tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60788592852887027092024-03-04T05:26:32.349-06:00Keep SmilingSmall budget, big dreams.Conanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07840629302288078813noreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-59583688955187577312021-03-10T21:57:00.004-06:002021-03-10T22:02:02.416-06:00VINTAGE CAMPER MAKEOVER COMPLETE TOUR!<p style="text-align: center;"> Hey guys, welcome to 2021. Hope it's treating you well! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpHMl4lFTYaxbg5lpU0lDs40eD89F5jEsqmaPuNtzX871Iu807qhxpFK5vsnisR3k9zoPmTqIdVkUlWOL-wNwZyD8YIk2CDIKv60Uym6uV1ieqxZnV0J4G9fVXFsV0Pz779cq80cOgW8/s4032/20210310_094303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpHMl4lFTYaxbg5lpU0lDs40eD89F5jEsqmaPuNtzX871Iu807qhxpFK5vsnisR3k9zoPmTqIdVkUlWOL-wNwZyD8YIk2CDIKv60Uym6uV1ieqxZnV0J4G9fVXFsV0Pz779cq80cOgW8/s16000/20210310_094303.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">This year is off to an exciting start because after ONE WHOLE YEAR (how?) we have finally completed our vintage camper remodel. </p><p style="text-align: center;">For a little background - we bought this camper in 2019 for $600 with the plan to maybe turn it into a photo booth, maybe just a camper? Honestly we didn't think that we would even have time to touch it in 2020 because we were so busy with our photo booth business - <a href="http://lamphousephotoco.com" target="_blank">Lamphouse Photo Co.</a> </p><p style="text-align: center;">WELP. </p><p style="text-align: center;">With all events and weddings canceled in March 2020 we started work on our 1968 Play Mor 140. </p><p style="text-align: center;">AND!</p><p style="text-align: center;">We documented the entire process on our YouTube channel: </p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9u4JOiYymR-DS8K3_9efww" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">Trailer Trash to Treasure </span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;">Which, (woo-hoo) just passed 1k subscribers! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQvjOUYpqm-_IAFyK4i_Qo6v8cKZci4Ud5pjjkUfVLmmJxZ0tdiBe5Q4Ty9CvvGrHIC5cU3N5DM5Ui1vFN9vtJAlakx3z7WM5z57wr3hh_5OE22e-Y7KSzpD-3cXyxATlD9-tt391NaA/s4032/20210310_115923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQvjOUYpqm-_IAFyK4i_Qo6v8cKZci4Ud5pjjkUfVLmmJxZ0tdiBe5Q4Ty9CvvGrHIC5cU3N5DM5Ui1vFN9vtJAlakx3z7WM5z57wr3hh_5OE22e-Y7KSzpD-3cXyxATlD9-tt391NaA/s16000/20210310_115923.jpg" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">We worked on the camper every week and finished it almost exactly a year from when we started. </p><p style="text-align: center;">Here's the before tour: </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">First the exterior. Oof.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75Ia_Sr7GJfvBAreGSJ9jmx4qZN5BHYpvcdcAzd0KGj7LOxh6GLwoZN5xgCoo_kDooNbCtJWgVL2d3AzplqlYOMlJtvOH0yfubPc-gERpuE4iTQqv-JIaAUg5GR9N7EqU82VU0IOTtrA/s2048/IMG_20191224_120338.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75Ia_Sr7GJfvBAreGSJ9jmx4qZN5BHYpvcdcAzd0KGj7LOxh6GLwoZN5xgCoo_kDooNbCtJWgVL2d3AzplqlYOMlJtvOH0yfubPc-gERpuE4iTQqv-JIaAUg5GR9N7EqU82VU0IOTtrA/s16000/IMG_20191224_120338.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Poor guy had been given the rattle can mossy oak treatment and it was doing his cute shape NO favors. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Next up, the "kitchen"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">BIG USE OF QUOTATION MARKS THERE ; ) </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmChaBwilxMicRpEYrw1YcJmSTcjP4144mMijM45jdPLVGSeMHYgH1XTokEm3mk-WcmI0sHVlP_DY6ur6WiLGXDmSbMi1kkkcKWSIaFhlXiryHb0_H0iV11HMFF4A1iWgZ413fQyLKKa8/s2048/IMG_20191224_120744.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1535" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmChaBwilxMicRpEYrw1YcJmSTcjP4144mMijM45jdPLVGSeMHYgH1XTokEm3mk-WcmI0sHVlP_DY6ur6WiLGXDmSbMi1kkkcKWSIaFhlXiryHb0_H0iV11HMFF4A1iWgZ413fQyLKKa8/s16000/IMG_20191224_120744.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">What's there to say, it was basically gone. Disintegrated. Like the little scalloped edge on the cabinet though so style points for that I guess. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the dinette that would fold down into a bed:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9fn9NoNc26c03ihYgyBCA7vdm8TK20H0r5A3qAl1r19N8OGyxPImDFHbjHNXMpjKmD26xNXEk8S7sGIxEm-9usPthPbMsRDzVkfzCPGxd2o57RNGtkfuP0TanaTSVSMTWZFWF2gpkp8/s2048/IMG_20191224_120801.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc9fn9NoNc26c03ihYgyBCA7vdm8TK20H0r5A3qAl1r19N8OGyxPImDFHbjHNXMpjKmD26xNXEk8S7sGIxEm-9usPthPbMsRDzVkfzCPGxd2o57RNGtkfuP0TanaTSVSMTWZFWF2gpkp8/s16000/IMG_20191224_120801.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The other ~bed~</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VzmKk4DUEexvW31NGYIPKkyBV5c7x3kliE2Gs_SnnhyZznIbb5S7b1I6lyRSejYYBH0u7KXEIw4TVYhHFDlkxOhi21unJQxdYuThJyBh0-F7Q8bhVgZC_WpDxjRrOBbElY1PmjJT8XU/s2048/IMG_20191224_120822.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VzmKk4DUEexvW31NGYIPKkyBV5c7x3kliE2Gs_SnnhyZznIbb5S7b1I6lyRSejYYBH0u7KXEIw4TVYhHFDlkxOhi21unJQxdYuThJyBh0-F7Q8bhVgZC_WpDxjRrOBbElY1PmjJT8XU/s16000/IMG_20191224_120822.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Would you sleep there? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">So we got to work with the help of my dad, Dave and mom, Connie and demolished the interior first:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAPtbIX0VCKB0KAod8UB7WPeUFu1EUcHcDcF3jjHJgi7wv-3hfQYCz6AKblquCGHHDQ_y5hmF-aWHCWtg0IRoYN2D2FtDbQbmClmhNbe4FOxEb3Ai8zkCZtFSQqw_77iJ-Gm_j8k7g_U/s2048/IMG_20200102_121237.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAPtbIX0VCKB0KAod8UB7WPeUFu1EUcHcDcF3jjHJgi7wv-3hfQYCz6AKblquCGHHDQ_y5hmF-aWHCWtg0IRoYN2D2FtDbQbmClmhNbe4FOxEb3Ai8zkCZtFSQqw_77iJ-Gm_j8k7g_U/s16000/IMG_20200102_121237.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieROZxULBfxpGtpIw3WfZ5TPI-tgoKSbt3Ke2ArBGyyZoWSZRVgud23NLWmWfL6-uc3UZd53HXQilW8TzmhsxEaF-NsaE_4SnUUG-ZIM32V7XdQuUQFlATfMpDE6tmjT2xAG2HF8VKyg/s2048/IMG_20200118_161210.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgieROZxULBfxpGtpIw3WfZ5TPI-tgoKSbt3Ke2ArBGyyZoWSZRVgud23NLWmWfL6-uc3UZd53HXQilW8TzmhsxEaF-NsaE_4SnUUG-ZIM32V7XdQuUQFlATfMpDE6tmjT2xAG2HF8VKyg/s16000/IMG_20200118_161210.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYr20MiVBWOR4ntMFeOe2xDh7RFNPDO3JO0bOJXZvNsYeNuXjB2eRegCVOK7DaVJCDrZZJ2Tfox8yfsr16564tIb7irG-PB20m60KGBoArNjk-u3_RyTmr1zjD6FaSaPgqkw3viaYE5c/s2048/IMG_20200118_161231.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYr20MiVBWOR4ntMFeOe2xDh7RFNPDO3JO0bOJXZvNsYeNuXjB2eRegCVOK7DaVJCDrZZJ2Tfox8yfsr16564tIb7irG-PB20m60KGBoArNjk-u3_RyTmr1zjD6FaSaPgqkw3viaYE5c/s16000/IMG_20200118_161231.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">We then took it down to the frame, rebuilt the walls, ceiling, stripped the skin and repainted the exterior and ta-da, here's the final product: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1T3HiQVlNqzYUrTmCj6Hf87lSLt8qOw-8ehpqh9yYKtsIBiOt50qCMcLlSfeM4RheJ5otxzdGITSwnSHNxrmZKimHo7qIZSTric2YKOlinj4F98gDimBeGvJnordJouh7uQlJfEmxAZY/s1080/20201224_184252+square.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1T3HiQVlNqzYUrTmCj6Hf87lSLt8qOw-8ehpqh9yYKtsIBiOt50qCMcLlSfeM4RheJ5otxzdGITSwnSHNxrmZKimHo7qIZSTric2YKOlinj4F98gDimBeGvJnordJouh7uQlJfEmxAZY/s16000/20201224_184252+square.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p style="text-align: center;">The kitchen after: </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJxgE1XoABBDbGOVkDW_yotXP2Y312ItFzUjf67ize_IwXVwDoisAIlhSyE4dIrGJQ7Sx3gZGnrIEB-JfH1uURK0EWrTE1zbytsCWvNuzbwgXi22oSwwzSRiYkGpHfsTwU5DT7bSjSe8/s4032/20210307_183911.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxJxgE1XoABBDbGOVkDW_yotXP2Y312ItFzUjf67ize_IwXVwDoisAIlhSyE4dIrGJQ7Sx3gZGnrIEB-JfH1uURK0EWrTE1zbytsCWvNuzbwgXi22oSwwzSRiYkGpHfsTwU5DT7bSjSe8/s16000/20210307_183911.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACxti-L8F1wjkChcIF4xcJK7tcG4ueNybyumxawHKB6F9A3qWXX3av7EkScnohkxtMcNFSOxciealvXNQyKFK7GpIB4rFsSEVRsIwn4oP52mUeQFXHq54AtR8XmD-iBB2E_EBmRIlIHE/s4032/20210310_094303.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACxti-L8F1wjkChcIF4xcJK7tcG4ueNybyumxawHKB6F9A3qWXX3av7EkScnohkxtMcNFSOxciealvXNQyKFK7GpIB4rFsSEVRsIwn4oP52mUeQFXHq54AtR8XmD-iBB2E_EBmRIlIHE/s16000/20210310_094303.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodDsSqcbeK9Cl1nDgQwhWwvcDRhRGldo099rD3OOcLLUaidemA0LpAP-J2BD4tMkQNtgzvbJ9cszq2vGBTWQbBDtRLwU66bhyphenhyphened9th9PmxC1yTu7s9JIhc-Z02miflZE1qNhQZHcrdsE/s4032/20210220_193844.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodDsSqcbeK9Cl1nDgQwhWwvcDRhRGldo099rD3OOcLLUaidemA0LpAP-J2BD4tMkQNtgzvbJ9cszq2vGBTWQbBDtRLwU66bhyphenhyphened9th9PmxC1yTu7s9JIhc-Z02miflZE1qNhQZHcrdsE/s16000/20210220_193844.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I think the kitchen might be my favorite part of the camper. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We installed a new faucet, built upper and lower cabinets, added a water pump and water system and new hardware of course. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Next up, the front "dinette"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cKiR-_zGPwxhdj0K0LP6hvmyVbpxoqgrVE_eLUz73tOQaBZCs-LZ8c0PA_1Al3R2-kRlaxM03RxHnVFtLa3-RGw3AL1TzkQh5ZLRy2H5I3ExRF3e9CnGmuK3z_PblFNQS9UkqkehCZA/s4032/20210203_164750.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3cKiR-_zGPwxhdj0K0LP6hvmyVbpxoqgrVE_eLUz73tOQaBZCs-LZ8c0PA_1Al3R2-kRlaxM03RxHnVFtLa3-RGw3AL1TzkQh5ZLRy2H5I3ExRF3e9CnGmuK3z_PblFNQS9UkqkehCZA/s16000/20210203_164750.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We ended up opting for storage and turned the dinette into a permanent couch/bed. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">We're tent campers and we usually eat outside on a picnic table so we didn't think we would spend the time to convert it back and forth every day from a dinette to a bed. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzinhkwukoAXSwsA6yLr8VxsDw8DvtpL7cq0uVE5XADfaFpGa8yN3HYhc2pwqKmn2Mrh7NlEFS7OtcLnEZKutmct9p7vPVfjeMnIIbObsb5MKCDO0C1fplLg7msD51YEnK5pthrJ9bKH4/s4032/20210203_155720.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzinhkwukoAXSwsA6yLr8VxsDw8DvtpL7cq0uVE5XADfaFpGa8yN3HYhc2pwqKmn2Mrh7NlEFS7OtcLnEZKutmct9p7vPVfjeMnIIbObsb5MKCDO0C1fplLg7msD51YEnK5pthrJ9bKH4/s16000/20210203_155720.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And finally, the bedroom:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4SRt1v81mdiQomuy35tmSuWtLXE0O1r6VdPcYZXMtYf_9fVSETxDfl0g2w9blIwJxMjcGqnFXyFHb2iIz-zX133foHc1liYO_LDGN7r_IyTeNyMcHkUgb_xS2GK8dbDwC7A3hWmtOYU/s4032/20210308_162425.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4SRt1v81mdiQomuy35tmSuWtLXE0O1r6VdPcYZXMtYf_9fVSETxDfl0g2w9blIwJxMjcGqnFXyFHb2iIz-zX133foHc1liYO_LDGN7r_IyTeNyMcHkUgb_xS2GK8dbDwC7A3hWmtOYU/s16000/20210308_162425.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Did I say the kitchen was my favorite? Maybe this is? Idk, I love it all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakyRoPiawx22pgnzfJ2h4YodPl2PtxEUuByJ9lo3KpSk6ng9rQ1j2WtG4T8oQdAUO8uzL3KviusuqQwvNX3Dyjfzmm0Vt2c3aea2HESenUwen_YCrW4MEitclWe66eLJ9WSrKOEnUL50/s4032/20210309_123831.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjakyRoPiawx22pgnzfJ2h4YodPl2PtxEUuByJ9lo3KpSk6ng9rQ1j2WtG4T8oQdAUO8uzL3KviusuqQwvNX3Dyjfzmm0Vt2c3aea2HESenUwen_YCrW4MEitclWe66eLJ9WSrKOEnUL50/s16000/20210309_123831.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Simon is a big fan of the big, fluffy bed:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpy1bZ_SDC1F4UPZsgAdm1WJomCOEeBgS1HK0l6HIElpvvUFQakCPSY9vwenjiMtcGL9H9bnoQWzBwvVVj_43kgXF8_lFXxpUmrb35w09wEyAqheGE2g8MsO6D0IcUg6B0Q7vxEmNqmCU/s4032/20210307_184906.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpy1bZ_SDC1F4UPZsgAdm1WJomCOEeBgS1HK0l6HIElpvvUFQakCPSY9vwenjiMtcGL9H9bnoQWzBwvVVj_43kgXF8_lFXxpUmrb35w09wEyAqheGE2g8MsO6D0IcUg6B0Q7vxEmNqmCU/s16000/20210307_184906.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The bed converts back into a couch area during the day to add a tiny amount of floor space, access to under the bed storage, and a nice seating area for meals or relaxing.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubn9vBgLeWm5fqILvutrxrMietk-D4aP9hqTAfdOq2DpjuVn6fK3TgBzQol4UAbPghbH0r84es6ymI8uIo8xBFsGSyxhNlOJN7Q-YtWjUg-A7q7iSgFJEKV2bM-HA9hSUQ_F6P5WZS5Y/s4032/20210309_123910.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubn9vBgLeWm5fqILvutrxrMietk-D4aP9hqTAfdOq2DpjuVn6fK3TgBzQol4UAbPghbH0r84es6ymI8uIo8xBFsGSyxhNlOJN7Q-YtWjUg-A7q7iSgFJEKV2bM-HA9hSUQ_F6P5WZS5Y/s16000/20210309_123910.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">If you want to see how we rebuilt, repainted, re-everything'd this whole camper from the very beginning please head over to our YouTube channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9u4JOiYymR-DS8K3_9efww" target="_blank">Trailer Trash to Treasure</a> and click the 'Start From the Beginning Playlist' </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We have another awesome project starting in a few weeks so hit that subscribe button and follow along on our next adventure! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Until then, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Keep Smiling!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://shop.magnolia.com/products/water-garden" target="_blank">Exterior Green Paint</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.behr.com/consumer/ColorDetailView/S180-1" target="_blank">Exterior Pink Paint</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.behr.com/consumer/ColorDetailView/MQ1-23" target="_blank">Interior Upper Cabinet Paint</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.behr.com/consumer/ColorDetailView/MQ6-58" target="_blank">Interior Lower Cabinet Paint</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.behr.com/consumer/ColorDetailView/75" target="_blank">Interior Wall Paint</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0867Z5ZG4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Kitchen faucet</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hardware (<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08HXVC4DY/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">pulls </a>& <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0823RQFHJ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">knobs</a>)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://quadrostyle.com/products/berber-harlow-vinyl-tile-sticker-pack-in-cream-black-kitchen-bathroom-floor?_pos=4&_sid=d5787e730&_ss=r" target="_blank">Backsplash stickers</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.fabric-calculator.com/boxcushionexpress/index.html" target="_blank">Box Cushion Tutorial</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://thehappyglamper.co/diy/roll-up-curtains/" target="_blank">Drop Cloth Shade Tutorial</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.lowes.com/pd/SMARTCORE-11-Piece-5-in-x-48-03-in-Lanier-Hickory-Luxury-Vinyl-Plank-Flooring/1000844538" target="_blank">Flooring</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087QZTZWZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank">Lights</a></div>Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-12400506770254618642020-12-25T22:16:00.002-06:002020-12-25T22:18:31.955-06:00Merry Christmas!<p style="text-align: center;"> Just wanted to pop in to say 'Merry Christmas!' and give a little update on how our year ended up. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisj5VVqu2zIcU2vYTJKDagMfgxEndoVWvMZNrryW9oVSqWla5TYK35ZzUDm8aB0mXQXwm3rTirPC3wyNm2qzWba2t-5jFhcRwVwXGqbLsdhyphenhyphengZGgfq6tNOXvGJNEg5VE8CS9Qc3w1BneQ/s2048/20201224_183942.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisj5VVqu2zIcU2vYTJKDagMfgxEndoVWvMZNrryW9oVSqWla5TYK35ZzUDm8aB0mXQXwm3rTirPC3wyNm2qzWba2t-5jFhcRwVwXGqbLsdhyphenhyphengZGgfq6tNOXvGJNEg5VE8CS9Qc3w1BneQ/s16000/20201224_183942.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The last time I blogged, we had *just* barely started working on that camper up here ^</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and what do you know, 9 months later and we're still working on it ; ) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">BUT</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it's basically pretty much almost done! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just a few finishing touches here and there so no big reveal yet but here's a before and after of the kitchen: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">BEFORE (obviously!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVOWaugeHp56E4kwqYeL3x6Boq45a12r5Jqabkr8puIZUx4VHgtZov5sM9yETRij571c6Zy6mKftySD_0xri567jcPxD247q-zJ3kNG62wq4FTB-EUEg1h1CWDqB5VafbGj4StFmNoMI/s2048/IMG_20191224_120744.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVOWaugeHp56E4kwqYeL3x6Boq45a12r5Jqabkr8puIZUx4VHgtZov5sM9yETRij571c6Zy6mKftySD_0xri567jcPxD247q-zJ3kNG62wq4FTB-EUEg1h1CWDqB5VafbGj4StFmNoMI/s16000/IMG_20191224_120744.jpg" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">AFTER:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2GK2-5d8Dz7npkjgVEjPdBSnQm5x3g4c_aEp3Rxg4FXe-U7SZiRKTmpZJcJVvwszqk-OMz3Jn8YsbKNksvIn9D81Nuub9H_Bvb3FFCEUODqbiLTMBKpu7Yp_RheXsnBtylU2C_op5p4/s2048/20201224_141859.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj2GK2-5d8Dz7npkjgVEjPdBSnQm5x3g4c_aEp3Rxg4FXe-U7SZiRKTmpZJcJVvwszqk-OMz3Jn8YsbKNksvIn9D81Nuub9H_Bvb3FFCEUODqbiLTMBKpu7Yp_RheXsnBtylU2C_op5p4/s16000/20201224_141859.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Can you BELIEVE??</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I'm so excited to finish this project up with all of the fun stuff like storage, accessories, and decor but for now, I'll just tell you to head over to our YouTube <a href="youtube.com/trailertrashtotreasure" target="_blank">Trailer Trash to Treasure</a> to watch the whole remodel process and while you're there, give us a LIKE & SUBSCRIBE - that's all we want for Christmas! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks for reading. See you in 2021! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRsNppfUsOeST34HvpPPO8qzDM2lVU-LLJ-mnjfBgPl83D90BgdjkTom9apMFEg3rzCe9g7ioehO7Gm1fzQgWlFwel6vupj2-dQUr1u-8DBRWZ1nFDK_Ru1OhLcIXabcsNCmZXMRobob4/s2048/20201224_184208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRsNppfUsOeST34HvpPPO8qzDM2lVU-LLJ-mnjfBgPl83D90BgdjkTom9apMFEg3rzCe9g7ioehO7Gm1fzQgWlFwel6vupj2-dQUr1u-8DBRWZ1nFDK_Ru1OhLcIXabcsNCmZXMRobob4/s16000/20201224_184208.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Keep Smiling</div><br /><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-64653739852771246652020-04-20T12:50:00.000-05:002020-04-20T12:50:14.615-05:00Vintage Camper Remodel Update!<div style="text-align: center;">
Hey guys! </div>
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Had a minute before we got started working on our 1968 Play-Mor Model 140 vintage camper today so I thought I'd check in and give you some updates. </div>
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If you saw our first video that I linked here last week, you know that we have already demolished the entire camper. Here's a peek at that process: </div>
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Here's what the camper looked like on day 1: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tP6jRCy-KkwpHNqLScPiQaDDO3LIvuyO7N5b3ZZKzxlGg7rh8r1Fv3cAd5PmIhXw_F4bi-b7ckN7-5DhMr3jxhGl3e5Ll4mDnDL4-bY2sSoXKoGGzDNYZKjhaUDvwUbSlHcvrvbs8Qs/s1600/camper+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tP6jRCy-KkwpHNqLScPiQaDDO3LIvuyO7N5b3ZZKzxlGg7rh8r1Fv3cAd5PmIhXw_F4bi-b7ckN7-5DhMr3jxhGl3e5Ll4mDnDL4-bY2sSoXKoGGzDNYZKjhaUDvwUbSlHcvrvbs8Qs/s1600/camper+before.jpg" /></a></div>
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Then once the interior was removed, we took the walls and roof off (see that video <a href="https://youtu.be/o87HknBsYOc" target="_blank">here</a>): </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IPE7zvIDjC4caj_R49OaGsU5td8PtKtIUxwmm10llTo4VeJE3XU8vxXWR1dwlHI9dMBDHX5FEAl5ktt79XrXq9FtZuzaO4MWHg9FHxjjPcH5mPFi_baA67IzHKt-WmKpbhah_FDi3-s/s1600/IMG_3624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IPE7zvIDjC4caj_R49OaGsU5td8PtKtIUxwmm10llTo4VeJE3XU8vxXWR1dwlHI9dMBDHX5FEAl5ktt79XrXq9FtZuzaO4MWHg9FHxjjPcH5mPFi_baA67IzHKt-WmKpbhah_FDi3-s/s1600/IMG_3624.JPG" /></a></div>
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And we were left with just the old rusty frame and rotten decking: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5-h5YcQYgAw3jVbFV4mxaUISzXMJ3BHjWltT_2jNTYU51EzxnZ4eaqV12t1LH_pijkSxIRoXo2QjAehyphenhyphenDUULn45bgvBPskGPqCZxUgFiYsIs59CT70tQ2JdLb4QpnA9aFwFJ4QOo1NI/s1600/IMG_3639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5-h5YcQYgAw3jVbFV4mxaUISzXMJ3BHjWltT_2jNTYU51EzxnZ4eaqV12t1LH_pijkSxIRoXo2QjAehyphenhyphenDUULn45bgvBPskGPqCZxUgFiYsIs59CT70tQ2JdLb4QpnA9aFwFJ4QOo1NI/s1600/IMG_3639.JPG" /></a></div>
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After that, Conan pulled the old decking off (making meticulous notes of where everything would go back) and sanded, primed and painted the frame (here it is primed): </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vQY9juqVtglIADs5fNRC47wjrSdYhC7aq2WHsGBY3Ji646Hf6FkIrC8th8cQBKlYDT4PxwdCHDy6oUNze6B6s7agfXa9E1fjg3HMtwkIP0fNmjwpOWYowR475pQezvXTCUAjQZJ-HrA/s1600/IMG_3686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vQY9juqVtglIADs5fNRC47wjrSdYhC7aq2WHsGBY3Ji646Hf6FkIrC8th8cQBKlYDT4PxwdCHDy6oUNze6B6s7agfXa9E1fjg3HMtwkIP0fNmjwpOWYowR475pQezvXTCUAjQZJ-HrA/s1600/IMG_3686.JPG" /></a></div>
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That video is up on our YouTube (Trailer Trash to Treasure) if you want to check it out: </div>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8xeElv0ylbo" width="560"></iframe>
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Up next was rebuilding the old walls using the original studs as a frame to work off of: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGak9C9KcsgarxCcuE35rkGRIuU0kyJocZ7NJUssSFGPr3VaWjMWl4HfV61HGITV2bDtb3RUPfN1oH0M3XU3mnbu-inuto-bh328hnbCZ_8WWWzjwnyLHrBQtaP2JxRaNfu5xm-XvJKbw/s1600/IMG_20200407_150051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGak9C9KcsgarxCcuE35rkGRIuU0kyJocZ7NJUssSFGPr3VaWjMWl4HfV61HGITV2bDtb3RUPfN1oH0M3XU3mnbu-inuto-bh328hnbCZ_8WWWzjwnyLHrBQtaP2JxRaNfu5xm-XvJKbw/s1600/IMG_20200407_150051.jpg" /></a></div>
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And that bring us to our most recent video:<br />
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Up next, the decking on the trailer frame gets rebuilt so that the walls can go back up and after that it's roof, wiring, insulation, skin. </center>
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Easy peezy lol</center>
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So far it hasn't been too bad. The weather has held out for us most of the time (except for terrible allergies that we've all got - Simon included) and we're excited to start thinking of how the exterior is going to look and what the interior will be laid out like. </center>
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We weren't really planning on making any changes to the interior layout - if it ain't broke - but we might have a couple of things that would make it a little more functional, we'll see. </center>
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If you're seeing this and you haven't already - please go LIKE & SUBSCRIBE to our channel, Trailer Trash to Treasure. </center>
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Until next time, </center>
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Keep Smiling! </center>
Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com0Wichita, KS, USA37.687176099999988 -97.33005299999999237.284951099999986 -97.9755 38.089401099999989 -96.684605999999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-49078717514889375052020-04-10T12:21:00.000-05:002020-04-10T12:21:56.153-05:00We're On Youtube!<center>
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AHHH! </center>
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A couple of posts ago I mentioned that we had purchased yet <i>another </i>vintage camper to fix up. Here she is, a 1968 Play-Mor Model 140: </center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtUtTs58hGgvsE8jOJS4n-luJ6waoo-Jv1Yn55SbK5VPUnvEuyCkZWprdVuNWYYs2qZVKSBO21TqD5EDUiZErT9wBBszb2kAtfmPwHuOLvwWdX_3BDVwADltIO0B9KirndGaDQhD5JRg/s1600/camper+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhtUtTs58hGgvsE8jOJS4n-luJ6waoo-Jv1Yn55SbK5VPUnvEuyCkZWprdVuNWYYs2qZVKSBO21TqD5EDUiZErT9wBBszb2kAtfmPwHuOLvwWdX_3BDVwADltIO0B9KirndGaDQhD5JRg/s1600/camper+before.jpg" /></a></div>
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So ugly it's cute, right?</center>
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We honestly didn't think we'd have time to touch it with a busy season of events this spring and summer but guess what? We have some free time on our hands now (like it or not) and we figured what better way to get our minds off of things than to dig into a <b>real </b>project.</center>
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And because I like to double down on my challenges, I decided to film the process and put it on YouTube so you can follow along! </center>
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Anywho, episode 1 is live on our Youtube Channel <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9u4JOiYymR-DS8K3_9efww" target="_blank">Trailer Trash to Treasure</a>: </center>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o87HknBsYOc" width="560"></iframe></center>
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It's going to be a <i>unique </i>project due to our current situation (i.e. we're unemployed for the forseeable future due to the ban on large public gatherings and thereby...photo booths ; ).</center>
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We're trying to get it frame off and put back together in 8 weeks on a shoestring budget and perhaps the biggest challenge - we can't just hop in the car and run to the lumber company every two hours. Should be interesting. </center>
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Be sure to LIKE & SUBSCRIBE (wow, I feel so youtube-y saying that) so you can watch each episode. The plan is to put them out every Sunday night until we run out of stuff to show you which could be weeks or it could be years. Let's find out together! </center>
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Keep Smiling!</center>
Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-52999342055833037192020-04-08T11:13:00.000-05:002020-04-08T11:18:21.000-05:00The History of our House: 1917-1940 (The original owners!)<div style="text-align: center;">
If you saw our last post, you know that something very exciting happened recently: </div>
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We finally got down to the very first people that owned our house. If you've poked around the blog, you know that this has been an off and on project of ours for years. We did a little research here and there and were able to piece together a couple of things but never knew who the original owners were.<br />
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Until one month ago when I got an email from Meredith. It read:<br />
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<i>...I've been researching your house and I stumbled upon your fixer upper blog yesterday. </i></div>
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<i>The reason I have been researching your house is because I've been researching the original owners - my ancestors. They purchased the house brand new in 1917 and lived there until 1940, when, as you know, the Muck family bought it. </i></div>
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<i>I have some newspaper clippings and some census and city directory records I'm sending you so you have this information. You have done amazing work fixing up this home and I'm sure the original owners would be proud. </i></div>
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<i>Bernard P. Cunningham</i></div>
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<i>Mary Elizabeth (Sheahon) Cunningham (my 3rd great aunt)</i></div>
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<i>Had 12 children</i></div>
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<i>2 died in infancy</i></div>
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<i>1 died of Spanish Flu at Fort Riley in 1918 (James)</i></div>
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WOW. Right?<br />
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Before we get into all of that, here's a quick refresher on what we already knew about the house's previous owners:<br />
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<h2>
Present-2009</h2>
<h3>
Us! (the home's sixth and current owners)</h3>
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We purchased the house in April 2009. It had been vacant at that point for at least a couple of years. It had <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2010/02/heat-no-seriously.html" target="_blank">no heat</a>, and several other issues.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhp_SXuOVvtQdmmctdC1DjGvHB-oZVtX9F1zGYLRdzDrbTCZTY6EdujIzlvzjVSur6P-hR91P9sbxpZyOPlWwGmWBjb0Y8nduLF25o2rHJGYXWeqyBhfXpmWqoMUn_KJYgTffVvIIUeU/s1600/left+side+after02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwhp_SXuOVvtQdmmctdC1DjGvHB-oZVtX9F1zGYLRdzDrbTCZTY6EdujIzlvzjVSur6P-hR91P9sbxpZyOPlWwGmWBjb0Y8nduLF25o2rHJGYXWeqyBhfXpmWqoMUn_KJYgTffVvIIUeU/s1600/left+side+after02.jpg" /></a></div>
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Here's a little more<a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2009/10/on-buying-forclosed-property.html" target="_blank"> about buying the house</a>, an <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2009/10/interior-tour.html" target="_blank">interior tour</a>, and a <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2017/04/happy-8-years-house.html" target="_blank">nice roundup</a> of projects through the years.<br />
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<b>2000s-90s</b></h2>
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<b>(the home's fifth owners?)</b></h3>
A few years ago while painting the front porch with my mom, a woman came up with her son and said that she had lived in the house before us. I can't recall how long exactly she said but she gave some details of the house that confirmed she had lived in it.<br />
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1990s-1944</h2>
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Larry (the home's third/fourth owners)</h3>
By complete accident and good fortune, we stumbled upon the next people to live in our house.<br />
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Conan worked for years and years at Moler's Camera digitizing slides and old photos.<br />
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One day in 2016 he was digitizing some pictures and saw something that looked familiar - our porch!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfZB-cYpGXVk94_kRtksaEODhGXZQfCxgwOodPZ9pBwq9sSs214naas28dJ9dw6oAw85aEUPABGmWVCSztZcjQ_9XXkvysL65IAlFuiDA8eXjb7l1C9mXgLIDO05t49Qs44HoWC8rYmE/s1600/pony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1050" data-original-width="700" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfZB-cYpGXVk94_kRtksaEODhGXZQfCxgwOodPZ9pBwq9sSs214naas28dJ9dw6oAw85aEUPABGmWVCSztZcjQ_9XXkvysL65IAlFuiDA8eXjb7l1C9mXgLIDO05t49Qs44HoWC8rYmE/s640/pony.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larry in front of our (his) porch on a pony. </td></tr>
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He looked through more of the pictures and sure enough - it was our house!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2Y3rIctyqEsMToFrwOxHXF5K0wYJ1gqjxDGoHXxFLXxOWkuqqjxfY6LtkAeIfyRqpzblrxHdD7ShNrHeWwHpN7RxSr7T9y4mL0gBws-a02YLxvzYu5_LZx5mq-6ddGnh70dEhiq7bKU/s1600/birthday02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1032" data-original-width="700" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2Y3rIctyqEsMToFrwOxHXF5K0wYJ1gqjxDGoHXxFLXxOWkuqqjxfY6LtkAeIfyRqpzblrxHdD7ShNrHeWwHpN7RxSr7T9y4mL0gBws-a02YLxvzYu5_LZx5mq-6ddGnh70dEhiq7bKU/s640/birthday02.jpg" width="434" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Larry and other neighborhood children on our porch. </td></tr>
