Tornado Seen on Filbert Ave

The temperature was hovering around 40 degrees, clouds coming in and then a tornado touched down in the perfect location- 860 Filbert Ave!!! The tornado had a name, Danny Springer and it was quick and stopped almost as soon as it started. In fact so quick I didn't have time to catch it on film or a scan disk! A girl's nails are still priority. I digress, the demo was over before I made it back but the clean up will continue for at least 3 more dump runs.
Chris started out the day at PT for his knee, and then on the dump. Trailer was filled for the time being, and if you haven't seen the mountain of a dump in a awhile, its a sea gull filled sight! We dumped, with only minor problems with the trailer door and were back.
The "family room" is gone and after this clean up, then the kitchen, HVAC, fireplace and anything else in our way to progress.

One more unknown is NOW KNOWN- the walls are all lathe and plaster, not the sheetrock we'd expected, we learned this yesterday when trying out Chris's Christmas present- a HUGE CROW BAR Called the "Flu Bar" he'll be able to make a commercial for this industrial sized tool! It stretched his stocking even it weighs so much! We took out the 2nd bath cabinet and disconnected the plumbing this time. But while smashing away it seems all the walls, not just the kitchen are plaster. Not sure about patching, but we have experts, don't we? Of course, I keep assuring him.

Merry Christmas!

This is my second attempt today, not near as good as I sometimes like to believe at this tech thing! Anyway here we go again~ There hasn't been alot to report the last 10 days with the rain and Christmas business, but the tree is gone! After getting 5 bids ( each one more $ than the one before) Chris decided on the company and they started this quick job! 3 days later the tree is gone and a good thing, it was hollow! They needed a big crane which I missed, somebody had to go to Roseville to shop. Here's some of the photos and I'm going to try the video one more time.

More news, Chris is admitting his knee isn't getting any better or younger so he's employed whenever we can catch them between study groups ( HAHA) Cody and some of his strong, young friends to help. They went to town on the kitchen, down to the walls, which are either plaster or sheetrock depending on the wall! They even "helped" in the old bath, setting up a hammer toss and bullseye on one of the walls. How fun to throw what you'd never be able to throw in a house normally. They did great and after Christmas the back of the house is coming down too! Yeah. Still no work from the City on our plans, they're off too I guess. Got the bid for the new foundation and hoping that's right after the New Year ! More to follow-
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Garage Be GONE!!

The boys were at it early and with gusto~ First all the almost new roof shingles and paper had to be removed, the wood products are going to a chipper to be recycled! Wow, we're green now! Then the backhoe came in and within 10 minutes the garage was 90% down! It was quick work by Danny Springer, the master of the backhoe. A few surprises, there was a large cabinet we wanted to save to use in the future garage and when that came down and out we found a BARN DOOR behind it! This garage served many uses in its day, from I guess storage, to family/laundry/bathrooms! Glad its gone really, anyway it was great to see progress, next comes down the tree and then the back of the house.

I'll leave you with this testament to our "Rookieness" again, we didn't take the wheelbarrow over to the house, why in the world would we think to do that when we were hauling debris? But to save the day the house came with a one of a kind feature- A SHOPPING CART! So that's what we're hauling with, its pretty funny!

Chris survived- sore feet,back and basically passed out at 8 p.m. from physical exhaustion! I still can't get the video downloaded so enjoy the photos anyway!

Its coming down!

Tomorrow, Wed the garage starts its descent, collapse, demo, whatever!! FINALLY Progress in the reserve direction! Anyone out and about, stop by, garage demo should be done by Thurs, then the tree, two bids already and of course the stump will be WAY to big to get out with a backhoe, takes up the bloody yard!! Back to the re budget. Luckily Chris isn't trying any of this himself, he'd in charge of the video, I'll warn you now to take your Dramamine.

Sunday- The Day of Rest and Rebudget!

Well, after Chris let the refrigerator slide off the dolley, he's taking a day of rest and letting his knee recover slightly. Now the "budget" we started before closing escrow, not that we should just toss it out the windows, which most have no glass left anyway! We're back at it trying to figure out how off we were. Chris went to Church this morning with me, I think to pray about this project and how we were going to start or finish it, or maybe for that match again. Anyway, I'll let you know when demo really gets doing and promise to figure out the video part of this!

We're rolling now!

I'll regress slightly since this blog in real life began in Sept 07, we made one of several offers on a friends' mother's home and negoiated a sale and quick close. We made a list of changes and guestimates on costs. Since then. . . the project grew and grew, my husband got vocal about how much he didn't want this project and now wanted to stay in our home of 16 years. . . and how we'll proceed. We realized that the roof and total back of the home had to come down, the garage had beed a single car, then coverted to a dbl car, then converted to a family, laundry and bath right out of the local mechanic's hall, ceiling height even I could touch, etc, so now EXTREME MAKEOVER Prater style. The plans are at the city, with over $5,000 spent already, and the demo begins in earnest next week.

Chris has in between hunting seasons taken apart the bath, part of garage ceiling with insulation falling down on to of him and has hut his arms, back, knee, bruises, and plenty of cussing at me.
He wanted to quickly get the dishwasher out this week, we went over together Tues. I can't lift so I'm not sure what my role was but support. The first lesson in how much we DON'T KNOW! The quick job ended up with the newer dishwasher destroyed, a lesson learned- Disconnect all plumbing under the sink!! After jackhammering the countertop, floor ( we were sure that the floor was stopping progress), sawing all plumbing from the back side we thought, we finally wrestled it out to discover the copper water line still connected from under the sink! Rookies at remodel and we've only started!

Here's the latest photos and next week, if I can figure it out the video of destruction!!!