Although did winter ever REALLY start this year??

Look at the crocus'. I'm assuming these are some of the ones I planted this fall (from mom's extra) - but we always got a few of these so it may just be the normal ones we get.

These are definitely from mom's batch. Although I thought they were supposed to be green - maybe the green ones aren't up yet and we also planted yellow?

Of course Fitz has already killed a few of these 🙂  But they are sprouting up nicely in the backyard, hopefully they sprout in the front/side yards too where there’s less sun. And I’m finding ‘holes’ in the yard where i’m sure the squirrels have figured out they could find some easy food – stupid squirrels!

Anyhow.  This weekend was a mixup of projects.  Saturday we started with 3 runs to the dump to get rid of all the wood and start getting rid of the pile of plaster (in bags).  Once that was done we worked on the nursery – finishing up any demo (all in preparation for insulation).  We also had to clean up the walls of the master bathroom which is also getting insulation – and move stuff around so walls can be reached in there and in the basement.

Another project was running the vent from the downstairs bathroom so it later can be hooked up to the other bathrooms.  It took some work to drill through the header with a 2″ hole (poor Ryan – the hole saw was not working at all so he did it with multiple 3/4 inch holes but got the job done).  Then we pieced the PVC pipe and it’s all ready to go.

Next up we ran the outlet feed on the exterior wall, getting it secured so the insulation doesn’t push the wires out and they get cut (lesson learned from the first time).

Vent pipe connected up (where the magic vent used to be) and running up through the header.

Pipe extends into the ceiling of the hallway.

Outlets on exterior wall

We ended with a little more demolition and cleanup in the closet (it also has exterior walls) – so the closet is all ready for insulation as well.

Closet exterior wall.

On Sunday we did some shopping (we bought the bedroom set for the nursery!  It should arrive on April 13th) – not that the nursery will be ready but I will need dressers for baby clothes so we’ll set the dressers up in the hallway outside the nursery at the very least.  I’m very excited.  The bedroom set was actually in the outlet section of jordon’s and that explains why it was much cheaper than their regular furniture – bonus!  We also tested out sectional couches because once the tvroom is done we’ll be ordering one of those!

Once shopping was done Ryan had to get work done (he got multiple calls this weekend asking him if he could work).  So while he did that I did some miscellaneous projects.  First I used duct tape to seal up all the cracks/holes in the exterior wall of the nursery so the spray foam insulation doesn’t push out and affect the siding later.  You can’t see the tape in the pictures probably because I used black tape.

Then I continued wiring the outlets on the second wall of the nursery.  I left the third wall because we have to put a corner nailer in first.  Next I finished vacuuming the ceiling of the nursery really well.  And finally started the process of putting the light circuit in the nursery (we have some holes in the joists from the knob and tube that I could use).  It’s not done because I need 4 holes drilled in order to finish but it’s close!

You can kind of see the outlet circuit (just have to nail the wires down) and the box for the light.

And the nice clean ceiling and fan box (ignore the existing light bulb - that will be removed once the new circuit is hooked up).

Of course Ryan reminded me that we need to run cable/ethernet to this room still – luckily it’s on interior walls.  And so I started mapping that out.  I’ll need more holes drilled (there will be 2 drops in this room) but hopefully some night this week (tonight?) I can get started on those.  I also need to wire the closet light (need holes drilled) and the smoke detector.

The one big project that’s left is screwing in all the firring strips in the ceiling – with ryan’s work load this won’t happen until the weekend.  Probably while Dad and I finish up electrical, Ryan will do that.  Then we’ll do the drywall!

Insulation comes on Wednesday!  We have 2 large things to move out of the way and a radiator to move.  Other than that we’re all ready to go!