BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

This all seems like a distant memory.

What used to be this is now a cozy spot on a cold evening.

The fire is so delightful.

Side note: The antique firescreen was a Christmas gift from my sweet husband.  It fit as if it were made for this spot.

BEFORE & AFTER : KITCHEN

February 2011:
Kitchen as seen on first viewing of this house

March 2011:  Kitchen during demolition 

May 2011: Wallace, replacing kitchen floor joists

March 2011: Michael clears out crawl space below kitchen

December 2012:  Completed kitchen

BEFORE & AFTER: PANTRY

March 2011 :
The sagging Butler's Pantry is on the lower left with a plywood and tar paper roof.
It's no wonder it was sagging.

August 2011:  The pantry had to be torn down to build its new brick foundation.
This is the doorway to the missing Butler's pantry as seen from the kitchen.

Decmber 2012:
The newly built pantry is in the lower right of this photo
 where boards are leaning up against the house

December 2012:
Today as you look into the pantry from the kitchen,
this is what you will see.  Ahhhh!

 

HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM HAWTHORNE HOUSE

MERRY MERRY

Belsnickles oversee the dining room table

Miss Magnolia enjoys the fire in the entry

Snowmen should not linger in a greenhouse!

Pay no attention to the miter saw and nail gun in the entry!

STOCKING SHELVES

Time to unpack books

The Santa collection finds a new home in an old cabinet

CUSTOM SHELVING

     For a month I have had the lumber and intentions of building shelving in the butler's pantry.  As far as I got was the lower shelf and the counter.

The counter is made by joining two 2 x 8 boards

The counter is leveled and squared with the wall

The counter is attached with my trusty nail gun

This past weekend Donnie and I worked to complete the pantry.  Sawing, squaring, routing, nailing, gluing, and screwing.....

We build the shelving from several 1 x 12's

1/2 way there

 In place and trimmed, the shelving awaits painting

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE...

CHRISTMAS on Hawthorne Avenue.

    Amidst finishing construction projects and moving from Warren Road to Hawthorne Avenue,  a little holiday decorating is taking place.

ICING ON THE CAKE

Wall covering arrived last week.

This morning I got a phone call from Donnie saying he was ready to hang the paper.

A work table is set up in the entry.

  

Donnie hangs the paper like a pro.  Oh wait...he is a pro.

 I just love how the 1/2 bath looks.

...and it is the first thing Billye notices when she comes home from school.

Call these guys.  You will be so very pleased with the outcome!

I'm not the only one who thinks so either.

VOCABULARY LESSON - SHUTTERS

    As with many things on this project, installing shutters has been a bit of an ordeal.  We spent about 3 months looking for a pair that would fit.  Back in June the  search and rescue  began in earnest.  Finding a pair at Caravati's was only the beginning.  The shutters required restoration and painting and then my search began for pintels from which the shutters could hang (you KNOW I wanted to use the original old hardware!).  Once found it was mostly a matter of just making shutter install a priority.  Yesterday was the day!

PINTELS

SHUTTER DOG

SHUTTER LOCK

SHUTTERS HUNG!