~Grüne Acres~

Every house needs more than one bathroom!

2010-04-06T19:58:00.000-07:00

And this is the perfect space...

Just needs a few touches...

and a plan....

Let's start with the windows.

Second floor,

ladder work,

hire a pro!

This project will continue.....

Upstairs projects....

2010-04-06T19:47:00.000-07:00

The upstairs has one room in a unique "L" shape floorplan.

One part was painted pink and the other orange -

I could not get the white primer painted on fast enough!

Then we need to address the holes and cracks

in all of the drywall. Robbie pulled out all of the old

drywall and his brother, David came to help reinstall the

new drywall. And while you have the cieling down -

go ahead and rewire everything and throw some

insulation up there!

And build some window seats to cover

that exposed ductwork!

No problem!!

The amazing work crew!

The water heater lives in the basement.

2010-04-06T19:29:00.000-07:00

Notice the water heater is missing from next to the stove now.

We came up with a plan to relocate it

to the basement during the kitchen project.

We also re-plumbed the entire house.

So much better!!

We were also able to add a filtration and

water treatment unit and sump pump!

Luv it!!

Rippin' out the kitchen!

2010-04-06T19:21:00.000-07:00

It is really hard to describe this room/kitchen to give you

the REAL effect, as the photo does not do it justice.

There are a variety of paint colors schemes (none of which

were completed) and several layers of floors exposed.

I think a counted up to twelve different colors at one

point and had to stop due to nausea. Knobs are

missing, boards are hanging, sink is chipped,

windows don't open, holes in the floor and did I

mention the water heater just sitting in the middle of it all?

And still my dream home!

Robbie says "step ONE" in any of our projects is:

GET a DUMPSTER!

He dug through five layers of damaged flooring.

We removed all of the old rotton and water damaged wood -

that had to include the cabinets and countertops -

sink and all....

We also wanted to open up the space to the dining area -

so we enlarged the doorway.

We have been without a kitchen since July of 2009.

We have added insulation and new windows - that work!

This project will be continued....

Cabinet inserts in studio.

2010-04-06T18:56:00.000-07:00

These are the cabinets in the studio - the two uppers

were made to accept glass inserts.

I made a set of companion panels with

a dragonfly to accent the design in the

front office entry.

Frog window for TGA office

2010-04-06T18:44:00.000-07:00

Window opening in my office wall next to workshop.

Jesse provided the artwork and detailed the sketch.

The design contains fused glass components using traditional

and new copper foil techniques.

Detail of solder of frog hand...

Back lighting gives a different look.

This is the view from my desk -

thanks for your help, Jesse!!

Front Entry Door for The Glass Anvil

2010-04-06T18:34:00.000-07:00

Front of the workshop/studio in 2006

Window and door openings installed 2007

Found an antique door that had broken glass.

Made repairs to the door and refinished the paint.

Built a new stained glass panel for the door.(2008)

Finished the glass panel installation and painted

the door and trim. Completed 2009.

Adding the Kiln to the Studio

2010-04-06T18:09:00.000-07:00

Added a kiln to the glass studio

and wanted to do a decorative mosaic base

for the fire resistant backer board.

Robbie built the base and set the backer board

and I completed the mosaic tile. It was

a nice three day project.

Losing an Old Friend

2008-10-29T18:55:00.000-07:00

This was the Grand native pecan tree next to our house.

It was estimated to be near 150 years old

and was the best tree on the property.

The neighbors say that it took a direct

lightning strike several years before we bought the place.

Apparently the damage was greater than it showed,

and the tree and been dying for some time.

It split open down the main trunk

and laid a giant limb across the yard in front of the house.

This left the rest of the dying tree dangling several

more very large limbs over the roof.

We had to have a tree removal company come

and take it down - a very sad day.

We are thankful that we had no damage

to the house and hope to plant another tree soon.

Putting in the Pond (in Ten Easy Steps)

2008-10-29T18:12:00.000-07:00

Step one: Get a pasture or a field and pick out a nice spot to dig.

Step two: Get a dozer of qualified size and one that comes

with a qualified dozer operator.

Step three: Start digging.

Step four: More digging.

