Closet Conundrum

Several weeks ago we headed to Home Depot to pick up some closet doors, only to realize that six of them were the wrong size when we got home. Since we had already hauled the old doors to the curb, we were left with no doors for close to three weeks.  This led to our room feeling like a storage unit/dorm room. The addition of the TV my parent's gave me for my 17th birthday isn't helping the decor either. What? I get attached to things.

 Meanwhile, our old closet doors were parked on the curb waiting to get picked up (If you call the Mayor's office at 311 you can make an appointment to collect up to 7 large items of trash). The only problem was, no one ever came. So after two weeks on the curb, we took matter into our own hands:

In order to get rid of large items yourself, you have to take them to the Fort Totten Transfer Station. It's an experience. First of all, don't count on your GPS to get you there - it'll let you down. You'll end up driving in circles cursing and confused - but that just might be what happens to me each time. So, you finally get there, and you are "greeted" by someone who asks to see your ID to prove your DC residency. Then they tell you where to go. Here's where things get odd. You essentially pull into a parking lot and throw things on the ground.  A large excavator rolls around on top of it and moves it into large containers.

If you're lucky, you get to throw away your trash inside. When we had to toss our old kitchen counter here, I didn't think I could do it. Visiting a stinky trash heap mid-July is not a fun errand. 

Thankfully, this trip took only a few minutes. We headed back to Home Depot to pick up our newest closet doors and return the ones that were the wrong size.  Finally, it seemed the closets would be fixed.

It took more time to picking up and throwing away the doors than it did for Dan to install them!

The roof is so shiny . . .

Oh the roof. The good news is that it's now all fixed up. The bad news is that it cost an arm...and a leg. Maybe a couple toes of the other foot too. The turret and mansard portions of the roof have been completely rebuilt, and some nice copper flashing was added as well.  While it's a nice feeling to know it's all taken care of, this project was a little bit less satisfying since we can't really see the finished product everyday. Anyway, I'll let the photos speak for themselves:

Draft Dodger

When we moved into the house in 2006, this is what it looked like: 

The front door was an older wood door with a half moon glass piece with a steel security door on the outside. Not pretty. So, in 2008, I changed it to a beautiful mahogany door:

Except, there was a draft problem. We had always had a draft from the front door (even with the old door), but I was getting more and more fed up with it. So, a few weeks ago I went to Lowe's and bought a security storm door.  

I opted to have Lowe's install it. While the installer was a little difficult to schedule time with, and showed up 3 hours late, he actually did a great job putting the door in.

This door has changed our lives. Not only does it keep the draft out (we notice a huge difference in the heat levels downstairs), but when it's open it floods the living room with light. I only wish I had done it sooner. 

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner?

And, someone isn't too pleased about it:

It's hard to see in the photos but the little black cat is still coming around. Dylan (our super-sized cat) is none too pleased.  And yes, I am aware Dylan looks like a pillow-pet. He's a fatty.

Last night I saw a large piece of fur missing from the little black cat's shoulder (a little larger than the size of a quarter) and it looks like a small wound was there. It was hard to see because he is so excited for attention when I am outside. I'm hoping someone took him to see a vet, but I can't be sure. 

This weekend I may ask around to the nieghbors if he belongs to anyone. If not, I'll probably take him to the vet to get checked out.

Why Roofing is Awesome

I can name you 10 reasons why having roofing work done is not awesome. But, there is one reason it is: they work outside. That means, no keys, no being dressed when they get there, no worrying the house is messy (or they are going to make it messy), no rushing home, no fretting about having to stay home.

Oh, another reason. . .I don't actual have to see things like this:

That is a picture of old rotted wood from underneath our gutters (which we are having replaced). Our gutters in the front our built into the roofline of the house and the wood supports have seen better days (probably like 100 years ago by they way that looks!

Biggest Project... EVER

OK, maybe not the biggest project ever... but it certainly is for DC Rowhouse. Maybe not the biggest, I mean most expensive. Well, no, that's not true either.  Why do I keep lying to you?  Here's the deal: it's the most expensive per day. Does that count? But, there is a catch. it's also the most boring project ever.

Here's a hint. This is what I woke up to this morning:

There was also a lot of this: KNOCK, KNOCK, BEEP, BEEP, BANG, BANG, BANG.

I'll give you one guess to what we are doing...go!

2011

2011

Another year, another project list.

Lots on the horizon. In fact, we were suppose to start two big projects today, though both were delayed. Until tomorrow . . .