We are getting closer on the basement remodel.   Framing is done.  Next is sewer line for toilet and water lines for sinks and toilet and drain for sinks being done by a plumber.   Then electrical and insulation which we are doing ourselves.  And then drywall we are having done.  

After 36yrs we have AC.

 Even though it is December we won't reap the benefits of the AC until our first warm day.  The heat pump (mini-split) will keep our upstairs warm and we can get rid of all our space heaters.

The idea is that we have a AC until for our forced air furnace on the main floor and a heat pump for AC in our upstairs dedicated to our bedroom and library.

We got new flooring Upstairs

 We replaced the 20+yr old carpet upstairs with hardwood flooring.  We replaced the carpet on the stairs with new carpeting.  It was a HUGE effort to take all the furniture out of the rooms and empty all the bookcases.  We crammed it all into our spare downstairs room.  Now we have to put it all back.  Going to purge a lot of old stuff in the process.

Changes in 2025-26

 We have lived in this home since 1989 (36yrs).  We have been talking about retirement and thoughts about moving.   We are not sure what we are doing but what we did decide is to take some of the equity we have built up and spend it on making the next 6+ years more enjoyable before we decide what we are doing next.  

We sat down and made a list of the things we want to do and created a budget and did a mortgage refinance and debt consolidation and cash out.  

• Basement half bathroom 
• Basement Finish (drywall, lighting, painting)
• Tankless Water heater  
• Screened in back deck with french doors
• Wood flooring upstairs with carpet stairs
• New Garage Door Openers
• New Kitchen stainless steel appliances Fridge/Stove/Dishwasher
• New Living room and Dining Windows
• Air conditioning (main floor and upstairs)
• Retile Bathroom Floor upstairs
• Fix shop and patio gutters
• Electrical Panel Upgrade for AC and plumbing grounding
• Replace Kitchen Sink with stainless steel
• New used Car
• New used Truck
• UK travel
• New computer
• reupholster couches
• Chris office bookshelf door

We are going to use this blog to document these changes as they happen.  Looking forward to many posts in the next 6 months.

Replumbing with PEX

As part of our basement remodel and adding a half bathroom and tankless water heater we have removed most of the metal pipe in the basement and replaced it with PEX.  We need to get the plumbing up into the joists in the basement so we can drywall the ceiling.  

Tankless Water Heater

 After 36 years of  having a gas water heater tank we have upgraded to a 199K BTU Tankless Water heater.  We decided to get a condensing tankless so we could use 2" PVC venting and have a more efficient and higher output version.  Looking forward to unlimited hot water for baths.

New Sink

 After 20 years we upgraded our old kitchen sink.   The original sink was an enamel cast iron 2 bowl sink.  The new one is stainless steal single bowl with 1 drain.   

We got new cars

A lot of changes are coming in the next 6 months.  After over 20 years we are finally making some changes.    The first is that we upgraded or 2005 Honda CR-V EX to a 2024 Honda CR-V EX and our 2000 Ford Ranger to a 2018 Ford F150 Extended Cab with a rack.   The truck is going to have custom plates that say DG RIG.  

Rear cameras,  power windows and locks on the truck.  All kinds of fancy features we haven't had.  

Chapel finally up

 

I call this one penitent

I needed to make a prop to mud at a local Northwest Haunters Association monster mud class that I would be attending the following week.

So out of the blue came this idea.  How about a praying skeleton prop.

Let me start by saying this is not our best work and I really did throw this together at the last minute.  When I make it again, I will pay a lot more attention to detail and NOT use that crappy skeleton!

Started by making a pedestal base out of scrap foam.  It is a simple four-sided column with the top cut at an angle and a piece placed on top.  This will accommodate a skeleton kneeling in prayer.

Next, I took a skeleton I had laying around from Halloween closeouts that was intended as a door prize for our annual Halloween Party.

I then bent and posed him the best I could (never using this type of skeleton in a prop again!)

I used gaffer tape to hold him in place on the pedestal.

In order to have him stay attached I used gaffers taped to make a dam around the joints so that I can fill them with A-B/two-part expanding foam to hold it in place.

In order to keep his legs straight, I had to use an extra piece of foam that still had a covering on it to prop the legs straight while I poured the foam.

 Then husband helped me Dremel out the overflowing foam.

Leaving just enough to hold the skeleton to the foam base.

I used a little on his fingers to hold them in a praying position.

 To keep the skeleton upright (the bending legs caused it to fall over) husband cut me some metal rods and I used a little gorilla glue to glue them.  We used the holes that were already in the skeleton to place the rods.

Then I decided he needed a book.  So I took a small piece of thin 1 1/2 scrap foam and glued it to a piece of 2-inch foam to create the bones of the book.

Then I marked out the areas on the foam that I wanted to remove. 

I used a Hot Wire Foam Factory tool to shape it accordingly.  Then I hand sanded it out to shape.  

I fit it on the prop to see how it would look.

 I used some gorilla glue and sandbag to glue it down in place.

Then I fitted the sheet over it to get it ready for the upcoming monster mud class.

You can watch how the class went in this great video from Northwest Haunters Association. 
Thanks to Becky Newman for hosting the class and to everyone in the association who made this event happen.

I will post finished pictures when it is painted and ready to go.  This prop is for sale, let me know if you want one.  $150 - I can make more of them if you want to custom order.

Cutting foundation for chapel