Yank’s House – Spring into action

Ha! I like this heading. It suggests I have been struck with a bolt of energy – wish I was but alas no. I am merely referencing the fact that today could pass as a spring day – the first of 2013 here in Ireland. The east wind was missing and we had a blue sky and sunshine all day.  What a treat! And I had to rescue two butterflies from the Yank’s house today.  

There were two butterflies on this window. I picked them up and let them out where they flew high into the sky

Pat and I headed off to check the house out and pottered about for a few hours. We haven’t been for ages – the weather has  just being too bad. But today encouraged by the sunshine we headed off and even managed a few small jobs. I cleared the bedroom with the floor I want to paint and swept it out. Then Pat did a few repairs for me. 

Pat fixing the floor

Maybe if we get another good day I will get started on the sanding and cleaning in preparation for painting. Pat also finished off the paneled wall with a trim along the floor. I will paint this to match the wall when I am down again.

New trim needs painting

I spent a bit of time out in the garden today also. I wanted to enjoy the weather. I checked our trees and pruned some low shoots and branches to encourage the growth up the young trees. I am trying to encourage one main leading shoot so the trees will grow straight and strong.

We put crow guard covers on our chimneys way back at the beginning of this project but every year – in spring, the crows come back and drop nest construction materials down through the guard. They cannot get into the chimney and haven’t been able to build a nest there for years but they just keep coming back and trying to block up my chimneys.  I cannot understand all the energy they put into collecting these materials and then pushing them down a chimney that they cannot get into.

In this image you can see what the crows are pushing down mt chimneys

Then again, maybe it isn’t much different to Pat and I.  We return to the Yank’s house every spring with our tools and materials and we have never actually been able to move in, or spend one night there. We haven't finished our nest either.  Maybe 2013 will be our year!

The Yank's House - Back in the Saddle

This week the weather has improved and there is a touch of spring in the air even if the temperatures are still very low. The days are getting brighter and there is a great stretch in the day as we say here in Ireland.

Encouraged by this Pat and I took one-day leave from our day jobs to spend working at the Yank’s house. It is always difficult when we go back after being away from the house for a while. What tools do we need to take with us? Will the paint have gone hard in the tins over the winter and how well did we clean those brushes last time? Pat had some carpentry to do – there is no end to it really. So he was pulling out timber he had wondering what he would need.

We made lunch and headed off early. The sun was bright and everywhere looked lovely on the drive down especially Lough Ennell as the sun danced on its waters. I should have stopped and taken a photo for you - next time I will. When the house came into view it was like seeing an old friend for the first time in ages. It stood proud in the landscape telling us all had been well in our absences.

Last time we had been down we had turned on a storage heater we have installed in the basement so the house felt warm on entry. Everything looked just as we had left it. Our lovely neighbors on watch as always had kept it save. Have I mentioned our neighbors before? If not I should have – they are the best. No one gets in or out our lane unnoticed. Even if I send someone down to work on the house they ring me to check on the car. One of the lovely things about the Yank’s house has been the people we have met.

It is always a bit hard to motivate oneself on a first day back – where do you start when there is so much to do. I need a new list – that will give me some achievable goals. But this week I had no list. I had a look at the floor that I intend to tackle first. I have taken a few photos to show you the state of it.

I will need Pat with his carpentry skill to repair it in a few places then I think I will hire out a sander and see how it goes. I would need to have two days together to start this and make it worth my while hiring out the sander.

The last time I was down I had finished tiling and grouting the surround on the bedroom fireplace. This fire surround is made from scraps of timber I got at work when some shelves were being taken out and some simple wood brackets from the local hardware store.

I sourced the Mexican tiles on the Internet and had them delivered. The fire inset was already there and I just cleaned and spray-painted it. Finally Pat asked a friend to make the black trim around the fire opening. I am really happy with how it has come together and it has cost practically nothing. I think it looks really well against the blue paneling.

The old door into the room has been filled and sanded and I have now given it several coats of paint. It will never look perfect but I like it as it is. Again I painted the hinges and have removed the lock for my brother-in-law to have a look at. He might be able to fix it and get it working again.

So first day back is over. I got a bit more painting done and carried out an assessment of what needs to be done next. I must work on that list over the weekend. A bottle of red, feet up, a pad and pen in hand and Pat and I can talk and plan for the Yank’s house for hours. Life is good – we are back in the saddle.

Yank's House - Old floor boards - help needed.

The next big job I need to tackle at The Yank’s House will be finishing the wooden floors. These are the original floor boards and they have taken quite a battering over the years. I haven’t decided yet how to finish them.

  

The first problem is they are very dirty and covered in dust and lime. Originally there was a two foot border painted black around each room. The middle of the room was covered with lino. But now with all the dust and lime that has been walked into them you cannot see the border any more. In fact the floors look very light in colour.

So the first thing I need to research is how to clean them. What should I wash them with? Should I wash them at all? Or should I just sand them?

Any ideas welcome.

On the top floor the boards are not in great condition. I am considering painting them. I need to find out about floor paints. What type of paint to use? Do you wax or varnish over the paint? I have lots of questions but no answers.

In the middle floor the timber is in better condition but again the floors need cleaning. Then I will need to decide if I should stain the boards, do I varnish them or do I wax them. 

It is time to get back online and into my many books for ideas and inspiration I think.  And maybe some of you can help by telling me what you did – maybe share a photo.

Some sites I like

For Shabby Chic look - http://www.shabbychicdiary.com/white-floorboards/

I like these boards – not perfect like mine http://www.traditionaltimber.co.uk/products-page/victorian-original-pine-boards/hand-painted-original-pine-floorboards/

I like this video on painting a floor http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/video/0,,20278875,00.html

How to restore wooden floors – ideas here http://www.ehow.com/how_5075152_restore-wooden-floorboards.html

Looks like I have to get the sander out. Might make a start next week.