Steps that won't make you bleed.

We just got back from being away for several days, and while I was pretty disappointed at how little had changed while we were gone, boy oh boy was I happy to see that the correct backyard steps have been put in. Not quite done...but it's a start.

Just in case you're thinking of breaking in...

(perhaps you'd like to make off with some of my contractor's home-made tools) I just want to warn you that we have a very sophisticated security system which involves a piece of wood. Yeah, I know, daunting isn't it? And just look what it's done to the brand new door. I can relive this moment every time I look at the giant dent in the panelling.

Guess whose roof is leaking! (again)

Yes. It was a surprise to me as well. After being assured that it would not happen again...just look at what happened. The you-know-what has officially hit the fan. I think it may be time to get a lawyer.

Lighting: Round Two.

Now, let me just say, that when I showed up yesterday they had covered over the light switches for all the exterior lights. I don't know how exactly they expected us to turn them on, but they insisted it was at our request. Really. WHY would we tell them to do that? We do like things sometimes just for show, but light fixtures? No. Today, they were miraculously back.

Here is the Main Entrance Light:
And at the basement front:
Bedroom lights in the basement:
Above our bedroom door in the backyard:
An old ship light for the basement vestibule:
And the basement bath sconce. Is it me...or is it upside down?

Lights, lights, lights.

Nothing much has happened for a week or so...ever since the siding fiasco.

Finally today the electrician came in and put up some of the lights. As expected he's from China but with a helmet of thick black hair and a cigarette always dangling from his mouth...whenever I see him I think Chinese 70s porn star. I guess that's neither here nor there except that it entertains me enough to help keep me sane when he's cursing me and my antiquated light fixtures (which are taking him twice as long to hang than something from say, Home Depot).

Here's his handy-work...

Parlor Bath:
Small Parlor Hall:
The Main Parlor Hall (my last year's Christmas present from Todd! Good taste, no?)
Parlor Kitchen:
Tenant Kitchen:
Tenant Living Room
And Tenant Bedroom/Office:
I think tomorrow he starts the basement...and we're missing a few which will hopefully be ready next week.

What else could go wrong?

Oh yeah. Right. The siding.

We saw this afternoon that half of the front has been finished--which is great--except it's the WRONG siding.
It looks ok in the photo, but you'll just have to trust me. When you see it up close it looks like it was cut from some strange species of plastic tree. Not what we asked for obviously, and oh! was there an uproar...looks like it's going to have to come back down.

A few new little things...

We picked up this fencing from a man in Bed Stuy this week...carried it back on the top of the car. If there's any doubt, I can tell you first hand--this stuff is REALLY heavy. We're going to have it cut down and used as window gates on the bottom floor. AND! The man we bought it from threw in this lovely newel post--we just need to find a match and we'll have a post for each side of the gate! (the ball for the top is floating around under one of the car seats)
The new basement bathroom sink we picked up in N. Kingston RI to replace the other one the contractors were too lazy to wall hang...
And some radiators just arrived today. Originally I wanted to spray them white.... but I kind of like them black.

Looks weird now, but....

it'll be super insulated. First there's foam board, then the plywood...and then plastic sheeting.
Stay tuned for siding!

Just in case...

you're as obsessed with clapboard as much as I am....here's the back.