Our first light switch!
I know it's just a light switch, but it's a turning point, just like the first toilet flush.
Porch-Part 2
Pete noticed this after a particularly windy rainstorm.
He sent me this photo of the side porch awning pulling away from the house after he and Joe got it reinforced. Why give three people an anxiety attack?
They pulled the awning back in place from the inside of the house with industrial strength ratchet straps, an XXL wrench, large threaded rods, and humungous bolts.
The awning was then stabilized with temporary braces to prepare for the removal of the old deck, joists, and foundation.
Holes were dug for these sonotubes, concrete was poured inside of them to create column foundations.
The basement entryway got a concrete makeover as well.
Here are the posts installed.
And here we are with the joists and beams, with a few planks of the decking roughed in. The start of a column is in the photo as well.
I discovered composite decking a few years ago. I saw some that looked pretty plastic-ey. Probably made entirely of PVC and molded to have a wood grain pattern, it looks like real wood if its dark out and you've had a few drinks. My inner Homer Simpson said "Mmmm......no maintenance, we'll never have to paint it"
We would never have to paint it but we would have to buy it, so Pete suggested we use some of the maple floor boards we got for free.
Here's some of the maple planed down. It looks so pretty and refreshed, like one of those old rich Upper East Side ladies after her dermabrasion treatments.
This is so perfect! I love looking at these photos.
Pete bought turned balusters from Home Depot and added pieces to this 4 x 4 to achieve the thickness and detail he wanted.
I dont want to be the one to have to paint that bald spot on the house behind the column.
Pete got these salvaged mahogany staircase balusters from Joe.
Pete cut out these notches...............
The bottom railing is cut into an inverted V to keep the rain from pooling onto it.
We bought these beaded spandrels a couple of years ago, it's nice to see them finally being used.
New Acquisitions
More crying babies
As promised in the last post, here are the crying baby postcards I bought on Ebay.
Flare for the dramatic
A wood burning stove is part of the grand plan for the house. After we had a specialist inspect the chimney we hope to use, Pete found this fancy parlor stove on Facebook Marketplace. 
These look so beautiful with a fresh coat of paint! There are several X factors as to how much money this will save in heating bills. There's always someone chopping down trees and giving the wood away on Craigslist, so getting free logs doesn't seem like it will ever be a problem. How warm will the house get? How long will it stay warm? How long will the wood burn?
I know new wood burning stoves are supposed to be more efficient, but we are trying to find the intersection of efficient and pretty.
Here is where the stove will eventually be installed.
Small sheets of mica were originally installed behind the windows on the door. I don't know how it is manufactured now but the old sheets have a pretty texture.
Underneath the urn and cap is a flat surface where water can be boiled. Possibly used as a rudimentary humidifier, or to make tea if you are too lazy to walk to the kitchen.
Also purchased on Facebook Marketplace, this second empire house-shaped stove may have been a salesman sample, which means the one sold to customers was bigger. The plan is to convert this to a gas fireplace, to be installed in the fern room. I'm not sure how much it will heat up the room, but it will look spectacular trying.
Our first antique fireplace is in the background, looking jealous, like an older sibling taking a back seat to the newborn baby.
The finial is missing, maybe we can find a replacement to fit.
Not a lot of information is available on our stove. We saw several models online that are similar, like this sparkly beauty.
Flora and Fauna
We ordered more of this raven garden fence, now we have enough to go around the front dirt patch.
The bulbs that Amanda generously planted for us started to sprout in March, and were in full bloom in April!
Another house for our Victorian birdhouse mansion collection
This is birdhouse number six, purchased from a local thrift store. A friend of ours said "I wanna live there. I've never been jealous of a birdhouse before!"
I thought it would be nice to provide the birds with some scrap for nesting material, so Pete made this from an unknown wire mesh object, also from the thrift store.
Bird Murder
Everyone has heard birds squawk, but hearing it up close is really jarring! I assume this is some sparrow turf war, or a mother trying to protect her babies from an intruder.
Secret shopping spree trees
I used to be a lot more worried about how Pete spent his money when I wasn't working. Now fully employed, I care a lot less. I was still kinda worried when Pete started the conversation with "I bought some trees" He was talking in that low voice I immediately understand will be followed by something I may not be happy with.
I didn't argue with him, it was his $600. to blow.
"Home Depot was having a sale, trees 20% off. We need to plant trees now, they are gonna take a while to grow "
Let's hope they do well in our yard!
Is that you, Barky?
Referred to only as Barky McBarkster, our next door neighbors have a dog that never stops barking. They leave the dog on the back porch where it barks for hours as the owners sit inside the house ignoring it. We've never seen them walk the dog, so as far as we can tell the dog relieves itself on the porch.
Things got a little better after Pete got into a heated argument with the female homeowner when the dog was left outside in 20 degree snowing weather. Now they take the dog in at night, and they got a crate so it can sit outside. I guess putting it on a leash in the or actually walking the poor thing is too much to ask.
You can only imagine my excitement when I watched this beagle running loose on our Ring camera. Pete was in New York, driving to the house the next day. Is that Barky? How many liberated beagles are running around in our neighborhood at any given time?
I immediately made plans to find Barky a new home. The list included:
- McDonalds burger, fried chicken, or flank steak to lure Barky in
- dog crate
- universal microchip reader
- contact info of a shady veterinarian to remove said microchip if Barky has one
- running list of beagle rescues
Sadly, when Pete arrived the next day, Barky was on the patio prison, barking away. Was that Barky on the Ring camera, or just another lost beagle?
There's a Barkeyville in Pennsylvania. It must be a horrible place to live.
Free
I would like to build a brick retaining wall for the driveway. I found someone nearby giving away free bricks on Craigslist, he was kind enough to lend Pete this tool to lift a bunch at once.
We also picked up this mantel for free. It's not amazing, but I'm sure Pete can make it beautiful somehow. Pete took the door too.
Sterling Collection
Little Red Riding Hood is being perpetually chased around in circles by the big bad wolf on the bodice of this child's dress.
Inspirations
Our neighborhood is an odd mix of some1950s ranch houses, some big Victorian houses like ours, and a few random burnt-out buildings. There are a few nearby gems, and I always get excited driving by these grand old ladies.
This house is just a few blocks away from ours, and someone is busy restoring it. I wonder if they drive by our house and note the progress we've made.
Check out all that lacy gingerbread under the gables! And those oval window frames! The siding on the turret is different from the rest of the house. I've never seen details like this before.
This is the garage, complete with painted window curtains.
Poetry Corner
Wow, this one isn't that raunchy!
