Got junk? We do.

We have been needing a junk hauler for the past month. We have a nice collection of reno garbage on the side of the house. I'm surprise the neighbors hadn't called the city on us yet. I think it's because they are SO incredibly happy that we are taking the crap off the front of the house, they are cutting us some slack.

You wouldn't believe how many people stopped by our house to tell us how great of a job we're doing with the house (at this point, all I did was take off the rough sawn wood siding) and to thank us for taking that stuff down. We had mommas with baby strollers, dog-walkers, families walking down the street, neighbors and their friends, people who were weed-eatin', and folks who live 4 blocks away, come down and tell us they are soooo thankful and happy that the "ugly wood-siding" is gone and how beautiful those hidden columns were. Gee, I might just have to have a bonfire for these folks.

The super-fantastic Tree Streets Yardsale is coming up in August. I'm gonna put some of the wood, and the stuff inside the house that I'm taking out, in the sale. That means I've got alot of stuff to take down between now and then. I can use all that extra cash and put it right back into the house. I think I might hire some cute kids to man a drink stand and sell some of Heidi's famous cookies. Wow, that sounds like a plan. Perhaps, I'll throw in some cute puppies too, ;)!

Anyway, so this past weekend we were in Knoxville looking for us a junk-haulin' truck. We found a few, but they were more "junk" and less "haul", if ya know what I mean. Anyway, we made our way back into town that night and met up with a guy off the JCPress on Sunday and really liked what we saw and test drove. We decided to buy it. I'm gonna go do the paperwork, and pick it up here in the next half hour or so.

I guess I better get off of here so I can go pick up my pickup. ;)

Michael Jackson just died yesterday

I am really sad right now. I want to go out and buy all his albums. It's weird but I do. I'm just really sad. I always had an attachment to him and his music. Probably because my parents allowed me to listen to his music, and they thought he was great.

my version of the "seafood pasta"

I took seafood to the sea. Threw in scallops, shrimp, and mussels in a wok of sizzling butter cream sauce dashed some thyme, oregano, basil, rosemary, kosher salt, some suggah, ground peppah, chopped mushrooms, challots, then after the "sea" parts stew in the sauce for about 10 or 15 minutes with the heat on medium high to high - give a good toss and flip -then throw in some freshly chopped parsley and fresh diced tomatoes. Spoon over angel hair pasta, or some thin kind of pasta and there you have it - Vantha's seafood pasta. And that's a damn good-looking dish if I say so myself.

Here's the red sauce version: I typically cheat here and just use whatever tomato base I have around....this time, it was Bertolli's Tomato & Basil

the projects

Here is a compilation of every project to be done. Hopefully we can get them all done in the next 12 months.

1. Front Exterior -
Phase 1: Remove visible brown wood and old gutters, replace with new wood, hardi lapsiding or shake and a vent in the gable. Replace all the fascia and trim work, and restore what is still in good shape.
Phase 2: Replace gutters
Phase 3: Restore beadboard ceiling and refinish the porch floors
Phase 4: Paint
Phase 5: Add 2 ceiling fans, 2 porch lights, new mailbox, and new house numbers


2. Kitchen -
Phase 1: Demolition - remove old cabinets, appliances, flooring, existing walls, trimwork and light fixures.
Phase 2: Electrical, plumbing, insulation, and subfloor repairs.
Phase 3: Frame out a new master closet protruding into the kitchen.
Phase 3: New drywall, new tile flooring, new switches/outlets, and ceiling repairs.
Phase 4: Paint and trim/casing/molding work.
Phase 5: Add new cabinets, countertops, sink fixtures and hook up appliances.
Phase 6: New light fixtures, cabinet hardware, switch/outlet plates, and window treatments - DONE!

3. Half Bath - inclusive with the kitchen
Phase 1: Demo old cabinetry and toilet(same time as kitchen)
Phase 2: Electrical, plumbing, and subfloor repairs (same time as kitchen)
Phase 3: New tile floor (same time as kitchen)
Phase 4: Paint and trim/casing/molding work (same time as kitchen)
Phase 5: Add new toilet, new vanity and mirror, and fixtures - DONE!

4. Laundry room - inclusive with the kitcen
Phase 1: Demo old walls, flooring, and trimwork (same time as kitchen).
Phase 2: Electrical, plumbing, and subfloor repairs (same time as kitchen).
Phase 3: New drywall, new tile floor, new outlets (same time as kitchen).
Phase 4: Paint and trim/casing/molding work, add washer and dryer - DONE!

