Meet Mike

Sometime today our historic contractor Mike Faust high-jacked our camera and took it for a ride about 50 ft in the air on his cherry-picker. Doesn't he look like a someone who likes to hand-hew logs? Don't mind the Terminator sunglasses.

Included is Mike's self portrait and a bird's eye view of the back of the property.

Now you see it. Now you don't

Unfortunately, in our attempts to preserve our old home and make room for the addition we had to sacrifice the beautiful silver maple behind the house. By counting the rings, the tree was 26 years old. In attempts to appease the tree gods (don't worry, we are not pagans), Mike will build us library book shelves with lumber harvested from it's trunk.



Pictures today include the back of the house in 2003 and today, as well as a picture of Poe who is wondering why we are making such a mess of his place.

Hello, Old House

Just thought we would post a photo taken tonight at dusk. It is so exciting to see the old house that was trapped inside the new vinyl exterior. The clap board is in good shape but the molding and soffits are going to need some work. And I have to mention the ten billion flies who took up residence between the vinyl and the wood. Fortunately, the contractor (not us) uprooted them from their warm home during the process of de-siding.

And So It Begins . . .

The work that Lance and I started three years ago (before the wedding) is now continuing...Our historic contractor, Mike Faust, and his small crew began dismantling the front porch today, saving as much of the original materials as possible. In the weeks to come, they will dig out under the floors on the first level, install radiant heat, and restore the porch to its original state--vinyl siding free! My job today was to dig up all my hydrangeas and perennials and replant them in a safe location. In the process, we have uncovered historic artifact #1: a "Farmer's Mutual Ins., Washington County" sign that was tacked to the porch. I guess I'll have some research to do about this company and its relationship to our house. We haven't found the bones of a Civil War soldier yet, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.