NEW ROOM projects have begun

After a long drive back from dropping off Morgen at camp, we jumped right into emptying 1/2 of the studio shelving and completely gutting hayden's old room. The carpet and pad was removed (it is in good shape, so we listed it on freecycle) and the arduous task of removing the 12" wallpaper border began. NOT fun. Suzan was peetering out, so Ken took over the scraping...then...a light bulb finally went off in Suzan's head... and we started to steam it off with the iron. MUCH better! Gave up for the night at 12:45 am. Tomorrow we will start painting, after removing some of the remaining glue residue and giving it a good sanding. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Big day at the Knott POND

After a week of rain, we celebrated July 1st by having a family inaugural swim in the pond. It was nice and warm! Ken also finished out the day by planting the new Cat Tail Punks he dug up (thanks to Terry Moyer!). Of course one swim was not enough... After dinner, as the sun was going down Ken, Morgen and Hayden jumped in and enjoyed the fireworks from next door while they floated and spied on MoJo, one of the three resident bull frogs.

NEW CONSTRUCTION under the plum tree

Our resident short building contractors decided to collect things from nature today and construct fairy houses out under our favorite plum tree. When they finished, they had fully equipped them with stone tables and berry treats. Ahhhh to be a kid in the summer.

Room Change Prep

Last night, we chatted through the details of the BIG (surprise) ROOM SWITCH that will start on Sunday night. Morgen will be heading off to camp for the week and Hayden will be going on his own adventure with MomMom and Grandpop. So we thought it would be the perfect time to attack the long overdue project of switching the studio space with hayden's bedroom. Not only is Hayden due his "big boy room" but we have also outgrown the small room where the studio currently resides. Our plan is to finish this before the kids return next Sunday, including a little decorating surprise in Morgen's room so she has something to celebrate too. We ran out to Home Depot and picked out our new "budget" studio flooring.... Armstrong adhesive 12x12 tiles. It's not nice hardwood flooring (cha-ching), but it is a more acceptable surface for a work space than the carpet would be. AND it actually looks cool.

FREE is GOOD

Ken has found a little internet gem. freecycle.com has landed us some cool free stuff in the area as well as finding a home for some stuff that the knotts no longer need. AND we have met some really nice people! Recently, we found a gal in Lansdale with a plethora of liarope grass. Perfect! Just what we needed for a few spots on the yard under trees that we are tired of mowing around. As you can see from the photo, Ken didn't hesitate to take her up on the offer to "take all of it" and packed as much as he could into the back of Teton Daisy. She was generous to invite him back to fetch more. Terrific!

Still in the game

Yes, over four months have passed since our last post. Although the work efforts around the house ebbed and flowed with our life's routines and obstacles, it really did not stop (like this blog). The main reason for the mammoth communication canyon is that of a technical esthetics nature. You see, sometime in January, the little digital camera must have hurled itself off of the kitchen counter to the floor, as to date, no one has claimed responsibility for its trauma. A critical little plastic piece snapped off and it is nearly impossible to take a photo. Getting it fixed hasn't been super high on the priority list, so we were left powerless to share our improvement milestones. So, here is the text version of recent developments: More work was been done in the kitchen; finishing the ceiling molding installation and almost finishing the painting. The kid's double-vanity top arrived and the wall has been ripped open to disconnect the wiring for the heating panels which will be behind the larger vanity. Out by the pond, three willow trees were planted (major labor with our hard, clay soil) and grass seeding has commenced. A few dead and non-desirable trees and shrubs were taken down (along with one of ken's lovely lilac bushes by ACCIDENT (enter big shameful suzan gulp here). Ken had one of his big burn permit fires to get rid of scrap wood, dead trees etc. and he built a drainage system behind the new section of the shed. Inga the tractor was repaired and the season's mowing ritual has begun. The fruit trees are in full bloom and buzzing with our pollen friends and the deer and groundhogs are feasting on the new lilies Suzan planted. Although it is sad to put the skis away, it is always fun to welcome in the warm air, popsicles, frogs peeping by the pond at dusk, and the proud presentation of dandelions in a dirty little hand.

Dining Room

HOORAY! The dining room is finally finished. Not only was the molding completed, but the ceiling medallion was finalized and installed. We will be moving all of the furniture back into place today so holiday festivities can begin.

THANKSGIVING

The first little snow of the season... another thing to be thankful for. Wishing our friends and family a very happy Thanksgiving- especially those who we can't be with today. HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!

Shed 1

We were thinking that this weekend might just be the last of the balmy weather for 2005 and decided to take advantage of it. Ken and Chris built an extension off of the garden shed for additional storage of things like lumber, ladders, etc., while Suzan sanded and painted the trim for the dining room/living room. Chris was scaring us with his radio station choice, until Suzan took control of the situation. The evening closed with a fast and furious bon-fire of scraps and a truck load of stuff that Chris brought over. No time for marshmallows, but it was toasty just the same.

Kid's bath 1

Tonight, the kid's bath vanity was cut for plumbing and rough-set into place. Painting is getting high on the priority list... but we are not sure if we have any of the current cream color left for the patches.

Multi-tasking

Another super productive evening. Aside from the toilet and wall cabinet in the kid's bathroom, many of the trim projects downstairs were finalized. In order as shown: the half walls received their finish molding, the kitchen wainscoting and moldings were finalized and the powder room molding air gun holes were puttied and touched up. Thrilled to be finalizing so many incomplete projects!!

Potty Kids

Earlier tonight, the big boys ripped out the old toilet and installed the new kohler into the kid's bathroom. Little helpers were on hand to strip off the mega-adhesive manufacturer stickers. Thanks Ada, Merrit and Hayden!

A busy night

Last night, the super-heavy hearth stones were brought in and rough-placed. It took 4 of us to carry the two larger ones (can't see it all in this snapshot). Chris and Anthony- you don't have to go to the gym this weekend, complements of the Knotts. Chris and Ken made other notable progress, such as almost completing the base molding in the kitchen, the shoe-molding installation in the powder room and various spackle efforts. The kitchen ceiling patch is slowly being disguised by a regimen of spackle-sanding-spackle-sanding. There are rumors that Chris is addicted to the process.

Trim and things

Chris and Ken put in some more time last night on the kitchen ceiling, the kid's bathroom "prep" and molding cutting while Suzan primed and painted trim. Now all we need is for the world to stop for about a week for everyone else but us (and a few willing helpers).

Finishing touches, demolitions and repairs

More was accomplished tonight. Layer #1 of the base molding was installed in the powder room, another coat of spackle was applied to the kitchen ceiling patch and the kid's vanity was pulled out! We'll have to share our sink for a little while, but that's ok, they are cute invaders. No photos until we pick up new batteries for the camera. Sorry!

Weekend work

Work was done this weekend with the various spackle posts around the house, as well as sanding, puttying and painting the kitchen chair-rail and moldings between birthday festivities. Happy birthday little bear!

Houston, we have a PROBLEM

The change of the weather this past week has ushered in newfound duties for all family members: BUCKET PATROL. A pretty major leak in the roof has the knotts a little stressed out this week. THANK YOU Chris for running all the way out to our house during 1/2 time to check the status of things while we were away!

Kitchen

Last weekend Chris came and chipped away at a few things, including prep work to finish off the kitchen chair-rail trim.

Stone Wall 2

More progression on the wall this evening. The kids must have had big fun today, as they are sleeping through the loud hammering of Ken nailing lath onto the hearth.

Stone Wall

Progress was made this week on one of the most notorious knott projects... the fireplace wall. Ken mortared in more stones and was able to head up to Rolling Rock to pick up the hearth stone with the help of Chris.