Days 127-131: May 23-27

I worked mainly on Martha's trim this week. The baseboards all over the house got an additional two caps. This helped hide the electrical lines that were installed where an old cap had been.

I also did a couple of smaller jobs, such as installing two basement windows, getting the hot water heater running (it needed a new thermocoupler and relief valve), and got the shower mixer working.

Mark and his friends mainly mudded. It seems like an endless job when in the middle, but now we're on the downward slope. He and Jessica should be ready to paint soon.

Days 117-124; May 14-21

The week flew by, for more reasons than one. But the final push is on.

Started out the week by putting drywall on the dining room and kitchen ceilings. By the end of the week, Mark and his friends had the living room ceiling done as well, and a good start on the mudding.

The bathtub surround is now finished and the tub installed. It was tough to see the final two access holes to the tub drain----through the wall in the stairway and the ceiling in the living room---boarded up with drywall. All safety nets are gone. It's time for the systems to perform.

We also agreed on a final price this week. The transition of ownership is starting to harden like a thick coat of mud (that analogy is for the drywallers among us).

Day 116: May 11, 2011

Got the final batch of insulation installed. Altogether, Martha took 36 bags of blown-in insulation. She should be set for any weather.

Day 115: May 10, 2011

Another good day. I got some of the final portions of the electrical work done and started on building the shower surround in the bathroom. Mark go the first coat of mud finished on the upstairs.

We intend to insulate sometime this week and have the upstairs ready for paint by this weekend or early next week.

Day 114: May 9, 2011

Got the flashing around the chimney replaced----just in time since, according to the weather man, there will be rain the next 10 days.

Getting this job done is important for several reasons. Now we can put in the rest of the insulation, which means we can finish installing drywall downstairs. And it's the last of the big jobs that take up a day or more. Psychologically, having it out of the way gives us a boost.

Day 111: May 6, 2011

Nine hours of mudding. Not my favorite way to spend a Friday.

Mark couldn't work today because of a commitment at his job. He plans on working some on Saturday.

Day 110: May 5, 2011

Very good day. Mark taped all the butt joints (no laughing, please) upstairs, then moved downstairs and got much of that done, as well.

I finished the outdoor light circuit, got the ceiling fan in the bathroom vented through the north side of the house, and made the hot air run to the kitchen through a register in the toe kick of a cabinet.