Building Permits

Soooooo, ... I thought you needed permits for changing big things, or putting on an addition. I didn't know you needed permits for every stupid little thing you do. Basically, I buy a house and don't want the walls to decay and crumble around me... I need a permit. I find a bathroom vanity constructed out of sheet rock and wrapped in wallpaper then painted over unsavory, I need a permit. If I want to replace frayed wires with new, or make sure I have the proper scald guard on my shower plumbing, I need a permit.

I would have thought maintaining a standing house with the proper structure, electricity, and plumbing was something that in itself helped the town in that the property values are protected, less foreclosures, house fires, etc. I think one (the Reeves) should pay the town to NOT do that kind of maintenance. But it is a bit of a double whammy to have to pay the town to better the town. It's not like I was putting on an addition.

Oh well. My dumpster tipped them off that I was ridding my house of the creepy, weird, and disgusting. I didn't realize I needed a permit, but then again after reading this paperwork I think I might have opted to avoid it anyways (kidding!).

Gargamel!

Hospitality & First Meal

This just in, first meal served in the Lucarini/ Ehlers household: Homemade pizza (mozz, ricotta, pastrami, spinach, and tomato), pretzels & dip, and beer!

Cheers and may the good times go on!

Pete's Work Weds thru Sat

This is in the bedroom where we had the washer and dryer. For now it will be divided into a closet facing the side for a stackable, and a small but deep shelving area to the left. Yes it makes the room a bit smaller but it retains it's status as a bedroom and is a step closer to putting the laundry in the hall and making the bedroom just that- a bedroom.




Here we had a "walk in" closet, also known as a sewing room to the right and to the left of it was a small closet. blew them both out and we have a pretty sweet master bedroom.




In the bathroom Pete took out the remainder of the cabinetry as well as the as the sink. I am actually haveing some remorse about getting rid of that vanity especially after vanity shopping right now. :( Hopefully he didn't destroy it. Going to ask him Monday.






Pete cut this wall in half. It makes the stairwell area MUCH nicer. It's open and brighter.

Secret Stashes and Unsung (or pictured) Heroes

Pulling off wallpaper in the kitchen, all of a sudden dust and plaster fall, and I am showered in bee carcasses. Ok may be showered is an exaggeration, but only slightly. Thankfully the hive seems dead.




Found this card, thought it was kind of signature of the house. I mean I have no idea who it's addressed to ("Dot and Click/Chick?") and from Astrid and Paul. Really? Astrid?




Ok, so I know I shouldn't, but I actively feel guilty having thrown this magnet away, lil' baby Jesus sitting in a contractor trash bag with wall paper and house refuse.




As far as progress goes, today was a lot of talk. I met with Peter the handyman my Aunt and Grandmother referred me to and I think he as well as they were a little shocked at the conditions, but I try to focus on the light at the end of the tunnel rather than how dark it is in here. He seems to have a lot of potential and will start on Wednesday, so I look forward to see where we are on Saturday. Also Pete the Spartan Home Inspector (Sparta, NJ) stopped by to verify my bees and mold were dead and easy to rectify. I HIGHLY recommend his services if you ever need a home inspection, thorough, patient, and conscientiously helpful even months later. He along with my family were the unpictured heroes of the day. My aunt alleviated the need for a pry-bar by breaking out some of the tiles and cabinetry with her bare hands. My grandmother came up with her and the handyman to help advise and offer a third opinion, which I appreciated. I was a little nervous about her opinions on the house but I think by the end of it she felt more constructive than scared for me. Then later that day my mother came by and cleaned my refrigerator and the mouse poop under my sink cabinets and made me feel better about having bits of my house not under siege and livable.

Here are a couple of shots where I took down the valences, but other than that I mainly took up some tile and cabinets, and spent a good long time pulling nails from the floor in the living room.