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He spoke to the man who was a little boy in the photos, Larry, who remembered his dad working on the house and making some additions here and there. The above photos were taken around 1946 and Larry said his family lived there until the 70s then he purchased the home from them and lived here until the 1990s.<br />
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See all of these incredible photos <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/08/wait-is-that-my-house.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<h2>
1944-1940</h2>
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The Muck Family (the home's second owners)</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_WLUlZmrj20jlGsb0GxqFZUnTzbYTincRCkA3BozqhtQ25H64d5XtB-CQpmlqRRnzb9NSKorBjPUEAKDjDDlhrxTvikBx9axoBzmHVKEjnIezCw3VB8h1qJOq1qMBrt69YfowUbz4VY/s1600/muck+dan+%2526+eva+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="305" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR_WLUlZmrj20jlGsb0GxqFZUnTzbYTincRCkA3BozqhtQ25H64d5XtB-CQpmlqRRnzb9NSKorBjPUEAKDjDDlhrxTvikBx9axoBzmHVKEjnIezCw3VB8h1qJOq1qMBrt69YfowUbz4VY/s640/muck+dan+%2526+eva+4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Muck Family, l to r: Dan, Charles, Maude, Eva</td></tr>
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Before Larry and his family, there were the Mucks.<br />
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The Muck family purchased the house in 1940 and lived there with their daughter Maude and son Charles.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wr4TZRavruQWhAJodeAQVewGbUxuZ3_QdFkn9Y3wUozyuKl2xKoIBkj6E0jCJgaRD3mTeWbtTy_dpIJLaEYJLKOWku7eOF1MoPK0_jydhkqqlQAMYkxTkRVaIdhxniIBO8NXrCdgP7w/s1600/33168670_123447957043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wr4TZRavruQWhAJodeAQVewGbUxuZ3_QdFkn9Y3wUozyuKl2xKoIBkj6E0jCJgaRD3mTeWbtTy_dpIJLaEYJLKOWku7eOF1MoPK0_jydhkqqlQAMYkxTkRVaIdhxniIBO8NXrCdgP7w/s1600/33168670_123447957043.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dan & Eva Muck on their wedding day, December 25, 1890</td></tr>
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I was fortunate enough to get to speak with their granddaughter, Wilene who had done a lot of research on her own.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWQMQ63GLktOHadhbKZFIfZUdFHbZah8op4qIOx11DQkS1ALkkhVLZlZZlVLijS0d_nNBP4EaPc509Rcya3KVCsK4o1E5EKzsE2c-K-W5eQD-MZPBWcI5rNC8eKNX0mEKNk1msJ-KCv8/s1600/muck+dan+%2526+wilene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWQMQ63GLktOHadhbKZFIfZUdFHbZah8op4qIOx11DQkS1ALkkhVLZlZZlVLijS0d_nNBP4EaPc509Rcya3KVCsK4o1E5EKzsE2c-K-W5eQD-MZPBWcI5rNC8eKNX0mEKNk1msJ-KCv8/s1600/muck+dan+%2526+wilene.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dan Muck and his granddaughter Wilene</td></tr>
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She recalled that her grandparents slept in the dining room of the house and she sometimes stayed up in the attic.<br />
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According to the census, they had 5 female boarders while living here.<br />
<h2>
1917-1940</h2>
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The Cunningham Family (the home's original owners)</h3>
Here's where things get <i>really </i>interesting as we put the final puzzle piece of our home into place.<br />
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So, Meredith was researching her ancestors and came across our blog and decided to reach out with all of the amazing information she had found. With her permission, I'll share it with you here, paraphrasing her:<br />
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The home's original owners were Mary and Bernard Cunningham. They were married on April 21, 1884.<br />
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They were from Pottawatomie County, Kansas originally. They moved to Butler County around 1913, bought 160 farm acres near Augusta, Kansas (about 40 miles from here).<br />
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They discovered oil and gas on their land and became extremely wealthy as a result. Here's an interesting clipping renting that farm out years after they had moved to Wichita:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmf33vMOqSdyQ06fsxd3HcA7wx3K_5ZxpkBL8AhWyacQdhXDzjOsJn3Xx9CU73XBF-9mnpekSEky5jFGjlmG_8k6TRxRVoZRl6a4Q-MxZ-L9-UxvJ_ExODhZAcE_gSZiDGCTqXc1X21E/s1600/The_Wichita_Beacon_Fri__Feb_1__1918_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1561" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFmf33vMOqSdyQ06fsxd3HcA7wx3K_5ZxpkBL8AhWyacQdhXDzjOsJn3Xx9CU73XBF-9mnpekSEky5jFGjlmG_8k6TRxRVoZRl6a4Q-MxZ-L9-UxvJ_ExODhZAcE_gSZiDGCTqXc1X21E/s1600/The_Wichita_Beacon_Fri__Feb_1__1918_.jpg" /></a></div>
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The home was built by L.H. Bump for a whopping $5,500 dollars. Here's an article about the building permit (he also built one other home in our neighborhood):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eYpI8wcBqYQ5BwM5V9R3eCnYDF908NVMofSU0titIJl5lY_OzQTBy9IJgENFnL1ROx_6x_2_3zW_xw7m13aQAWp89y_kGHOqh9AMIJbhtcLsfntaZIz88vm5Y-nydS6NUBGb2ZpsMNQ/s1600/The_Wichita_Daily_Eagle_Thu__Feb_1__1917_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="733" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eYpI8wcBqYQ5BwM5V9R3eCnYDF908NVMofSU0titIJl5lY_OzQTBy9IJgENFnL1ROx_6x_2_3zW_xw7m13aQAWp89y_kGHOqh9AMIJbhtcLsfntaZIz88vm5Y-nydS6NUBGb2ZpsMNQ/s1600/The_Wichita_Daily_Eagle_Thu__Feb_1__1917_.jpg" /></a></div>
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They moved to Wichita in 1917 and purchased our house brand new to live in with their children.<br />
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Then things took a turn<br />
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Sometime in 1919, Mary filed for divorce from Bernard on the grounds of extreme cruelty (see center column of clipping below:<br />
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Their son, Maurice testified that his father had choked his mother and then threatened to kill him with a butcher's knife.<br />
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Things got so bad that at one point, after the birth of another of their children, Mary fled the home and walked several miles to a neighbor's house for safety and sent the neighbor back to retrieve the baby.<br />
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And if that's not enough, Bernard had also held a loaded pistol to his daughter Grace's head at some point as well.<br />
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WOW.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQCnK8PsSiSYJRmarirZjZ7cUbSVmmmXOeDNC6nDxOdr1OjsIjYe99akO0A4CPl-Z6Lm7b6Y22FhDBhMDswD53FZ-apuazdJSIxvCqTd4d30TZt7MOnlC0jCWbd17tzE6inNTABdosXxA/s1600/divorce+clipping.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQCnK8PsSiSYJRmarirZjZ7cUbSVmmmXOeDNC6nDxOdr1OjsIjYe99akO0A4CPl-Z6Lm7b6Y22FhDBhMDswD53FZ-apuazdJSIxvCqTd4d30TZt7MOnlC0jCWbd17tzE6inNTABdosXxA/s1600/divorce+clipping.png" /></a></div>
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Bernard's defense stated that he had moved into the garage to "obtain peace" but that when he returned to the house for meals someone was usually in his place at the table.<br />
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He claimed that it was Mary who had threatened to kill him due to the fact that he wanted to leave Wichita and return home to Augusta.<br />
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The divorce was finalized, with Mary receiving the house (now our house), half of their assets, royalties from the oil on their old farm, and custody of the children.<br />
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Bernard moved just down the street to 245 N. Chautauqua where he lived until his death on April 5, 1922, just two years after their divorce was finalized. The executor of his estate, his brother, reported that his children entered the home within a few hours of his death and stole personal property valued at $1891.<br />
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Among the things they stole:<br />
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A Dodge sedan<br />
Diamond pin<br />
Watch<br />
Overcoat<br />
Silverware<br />
Two bedspreads<br />
and a razor<br />
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All of Bernard's children testified against him in the divorce case. He had about $40,000 of property when he died and he gave $4,000 each to his brother and sister and the rest was placed in a trust for his children.<br />
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Mary lived in the house until 1940 and then it was sold to the Muck family. Mary lived with her daughter Grace until her death in 1949.<br />
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So...yeah. That's A LOT.<br />
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When you think of researching your home or in our case, someone else researching their ancestry and finding you (!) - you never really think it will be anything as <i>interesting </i>as this.<br />
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Time after time, we've been handed these gems of history by people who have gone out and done the legwork and research.<br />
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In Wilene's case, she researched her family and put it out onto the internet for us to find through findagrave.com and in Meredith's case, she did an EXHAUSTIVE amount of research into her family's history and in doing so, found us!<br />
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We are so so so so grateful to them both for helping us piece together the history of our house which is now complete and we're doing our part by putting it here for someone to find someday hopefully!<br />
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Hopefully, someday Meredith will be able to connect with us in person and see the house. When she does, we have some trash we'd like to give her that belonged to her ancestors ; )<br />
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If you'll recall, when we were remodeling the upstairs bathroom we found some very old trash in the garbage chute under the stairs. Read all about it <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2011/05/one-mans-trash.html" target="_blank">here</a><br />
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the tobacco tin up there is stamped with the date 1919 so it likely belonged to some member of her family. That was our first clue that our house was likely built before the year on the deed - 1920.<br />
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Just a neat little tidbit!<br />
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Thanks for reading and keep smiling!<br />
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Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com2Wichita, KS, USA37.687176099999988 -97.33005299999999237.284951099999986 -97.9755 38.089401099999989 -96.684605999999988tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-26387289466179432462020-03-27T11:13:00.000-05:002020-03-27T11:13:05.134-05:00SINCE YOU BEEN GONE<div style="text-align: center;">
So um...It's been A WHILE.</div>
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So long in fact, that we were able to create an entirely new person, keep it alive over a year and live to tell about it ; ) </div>
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Introducing, to the Keep Smiling family, Simon Yale Fugit:</h2>
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Born January 1, 2019</div>
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10:39 AM</div>
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3 lbs. 15 oz, 16 in.</div>
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As you can maybe tell from the weight up there, lil' Simon wasn't supposed to show up on New Year's Day. His due date was actually February 12th but our doctors decided he needed to be a New Years baby so here we are.</div>
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He spent 21 days in the NICU but at last check up, he was over 20 lbs. and doing awesome. He's now walking, talking, and getting into <i>everything </i>(including dirt - see mouth in below pic ; ).</div>
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That sort of set the tone for the whole year - a whirlwind. Read on to see what else we did that was...surprising...or not depending on how well you know us ; ) </div>
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<b>WE GREW OUR LITTLE BUSINESS</b></h2>
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The <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2018/01/little-lampy-camper-before-and-after.html" target="_blank">Little "Lampy" Camper</a> will be 3 years old to us (+ another 60 or so but who's counting) this year so we spruced her up with a new sign and some matching hubcaps, natch. <a href="http://lamphousephotoco.com/" target="_blank">Lamphouse Photo Co.</a> will be turning SEVEN years old this June as well! Time flies when you're having fun, huh?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1T8vMwWHHckvI_dipw2GRDlLUu4eaIzAyTiiKBq2swJn6ro_KlT7kIGxXSqB83YnDFrBmYy4GJxHOyJ9FabbuJf_hXxbYuzl845x6vSaC1p4RzNsrjgWuEYbxazxemjUmGN41kUCpJiI/s1600/LIL+LAMPY+REAR.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1T8vMwWHHckvI_dipw2GRDlLUu4eaIzAyTiiKBq2swJn6ro_KlT7kIGxXSqB83YnDFrBmYy4GJxHOyJ9FabbuJf_hXxbYuzl845x6vSaC1p4RzNsrjgWuEYbxazxemjUmGN41kUCpJiI/s1600/LIL+LAMPY+REAR.png" /></a></div>
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We also added a small fleet of our newest Birdie Photo Booths: </div>
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All designed and built by Conan himself. </div>
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EDIT: When I drafted this post back in January, we were looking forward to a very busy spring season of photo booth-ing but the universe had other plans. </div>
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Due to the banning of large events because of COVID-19 all of our business stopped in mid-March and looks like we won't be working again until the end of May maybe longer. We're hopeful that we can ride this out and come back as strong as before. We're using this time off to organize, build, and take care of all of the little housekeeping things in a business that fall by the wayside when you're very busy. Anywho! Back to the fun stuff: </div>
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<b>WE GOT BACK TO WORKING ON THE HOUSE</b></h2>
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Probably what you're actually here for but I couldn't resist putting my cute little baby and cute little camper at the top of the page ok? ok. </div>
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But yeah, after about gosh, THREE YEARS? off due to being pregnant, running a business, having a newborn, and just being all around busy, we finally got back to painting the exterior of the house.</div>
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My parents have taken the lead on this one since Conan was pretty much always working and I am pretty much always holding Simon but basically, we're moving up onto the second floor. You may remember that we painted the porch way back in 2017 - here's <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2017/07/painting-our-porch.html" target="_blank">that reveal post</a> for a refresher on where we were.</div>
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They've built a structure on the roof that will hold scaffolding come better weather so that they can get way up to the tippy top (oh man I'm getting queezy even thinking about it). </div>
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<b>MY DAD RETIRED!</b></h2>
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Part of the reason that we're getting so much house help and baby help too is because my dad retired last year at the ripe old age of 65! </div>
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Now it's all grandbaby, fixing up their own RV, traveling, fixing up their house(s), fixing up our house, and maybe sleeping somewhere in there, idk. </div>
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<b>AND SPEAKING OF FIXING UP AN OLD RV, WE BOUGHT ANOTHER CAMPER!</b></h2>
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Ever since we reno'd the Little "Lampy" Camper we've been itching to do another little vintage camper and do things a little differently with some of the tiny shreds of wisdom we've garnered since then. And here it is! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFmiNmoL2hdQnRB1pDd7JoIDcpHC7eBqQBgpc9tgvIU7U_a2vgjJ65etPNILXcwxG9KZJJRpai_4uJyc7lTW-t2tHzURM4sPONbAcBFxkqMZPDNzLvrJHJuazmeZ3c0lvBpWfUPMa58o/s1600/IMG_20200202_154614.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTFmiNmoL2hdQnRB1pDd7JoIDcpHC7eBqQBgpc9tgvIU7U_a2vgjJ65etPNILXcwxG9KZJJRpai_4uJyc7lTW-t2tHzURM4sPONbAcBFxkqMZPDNzLvrJHJuazmeZ3c0lvBpWfUPMa58o/s640/IMG_20200202_154614.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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She's a 1968 Playmor Model 140 camper. It's 14' so just about the smallest we've ever had. We bought it here in Wichita last summer for $600 and our goal is to do a complete frame off renovation on this one. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgON1eUYZO2riQtG0nU8TBQEh_HsZoDXCBbqXZfeUmzfGMvDFG_Iy5rsoL1enLvnOFxPA9lR66LgNocK3-OaFKH66bon0DhsPlnaoT1z_JAFUExezoI-c3n5tV0n1_L0Pe4rN3Hd0XB_dw/s1600/IMG_20200113_122043_543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1080" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgON1eUYZO2riQtG0nU8TBQEh_HsZoDXCBbqXZfeUmzfGMvDFG_Iy5rsoL1enLvnOFxPA9lR66LgNocK3-OaFKH66bon0DhsPlnaoT1z_JAFUExezoI-c3n5tV0n1_L0Pe4rN3Hd0XB_dw/s640/IMG_20200113_122043_543.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">We've been using this downtime to take the camper apart and hopefully rebuild it. We'll see how that goes with our $0 income and inability to go out and buy whatever we need whenever we need it. It's going to be an interesting challenge for sure. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytE_AoaPUqPlS-BI1QMVqnFkAiVPuzlNKGtvygA61nrTj00mNyV-kjgWCyfZt4JMtq4edHWjv0LOu4Ujd-0ULhJsWJ9bJqK2FycWO37cDvhI3rebchZqA71ClcQX0PZxgc_WLfwAk5Go/s1600/IMG_20200119_231722_691.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytE_AoaPUqPlS-BI1QMVqnFkAiVPuzlNKGtvygA61nrTj00mNyV-kjgWCyfZt4JMtq4edHWjv0LOu4Ujd-0ULhJsWJ9bJqK2FycWO37cDvhI3rebchZqA71ClcQX0PZxgc_WLfwAk5Go/s640/IMG_20200119_231722_691.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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and last but not least, and probably the best part for you blog readers: </div>
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<b>THE HISTORY OF OUR HOUSE IS COMPLETE!</b></h2>
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A month ago, we were reached out to by Meredith, who found our blog while doing genealogical research.</div>
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Her 3rd great aunt, Mary Cunningham, was the home's original owner and lived here from 1917 to around 1940 when the Muck family bought it (check out our research into the Muck family <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/06/history-of-our-house.html" target="_blank">here</a> and view more about the history of the house <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/search/label/history" target="_blank">here</a>). </div>
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The Cunningham's story is about as interesting as you could get when doing research and I can't wait to share it with you in depth. Here's a sneak peek: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAK8tMgkRx-N56N0wo24Z3m4cybeE0Rx6BE1whefbSNVTBSNklov1gj6z6EekceySf8dlCWhmaA4U-pB5PjG1-XsLgiKBCgeKNt_DxsloiEIOjF7CxkL6i6LndlYxZHVuy7ECXwPzDtc/s1600/HOUSE+HISTORY+CLIPPINGS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1500" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbAK8tMgkRx-N56N0wo24Z3m4cybeE0Rx6BE1whefbSNVTBSNklov1gj6z6EekceySf8dlCWhmaA4U-pB5PjG1-XsLgiKBCgeKNt_DxsloiEIOjF7CxkL6i6LndlYxZHVuy7ECXwPzDtc/s640/HOUSE+HISTORY+CLIPPINGS.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I've got that post locked and loaded and it deserves a space all its own so stay tuned!</div>
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Until next time,</div>
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STAY HOME! </div>
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& </div>
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Keep Smiling</div>
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<3</div>
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Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-63614349057681256442018-01-09T19:03:00.000-06:002018-01-09T19:03:07.208-06:00Little Lampy Camper Before and After<div style="text-align: center;">
If you're here looking for posts about working on an old house, I hate to disappoint you but once again we're talking about old campers. If you want to look at old houses, just scroll down a little bit and you've got about 7 years worth of stuff to fill your time with BUT if you want to see some photos of a really cute camper, you're in luck! </div>
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After five months (almost to the day) of non-stop, all consuming work on our most recent camper purchase we finally finished it and rolled it out to its first event as a photo booth here in Wichita on December 16, 2017. </div>
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If you'll recall, this was the BEFORE: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yoMqAboLq-uFm0qWyNmGxLyb2d_mjaIruiqZgyoDGdvRVqRsSei3Jzn4Ecr9bkWUUC8zcKuFS6RgnXzgeZMNILJDiwaS0ZHeaPo0kMrAnHnKE90z-m90Sg3aL3v1igM7r_8_o1ddxvE/s1600/LAMPY01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yoMqAboLq-uFm0qWyNmGxLyb2d_mjaIruiqZgyoDGdvRVqRsSei3Jzn4Ecr9bkWUUC8zcKuFS6RgnXzgeZMNILJDiwaS0ZHeaPo0kMrAnHnKE90z-m90Sg3aL3v1igM7r_8_o1ddxvE/s1600/LAMPY01.png" /></a></div>
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(yeesh)</div>
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and here's the AFTER: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifgV4ePpkChxmBnXui_ikVhSBUV2n80DzQPADkJAZHYWYOvQFUdKL_u-sIK0eqSN6CgTTtg2nSblD2dMumoF1RDv_QKShtwAb3eYHk-PQT542DRWmyknuKVGYYURziWNntjCvtqeALi4/s1600/camper+insta+brick.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgifgV4ePpkChxmBnXui_ikVhSBUV2n80DzQPADkJAZHYWYOvQFUdKL_u-sIK0eqSN6CgTTtg2nSblD2dMumoF1RDv_QKShtwAb3eYHk-PQT542DRWmyknuKVGYYURziWNntjCvtqeALi4/s1600/camper+insta+brick.png" /></a></div>
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It was a real process this time, folks. If you've been around these parts for the past 5 years you might remember us <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2013/08/lamphouse-photo-company-is-aliiiiveeee.html" target="_blank">fixing up our first camper</a>, "Lampy" to put a studio and darkroom inside. We eventually converted it to digital but then we had all of this extra space that we didn't need so we decided to scale down when we found this new camper for a steal at $600.<br />
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In spite of being about 6 feet shorter, this new camper was AT LEAST as challenging mostly due to the fact that there was nary a straight line on it. The first camper was much more boxy so framing wasn't as difficult. This one's "canned ham" shape meant replacing rotten wood that was bent and built in a factory 70 years ago was...difficult to say the least ; ) I would estimate that about 70% of those 5 months was spent re-framing the camper. </div>
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All told, we ended up spending about $3,600 on renovating the camper inside and out. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjASnl608-hm2gha2qk3WDY_0FYRpzu5cseVaZSx8vrIeted6KqmbMY7JfezMxbDyt8K3XSGlXrMyQIZzDE0qQkyeaAXtpG0TgEDtUU9I-JTH45kvr9FmNdODqI36v3Hws8baS7BDuRI/s1600/CAMPER02.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghjASnl608-hm2gha2qk3WDY_0FYRpzu5cseVaZSx8vrIeted6KqmbMY7JfezMxbDyt8K3XSGlXrMyQIZzDE0qQkyeaAXtpG0TgEDtUU9I-JTH45kvr9FmNdODqI36v3Hws8baS7BDuRI/s1600/CAMPER02.png" /></a></div>
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We scraped all of the old paint off using aircraft stripper (nasty stuff)...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9y3VTFpTVhpTN6nxIBmNdRIso96SEvhS-TN3onxi6KAyyN3eua-I_CLBCWvXapHsBQHqSzYgKxp_rHQgiMjVosUjonG9ucpF4z6PwrTfgLRkjw-RS9XM3qmZ9QsS3cuHE1FMOIPLbxtY/s1600/20171119_152425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9y3VTFpTVhpTN6nxIBmNdRIso96SEvhS-TN3onxi6KAyyN3eua-I_CLBCWvXapHsBQHqSzYgKxp_rHQgiMjVosUjonG9ucpF4z6PwrTfgLRkjw-RS9XM3qmZ9QsS3cuHE1FMOIPLbxtY/s1600/20171119_152425.jpg" /></a></div>
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My parents removed pretty much every piece of the skin of the camper to get to the old rotten framing and replace it. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9-iGTG-acpAzedUmJPAZeeN_5YwkcC40Rc5GJEkBLdYJzi3Zjw_ez3dZB14GYMqhcJhlcxLNxa8A7x30zaPuTw8PdHhfkriPrwNrwiUc4v2e8z_1vx7l7TGZIMV4jWgil503mYdGnp4/s1600/20171113_130855+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic9-iGTG-acpAzedUmJPAZeeN_5YwkcC40Rc5GJEkBLdYJzi3Zjw_ez3dZB14GYMqhcJhlcxLNxa8A7x30zaPuTw8PdHhfkriPrwNrwiUc4v2e8z_1vx7l7TGZIMV4jWgil503mYdGnp4/s1600/20171113_130855+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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We started with this: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoI0LBhJUJWioO59EwbYKr8p5WalQFp1tG_rxiTF8vR9YZYEzZaoffJXa0NumSDSi2bucqYOFK_jOsSgJ00q1dQLl9Zbuf_NMfMFH1gJuML3sZya5hpf2gw6awWQMKwQJkYyHpSaoathU/s1600/_DSC0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoI0LBhJUJWioO59EwbYKr8p5WalQFp1tG_rxiTF8vR9YZYEzZaoffJXa0NumSDSi2bucqYOFK_jOsSgJ00q1dQLl9Zbuf_NMfMFH1gJuML3sZya5hpf2gw6awWQMKwQJkYyHpSaoathU/s1600/_DSC0022.jpg" /></a></div>
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Then came this: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62WmCWF5dCbMeJRRh0uOV6Glg4K4CDqegenaghmTjOaxZZLTWul0-cK9te9bfA-sGTBYQOXGX33F8SN7FZ5dhl2Jb3PxrTycXdwvx_bDPkMnZ1WBd67YTewj9tdWCA8kWgstb5Tyzrgc/s1600/_DSC0068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62WmCWF5dCbMeJRRh0uOV6Glg4K4CDqegenaghmTjOaxZZLTWul0-cK9te9bfA-sGTBYQOXGX33F8SN7FZ5dhl2Jb3PxrTycXdwvx_bDPkMnZ1WBd67YTewj9tdWCA8kWgstb5Tyzrgc/s1600/_DSC0068.jpg" /></a></div>
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Then we lost the floor somehow: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4f46IaW7XzYh1tIWS-Ok-WT4fBvx5YvAZD3RR-cePvE4MPsTCW9wV3GA-Kcmohx2s-ri987bYNnIgN6YK5CZvusuZjPa6o7wPKFhbW3hopOT8DZ9OHbD19fW6N9EblE1k0wcX6G379wE/s1600/_DSC0074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4f46IaW7XzYh1tIWS-Ok-WT4fBvx5YvAZD3RR-cePvE4MPsTCW9wV3GA-Kcmohx2s-ri987bYNnIgN6YK5CZvusuZjPa6o7wPKFhbW3hopOT8DZ9OHbD19fW6N9EblE1k0wcX6G379wE/s1600/_DSC0074.jpg" /></a></div>
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But eventually got things back in order and framed up: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAXF0wiZFmeK9m3DIpsrN8C3v9M68WmuaH7D4H-R2p4DD7WCEBNpj7bpget47y8_8LIB2QmZxd2-puN27X-NUXCY41NFjuApkUMfSRM7qE7OtMqJqs3qm1HnaEMvjmtJOSWkHnKisTBU/s1600/20171119_143242+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxAXF0wiZFmeK9m3DIpsrN8C3v9M68WmuaH7D4H-R2p4DD7WCEBNpj7bpget47y8_8LIB2QmZxd2-puN27X-NUXCY41NFjuApkUMfSRM7qE7OtMqJqs3qm1HnaEMvjmtJOSWkHnKisTBU/s1600/20171119_143242+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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And now...the back (or bedroom area) finished:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHP2NlSKl9NFGmtWPG2ZLHwQdfzgC5ckDXlmCH9EhvmwxxlDLg0NUbThwBLOrtoO4ogaWrVaDogOj_ifHYQgVdb9DMUnf1bAOubkVVFhMSGFojAMF4wV3Aua7l-K-Xs8HiN8P7BZ6qp8s/s1600/LilLampy_Interior_01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lamphouse Photo Booth Co." border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHP2NlSKl9NFGmtWPG2ZLHwQdfzgC5ckDXlmCH9EhvmwxxlDLg0NUbThwBLOrtoO4ogaWrVaDogOj_ifHYQgVdb9DMUnf1bAOubkVVFhMSGFojAMF4wV3Aua7l-K-Xs8HiN8P7BZ6qp8s/s1600/LilLampy_Interior_01.png" title="Lamphouse Photo Booth Co." /></a></div>
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And the "dining" area before:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqZPdTPPMUleqA9dTntkDgfZVkyiU8KveTwmOo1cpItHTND0aN4GgzAVWZ7A46Y_g2R_iDmPZcS1m-7dxJaN6ZjnyEaRuWH9hwl2qrGctbGi8IMUlp0jSdT7IZDJF2GZzUYtYQTg8c-4/s1600/BEFORE+BENCH+SIDE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVqZPdTPPMUleqA9dTntkDgfZVkyiU8KveTwmOo1cpItHTND0aN4GgzAVWZ7A46Y_g2R_iDmPZcS1m-7dxJaN6ZjnyEaRuWH9hwl2qrGctbGi8IMUlp0jSdT7IZDJF2GZzUYtYQTg8c-4/s1600/BEFORE+BENCH+SIDE.png" /></a></div>
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And after:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTtPU3Q0j82gJpgt1lzkWuC8IDSn7inNPZZSrAaxvcZTx1zDJWe2ZqKvn2EkR0WRu1lFHZzGrdri43zh0S6KzCKfBTIZ7SyFRx1zmtkxTtY2SNx-uXREZqiCDHC1jg8-fL1BoqZQdi9o/s1600/LilLampy_Interior02.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Lamphouse Photo Booth Co" border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTtPU3Q0j82gJpgt1lzkWuC8IDSn7inNPZZSrAaxvcZTx1zDJWe2ZqKvn2EkR0WRu1lFHZzGrdri43zh0S6KzCKfBTIZ7SyFRx1zmtkxTtY2SNx-uXREZqiCDHC1jg8-fL1BoqZQdi9o/s1600/LilLampy_Interior02.png" title="Lamphouse Photo Booth Co." /></a></div>
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So, there it is - the Little "Lampy" Camper. We even had a friend of ours that is a sign painter do hand lettering on the back. It's darn cute: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1tX8T4zRzNCoxLgYAEMk8zqH9tecX3XIuTnm2xL5fCXMcP1YVYvaXikS_5lNX6L3Q-LQRMnUE9-C0zFbH2972Jd9GKDIvSBHv3RMMqwC1h0xYF_m4pqooBM-wP_l2STrOrljnDW5FEA/s1600/_DSC0668-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1081" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1tX8T4zRzNCoxLgYAEMk8zqH9tecX3XIuTnm2xL5fCXMcP1YVYvaXikS_5lNX6L3Q-LQRMnUE9-C0zFbH2972Jd9GKDIvSBHv3RMMqwC1h0xYF_m4pqooBM-wP_l2STrOrljnDW5FEA/s1600/_DSC0668-01.jpeg" /></a></div>
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If you're in the mood, there's even more photos on the Lamphouse website <a href="http://lamphousephotoco.com/blog" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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We learned a lot from our first attempt at this five years ago that helped us make this one even better and *hopefully* longer lasting. We're really excited to get it out in the spring and fall to some weddings around Kansas and let people enjoy it like they did the original camper. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7H_IYA-zD_teYk0kyJ16wg53wXlQrRQQfspMuQb74H3NDwM1aZ-FmfS6xlyK7godvmiHZe7O-ZW4ia-r6VeHHgxCPAqLOUxduVrQQFliW830CE7u-VeocO9zkcAm5iL1ia84SLyB3NH0/s1600/camper+shutters+1080+horizontal.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7H_IYA-zD_teYk0kyJ16wg53wXlQrRQQfspMuQb74H3NDwM1aZ-FmfS6xlyK7godvmiHZe7O-ZW4ia-r6VeHHgxCPAqLOUxduVrQQFliW830CE7u-VeocO9zkcAm5iL1ia84SLyB3NH0/s1600/camper+shutters+1080+horizontal.png" /></a></div>
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Who knows if we'll get back around to house projects now that this is complete. Lord knows we need to get back to painting the house like, YESTERDAY so maybe that will get some more attention when it warms up outside or who knows, maybe we'll just throw a couple of sleeping bags in the camper and take a much needed vacation...<br />
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Until next time, Keep Smiling! </div>
Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-73051135304307496952017-07-24T12:17:00.001-05:002017-07-24T15:38:31.696-05:00ANOTHER Vintage Camper! <div style="text-align: center;">
