Working On The Little House In The Ozarks Day 8

My husband was up early to start "cutting in" the color

in the living room and the dining room. 

 I really liked the color

in the living room, but the same color in the dining room looked

a bit plain.  My husband was patient enough to consent to a

bit darker color (bottom color in pic), so we made a Lowe's run.

Here is my classic shot showing progress.

I am still crossing my fingers, 

hoping to finish the living room/dining room by the end of the week.

Working On The Little House In The Ozarks Day 7

 The day started off with my husband unloading

another vanload of stuff.  The guests that are "camping"

in our upstairs (no beds or heat!) lent a hand.

 Dustin the handyman came and brought 'Ratchet'.

 He found some old narrow oak floor boards to patch in

to part of the dining room where a floor grate had been

removed and patched over poorly.  Bless him.

Husband did "cutting on next to the ceiling.

He is very good at that.

It was the first wall "color" to be applied to the living / dining room area.

I continued my work in the guest room.

I took the closet doors off.

 I patched and sanded the doors twice and 

did one coat of primer.

I was rewarded with this gorgeous view as the sun was going down.

Working On The Little House In The Ozarks Day 6

 First thing today my northern neighbor helped me

do some measuring before he took off for a full basketball tournament day. 

 Then some puttering in the guest room.

I took the closet doors off, and did some repairs on them.

They are actually two narrow vintage 5-panel doors.

To cap off the day,

both my husband and son showed up to 

unload another load of stuff from our "other" house.

Working On The Little House In The Ozarks Day 5

Finally, some real progress.  Cory and Dustin (aka handymen) showed up today.  They did not break out in cursing or run out of the house screaming when I told them everything I wanted them to do in the living/dining area. Today they removed the kerosene monster heater that took up so much space in the living room area.

They also removed both hideous ceiling fans from the dining and living areas (many more left in the house); and most importantly -- they did the fourth and final ceiling coat in both of those areas.  Something is done, COMPLETED!

I kept out of their way by prepping the guest room for painting. Cleaning the walls and painting Kilz on any unsightly wall stains.  I hope it airs out before I sleep in there tonight.

The heating/cooling guy showed up to give us an estimate on an upstairs split unit heater / AC.  There never has been ANY heat or AC upstairs (hard to imagine) and we want that to be the master bedroom.  He left with a down payment, and a promise of a March installation date.

As if that wasn't enough ... the hardwood floor refinisher guy came as well.  He did not take my money, but did leave with a promise of a March completion date.  Woohoo.

No, I am not done yet.  (Hard to handle all this excitement for someone like me, who has had oatmeal two dinners in a row.) Our neighbors (from our northern home) are in town for a basketball tournament and "camping" in the upstairs (with no heat or beds, remember?)  Our first out of town guests!
Whew, it will be hard to top day like that.

Working On The Little House In The Ozarks Day 4

While I am waiting for my oatmeal to cook (back to the basics here, loving my gas stove though) I will tell you that today was about like yesterday.  And the day before that...etc

I got the third coat of Kilz covering the cursed blue that was on the ceiling. (Remember that I am doing the dining room and living room simultaneously.)   And I started to Kilz coat the trim, since it will be the next step after the ceiling.  It is hard to believe that is all I have done in four days.  But more exciting times are coming.  (This coming from a person who is having oatmeal for supper.) Stay tuned.

Working On The Little House In The Ozarks Day 3

Day 3.  Finished my first gallon of Kilz.

My new best friend.

By the end of the day I had painted two coats over the 

navy area on the ceiling and one coat over the top 12" on the wall.

Of course we are still  just talking about the living room / dining room.

It doesn't seem like much for a 12 hour work day,

but slow and steady will win the race.

Final farewell to the navy blue on the ceiling.

It should be against the law to paint this shade of blue on a ceiling.

Working On The Little House In The Ozarks Day 2

 Today I did some "cutting in".  Which was sprinkled with a 

good helping of plaster repair and wood hole filling.

I tried to give you a similar view from yesterday,

so that you can see the progress.

A "sneak peek" of the view from the exterior side of the door.

Working On The "New" Ozark House Day #1

 This crew not only helped unload the van,

they are the reason we are moving to the Ozarks.

 
Can you imagine being dropped in a new location, with minimum supplies, to work on a house for 3 months?  OK, we bought this house in the Ozarks a few months ago -- but only took possession of it this past weekend.  It will be months until we are totally moved down here, because my husband has to finish the school year.  So it is a perfect time for me to work on the Ozark house before furniture arrives.  I have a little bed (smaller than a twin), two small chairs, and a small TV.  

Today was the first "work day".  Before my husband went back "north" (over 4 hour drive), we managed to purchase a refrigerator, washer & dryer at Lowe's.  The fridge will be arriving sometime this week, and the washer & dryer may not arrive for over a month.  No worries, I will send my laundry over to my son's house (payback for all of those years of stinky soccer laundry!)

The moment husband departed, I ripped into the living / dining area.  Both had been painted / decorated to give a "Tuscany" vibe.  When one lives in Texas, one should embrace the western lifestyle.  When one lives on the beach, go beachy crazy.  And when one lives in the Ozarks, do not pretend to be in Italy.

There was gold molding between the white and blue ceiling areas. (View with molding in the top "doorway" photo)   I tore it down the moment my husband pulled out of the drive. I filled in the nail holes with joint compound.  Ready for "KILZ" on the ceiling tomorrow.  Then I took a "break" to deep clean the bathroom.  So exciting to see a little progress!

Last Of My Ebay Listings (for awhile)

I am trying (so hard!) to not purchase any items for resale. This self-imposed rule is effective January through March of this year, as we are trying to prepare for a move.  But, all of the items here were offered in a $15 box, so I gave in.

 These silk ribbon & leather children's shoes have a 1906 date

on the bottom, and a boys name.

Sold for $15 on ebay.

 Advertising fan for a bread company,

dated 1926.

 Advertising and sample from Zion Lace Company.

Sold for $30 on ebay.

 Scottie hanky.

 Celluloid rattles.

 Very old velvet earmuffs.

 Two crocheted baby hats.

Vintage painted doll hangers.

All will be going on ebay sometime soon,

and then a long ebay sabbatical.

1895 Staircase Showstopper

The stairway of our 1895 house is a showstopper.

Somehow, the wood has escaped paint for over 120 years.

The exterior of the house has over 50 acorns, and

the staircase carries this design over with the 3 acorn finials.

Pair of gorgeous carved brackets, each with acorn on bottom.

The side of the stairs also has a curved leafy motif.

Had our handyman Michael making the walls look

as great as the staircase.  Oh, perhaps you don't realize

from this view how precarious he is....

DO NOT try this at home!

St Joseph Antique Show Booth

 My husband and I were vendors in the St Joseph Antique Show over the weekend.

We brought some personal antiques which we have enjoyed for decades, but we are getting our house ready to sell and clearing things out...like this shoe sign which has been hanging on our back porch. And the little girl "Meditation" lithograph print on the left which has graced our stairway.


It was fun visiting with old friends and making some new ones.  Here I am with my friends Kelly and Dean.  Their family has befriended us since we moved to the area 30 years ago. They had a booth across from us.

Very happy with over $2400 worth of sales.  But a little sad that this is our last St Joseph Antique Show, as it will be too far to pack everything from our new location.