Day 109: May 4, 2011

Good day. Mark, with the help of a friend, got the horizontal drywall seams taped upstairs. I finished the kitchen drain and water supply (we've now got water!) and worked on the last electrical replacement circuit---two outdoor lights.

Day 108: May 3, 2011

Short day today. Both Mark and I had afternoon commitments.

Mark prepared to begin mudding the drywall tomorrow. I worked on the cold air plenum for the furnace and the plumbing in the kitchen.

Day 107: May 2, 2011

Woke up to the news that Osama Bin Laden had been killed. What we're doing at Martha pales in comparison to the larger changes in history now taking place.

That said, we kicked some butt today. Mark has all of the drywall on the walls downstairs finished. Only the ceilings and a small strip to allow for more blown-in insulation remain. Nice, clean walls give Martha a whole new attitude.

I've been spending my days in the basement, working on the house's different systems. The water was turned on today, which again seems like Martha is stirring back to life after a major operation. (So far, no leaks.) I'm currently building a wooden plenum to consolidate all the cold air returns.

Day 104: April 29, 2011

We're making progress. Mark has the living and dining rooms virtually drywalled, and the kitchen ready to receive drywall. I got the water supply and gas supply systems hooked up, and started on the furnace installation.

Here are some photos:

Day 103: April 28, 2011

Got the gas line run to the furnace and hot water heater, complete with a shut-off valve.

Finished the running water "command center." Now all that needs done is the PEX lines run to it.

Built the chase in the dining room.

Mark continued drywall work in the dining room.

Day 102: April 27, 2011

Got the bathtub drain finished. Once the surround it built, the tub can go in.

Started making a PVC "command center" for hot and cold running water.

Mark is continuing his assault on the downstairs drywall. He got everything he could up in the living room and is starting on the dining room.

Day 101: April 26, 2011

I continued work on the kitchen drain (finished) and the bathroom drain. Mark worked on the living room drywall.

Mark reported dampness on the south living room wall, above the fireplace. It appears we have a leak in the flashing around the chimney. When the rain stops (IF the rain stops), we'll get up on the roof and take a look.

In the afternoon, Mark and I picked up the bathtub, which had been on special order from Menard's. I also placed orders for two basement windows.