Step five: Measure the hole and make sure it

is deep enough.

Step six: Wait for rain.

Step seven: Wait for more rain.

Step eight: Go buy some fish....

..... lots of fish.

Step nine: Put fish in pond.

Step ten: Enjoy!

We are having a great time with the pond -

since it is been added we have also noticed

the other creatures that come

to enjoy it as well. We have resident

frogs, toads, turtles, dragonflies, herons,

egrets, coots, raccoons, dear, coyotes and....

did I mention the snakes?

Moving Into the New Workshop

2008-09-03T15:32:00.000-07:00

This is the tool shed behind the house -

It has been my temporary workshop for the last year.

Moving day started Feb 15, 2008 -

and will continue....

It took most of two days to unpack the glass.

It was great to have all of this space - time to get to work.

This is my new light table. New equipment and work areas will be added

as budget and time permits, but the shop is on its way!

Creating the Studio/Workshop Interior - phase three and 1/2

2008-05-05T10:18:00.001-07:00

Ater the cabinets and counters we moved on to the light fixtures and plumbing.

By now it is mid January and the trim work around the doors and windows are completed.

We installed pine laminate in my office to match the cabinets and carpet in the main studio area.

The carpet installers came February 13-14 and they were the last contractor on the schedule. Time to move in and finish the detail work!!

Creating the Studio/Workshop Interior - phase three

2008-05-05T10:02:00.000-07:00

Time to start painting and getting the interior finished out. After drywall the carpenters showed up to finish out the cabinets, workbenches and shelves.

We installed pine cabinets with laminate countertops for more storage.

D.O.G. likes to hang out in the studio and inspect all of the work - he really likes the new space.

Creating the Studio/Workshop Interior - phase two

2008-05-05T09:46:00.001-07:00

After the doors go up we had the sheetrock team and drywall mud experts come in and do their stuff - they had the place covered up, floated and taped within two weeks - by now it's mid December and the weather outside is cold and wet. We set up space heaters for the workers and to help the paint dry. The drywall really brought the view of the space to reality - we are so excited!!

These guys make it look way too easy - we really appreciated thier hard work.

Creating the Studio/Workshop Interior - phase one

2008-05-05T08:45:00.000-07:00

After transforming the exterior of the workshop - we moved to the interior and began the work to turn this once garage/barn into a glass art studio.

The original owner was the driver for the Pearl Beer Distributor and this building was originally used to park and store the Pearl Beer Trucks.

We divided the space into three areas: first is a two car garage space that has Robbie's work benches, tools and wood working equipment, the second is an office space for me and my glass design work, the third is the actual glass art studio and work space.

After the space was divided, we began the reinforcing of the original walls and adding doors and windows to bring in more natural light.

After the studs and windows we started on the electrical phase - we added a 200 amp service for all of the power requirements and with all of the outlets and breakers we must have 2 miles of wiring - it is everywhere, but you can never have too much power!!

Transformation Photos of Barn to Workshop

2008-03-17T18:28:00.000-07:00

Spring of 2005......

Before

Jesse helps summer 2006

David helps summer 2007

Overhead Door Co

Markert Construction

After

.....October 2007

Transformation… Barn to Workshop

2008-03-17T17:56:00.000-07:00

It all started with a dirt floor, three walls and a leaky roof.
( We are conquering leaky roofs one at a time)

**Note: The transformation of the “barn” began three years ago.

Step 1: Remove all debris including scrap wood, scrap metal, car parts, mower parts, animal nests and other miscellaneous goodies left by former occupants.

Step 2: Order dirt to fill in the three-foot deep hole in the NW corner of the interior and eliminate the standing water. Stand back and watch the dirt contractor sink his “bobcat” into the mud and then wait several days for the mud to dry before towing it out and finishing the dirt work.

Step 3: Contract with concrete company to poor interior slab.

Step 4: Contract good helper to assist in hanging temporary doors and walls to “dry in” the rest of the barn.

Step 5: Identify your obstacles and deal with them accordingly.

Step 6: Get a sketch, blueprints, or doodle something on a bar napkin – you need a plan.

Step 7: Hire good, skilled, knowledgeable contractors and stay out of their way.