We did a thing! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0wcFOGZrHuDRht3dHEjR1v6f9ES8K-xPJuTVItABRFBMgLFyy795TSvhaz3oxWWJdzrE05FjcJWXdbZ26W6T2fjmiSu7YH2Ik0wJKU77AmLioV1Qu1AZOPFaoDVbVAdhBqReiNBmSzI/s1600/camper_before_conan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ0wcFOGZrHuDRht3dHEjR1v6f9ES8K-xPJuTVItABRFBMgLFyy795TSvhaz3oxWWJdzrE05FjcJWXdbZ26W6T2fjmiSu7YH2Ik0wJKU77AmLioV1Qu1AZOPFaoDVbVAdhBqReiNBmSzI/s1600/camper_before_conan.jpg" /></a></div>
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If you've been following along for a while or if it somehow slipped your mind, in 2012 we purchased a vintage camper for $500 and turned it into a traveling photo studio and darkroom. Flash forward a few years and it's still rollin' but with digital guts. Read all about that <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/search/label/lamphouse" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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But if you want more beat up, before pictures and the story of how we found this cutie, keep reading!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RvkEBAPQ4NoIiOxj7Ta2v_9tXO8RatEtFg7VhhkNHE47Wmk87hq-nlGiEXR3Xn-HRJ82Yo3B-FNejC04dU5ss3krxd1rvf3Zz1aB0V8goylX9OhG7Zw5LEM2ecxVQPE1Cmv7zCOaPS8/s1600/camper_before_door_open.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2RvkEBAPQ4NoIiOxj7Ta2v_9tXO8RatEtFg7VhhkNHE47Wmk87hq-nlGiEXR3Xn-HRJ82Yo3B-FNejC04dU5ss3krxd1rvf3Zz1aB0V8goylX9OhG7Zw5LEM2ecxVQPE1Cmv7zCOaPS8/s1600/camper_before_door_open.jpg" /></a></div>
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We have been wanting to downsize for a while now. Since we stopped developing photos in the camper, having an extra 5 feet or so for a darkroom was unnecessary. Also, since we started Lamphouse, there have been a number of venues open in up in Wichita that could <i>easily </i>accommodate a camper smaller than Lampy. Throw that together with the fact that we've gotten a warm response for the "Lampy" camper as a digital photo booth and we were ready to start looking in earnest for a smaller camper to fix up.<br />
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Problem is, in the past 5 years things like "glamping" and "putting a photo booth in a vintage camper" have become ~things~ thereby driving the price up on old campers and even making hard to find ones that aren't fixed up already.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqv7dKVnUEK1Pc018EyAdabKB5x_NYU7iYLghPEJ3azGd9UvwpXjO06bTtXJDmG6xeiVCpWpRSD2yeg5A1j0WtmsGlwA7MxeA2pcJZy4rT7rTyzcEWyY89nHfjyrUtGDXLpO9WjIeZWg/s1600/camper_before_hitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdqv7dKVnUEK1Pc018EyAdabKB5x_NYU7iYLghPEJ3azGd9UvwpXjO06bTtXJDmG6xeiVCpWpRSD2yeg5A1j0WtmsGlwA7MxeA2pcJZy4rT7rTyzcEWyY89nHfjyrUtGDXLpO9WjIeZWg/s1600/camper_before_hitch.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the hitch. This window is definitely not original. Hoping to replace it with one that is or similar. </td></tr>
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So a few weeks ago I decided to start really looking. That means checking craigslist about two dozen times a day, along with any other classified you can find and even, if you have NO shame, asking your neighbor who has one in their backyard if they'd ever consider getting rid of it...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TKO_VNawbFYK-H5PoztfIib96o-TZmxGDuaPOh8c9UmWSId2XuOm9QwUcDdT_L9LUzJ7vz6-L1I4wBAxIdETM46g8qovc3LY9zdl7MlRria6zt-EhbhOwguK1Of4bNLW_C6am_O-NEA/s1600/camper_before_window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-TKO_VNawbFYK-H5PoztfIib96o-TZmxGDuaPOh8c9UmWSId2XuOm9QwUcDdT_L9LUzJ7vz6-L1I4wBAxIdETM46g8qovc3LY9zdl7MlRria6zt-EhbhOwguK1Of4bNLW_C6am_O-NEA/s1600/camper_before_window.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stopped in Russell and got duct tape for this window. It lasted about...1/2 a mile I'd guess. </td></tr>
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I found a really cute one on a classifieds site in a town called Russell, about 160 miles away but it said that it had been sold. Womp womp. I thought my chances would be better on a smaller site than Craigslist so I checked again that night and WHAT WHAT there it was - for sale again!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5n70riEi5FoHrutFCiG5knvT2qrL6yZSnbolA8QPEycb1Q4nX5SnIY6EiDufO6Sw9GjZ1shAIJTRHELenj5XZfKyrNHOjzj7ckRUKWa9G6Dnz97AglRXWJtf-xcp8fw4x8_XruK9BGNA/s1600/camper_before_window_tape.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5n70riEi5FoHrutFCiG5knvT2qrL6yZSnbolA8QPEycb1Q4nX5SnIY6EiDufO6Sw9GjZ1shAIJTRHELenj5XZfKyrNHOjzj7ckRUKWa9G6Dnz97AglRXWJtf-xcp8fw4x8_XruK9BGNA/s1600/camper_before_window_tape.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The seller told us that the man he bought it from was using it to go fishing at the lake. </td></tr>
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It was already 11 o'clock at night so I couldn't call the business number that was listed. I set my alarm for the next morning and immediately dialed the number - the camper was still there and still $600. One problem? The tires were mush.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZzS7HNmKUs5EfyaVQ2C2CnA-asoSwtIAr5QfwXGIKtKFY7PJ4Ec2VfQLI2TbCzBR_EPO3BroJKFpVWJI_f7efnHs_jeSnpbJZEpei8svtYhoSMoIGBNeHJeBTUMNWh47fYYNfDXKBWs/s1600/camper_before_loveland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ZzS7HNmKUs5EfyaVQ2C2CnA-asoSwtIAr5QfwXGIKtKFY7PJ4Ec2VfQLI2TbCzBR_EPO3BroJKFpVWJI_f7efnHs_jeSnpbJZEpei8svtYhoSMoIGBNeHJeBTUMNWh47fYYNfDXKBWs/s640/camper_before_loveland.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Loveland, Colorado sticker</td></tr>
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We went ahead and drove straight up in the Jeep and had a look at it. Conan mentioned there was a camper parts store in town that we could maybe get tires at and the man selling it said that would be a bust so he called the local tire shop and lo and behold, he had 2 perfect, used tires! The seller even jacked up the camper and took the wheels off for us! Kansas nice, y'all!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBxCfQrmb8kJVLzZb8qwvp5XChnem9z9XgQ-VYN56JdBr9WrSwOP9yQuWa8rGkEwXUoflHc49je5jBuh2gUaQzPwQZ5wu7LwSsnoQbku-ternHwRrsP2EkVwX4vh_xj-GJtCsjh6GVjE/s1600/camper_before_back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBxCfQrmb8kJVLzZb8qwvp5XChnem9z9XgQ-VYN56JdBr9WrSwOP9yQuWa8rGkEwXUoflHc49je5jBuh2gUaQzPwQZ5wu7LwSsnoQbku-ternHwRrsP2EkVwX4vh_xj-GJtCsjh6GVjE/s1600/camper_before_back.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the other end - cute marker lights! </td></tr>
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So we got two tires, put them on and headed home on side roads and two lane highways. A trip that took 2 hours going took 4.5 coming back. Now that's what you call "white knuckle driving"!<br />
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Here she is parked in Stafford, Kansas on the way home:</div>
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<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="7" style="background: #fff; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.5) , 0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0 , 0 , 0 , 0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: 99.375%;">
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BWRFDNbhmoE/" style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">Y'all ready to see your fixer upper? • • • BIG NEWS! Today we bought our second camper! She's about 6 feet shorter than Lampy and cute as a button. We can't wait to get to work on her and start sending her off to amazing events in 2018!</a></center>
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A post shared by Lamphouse Photo Co. (@lamphousephoto) on <time datetime="2017-07-08T01:18:08+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jul 7, 2017 at 6:18pm PDT</time></div>
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The inside is pretty standard fare for an old camper. An area for a table </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAzR-xcsBjTA_8LYuCzbfN1LlGJA9PfKiHPCFWh358ZSEMVo957UKiTW0eSeQvApoZuHcM76kfc9sXCGMx4WUPjykVuwNQfN4GTSlhr5VtBtFb1bY_9tbPODkwHKRZQ-J3HQn9It4LAI/s1600/camper_table_before_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAzR-xcsBjTA_8LYuCzbfN1LlGJA9PfKiHPCFWh358ZSEMVo957UKiTW0eSeQvApoZuHcM76kfc9sXCGMx4WUPjykVuwNQfN4GTSlhr5VtBtFb1bY_9tbPODkwHKRZQ-J3HQn9It4LAI/s1600/camper_table_before_small.jpg" /></a></div>
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A cute little kitchenette<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-pgYfLp4apeScmsJi_i93gLCFsaWRVDF6ZpopGUUa81rCEdJnJGy4iqdqZo2HyeU9PdBMCDT9Z3xoYFetE6qyTeRMdpbxXhgP37Zpu6LQ9ZTDV_FIo9vpEW6tjjUv85yhlRWcYg_lGw/s1600/camper_stove_before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA-pgYfLp4apeScmsJi_i93gLCFsaWRVDF6ZpopGUUa81rCEdJnJGy4iqdqZo2HyeU9PdBMCDT9Z3xoYFetE6qyTeRMdpbxXhgP37Zpu6LQ9ZTDV_FIo9vpEW6tjjUv85yhlRWcYg_lGw/s1600/camper_stove_before.jpg" /></a></div>
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(with an icebox!)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuUDKxvDSGqsCf3Gze4884MEmjz4QKc4rTsd5lGO342ppqkwSDWBANBm9RCriR8pnLgMxgV70b4KlB7WsA7btExC7cRPfSC1RVfJNm0NitFpVOX-jcL0mNmDekfhrMUz8pn6RgQZ0O5U/s1600/camper_icebox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfuUDKxvDSGqsCf3Gze4884MEmjz4QKc4rTsd5lGO342ppqkwSDWBANBm9RCriR8pnLgMxgV70b4KlB7WsA7btExC7cRPfSC1RVfJNm0NitFpVOX-jcL0mNmDekfhrMUz8pn6RgQZ0O5U/s1600/camper_icebox.jpg" /></a></div>
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A sleeping area</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfOrQcrAG5pF2mH0j-AsVPos1iF3kfXxUntdvYMpALsrlJ0rGgRWKli0wjxZMF7gzqL9yPnpb0sYh3cYAdT7ito4s2WxUBXOLU6ed9zOqD7bb03e1oFWtwWwTrFxozsfHSqp21VVXzkQ/s1600/camper_bed_before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfOrQcrAG5pF2mH0j-AsVPos1iF3kfXxUntdvYMpALsrlJ0rGgRWKli0wjxZMF7gzqL9yPnpb0sYh3cYAdT7ito4s2WxUBXOLU6ed9zOqD7bb03e1oFWtwWwTrFxozsfHSqp21VVXzkQ/s1600/camper_bed_before.jpg" /></a></div>
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And some souvenirs! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMYcuXSpU_Lhd6cRVa_j1aNMXn4va-NjvXTAReCfxeZpSVyl9vECd98YM8wESdURgC5ZwrWlOoxlk9YlZoCMD0qVyekSjYAAogDIw33zMAdm6K0IuWbNA9nwPvsIprm5PF6YoxG9oa8w/s1600/camper_stuff_before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMYcuXSpU_Lhd6cRVa_j1aNMXn4va-NjvXTAReCfxeZpSVyl9vECd98YM8wESdURgC5ZwrWlOoxlk9YlZoCMD0qVyekSjYAAogDIw33zMAdm6K0IuWbNA9nwPvsIprm5PF6YoxG9oa8w/s1600/camper_stuff_before.jpg" /></a></div>
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I'm keeping that mug.<br />
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Conan dug around on the internet and found what he was pretty sure was the make of the camper - an ALJOA (or ALJO if it was after '57). He went out and had a look and sure enough, you can barely make out ALJO on the top and back panels of the camper.<br />
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He even found this neat old photo of the exact same camper as ours:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAfpsrb7Hygp4MFgnO9a3qVt7hszPOB0HzGKhiX1fj6Dmm3b47jfUAFCRrW4Ri1C4gcx8I3fLIC5zvxj4X_aq_1WX0zfbJ4LkcGFN2YVxjh7njIVb236ao_e0oEpeiRITrlRXGHCjoI0/s1600/309086723_9e33a09066_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAfpsrb7Hygp4MFgnO9a3qVt7hszPOB0HzGKhiX1fj6Dmm3b47jfUAFCRrW4Ri1C4gcx8I3fLIC5zvxj4X_aq_1WX0zfbJ4LkcGFN2YVxjh7njIVb236ao_e0oEpeiRITrlRXGHCjoI0/s1600/309086723_9e33a09066_o.jpg" /></a></div>
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We're SO excited to get to work on her! If you had asked me about 4 years ago if I wanted to restore another camper I...well, I probably would have said yes because I'm crazy and a compulsive business starter but whatever. </div>
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I haven't quite decided if I want to post about renovating the camper over here and on our <a href="http://lamphousephotoco.com/blog" target="_blank">business blog</a> or just over there yet but I at least wanted to introduce you guys since you "get" us ; ) </div>
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I'm hoping to get in there and start demo this week or next if the weather stays nice-ish.<br />
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Next up?<br />
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More camper stuff maybe and a look at an AMAZING piece of furniture we got for the kitchen a while back!<br />
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If you're interested, our local paper, The Wichita Eagle did a little write up about the original Lampy camper and the new one <a href="http://www.kansas.com/news/local/article163256713.html" target="_blank">here</a>. </div>
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Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com2Wichita, KS, USA37.687176099999988 -97.33005300000002137.284951099999986 -97.975500000000025 38.089401099999989 -96.684606000000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-53868633033657197442017-07-15T14:56:00.000-05:002017-07-22T18:20:31.572-05:00Porch Painting Before + After<div style="text-align: center;">
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So, after living here for 9 years and working on the exterior of the house little by little for the past 3, we FINALLY got some paint ON THE HOUSE!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Qry6XCTHq-M9lEJimV-9JhF3rKVZlvfeemOQFpyf2eYUQinf3vaWK1OT8pWkwt4NR8WbWGgFAVfyPu-HNdJQ6JNwnBObgZOLZI7OCG1l2T9SfM24QIXY5_X_x7k_TKC_ivVB9S5cQVc/s1600/bunting_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Qry6XCTHq-M9lEJimV-9JhF3rKVZlvfeemOQFpyf2eYUQinf3vaWK1OT8pWkwt4NR8WbWGgFAVfyPu-HNdJQ6JNwnBObgZOLZI7OCG1l2T9SfM24QIXY5_X_x7k_TKC_ivVB9S5cQVc/s1600/bunting_small.jpg" /></a></div>
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So, the last time I wrote about painting was when we were <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2017/02/painting-house-exterior-porch-soffit.html" target="_blank">finishing up the soffitt</a> around the porch.<br />
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To jog your memory<br />
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Here's what the house looked like before the soffitt and trim were painted way back in 2012:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZV-PC-kK5Re0fwPc_YsMaQ03CvM7dIFWqdmkfQH3Xo1YPHgCaDNLHHhpa1puwTknOrk3plhyphenhyphenthwGjV5TZSKewePDU4YwHVPYNN92TrsZnWmNL4WoYltOVXwvHXFpeP0TjhD8zevV8ET8/s1600/final_pano_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZV-PC-kK5Re0fwPc_YsMaQ03CvM7dIFWqdmkfQH3Xo1YPHgCaDNLHHhpa1puwTknOrk3plhyphenhyphenthwGjV5TZSKewePDU4YwHVPYNN92TrsZnWmNL4WoYltOVXwvHXFpeP0TjhD8zevV8ET8/s1600/final_pano_01.jpg" /></a></div>
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And here's the "after" from last fall:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOTN3USjpIfD18WS-QzPVi_Z1xFQk7bgiuOPISMV-05SVyTvfKBw5XHFGXznsvb11msVeNtikx00i5bFX7Uh9F0-R0AzLn9oiLxXE-_z2O6RGVAcFczrF7qBteni54BxM9iTipAHubj8/s1600/left+side+after02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixOTN3USjpIfD18WS-QzPVi_Z1xFQk7bgiuOPISMV-05SVyTvfKBw5XHFGXznsvb11msVeNtikx00i5bFX7Uh9F0-R0AzLn9oiLxXE-_z2O6RGVAcFczrF7qBteni54BxM9iTipAHubj8/s1600/left+side+after02.jpg" /></a></div>
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And finally, the finished-ish product!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4wIrvPWf6G7uQfyP7iCFfXaL6nZhlXUgCog0c40ZFGjnkuhxaxtzNFJtybz8oNd5czrDb0Ntl0Nnhbe6yn5HoDSKVHnWFq0mSMdiAHthj7uEJs-BRhSWFc-lh-XViAymEq_cffq1imQ/s1600/house_after_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4wIrvPWf6G7uQfyP7iCFfXaL6nZhlXUgCog0c40ZFGjnkuhxaxtzNFJtybz8oNd5czrDb0Ntl0Nnhbe6yn5HoDSKVHnWFq0mSMdiAHthj7uEJs-BRhSWFc-lh-XViAymEq_cffq1imQ/s1600/house_after_small.jpg" /></a></div>
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It didn't look half bad and I was feeling pretty confident in our color choices for the whole house.<br />
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When the weather was consistently nice we decided to go ahead and get started on painting the actual porch. Before we get started, I realize that this is probably not how you go about painting a house. There are rules! You work tirelessly scraping and filling and sanding and priming every square inch of the house before you start painting. HOWEVER, I have seen those poor souls. I have walked my dog by their scaffolding week after week, month after month, giving them a little wave of acknowledgement until the weather gets too hot or too cold and they retreat for months at a time.<br />
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So instead, I decided to clean, prime, scrape and paint just the part of the house that was in reasonably good shape - the porch - to fortify myself for the crap journey that lies ahead.<br />
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And you know what? It totally worked! Am I looking forward to putting scaffolding on our roof in the fall? NO, friend. But I've seen the progress and it's wonderful and I want to finish the job. So, without further ado:<br />
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<h2>
PREP</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0sT8VOzpsx0rYIvTWeidcpmzIZH11k6YWSY-dwygiFdf4SYtBWyL4OkPY_VP29N5IhLFN9yHtWTifrnLjjoPKaz6tj-TEWzqhzdT0p4mGqS6EgZdTYlAg7GxGpIAY75tbgChEJqBmy4/s1600/_DSC9719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0sT8VOzpsx0rYIvTWeidcpmzIZH11k6YWSY-dwygiFdf4SYtBWyL4OkPY_VP29N5IhLFN9yHtWTifrnLjjoPKaz6tj-TEWzqhzdT0p4mGqS6EgZdTYlAg7GxGpIAY75tbgChEJqBmy4/s1600/_DSC9719.jpg" /></a></div>
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To start with, we took everything off of the porch. Every plant hook, stray nail, wreath screw, unused porch swing 2x4. Everything. Including the porch furniture<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2RkrcYfLikdAQ-B9Aen-ncZSY8wpOaXbwXqKXFyyUKGwQ9WRHsHp9QKFis3MNsbqCd9lGR9BK_FzI8DmdP6ldC5LtEvbrqm1BAAOng0Gc_4Rt3QA1KniEZFkIrFevxW8AGe2exMV5wE/s1600/_DSC9721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_2RkrcYfLikdAQ-B9Aen-ncZSY8wpOaXbwXqKXFyyUKGwQ9WRHsHp9QKFis3MNsbqCd9lGR9BK_FzI8DmdP6ldC5LtEvbrqm1BAAOng0Gc_4Rt3QA1KniEZFkIrFevxW8AGe2exMV5wE/s1600/_DSC9721.jpg" /></a></div>
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Here's my dear mother and father working way harder than anyone 45 years old ever should : P<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKxJ4SGmpGx6QWKnqzBcfPmDyCbBm4hhm17wutyevF5coYOd6sB2sX_zdzOgycCNWx8tdjjX0m0MuWohsdcPH-M6OdYejuN-CynSk_2Ch5uxCOLU6en0pNYxBJ00d6OJ-gRPsT-kvUhw/s1600/_DSC9723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKxJ4SGmpGx6QWKnqzBcfPmDyCbBm4hhm17wutyevF5coYOd6sB2sX_zdzOgycCNWx8tdjjX0m0MuWohsdcPH-M6OdYejuN-CynSk_2Ch5uxCOLU6en0pNYxBJ00d6OJ-gRPsT-kvUhw/s1600/_DSC9723.jpg" /></a></div>
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Looks better already!<br />
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Then up went the scaffolding so we could power wash the ceiling of the porch. P.S. My mom is the only person on the earth who can look this pretty while hoisting scaffolding above their head. I said it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENZLsqYU7knFKO-9rMD6mwQUDVbRUzbrO_J5S9u_1Gwg3aQqoRyE-C-vgxpOeUf_p9CfahXJy_iQbFPeca-VmIUQsfes7sFYcKIev_QzuDXzxIR2qDnazuOaZiKUUD8q6EHdQLnUuCKM/s1600/_DSC9727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENZLsqYU7knFKO-9rMD6mwQUDVbRUzbrO_J5S9u_1Gwg3aQqoRyE-C-vgxpOeUf_p9CfahXJy_iQbFPeca-VmIUQsfes7sFYcKIev_QzuDXzxIR2qDnazuOaZiKUUD8q6EHdQLnUuCKM/s1600/_DSC9727.jpg" /></a></div>
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Then my dad got to work playing in the water er I mean, POWER WASHING THE PORCH lol while we scraped paint off of the balisters and trim. I didn't get a lot of pictures of this because<br />
1) scraping<br />
2) water and cameras don't mix<br />
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But here's the before of the porch floor:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8JcOua8qTeuy6trHRDncYeBwO7KTmmtdvZWLrM7yHgxKpUV-xkbzqxTaVdD-hzTQaL4RbWiSYJkKU6-8Xxfz-FR86-XhgwBM88osQrCq3GLWZt0Fek2nmK3Q_G0hts6fdyKS6OSa2Cs/s1600/_DSC9754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8JcOua8qTeuy6trHRDncYeBwO7KTmmtdvZWLrM7yHgxKpUV-xkbzqxTaVdD-hzTQaL4RbWiSYJkKU6-8Xxfz-FR86-XhgwBM88osQrCq3GLWZt0Fek2nmK3Q_G0hts6fdyKS6OSa2Cs/s1600/_DSC9754.jpg" /></a></div>
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And after:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzduQg1Aa0JEc7SFPHhW4r1PX9FDRNuQrFxEZ-F6AL7scZcUmWJztYSrfqz30qGraLL6pgu00QYI1AUAr66oirDT-klq5S8PNAs5Q3n5PtN5m4_vz6HuFh2X0G4APc0hQD__RhT0HpJ8/s1600/_DSC9755.ARW" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzduQg1Aa0JEc7SFPHhW4r1PX9FDRNuQrFxEZ-F6AL7scZcUmWJztYSrfqz30qGraLL6pgu00QYI1AUAr66oirDT-klq5S8PNAs5Q3n5PtN5m4_vz6HuFh2X0G4APc0hQD__RhT0HpJ8/s1600/_DSC9755.ARW" /></a></div>
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Dang. Thank you power washer!<br />
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I should mention that over the course of this paint odyssey, we've looked for/tried every paint scraping tool known to man. <a href="http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=19879006&KPID=15388571&cid=CAPLA:G:Shopping_-_Catch_All_-_DT&pla=pla_15388571&k_clickid=687d7a21-2b80-46c5-ac31-cb4b34966bbe" target="_blank">This guy</a> is still my absolute favorite but my mom tried <a href="https://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/specialty-power-tools/1500-watt-12-interval-heat-gun-430-800-570-1160-69343.html" target="_blank">this heat gun</a> from Harbor Freight and honestly? It worked pretty well. I was shocked. It cut through latex paint like a hot knife through butter and even took off a lot of the enamel paint, too!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYLMODQ8oLPGJp9fxxsD_HU3H8yj77KdbmHi2ioXeQ8wEmeGkFMXKWA0z9RE30vM4x46yHQ5sdwOIbrsG2Z01rdYtxTd5qlqm2t2LGYRK_vo4KtY_Z9DzQLC_mNvNYNebGRUXezH9yo4/s1600/_DSC9730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKYLMODQ8oLPGJp9fxxsD_HU3H8yj77KdbmHi2ioXeQ8wEmeGkFMXKWA0z9RE30vM4x46yHQ5sdwOIbrsG2Z01rdYtxTd5qlqm2t2LGYRK_vo4KtY_Z9DzQLC_mNvNYNebGRUXezH9yo4/s1600/_DSC9730.jpg" /></a></div>
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TRIGGER WARNING: BIG OL' SPIDER AHEAD!<br />
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Another thing my mom discovered - this lovely lady hiding right up underneath the porch rail with her bbs : /<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7NuRU6qEuhMGikPEAySl-UD5PS8aloKFghWkHetAzrtllaLyFcgIzpSH6V6AVAyWe29FsFQQEs2hu5zk9GpW6-rxUf6KXW0UHUVPVtCmtJz9XNey4XJ7BO_FixRnrKwj1aeCa7YKa4k/s1600/_DSC9729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm7NuRU6qEuhMGikPEAySl-UD5PS8aloKFghWkHetAzrtllaLyFcgIzpSH6V6AVAyWe29FsFQQEs2hu5zk9GpW6-rxUf6KXW0UHUVPVtCmtJz9XNey4XJ7BO_FixRnrKwj1aeCa7YKa4k/s1600/_DSC9729.jpg" /></a></div>
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I shouldn't be surprised since Conan and I have found two of these before around the outside of the house but I just always assumed they weren't a thing in Kansas. Brown recluses? Sure. Everywhere. But black widows? I thought we left them in the smoky mountains of northeast Tennessee when we moved here 22 years ago but I guess they followed us. Sorry, everybody!<br />
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PRIME-TIME</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7sXBvQSeZDGPudElMeQBXT7riimZ-SrfxIppCghevlMKHUXhT_PG7sFUoFnNX1YoQYtXwahtoIo-k5BMpi0mgpi1vRpUmWom6CgN5mRELhDFxMBxszJRp-XpGWWOkbL_rssADg6oK0/s1600/_DSC9760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivj7sXBvQSeZDGPudElMeQBXT7riimZ-SrfxIppCghevlMKHUXhT_PG7sFUoFnNX1YoQYtXwahtoIo-k5BMpi0mgpi1vRpUmWom6CgN5mRELhDFxMBxszJRp-XpGWWOkbL_rssADg6oK0/s1600/_DSC9760.jpg" /></a></div>
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By the time I got a picture, we had already put a coat of paint on the windows so that's why they're cream colored but you get the idea. Nice and sparkly white!<br />
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<h2>
PAINTING</h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5A8sI_0Jh2srO10F2hY3UscAloLJ4Pl3LfITeLUd1MnGRhL1S_qcXe-EOlMzShrNDxfpXf4nc6bHbcHONUVtlpX1MFOfC1ZHaxBgK26zU2mYh56ai2X14YBwhVJ8B2vScLYVscBnwQCY/s1600/doorpainting_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5A8sI_0Jh2srO10F2hY3UscAloLJ4Pl3LfITeLUd1MnGRhL1S_qcXe-EOlMzShrNDxfpXf4nc6bHbcHONUVtlpX1MFOfC1ZHaxBgK26zU2mYh56ai2X14YBwhVJ8B2vScLYVscBnwQCY/s1600/doorpainting_small.jpg" /></a></div>
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You can see at this point that we had already painted the siding and trim. So much for taking a bunch of photos : /<br />
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BUT, Conan did highly endorse <a href="https://www.lowes.com/pd/Blue-Hawk-Polyester-Nylon-Blend-Angle-Sash-Paint-Brush-Common-2-in-Actual-2-06-in/4136052" target="_blank">this </a>trim brush:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5Auha6b1BWbCsoHdbYjsWa_sXXB_Pr9Z29aEVoTJdLAaEEmQx_I1yioav60breYrk4kRqqccD4ATjufU2WAzUeD1j6AoiqicHWlGZ523M9om2uoV6L2SeqU2BKkDfN7upuWz-UoD48U/s1600/brush_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin5Auha6b1BWbCsoHdbYjsWa_sXXB_Pr9Z29aEVoTJdLAaEEmQx_I1yioav60breYrk4kRqqccD4ATjufU2WAzUeD1j6AoiqicHWlGZ523M9om2uoV6L2SeqU2BKkDfN7upuWz-UoD48U/s1600/brush_small.jpg" /></a></div>
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When you're painting what has to be MILES of trim everyday, it really is worth the $6 to get an actual trim brush with one of these stumpy, soft handles. Your wrist will thank you for it!<br />
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Here are some of those miles of trim:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoiXJqWilR8E-zy3h9xUHru0byBKHWCNU0Y8fmRlsaCTNurvif_SK_AihJHFTOCLC_s1e6ao2k77W-U-yzTzLmd-onZbwTzCTyJmd3zk4rATxM_T3V2aHteJkvm2I30E38E4HVkSN0gE/s1600/bunting_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="601" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoiXJqWilR8E-zy3h9xUHru0byBKHWCNU0Y8fmRlsaCTNurvif_SK_AihJHFTOCLC_s1e6ao2k77W-U-yzTzLmd-onZbwTzCTyJmd3zk4rATxM_T3V2aHteJkvm2I30E38E4HVkSN0gE/s1600/bunting_small.jpg" /></a></div>
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Funny story: We actually painted the balusters and railing a different color than what you see in this photo (there was no red trim and the white parts were the color of the siding) then, we stepped back to look at it and immediately knew it didn't look right. We hopped in the car and drove around looking for porches with rails like ours to see where we went wrong and the answer was - not enough contrast. Conan re-primed and re-painted the rails in a day so that I could get my bunting up by Memorial Day : )<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9L3GBpoNPfr5DhiBu-ErVAGu0Bqr3I20BhuEC9hZBZZyrKFbQZYXcNI7tNMhHfP0mbmriFxeWdgViSzTj4Tm4rga55-_o5PudjekvuUd6bQdM9w671kLV2vdfRHWp2lFo0XgD9dqP_E/s1600/duringstairs_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9L3GBpoNPfr5DhiBu-ErVAGu0Bqr3I20BhuEC9hZBZZyrKFbQZYXcNI7tNMhHfP0mbmriFxeWdgViSzTj4Tm4rga55-_o5PudjekvuUd6bQdM9w671kLV2vdfRHWp2lFo0XgD9dqP_E/s1600/duringstairs_small.jpg" /></a></div>
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When it came time to paint the treads on the stairs we were equally stumped. I noticed that a lot of the photos I liked on Pinterest of similar houses had the risers painted the color of the balusters and the treads, the color of the trim so that's what we decided to do!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QUwt3ojUS-tKUqNadXI91wp4-8UsD7XfR_eYjlggPQ12V4Fky-v_PpFjHc2ugxxtsqt0srqYY0_VfATofrnpbhxyycqBoFpzHtwJTk3YVzyekKup-2icre5AGGSHHfS-NJgpXgI0ELA/s1600/valsparporchandfloor_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-QUwt3ojUS-tKUqNadXI91wp4-8UsD7XfR_eYjlggPQ12V4Fky-v_PpFjHc2ugxxtsqt0srqYY0_VfATofrnpbhxyycqBoFpzHtwJTk3YVzyekKup-2icre5AGGSHHfS-NJgpXgI0ELA/s1600/valsparporchandfloor_small.jpg" /></a></div>
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We used Valspar Porch, Floor & Patio paint because it had a little grit to it and you could have it custom tinted.<br />
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Here's Conan plugging away with his handy dandy trim brush.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRJDD3wgcvVX8wBFi6jBJ2wZVAHwjoHIy6-3MNAbrIAv72YbvuXL057aKUxW0eH6uuuCAedq134WbChS6UT2yMWtDcqEtPj-0VKBqH7Qt1VuE5sKWIspbhBOVUNkJ5XnFsR-AQVNgYi8/s1600/stepsduring_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRJDD3wgcvVX8wBFi6jBJ2wZVAHwjoHIy6-3MNAbrIAv72YbvuXL057aKUxW0eH6uuuCAedq134WbChS6UT2yMWtDcqEtPj-0VKBqH7Qt1VuE5sKWIspbhBOVUNkJ5XnFsR-AQVNgYi8/s1600/stepsduring_small.jpg" /></a></div>
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Another of Conan working on the steps because I a) love my little bunting that took years to find and b) Wichita flag!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HEZJFrqQKZVjmzPj1isGJffsJvvpr6f0ll5GSyIOaj6W2DDVbhN5fsJ5qCJTP3cFUkgOEEYux9cjVMsCEipfSullhuyT-vFvpliRDJeeyAo9l8bNGF1JPVs3HcDv7cvtnF8XB4ETouQ/s1600/stepsduringconan_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1HEZJFrqQKZVjmzPj1isGJffsJvvpr6f0ll5GSyIOaj6W2DDVbhN5fsJ5qCJTP3cFUkgOEEYux9cjVMsCEipfSullhuyT-vFvpliRDJeeyAo9l8bNGF1JPVs3HcDv7cvtnF8XB4ETouQ/s1600/stepsduringconan_small.jpg" /></a></div>
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We also gave the fence a couple coats of primer and the same cream color paint as our risers and balusters. Here's the before:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_9wLia4nFpKonXhr88TU-IFkVa70v69yBVea6tLp-7tGGqxQZmzzMnxEUa3BbChTFiRLtD6QAcwTWHNfZ4ST-Jm_EOhJLP-2R-RarRNDVoCm71lNLoks-IjQ2H8XR3aROBqCRpqN27c/s1600/fencebefore_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq_9wLia4nFpKonXhr88TU-IFkVa70v69yBVea6tLp-7tGGqxQZmzzMnxEUa3BbChTFiRLtD6QAcwTWHNfZ4ST-Jm_EOhJLP-2R-RarRNDVoCm71lNLoks-IjQ2H8XR3aROBqCRpqN27c/s1600/fencebefore_small.jpg" /></a></div>
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And the after:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9GqZc0mN3ql5Hlc_fWPoHk-Ltt8oanOdQ9GDURdZ4Vj9-URs179eH_s7GvUkuGbopkDFKKvLPuljDzYoA8DFmP6jDe7Qrp7skz0dga3EblGhiUCHggErXrQv8PE2dBjRC6i9J5SpJZw/s1600/afterfence_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA9GqZc0mN3ql5Hlc_fWPoHk-Ltt8oanOdQ9GDURdZ4Vj9-URs179eH_s7GvUkuGbopkDFKKvLPuljDzYoA8DFmP6jDe7Qrp7skz0dga3EblGhiUCHggErXrQv8PE2dBjRC6i9J5SpJZw/s1600/afterfence_small.jpg" /></a></div>
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And that brings us to today (well, a few days ago, actually)!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJ3IC_kqWpKs3BEuqvsxGq5vtwwPlgt-_h8_V_gumCGgox6xJ21UFapt7CAOgm26iLNz7m_YINKl4zXfMymio9JXtA-WdypPX-LDvhzIwTxxKZF7gJ8PzbgGl2bj_lw5TNylrbg8WxCE/s1600/house_after_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJ3IC_kqWpKs3BEuqvsxGq5vtwwPlgt-_h8_V_gumCGgox6xJ21UFapt7CAOgm26iLNz7m_YINKl4zXfMymio9JXtA-WdypPX-LDvhzIwTxxKZF7gJ8PzbgGl2bj_lw5TNylrbg8WxCE/s1600/house_after_small.jpg" /></a></div>
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We still need to prime and paint the steps on the south side of the house and re-install our railing that's just sitting there oh, and PAINT THE REST OF THE HOUSE but I'm really pleased with how it's turned out. What's even better? The neighbors seem to like it : )<br />
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Thanks to Mrs. DIY for reminding me to include the actual paint colors and brands on this post about PAINTING THE HOUSE ; )<br />
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Siding/Columns: Olympic One, Satin Latex in <a href="https://www.olympic.com/paint-colors/tortuga-ol148" target="_blank">Tortuga</a><br />
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Dark green trim: Valspar Signature, Latex Satin in <a href="http://m.valsparpaint.com/color-detail.php?id=2359&g=1018" target="_blank">Olive Smudge</a><br />
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Red trim: Pittsburgh Paramount, Latex Satin in Dutch Boy's <a href="http://www.dutchboy.com/inspiration/room-scenes/color/gray/warming-trend/" target="_blank">Red Farmhouse</a><br />
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Up next?<br />
