Ye Olde Red Brick House

Using the heat gun lasted approximately 30 minutes. I honestly do not know why it is so hard to use the heat gun on the beams. The paint just does not want to budge. I have to hold the heat gun in one place about 30 seconds and then can only scrape about 1/2 inch at a time.... I risk burning the wood this way, so resorted to Citri-Strip. I love this stuff for walls, furniture, etc, but not so much in high places.  It took about 3 hours to get this much done: Using a liquid stripper is a nasty job and the clean-up takes way longer. Old varnish is gooey and gross and drips down onto everything.  With a heat gun, all you need is a broom and dust pan when it comes to cleaning up.  With liquid stripper, you have to scrape, wipe, lather on more stripper, scrape, wipe, clean with a gazillion rags, wipe down with afterwash.  Even though the clean up is more time consuming, the wood is much prettier afterwards. And the citrusy smell is so pleasing to the nostrils compared to ...

So... I had it all planned yesterday to stay on that ladder for at least 6 hours. I made it to 4. Not only does it feel like 150 degrees up there, but I kept burning my fingers. Three times to be exact. The third time I screamed, really loud and almost fell off my ladder. I have a blister on the tip of my index finger that hurts just as bad this morning.  Heat guns and 100 year old varnish do not get along. Use your imagination for a moment... heat gun in left hand, scraper in right. The paint starts bubbling, The scraper kind of stalls in the varnish as it heats up, then suddenly it gives... right hand goes flying into the tip of the 1000 degree heat gun. Insert *SCREAM* here.  I am hoping I have a pair of thick garden gloves somewhere around here, because I would like to get at least half of the beam done today.  All the picture rails are done! I am crossing my fingers that I can just sand the rest of that paint off. I really dislike using the Citri-strip on them as it ...

My Labor Day weekend goal is to start sanding all of the redwood in the dining room. I woke up bright and early this morning and started stripping the rest of the paint off of the picture rails. I hope the stain covers the scorched parts... *crosses fingers* Right at this very moment, I am taking an ice cream break because it gets hot up there by the ceiling. And.... I burned my thumb on the heat gun. You know that little piece of metal on the end that gets up to a 1000 degrees? Blisters are forming.   I also need to finish stripping this colonnade and the beam that separates the dining room from the living room.  If all goes well today, I can start sanding tomorrow! I have been looking forward to that day for so very long!! Back to work I go...

This little kitten was abandoned and was found meowing outside the door at work. Our store is outside of town and there are no houses, so pretty sure she was dropped off.  She made herself at home on my desk... Her contentment and stillness had me fooled. (sucker!) I brought her home and she is like a kitten on crack. She climbs on everything; kitchen counters, dressers, my desk, the table, etc. I am going to buy a squirt bottle and fill it with water as I heard that's the best way to train an animal to stay off of things. I have to shut my bedroom door at night because she climbs on my dresser which has a lot of not so cheap perfume. If she breaks my bottle of Christian Dior, I don't know if I will love her anymore. (just kidding, I think) Lily does not like her and growls at her every chance she gets.  At first, I did not understand, because Lily is the mellowest  cat I have ever had. (adopted from a pet rescue soon after I bought my house).  It soon became clear w...

I have not worked on the wood stripping since August 2nd.  This month has been hectic, to say the least. I babysit my grand-daughter Jewell 5 evenings a week. She started First grade on the 13th, every evening consists of making her dinner, giving her a bath, helping her with homework and then listen to her read 4 books. While we are getting a lot of bonding time, and she's getting smart, it does not leave much time for house projects.  We do however make time to do things like this: playing with chalk is even fun for grownups :) Okay, back to my excuses....  I watch Adalyn and Everly, my other two grand-girls every other Saturday. Since they live 30 minutes away, I am usually at my daughters the entire day. She has to be at work by 5:30 a.m., so I get up at 3:45 a.m. on Saturday mornings. The things we do for those we love. LOL  I bought Adalyn some little ladybug rain-boots and they were a hit for playing in the mud: Aww, to be 3 years old and have no worries or ca...

I have started putting more effort into getting the dining room completed, so worked on the walls last Sunday and again yesterday (Saturday). I have been babysitting my two youngest grand-daughters every other Saturday and that is way more fun then paint stripping!  Look at these adorable faces....  I am starting to see an ending in site... and I am thrilled! Just the thought of being able to sand the walls gets me all tingly inside. I have been stalking Pinterest almost daily... not that I need more inspiration, but because seeing the photos of COMPLETED dining rooms, gives me that extra push to keep going. Cause, I have to admit, laying on the couch watching Greys Anatomy sounded way more appealing then inhaling Citristrip fumes yesterday.  My progress last weekend:  One panel and one drawer Yesterday: The other drawer and last panel I still have to finish this colonnade and the middle beam and I'll be done with stripping varnish!  So, so close!! Someday, I ca...