Today's destruction

I promise eventually there will be more to talk about than removal of plaster and lath.  Eventually.  There is a lot of it.  And a lot of it is loose, damaged and cracked.  So...there's a lot of days of removing it.

So without further ado, here is what was done today.

Found an inactive wasps nest.  Good thing I'm having the roof done and new flashing done there.  This is in the roof of the dining room bump out.

Ceiling is out of the downstairs half bath.  Ugh.  Blown in.  Yuck.

The roof had a leak, but it was repaired previously-there is new sheathing visible above that.

A sink full of insulation.  Ick.

Dining room looking at the kitchen.

Dining room ceiling.

Dining room bump out roof.

Check out the chimney.  It is a half chimney, it never went down further than this.

Taking out the kitchen side of the dining room wall.

I can see into the kitchen!  I can't wait to get new drywall up again.

Standing in the living room looking through the dining room to the kitchen.

Standing by the front door, you can see to the kitchen and into the downstairs "peach" bedroom.

Again, looking into the kitchen.

Dining room ceiling.

Pieces of kitchen plaster-the yellow is the color it was when I bought it (ok, still is mostly), the olive green is an old layer, you can also see robins egg blue on some of the pieces.

In the kitchen looking towards the living room.

In the dining room looking into the kitchen.

Another dining room wall down. The outside wall is the only one not so damaged it needed to come down.  It's also mostly windows.

My monster pile of lath in the living room.

Confirmation of my decision to rewire.  Someone overloaded the knob and tube at some point.  Scary.  I am having the electric turned on, but the K&T won't ever be used again.

Took down one of the pieces of lattice.  I think I like it.  I also cleaned out the front part of the garden.  So far I saw hosta, daylilies, peonies and iris.  A pretty proper old house garden.  Needs hydrangea though.

I also met more neighbors.  Everyone is really nice and friendly.  One of them gave me a lead on someone to contact that might have old photos of the house.  I still am not sure if I will have the time or money to reside the dormers and gable ends, but I am on a mission to find out what it looked like originally.  I know it was shake shingles.  I just don't know what color.  There is too much white in my opinion, but it might end up staying that way.  I'll just have to see what surprises the place has in store first I guess.  I will try to find info and photos anyway-even if just to pass them along to the new owners.

I have to say, this is a REALLY great house.  I just can't see leaving The Cottage for it.  I like a big yard, and this doesn't have one.  I love the walkable neighborhood, and the neighbors too.  Someone is going to be really lucky to get this place.  I hope they love it and take good care of it this time!