Start of Phase II

If today is any indication of what this next phase is going to be like, I'm going to like it.

Today, we started by relocating all the tools. Dan has bin upon bin of tools. They were all located in the kitchen. That is where we were going to start working. So, we had to move them all to a different room. We chose the living room because it is big enough to put them all in the middle of the floor and still be able to maneuver around them. Dan wanted to leave all the outlets accessible so when he gets ready to run the wiring he won't have to move everything again.

We first had to sweep up our mess from yesterday. We scraped the ceiling and were too sore to care about the floor when we got done. So that's how we started out the day. That didn't take very long though, then it was to the kitchen to move all the tools.

Then we started in on the wall the French door will go in. It is quite a process. Dan first puts up a steel beam that takes all the weight off the existing wall. Then, after several other steps I won't take the time to describe, he puts a "header" up that will bear the weight long term.

Here is the wall with all the fake tile and OSB board removed.



That is Hank arriving. Not quite sure why he's shining like that(enlarge the picture if you can't see it)....I'm sure it's the sheer joy of arriving at this particular worksite, don't you?!

Dan (in a most flattering position, sorry honey!) pulling nails out of the beam that is going to go up on the steel pole next to him.



Dan getting the poles in place



Beam in place (check), temporary wall in place (check)



Pieces are missing



I can see daylight, can you?




And more light




And MORE







Without the supports



See why I'm liking this phase?!

Then with the door in (temporarily)




But I can't forget to fill you in on what Hank did today. He pulled a bunch of the old wiring from inside the walls.

Here's a sample of some of what he found



Yes, that's bare wire! I for one am glad he pulled it out of the wall!

He's doing his afternoon prayers, I think.



We are enjoying the flowers Ginny and Roland brought us!