Finishing Touches

We have learned a lot, had fun and, as usual working together, had a bit of a snit now and then but overall we worked together like a well rehearsed dance team.  We finished out this room with tongue and groove 4" knotty pine.  You will have to see it to believe it. 

We have all the pine up, all the trim done on windows, doors and floors.  Well, almost.  There might be just a bit to do around the bedroom door but Himself could set us straight on that. 

We have this little nail gun and it saved the day!  It made the installation of the tongue and groove (or is in tongue in groove?) pine boards a snap to install!  And will be put to plenty of use for building wooden projects and bird houses and furniture. 

This 'transom' above the bathroom door is made from heavy glass that I dug out of a ditch.  This type of glass was used on store fronts Quality Glass told me, when I had it cut to size.  

I remember glass such as this on our Rexall Drug Store in Afton, back in the 1950s and 60s. 

 

 

 Himself trimmed two transoms out, neat as a pin.  And created two little shadowbox-type structures for me to display little bits and pieces in.

This is one of Himself's favorite work shirts. 

It is a US Army work shirt with the sleeves cut out. 

Please feel free to borrow it. 

 

Please note above, that all the pine boards run horizontally whereas this short wall by the stairway runs vertically.  I really like that we did the change up.  It just seems like such a custom detail.

 

So now, we are ready to put the finish on the walls.  Himself will be going it alone this week, in an effort to try to finish this room by July 4.  He's got all the materials and tools he'll need.  We think.  We'll stock him up with plenty of food and coke and bacon and eggs and instant tea.   We'll turn him loose!  I can't wait to see the finished room!

 

He is there now, as we speak.  Stay tuned. 

 

A new hobby



I have always, all my life, coveted new pine boards.  Well, I have probably coveted walnut and mahogany boards too but as pine is more readily available and easier on the pocketbook . . . and as I am an amateur, it is better that I work in pine for awhile. 

I like wood working. 

I built a shelf in the new bath.  I wanted it to look cottagy to go with the little bear heads and the white wainscoting.  I just put on one coat of paint so the wood shows through.  I have little doodads sitting on the shelf now and I just 'like' it every time I go into the bath.   

Wish I had the photo with the glass items on the shelf.
But you get the idea . . .

 

I had built a temporary wooden bannister around the stairway up in the loft to keep little ones and Nanas from falling down the stairs.  It was time to put in something permanent.  As I had enjoyed making the shelf, I wanted to get some more pine and build something else so I designed a bookcase / bannister.  I started it last trip down and there it set -- on the level but definitely not plumb!  You can see through it, down the stairs. 



 

 

My camera has a definite 'out of focus' problem.  I looked it up on the internet and it is common with this make and model of Canon.  I will get a new phone soon and when I do, I will buy the phone for the camera.  Then I will put this one away and just use my phone. 

 

This trip down, I put backs in the shelves.  It needed to be "stiffened" up and with Himself's suggestion to use up the pine boards, I cut them to fit, one per shelf, and fastened them into two of three bookcases. 

 

The third bookcase sits against the wall and I used left over knotty pine to put in the back of this one and to cover up the dry wall.  I need one more package of the tongue and groove wall pine to finish -- so this project will have to wait until I get to Des Moines. 

 

I think I will finish the bookcases as I did the bathroom shelf.  I think I am going to like the way the bookcase turned out and I like that it is purposeful!  I look forward to more wood projects. 

 

I did enjoy working with the knotty pine in the living room too.  I can't wait to get the finish on the walls and to start on the dark wood floor!