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We did something crazy AGAIN ; ) Can't wait to share this little nugget!<br />
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Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com4Wichita, KS, USA37.687176099999988 -97.33005300000002137.284951099999986 -97.975500000000025 38.089401099999989 -96.684606000000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-35377048496867845262017-07-05T18:08:00.002-05:002017-07-05T19:56:06.406-05:00Backyard Privacy Fence FINALLY!<div style="text-align: center;">
Hey guys!<br />
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As promised, now that we're getting a little break between wedding seasons I wanted to catch up on some posts that have been sitting here waiting for my attention.<br />
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First up? We built a privacy fence between ours and our neighbors' yards!<br />
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When we moved in, we had privacy fencing on all sides of our yard except one. This one:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iEie7VNt7JgpnqbmpvqH13X26YmGmojQmOn11mq3Ndya3Dn-if4_fSztYyIoyfuKTwAd4RNCU0ZjRb5QHC0tPU_julR0DVc40RqnIw4ktt9QUdgxhm2pik_BxDc8VJ9_WlJ_E7xJiz8/s1600/_DSC9542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_iEie7VNt7JgpnqbmpvqH13X26YmGmojQmOn11mq3Ndya3Dn-if4_fSztYyIoyfuKTwAd4RNCU0ZjRb5QHC0tPU_julR0DVc40RqnIw4ktt9QUdgxhm2pik_BxDc8VJ9_WlJ_E7xJiz8/s1600/_DSC9542.jpg" /></a></div>
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yikes.<br />
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Every year, the weeds and vines that were all wrapped up in this old, rusty chain link fence would die down and we would say to our neighbors "This year we're doing it! We're going to get out and build a privacy fence!" and every year, we would get busy and lazy and nothing would happen.<br />
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Then we got new neighbors and they didn't know about our cycle of busy/lazy/next year we're totally doing this and so we had to get our butts in gear and <i>actually </i>do it ; )<br />
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One HUGE motivator? Our new neighbor works for Star Lumber and was able to get the supplies delivered to our house for free. *~Luxury~*<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirX21sgqlHRydLrU2D1q-q8G20N9F-zV9mZgsnjrn1K5nvBboguB0UgANOGXqaVGlsc1LwVwtlF-Hz667jpxIcooF3HTOypfhEpsBeX7xdsgv2wJv_Tk9yYjwRvCCYTev_2LUHq6UGaXM/s1600/_DSC9546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirX21sgqlHRydLrU2D1q-q8G20N9F-zV9mZgsnjrn1K5nvBboguB0UgANOGXqaVGlsc1LwVwtlF-Hz667jpxIcooF3HTOypfhEpsBeX7xdsgv2wJv_Tk9yYjwRvCCYTev_2LUHq6UGaXM/s1600/_DSC9546.jpg" /></a></div>
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So we started by clearing out as much of that brush as we could so that we could then we cut the chain link around the stumps that were grown into it:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1IMI6QIDHsPf_CSV7G_M9Lvlb72w5JAS06MAhzxapOwbKRMmFjOsZLudcAiUZpk6xblftM_1WsRyKPhTJTD-NbAx2u40OYZB7wniPLMJZDolrkUHX2fc95tlaBAD9WxRpsajzX40gZo/s1600/_DSC9586.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1IMI6QIDHsPf_CSV7G_M9Lvlb72w5JAS06MAhzxapOwbKRMmFjOsZLudcAiUZpk6xblftM_1WsRyKPhTJTD-NbAx2u40OYZB7wniPLMJZDolrkUHX2fc95tlaBAD9WxRpsajzX40gZo/s640/_DSC9586.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Those were some gnarly little stumps.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3hZ6QjEY880PZh4ELvhLY-OMCRL1I6W9RfmSXx0YbguHj1ottM9HzaMl3RN-ePmPsczmO2MyTfaZFBhpQ5tuXeNTD9gt6qvyalbDjzkAc8RSKeWbPWW7wWZ0FM3ihGp4QXxHjjKE2B0/s1600/_DSC9627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3hZ6QjEY880PZh4ELvhLY-OMCRL1I6W9RfmSXx0YbguHj1ottM9HzaMl3RN-ePmPsczmO2MyTfaZFBhpQ5tuXeNTD9gt6qvyalbDjzkAc8RSKeWbPWW7wWZ0FM3ihGp4QXxHjjKE2B0/s640/_DSC9627.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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You can see in that photo that we had already poured the forms for the fence posts. My mom and dad helped us with that as a birthday present and so we just put them up on the Saturday that they had time and then came back to tackle The Stumps™.<br />
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Here's the view of our sad little garage from our neighbor's yard. P.S. is there anything weirder than seeing your house from your neighbor's yard? No. No there isn't.<br />
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I'll tell you a couple of gals who didn't mind the shake up - our neighbors' chickens Juicy and Craig. All that dirt, all those worms and grub. It was fine dining and free range for those ladies for about a week and they <b>loved </b>it. One thing they didn't love? Me constantly taking photos of them : ) This is Juicy btw:<br />
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Anywho, after all of the brush was cut down and (most of) the chain link was gone Conan and my dad got started on deciding where the posts would be and digging holes for them.<br />
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They used a guide line tied between the already existing posts at each end of the yard and then hung the plumb bob down from it to find the center of each hole and make sure the posts were going to be level.<br />
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Voila! Posts! And some very ingenious forms to hold them since the holes were a little too large for the originally planned piece-of-scrap-with-hole-cut-in-the-middle technique.<br />
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We let those sit for a couple of days and then it was officially fence time!<br />
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We started at the back of the yard since it was wonderfully stump free and if you hadn't already heard, my method of working is start with the easy stuff so you feel good enough about yourself to keep going ; )<br />
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Then? It was stump time. Here is Juicy inspecting the structural integrity of this guy and also worms mmmmmm worms!<br />
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Conan would dig down until he could get an axe after it and then swing away until it was loose enough to break in half.<br />
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Here's the mangled stump + chain link pile. Gnarly, huh?<br />
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After that, I put down the camera and we got in a nice little rhythm of me picking up a plank, holding the level on top of it while Conan screwed it to the 2x4. We went from stumps to fence in a day and by the end of it we were doing that thing where an hour goes by and you haven't said anything to each other because you're both thinking about cheeseburgers and just trying to.get.it.done.<br />
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After we were all done, we went to Lowe's and bought metal edging, weed fabric and mulch to (hopefully) help keep this little patch weed free for a while.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqo0C9AExnxk6PLkefdGYHSyDmpDrqhW_bzLOWg-EDjvNWg4Q2i-POp6_pBICdRw8oPaWSPDRjW_-SzbbP-_uLfqvVteIIKCZVRCOBDNQdlCPZG7iIdFbiugjUpYEfxaYud2FcBXM5M4/s1600/_DSC9661.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqo0C9AExnxk6PLkefdGYHSyDmpDrqhW_bzLOWg-EDjvNWg4Q2i-POp6_pBICdRw8oPaWSPDRjW_-SzbbP-_uLfqvVteIIKCZVRCOBDNQdlCPZG7iIdFbiugjUpYEfxaYud2FcBXM5M4/s1600/_DSC9661.jpg" /></a></div>
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This is the first time we've ever sprung for the metal edging and I have to say, I really like it. The stakes are sort of welded onto each piece of edging so you pop them off and then just tamp them down into the little slots in the edging.<br />
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The pieces overlap and stay nice and straight, too<br />
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Shorty was mucho concerned for his little chicky friends trapped on the other side of the fence!<br />
*whine*<br />
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And there it is, all done!<br />
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Neat!<br />
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Here's a before and after to save you the scroll:<br />
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It's been about almost 2 months with the fence and everything feels so neat and clean back there. We've also taken the camper out a couple of times since this has been done and it makes backing it in and getting in and out of it when we're loading stuff SO much easier without having to push back branches and get thwacked in the face with weeds all the time.<br />
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To give you an idea of how much a fence about 56' costs (because we were googling that ourselves before we started). This was our materials list:<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">·</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> bags 80 lb. Quikrete</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">·</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">16</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 2x4x8” pieces (cedar or pressure treated)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">·</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 2 3/8” x 8’ galvanized posts</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">·</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> galvanized post caps</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">·</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">14</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> steel to wood brackets</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">·</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">156</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 5 ½” x 6’ fence boards (cedar or pressure treated)</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">·</span><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5 lbs.</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 1 ½” deck screws (star bit included)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And this was an our half of the fence cost: $382</span><br />
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So, about $764 total<br />
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Up next? We prepped and painted some of the house you guys!!!! It looks SO nice! Can't wait to share it!<br />
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Until then, Keep Smiling and Happy 4th of July!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPadkqL1z8ZiOM2yDjvkPFCqHUqDOgNh_KDAYg-LYUds0DucnGYCrNEvyGnBRq6NMLdFO_B3V5fPnSLZCK-XTZjP_5A7dmjKpCS9XAwxIxcS7lVmG-oU8xGjHCQw8E0JqP_txmU49jJ8/s1600/jeep_museum02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQPadkqL1z8ZiOM2yDjvkPFCqHUqDOgNh_KDAYg-LYUds0DucnGYCrNEvyGnBRq6NMLdFO_B3V5fPnSLZCK-XTZjP_5A7dmjKpCS9XAwxIxcS7lVmG-oU8xGjHCQw8E0JqP_txmU49jJ8/s1600/jeep_museum02.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A picture we took after a long country drive in the Waggy this past weekend. *heart eyes emoji*</td></tr>
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Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com0Wichita, KS, USA37.687176099999988 -97.33005300000002137.284951099999986 -97.975500000000025 38.089401099999989 -96.684606000000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-46286632177969843222017-06-30T16:36:00.001-05:002017-07-05T18:19:01.867-05:00HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY LAMPHOUSE!<div style="text-align: center;">
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Hey guys! We've actually made a lot of progress on a few big projects around the house: </div>
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<ul>
<li style="text-align: center;">Painting the porch</li>
<li style="text-align: center;">Building a new privacy fence</li>
<li style="text-align: center;">Installing a new piece of kitchen furniture antiquer-y that's gonna blow your minds</li>
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BUT, we're also right in the middle of wedding season which is also photo booth season and even though I've taken lots and lots of photos of these projects, I haven't had a chance to get all of the many photos edited and put into a coherent post. Soon though, SOON. </div>
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In the meantime, this past week (6/28/2017 to be exact) we celebrated the fourth anniversary of the little business that could, aka <a href="http://lamphousephotoco.com/" target="_blank">Lamphouse Photo Co.</a>! It's nuts to think that we've spent half of our married life working on this. What started as a <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2013/02/hello-again.html" target="_blank">hair-brained idea</a> about developing photos in a camper has now become our full-time jobs and we're so gobsmacked by that reality every.single.day.</div>
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I thought it would be fun to show some before and afters of how it all began with the "Lampy" camper and what things look like today! We took a few photos to commemorate the anniversary this week so here goes!</div>
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In October 2012, we purchased what would become our vintage camper photo booth off of Craigslist for $500. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxS5yhyphenhyphen7_866ImqqiMfFmxh6rRgVfGzEda8_-Y-3FiIphXZ41wxT1mVXnBu3tElBYjp84xYgwgCIf01P8ZedfncnWpsLGJ3eGgvdzID8Y6IUevldQqph7Q-P5Sn1H4i7LMHj4P98w2Ic/s1600/BEFORE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vintage Camper Photo Booth Before" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAxS5yhyphenhyphen7_866ImqqiMfFmxh6rRgVfGzEda8_-Y-3FiIphXZ41wxT1mVXnBu3tElBYjp84xYgwgCIf01P8ZedfncnWpsLGJ3eGgvdzID8Y6IUevldQqph7Q-P5Sn1H4i7LMHj4P98w2Ic/s640/BEFORE.png" title="Vintage Camper Photo Booth Before" width="640" /></a></div>
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And here's what she looked like this past weekend at an event! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZVa221fkrAfxkYukZERheAM4qO-y3VWt21GTQra_qxC6p2b0em3uiV5or-slo6KOCleYyG4mHJMxPzFsLqJ13lFDfhEZ4nXfFZbLds5bFSeJzWroaEecr8rJTs1Cvcbs982U7W_4bQ-k/s1600/AFTER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vintage Camper Photo Booth Before" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZVa221fkrAfxkYukZERheAM4qO-y3VWt21GTQra_qxC6p2b0em3uiV5or-slo6KOCleYyG4mHJMxPzFsLqJ13lFDfhEZ4nXfFZbLds5bFSeJzWroaEecr8rJTs1Cvcbs982U7W_4bQ-k/s640/AFTER.jpg" title="Vintage Camper Photo Booth After" width="640" /></a></div>
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Pretty cute, huh? We re-painted her metal shell that robin's egg blue color almost a year ago and I love it every time I see it. </div>
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When we got her, we started by <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2013/03/lamphouse-photo-co-update-or-youre.html" target="_blank">gutting the entire inside</a> of the camper and turning it into a shell. Here's the "studio" side of the camper before, during and today:</div>
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And here's the "darkroom" side of the camper before, during, and today!</div>
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We still call it the darkroom side even though there is clearly a digital photo booth sitting right there in plain sight. The darkroom is still totally functional and we even took it out <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2016/05/hello-its-us-weve-been-wondering-if.html" target="_blank">last year</a> and developed some photos in it just to prove we could ; ) </div>
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But the truth is, when we took it out as a studio/darkroom we were working ourselves to the bone and making about $100 a month (during the summer/fall months ONLY). Hardly enough to make it worthwhile. So, last September we decided to add a digital booth to the inside and voila! booked twice in the past week alone! I know that a lot of folks might be sad that we went in a different direction than we originally intended but here's the way I look at it: </div>
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are people using it?</div>
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yes</div>
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are they enjoying the photos it takes?</div>
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yes</div>
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does it fill me with absolute joy when someone gets inside and goes "WHOA! This is beautiful!"?</div>
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yes</div>
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Bam! Success! </div>
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Hope you enjoyed our little trip down memory lane! </div>
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Up next, fence photos I think? Thanks for sticking with us and of course, </div>
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KEEP SMILING : ) </div>
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Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-65298230943926317422017-05-05T13:24:00.003-05:002017-05-05T13:24:41.682-05:00Wichitawesome<div style="text-align: center;">
Man, what a busy couple of weeks we've had. </div>
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This time of year is when things start to kick into high gear with <a href="http://fb.com/lamphousephoto">Lamphouse</a>. Graduations, weddings, public parties now that the weather is *hopefully* warm enough! It's a whirlwind of activity all over the 'ta. </div>
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This past weekend we took the <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2013/08/lamphouse-photo-company-is-aliiiiveeee.html">Lampy Camper</a> out to Final Friday (Wichita's monthly art crawl) and parked in front of a cool new venue to take some pics.</div>
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That was event 1 of 4 and by the end of the weekend, we had taken over 2,000 photos!!!</div>
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#tooblessedtobestressed</div>
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By far, the most instagramed part of the Lampy Camper was her Wichita flag sticker and little Heidi Swapp lightbox sign. What can I say, people love them some Wichita! </div>
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So, we figured we could eek out one little project to commemorate our ICT pride. We went to <a href="http://wingsofthewindkites.com/">Wings of the Wind</a> and picked up a 28" x 44" medium sized flag and wooden pole and got to work! Well, Conan did any way ; ) </div>
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Just look at this nut! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo46t07XdKG5Ze0h1AXEy590L6SnrsslfXyBlDvN2sn5eqKrHHrFb2hrWeO4rtcHkmZXULmZMcbE3SIe25-rK_p7HEgJ0RzR6MTyBR3wQv2EZuRdHKSA09auG6unwmbqark66k8rsBsA/s1600/conan_monkey_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNo46t07XdKG5Ze0h1AXEy590L6SnrsslfXyBlDvN2sn5eqKrHHrFb2hrWeO4rtcHkmZXULmZMcbE3SIe25-rK_p7HEgJ0RzR6MTyBR3wQv2EZuRdHKSA09auG6unwmbqark66k8rsBsA/s640/conan_monkey_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I asked him if he was just doing this for the picture or if he actually thought that would keep him from falling. "Just for the picture" he said...VERY sarcastically. </div>
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They had a nifty little flag pole holder that can be adjusted to tilt up or down or straight out. I prefer it straight out but who knows, it's good to have options! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWSCckfBb1sUVxMlshmrlMOpSRMWQWUBokRcg0Hs2Dgm8-dcA2UYeP1HeK2k5ZvJ-tASD9FGIRLEv8hu_DBZ-3FXhqIrpyvoZzDnys3vspcq8VC8uVP8L8gr14D0UoHzAwm74pWPTLGI/s1600/_DSC9380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOWSCckfBb1sUVxMlshmrlMOpSRMWQWUBokRcg0Hs2Dgm8-dcA2UYeP1HeK2k5ZvJ-tASD9FGIRLEv8hu_DBZ-3FXhqIrpyvoZzDnys3vspcq8VC8uVP8L8gr14D0UoHzAwm74pWPTLGI/s640/_DSC9380.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Ta da! Beautiful! It looks really sharp with the new trim paint and I know the red and white will really pop when the whole house is done. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteSknnf-V0FAWBnjzWgItlQeJtBNriq5ORZuCPZkCVTJpb3bPAza0AZCS5kNhyphenhyphenLZAIz0RssRTWcpN-LVic2VZrOgvlwklbVdroj6VbbZTtJAGWQZvIV0wn_tEwG_x5sf7sni4W-V25X8/s1600/flag_waving_north_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgteSknnf-V0FAWBnjzWgItlQeJtBNriq5ORZuCPZkCVTJpb3bPAza0AZCS5kNhyphenhyphenLZAIz0RssRTWcpN-LVic2VZrOgvlwklbVdroj6VbbZTtJAGWQZvIV0wn_tEwG_x5sf7sni4W-V25X8/s640/flag_waving_north_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Our new neighbors directly to the south put their Wichita flag up as soon as they moved in and it started a wave of flags popping up all over the neighborhood. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CPcvF79P_ePham8kbd0kAv4wdARZgLCQ5yXLQAII3AFgyTrI3gcXRVpyPo0UNBBXPdpRP4XonmbiBgvq3bWfMQ7ok5i0cWbSWLXc-uTPZdGxcosKk5WQrdQOp_BL31P2obqK7rA8ZSs/s1600/flag_waving_south_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CPcvF79P_ePham8kbd0kAv4wdARZgLCQ5yXLQAII3AFgyTrI3gcXRVpyPo0UNBBXPdpRP4XonmbiBgvq3bWfMQ7ok5i0cWbSWLXc-uTPZdGxcosKk5WQrdQOp_BL31P2obqK7rA8ZSs/s640/flag_waving_south_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Funny story: while we were taking these photos, a woman drove by, stopped a couple of houses down the street, got out of her car with her phone and took a photo of all of the flags! </div>
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I think this could be our new neighborhood thing! The Wichita flag street! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgla7y5OP79ZEPOGcdtLRgfb8izvU3Y48psjUuuMKuW6hu3hTVzAom9RcsJHWo379fUfAxqM2fFuCmzz1LpgmnLYN794dMJpZdLXBFu3aDnk2YstQ0Z5iqrddqqbrBHz20sJkSQh98_7uA/s1600/flag_under_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgla7y5OP79ZEPOGcdtLRgfb8izvU3Y48psjUuuMKuW6hu3hTVzAom9RcsJHWo379fUfAxqM2fFuCmzz1LpgmnLYN794dMJpZdLXBFu3aDnk2YstQ0Z5iqrddqqbrBHz20sJkSQh98_7uA/s640/flag_under_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Thanks for having such a neat flag, Wichita! And for being a great place to call home : ) </div>
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Here's a little Wichita flag history if you're interested: </div>
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Adopted in 1937</div>
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Designed by Cecil McCalister</div>
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Features 3 rays extending from a blue center with the Native American symbol for home, or "hogan" in the center. </div>
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Up next? We start clearing out the jungle in the backyard in preparation to build a privacy fence next weekend. Stay tuned and<br />
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Keep Smiling! </h2>
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Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-18272162258038164772017-04-20T20:32:00.000-05:002017-04-21T18:12:31.961-05:00HAPPY 8 YEARS, HOUSE! <div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaL6J0vTqW2Q2KU36o-7Dy0RVcX02E0mLTIb8V6QnVgaT4fu6wvaR9A7hUY4c2T0FV17lXhYsRS-M61oBmuilhenfGtzND0Z0WD-8_EX9_6LbbEDdIzM-1g64XfJFthTxuxrmk4OCc-k/s1600/eight_years_us_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaL6J0vTqW2Q2KU36o-7Dy0RVcX02E0mLTIb8V6QnVgaT4fu6wvaR9A7hUY4c2T0FV17lXhYsRS-M61oBmuilhenfGtzND0Z0WD-8_EX9_6LbbEDdIzM-1g64XfJFthTxuxrmk4OCc-k/s640/eight_years_us_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Thanks to the magic of Facebook Memories™ I woke up this morning to the news that exactly 8 years ago today, we were handed the keys to our house! </div>
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I thought that called for a little trip down memory lane and some new pics to celebrate! </div>
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Here is what the house looked like when we moved in: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFDvH90pcO-KVzqEj92QTtDWi85m_P3I2jUjwsw5tK5o4wdbDiWCxkZLM4n5DMtiW7A5Rkpv9b7A6G9OUr5iSjhFvmWD0xtU0ReqnzhwwL-vIoInQKqJr1Sl8yClO2jHyzKmdT6zXEI4/s1600/HOUSE_EXTERIOR_2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRFDvH90pcO-KVzqEj92QTtDWi85m_P3I2jUjwsw5tK5o4wdbDiWCxkZLM4n5DMtiW7A5Rkpv9b7A6G9OUr5iSjhFvmWD0xtU0ReqnzhwwL-vIoInQKqJr1Sl8yClO2jHyzKmdT6zXEI4/s640/HOUSE_EXTERIOR_2009.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And here it is today! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_-P2M48RUiD9oNJHfKJgHsAmi9MpHmS0U0gm5YKo5Jjn6JHAt3cnHYnJNWCuqFpSt_9xSSb0w61bEX6-nK23XfAR15_qMDDCMRE5LCWcnsKkOo0Frnqn5hMIOlzleO63ayhJSd3eY9c/s1600/house2017_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_-P2M48RUiD9oNJHfKJgHsAmi9MpHmS0U0gm5YKo5Jjn6JHAt3cnHYnJNWCuqFpSt_9xSSb0w61bEX6-nK23XfAR15_qMDDCMRE5LCWcnsKkOo0Frnqn5hMIOlzleO63ayhJSd3eY9c/s640/house2017_small.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I really didn't give much thought to painting the trim and soffit last year but in these photos it's like "BAM! 100% improvement!" and it's going to look 200% better when the whole house is done. </div>
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And now, for a little (long) trip through the past eight years of home-ownership bliss ; )</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJejqlYI16eYVE95vLG3E5uG71IUhQ0QEuS8si42tftF6NWlq-B-yAmqVEKZh_5JiAIj2Lh9rYNIGD8TZESIdne_wY8fPbiqnWcKxREHZPBoOCGgYKORQdg2V1nLw40tu8RbCc1JrRIj4/s1600/2009.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJejqlYI16eYVE95vLG3E5uG71IUhQ0QEuS8si42tftF6NWlq-B-yAmqVEKZh_5JiAIj2Lh9rYNIGD8TZESIdne_wY8fPbiqnWcKxREHZPBoOCGgYKORQdg2V1nLw40tu8RbCc1JrRIj4/s640/2009.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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As I mentioned, we were handed the keys on April 20, 2009 after a couple of months worth of hemming and hawing with the bank about the <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2010/01/heat-what-heat.html" target="_blank">lack of heat</a> among other things that come along with a <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2009/10/on-buying-forclosed-property.html" target="_blank">foreclosed</a> property. </div>
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With a village worth of help, we <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2009/11/oh-sod.html" target="_blank">put down sod</a>, </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4E-O1Pi8oWwVJYawKajJgzG1SP_wUX9Qhov9BbspBPyfczwD5gkg3OHrlbc-pTBiVd2R1gxsZ_FC_b1E7vk82_3H33ECVY7Gf8yOwg1qKCfCTg8xLwdRIV7vy0SH5TpeiLGHN0kx6MlM/s1600/yard_before_after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4E-O1Pi8oWwVJYawKajJgzG1SP_wUX9Qhov9BbspBPyfczwD5gkg3OHrlbc-pTBiVd2R1gxsZ_FC_b1E7vk82_3H33ECVY7Gf8yOwg1qKCfCTg8xLwdRIV7vy0SH5TpeiLGHN0kx6MlM/s640/yard_before_after.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2009/10/painting.html" target="_blank">painted</a> some interior rooms, and <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2009/12/our-wedding.html" target="_blank">got married</a> in the backyard on July 18, 2009</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2O1u7Ct3hpnq6w0VFQvJsQJBxoU3iaDZlTT65N3IaEWVQuQUKm3IYgfMSE-O8028G4zAVDYU_DDETw1gW_V-86RdcLH70_MlE4Snry01hCp5IhP-lzzDz2nJKGZIP52W5ZbdE9zSbdc/s1600/_MG_2781_small.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2O1u7Ct3hpnq6w0VFQvJsQJBxoU3iaDZlTT65N3IaEWVQuQUKm3IYgfMSE-O8028G4zAVDYU_DDETw1gW_V-86RdcLH70_MlE4Snry01hCp5IhP-lzzDz2nJKGZIP52W5ZbdE9zSbdc/s640/_MG_2781_small.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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We wrote our <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2009/10/we-bought-house.html" target="_blank">very first blog post</a> on October 6, 2009! It had exactly 0 pictures and an actual list of all of the things wrong with the house. It was written by Conan and you can really feel his "what the h did I just sign up for?" seeping through. But he ended it with ~<br />
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<span style="color: #e06666;">"IT REALLY IS A BEAUTIFUL HOUSE."</span></h2>
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A few weeks later we gave a long overdue <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2009/10/interior-tour.html" target="_blank">interior tour</a> of the house: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKbAFe5y9bMxgePVNUW_4PF0fSItJtgfx4yrJEPFv44KFXpvb6yQb32xuD-olW8aFjSQlSVvXt3AU0m524Q8PS2TYOGueFoldDuMEm1LtMTL9lDmNf9Qt1F9FFfhnohG4pQtx3fd0jkw/s1600/kitpano001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZKbAFe5y9bMxgePVNUW_4PF0fSItJtgfx4yrJEPFv44KFXpvb6yQb32xuD-olW8aFjSQlSVvXt3AU0m524Q8PS2TYOGueFoldDuMEm1LtMTL9lDmNf9Qt1F9FFfhnohG4pQtx3fd0jkw/s640/kitpano001.jpg" width="522" /></a></div>
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Missing cabinet doors, sagging ceiling, impossible to clean floor and an oven that didn't actually have a 220v outlet behind it. ~Those were the days~</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIoEKgiTDXA6WnVwNXWtSxckFvcyQjTKOqDM3Igo9b9QzfUeh0Gz-RQhcuJiTpWAGpW4gYK7lulE9nQ7C0M9EaJwT-4LhX9Ne0RyckIRwE1d4QOqRQlN8yDFpvTgzjfVOA9iDgqc7p-s/s1600/notthewholethingjusttherightsidewiththemantel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYIoEKgiTDXA6WnVwNXWtSxckFvcyQjTKOqDM3Igo9b9QzfUeh0Gz-RQhcuJiTpWAGpW4gYK7lulE9nQ7C0M9EaJwT-4LhX9Ne0RyckIRwE1d4QOqRQlN8yDFpvTgzjfVOA9iDgqc7p-s/s640/notthewholethingjusttherightsidewiththemantel.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This is the room where mismatched salvation army chairs go to spend the rest of their days, apparently.<br />
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<img border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY5SVE3MLJxdSJeYfCi7-hpFsjKBha-FeQ_GDatpMdmrrmOE0tRcO1R8P8CmpktgQqV1Nc88xYyw79xxN56xeil-xDTZVI71pYeN1vc4I3ah9lw7MHCLjXWBjFha-PbhVL6_7g8uy5HGH9/s640/pano-dinn_001.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3esBbYIxcn6Pf5cMP5qnDADaVTKhqS0JROw_F3q-iPD6TqMHCALVo49KyYC8qyZ2JGa-GzP0u0LDwYhBaya4rFBNxVqEmOihb4T8zI8HOeYpHqvgxQYz1r3JEjTODTd6ChlM2BKV4PENf/s640/sti002_a_web.jpg" width="640" /><br />
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Here are some other things we wrote about that year:<br />
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- Our <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2009/12/honeymoon.html" target="_blank">honeymoon </a>in Colorado (awwww)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-mkCjxDvcSi7rEPbU4aUwG2kefWhpztSl1-MaIe_fLbmgEnoGMgK_aS8nh3tZy-1rujgQZd0Dihu4WcDkfdL2ASLc-TFaf-fWLYKhnCsGDYusZvwEL9xldbknoFancWkYR5mG4oKY5E/s1600/2010.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4-mkCjxDvcSi7rEPbU4aUwG2kefWhpztSl1-MaIe_fLbmgEnoGMgK_aS8nh3tZy-1rujgQZd0Dihu4WcDkfdL2ASLc-TFaf-fWLYKhnCsGDYusZvwEL9xldbknoFancWkYR5mG4oKY5E/s640/2010.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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In February of 2010, we *finally* got <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2010/02/heat-no-seriously.html" target="_blank">central heating</a> installed in the house</div>
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A few months later we learned our first BIG lesson after we hired a <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2011/02/so-im-sort-of-dummy.html" target="_blank">fly by night company</a> to replace the roof. It ended fine but it was...a journey to say the least. </div>
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<img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFZ8Tqf8Y4hQWz-4JpqrU40RAWb4I4RYr1nX1jPq0LOeHVvPxI4wihfcav3vLto3Cw8oYGtNiUnICzcc5NOjImlO4Qd1fOYqtDXkckUVdcPadwsi5oejxVDJOYFEeLY_jc37hOXFWOH7h/s640/IMG_0180.JPG" width="640" /></div>
