Lumbering along

Last night's conversation:

Bill: I'm going to get lumber in the morning. Want to go with me?
Annette: Will coffee be involved?

As we rolled up to Economy Lumber in Campbell this morning with Peet's in hand, I reached for my phone's camera and promised to not embarrass Bill by taking too many photos for this blog. I hope that I succeeded in that goal, but since I was the only woman in the shop or -very- large yard and the only person taking photos... Some of these photos are taken while seated in the truck so that I wouldn't cause a hazard or become unwelcome in the yard again. {:-o

In the front shop, I exclaimed in a squeaky girl voice, "These screws are blue!" Bill laughed, and reminded me that we have some like that at home. Such a pretty color. And the beautiful red saw blades with cool grooves cut into them. Mr. Construction tells me that those grooves dissipate heat, which is very important with a spinning blade as it cuts through wood.

The giant saws out in the yard that cut pieces to length are amazing in that some look like antiques or castaways, but are actively used daily. Good tools last a very long time.

It's a good thing that I find construction so incredibly interesting, eh?

Post-Christmas shopping, but not at the mall

Why don't we have this on our bike tires?

Joist hangers

 

Just a carpenter having fun

 

Groovy saw blades

 

Blue's screws

This saw looks like it might be able to fly...

Objects in mirror are safer if the passenger remains in the vehicle.

 

Just part of the yard

Seven new friends

Their workstation

The outdoor area is a dance of workers walking, forklifts scooting, and trucks of all sizes moving here and there.

Now, where would a lumberyard find 20-foot boards to make these doors?

A concrete plan

We are preparing to pour the concrete floor for the family room/kitchen. Lots of steps to do it right!

A carpenter's desk

Concrete form thingies

This actually means "Should there be an electrical plug in the cabinet?" but also could be interpreted as "Big money in cabinets"

Small Business Saturday, Round 2

After buying locks, we drove over to a shop that's right in our neighborhood to look for new exterior lights. Wright Lighting at 1572 Meridian Avenue in San Jose has a great selection of interior and exterior lighting including stuff they can order from their catalog. We were seeking a brand that was recommended to us by our electrician and we're investigating the style and pricing from the shop. Again, wonderful service and warm relationships with the shop, and we hope to make a purchase very soon after we figure out the final plan.

Small Business Saturday, Round 1

For our remodel, we spend minimal amounts in places like Home Depot and Lowe's since Bill already has preferred vendors that he has been patronizing for a long time. When it was time to buy exterior doorknobs, we went to a shop in Mountain View that Bill has been buying at for more than 20 years. The service is great, the selection is wonderful, and there's nothing quite like someone recognizing you as soon as you walk in the door. Not quite like Norm on "Cheers" but still a warm familiar greeting. Here are some shots of the goodies available at Custom Security and Hardware at 2150 Old Middlefield Way in Mountain View. Which one do you think we chose?

"Oh, sure. I'll help design the new porch. You betcha."

Textures of a remodel

It's fun to stop and see the details and textures of a remodel to appreciate our journey. As the sun was setting, I saw a few parts of the remodel that are fun to share.

Pythagorean theorem, oh boy

Today, we had a planning session with our electrician. Lots of decisions were made, and in a metaphorical game of dominoes, a few important things need to be decided before we can move much further. It's a challenging math problem, but as they say, there's always a solution. We just have to re-work the math and choose the best option with the fewest compromises. No problem.

Tuesday tidings, too

One of yesterday's blog posts disappeared, so here it is again. A rerun, of sorts!

Measure twice, cut once  

Our red runner beans provide a little beauty among the sawdust.

No doubt who is the professional in this conversation!

Why, yes, electrical is expensive!

Quality, quality

I've had opportunities this week to spend a few minutes with our electrician and plumber, and am appreciating them a lot. These are fellas with whom Bill has worked for many years, and they are friends as well as incredibly talented subs. I realize as I chat with them that they are just like Bill, very focused on quality work, detail-oriented, friendly, fun to be around, helpful, and honorable. While our project isn't anything close to a speed sport, it is a daily experience in what we truly value. Thanks, fellas, you're the best.

Timeout!

One of the cool things about Bill is that he -actually- takes time out to smell the roses. He will stop on a walk to notice flowers, trees, and the sky. Over dinner with friends on Friday night, he drew our attention to the sky and we all piled outside to take it in. It's important to take time out to see the beauty around us, even as we create more beauty with our little project. :-)

Trussing it up

Bill is creating resawn beams for an interior truss. (Do I sound like I know what I'm talking about?)

The treated edge is sawed away to create a rougher edge.

Carpentry mysteries

I have no idea what this is, but I like it. What did Dylan say about carpenter's wives?

Let the lighting puns shine on

We are starting on the lighting phase, with a wonderfully detailed plan for different types of lighting. So, it's time to let the lighting and electrical puns shine. Let us know your bright ideas, and here are a few to get you started:

Let there be light.
You have an electrifying personality.
You light up my life.
Hope that doesn't hertz.
Currently...
We're amped up about this stage.

Yeah, we're enjoying ourselves during all of this. You betcha.

The old knob and tube wiring is still around, like a  high school grad who still hangs around the campus.   

Planning, planning

The boxes are going in, and we will walk around and imagine the furniture and cabinet layout before they are screwed in and wiring added.

Making sawdust

Sometimes I think the secret to surviving a big remodel is stopping to appreciate the little things around us. Like sawdust. :-D

Details, details

Batten down the hatches

While I've been out of town for work, Bill has been busy installing battens. So beautiful!