 2 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom house. Running water, indoor plumbing, and a fifth of an acre to mow regularly.

     In short, the place was a bit of a dump. This is some before and after photos of the changes we have made to our little home. We are pleased with how much of it has turned out.

 

Our Kitchen:

Your Backdoor, Man:

 

The Famed Man Bathroom:

Bathroom:

The finished product (no, we haven't painted; yes there is a mirror)

The Blue Room (for the baby due June 7th):

Floors for the House:

 

     It was a busy year. I am still surprised with all the improvements we have made - or that Katie even let us buy a house that needed this much work! Also, thanks to our parents, for loving us and encouraging what seemed crazy.  We tried to put forth a strong face, but I know sometimes I was scared with the number of things to be done. Everyone else who helped, keep your eyes peeled for the shout-out blog post in a few days (weeks) we didn't forget all those paint-stained hands and sacrificed weekends!

     That's all for our little before-after tour. It's less than a week until Frankie gets a new brother or sister, and we are headed to one last dinner at a restaurant without cartoon animals or slides. (don't worry, we won't really go to those places with our children!)

     So long, for now, and thanks for all the fish!

-Jeff

Like a Submarine

Spring has come to Dueselhouse, and while I have a lot to work back through, what better place to start than the present and work backwards!

I was installing a new ceiling fan in the blue room, and needed electrical tape. Of course I didn't have any, so it was time for a trip to Ye'Olde Hardware Depot. Since I was there, I needed some soil break-up for the hole where the stump was. And since I am there, i might as well look at the one thing the house really needs.

It hasn't probably hasn't come up to be discussed here, but Dueselhouse is awesome. An amalgamation of old and new, fresh and firm, classic and custom. All the openings to the outside are relatively (if not completely) new, and while a little throttled the front storm-door is great. What we needed was cross ventilation. The kitchen has a door that keeps the heat in there when it is summer, or keeps the dog inside when the door is open, but darn-it-all if there is no circulation of air in the place.

We need a screen door!

Why today there is a trip to Depot, how serendipitous! Why not cruise past the screen doors and see what's what.

I came home with a vinyl screen door, big top opening, 4 small sections on the bottom. "Do you know how to install one of these?" The cashier asked, studying my Jeep t-shirt.

"I will tonight, when I'm finished." I told her skeptical look.

Back home, the covering was ripped off, and the door was sized up for the space, not quite a perfect fit. A professional had installed the back door last spring - see the story A Square Deal -  and the door was exact, the screen door was off a smidgen.

Fine, full disclosure, I didn't use a measuring tape, the door didn't fit, and I wasn't about to change the door trim. About a quarter inch had to be taken at the top and bottom of the frame.

A bit of massaging with the belt sander, and she slapped right into the opening no problem! Hinges, handle, done! Right?

NO!

I got a little creative, and put some reenforcement trim on the inside of the lower sections.

Pressing Down the Trim Additions

One thing led to another, and the door was installed. The door had a spring to pull it closed. The door had a handle! The door had a hole in it!

The door isn't supposed to have a hole in it, is it? It is a screen door, so technically it is supposed to have hundreds of small organized holes in it. But this new door has a hole in it.

Before anyone begins wailing, and gnashing, and what have you, let's see if this video helps explain:

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how Dueselhouse got not only a screen door out back, but a just-for-Frankie screen door too!

Suffice to say, I am thrilled with this little project.

EDIT 3 Hrs Later: Now I'm thrilled with it: