...and floors after

Varnished floor!, originally uploaded by berkeleygal77.

My floors are sanded and varnished!!! Second coat goes on tomorrow. They're very purty!

SMALL REVISION/COMMENT BY ME: the floors will not always be spit-shine shiny.  This is a picture of them while the varnish/finish is wet.  HOWEVER, if you want to come over and slide around in socks, I'm game!  This is, as far as I can tell, the original douglas fir flooring!  From close to 100 years ago!  This sort of old flooring put in brand new these days is unaffordable, so I'm glad we could resuscitate the existing floor.  All thanks to the sanding/flooring guy Leo and his partner who didn't speak English.  Maybe I should learn Chinese?  Or do they speak Vietnamese?  I didn't hear them, so...  the carpenter is Laotian, so that's another one to learn...

Floors before...

Sanded and painted with filler, originally uploaded by berkeleygal77.

....before they are finished

spring growth

spring growth, originally uploaded by berkeleygal77.

Seems like the plants are back to growing new leaves on their own, despite many many months of neglect.

Dual Flush Toilet Explanation

In my crude description, this is a dual flush toilet: 2 different flushes/buttons:1 flush for liquids (less water), 1 for solids (more water).  Saves water when you don't need to use it, more or less.  I've seen them more in Europe.

http://www.totousa.com/productpage.asp?PID=803

This is about the one I'm getting.

Plus, EBMUD (local water company/district) will give me a rebate on part of the purchase price.

Live electricity!

Live electricity!, originally uploaded by berkeleygal77.

Well, at least in one outlet! Enough for some of the alarm system to be installed. More plastering has happened inside and floors to start soon!

Plastering between the cracks of sheetrock

Plastering between the cracks of sheetrock, originally uploaded by berkeleygal77.

I like the lighting and composition on this one more than my average "this is new electrical and walls, and..." shot.

Also, I've chosen cabinets, flooring, countertops, and some fixtures. Now, I'm not going to tell you yet what those are - so don't ask. And now I need to pay for the above mentioned items. Plus I'm getting a dual flush toilet for upstairs.

:-)

drywall! sheetrock! Whatever!

IMG_2486.JPG, originally uploaded by berkeleygal77.

Drywall, sheetrock, whatever you call it, it's up in most of the house!  This week, the workers will be plastering the cracks and finishing the drywall. 

I have also chosen what color of Marmoleum I want for the floors in the kitchen, pantry, and back hallway.  And the granite countertops.  I'm pretty close to deciding on the kitchen cabinets.  Will I tell you about those options - no!  You get to wait until it's all installed.  :-)  Have also started to think about interior paint colors.

My heating system!!!

My heating system!!!, originally uploaded by berkeleygal77.

This, ladies and gents, is my octopus. Erm.... my heating system. In the attic. I will post titles on the rest of the pictures this afternoon.  Eventually, the old and fluffy insulation you see on the floor of the attic will be vacuumed out and new insulation put in - all in time.