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For my birthday that year, my dad built the living room shelves that basically made us <a href="http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/before-after-beautiful-built-i-157681" target="_blank">famous on the internet</a> ; ) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLejn72xDyUBTx2vFJ9MavL8NZqaL4TchzMBxq2J0vo_i4EIgjDnVJgqvX6YsJoq_hAT-_o-hdCrqegqsyJs-VJP6EBIH4VPpEd1slCxt6q_8FmVvCxhRq_Pa3CAThhXbGez3dycGwdrA/s1600/living_shelves_before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLejn72xDyUBTx2vFJ9MavL8NZqaL4TchzMBxq2J0vo_i4EIgjDnVJgqvX6YsJoq_hAT-_o-hdCrqegqsyJs-VJP6EBIH4VPpEd1slCxt6q_8FmVvCxhRq_Pa3CAThhXbGez3dycGwdrA/s640/living_shelves_before.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's what they look like today</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC60WwguU2ONDMkGZP86BYzIWqgrRpvWHLkB_HO1oX23Ana_Wet0i2an_Z8Eid4kBah1J-qaD_D3ovkMetRM-qaywBcNWTKdkaN0pVjNaMDOCCa33hDFBP2ifeP0TYDhmuLY7n5TgZSMU/s1600/couch_shelves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC60WwguU2ONDMkGZP86BYzIWqgrRpvWHLkB_HO1oX23Ana_Wet0i2an_Z8Eid4kBah1J-qaD_D3ovkMetRM-qaywBcNWTKdkaN0pVjNaMDOCCa33hDFBP2ifeP0TYDhmuLY7n5TgZSMU/s640/couch_shelves.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Some other things we wrote about that year:<br />
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- <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2010/01/neat-old-photo.html" target="_blank">"Old" photos</a> of our old house<br />
- <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2010/02/heat-almost.html" target="_blank">Heating </a>the house<br />
- Our <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2010/02/wow-first-offer.html" target="_blank">first offer</a> on the house!<br />
- Removing one of the <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2010/02/goodbye-rusting-hulk.html" target="_blank">broken radiators</a><br />
- New <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-lighting.html" target="_blank">bedroom lighting</a><br />
- Conan's <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2010/04/yard-n-stuff.html" target="_blank">little red sports car</a><br />
- More <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2010/07/radiator-removal.html" target="_blank">radiator removal</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqyHuLRgG6VhBjtt8kQ8_WWwRU94-RI51wPP3xu32VtwGLCynLRykCDG0e3h5Z2Sn9KOmAZPmOzDhBY38yyTENsKin8PladSQ3c-64fAu1lJMi97CYqzItqdgTI1-kOHj2hh8oGeSl6w/s1600/2011.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXqyHuLRgG6VhBjtt8kQ8_WWwRU94-RI51wPP3xu32VtwGLCynLRykCDG0e3h5Z2Sn9KOmAZPmOzDhBY38yyTENsKin8PladSQ3c-64fAu1lJMi97CYqzItqdgTI1-kOHj2hh8oGeSl6w/s640/2011.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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In March of 2011, we started our first <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2011/03/demolition.html" target="_blank">major interior renovation</a> with the upstairs bathroom</div>
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<img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0888IdDVNAjMTmtZEQDBFZTgkmGB-6EqVWfhQWXtGl4SQtnKi36ADP7TaI7F3zhhJW0Tvh4hgT-ff1nk46VULmDLEbk-8yV7Zzi0OcFWo-z4mcaHw58QNUNiYPh-VFtIi4qOoQMlGm_0/s640/pick_L1004302_CF_web.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dtdvmf45YEz5-L-vjmQB1C7pXacAw3eVK4uGRG8kXzqOAT_v2dMx4ypQQ2OF_7nNEvB_rgDfBH4YValEUDIr0S0m8Hjv9cGyGS_oOHJqPWuwULFTRlDn8c8XgJO9yT5_MJGRqrp_lfU/s640/after_from_door.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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The whole remodel took just a little over a year to complete. Here's what I wrote about during that year: </div>
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- Cleaning up the <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2011/03/guest-room.html">guest room</a> (round 1)<br />
- Driving to Kansas City to buy an <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2011/04/bathroom-sink.html">antique sink</a><br />
- Buying <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2011/05/escutchion-excursion.html">escutchions</a><br />
-The <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2011/05/one-mans-trash.html">1919 trash</a> we found under the stairs in the bathroom</div>
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- <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2011/10/stripping-door.html" target="_blank">Stripping and re-finishing the old door</a></div>
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- <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2011/11/bathroom-paint.html" target="_blank">Painting</a><br />
- <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2011/10/it-has-begun.html">Tiling the bathroom</a> floor<br />
- <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2011/11/shower-wall-tile.html">Tiling the shower</a></div>
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- <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2011/11/grrrrout.html" target="_blank">Grout </a>& more <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2011/12/shower-grout.html" target="_blank">Grout </a></div>
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- Refinishing a <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2011/12/clawfoot-refinishing-pt-1-of-40-im-sure.html" target="_blank">clawfoot tub</a></div>
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- <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/01/move-that-tub.html" target="_blank">Moving a clawfoot</a> tub up two flights of stairs</div>
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- Turning an old TV cabinet into a <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/03/tv-cabinet-to-linen-cabinet.html" target="_blank">linen cabinet</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-PGZbRDrm28RU5VyVqenDoZgmafGdwl2eV94xDZ-o6k2lonSpMBtwkg_oAY-M9xyqbTZ3hk3AgxkELwuwL3WAn5dqRF8-J8qkCMa3M_A7s4KNIadgznPgnIL3epMCMgn6HVXPMKQonI/s1600/2012.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-PGZbRDrm28RU5VyVqenDoZgmafGdwl2eV94xDZ-o6k2lonSpMBtwkg_oAY-M9xyqbTZ3hk3AgxkELwuwL3WAn5dqRF8-J8qkCMa3M_A7s4KNIadgznPgnIL3epMCMgn6HVXPMKQonI/s640/2012.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Our big project in 2012 was a tiny budget remodel of the kitchen. If you'll recall, the bathroom had leaked into the kitchen causing those ceiling tiles to droop so we decided to just <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/03/kitchen-ceiling-demolition.html" target="_blank">tear the whole thing down</a> and paint it white. </div>
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Here's the before: </div>
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<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihAxCdjRHp2p55J9LFRQKyVGbo71pkIqx6gyQXqV_RcNt3QBtbC9M2CEuN7QCvnOzHAGjThux1AscJeWeft7ZtouybKlWB-_V2478bT3Ds_p4qGuYWWG-PkEq_uS2WSNssY8JI1gf91iA/s640/keep_smiling_before02.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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And the after: </div>
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<img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHGetw6Rc6jjgOeNkpDsbv9-n-JJxnaHTaXO_J8aKESJsNc-uxnrAnsZ2fvZQxfl1RZya3mFdKPO5wpY9cP8LWy379YPflggFctBLAUA_MUw3-9f1B5Yl_ggut20PMQyhd52jx4YZlXfc/s640/keep_smiling_after02.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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Maybe the biggest thing in 2012, was the purchasing of our <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2013/02/hello-again.html" target="_blank">vintage camper</a> and starting up <a href="http://lamphousephotoco.com/" target="_blank">Lamphouse Photo Co.</a> </div>
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Here's what the ol' girl looked like almost 5 years ago: </div>
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<img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUBQqxMWKX35SqeCX-T9IzKbQgeqN4BL1gAlcGl1RsjUIpZtLb4Tc3cmMslV0WhE7PWToLawEOLlrOFcxRYuWXCrJ2cnJsgZ0NH7NApQZaGryr7El8zYm41UQ1-5j1Mqxxqe_XwWu5lE/s640/trailer02.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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And here's what she looks like today! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NesVKjl_Y51vt-Ejb5VysEHJUtVDKmlzCHNu705bzKTrQoTeAgglJJAIWs810v6ghPGyaYvFzUNEujw19MhuZtln9lgwBUvWxYnnNzFY3wJ5p5LwBcVioEuQr-_xl0EoHW6nTm53VoQ/s1600/camper_photobooth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7NesVKjl_Y51vt-Ejb5VysEHJUtVDKmlzCHNu705bzKTrQoTeAgglJJAIWs810v6ghPGyaYvFzUNEujw19MhuZtln9lgwBUvWxYnnNzFY3wJ5p5LwBcVioEuQr-_xl0EoHW6nTm53VoQ/s640/camper_photobooth.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here are some other things we wrote about in 2012:<br />
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- <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/01/let-there-be-shower.html">Showering in a washing machine drip pan</a> for a year<br />
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- <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/01/move-that-tub.html" target="_blank">Moving a clawfoot</a> tub up two flights of stairs</div>
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- Turning an old TV cabinet into a <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/03/tv-cabinet-to-linen-cabinet.html" target="_blank">linen cabinet</a><br />
- Painting our old fridge with <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/03/chalkboard-fridge-kitchen-ceiling.html">chalkboard paint</a><br />
- Refinishing our <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/04/mr-sandman.html">kitchen floors</a><br />
- DIY <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/04/antique-trouble-light-diy.html">Antique Trouble Lights</a><br />
- <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/05/accidental-kitchen-remodel-vintage.html">Finding a vintage Roper Stove</a> at a garage sale for $45<br />
- Saving our <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/05/big-time-diy-saving-our-sash-windows.html">sash windows</a><br />
- Being featured in <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/05/this-old-house-magazine-our-living-room.html">This Old House Magazine</a><br />
- Our first <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/06/bazan-living-room-show.html">David Bazan</a> Living Room Show<br />
- Using the <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/06/1940-census.html">1940 census</a> to learn about our house<br />
- <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/06/history-of-our-house.html">Talking to the granddaughter</a> of the family who lived here 1938-1944<br />
- Being featured on <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/07/houzz-tour.html">Houzz</a><br />
- Stumbling upon <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/08/wait-is-that-my-house.html">photos of our house</a> from the late 40s<br />
- Being in <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/09/halloween-magazines-and-limbering-up.html">This Old House Magazine AGAIN</a>!<br />
- Being <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-other-side-of-living-room.html">given a piano</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_zPaKKel6222mhpUpBpUeB2qHsGjquPqRSKbqMhYeYnOjTCyfN_wROardZ4OtWMBBPzjpGuiEIbm6Y3yPxb2PMMrY4VtQsimz3OOIF9wtEngCvMLSXPiL40quBD9519t5XVw9rb_FCI/s1600/2013.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_zPaKKel6222mhpUpBpUeB2qHsGjquPqRSKbqMhYeYnOjTCyfN_wROardZ4OtWMBBPzjpGuiEIbm6Y3yPxb2PMMrY4VtQsimz3OOIF9wtEngCvMLSXPiL40quBD9519t5XVw9rb_FCI/s640/2013.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Our big project for 2013 was the downstairs bathroom, affectionately dubbed the "toilet closet"</div>
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Here's what <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2013/11/toilet-closet-demo-day-1.html" target="_blank">we started with</a>: </div>
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCDLNQmXQ7sSqXn-LBKN4b6YoAnUev9BSiRa-5c_AmsGZeJbuYeQaYcrB1fBZDBp0H_m6UyzlHF5gshZ7o1ZBr64h4i4vQi80ALO3zln8xXUzrYFQbGinsccSwlp-u4sTPvKJiSHoLQ_Q/s640/_1030388.jpg" width="426" /></div>
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And here's <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2014/06/black-powder-room-before-after.html" target="_blank">the finished product</a>: </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFU75tNl9m2knhIvf0FcETAtB2G1zes_gCMU6XNUypGP3n1haR6iQtlA2uAfLRcHdXR7QgzpXD24g16V5fe0eqnF-hOwxO5UR5AazdQtqMUTBkmZmL9RwN40-LW3dPxXgd-_2eI_4fYA/s1600/powder+room+sink+wide.jpg" /><br />
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Here are a few other things that happened in 2013:<br />
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- We gave you guys the deets on our <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2013/03/lamphouse-photo-co-update-or-youre.html">vintage camper plans</a><br />
- We got a very cool <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2013/04/thrifted-camera-cabinet-cool-bed.html">antique camera cabinet</a><br />
- We added a <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2013/05/lamphouse-progress-darkrooms-pretty.html">darkroom to our vintage camper</a><br />
- <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2013/11/in-defense-of-slow-decorating.html">Slow decorating</a><br />
- We refinished our <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2013/11/dining-table-makeover.html">FREE dining room table</a><br />
- Finding the <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2013/12/a-trip-to-barn-sink-success.html">perfect sink</a> for the toilet closet<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjIyBHobY8p1x8fVbx22Krhjh7T1pihHqgVWICBvzRZ58df9eUbZXCL8EDwV3hZqCoxbt2xwqwYs6yWMJFyb7NiTBc4qetHw291B3BhKM_9V-NL6kMWS533yOHMOzUgjpIa03aszDJ4k/s1600/2014.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjIyBHobY8p1x8fVbx22Krhjh7T1pihHqgVWICBvzRZ58df9eUbZXCL8EDwV3hZqCoxbt2xwqwYs6yWMJFyb7NiTBc4qetHw291B3BhKM_9V-NL6kMWS533yOHMOzUgjpIa03aszDJ4k/s640/2014.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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In 2014, we did a few little things like s<a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2014/06/updating-decorating-guest-room.html" target="_blank">prucing up the guest room</a> to use as an Airbnb: </div>
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSZ5gg0BYmP29QDcp52PPQnVBkgqZzV-i8ih3_FFAlFe61a3TGjNOGpIx3FjmxADR8xBjvcz_g11o8Emm9aPF3ajVb9QBk0zWNiaMBp67DTcufj1DZlYAKnY0D50xRtDzGPBwCqoIVFoY/s640/guest-bedroom-full-view.png" width="426" /></div>
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Visiting <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2014/07/yellowstone-theres-no-place-like-home.html" target="_blank">Yellowstone National Park</a></div>
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<img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cA2-Kf6xFiqERw6ktM0wIkd4g2CYcStI8hfD4Pz_Qjl6N_TCoWsKhYfhUS7tQQFa46c4QtkV1YQy4CLjqhsBX7ENxIPOisNNjDuo-kq1J8-q93T7iKbX3b_IcTVWPyYxTp3ifwoBF1g/s1600/yellowstone+canyon+campground.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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and how the <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2014/06/chalkboard-fridge-update.html">chalkboard fridge</a> was holding up<br />
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eMXOj3KHaOY-GLMdh1OIsb5fQ4sQTLMx8UXXpWRkHvW0tZbbfS8di5rW7Iat2uNDNUxb7o8W402WuUTMR1irnJ307IotVugh08RxWC0QXcFSvV0QN2pyEwmvyBALcBmENsldMPIsB0I/s1600/fridge_after.jpg" width="430" /></div>
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We also did <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2014/10/exterior-painting-prep-guest-room.html" target="_blank">some work on the exterior</a> of the house and added our beloved <a href="http://lamphousephotoco.com/birdie-photobooth">Birdie Booth</a> to the Lamphouse lineup!<br />
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Here are some other things we wrote about in 2014:<br />
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- Our second <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2014/01/david-bazan-living-room-show-again.html">David Bazan Living Room Show</a><br />
- Replacing the <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2014/06/exterior-plans-lamphouse-news.html">front porch steps</a><br />
- More <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2014/07/one-chalkboard-shy-of-elementary-school.html">chalkboards</a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgik2_hiZroNBOYbInSHv6lsxmDfLzfiyyPKQgNJaQnLJmejFbIl7BIZxawlG397ftBw9lZtC0NLacUgQhz_kBwZpk2RidO7BpMhSjhsZNL0wgoolbAcGx3NTzWC1o6s3APrwMj4Tu70/s1600/2015.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgik2_hiZroNBOYbInSHv6lsxmDfLzfiyyPKQgNJaQnLJmejFbIl7BIZxawlG397ftBw9lZtC0NLacUgQhz_kBwZpk2RidO7BpMhSjhsZNL0wgoolbAcGx3NTzWC1o6s3APrwMj4Tu70/s640/2015.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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2015 was a pretty slow year for the house but we did manage to add <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2015/01/diy-dining-room-built-ins.html">built in shelves</a> to the dining room: </div>
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<img alt="Before Dining Room" border="0" height="445" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVBcEdXyWN-xeW7bjUqljIbg4WRZwnITnnCbHJ6ctlfeaAo0dUiReFUBV8GCFwTm-aVgTF4zoZ4u7ESp-2MknEy4lVLveFldfrk3DeTgxjCJ9fGPPWEE4jdeDKv2oqS52pJDtjGwh3XA/s640/BEFORE+DINING.jpg" title="Before Simple Dining Room" width="640" /></div>
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<img alt="Olympic Stormy Weather" border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9p4KQbzaOcG6Fesirn5sc9NdjWEqn5MxgJo1uedEif49tQJw1nPoBoMcebadf-UvG4IAEvzW_6Q5-6cyCNPw8tRDb4i4uAaCBRbEKc8MIImO9EA4L-lE6T-nKZfVZNwGsrA9XtnC5kg/s640/SHELVES+AFTER+LARGE+LIVING+VIEW.jpg" title="Olympic Stormy Weather" width="640" /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi745MdCG8glBUMPhxkU6uGQdxPSVInk67LFATpxp80XC1ls_jEbC5cuPhBajne-qD8qrirPyaJRN6Rjz0jMp5BuO7y6GW6md8ZF7zOMNMlWGLJlw19HvN3asOzwLwwEfmH-zqD0H4o8N4/s1600/2016.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi745MdCG8glBUMPhxkU6uGQdxPSVInk67LFATpxp80XC1ls_jEbC5cuPhBajne-qD8qrirPyaJRN6Rjz0jMp5BuO7y6GW6md8ZF7zOMNMlWGLJlw19HvN3asOzwLwwEfmH-zqD0H4o8N4/s640/2016.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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We built a second Birdie Booth to keep up with demand and <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2016/05/hello-its-us-weve-been-wondering-if.html" target="_blank">put a "pool" in the backyard</a> : ) </div>
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<img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbf2Rm3TopyNoCTKr5Pdsh3ZSj3enSwwNSckkVm_a7U3CGJYBzeDr_eGidmzZpYHn3Gw_gqfz5NE-LO1EJRxu-Ha84QilOsC9Bymnxkal2ggtO7HgdN05mPhrGq5KaqDMeQ-o91qYwvo/s640/20150829_183746_HDR-01.jpeg" width="640" /></div>
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We also got back to the business of <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2017/02/painting-house-exterior-porch-soffit.html" target="_blank">painting the house</a>. Picking colors</div>
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<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLj_85wVw7iG0ZkHCxofkOT02M8Nw9DZdruTv1UiMSwE9xQk9r1WSfFZNBlr6Ja6lNvUsyRwL3JwsWcqvnQONk1TxWlbF3iW01V6Oy7JtzY2ktCz9vhyphenhyphenQgQ9lnnbI6m7_P_lRNaoKch0s/s640/colors.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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Climbing around on scaffolding, etc. </div>
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<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4o4p5JgKBZMlxe3yVZGB1TNWLnKvYCkP4sI92O4kqV2e-_IgvXBENU5Qfb_2FeWjXxkiVD7SCPiILaOScQwN9H0tyG3BMzOFi6cfyPvlut0Q-HxsDN-3oyTQdnczacgyvpEgMrY5Mw3o/s640/side+during+labeled.jpg" width="640" /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvrVxV_nituLHZ-VhntHRJ2lahBTpzwbSOXz1dokhy5H2hNAd5RTQcIUSDyMLWqmpO1h-RBQ_8RVOFFscZA9Cy_oNbGzSmwKCDdLfEO_cgDxvmaN0fRhSAoOJ8aMyp__TIBjlubADKxk/s1600/2017.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFvrVxV_nituLHZ-VhntHRJ2lahBTpzwbSOXz1dokhy5H2hNAd5RTQcIUSDyMLWqmpO1h-RBQ_8RVOFFscZA9Cy_oNbGzSmwKCDdLfEO_cgDxvmaN0fRhSAoOJ8aMyp__TIBjlubADKxk/s640/2017.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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In 2017, Lamphouse became our full-time jobs (INSANE!) so that occupies pretty much 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Still, we're hoping that the house will get some attention this year as well. </div>
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This year, our big projects are working on the exterior of the house and installing a privacy fence in the backyard.</div>
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A lot has happened in the past eight years and it was a trip to see it all laid out in front of me in pictures! I know we're not the most punctual bloggers but we really did leave a nice record of our time in the house so far. </div>
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Thanks for hanging around these past eight years! </div>
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Keep Smiling! </div>
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Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-55368013200982813462017-03-29T13:03:00.000-05:002017-03-29T13:03:20.169-05:00Tennis Racket Picture Frame DIY<div style="text-align: center;">
You all know how I feel about slow decorating (if you don't, see <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2013/11/in-defense-of-slow-decorating.html" target="_blank">this post</a>). So it should come as no surprise that it's taken us nearly a decade to finally start hanging things on the walls. It may have taken me a while but in the past 4 months we've put more holes in this plaster than the previous 9 years combined.<br />
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And since the weather has been especially "stay your a$$ inside" this past week, I decided to tackle one tiny project to lift my spirits. </div>
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I've had this photo pinned for years: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSIWtSFfIaq3LuAnoJwocOcbWnOCgB5adC72hpQoPViBz295Rl4dvktt2iTp2TCTbwNIkFE64rdqhrI80IiQXxbNGiHAs_fwZss9RpdF1iTIjwMCsZLn7Ki9Y6mENNDgMw5Et7qAsyO0/s1600/e62583f904b35aa819e151826b46c897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBSIWtSFfIaq3LuAnoJwocOcbWnOCgB5adC72hpQoPViBz295Rl4dvktt2iTp2TCTbwNIkFE64rdqhrI80IiQXxbNGiHAs_fwZss9RpdF1iTIjwMCsZLn7Ki9Y6mENNDgMw5Et7qAsyO0/s1600/e62583f904b35aa819e151826b46c897.jpg" /></a></div>
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I love it but since it's hard enough to convince myself to put on "real pants" these days, I figured I would skip the ~take the rackets to your local mirror shop and have them cut pieces to fit~ step and just hang the dang things on the wall. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6KJPnbJvC7CQUTzkgKiIT1Uq3lXcF6ykfaoLJtBd6rDNMTqf0DHoW5_RhtMOXZFZnQInPeQk1LsWeRPsVvjdhWQzxmpOROGThdBt-BldPz_TsP3ozmnRzsSsuup7mQhStKJZGD9DCb4/s1600/racket_frames_tight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6KJPnbJvC7CQUTzkgKiIT1Uq3lXcF6ykfaoLJtBd6rDNMTqf0DHoW5_RhtMOXZFZnQInPeQk1LsWeRPsVvjdhWQzxmpOROGThdBt-BldPz_TsP3ozmnRzsSsuup7mQhStKJZGD9DCb4/s640/racket_frames_tight.jpg" width="406" /></a></div>
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And use them as photo frames! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvr-W66rozCCOFURLGjO3vWv5UZUX0Laa2BFaC5eWkJjPe2Ia5s9zqbNHtecZ8OGIS5OdJmKTCG-EfVeZyiKaSpY3g-RGwqQc3joJqbDMRRw38-n9tzvwJeGtXiPJYd5wXKcdFFO6_Pk/s1600/racket_frames_detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvr-W66rozCCOFURLGjO3vWv5UZUX0Laa2BFaC5eWkJjPe2Ia5s9zqbNHtecZ8OGIS5OdJmKTCG-EfVeZyiKaSpY3g-RGwqQc3joJqbDMRRw38-n9tzvwJeGtXiPJYd5wXKcdFFO6_Pk/s640/racket_frames_detail.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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One of our favorite rainy day activities is going to the big antique mall just outside of town and sifting through boxes of old snapshots and taking home just a few interesting ones each time. </div>
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Don't you just love the girl jumping rope? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQ0DG-iMKbt7V3C_OvoNfGSQVQjzEA91YCM3Yd99mpYVKwehAmAIfGdJitl9xRNLznO_2q3ItCtKM5K7roZBSijQ6V2nrviXC5qU9jrrB4XcK7TD215K6CwWpTtm6kz0abBVVAkU_LM4/s1600/racket_frames_detail02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQ0DG-iMKbt7V3C_OvoNfGSQVQjzEA91YCM3Yd99mpYVKwehAmAIfGdJitl9xRNLznO_2q3ItCtKM5K7roZBSijQ6V2nrviXC5qU9jrrB4XcK7TD215K6CwWpTtm6kz0abBVVAkU_LM4/s640/racket_frames_detail02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The racket ain't too shabby either ; ) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB76Q6xI_PV0hgjJuTQy2BmdnjdOTwAnju9JR_r4s8r_kICWizaQJv4EXDwq-QLR4cCZ5TczQHsG5F7DKplZJ7hlZMC9jJxNa3MQV2KftST6jQUKMuJk250Q03HgYXqeh0tfmQHtk2lmU/s1600/racket_frames_during02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB76Q6xI_PV0hgjJuTQy2BmdnjdOTwAnju9JR_r4s8r_kICWizaQJv4EXDwq-QLR4cCZ5TczQHsG5F7DKplZJ7hlZMC9jJxNa3MQV2KftST6jQUKMuJk250Q03HgYXqeh0tfmQHtk2lmU/s640/racket_frames_during02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Conan tacked them up on the top inside and bottom inside to keep them from swaying if they're bumped. </div>
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I originally wanted to put them in the kitchen but since we already have a little collection going in there, we decided it was overkill. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4ynNX7__NRBHbXTE-tftD6VnUcxMTv3us-8fR2wQnYLL5XYPgqGfswGV2yQL-kvR2Th5vYRNvlfpDEo5YhL2domQcPIYMJEd-hGEsMmRNrk7VQoKpv5R9SBLx_NcvPwCdxb-CTYogcA/s1600/hall_frame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL4ynNX7__NRBHbXTE-tftD6VnUcxMTv3us-8fR2wQnYLL5XYPgqGfswGV2yQL-kvR2Th5vYRNvlfpDEo5YhL2domQcPIYMJEd-hGEsMmRNrk7VQoKpv5R9SBLx_NcvPwCdxb-CTYogcA/s640/hall_frame.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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There's a few photo booth pictures on here (of course!) and some others that I'm starting to collect: </div>
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- Women holding dogs</div>
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- Pictures where you can see the photographer's shadow</div>
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There's a really neat article in <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2016/09/snapshot-collectors/501614/?utm_source=fbb" target="_blank">the Atlantic</a> about collecting snapshots that inspired those if you're looking for a fun little read. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyqL8D1Fk2F_QgdEM1wVlMhwZFpjqvH1dWZ2MoX6NNimqkAmLNd4OV0zUPYslVZPpFWqCDG29baLq64vOqVoEqpc9c9nUnJyPhlEKcNLt-HSLYwXow0g_tfOyDRX0lyUfZZvqADEx0vI/s1600/hall_frame_detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyqL8D1Fk2F_QgdEM1wVlMhwZFpjqvH1dWZ2MoX6NNimqkAmLNd4OV0zUPYslVZPpFWqCDG29baLq64vOqVoEqpc9c9nUnJyPhlEKcNLt-HSLYwXow0g_tfOyDRX0lyUfZZvqADEx0vI/s640/hall_frame_detail.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Girl drinking out of a paper sack while holding up a finger doesn't have a collection category yet but I couldn't pass her up - too sassy. </div>
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Another thing we finally got off of the floor: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zaSOnVr0oYY3KioSwP-P3R8f5eB5gft42RSHdQRWUV6kQk2qCR9-vZaA03LnScsfFVfn2ayHv425aYQQVqHkMBmY9SrivVy9TW_28op0xh_MbZwysSOsQs-SqgIDiQD9yKVPArOUAp8/s1600/guitars01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_zaSOnVr0oYY3KioSwP-P3R8f5eB5gft42RSHdQRWUV6kQk2qCR9-vZaA03LnScsfFVfn2ayHv425aYQQVqHkMBmY9SrivVy9TW_28op0xh_MbZwysSOsQs-SqgIDiQD9yKVPArOUAp8/s640/guitars01.jpg" width="444" /></a></div>
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Conan's guitars! The acoustic was just collecting dust in the guest room and the electric in the corner of the living room so we figured - pop those puppies up there and treat 'em like art. I really like how it warms up this corner and makes the room seem even taller. </div>
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Well, that's all for now. Hope you enjoyed our (very) little project! </div>
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Hopefully the weather takes a turn for the nice and we can get back to work on the exterior sometime soon. Until then, </div>
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Keep Smiling! </div>
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Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-7304943589620038922017-02-08T17:00:00.002-06:002017-02-08T17:08:27.339-06:00Painting the House Exterior: Porch Soffit Edition<div style="text-align: center;">
In yet another sign that the apocalypse went ahead and happened and 2016 was in fact our last year on earth and we are all living in some sort of weird alternate universe - we have PUT PAINT ON THE EXTERIOR OF OUR HOME. </div>
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I repeat: we have taken a PAINT BRUSH, dipped it in PAINT, and then APPLIED IT to our HOME. </div>
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About (gosh!) six months ago, I got a wild hair and decided it was "time" to get down to business on painting the exterior of our house. Despite the fact that it had been over a year since I last posted about it, or since we had even done any kind of prep work, something about late August in Kansas just said ~paint your house~ to me. </div>
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So we spent a good hour or so looking at paint colors and getting samples and then we sat them in the basement and that's where they sat for (double gosh!) two months.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLj_85wVw7iG0ZkHCxofkOT02M8Nw9DZdruTv1UiMSwE9xQk9r1WSfFZNBlr6Ja6lNvUsyRwL3JwsWcqvnQONk1TxWlbF3iW01V6Oy7JtzY2ktCz9vhyphenhyphenQgQ9lnnbI6m7_P_lRNaoKch0s/s1600/colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLj_85wVw7iG0ZkHCxofkOT02M8Nw9DZdruTv1UiMSwE9xQk9r1WSfFZNBlr6Ja6lNvUsyRwL3JwsWcqvnQONk1TxWlbF3iW01V6Oy7JtzY2ktCz9vhyphenhyphenQgQ9lnnbI6m7_P_lRNaoKch0s/s640/colors.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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If you've been taking your ginkgo, you might remember that time over TWO YEARS AGO when <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2014/10/exterior-painting-prep-guest-room.html">I posted about</a> our repaired/replaced soffit on the front porch and our plans for the exterior.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGBYFXuUkFMUm6Oh_biXI8OhBbc3ZdfTwJxmk9qqlRAA_K0EVSc9BSgrled3v3ushETqzMs2f38YXZNz9Bd6cvN49tdnSlEYoMsfEZWBsQU486QLHhQ2aXtS8M5U6vt0z1JA-4zcVZ-k/s1600/soffit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGBYFXuUkFMUm6Oh_biXI8OhBbc3ZdfTwJxmk9qqlRAA_K0EVSc9BSgrled3v3ushETqzMs2f38YXZNz9Bd6cvN49tdnSlEYoMsfEZWBsQU486QLHhQ2aXtS8M5U6vt0z1JA-4zcVZ-k/s1600/soffit.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was all painted and primed and ready to go and it had started looking a little...rough so with the weather somewhat nice, my mom and I got started cleaning and putting paint on the soffit and front gables of the porch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RDUuHaS9vl98-KPb2UAWVMJE9CHv8U9YDmBqvejS4-Ox3elUJGIfSwOfsCXbNyF-p5kxALtMQ1sAA0Cw_ze6p5OdPFSfUqntK8SxYft_VEgpcRWyDdYSk-7tnn_5Lt7xDmHXvuxd9lc/s1600/soffit+primed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RDUuHaS9vl98-KPb2UAWVMJE9CHv8U9YDmBqvejS4-Ox3elUJGIfSwOfsCXbNyF-p5kxALtMQ1sAA0Cw_ze6p5OdPFSfUqntK8SxYft_VEgpcRWyDdYSk-7tnn_5Lt7xDmHXvuxd9lc/s1600/soffit+primed.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And here's a look just after we started the north side of the porch:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4o4p5JgKBZMlxe3yVZGB1TNWLnKvYCkP4sI92O4kqV2e-_IgvXBENU5Qfb_2FeWjXxkiVD7SCPiILaOScQwN9H0tyG3BMzOFi6cfyPvlut0Q-HxsDN-3oyTQdnczacgyvpEgMrY5Mw3o/s1600/side+during+labeled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4o4p5JgKBZMlxe3yVZGB1TNWLnKvYCkP4sI92O4kqV2e-_IgvXBENU5Qfb_2FeWjXxkiVD7SCPiILaOScQwN9H0tyG3BMzOFi6cfyPvlut0Q-HxsDN-3oyTQdnczacgyvpEgMrY5Mw3o/s640/side+during+labeled.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And with the scaffolding moved:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheK5e9a8Ac-t-aaOsVxpXSqatGvNFktM_TAKxR9PZWbozPh7K95-_64Ub91XOdY5hkV8-2VRotLYisOgbr0Q6aTAZIdZ_PTThfcMsUv_Q_IZNq0F_yfwrm3EpLHdJs4sQ7TJWheUg_JxM/s1600/side+no+scaffold.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheK5e9a8Ac-t-aaOsVxpXSqatGvNFktM_TAKxR9PZWbozPh7K95-_64Ub91XOdY5hkV8-2VRotLYisOgbr0Q6aTAZIdZ_PTThfcMsUv_Q_IZNq0F_yfwrm3EpLHdJs4sQ7TJWheUg_JxM/s640/side+no+scaffold.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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You can see that we got excited and painted a little bit of the siding as well just to be certain that the colors looked good. </div>
