Tuesday, August 9, 2011

The Joys of Summer: Home Improvements








A few weeks back, the Mister got out his gas-powered high-pressure washer and got movin'.


It was a hot day, perfect for this sort of work.


I thought he'd never turn that thing off.  He wouldn't stop!  (I think it's addicting!)


In fact, I went in the house eventually, because I thought he'd come after me.  And I really don't need any more lines on my legs...


Last summer we had to fire our electric power washer, because it didn't show up for work on the only day we needed it to work--the ONLY DAY.  (Edited to add: This is an MTD gas-powered washer.)


Well, there are better employees out there, and we found one that uses gas and it's the best thing ever.






The old silver maple tree puts out its share of filth and deposits it on the side of the house, and in every nook and cranny.


And ya just gotta blast it out.


And the fact that the trigger resembles a gun is even more fun to men, I do believe.


So, blast away he did!


And I sat in a lawn chair just to be there in case he fell off the roof.  And I took photographs.  You know, in case his severe injury would need to be documented.  Hahaha!










He stayed and stayed and stayed up there!


Blasting away. 


I watched the black grime fall in rivers.






And I said...





"Won't you please come down?"







"Please?"







So he did and he washed the chairs off, too.


(What did men do before there were power tools?!)


And then he just kept on going, all the way around that house, he went!


She felt much better after her bath.  


I think I saw her smile.  


We've been here twenty years now.  We are beginning to do things over that we did when we first came.  We barely had completed the farmhouse restoration when this do-over began!  


Each summer we now try to take care of one major item...


Last summer she got new hardwood in the main living areas.


The summer before that, she got a new kitchen.


This year, the roof HAD to be done.  The wind out here is rough and seems to always be blowing--winters are especially wicked...  


It sure isn't helpful when the previous roofer decided to leave off the tar/felt paper before he put the shingles on.  The shingles, amazingly, for the most part hung on.  Unbelievable.


The roof got done a few weeks ago.



And now our fifteen-year-old, Luke is applying new paint on the front porch railing, posts, and trim.  She's gettin' a nearly complete makeover!








On the hottest week of the year, the crew showed up to strip her down and give her a new do.




I debated on the color of the new roof.  It was mostly up to me.






Slate?


Brown?


Green?






And I decided...






That ...






we...






should probably...





just go...





with...





BLUE





Again.


After all...


It makes those beautiful flags look even better.


(Edited to add:Landmark by Certainteed, color is Atlantic Blue.)











And besides...who would want to paint all those shutters again?  There's twenty sets of them.  They just got done summer before last.







And anyway, I'd have to go a whole other route with my decorations, and that just wouldn't work.


I like the red, white and blue!





19 comments:

Raspberry Hill Crafts said...

Great post.. yep we have yo go buy a power washer, my hubby seems excited. May I ask what kind you got, would rather go with gas than electric.
You have a beautiful house, I think the blue roof really pops, it frames the outside nicely.

Vintage Country Girl said...

Sounds like my husband when it's time to get the plow out to make new space in the garden. I have to run inside the house and not look at what he's doing to my yard. How funny your husband even sprayed the chairs! It looks very clean and pretty, though! Good job.

Parisienne Farmgirl said...

I AM CRAZY FOR BLUE ROOFS!

Great choice!

Eileen said...

My hubby loves his power washer too! His only requirement is that it is a hot day when he does use it. I like it because it gets a lot of spider webs off the house that seem to collect in all the nooks and crannies.

I love your blue roof too, by the way! So pretty!!!

Michelle said...

Hi, I just found your blog and I love it! Your home is beautiful. I am enjoying reading all of your past posts.
Michelle

Carmen at Old House Homestead said...

Looks lovely! We have to re-do our roof and I think we may go with that color, too. Our house is white with a very light slate blue/gray hint to it. What company and color exactly? Thanks!! :)

Laura @ The Shabby Rabbit said...

Your house is my inspiration. Im making an offer on one that is very similar tomorrow. :)I walked in and it felt like home.

Boyett-Brinkley said...

I just love your blue and white house. It reminds me of the house I grew up in only much grander. Our little house was part of the post-WW2 housing boom -- all little bungalows on huge lots (so we could add on when we outgrew the house) and they were all white with colored roofs and shutters. Ours was a white house with royal blue shutters and a blue roof. My mom even planted a red geranium by the little front porch!I loved that little house and every time I visit your page and see your house I think of mine and it makes me smile.

Valerie said...

That's hilarious about the power washer and to answer your question...before that WOMEN used the good ole hose! LOL

I love that you went with blue (again). I was thinking...when you rattled off the list...where's blue...I bet blue would look great!

And then you did.

Love it!

aimee said...

Awesome choice--I LOVE the blue! It goes well with everything!
I and a friend did some power washing here several years ago--it went well except for a certain incident with the master bedroom sliding patio door:(
Blessings,
Aimee

Donna said...

All those projects just make that beautiful old home shine!

Deanna said...

Happy Blasting! grins.

Your roof looks great!!!
Aren't cha glad it's completed?
We did ours 2 years ago......always somethin'!

God bless,
d

gailsgarden said...

Your home is so lovely and inviting! Love your blog too! Are your shutters vinyl? I was told you could not paint vinyl shutters, but I did it any way because they were on the protected side of the house. After a hard, hard winter, there has been some peeling.

Old Centennial Farmhouse said...

Gail: Vinyl shutters painted with oil base paint!

Kerin said...

Whew! You guys have been busy! Everything is looking so crisp and clean....awesome!

Unknown said...

What a beautiful choice!!! I am so glad to see this post because my husband and I are trying to decide on a new roof color. Our house is pale gray with green shutters, white trim. I am trying to talk him into a green roof! Yeah for you!

The Help - Oh please do see the
movie after you have finished the book. The subtleties of the characters words and actions are so powerful, you will still be replaying the scenes over in your mind already planning to go again! The comedic jestures are in keeping with each character just as they are in the book and add wonderfully to filling out each character. Please let me know what you think! Elizabeth

Rosemary said...

I love your house!

Old Centennial Farmhouse said...

Thank you, Rosemary! And, also to answer a question that was posted at the top by Raspberry Hill Crafts, I finally asked my husband what brand the power washer is, and it's a gas-powered MTD brand. He loves it. A regular electric power washer might be fine for a ranch or another style of single story home, but this old house is tall and sits on a high foundation, so the power of the combustion engine really helps reach like we need to!

Thanks for reading and all of your kind comments!
xoxo
Joni

Raluca said...

:-))) He loves jobs well done!
Your house looks so nice! Blue is really an appropriate color for her roof.
I always wanted to tell you that my husband fell in love with your house and especially with your porch!!