Step 8: Repeat step 5 and modify step 6 as needed – “revision” is not just another pretty word.

Step 9: Repeat step 7 ( and keep your hired help happy)

Step 10: Repeat step 8 until you can manage the rest yourself and be glad you are not to stubborn to use steps 5-7 - then you can sit back and relax.

**See note above**

Remodel and Recovery

2008-03-17T13:08:00.000-07:00

Wow - its been too long between posts and time to catch up! Repair on the house began in June 2007 and continued through November - just working on the exterior.

It all started because we needed a new roof. Small hole = big problem - so we needed to replace the rotton wood decking and fascia and soffit - so while the carpenter is here - also replace the rotton wood around all of the windows and doors, and while your at it - replace the rotton doors. Whew!

Long journey to new roof has begun. Now that the new wood is in place better get some paint on it.....

Roof company also installs gutters -

What color do you want??

Need to know that before we paint. After three trips to the hardware store we finally found the right shade of brown.

So we paint - the exterior trim and windows.

Did we mention there are 36 windows?

Also need to choose shingle color - journey to new roof continues. In the mean while new doors are installed. Also found some craftsman style lanterns for the front entry.

And after much deliberation on which shade of brown we wanted for the paint, gutters and shingles and a three month waiting period for the roofers - we started to get a roof and the sky turns dark and it looks like rain - and the race is on...

But wait -

- the old shingles are gone - the rain held off and the new shingles went on - and the house had a new roof. Yeah! No more leaks and no more buckets in the house to catch rain water......-

......and the peasants rejoiced!

We decided to keep the exsisting lightening rods and cable that where original to the house but we added some decorative glass-ball-rods to the front and rear of the house just to keep a bit of character.

The painting continued for several more weeks -

Did we mention the 36 windows?

By Thanksgiving we had the main house exterior complete

and we were indeed giving thanks!

The Lay of the Land.....

2007-09-08T16:21:00.000-07:00

The first day we arrived after closing was the first day we actually walked the fence line. As we rounded the corner of the barn we were greeting with a pile of scrap metal, car parts, old appliances and bathroom fixtures. We spent the first summer “clearing out” the pasture and hauling off stuff that had been abandoned over the years. We now know the term “putting out to pasture” can refer to any item and not just to livestock. We still have a few lawn ornaments that remain….

The old Cistern was found lying on its side – the base missing. It still has its original markings, but we have not located any other information about its original location on the property.

There was also one vehicle that we could not get out with the first clearing. A 1940-something truck “slightly” inverted with a tree growing up through the old engine compartment. It did belong to the original owner, but no one is quite sure how it got into this state.

Our second summer brought an opportunity to have livestock – the cows belong to a neighbor down the road, his parents were the original owners of the house and he is a good source for many questions we have about the house’s history. After one season the cows left our pasture.

In the beginning.....

2007-09-07T20:31:00.000-07:00

Long, long ago in a county not far away our search for a house began. After a six year search we purchased and after a two year wait, we moved…..and the remodel begins….

The house is a combination California Mission and Craftsman Bungalow and was built in 1947 with recycled wood from Camp Swift decommissioned barracks.

1946 found Camp Swift with a skeleton crew of 800. Congressman Lyndon Johnson visited with all of Bastrop Co. mayors at a barbecue in Bastrop State Park and it is here (some historians believe) that LBJs lifelong fondness for Elgin sausage began. Their Honors wanted Camp Swift reactivated, LBJ wanted to be reelected. Shortly before elections, a convoy of Troops from the 12th Cavalry at Camp Hood (approximately 1000 men) conspicuously occupied the Camp. Johnson was reelected, the troops inconspicuously convoyed back to Camp Hood and Camp Swift was reduced to lumber being sold at $5 per truckload.

The lumber exposed in some of the attic areas and behind some of the old wall coverings had the original paint from the barracks.

One of the floorboards upstairs has the initials “L R” carved into the wood that does not match any of the previous home owners and may have been placed there by someone at Camp Swift.

The house originally had white stucco siding, which was updated to vinyl sometime in the 1980’s. The floor plan is nearly in its original layout (one door was walled over) and includes no additions.