5. Master bedroom
Phase 1: Finish the new closet with doors and hardware.
Phase 2: Repair the trim/casing/molding work and plaster walls.
Phase 3: Paint, window treatments, new switch/outlet plates, and light fixtures. - DONE!

6. Guest Bedroom
Phase 1: Build a non existing closet.
Phase 2: Repair trim/casing/molding work and plaster walls.
Phase 3: Paint doors/walls/trimwork, new switch/outlet plates, window treatments, and light fixtures. - DONE!

7. Guest Bedroom / Office
Phase 1: Repair trim/casing/molding work and plaster walls.
Phase 2: Paint doors/walls/trimwork, new switch/outlet plates, window treatments, and light fixtures. - DONE!

8. Full Bath
Phase 1: Demo old tile, flooring, fixtures, adjoining door frame to guest bedroom, walls/ceiling, closet, and re-install doorway to open the other direction.
Phase 2: Electrical, plumbing, subfloor repairs.
Phase 3: New walls, floors, electrical outlets
Phase 4: New shower tile, new shower fixtures, new curved shower rod
Phase 5: Paint then build a closet, and trimwork
Phase 6: New vanity, mirror, sink fixtures, light fixtures, towel racks/rings, re-install toilet, refinish tub - DONE!

peeling away the "rough sawn" look

today i finished peeling off the rough sawn wood on the exterior. it was like therapy taking that crap off. i did the majority of it by myself, and to my surprise, i'm pretty good with a crowbar.

by the end of the day, as i took it down, piece by piece, i felt like i was in a totally different house than the one i purchased. the rough sawn wood made the house look very dark - almost a shadow casted by our neighbor's giant house.

i love the character of this bungalow and can't wait to see the renovations progress as we make the house ours.

the house with the ugly wood siding

we bought a house 3 blocks over from our last house. we loved our "little yellow house". it was more than perfect for us. it had beautiful moldings, perfect trimwork, new windows, brand new kitchen, new tile floors, brand new bathroom, fantastic paint colors - it fit us perfectly... we were spoiled with the "newness" of that home. and, it was exceptionally clean. unlike our first home - this one has been deemed by the entire 700 block of locust as "the house with the ugly wood siding".

when we were looking for another house in the Tree Streets, (by this time reality had just set in and we really HAD to move), i remember driving through this block of the neighborhood saying out loud, "that house must be abandoned - why can't we get this ugly house on this block!" and coincidentally, 2 weeks later, scott went to a yard sale with all intentions of seeing if the owners were selling the home (he pretended to be interested in a dining table and at this point, we were desperate to find a new home). he spoke with the owner and wasn't really sure what she meant when she said, "i rented this house". so i rode back up there with him later in the day and we saw her standing outside the house. we drove up to her, and he asked her to clarify if she meant "she" rented the house from the owners. she stated that she was the owner, and rented the home to someone who was doing a lease to purchase. so as we were saddened for a brief moment, her neighbor asked us if we were interested in buying or renting and we quickly said "either or!". he said he had a property on the 700 block of locust, and thoughtfully described the home as "the house with the ugly wood siding" and immediately, i knew which one he was talking about.

to our surprise, the ugliness of the home mostly stayed outside. the interiors were well maintained. there were updates in the early 90's to the kitchen (surprisingly, it was a "fancier" kitchen back in the day, with all of the appliances under the sun including a trash compactor, cooktop, built in oven, and countertop grill. needless to say, the kitchen isn't large enough for all of those appliances.) also the bathroom was updated, along with the laundry room. it has a full unfinished basement. about 1500sqft, with a fenced in backyard and beautiful, large front porch. AND it was the bungalow style that we both really wanted.

following the next 12 months, we hope to fully renovate the home. our renovations include: brand new kitchen, brand new bathroom and half bath. new paint, refinished hardwoods, and a brand new front facade.

here are some photos of our lovely, fixer upper.

what and why

this blog is to document my favorite two hobbies - real estate and cooking. i may throw in a few other musings like my super cool dog, Pita - but mostly my compulsive nature to improve the home, and new fun and exciting methods to cook food that tastes flippin' amazing. i dont, can't, or know how to follow directions, so my style is completely unconventional.

welcome to the tasty shingle. yum...