Home Improvement Days 2 & 3

BOO! HOO! Our lovely, white picket fence is gone! We have mixed feelings about taking down the fence. For so long, it has offered a safe place for the kids to play, privacy from our neighbors, and a bountiful of good memories. But, like all good things it had to come to an end...it was literally rotting away before our eyes and unsafe for the kids. It has completely changed the look of our house from the front and back. One good thing did come from this, Randy and I were able to relieve a little stress during the demolition phase of the project!



Now, you can see how the floors will really look! This was taken the next morning. It is only the first coat, but they sure look a million times better! Randy found the coolest spray paint to cover all the vents. It is called a hammered finish. It looks antique and full of character, just like the floors. I think it really lends an heir of authenticity to the project. We just love how it looks!



On day two, we picked up some top soil to fill in post holes and level out areas of the yard. Randy sanded and tack clothed the floors again, so he could apply the second coat of polyurethane (for durability...we do have 3 kids!) Injury report to date: 4 splinters, 2 bruises, 1 blister on the knee, and aching everything). On day three, I seeded the yard and put down hay. Randy and I both used our brother-in-law's pressure washer on the foundation. We plan to prime it on day 4 and paint it on day 5. We are so proud of what we are accomplishing this week. Projects have been put off for too long!


Couple things about home improvement:
1. It's infectious! I feel like everyone I know is working on some project to improve their humble abodes. Plus, it can go on forever!(I've already started a wish list for us to accomplish this summer). It really makes you focus on all the things wrong with your house, and fills your head with a million ways to make it better. If we only had a million dollars to make all our ideas a reality. Although I don't think we have done too bad on our meager budget.
2. I need to buy stock in Lowes! Randy and I have made more trips than we care to admit in the last couple days. Sometimes twice in one day! Even on our meager budget, we have spent most of it at Lowes.