The "Beam" that Wasn't

Okay, see that white "beam" across the doorway?  James has insisted from the beginning that it was pointless structurally (and aesthetically for that matter). The nice inspector-man insisted, "Oh, that's totally structural." Whom do we believe?? 

In preparation for tearing out the ceiling, James tore into this piece of work -- and it's purely NOTHING.  Love it.  Not sure why they put it up, but it's gone now...

Can you picture it???

Much of what we do around here these days is imagining what something's going to look like or where it's going or how big or how small or what or when or where or even why.  Join us in looking ahead... :-)

the bathroom!

the playroom and bedrooms!

front of the guest closet!

entryway from garage!

Construction 101

Nephews Daniel and Stephen joined James last week for a session of contruction training. But no power tools yet. Just de-nailing boards and cleaning up.  I hope they had fun!

Stephen learning the all-important art of flashlight-holding

Looking down the stairs -- the floor is slowly dissapearing!

Just pictures (trying to keep track!)

 a hole James cut in the laundry room/stairwell ceiling to put some more rafters in place

looking up the stairwell, ceiling gone, dust everywhere

one of many rafters he has installed

where he can usually be found -- back in the walls somewhere

piles of "itchy"

the upstairs closet, with art of the wall removed (next to stairwell)

Sweet Children of Mine

While this is going on around them...

...these girls are having fun!

I'm not sure they know anything other than naps, meals, and play while sawing, pounding, hammering, grunting, etc. are going on, but they sure don't seem to mind.  I'm so glad that they can still have fun while this is going on around them. And seeing their reactions when they notice something is different... That's just priceless.  Life sure is fun!

Defeating our ARCH enemy

BEFORE

This arch is theoretically a nice touch, but the fake brick wallpaper pushes it over the edge...

the corners of the arch cut out

the fun part -- picnics in the living room with unlimited Hulu

taking out part of the counter

here it comes!

amazing what this man can do by himself!

the mess

um, yeah, I mopped the night before... :-)

it's gone!!

THE AFTER!!

(still so far to go, but amazing!)

ah, the floor (can't wait 'til that's gone, too!)

The Beam of Bellaire

MAJOR things happening here this last week.  First of all, it was time to prep for a major beam to cover the span from the garage wall to the fireplace wall (so that the arch could be removed).  That "beam" in the above pic is merely a brace. 

The Before

temp "wall" to brace

THE BEAM

(it's the one standing on its side ready to be put in place -- 14? feet long, CRAZY heavy)

and there were actually two of them that went in side by side

the cheering section

(she got herself dressed to come upstairs to watch)

James giving the beam one last look before heaving it into place

the beam (obviously only part of it is visible) in place

(view from downstairs looking up)

You may wonder what I did this whole time:  Flashlight Holder