Looking through the bent-back tulips…
Oliver’s Bungalow Blog
Framed
We got a visit from the screen and storm window fairy today. Bill called earlier this week to tell me that he is nearly finished with the frames. He’s brought them to the house , fit them in the windows, and made adjustments. One of these days mom and I will stain them, and return the frames to Bill and he will install the glass and screens. These are unique because they will be made to fit inside the small, square windows. A few screens came with the house, most of which I have put to good use, that Bill has used as a prototype for screens for the rest, and interior storms for all the small, square windows.
I also talked to Jack yesterday. He put a new piece of veneer on the future front door, but it didn’t look good, and Jack was not satisfied with it. Then he got sidetracked with another project (that probably pays better), but he said he will start on my doors again as soon as the other job is done. He expects that will be sometime in the middle of next week. Cool.
This timing isn’t too bad because Jack has to mix stain to match, both for the old wood on the front door, and for the new pine on the screen door/storm door. Hmmm… didn’t we just get something else made of new pine? That’s right! The new screen and storm frames from Bill.
Luckily I was not my usual flaky self when I was on the phone with Jack. I told him all about the frames Bill was going to bring today, and that we intend to stain them. So I asked Jack if he would make us a jar of whatever stain he blends for the storm door/screen door, so mom and I can spare ourselves the tedious process of matching stain. Yea!
Diggy-dog and the purple-leaf plum
I brought home a 7′ Thundercloud Purple-Leaf Plum tree today. I’m always impressed at how much I can fit in the Golf.
We selected a spot… 
Oliver supervised the dig… 
and inspected the soil quality…
and was surprised to find a layer of gravel about a foot down.
I forgot to take a picture of the tree in place before it got dark, so, maybe tomorrow?
Time Of The [re]Turning
Okay, we are back. It has been a rough winter, but spring is finally here. I have been fighting the winter doldrums since November, and it finally got the better of me. But with the sunshine and the temperatures warming, I’m feeling more normal every day.
There hasn’t been much to report on the house, Jack did come and collect the front door, and the new screen door/storm door, but I know he is busy, so I don’t know what stage they are at right now. I hope to have the new doors in place in time to enjoy the screen door this spring. We’ll see.
Last week we pulled that ugly shrub in front of the porch. I’m so glad to see it go. The new grass is beginning to make an appearance, and I’m planning what type of small, ornamental tree I would like in that spot.
I’ve always loved purple-leaf plum trees, but I’m hesitant because of the plum-pox virus. Although it has now been almost completely lifted for almost the whole original quarantine area in South-Central Pennsylvania, and it was never actually restricted in my township, I’m still not sure it is responsible of me to plant one. So, I’m not sure what else to plant.
It is a tough spot, right between the porch and the sidewalk. I don’t want the roots to interfere with the foundation of the house, or to cause the sidewalk to buckle. I don’t want something that is going to drop fruit on the porch or sidewalk, making stains. Or worse, having berries the birds will eat, then drop their berry-colored poop all over my car. Also, I have to keep it to a short tree because of powerlines that run right above the sidewalk, parallel to the house. But I want something to shade the front porch a bit. And I want something with dark purple foliage, to contrast nicely with the green siding. What else fits that bill?
Front Door Project: the Abrasive Story
Mom and I worked on the door a bit more the other day because the weather was nice. After an application of chemical stripper, much patient, diligent scrubbing with stiff bristled brushes (mom) and whining, stomping, and a hasty once-over scrub (me), I declared we were done with the stripper. I’ve had enough of this project. Remind me to thank my grandfather for thinning his paint and applying it in so many tissue thin layers.
We pulled out the big guns.
Now we were finally seeing some results. I started with 60 grit on the orbital sander, then moved to 100 grit. Mom played around with her new 3D sander, which has three small rotating discs that flex; nice if you are working on something curved. Think men’s electric razor. I guess I should have snapped a picture of it in action, but we were both tired by then.
The sanders made pretty quick work of those last two stubborn layers. Makes me wonder if we shouldn’t have broken out the sanders earlier in the game. 
We flipped the door and gave the other side a quick wipe down with the denatured alcohol. For some reason I had it in my head that there was shellac on this side, not sure why. Turns out that’s not the case, so all the denatured alcohol did was take off the top layer of dirt. I’ll let Jack worry about what to do here.
Speaking of Jack, we expect him to pay us a visit any day now. He’ll come and pick up the “new” front door, and the shiny new storm/screen door. Jack will take them back to his workshop, do his magic and when he returns them they’ll both match in color and both look shiny new. I’m not sure exactly how he’ll get the stained side to match, or anything about his process, but quite frankly at this point I don’t care, just so long as someone else takes this project off my hands. Mom and I have done as much as we have the skills and patience for. Now it is up to Jack. I’m sure I won’t feel as surly about the front door by the time it is returned to us, so maybe I’ll ask Jack about his process. Then I can share that part of the saga with all of you.
p.s. for my friends and family who only read my blog to see pictures of Oliver, sorry to disappoint today, but chemicals, power tools, and puppies don’t mix.
Green Bungalow Craftworks 