Transitions

It's been a while since the last post, but that doesn't mean there has been nothing going on.  Actually, I forgot to bring the camera on our first two pre-move trips after closing, but I made up for it over the 4th of July weekend.  Let's catch up, shall we?

Here's a look at the 3Gen Renovation crew:

Quite a competent bunch, they have focused on the back three rooms (pantry, laundry, and guest bathroom).  Lots of spackling, caulking, tile stripping/installing, sanding, priming, painting and demolition by this crew.

Jose' took out the cobbled together shelving to start a complete re-do of the pantry.  This renovate included caulking all seams and pulling up two layers of old vinyl, installing new tiles and then turning the priming/painting over to the girls.  These two pictures show the room is now ready for proper shelving (and maybe baseboards depending on what we build in there):

The laundry room underwent a similar treatment, and is ready for appliances.  The cabinets were painted, and the hardware updated, but a miscalculation on the hinge type delayed the re-installation of the doors until the next trip.  Otherwise, it's ready to go.

The guest bathroom was the biggest task.  There were a lot of holes and other superficial issues under the old striped wallpaper, but that was nothing but a thang for 3Gen.  Here's Alice plying her trim paint talents to the window frame.  The base cabinet has been spider-proofed and is ready for the doors.  The walls are just primed, but they already look so much better than before.  One more coat of paint and the paper will come up off the floor, we'll hang a framed mirror, and since the tiles in this room were in good shape we'll be able to declare victory.

Meanwhile, the rest of the house is covered up with boxes and is awaiting a little cosmetic attention of it's own.

On one of our earlier trips, Jose' and Jacques put in a little backyard fence for Buck.  As you can see below, the WonderDog has taken to his new digs and keeps a pretty fierce critter watch for us.

Here's a little of his back yard - Jacques dug the gate out of the old pen in the back to be recycled into a useful purpose. The first picture shows a flying can above the gate...this was actually part of the fireworks fun and games associated with the 4th.

Before we leave the back porch, we can look at some Houston transplants adjusting to their new digs.  We had the ping-pong table set up, but Buck laid under the table and engaged in a mad chase for any ball that hit the floor, so that didn't work quite as planned.

Shifting to wildlife, we saw our first deer in the area (a doe in the pipeline on the way to the highway store), Jose' caught a look at a flock of turkeys crossing the road close to our property, and I spotted some primates cavorting in the old magnolia.  No proof on the first two, but check out the wild hominids:

I previously mentioned having a little fun with the pyrotechnics.  Jacques experimented the destructive effects of large firecrackers on a number of objects with much delight.

The group also demonstrated their curiosity about how a smoke bomb would fare in the trash fire...Alice decided a good whiff left a bit of an aftertaste...

And finally, I'll add a shot of the father and son portion of the team.  It is very hard to catch them with a straight face...hmmm, is that what they mean about the chickens coming home to roost or is it something about the apple not falling far from the tree?  You decide.

So this update included a little more house and people documentation.  I have another full post's worth of property shots, including Scott's first visit and what went on back in the woods.  Stay tuned.