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I sat out on the porch and looked at it in every light and I have to say, I'm really really feelin' it. Since these photos were taken we've had our Christmas decorations up, too and it looks pretty darn slick with the new trim paint.<br />
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Here's a look at the north gable before:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYL5ca3jsBpHTtS6uO7PmKxCjxyIaCOkNvEKE7kJK0JlAkz-91A4gFoC-8bDKIjPzrEpJkE0OSWt3jzNQzqoFyyDkeRR-4iFMQpJShU46E8Us2C6JZAyDNKJW9naTb5gX2J5nYil6Gd-c/s1600/right_before.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYL5ca3jsBpHTtS6uO7PmKxCjxyIaCOkNvEKE7kJK0JlAkz-91A4gFoC-8bDKIjPzrEpJkE0OSWt3jzNQzqoFyyDkeRR-4iFMQpJShU46E8Us2C6JZAyDNKJW9naTb5gX2J5nYil6Gd-c/s640/right_before.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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and after:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4xRM3MEnErkLEDuoWqA5dr3q9j2FYKaQQZL5fj90PGXDZRuXviN7AM_j0gH231TT5bDSSEmgTUtVEWzuFr15paUR5qVn_5UnfgZVCMUIf0zpPTjPoUJY0KQGn99sFwGVvZKLq54thCo/s1600/front+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl4xRM3MEnErkLEDuoWqA5dr3q9j2FYKaQQZL5fj90PGXDZRuXviN7AM_j0gH231TT5bDSSEmgTUtVEWzuFr15paUR5qVn_5UnfgZVCMUIf0zpPTjPoUJY0KQGn99sFwGVvZKLq54thCo/s640/front+after.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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So much sharper!<br />
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And a little farther back:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBmTiMb1dXA4RFaMS5URNdd_iZH-BTzhwR2U7yeOylFtAnRcl8-dOGfnppGvaRWhxHPDFCCw79cdRWSg8QeErPuKyBSLMJsRICjLBSgFf5rhPCKblh3yFq_qd3dZNy8s7e4NOqSnu1kA/s1600/front+right+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxBmTiMb1dXA4RFaMS5URNdd_iZH-BTzhwR2U7yeOylFtAnRcl8-dOGfnppGvaRWhxHPDFCCw79cdRWSg8QeErPuKyBSLMJsRICjLBSgFf5rhPCKblh3yFq_qd3dZNy8s7e4NOqSnu1kA/s640/front+right+after.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We decided to do the interior shakes on the gables in the cream color and then just continue the pattern from the soffit up there, too.<br />
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I've known I wanted to paint the house green since we moved in so that was a no brainer but the trim was up in the air. </div>
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A lot of the houses I saw on Pinterest had that greenish/grayish siding + white window trim + dark brown screens look and <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2014/06/exterior-plans-lamphouse-news.html">I felt that too for a while</a> but I'll be honest with you, I was not looking forward to covering up the dark green window trim with white. </div>
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Then it happened. Instead of working on our house, we were binge-watching <a href="https://magnoliamarket.com/our-show/episode-01-the-little-house-on-the-prairie/">Fixer Upper</a> and in episode 1 of season 2 they visit a bungalow type house with green siding, and green and red trim. FYI: it's not the house they picked but the first one they looked at in the episode. </div>
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"That's it!" I yelled. Here's a bad screen cap for reference: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMG2IZLgNBK92S18mFxp4rGIuJOJ_GyyRbLAdmi34txtHKwSS_wFMyzr64xC-cgwa3NWLMzWMOXJl-EbMUL9jlHSR_d2pVDyZNUzHioCjQqgg6DAnMYjK6ZkDhFuVlinYIXA7yWvTyrU/s1600/fixer+upper+house.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="421" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMG2IZLgNBK92S18mFxp4rGIuJOJ_GyyRbLAdmi34txtHKwSS_wFMyzr64xC-cgwa3NWLMzWMOXJl-EbMUL9jlHSR_d2pVDyZNUzHioCjQqgg6DAnMYjK6ZkDhFuVlinYIXA7yWvTyrU/s640/fixer+upper+house.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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Now, admittedly our house is a little more intricate and a lot less covered in trees and bushes but after finishing this portion, I really feel like we're headed in the right direction! It doesn't look a whole lot different yet but once the siding has paint on it, it will be like a completely new house.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfE1lkAQTn_muMpTTXBFNmN3tVFW-9wKBSZGoMKrpBngizgz0qinAjyZbGMfJILwC_ZvEG8tJrXuAj9aQIVepii0JqhaVYBBQuof7hQnxH6dXE_SojNOw8BLg04DPQpNgPVx9CZzdZbs/s1600/left+side+after02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfE1lkAQTn_muMpTTXBFNmN3tVFW-9wKBSZGoMKrpBngizgz0qinAjyZbGMfJILwC_ZvEG8tJrXuAj9aQIVepii0JqhaVYBBQuof7hQnxH6dXE_SojNOw8BLg04DPQpNgPVx9CZzdZbs/s640/left+side+after02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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(lol at what the Jeep has done to our column : / antique automobiles, am I right?)</div>
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The next steps will be moving down onto the actual porch and painting the siding, columns, steps, ceiling, and whatever else there is on a porch. Can you hear the overwhelming-ness in my typing?<br />
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It's gonna' be a real process. My bet is on two years, my mom says one, maybe one and a half?<br />
Place your bets in the comments if you want to make things interesting. Again, this will be for when the house is *actually* finished, not when I *finally* blog about it!<br />
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See you guys at some point in the future!<br />
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Thanks for sticking with us! </div>
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Keep Smiling!!</div>
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Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-53217975157744775412016-05-11T10:41:00.000-05:002016-05-11T12:26:47.108-05:00Hello, it's us (we've been wondering if after all this time you'd like to read about our house still).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hey guys, just wanted to say that we're still here and we still talk about the blog and you guys and working on the house and hopefully someday soon I'll post some "real" content again. We keep bumping into old friends who want to know what we've been up to on the house and since I've officially left my day job (hooray!) to work on <a href="http://www.lamphousephotoco.com/">Lamphouse </a>full-time, I might have a few minutes here and there to do some <i>actual </i>work on the ol' girl. It is her 99th year after all, so she deserves a little extra care and maybe, just maybe, some paint. No promises, though ; ) </div>
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In the mean time, here's a round up of what we've been up to in the year and some months since I posted last: </div>
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For my birthday last April, my folks agreed to work on building a little "patio" for our backyard. Call me crazy but I do NOT like sitting around the fire pit, feeling all the little creepy crawlies on my feet so it was "Goodbye grass!" and hello pavers, edging, and mulch. *Sorry in advance for the cell phone pics y'all*</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zAWBx3lZivXxqIYg506kQnFeLQuJyRbfd1gbca82CObWXmhkibX6vti7KJyas26oJX2cUm4EHUNg8XheSDUR9ZXZiS7R7kKi-QwAaBgW3dgHWxJKoAXyr59QgDTm3dxIPv_42qnE-pE/s1600/20150528_093000_HDR-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3zAWBx3lZivXxqIYg506kQnFeLQuJyRbfd1gbca82CObWXmhkibX6vti7KJyas26oJX2cUm4EHUNg8XheSDUR9ZXZiS7R7kKi-QwAaBgW3dgHWxJKoAXyr59QgDTm3dxIPv_42qnE-pE/s640/20150528_093000_HDR-01.jpeg" width="360" /></a></div>
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First, we measured, dug a hole, leveled everything out...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybDs5acI-xiX5Pql-YncfNn46kSt2gKhYDUoPS8J2vxpSQLjK7Fdac5oKSUhCKbIf7Mr2DfcDap18ovv0lccFX9YGIOSrzs3K1vOerYKLm2BNt7kuqBglBIrH9HhO0A7zBmiSkKtayZ0/s1600/20150523_172935_HDR-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjybDs5acI-xiX5Pql-YncfNn46kSt2gKhYDUoPS8J2vxpSQLjK7Fdac5oKSUhCKbIf7Mr2DfcDap18ovv0lccFX9YGIOSrzs3K1vOerYKLm2BNt7kuqBglBIrH9HhO0A7zBmiSkKtayZ0/s640/20150523_172935_HDR-01.jpeg" width="360" /></a></div>
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...then the rains came and...unleveled things. We put gravel and sand underneath the pavers and then added new edging and mulch, along with a little half wall and a mini berm. </div>
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Here's a crap shot I took from <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2013/04/thrifted-camera-cabinet-cool-bed.html">our sunroom windows</a> (are they dirty? I can't tell). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZOBRxD2JpN3UpyFGWEVJaq6-36ZtR8u627OnUtjyFKlu7LN-_Rkt5cLH25tJGx4lQDHjhr9pFwt8Pp0Qa7MDnWAkUPI8-U3At9DZZTkzpa7QU2Wod0YqEYU9F0wC69upkMxmJw3_ZFo/s1600/20150712_193504_HDR-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ZOBRxD2JpN3UpyFGWEVJaq6-36ZtR8u627OnUtjyFKlu7LN-_Rkt5cLH25tJGx4lQDHjhr9pFwt8Pp0Qa7MDnWAkUPI8-U3At9DZZTkzpa7QU2Wod0YqEYU9F0wC69upkMxmJw3_ZFo/s640/20150712_193504_HDR-01.jpeg" width="360" /></a></div>
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And yes, your eyes are not deceiving you, that is an ABOVE GROUND POOL. Listen, when you live in Kansas and you don't have central AC, you do what you gotta' do. And I gotta' pool. It cost about $150 and we spent almost every.single.night. bobbing up in down in there, smelling the moonflowers, and bringing our body temperature back down to a reasonable level before going to bed. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbf2Rm3TopyNoCTKr5Pdsh3ZSj3enSwwNSckkVm_a7U3CGJYBzeDr_eGidmzZpYHn3Gw_gqfz5NE-LO1EJRxu-Ha84QilOsC9Bymnxkal2ggtO7HgdN05mPhrGq5KaqDMeQ-o91qYwvo/s1600/20150829_183746_HDR-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFbf2Rm3TopyNoCTKr5Pdsh3ZSj3enSwwNSckkVm_a7U3CGJYBzeDr_eGidmzZpYHn3Gw_gqfz5NE-LO1EJRxu-Ha84QilOsC9Bymnxkal2ggtO7HgdN05mPhrGq5KaqDMeQ-o91qYwvo/s640/20150829_183746_HDR-01.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Sure, it makes me want to listen to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Slq606bvlAo">High Life</a> every time I look at it and sure it looks like a little eyesore in this photo (the grasses on the berm have grown considerably since this was taken) but man, it's a treat. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7pfMeSRbVFlcvsKozHGRHEzo7QFapkhvugQ9T93w-c_wNbKvWhyphenhyphenvxng_9PNWhyTtqWRQZNxawuEgYCmwN2KUuGaIhgvCDpCi_mq9wX9IVjH4reT93S4IehbxnflKffYJiGarx-IWotQ/s1600/20150814_174931_HDR-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7pfMeSRbVFlcvsKozHGRHEzo7QFapkhvugQ9T93w-c_wNbKvWhyphenhyphenvxng_9PNWhyTtqWRQZNxawuEgYCmwN2KUuGaIhgvCDpCi_mq9wX9IVjH4reT93S4IehbxnflKffYJiGarx-IWotQ/s640/20150814_174931_HDR-01.jpeg" width="360" /></a></div>
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Conan built my little boardwalk you see there out of scrap wood we had lying around and it helps keep the dirt out of the pool. </div>
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I still want to do some type of lighting underneath the little bench edge and maybe paint or affix some fake stone to those cinder blocks but it's our little oasis and now...get this...we actually USE our backyard instead of just staring at it from the laundry room windows all summer long! </div>
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Which is awesome because...MOONFLOWERS!! They are by far, the best part about summer in Kansas. They love the heat, don't mind the dry spells, and they smell like perfume. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_rUOa-GzYx5Tqj_KU_KPZB-azKewRh9TGHBNDS9o14bbye_8WrSYqMDfg342boJPGcl_XBLj84Nx9hG4PmsaiDnLV3m_D8Etp2p9SbXks4dzxSvl2wRwpvy8L0nDVcRLWRsDwJTHaGU/s1600/20150812_190306_HDR-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0_rUOa-GzYx5Tqj_KU_KPZB-azKewRh9TGHBNDS9o14bbye_8WrSYqMDfg342boJPGcl_XBLj84Nx9hG4PmsaiDnLV3m_D8Etp2p9SbXks4dzxSvl2wRwpvy8L0nDVcRLWRsDwJTHaGU/s640/20150812_190306_HDR-01.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Around the same time, Conan got a wild hair (no pun intended for that wild hair pic down there lol) and decided he was sick of our basement being a totally messy, unusable space so he cleaned the whole thing out, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=dry+lock&oq=dry+lock&aqs=chrome..69i57.1877j0j1&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8">drylocked </a>the walls, and built work benches and shelves. There's even a little spot for the mini fridge! (Oh, and Shorty "helped"). </div>
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Next up, we headed to Estes Park for our 7th summer of hiking until it hurts. Or, as we call it, ~a very relaxing vacation~ lol. </div>
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Here's Conan on our descent from <a href="http://www.summitpost.org/mount-chiquita/151816">Mt. Chiquita</a> </div>
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It was pretty hazy this year which was a bummer for summits but it did make for some incredible, sort of Great Smoky Mountain-style sunsets. Here's Conan in <a href="http://www.rmnp.com/RMNP-Areas-MorainePark.HTML">Moraine Park</a>, near our campsite. </div>
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The rest of the summer and most of the fall was devoted to Lamphouse and all that photobooth-ery but we did manage to make it to our friend's wedding in Philadelphia and have a 16 hour whirlwind tour of New York as well. </div>
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We left Wichita and drove to Kansas City at 3 am and when we arrived at Newark, we immediately just went to Penn Station and started walking. The whole day was incredible but also like a weird, half-asleep, half-awake dream. </div>
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We walked from Penn Station to the Freedom Tower then across the Brooklyn Bridge and then trained it back to Newark. Phew! </div>
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Philly was beautiful. So much history and neat buildings. We pretty much had the same game plan as New York outside of the wedding-y stuff: walk and walk and walk and walk. </div>
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On our last afternoon, we walked down to <a href="http://www.phillyseaport.org/">Independence Seaport Museum</a> and blew Conan's tiny, boyhood mind but WALKING AROUND IN A SUBMARINE! If you look closely, you can see him actually losing it : D </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxaohkthouT4Hbw4gSACXWgXxRNwY6mBLGSzBkWnq82ziXAB4HQT34PcsfE3PjNOrJP06gxAP9AaLEkN3PmKNsw8fCepwwBeAut1PcJgeLy5k3kNr1jwaVBeSYiSjpq8mpkmkCBFmtk-I/s1600/20151011_160931_HDR-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxaohkthouT4Hbw4gSACXWgXxRNwY6mBLGSzBkWnq82ziXAB4HQT34PcsfE3PjNOrJP06gxAP9AaLEkN3PmKNsw8fCepwwBeAut1PcJgeLy5k3kNr1jwaVBeSYiSjpq8mpkmkCBFmtk-I/s640/20151011_160931_HDR-01.jpeg" width="360" /></a></div>
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For Conan's 35th birthday in February, we went out to Estes Park with our Philly friends for a two day run around RMNP. It was so neat to finally see what the park looks like in winter after seeing it in only the summer for so many years. </div>
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The past couple of months have been spent getting back to photo booth stuff. We took the <a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2013/08/lamphouse-photo-company-is-aliiiiveeee.html">"Lampy" camper</a> out for a run of photos last month. It's the first time she's left the driveway in a couple of years and she handled it like a champ. You can see all of the portraits we took and developed <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.850546391738468.1073741947.277648339028279&type=3">here </a>on our Facebook page. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrD6yYX3GiPPXV_2Vos1Onbl0Ea5J5_JZ1v5dkgx-wScanTl0t-EhLs8VB-4X6yYPCSih4M28fIT-8ySYDTmcUwcG8X_DJIRStsk3Y_9M0X3bZ8gs8Gfdz9tnPB72L_PzuwuQwLVAV4Lk/s1600/lampycsb2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrD6yYX3GiPPXV_2Vos1Onbl0Ea5J5_JZ1v5dkgx-wScanTl0t-EhLs8VB-4X6yYPCSih4M28fIT-8ySYDTmcUwcG8X_DJIRStsk3Y_9M0X3bZ8gs8Gfdz9tnPB72L_PzuwuQwLVAV4Lk/s640/lampycsb2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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And last but certainly not least, we added another Birdie Booth to our fleet! Now we officially have two indoor photo booths, the <a href="http://www.lamphousephotoco.com/wagoneer-photobooth">Grand Wagoneer Photo Booth</a>, and ~occasionally~ the Lampy camper.<br />
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Here's Birdie #2 in our dining room this past Saturday before her first event <3</div>
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I think that pretty much brings things up to speed. </div>
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Just a couple of low lifes, livin' the high life</div>
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travelin' all over</div>
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buildin' photo booths like it's compulsory</div>
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still NO paint on the house since we started prep like, two years ago ughhhhh....</div>
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Until next time, </div>
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Keep Smiling! </div>
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~ Katherine</div>
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Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-13255215347462069322015-01-05T18:16:00.000-06:002015-01-05T18:17:43.440-06:00DIY Dining Room Built Ins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Long time, no see interweb-friends! We've been overwhelmingly busy with life and <b><u><a href="http://www.lamphousephotoco.com/">business </a></u></b>and <b><u><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2014/10/exterior-painting-prep-guest-room.html">Airbnb</a></u></b>, and Christmas and blblblulikfjslkdfj;askfj that I haven't had a minute to edit photos and post on here but believe you me, we've still been busy busy busy with house projects! </div>
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Also, in blog news, </div>
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KEEP SMILING TURNED 5! </div>
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Woo-hoo! Five years of barely knowing what the H E double hockey sticks we're doing and we've still got all of our fingers to show for it! Success!</div>
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So, one of our busy house projects over the past couple of months has been making over the dining room. It all started wen Conan's dad gave us a pair of particle board shelves. The rest, is history! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOQtjSLFJQ8ZidS9NhrURxq9lDyXKn-BMM2TkAD7wKiR23qKgZMsJVOa_x59l4Eqfwe8OPy1Jlcbx_y_bzwDbkZG2ClB2VncAn-zncwpvKHRF2z6D3BmC9lUjMmnHy9f1noj2nv8eyBU/s1600/DINING+BUILT+INS+BEFORE+AND+AFTER.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DIY Built In Shelves" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCOQtjSLFJQ8ZidS9NhrURxq9lDyXKn-BMM2TkAD7wKiR23qKgZMsJVOa_x59l4Eqfwe8OPy1Jlcbx_y_bzwDbkZG2ClB2VncAn-zncwpvKHRF2z6D3BmC9lUjMmnHy9f1noj2nv8eyBU/s1600/DINING+BUILT+INS+BEFORE+AND+AFTER.png" title="DIY Built In Shelves" /></a></div>
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For the most part, the dining room has always been what I'll call "done enough". We painted it a shade of very light gray before the wedding and <b><u><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2011/10/in-black.html">painted the doors black</a></u></b>:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVBcEdXyWN-xeW7bjUqljIbg4WRZwnITnnCbHJ6ctlfeaAo0dUiReFUBV8GCFwTm-aVgTF4zoZ4u7ESp-2MknEy4lVLveFldfrk3DeTgxjCJ9fGPPWEE4jdeDKv2oqS52pJDtjGwh3XA/s1600/BEFORE+DINING.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Before Dining Room" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVBcEdXyWN-xeW7bjUqljIbg4WRZwnITnnCbHJ6ctlfeaAo0dUiReFUBV8GCFwTm-aVgTF4zoZ4u7ESp-2MknEy4lVLveFldfrk3DeTgxjCJ9fGPPWEE4jdeDKv2oqS52pJDtjGwh3XA/s1600/BEFORE+DINING.jpg" title="Before Simple Dining Room" /></a></div>
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and since then <b><u><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2014/02/post-all-of-things.html">I've acquired 8 thrift store chairs</a></u></b> and re-finished <b><u><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2013/11/dining-table-makeover.html">our free table</a></u></b> but it's still just...okay. </div>
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But the recent acquisition of a BIG OL' pile of books from Conan's late mother as well as the shelves some of them sat on motivated me to get to work, making this room more than just an empty room with a table in it.</div>
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My idea was this: </div>
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Put these particle board shelves Conan's dad gifted us on either side of the dining room windows a la the <b><u><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2011/10/before-after-living-room-shelves.html">Living Room built ins. </a></u></b></div>
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With my mom's help, I moved them into the dining room to see what we were working with. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJM8wqirbbO4rQE7BSMQ74a2ONYmhkllM5p_x0qe0VZVD_NiftkvBBXm9gYUkT3RInFT3f_UF96LR1Mb-cpBIY_SlBJ_c2jn2YfYOsq6SCcgmhfkQh7hB-NOYuJJzts9HGjXaT5fs9NEc/s1600/dining+built+ins+full+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DIY Built In Shelves Particle Board" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJM8wqirbbO4rQE7BSMQ74a2ONYmhkllM5p_x0qe0VZVD_NiftkvBBXm9gYUkT3RInFT3f_UF96LR1Mb-cpBIY_SlBJ_c2jn2YfYOsq6SCcgmhfkQh7hB-NOYuJJzts9HGjXaT5fs9NEc/s1600/dining+built+ins+full+before.jpg" title="Built In Shelves Before" /></a></div>
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You can see from the one on the right that they were tall but not tall enough. They need to be lifted so they at least cleared the top of the windows. The one on the left is sitting on a pile of wood to simulate what we were going for. </div>
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To get a permanent solution to the height problem, we cut some pieces of wood and notched out a place for the base shoe so they could fit snugly up against the baseboard and the wall. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTAvbj0kowln5A3_zsKVUzw4RhtOnGw7EslcWbYbXx7fLHkYKWDQnyS3pKMwoeuohJtKKhjUPFpzg4uPkYvtf7zZJ07REukQA2isy7uLE-4iL0yanQhSOMv6yKEQ1ckmRZVrddLMIgpU/s1600/built+ins+riser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DIY Built In Shelves Raised" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRTAvbj0kowln5A3_zsKVUzw4RhtOnGw7EslcWbYbXx7fLHkYKWDQnyS3pKMwoeuohJtKKhjUPFpzg4uPkYvtf7zZJ07REukQA2isy7uLE-4iL0yanQhSOMv6yKEQ1ckmRZVrddLMIgpU/s1600/built+ins+riser.jpg" title="DIY Built In Shelves" /></a></div>
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Here it is, floating magically in mid air! JK, it's actually sitting on the baseboard on the left side and we notched the back of the shelf to go around the window sill. That provided a surprising amount of staying power while we were finishing the box. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jCaBa-lc2JArOBL7tjdxaQxM6Pdu3QXivaGSjSk2NfZnYMlFl4RlEflDdmnCfgiwCtF11xUls-y9Uk8zPIGWkjziRD8EsvH5uGt_ktrdlHSHF1nitBuwK3cHMw1kwyEKsXJM_1U695M/s1600/dining+built+ins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DIY Built In Shelves Lifted" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_jCaBa-lc2JArOBL7tjdxaQxM6Pdu3QXivaGSjSk2NfZnYMlFl4RlEflDdmnCfgiwCtF11xUls-y9Uk8zPIGWkjziRD8EsvH5uGt_ktrdlHSHF1nitBuwK3cHMw1kwyEKsXJM_1U695M/s1600/dining+built+ins.jpg" title="DIY Built In Shelves Lifted" /></a></div>
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You can see that the side is sitting on top of the baseboard. That allowed it to fit back in the corner once we notched a space for the window sill to fit in on the backside of the shelf. </div>
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Here it is all screwed together. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sRgmCsBBgDgwCF8oTB-VPTOyQ0lAmAC2XGW6JtMSiGw7CoSpml8GUKoc8gU_KBdTNOLa5zwagIlobKoPMWd2HFd2V2SQD-yuaZCTSYol6AUhPQPfb5MQKed45dwL_C0BQEsQGTXxQRE/s1600/built+in+riser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DIY Built Ins Raised" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sRgmCsBBgDgwCF8oTB-VPTOyQ0lAmAC2XGW6JtMSiGw7CoSpml8GUKoc8gU_KBdTNOLa5zwagIlobKoPMWd2HFd2V2SQD-yuaZCTSYol6AUhPQPfb5MQKed45dwL_C0BQEsQGTXxQRE/s1600/built+in+riser.jpg" title="DIY Built Ins Lifted Up" /></a></div>
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Step two was to trim these guys out. This step would hopefully take them from clearly cheap shelves to built-in-esque. </div>
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Here's the top of the shelf before: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAnC8qxWPkm7xYwDCCtQVt4uKek2MxnqbcaF8z68kyHGQh9oxtM6P0e0LDSdczVVeV9KuKMUGJgLJx-WLF_M8s-fZ4SoqMsAdn5sz-jhNLx6GLJruHFuUtrgeILFyt5UiqC7vASx1ORQ/s1600/dining+built+ins+height.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Particle Board Built Ins" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgAnC8qxWPkm7xYwDCCtQVt4uKek2MxnqbcaF8z68kyHGQh9oxtM6P0e0LDSdczVVeV9KuKMUGJgLJx-WLF_M8s-fZ4SoqMsAdn5sz-jhNLx6GLJruHFuUtrgeILFyt5UiqC7vASx1ORQ/s1600/dining+built+ins+height.jpg" title="Particle Board Built Ins" /></a></div>
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And after trim: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguAL1f2tnyxh9EF6_8_bYOjkSQNjzJ-9VdzFxbbkCKZ2BiIcdHgVrGX31uI2ayLhqKbvhfCRpX6rr8s8PTFLIbgE-SAXw3LOlwgAwSo0GKk7qpRh56txVz4VinrCOb5mrEGlymzu3Sayk/s1600/MOULDING+BEFORE+PAINT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DIY Built Ins Crown Moulding" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguAL1f2tnyxh9EF6_8_bYOjkSQNjzJ-9VdzFxbbkCKZ2BiIcdHgVrGX31uI2ayLhqKbvhfCRpX6rr8s8PTFLIbgE-SAXw3LOlwgAwSo0GKk7qpRh56txVz4VinrCOb5mrEGlymzu3Sayk/s1600/MOULDING+BEFORE+PAINT.jpg" title="DIY Built Ins Crown Moulding" /></a></div>
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The top is a sheet of plywood with some leftover 1" strips we had from the Birdie Booth around the outside edge. We used 4" crown moulding under that and under it was a piece of 1x8 that the shelf was notched around. </div>
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Speaking of those strips, they came in real handy again when we decided that the rounded front edges of the shelves were a dead giveaway for not built-in. Here's a close-up "after" pic to give you an idea of what I mean:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGBHs1Eyi9qja4UT9blWYadt3J5QNKGMOzNxNyFkMD9OaAK5vpf288Rckc4rpI9gGpYSjYTu_1BXa3AjNzjkMHzQgzAKCMZjRa6zZsTofPSyLJ_Vn8tCkd9kWD4mr-Worvi64jbOc62c/s1600/FRONT+SHELF+STRIP+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Particle Board Built Ins Front" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGBHs1Eyi9qja4UT9blWYadt3J5QNKGMOzNxNyFkMD9OaAK5vpf288Rckc4rpI9gGpYSjYTu_1BXa3AjNzjkMHzQgzAKCMZjRa6zZsTofPSyLJ_Vn8tCkd9kWD4mr-Worvi64jbOc62c/s1600/FRONT+SHELF+STRIP+small.jpg" title="Particle Board Built Ins Front" /></a></div>
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We used a brad nailer to attach the 1" strips across the front of the shelves so that, should we ever want to pull them out and re-configure them, we can.<br />
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Now for the paint. As you may know, most primer is not wont to stick to fake wood so I thought I would give chalk paint a try since I had heard so much about how well it adheres to this fake wood...fwood.<br />
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<b>Two things about chalk paint:</b></div>
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It does <i>stick </i>to fake wood really well</div>
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It does not <i>cover </i>fake wood very well. At least not when you're trying to cover it with white. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPnvmeLEBUx5IpRKduMrp1kowaCiKK_BatWjbxDbmA7zUk5jRgLu0T5wfHk7ZFVAaUkIpso9Yl4Q3juFcY0X49PN4jtLFgZPIShaOshncZ_5JX67idoqhYye84O6mheV5wYwYHngIWe0/s1600/Dining+Built+Ins+Chalk+Paint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Chalk Paint Built Ins" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZPnvmeLEBUx5IpRKduMrp1kowaCiKK_BatWjbxDbmA7zUk5jRgLu0T5wfHk7ZFVAaUkIpso9Yl4Q3juFcY0X49PN4jtLFgZPIShaOshncZ_5JX67idoqhYye84O6mheV5wYwYHngIWe0/s1600/Dining+Built+Ins+Chalk+Paint.jpg" title="Chalk Paint Built Ins" /></a></div>
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The above photo is after two of the small containers of chalk paint. Not great, right?<br />
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Like I mentioned, it does stick really well to the fake wood and it actually goes pretty far but it was still leaving streaks and I still had the shelves to prime so when I ran out of the little can I was using, I decided to make my own. Pinterest to the rescue! Turns out, if you use 1 Tbsp. of white, unsanded grout (which I have a lot leftover from <b><u><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2014/02/happy-birthday-conan-heres-your-grout.html">the downstairs bathroom</a></u></b>) and a cup of white paint, you're good to go. </div>
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So, if you're looking for a REALLY serious primer for some fake wood, <u><b><a href="http://www.livelovediy.com/2014/06/how-to-paint-furniture-with-chalk-paint.html">just make it yourself! </a></b></u></div>
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I decided that I would just use the chalk paint as primer and cover it with the same trim paint that I had used for the other trim in the room. </div>
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Here's after one coat of latex paint over the two coats of chalk paint/primer.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjFIFVG5SI9wp14WyyjyP5-cEv7dZ92ZlD-al7BkuHaouN7FAmOrY4rjVDndK0ipoEEdbztq70PhMVjmTADtCSSP4rCmweXJN7DVAdWzMAV6uwmjJcS17l1BkuZSa7w-c2hsA9zsjpH8/s1600/Built+In+South+Latex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DIY Built Ins Chalk Paint" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjFIFVG5SI9wp14WyyjyP5-cEv7dZ92ZlD-al7BkuHaouN7FAmOrY4rjVDndK0ipoEEdbztq70PhMVjmTADtCSSP4rCmweXJN7DVAdWzMAV6uwmjJcS17l1BkuZSa7w-c2hsA9zsjpH8/s1600/Built+In+South+Latex.jpg" title="DIY Built Ins Chalk Paint" /></a></div>
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And here are the shelves from the front after two coats of latex paint. (the shelves were being primed on the back porch). </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0V_DlMKICXA81TQAFvVVotcYFma7-QjwNeoy0oyjzt5Es6u1A8r9nTgDOQ50AhyEOKZLKFCky-GjELDL9wOv3yKFG0wLf-dsanbVI7rm9PWXvRkEex1z0Y10d85uYrs-JLbWFTrYcQA/s1600/Dining+Built+Ins+Latex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DIY Dining Room Built Ins" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR0V_DlMKICXA81TQAFvVVotcYFma7-QjwNeoy0oyjzt5Es6u1A8r9nTgDOQ50AhyEOKZLKFCky-GjELDL9wOv3yKFG0wLf-dsanbVI7rm9PWXvRkEex1z0Y10d85uYrs-JLbWFTrYcQA/s1600/Dining+Built+Ins+Latex.jpg" height="426" title="DIY Dining Room Built Ins" width="640" /></a></div>
