Since it is Labor Day weekend and I have an extra day off, I planned to get a lot of work done at Project Hillside. I picked up a used Husqvarna chain saw at the power equipment shop down the road. This saw is very similar to my Echo at Blue Mountain Oasis I needed to remove 3 tree's that were growing between our garage and the neighbors. They were right up against the gutters and starting to cause damage with the heavy winds, etc. The highest tree was about 45 feet and about 8 inches in diameter. This saw chopped them down like butter! The biggest challenge for me was getting in between the two garage walls and running the saw. Tricky for sure. Yard work continues at Project Hillside and things are really shaping up nicely. Next spring I'll be in a position to start planting, now that the foundation is ready for it! Oh yea, this saw retails for $400 and I got it used for $150! Amazing deal!

After a slight hiatus in the kitchen the lumber yard has the rest of the maple wood ready for us. Our trim work man, John Foose, is going to finish it on Monday next week and install it. Once complete, all wood work will be stained. Along with this, we are fixing the rotten threshold leading to the outside porch.

Exciting times ahead, stay tuned!

The summer has certainly stalled Project Hillside, just a little. Instead of trying to do 5 projects at once on the house I'm acting like a normal human and only doing 1! The wine cellar is near completion .. once done .. another project will start. I think the hot tub is taking all the time I have at Project Hillside :)

I know it seems like months since this wine cellar project started but every weekend progress continues. All framing is complete and all exterior walls are up. Insulation has been going in the past weekend and this upcoming weekend I should have that wrapped up. Working to ensure this cellar is as air tight as possible isn't easy, especially given the 5 foot high and uneven ceiling of this basement I am working in.

This month marks the 1 year birthday of Project Hillside! A tremendous amount of work has been completed on the house. We've moved as quickly as we could with improvements, only slowed down by the budget we set. Over the past year the house was featured in the local newspaper, gathered attention by thousands of visitors on the website, and hosted baby showers for friends, BBQ parties, wine tasting parties, and fourth of July parties. The house is something I am very proud of.

Going into this project I had no experience with a home this old. I've learned plaster work, masonry work, framing, basic electrical, tiling, plumbing, an endless list. Things aren't perfect, a few things have some minor flaws, but those are signs of learning. Great things aren't built over night, great builders don't learn in a year, but practice makes perfect.

The road ahead is sure to be an adventure. We will finish up some loose ends and continue to press forward with Project Hillside. Thank you everyone that has sent kind words of encouragement and the many compliments you've provided us.

Kitchen

August 2009

I can swing a hammer

Ripped out the old walls, insulated, electrical, and plumbing

Dryall up, floor down, cabinets in

Old Sink built in

Custom Maple Trim

Maple Trim

Backyard

The ceilings at Project Hillside are holding up. I was concerned the repairs on the cracks would start showing stress as we get closer to a year old. Well, it has been 10 months and all is well. We've had 100' days and 10' days .. vibrations everywhere in the house, 3 large parties, and all is well.

Wine Cellar

Vapor barrier done, walls done, insulation starting

The wine cellar is about 70% complete! All walls are up, 100% barrier is 100% complete, and insulation is starting. Learn More.

We had a nice get together for July 4th at Project Hillside. The backyard really served it's purpose and we had amazing flank steaks cooked by Chef Amber. July 4th at Project Hillside Pictures

With the summer heat well upon us I remembered growing up we used to turn the attic fan on, wait to hear it, and smile when it turned on for the year. That was the signal it was HOT in Virginia! This old house isn't any different. With a no fan currently in the attic I find myself looking for something that isn't like what I grew up with. We want something a little more modern and advanced. Solar power! Why not!? I have researched the U.S. Sunlight attic fan and think it may be something we consider, unless we go with the old fashion kind. Amber likes the idea of having a green attic fan and as we continue to develop and improve the house I like that idea as well. Do you have any experience with solar attic fans?

I certainly will admit it .. getting things for free that people throw away amuses me. At our little apartment outside of NYC we stay at while doing work in NYC people throw away crazy stuff. I've dug a propane tank out of the trash, a laptop, perfect condition bakers rack, and a tower computer just to name a few things. I'm not exactly dumpster diving, just picking it up on the floor inside the trash room .. it is like the to good to throw away at the dump. Amber usually makes fun of me and I enjoy telling all my co-workers who also look at me strange and say, "so, it was in the trash?" If I see something I like I say WHY NOT! Perhaps my pleasures rubbed off on Amber? A few weeks ago she is coming back from a walk with Oliver and I hear here fumbling at the door. Three trips later ...

We have a Panasonic receiver, 4 speakers, 1 center speaker, and a sub-woofer .. it works just fine! This is going to power the outdoor music system at Project Hillside :) It is very green, right? I like to think of it as recycling.