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And here it is with the shelves installed and painted. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWdL_Kd4GhqpRmZIF89C-yFbVttXNrYZ16aAZhTIdjRvVvAoZWgmZ-TF93eNXKrdpWx4KSP1rBHZ5lRiAWM0xapdvqHF_GQ8Q5Z8HCocGsJPedHOQ_AlJLlP6WucprHkrhGSp4MMFxZk/s1600/Dining+Built+Ins+Latex+Shelves+DAY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DIY Built In Shelves Dining Room" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGWdL_Kd4GhqpRmZIF89C-yFbVttXNrYZ16aAZhTIdjRvVvAoZWgmZ-TF93eNXKrdpWx4KSP1rBHZ5lRiAWM0xapdvqHF_GQ8Q5Z8HCocGsJPedHOQ_AlJLlP6WucprHkrhGSp4MMFxZk/s1600/Dining+Built+Ins+Latex+Shelves+DAY.jpg" height="426" title="DIY Built In Shelves Dining Room" width="640" /></a></div>
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FYI:<br />
You can probably see that there is a giant spot on the wall/ceiling between the shelves. That was one of the other reasons this room was due for a makeover. A leaky air conditioner upstairs a couple of years ago had caused the sheetrock tape to fall off so I climbed up there, peeled it back, and mudded it.<br />
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Then, much like the <b><u><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/07/accidental-kitchen-remodel-before-after.html">"Accidental Kitchen Remodel"</a></u></b> of yore, one thing led to another and the room was getting crown molding and paint.<br />
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We used the same molding from the top of the shelves (4") and we settled on a darker, warmer gray for the color of the walls: <b><u><a href="http://www.olympic.com/color/paint-colors/stormy-weather-d16-3">Olympic Stormy Weather</a></u></b>.<br />
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My mom and dad very kindly put the crown molding up as my Christmas present this year and I loff it more than anything. As my mom says, every time we finish a room it's "my new favorite!"<br />
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So let's see the official "before and after" shall we?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsV1Dn2yh_L0YzquZugJneW82AK0irLejMf1djPjPvqBoZ3SWaRNfY3roIjfEgpxrxZu-rZGh3e4SagzVeIhRhLw7Esfj5KzHiWacPSGbrJ6Ga0Na491d81Ki3fMDXHdbkR3ddBE_xSU/s1600/BEFORE+AFTER+LIVING+VIEW.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cheap Built Ins DIY" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKsV1Dn2yh_L0YzquZugJneW82AK0irLejMf1djPjPvqBoZ3SWaRNfY3roIjfEgpxrxZu-rZGh3e4SagzVeIhRhLw7Esfj5KzHiWacPSGbrJ6Ga0Na491d81Ki3fMDXHdbkR3ddBE_xSU/s1600/BEFORE+AFTER+LIVING+VIEW.png" title="Before and After Built Ins" /></a></div>
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And now, for fun, just the after:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9p4KQbzaOcG6Fesirn5sc9NdjWEqn5MxgJo1uedEif49tQJw1nPoBoMcebadf-UvG4IAEvzW_6Q5-6cyCNPw8tRDb4i4uAaCBRbEKc8MIImO9EA4L-lE6T-nKZfVZNwGsrA9XtnC5kg/s1600/SHELVES+AFTER+LARGE+LIVING+VIEW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Olympic Stormy Weather" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN9p4KQbzaOcG6Fesirn5sc9NdjWEqn5MxgJo1uedEif49tQJw1nPoBoMcebadf-UvG4IAEvzW_6Q5-6cyCNPw8tRDb4i4uAaCBRbEKc8MIImO9EA4L-lE6T-nKZfVZNwGsrA9XtnC5kg/s1600/SHELVES+AFTER+LARGE+LIVING+VIEW.jpg" title="Olympic Stormy Weather" /></a></div>
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And from straight on:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbknyDAhGqpYXypAQaGIZuJuJFenpVgEt4ZW7gKL4xT7Fdjvm3uwXqyg-CQK0zCofd6bagmcNwD85LCOUYpaMy6zu8unTOJa2FqgeuFTrLiEo5rXzoDvL67p8yjWYGz2nKq0TFbjcZ3Ps/s1600/SHELVES+AFTER+small+color+correct.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Dining Room Built Ins" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbknyDAhGqpYXypAQaGIZuJuJFenpVgEt4ZW7gKL4xT7Fdjvm3uwXqyg-CQK0zCofd6bagmcNwD85LCOUYpaMy6zu8unTOJa2FqgeuFTrLiEo5rXzoDvL67p8yjWYGz2nKq0TFbjcZ3Ps/s1600/SHELVES+AFTER+small+color+correct.jpg" title="Dining Room Built Ins" /></a></div>
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Also, you might have noticed the curtains and rod. The rod was just an old piece of conduit we had in the basement. Conan cut it down with a hacksaw, we spray painted it ORB (natch) and hung it with hardware from Lowe's. </div>
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So there you have it, folks! Surprise dining room makeover complete! It really feels like a much more comfortable, cozy room now and we've already used it a lot this holiday season.<br />
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I have a couple more things to do, maybe a rug, hang Conan's paintings instead of just leaning them, and eventually FIND A BUFFET! But, for now it's perfect just the way it is.<br />
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Thanks for reading!<br />
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Keep Smiling</div>
Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-81046812992412756932014-10-29T15:07:00.003-05:002014-11-22T16:51:07.840-06:00Exterior Painting Prep, Guest Room Complete, and ANOTHER Photo Booth<div style="text-align: center;">
Ahoy, hoy internet friends! It's been about a minute (thousands of minutes, actually) since we've graced this blog with our presence. Truth is, we've been BEYOND busy with house-related things and non-house related things. I'll just dive right in because, I feel like, if I draft one more post, blogger is going to send me a letter. Like, </div>
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Dear nice lady,<br />
Please stop clogging the internet tubes with drafts you never intend to publish. It is slowing down the informations.<br />
Your friend, Google McYahoo. </div>
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So, </div>
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I'll start with the non-house related stuff because it's at the top of my mind.</div>
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ALL OF THE TIME. </div>
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We added a photo booth to the fleet. Yup. We just <b><u><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/search/label/lamphouse">can't.stop.putting.photobooths.in.things.</a></u></b></div>
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This one doesn't have wheels, thank the lord! We call it the <b><u><a href="http://www.lamphousephotoco.com/birdie-photobooth">Birdie Booth </a></u></b>and Conan made it with his own two hands! What a guy!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6siZjeZcDEW9pEn3WOLs1v7mdk0vg_KURzJFYC4eVIW2XbTPwfRP-z5IUkFYrUe12jAedKfgTqW9ctQNmRMMXKU8ZSVW-q7LHuSqLhyqrQZ25zspqjlq110Kx7tK-bWfnSQEU15cvZU/s1600/BIRDIE+STAIRS+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Handmade Wood Photo Booth" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy6siZjeZcDEW9pEn3WOLs1v7mdk0vg_KURzJFYC4eVIW2XbTPwfRP-z5IUkFYrUe12jAedKfgTqW9ctQNmRMMXKU8ZSVW-q7LHuSqLhyqrQZ25zspqjlq110Kx7tK-bWfnSQEU15cvZU/s1600/BIRDIE+STAIRS+small.jpg" height="426" title="Birdie Booth Photo Booth" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's basically the same equipment as the <b><u><a href="http://www.lamphousephotoco.com/wagoneer-photobooth">Grand Wagoneer photo booth</a></u></b> but in a MUCH smaller package so we can get in on that sweet, sweet, wedding reception photo booth market here in Wichita. But, the Jeep is still around and speaking of which, I made a lil' video of it in action a few months back: </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="295" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/105615341?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="525"></iframe></center>
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Also, the <b><u><a href="http://www.lamphousephotoco.com/camper-photobooth">little camper photo booth that could</a></u></b> is still kicking, though mostly for promotional stuff and our own private, picture fun times. She did get a new, DIY marquee sign, though. Cute with a capital C, huh? </center>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56WkgrgrFFyrliiDnwR6diMS0Fj2Ie7GxXYkt2W032M8dA0P1qaYI1hGUftX4y-Pkd-kdEC9jbph1CT4GAim5iykF11oubC5G3vUjr1D4yXnB_sZYEJ92bbT-nfuuTIG3BEKiE8WTjQU/s1600/VINTAGE+CAMPER+SIGN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Vintage camper photo booth sign" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj56WkgrgrFFyrliiDnwR6diMS0Fj2Ie7GxXYkt2W032M8dA0P1qaYI1hGUftX4y-Pkd-kdEC9jbph1CT4GAim5iykF11oubC5G3vUjr1D4yXnB_sZYEJ92bbT-nfuuTIG3BEKiE8WTjQU/s1600/VINTAGE+CAMPER+SIGN.jpg" title="Vintage Camper Photo Booth Marquee Sign" /></a></div>
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So, that's why we've been swamped. That and the fact that we FINALLY started renting out the guest room on Airbnb. We currently have a tenant staying with us for a month! Turns out, that's the majority of our requests - long term stays. Go figure! People don't want to stay in Wichita longer than a month. That should be our new city slogan: More than a day, less than a lifetime ~ Wichita!~<br />
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So, if you even remember, here's what the guest room looked like originally:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyCdsdtQpz_qjeIWhJCZ9c-I1bsOtQE5Mb8JXjjxh2e9GSShS75unP532p03rhjRgCia0QSO-E2q6vqLboSo7iU_n-uFelpIRs1bOBVgeHP-AQ5dRceWm8yUz_0sXtTbLK6xMyYg9Frk/s1600/IMG_2242_b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyCdsdtQpz_qjeIWhJCZ9c-I1bsOtQE5Mb8JXjjxh2e9GSShS75unP532p03rhjRgCia0QSO-E2q6vqLboSo7iU_n-uFelpIRs1bOBVgeHP-AQ5dRceWm8yUz_0sXtTbLK6xMyYg9Frk/s1600/IMG_2242_b.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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Lovely.<br />
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Then it got a little better with the addition of the antique bed I fixed up...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvK2YlR2N15YNJvPj5t1BzrEDX77sUg3ZSMZsux7nVQFmIsJ6E-RQ6Xj8J5deom6t2F7tVwamFlrBt3Nzum6UJD12Aj5GRteLVsSGIjYhEyqsuROtGNiW3Q1NL-lIRlsA1WH2bvIp-gg/s1600/guestroom_1020029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Guest Room Antique Bed" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvK2YlR2N15YNJvPj5t1BzrEDX77sUg3ZSMZsux7nVQFmIsJ6E-RQ6Xj8J5deom6t2F7tVwamFlrBt3Nzum6UJD12Aj5GRteLVsSGIjYhEyqsuROtGNiW3Q1NL-lIRlsA1WH2bvIp-gg/s1600/guestroom_1020029.jpg" height="426" title="Guest Room Antique Bed" width="640" /></a></div>
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And finally, here's the ready-to-rent version!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvyZ8fcsdRqL1zorroQ1hxIjEQGqhDpcmBAfGGL1re_mvDDTgWV4fINJ5TOV3ZZ_rN2Of6XLMeuPql9FihS8npWe2u0FjXlFRVGJO1CUXnOVX25ttU4bt6qwO9dJH_NLfSkTLgx6Yb5k/s1600/guest+room+large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Small Guest Room Antique Bed" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvyZ8fcsdRqL1zorroQ1hxIjEQGqhDpcmBAfGGL1re_mvDDTgWV4fINJ5TOV3ZZ_rN2Of6XLMeuPql9FihS8npWe2u0FjXlFRVGJO1CUXnOVX25ttU4bt6qwO9dJH_NLfSkTLgx6Yb5k/s1600/guest+room+large.jpg" height="426" title="Small Guest Room Spruce Up" width="640" /></a></div>
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New rug, new sheets, new bedspread, old everything else.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqy7WPum7QPrNis7gxeEgjACcd3UntMN1I60sAjszESzzrKpivhZ4q6W3zIi8aRWI7q_WG6yfa30WUhO3cN3vMQE2pmsxgDo-WJvxX_AyF99aj1SYqe4tV5fGzMhW1U4J6y0PDkc_1VsU/s1600/guest+bed+tight+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Guest Room Blue Bedding" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqy7WPum7QPrNis7gxeEgjACcd3UntMN1I60sAjszESzzrKpivhZ4q6W3zIi8aRWI7q_WG6yfa30WUhO3cN3vMQE2pmsxgDo-WJvxX_AyF99aj1SYqe4tV5fGzMhW1U4J6y0PDkc_1VsU/s1600/guest+bed+tight+small.jpg" height="640" title="Guest Room Antique Bed Ship Painting" width="448" /></a></div>
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It's quite a bit cozier and comfier now - Conan jokes that it's actually nicer than our master bedroom, which may be true but you know I've got plans for that...</div>
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Speaking of plans. We STILL have plans to paint the exterior of the house in the next year. We actually got a pretty decent start on it thanks to mom and dad of the century, Connie and Dave. Unfortunately, with the Lamphouse stuff and the whole, having someone stay with us for a month, it's taken a backseat. </div>
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Before it got demoted to the bottom of the "to-do list from hell", here's a look at what we accomplished. </div>
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What seems like forever ago, my mom and I managed to scrape a good deal of paint off the porch railings and windows.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGb-SFAkGVd6kYJGwS0-EEYRp6RIiX4LKnbIQFNyjenprkycXM8EvXZSZqPo3uD5xwX57O3SF8hqkQTenEF3j4e0UV3an4tEvhSYKT2qrvDJFBPMe9hNXGffI6-2j8r9t7Tl_kJz2FHQo/s1600/exterior+scraping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Scraping Porch Rail for Exterior Paint" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGb-SFAkGVd6kYJGwS0-EEYRp6RIiX4LKnbIQFNyjenprkycXM8EvXZSZqPo3uD5xwX57O3SF8hqkQTenEF3j4e0UV3an4tEvhSYKT2qrvDJFBPMe9hNXGffI6-2j8r9t7Tl_kJz2FHQo/s1600/exterior+scraping.jpg" height="426" title="Scraping Porch Rail" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4BLXzJRxC0FmWEQLZSf8RuOYF5cIPqZdO4QkINN9f7cZw47TjcTrd4gDlZMEk3CXJMhcX6bWcrV0Tp1jyY1aysS1GgYaWFkF5cIq2XlGp6Hwi0wlwsal7_jsiSQaY5FqIHAAen3EKPI/s1600/window+scraping.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Scraping Exterior Window to Paint" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw4BLXzJRxC0FmWEQLZSf8RuOYF5cIPqZdO4QkINN9f7cZw47TjcTrd4gDlZMEk3CXJMhcX6bWcrV0Tp1jyY1aysS1GgYaWFkF5cIq2XlGp6Hwi0wlwsal7_jsiSQaY5FqIHAAen3EKPI/s1600/window+scraping.jpg" height="426" title="Scraping Exterior Window" width="640" /></a></div>
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The porch isn't actually in awful shape - that's why we started there. But, the paint was practically falling off of the railings and the porch floor so it has to go. My mom touched up the glazing on the windows there (after this picture was taken) and hit the trim with this neat, paint feathering tool that works pretty okay for smoothing out bumpy paint that's not necessarily coming off.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGBYFXuUkFMUm6Oh_biXI8OhBbc3ZdfTwJxmk9qqlRAA_K0EVSc9BSgrled3v3ushETqzMs2f38YXZNz9Bd6cvN49tdnSlEYoMsfEZWBsQU486QLHhQ2aXtS8M5U6vt0z1JA-4zcVZ-k/s1600/soffit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Old House Soffitt Rebuilt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGBYFXuUkFMUm6Oh_biXI8OhBbc3ZdfTwJxmk9qqlRAA_K0EVSc9BSgrled3v3ushETqzMs2f38YXZNz9Bd6cvN49tdnSlEYoMsfEZWBsQU486QLHhQ2aXtS8M5U6vt0z1JA-4zcVZ-k/s1600/soffit.jpg" height="426" title="Old House Soffitt" width="640" /></a></div>
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A BIG project that already makes the house looks a million times better is replacing the fascia board and soffit on the first floor roof. My amazing, awesome, beautiful, perfect parents did all of that pretty much while we were at an event with the Jeep. Man, I know we're lucky but...DANG.<br />
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It's since been primed and the cruddy job the old roofers did on the bit between the fascia and the shingles has been all fixed up.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RDUuHaS9vl98-KPb2UAWVMJE9CHv8U9YDmBqvejS4-Ox3elUJGIfSwOfsCXbNyF-p5kxALtMQ1sAA0Cw_ze6p5OdPFSfUqntK8SxYft_VEgpcRWyDdYSk-7tnn_5Lt7xDmHXvuxd9lc/s1600/soffit+primed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rebuild Old House Soffitt" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RDUuHaS9vl98-KPb2UAWVMJE9CHv8U9YDmBqvejS4-Ox3elUJGIfSwOfsCXbNyF-p5kxALtMQ1sAA0Cw_ze6p5OdPFSfUqntK8SxYft_VEgpcRWyDdYSk-7tnn_5Lt7xDmHXvuxd9lc/s1600/soffit+primed.jpg" height="426" title="Old House Soffitt Rebuilt" width="640" /></a></div>
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It's waiting for me to get off my duff and put some trim paint on it. I'm going to do my best to make use of this unseasonably warm weather and hop up there in the next couple of weeks.<br />
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Until then, and until I have another spare minute (lol, never),<br />
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Keep Smiling!<br />
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Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-62786109787706577692014-07-30T14:53:00.000-05:002014-11-22T16:56:53.524-06:00Radiator Sludge Removal & Floor Repair<div style="text-align: center;">
I mentioned a couple of posts ago about <b><u><i><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2014/06/updating-decorating-guest-room.html">those radiator pipes</a></i></u></b> in the guest room.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoNOgpyhhJlMKEO9ReCRCGYKBL1iiS9F57Lfqq0pvTgpXhHOApLSFwHVe2xUkkP434YuQpAPuR0pKtHezAF4C9r3nyH9x5k0-qheZlwFCOM68JOhWuYzGykuO5APKhaVLjpr-_QiE9Ro/s1600/radiator-pipe.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Old Radiator Pipes Removal" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVoNOgpyhhJlMKEO9ReCRCGYKBL1iiS9F57Lfqq0pvTgpXhHOApLSFwHVe2xUkkP434YuQpAPuR0pKtHezAF4C9r3nyH9x5k0-qheZlwFCOM68JOhWuYzGykuO5APKhaVLjpr-_QiE9Ro/s1600/radiator-pipe.png" height="489" title="Old Radiator Removal" width="640" /></a></div>
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About a foot away from the bed, perfectly hidden behind the curtains, prime toe smashing territory, folks.<br />
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If you've been reading for a long time, you might remember us mentioning the heating ordeal with this house and why we got rid of the radiators in the first place. If not, here's the cliff's notes:<br />
foreclosed property<br />
vacant a couple of years<br />
radiators froze and burst in that time<br />
poor, young dummies buy house, discover lack of heat<br />
love can keep us warm, etc., etc.<br />
no it can't<br />
get central heat installed<br />
start removing some radiators where space is a commodity (i.e. guest bedroom, living room)<br />
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So, yeah! Conan and his dad removed the boiler and the rusting pipes that were accessible from the basement.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8k8WS-Yi9uRP3sf08sY2BrVqr7V0Pln_gY0QXbhM81u6BzKcKvwqxnIDHMkqPJUH-COh-H9y4A5qxdK-DotTj6T799YfmcM0cGWnu0bZBFw_mq1wJwyJtwT1wFoUqSf6gAgPzlPg2a9M/s1600/f20091021v1_f_20090920_L1001135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Radiator Pipes Removal" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8k8WS-Yi9uRP3sf08sY2BrVqr7V0Pln_gY0QXbhM81u6BzKcKvwqxnIDHMkqPJUH-COh-H9y4A5qxdK-DotTj6T799YfmcM0cGWnu0bZBFw_mq1wJwyJtwT1wFoUqSf6gAgPzlPg2a9M/s1600/f20091021v1_f_20090920_L1001135.jpg" title="Old Radiator Pipes Removal" /></a></div>
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Then my mom and I took a few of the radiators (like this one in the living room) apart and removed them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQwPxwPIT6N6hxbxyGRgw7pJQain7MSXFtLr0pXg0IAD-vGxpfjBKAw4r33WBHQs5i03rjEzvWzoGEDUdF14K3hHfAARvxFC8qDF5feI2Jk20S-L2y9Go6R5nBntjPcEnIKCyUACZFls/s1600/V2_IMG_0048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Radiator Removal Tools" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinQwPxwPIT6N6hxbxyGRgw7pJQain7MSXFtLr0pXg0IAD-vGxpfjBKAw4r33WBHQs5i03rjEzvWzoGEDUdF14K3hHfAARvxFC8qDF5feI2Jk20S-L2y9Go6R5nBntjPcEnIKCyUACZFls/s1600/V2_IMG_0048.jpg" title="Remove Old Radiator DIY" /></a></div>
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It wasn't all that difficult to remove but unfortunately, on the second floor where we can't get to them from underneath, there were still these lovely pipes sticking up out of the floor...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSAZpbFNHLbsHF-BFvN-RIOm2Wy6TE8kjAehzPc_hx1FmU1jgWVCqvRpr5wUCBXBdTO6RDvsWgIvBGpcvuRqj3wZB8lgRwy6zaXgjZxWCn3j3T4Dhefzq9RDjZfMfiBYW0OTSRZxDVD0/s1600/radiator-pipe.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Radiator Pipes Removal " border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSAZpbFNHLbsHF-BFvN-RIOm2Wy6TE8kjAehzPc_hx1FmU1jgWVCqvRpr5wUCBXBdTO6RDvsWgIvBGpcvuRqj3wZB8lgRwy6zaXgjZxWCn3j3T4Dhefzq9RDjZfMfiBYW0OTSRZxDVD0/s1600/radiator-pipe.png" height="488" title="Radiator Pipes Removal" width="640" /></a></div>
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and a heavily damaged floor underneath where the radiator had sat.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxo6DChvHZpkI2zZgGcrz1car6g-oGCcWxYxRWdbQvJMx_1zeYuwhPnMfHJCL3DnRb7YjDCGv9SHExAjB9LFrTkwggrHugNSIUfNN8FfA85KCXUW9u_TaLYssx7-t7zXxyBzYwTTTDUk/s1600/floor+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Radiator Floor Stain Repair" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrxo6DChvHZpkI2zZgGcrz1car6g-oGCcWxYxRWdbQvJMx_1zeYuwhPnMfHJCL3DnRb7YjDCGv9SHExAjB9LFrTkwggrHugNSIUfNN8FfA85KCXUW9u_TaLYssx7-t7zXxyBzYwTTTDUk/s1600/floor+before.jpg" height="454" title="Radiator Floor Stain" width="640" /></a></div>
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Well, while I was at work a couple of weekends ago, my handy dad cut them off at the floor and CAREFULLY lowered what was left of the pipe down into the floor! Toe smashers be gone! </div>
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I hit the area with a belt sander (the <b><u><i><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/04/mr-sandman.html">same one we used</a></i></u></b> to re-finish the kitchen floor) and that pretty much took care of the ugly black spot that was there. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGddhlT8Ciz_pNPyxM6ByvLktlb6qgn5o198fMNb1sOMVVewU3CK2K8_jq1NXXyVEyeh5uixn_FMTfeBqEH7IP-v94tPyybOPnGnbMv-5LzwEzbHZpnxwTh60agmgQlx2kOpl-XDgqGAY/s1600/belt+sander.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Floor Stain Repair with Belt Sander" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGddhlT8Ciz_pNPyxM6ByvLktlb6qgn5o198fMNb1sOMVVewU3CK2K8_jq1NXXyVEyeh5uixn_FMTfeBqEH7IP-v94tPyybOPnGnbMv-5LzwEzbHZpnxwTh60agmgQlx2kOpl-XDgqGAY/s1600/belt+sander.jpg" height="436" title="Floor Stain Repair with Belt Sander" width="640" /></a></div>
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I put a single coat of poly-shades on there and um...it wasn't a perfect match color-wise so I hit it with the belt sander one more time and tried just plain polyurethane on the spot at Conan's suggestion.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpys2znp7YIA3G_6spuYlND_kGpV8z63_w5-NRrJSk5S-j6aeqMmA5-fNWyKjHfxGLD4dKRXbDPzFJ-5_owyzBT3YoybgD1PJVqIedjxKOrSUCiBmq9ThWTGZYcFyWNeEj8sZNOFbopY/s1600/floor+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Floor Stain Repair After" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpys2znp7YIA3G_6spuYlND_kGpV8z63_w5-NRrJSk5S-j6aeqMmA5-fNWyKjHfxGLD4dKRXbDPzFJ-5_owyzBT3YoybgD1PJVqIedjxKOrSUCiBmq9ThWTGZYcFyWNeEj8sZNOFbopY/s1600/floor+after.jpg" height="484" title="Floor Stain Repair After" width="640" /></a></div>
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Is it perfect? No. Is it an improvement? Heck yes. I'm glad to know that it's as easy and simple as it was so that I might be inclined to do this in the living room someday and make a better match. It would also be easier to plug the holes since we can do it from the basement underneath.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZXMInDI8m0VgMIgwuARl0H7-sfMflCX1TtAovyf7V7KdVDPrR1YsmGSKN8uYiniZH93XVoEB9LBc1eZL0lFj7A2EksSXWvIqFOpcPoXcwshioYnVALJyYJepnteG162EIreuflnYegg/s1600/floor+after+02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Floor Stain Repair After" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2ZXMInDI8m0VgMIgwuARl0H7-sfMflCX1TtAovyf7V7KdVDPrR1YsmGSKN8uYiniZH93XVoEB9LBc1eZL0lFj7A2EksSXWvIqFOpcPoXcwshioYnVALJyYJepnteG162EIreuflnYegg/s1600/floor+after+02.jpg" height="474" title="Floor Stain Repair After" width="640" /></a></div>
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I had planned on buying a runner to put there anyway to cover up the holes until we can devise some sort of plug/peg solution and after shopping around I found one at <b><u><i><a href="http://www.target.com/p/threshold-floral-wool-area-rug/-/A-15012650#prodSlot=_3_40">Target</a></i></u></b> that spoke to me. Well, Cartwheel spoke to me and it sounded like, "Katherine, this particular rug is 25% off so maybe you like it a lot, yeah?"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaMopF99u76tIIdEKzZ8ATJ_vJy12iINO7h00TIdK9pf0goljXJrCvL66s9vdxmaDB-LUR-vxXx6JKFaJID5K895i0uMWBKfq2ykrzvTZpJL4g3Cnl1AlLMSs7mPWKIH2qBRs025i7Zc/s1600/guest+room+rug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flower Runner Rug" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaMopF99u76tIIdEKzZ8ATJ_vJy12iINO7h00TIdK9pf0goljXJrCvL66s9vdxmaDB-LUR-vxXx6JKFaJID5K895i0uMWBKfq2ykrzvTZpJL4g3Cnl1AlLMSs7mPWKIH2qBRs025i7Zc/s1600/guest+room+rug.jpg" height="546" title="Flower Runner Rug" width="640" /></a></div>
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It really<b><u><i><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=it+ties+the+room+together+man&oq=it+ties+the+room+together+man&aqs=chrome..69i57.2959j0j1&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8"> ties the room together</a></i></u></b>, man.<br />
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So, that worked out pretty well I think. Well enough that I feel comfortable trying it down in the living room.</div>
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As you can see from this photo, I picked out a real, grown-up bedspread. It's kind of a blue-ish gray in person and it looks really nice with the ship painting above the bed.<br />
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Just a few more little things here and there and I'm calling it done. In the meantime, we gave the front porch a good cleaning the other day and my parents may have tracked us down some affordable (i.e. borrowable/free) scaffolding so the exterior of the house might get a little attention before the fall. Our neighbor saw us outside cleaning and said he was going to start painting his house this weekend. My mom asked him how long he thought it would take and he said, "Few days."<br />
A FEW DAYS.<br />
He asked us how long we thought ours would take and we laughed like two crazy people and said,<br />
"A year? Maybe more?"<br />
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Here's to realistic expectations!<br />
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Have a great week, everybody! </div>
Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-40437509664255835842014-07-25T15:58:00.001-05:002014-07-25T15:58:05.676-05:00Yellowstone, There's No Place Like Home<div style="text-align: center;">
The thing I love most about vacation is how much it makes me appreciate coming home. Sure, it's always sad to end a trip but boy, does it feel good to use your own bathroom : ) </div>
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Just the other day, we returned from what we'd affectionately referred to as "the trip of a lifetime" to Yellowstone National Park. So if it seems like I kind of put the projects and the guest room and the blog on hold for a second, it's because my mind was racing with campsite reservations and packing, and my most favorite pastime, making lots and lots of lists. </div>
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If you're planning a trip there yourself or you're just curious what it's like here's a few pictures. </div>
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We drove through Colorado and Wyoming (stayed at our first Airbnb which was really reassuring since we're planning to rent out our guest room on there in the near future) and camped in Canyon campground for four nights.<br />
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It was unreal. I'm sure that's a given but until you've seen it for yourself, there's just no way to imagine it.<br />
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Conan had actually been once, about three years before we got married and although I had seen all of the pictures and heard all of the stories I was not prepared for a) boiling mud or b) the sheer volume of people who are there. </div>
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Now, I'm going to brag a little bit so brace yourself. </div>
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We celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary on this trip (July 18th) and since it's our wood anniversary, Conan made me these amazing magnets! </div>
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Can you even believe that? When I saw them, I called him at work to make sure he didn't just buy them before I went and started telling everyone he made them!<br />
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They're taken from a picture of us last year on our anniversary.<br />
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So cute, so talented, so easy to brag on : ) </div>
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But now, vacation's over and it's back to work on the house and the Lamphouse. Before we left, we had managed to do quite a bit of work on furnishing the guest room so that our friend Lisa could stay in there while she house-sat.<br />
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New linens, new curtains on both windows, toe-smashing radiator pipes gone, two new outlets, pretty new rug, and a Dollar Tree trashcan spray-painted gold (which I will totally do a DIY of later this week, lol).<br />
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I'll post some more pictures once I've gotten everything settled and unpacked. In the meantime, have a great weekend and Keep Smiling!<br />
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Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-4606684845170597192014-07-03T14:26:00.002-05:002014-11-22T16:30:58.198-06:00One Chalkboard Shy of an Elementary School<div style="text-align: center;">
I don't know if you've noticed but I like the chalkboards. I like 'em a lot. </div>
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I painted my fridge with chalkboard paint. </div>
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I have one hanging on your way to the powder room with a lovely little reminder for all of the...ahem...men folk. </div>
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And, as of yesterday, I now have a big ol' five footer in the kitchen! </div>
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I've always thought there should be something on that big, blank wall (preferably a giant, antique cupboard but you know...money) and for $20 this fits the bill perfectly. </div>
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Like I said, in a perfect world there would be a big, wood cupboard there but I haven't found one in my price range (read: $300 or less) yet. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXfbEh0oiKgSizsgtDwUwt8lOetp6ujJhKGk8KjwATxHE_w-Z-7ks3NNq3dUkMSb8M72cDz7XgbfbPrRwnwbEReIeuiMb7YZXkGl7ixWavYkxOqJhV_pHXRxJN6qalviOBSBQ3hxhvXM/s1600/kitchen-chalkboard-tall.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXfbEh0oiKgSizsgtDwUwt8lOetp6ujJhKGk8KjwATxHE_w-Z-7ks3NNq3dUkMSb8M72cDz7XgbfbPrRwnwbEReIeuiMb7YZXkGl7ixWavYkxOqJhV_pHXRxJN6qalviOBSBQ3hxhvXM/s1600/kitchen-chalkboard-tall.png" height="640" width="494" /></a></div>
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Until then, this fills up the space nicely and I really like it - even if my mom thinks it's a bit much. </div>
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Her exact words? *to be read with a southern accent*</div>
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"It's just...you've got a lot of chalkboards." </div>
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Yes mom, yes I do. Thanks for noticing : ) </div>
Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-55076268364230079242014-06-26T09:41:00.000-05:002014-11-22T16:31:37.731-06:00Happy Anniversary, Lamphouse!<div style="text-align: center;">
As you may or may not recall, a couple of years ago (October 2012 to be exact) we had <b><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2013/03/lamphouse-photo-co-update-or-youre.html"><i>this wild idea</i> </a></b>that we were going to buy a camper and turn it into a traveling photography studio and darkroom. </div>
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Well, it wasn't easy but with a LOT of help from my parents, a LOT of trial and error, and a LOT of crying (me : / ) this space...</div>
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became this...<br />
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and on the last Friday of June, one year ago, the <b><u><i><a href="http://www.lamphousephotoco.com/">Lamphouse Photo Co.</a></i></u></b> made its first public appearance! </div>
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This Friday (tomorrow, June 27th), we'll be celebrating our first year with the "Lampy" camper and if you feel so inclined you can come see us at Reverie Coffee Roasters (2611 E. Douglas) from 6-9 PM.<br />
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I'll be in the darkroom but you can hang out with Conan and enjoy the AC for a minute. It's always fun when blog and business worlds collide so please bring your smiling faces down if you have time! </div>
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Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-29847593752435419792014-06-24T10:49:00.000-05:002014-11-22T16:32:02.167-06:00Chalkboard Fridge Update<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASH2P-hEYs4CQX-98fg1k0-bv8VrdVXKfnJvY0OoCo5DS3H7h8YFLDvNlo4kYdIW4dxxSNDsM7qVWINJrvBF47uc3bqhOHqiMVo05E1CVDhim8_9UnAHXDTBz_Bf75apkooXC2KN2-ro/s1600/chalkboard+fridge+title.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgASH2P-hEYs4CQX-98fg1k0-bv8VrdVXKfnJvY0OoCo5DS3H7h8YFLDvNlo4kYdIW4dxxSNDsM7qVWINJrvBF47uc3bqhOHqiMVo05E1CVDhim8_9UnAHXDTBz_Bf75apkooXC2KN2-ro/s1600/chalkboard+fridge+title.jpg" height="640" width="562" /></a></div>
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A couple years back, as part of our <b><u><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/07/accidental-kitchen-remodel-price-tag.html">"Accidental Kitchen Remodel"</a></u></b> I <b><u><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/03/chalkboard-fridge-kitchen-ceiling.html">decided to paint</a></u></b> our old, beige, came-with-the-house fridge with green chalkboard paint. </div>
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So, here's what it looked like all shiny and new and gussied up for pictures in March of 2012:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eMXOj3KHaOY-GLMdh1OIsb5fQ4sQTLMx8UXXpWRkHvW0tZbbfS8di5rW7Iat2uNDNUxb7o8W402WuUTMR1irnJ307IotVugh08RxWC0QXcFSvV0QN2pyEwmvyBALcBmENsldMPIsB0I/s1600/fridge_after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0eMXOj3KHaOY-GLMdh1OIsb5fQ4sQTLMx8UXXpWRkHvW0tZbbfS8di5rW7Iat2uNDNUxb7o8W402WuUTMR1irnJ307IotVugh08RxWC0QXcFSvV0QN2pyEwmvyBALcBmENsldMPIsB0I/s1600/fridge_after.jpg" height="640" width="430" /></a></div>
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Since then, astonishingly (or not, depending on what astonishes you) that has been one of the most heavily trafficked posts on ye olde blog!<br />
Which gives me a feeling that's equal parts gratitude, shame, and regret.<br />
Why? </div>
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Well, that was not the greatest DIY post I've ever done. The camera we had at the time that I had taken pictures of the process with crapped out on us and so there weren't really any pictures of the process. </div>
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Just this sad before shot that didn't even really show the fridge:<br />
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*Man, that was an ugly kitchen!*<br />
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So, the other day when I was making a list of little things that I need to do and I noticed that the fridge needed some attention, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to talk about how this really simple and super cheap ($7) DIY chalkboard fridge has held up over the past two years.<br />
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So, here's what it looks like today:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD83EIKQMoQnqNdUdLdxYiWYc4S8TGACiL-V-ZCdfbeKOmU5UYvCi9xmNqQLyide5N4cYF9NXiquZCT0cPkY57ysKAz2rifkMRdVnwfzsmVujuDIK2W4MBMhZodXWTF3McIWn1YhOjqYM/s1600/full+chalkboard+fridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD83EIKQMoQnqNdUdLdxYiWYc4S8TGACiL-V-ZCdfbeKOmU5UYvCi9xmNqQLyide5N4cYF9NXiquZCT0cPkY57ysKAz2rifkMRdVnwfzsmVujuDIK2W4MBMhZodXWTF3McIWn1YhOjqYM/s1600/full+chalkboard+fridge.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
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Covered in magnets, pictures, and receipts from our <b><u><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2014/06/black-powder-room-before-after.html">bathroom remodel</a></u></b> (lol) but still holding up really well considering how cheaply this was done.<br />
We've had a few people ask us over on <b><u><a href="http://www.houzz.com/pro/kfugit/keep-smiling-home">our Houzz </a></u></b>and a few other places if we are pleased with how it has held up and honestly? Yeah! Really pleased, actually!<br />
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The only wear and tear has been the corners of the doors as you can see in this picture:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuD9T3AO7TLn4t9TS26Ela4if-uUw2btFFudDxfP1ZDLP5HAH-E-wbexMCcFy76fxwUEDNxdEj5ReK3r7wKIZZ9BTvy8hN6UoBkMvKBdRSgTtRVXkaec85sQETELLnGKHU4AX-MDgg-N4/s1600/chalkboard+fridge+chip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuD9T3AO7TLn4t9TS26Ela4if-uUw2btFFudDxfP1ZDLP5HAH-E-wbexMCcFy76fxwUEDNxdEj5ReK3r7wKIZZ9BTvy8hN6UoBkMvKBdRSgTtRVXkaec85sQETELLnGKHU4AX-MDgg-N4/s1600/chalkboard+fridge+chip.jpg" height="487" width="640" /></a></div>
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I don't know if that's where we mostly grab the doors to open them or if that's just where the paint was thinnest.<br />
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Either way, I grabbed the leftover paint that I had from two years ago (still good, after a little stir), a small brush and went to work.<br />
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I put three coats on over the course of a couple of hours. It dries pretty quickly if you don't put it on too thick. Now it looks pretty much the way it did when we first did this DIY!<br />
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So, after 2 years of use, would I recommend that you paint your old fridge with chalkboard paint?<br />
Yes.<br />
I realize that we don't write on it very much but all in all, it has held up exceptionally well.<br />
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A lot of people had misgivings about the chalk dust situation but again, we don't write on it much and even when we do there's not enough dust to make a difference in our already not-spotless house ; )<br />
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Speaking of chalkboards, I got a little something at the thrift store yesterday that I can't wait to share : )<br />
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Oh, and some exciting (to us at least) progress has been made on the Guest Bedroom!<br />
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Until next time,<br />
Keep Smiling!<br />
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Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-4699238863469508182014-06-17T15:47:00.000-05:002014-11-22T16:32:22.794-06:00Updating & Decorating the Guest Room<div style="text-align: center;">
You may remember, a few years ago, <b><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2011/03/guest-room.html">I got a wild hair and decided</a></b> I was going to finally tackle the guest bedroom.<br />
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That basically consisted of re-locating the old dresser that my mom kindly re-finished for me in college, cleaning out all of the old clothes that had been tossed in there during the move...</div>
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<b><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2011/03/guest-room.html">I fixed up an old bed I got at a thrift store</a></b>...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEi9GTnrHbeO-EzWNo1EbhyphenhyphenTWAOG8S-dm1Spd7cPRAKRwD2COo-QNRtasq_byES4XJ471oKEu4mCf30D4IWcSyNZdrORUq5kuWHpWCLTyEEn_2l7jqBOFWRi8aXgqDL1v7-mxX-jHZtE/s1600/IMG_1214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEi9GTnrHbeO-EzWNo1EbhyphenhyphenTWAOG8S-dm1Spd7cPRAKRwD2COo-QNRtasq_byES4XJ471oKEu4mCf30D4IWcSyNZdrORUq5kuWHpWCLTyEEn_2l7jqBOFWRi8aXgqDL1v7-mxX-jHZtE/s1600/IMG_1214.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2011/10/paint-colors.html">and painted the walls</a></b> and closet a pail pink color.<br />
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My parents also <b><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2010/05/random-photos.html">put an outlet</a></b> in this previously OUTLET FREE room (seriously old houses, what the?)<br />
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Then I basically took a couple of pictures, shut the door and forgot about it.<br />
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Now, three years later, I've decided to throw a little bit more love its way.<br />
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Why?<br />
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Well, when we first moved in five years ago, we were mostly just concerned with getting paint on the walls and making the house look like it hadn't been vacant for several years. That resulted in a lot of rooms just getting the very basic treatment and now that I have a spare moment, I figured I should try to make them feel a little more filled out.<br />
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Also, we're going to start renting it out on Airbnb : ) so, there's that. </div>
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So far, here's what I've done and what I'm planning to do: </div>
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I got this small bedside table from a thrift store for $10 the other day. </div>
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It's in need of a little work and a little cleaning up but I really don't want to paint over the lovely, little details. </div>
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I got that little bedside caraffe a few months ago at a D.A.V. thrift store as well. The planter is from the ol' Hobby Lobby clearance aisle ($5) and the coasters are from T.J. Maxx ($3)</div>
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The lamp was actually something that my parents got me in high school when we were decorating my room!</div>
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I might replace it because the light is kind of bright and flourescent-y but only if I find something I love and it's so cheap it's basically free.<br />
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On to the bed frame. I like the metal one and I put a lot of work into fixing it up but I'm having trouble picking out a comforter or duvet cover that goes with it : /<br />
I'd appreciate any links or advice you can throw my way.<br />
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I've been tossing around the idea of replacing it with this wooden one I got last year at a thrift store.<br />
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If you remember, <b><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2013/04/thrifted-camera-cabinet-cool-bed.html">it has this neat engraving on the back</a></b> from the young man who made it in shop class in 1940!</div>
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My reasoning is two-fold. </div>
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Fold one: it's real neat and it's a shame that it just sits in our sunroom</div>
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Fold two: The wood color is pretty and warm and I think it would look nice with these curtains I got the other day...</div>
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They were HALF OFF ($30 for two panels) and they are extra long - 96"! </div>
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I got a couple yards of this pom pom trim with because I really like the colors and I thought it would pick up the pink on the walls a little.<br />
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I'm not sure if I want to get more and use it as a tie back or if I just want to trim a pillow with it.</div>
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Back to the bed for a second - the wood frame has a big split in one of the pieces that holds the mattress so that's one thing that's deterring me from using it. Since we want to get some visitors in this room ASAP, I would really rather just get a nice, new comforter/sheets that look good with the black bed.<br />
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The light fixture in this room is pretty old (maybe original?) and it's cute but I don't know if it's cute enough to not replace. Thoughts?<br />
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There's also the terrible, awful situation with the old radiator pipes : /<br />
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We removed the radiators a few years ago when we were fixing this room up the first time because space was a premium oh, and they also didn't work. Unfortunately, the pipes that are sticking up are real toe bangers and they need to be pulled up, sawed off and dropped back into the floor. This is number one on the list of things to do.<br />
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My mom and I are also going to try and wire another outlet for this room so that we can plug the window unit AC in without having to run an ugly extension cord to the outlet behind the bed.<br />
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I'd also like to find a tall, wooden dresser to put in the corner next to the big window but I'm coming up surprisingly empty on my thrift store trips : (<br />
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So, let's see what's left on the guest room list for now:<br />
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- Remove radiator pipes and plug holes in some fashion<br />
- Add another outlet<br />
- Find comforter/duvet cover that looks good with the bed frame<br />
- Clean up scratches on bedside table<br />
- Find tall, narrow dresser for corner<br />
- Maybe do something about that postage stamp sized painting above the bed?<br />
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I'll let you guys know how things progress!<br />
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Until then,<br />
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Keep Smiling!</div>
Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6078859285288702709.post-80910619990315758512014-06-04T18:19:00.001-05:002016-11-10T16:53:54.160-06:00Exterior Plans & Lamphouse News<!-- Please call pinit.js only once per page -->
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So, in my last post I mentioned that we'd be talking about some exterior projects and some exciting <b><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2013/08/lamphouse-photo-company-is-aliiiiveeee.html">Lamphouse </a></b>developments. </div>
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I'll start with the Lamphouse stuff since it's quick and easy and I'm really excited to share the reason we've been sort of slacking around the house (well, at least blogging about it).<br />
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Ta-da!<br />
We put a digital photobooth in the Grand Wagoneer!<br />
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The <b><a href="http://www.lamphousephotoco.com/camper-rental">Lampy camper</a></b> is still around and we just used it last week to take some fun family portraits but for now, it only goes where its rented since there's such a large amount of labor involved. We decided earlier this year to add a digital photobooth to our fleet that would be a lot easier for us to set-up (and park!) than the camper and would be a lot better suited for large events like weddings and concerts and stuff.<br />
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The photobooth part is actually in the back and you stand behind the tailgate and pose for a few pictures then pick up the prints out of the side window.<br />
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Speaking of the Grand Wagoneer tailgate, Conan took out the old carpet and replaced it with a custom, oak liner. It's BEE-YOU-TEE-FULL you guys. Stunning. </div>
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We've done a couple of little events to test it out and it's super fun and works like a charm. It's no hand-developed portrait but people do really enjoy how quick and simple it is and I can't say that I blame them. </div>
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We even tested it out ourselves and it's pretty darn fun, I must say!</div>
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Alright, back to house business! Let's talk exterior plans for this big old house!</div>
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The exterior of the house hasn't gotten a whole lot of love since we moved in five years ago but that's only because frankly, it scares the living bejeesus out of me/us.<br />
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One of the very first things that had to be done was replacing a <b><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2009/10/we-bought-house.html">rotten soffit</a></b>. My mom and dad built some really "exciting" scaffolding to pull that off. Here's the old pops getting ready to throw a hammer at us for buying a house that was falling apart. Jk, he was holding a paintbrush.<br />
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Next were a few cosmetic changes like planting some flowers and <b><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/07/pre-vacation-cram.html">building a beautiful picket fence</a></b>:<br />
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So, after all of those things and the <b><a href="http://keepsmilinghome.blogspot.com/2012/05/big-time-diy-saving-our-sash-windows.html">odd window re-corded here and there</a></b>, our house isn't in terrible shape on the outside but it's definitely not in the greatest shape either. The list of little things that need to be done (wood replaced here, window re-glazed there) seems so insurmountable that I would just as soon close my eyes the moment I get out of my car and not open them until I'm inside. </div>
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But</div>
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If we're serious about being stewards of this old house we have to take care of <i>all </i>of it, not just the fun, inside, decorate-y parts. </div>
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So about a month ago, I decided that I was going to get serious about putting some paint on the house. Every.single.time I mention starting another interior project, the first thing my dad says is, "What you really need to do is get some paint on this house." Ugh. I wish he wasn't right, but he is. And the only way it's ever going to get done is if I just pick a place and get started. </div>
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I decided a couple of weeks ago that the most logical place to begin would be the front of the house. The siding on the front porch, since it's sheltered, is in pretty good shape and we wouldn't need any scaffolding. The second floor, right above the front porch, is also in decent shape and it wouldn't require scaffolding either. </div>
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So, about the front porch.<br />
Ever since we've moved in, the front steps have been a total mess.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKAqlQSHpbEG6jHh4DOpcbU_10hN5VzK8o6bYhRNG_dcqZz0x9J89QQz9-XmzhM-l_X12QnClMImtp0XlXzX4yBF2SSRcODcyopgc_-aCpw0LvUkLdXNrtRkzrJsMNGZsJOJLLc9J9Bc/s1600/porch+steps+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKAqlQSHpbEG6jHh4DOpcbU_10hN5VzK8o6bYhRNG_dcqZz0x9J89QQz9-XmzhM-l_X12QnClMImtp0XlXzX4yBF2SSRcODcyopgc_-aCpw0LvUkLdXNrtRkzrJsMNGZsJOJLLc9J9Bc/s1600/porch+steps+before.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The paint was coming off,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-cDO_KFRFwBcjfhsmiq5ZjmPhzZVnWE1quC6ZiofHVgZCsl_UGPvBIh5wvFWJi9MEEV7htZR8CAF5Rt8SOoPWNenJGZgQjYhg4dVGm5UYOGhsIXNUgK917lkj8I-8VP0dDtq_D_W9QWI/s1600/riser+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-cDO_KFRFwBcjfhsmiq5ZjmPhzZVnWE1quC6ZiofHVgZCsl_UGPvBIh5wvFWJi9MEEV7htZR8CAF5Rt8SOoPWNenJGZgQjYhg4dVGm5UYOGhsIXNUgK917lkj8I-8VP0dDtq_D_W9QWI/s1600/riser+before.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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pieces of rotten wood were falling off,<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtV-hHZtIQ8baJZtPEStrk-bw_T8DmPXxapetRAYFJ6jCL3VWjZkDH0NuevweKjEZ6H0lGxTMqdVgm8ZbV5K3NU4kof578SRcAzCR9zH1e4aUpChPMc8OI4wpMNv-c7UvFWUs0xzEkbZw/s1600/porch+chunk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="412" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtV-hHZtIQ8baJZtPEStrk-bw_T8DmPXxapetRAYFJ6jCL3VWjZkDH0NuevweKjEZ6H0lGxTMqdVgm8ZbV5K3NU4kof578SRcAzCR9zH1e4aUpChPMc8OI4wpMNv-c7UvFWUs0xzEkbZw/s1600/porch+chunk.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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some of the risers weren't even attached to anything anymore.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl01r9k2ia-pdgBBNGQnPX40egfw0p_qBa9IlqwKC3h6txlUYS8HwxmTI5Cnij6smp2sI1WlmpGQaABaCZqx2MZBCT-bLxfH4FEmFWhI_3ZKXnerYtF3xs4Po5UigYzop3UCT_DyD-Bxw/s1600/riser+before+rail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="450" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl01r9k2ia-pdgBBNGQnPX40egfw0p_qBa9IlqwKC3h6txlUYS8HwxmTI5Cnij6smp2sI1WlmpGQaABaCZqx2MZBCT-bLxfH4FEmFWhI_3ZKXnerYtF3xs4Po5UigYzop3UCT_DyD-Bxw/s1600/riser+before+rail.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Yeah.<br />
Yikes. </div>
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So, over memorial day weekend, Conan and I set out to replace them. We bought new risers and new treads and we were all ready to pull up the old ones, easy peezy, put new ones down and be done with it. </div>
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Then we started taking things apart. Dang. </div>
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The stringers were in really rough shape, too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTwleuHhwxajFPgy8fk3S1vj5RisA5veojigtvxg-bWY2uDglJeGQUgbUrEbTZqKcsuTsgRmlNEvoa_NXzToybKiotuOm7qQGP_WTCOm1A9a8OKaxrRhjMvMMT3cljQRdKppFoih8Rlg/s1600/porch+steps+demo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLTwleuHhwxajFPgy8fk3S1vj5RisA5veojigtvxg-bWY2uDglJeGQUgbUrEbTZqKcsuTsgRmlNEvoa_NXzToybKiotuOm7qQGP_WTCOm1A9a8OKaxrRhjMvMMT3cljQRdKppFoih8Rlg/s1600/porch+steps+demo.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Big chunks of rotten wood were being pulled out with the risers so we decided it would be best to just scrap the whole thing and start fresh.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIqlJBC0XECt2YYPaVNzwzBKogdUFaU4DGouRCvPnbHlByycDMU-ZREYn4WnO1D1RKppqdI6Y1h59spkIlkwM86fd65QyU3kzeolETTKQLnRa3lfWZxnauboLGefl_ehz9vjIvg9udK0/s1600/porch+steps+during.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIqlJBC0XECt2YYPaVNzwzBKogdUFaU4DGouRCvPnbHlByycDMU-ZREYn4WnO1D1RKppqdI6Y1h59spkIlkwM86fd65QyU3kzeolETTKQLnRa3lfWZxnauboLGefl_ehz9vjIvg9udK0/s1600/porch+steps+during.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We bought new stringers then came home and using the old ones as a template, re-built four of them. </div>
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You can see from all of these pictures that the porch decking itself is also in rough shape. But we did a little pricing on that and let's just say neither of us have a kidney to sell on the black market right now so...that's a no.<br />
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We did have to pull up a few pieces, though to replace the very top riser. We scraped the old paint off and put them back where they were.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Dbl9l8qWyhA8mNsxS5-QSaXowfVICYQ5hHyyBFgKShQE5rPzjb3rTyJblvbMXmR97P8d7MbhUSVaKCMHxhLlCGvcuEJn03BEgiJ4H8u6Kp2Iy3DCve5h_ybB-mgj0hQ2ygbVjHkDwFM/s1600/porch+during+measuring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Dbl9l8qWyhA8mNsxS5-QSaXowfVICYQ5hHyyBFgKShQE5rPzjb3rTyJblvbMXmR97P8d7MbhUSVaKCMHxhLlCGvcuEJn03BEgiJ4H8u6Kp2Iy3DCve5h_ybB-mgj0hQ2ygbVjHkDwFM/s1600/porch+during+measuring.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Here's Conan screwing something to something else. Power tools, yeah! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUv9h1I6mdq9mVRiB7EPF0wIv176zWSuOIUyToO4u04K_HuThJ6SbkNssWGr1mgNPU4zJtau_cW1xeDmd_f0FCBcl409UhgNnaRdZqWLJa7VGdfQY3RQOc84RsEjNMWK0UhWDiRaRopc/s1600/building+porch+steps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUv9h1I6mdq9mVRiB7EPF0wIv176zWSuOIUyToO4u04K_HuThJ6SbkNssWGr1mgNPU4zJtau_cW1xeDmd_f0FCBcl409UhgNnaRdZqWLJa7VGdfQY3RQOc84RsEjNMWK0UhWDiRaRopc/s1600/building+porch+steps.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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It was a lot of that. Cut, cut, screw, repeat.<br />
By the end of this (very long) day we were kind of on auto pilot. Our neighbors were having a memorial day party and generously offered some frosty refreshments but I don't have to tell you guys that power tools and pints don't mix. But man, they sounded like they were having a good time!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiWmyJ9uaCIAb0EAZtmxL-INAJMkIcSPnmJSVnGrv5g_S_E0UdOArl6dwAHEY16j6wBMu7sK8VyW_v5CWisNni3P5KHpFI9HWIOSx-RbektG1BPgtF_0D9qp8_4ubM21xPq8G3ovQCKw/s1600/porch+treads+screw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRiWmyJ9uaCIAb0EAZtmxL-INAJMkIcSPnmJSVnGrv5g_S_E0UdOArl6dwAHEY16j6wBMu7sK8VyW_v5CWisNni3P5KHpFI9HWIOSx-RbektG1BPgtF_0D9qp8_4ubM21xPq8G3ovQCKw/s1600/porch+treads+screw.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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When we got to the last tread, about 12 hours after we began this project, I ran inside and got a marker. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XwtLzZ6diCXNSSGQlXY-K91T9m9gWJxEb4_NBwdfrrotMSDxDD_0sgB5QYSD1LcRDkofDl2qoO_glV-XxtmrHCltEychwrA3cjTgwlqHq6QonaUY_CB6LSG3TJidu5xaF2st0fugePw/s1600/signed+porch+steps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3XwtLzZ6diCXNSSGQlXY-K91T9m9gWJxEb4_NBwdfrrotMSDxDD_0sgB5QYSD1LcRDkofDl2qoO_glV-XxtmrHCltEychwrA3cjTgwlqHq6QonaUY_CB6LSG3TJidu5xaF2st0fugePw/s1600/signed+porch+steps.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Fun fact: when my parents were remodeling their old house when I was growing up, I remember my mom insisting on having us all write something on the studs before the walls were put up. I'll always remember that as an integral part of a project and so, every room we've worked on in our house has a little message from us hidden somewhere. The front steps were no exception! </div>
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So, there's the finished product!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPPrPxdSpE2tu5nPkMGLHgY3TXnkW8oPRYfTOZ27nn4lzzerDqbfaqUnwvY0RLIZYhLz_eawarkC0fRTJiwKPOHyzphyphenhyphen5FFxE4Lwcxp5Nr_pu9dwaB_SqO-NnNYvOdd7txv4311IcZCs/s1600/porch+steps+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBPPrPxdSpE2tu5nPkMGLHgY3TXnkW8oPRYfTOZ27nn4lzzerDqbfaqUnwvY0RLIZYhLz_eawarkC0fRTJiwKPOHyzphyphenhyphen5FFxE4Lwcxp5Nr_pu9dwaB_SqO-NnNYvOdd7txv4311IcZCs/s1600/porch+steps+after.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Like I said, the decking is still pretty rough but they are about 1 BILLION times more sturdy and much more worthy of our old house. They really do make things look so much cleaner and nicer and I can't wait to put some paint on them in a month or two. You aren't supposed to paint treated lumber for a little while so that it can dry out so that gives me time to decide on some colors for the front of the house. Here's my inspiration so far: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfh53ZkTXxc_SxaNR4j0Gam4em6wad5Fz4vfQ1VlN4Q-hgh6uqlE2G9Qwr9HdeECBghTr9UUg6Ea5_IZImgyMgDgG_qGJmE7ohG9wgHmyHNGw5M8Kcyr0MsKTOU6MnZ4KZnW4PSKiYv7U/s1600/green+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfh53ZkTXxc_SxaNR4j0Gam4em6wad5Fz4vfQ1VlN4Q-hgh6uqlE2G9Qwr9HdeECBghTr9UUg6Ea5_IZImgyMgDgG_qGJmE7ohG9wgHmyHNGw5M8Kcyr0MsKTOU6MnZ4KZnW4PSKiYv7U/s1600/green+house.jpg" /></a></div>
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I really like the dark green on this house. I've been trying to focus on houses that have columns similar to ours to see how they handled painting them but I don't think I would paint ours two different colors like this. Maybe too much green that way? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrhA1SyboG9MRmgNlru7rUX-ioELwNV3BjcWp1UZ6d3DDacIlLOUjfXgLjhVD6NECoEKBJUkqc-YQofYWFro0y3SsFjHYKHj9PTKZ3VCTQ_-GCsi0tYcc6GUS8QBLJUdIrNjvngFQmf4/s1600/blue+green+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKrhA1SyboG9MRmgNlru7rUX-ioELwNV3BjcWp1UZ6d3DDacIlLOUjfXgLjhVD6NECoEKBJUkqc-YQofYWFro0y3SsFjHYKHj9PTKZ3VCTQ_-GCsi0tYcc6GUS8QBLJUdIrNjvngFQmf4/s1600/blue+green+house.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/daily-bungalow/4219289417/">This one</a></b> is really pretty and I love all of the different colors. I really think that our house needs at least three, maybe four colors since we have some decorative shakes on the third floor and the porch eaves that are kind of similar to the third floor of this house. My only concern is that this house is a little more ornate than ours so there might not be room for all of the different colors that I like so much on our house.</div>
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Speaking of several colors, I passed by this house on my way home from work last week and I just fell in love with the subtle differences in grey and blue.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhge2qnI2LNJg5cBSJReRiMovaLDpbABmq5Spjs2G0CS2S3Z5qMuGuMBURrZ6y7J4P1QfWYgOnQ2S_B8ezOxuqmgu4ul2AdbMLeuyh6Vo-FZl4oKIS1BCyQTFXeDnCJYQo_H0YWWufjJaU/s1600/green+house+paint+colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="587" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhge2qnI2LNJg5cBSJReRiMovaLDpbABmq5Spjs2G0CS2S3Z5qMuGuMBURrZ6y7J4P1QfWYgOnQ2S_B8ezOxuqmgu4ul2AdbMLeuyh6Vo-FZl4oKIS1BCyQTFXeDnCJYQo_H0YWWufjJaU/s1600/green+house+paint+colors.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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This crappy cellphone picture doesn't do it justice but I really think that with a darker contract color maybe on the screen windows, this could be the perfect inspiration. I especially like the different color on the little scalloped shakes.</div>
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Thoughts? As you can see, I'm really leaning toward a green color palate. Funnily enough, we've always known that we were going to paint the house green - it was the inspiration for the name of our old Etsy business, Green House Paper years ago : )<br />
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So, I'll keep you guys abreast of any exterior developments that are made. It's likely to be a slow and arduous process that stretches out over the next several years I expect.<br />
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In the meantime, I've got a couple of little projects on the second floor I'm tinkering with and will share when I get the chance.<br />
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Keep Smiling!</div>
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Katherine Fugithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11659629991872936094noreply@blogger.com4