tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70906392024-03-07T22:37:07.367-05:00Tahanan ni ManangMananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-42667227656359756492007-09-22T23:03:00.001-05:002007-09-23T21:28:23.165-05:00PorchAt the start of spring this year of 2007, our first project was our porch, because that is one of the projects we could do ONLY during these days, and because we wanted to be able to enjoy the breeze on a summer day here, just outside our house.<br /><br /><div><embed src="http://widget-bb.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=lt&il=1&channel=72057594049084859&site=widget-bb.slide.com" style="width:350px;height:262px" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width:350px;text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=lt&ad=0&id=72057594049084859&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-bb.slide.com/p1/72057594049084859/lt_t017_v000_a000_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=lt&ad=0&id=72057594049084859&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-bb.slide.com/p2/72057594049084859/lt_t017_v000_a000_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></div></div><br />I asked hubby if he would want to put the captions in, to which he answered, "yes, but not tonight." <br />So bear with the above...those are my captions.Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-38223239717928730492006-11-10T22:22:00.000-05:002007-09-23T22:34:04.700-05:00Kitchen - What we have accomplished during summer 2006I took short video clips of our kitchen from different angles after working on it the whole summer of 2006. These are short mainly because my digicam's memory card was a small one. (The next videos will have longer ones, promise!). I shot these clips mainly because I was updating an aunt in Texas about our progress. She and her family visited us during early summer.<br /><br />Notice that here we have returned our kitchen appliances where they should be, although the layout is different from how it was prior to working on our kitchen, mainly because of the creation of an island.<br /><br /><embed style="width:300px; height:244px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=3622210667018950048&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed><br /><br /><embed style="width:300px; height:244px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-1694871840870882891&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed><br /><br /><embed style="width:300px; height:244px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=8583094811534145486&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed>Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1162221686566480752006-10-30T10:17:00.000-05:002006-10-31T16:07:57.733-05:00The Master Bedroom used as Temporary Kitchen<embed style="width:300px; height:244px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-576736964859041902&hl=en" flashvars=""> </embed><br /><br />As we got ready in June 2006 for working on the kitchen, we used the master bedroom as the temporary kitchen. We placed the fridge there, used the dresser as countertop, and Gary installed the temporary countertop (which we previously had in our kitchen) with sink on one wall near the bathroom. All other building materials are also stored here -- pile of hardwood flooring, tool boxes, etc. We had this setup for two weeks (Gary could not bear to have the busiest area in our place of rest anymore, so we transferred them back to the kitchen area as soon as we could, though it was still far from finished.)Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1162221156391418922006-10-30T10:07:00.001-05:002006-10-31T16:09:14.940-05:00A Better View of our Living Room as of June 2006<embed style="width: 300px; height: 244px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-7668357754410197901&hl=en" flashvars=""><br /><br /><div id="description"> <span style=""> After we were done with our living room, we now (June 2006) used it as storage area for some kitchen appliances and pantry items while we worked on our kitchen. The rest of the kitchen items were temporarily placed in the master bedroom. Here I also showed the balcony (my office) from below. This is a short clip of how the living room looks at this time. Pardon the children's noise (they seem to make more noise when they know I am taking a video.) and the mess. Hey, what can you expect of an unfinished house with no cupboards and cabinets yet??? </span> </div> <span style=""> <div id="prevnextlinks"> <span style="display: none;" id="prevlinkactive"> <a href="javascript:void%280%29" id="playlistPrev" onclick="setMyPlaylist()"> <b> « </b> Prev</a> </span> <span style="display: inline;" id="prevlinkinactive"> <span id="inactivelink"><br /></span></span></div></span>Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1161273181027465742006-10-19T10:48:00.000-05:002006-10-31T16:09:42.170-05:00Living Room video as of June 2006<embed style="width:300px; height:244px;" id="VideoPlayback" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=3138005032815159442&hl=en"> </embed><br /> <span style="font-size:-1;"> This is a video starting from the entryway into the balcony where my office is located, and opposite that is the future library. The stairs leading to the balcony originates from the kitchen and leads to a landing surrounded by the kids' bedrooms. There is a short hallway from the stairs to the balcony, where my office is located at one side and the future study area (no books/shelves there yet) on the opposite side. When entering the balcony, the triangular windows of the living room are readily seen. The balcony is situated above the living room covering about half of it. Towards the end of the short video, I am showing a view of the living room. Pardon the mess and the seemingly barren LR (we are at this point bereft of shelves, curtain, and all those finishing touches).</span>Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1161264351562096822006-10-19T08:19:00.000-05:002006-10-31T16:10:42.140-05:00Working on our Kitchen Project<table xmlns="http://purl.org/atom/ns#" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td colspan="2"><embed id="VideoPlayback" src="http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-5976574240808591706&hl=en" style="width:300px; height:244px;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"> </embed></td></tr><tr/><tr><td>We have demolished our temporary shelves and countertops in our kitchen and here is how it looks like after the initial step of installing the insulation and plastic sheet, plus some pipes for the water source. As usual, my son wanted to be in the video, so please be patient with him. Later on I will post slides of photos that show the gradual (read: SLOW) changes that we make as we work on our kitchen. We stopped at the tile floors, and we will have to work on the cupboards, cabinets, and ceiling later when we have enough money to finish those.<br /> </td></tr></table>Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1157725287963141982006-09-08T09:21:00.000-05:002006-10-31T16:12:16.856-05:00How we made our archesWe receive many "ahs" and "ohs" from friends and relatives who see our simply elegant arches, so we are sharing here how we made them, in case you also want to add arches to your homes (instead of plain squares dividing one room from the connecting room).<br /><br />Just watch this slide and learn:<br /><br /><embed src="http://widget-f3.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="site=widget-f3.slide.com&channel=72057594041997811&cy=bl" name="flashticker" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" align="middle" height="244" width="400"><img src="http://widget-f3.slide.com/f2/72057594041997811/bl_t005_v000_a000_f00/images/blank.gif" height="0" width="0" /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Disclaimer</span>: We are not professionals. My husband learned how to make this by watching the person he hired when they were building his first house (which got burned in Sep 2002).</span>Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1150137234659326062006-06-12T13:20:00.000-05:002006-06-12T13:49:35.363-05:00Living Room Post # 7<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/640/aug2005%20014.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/aug2005%20014.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />This is now the finished window and walls. The trim is not fancy, as Gary does not have enough skills to come up with a fancy one, (although, IMO, skillful enough to make such a simple yet smooth trim).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/640/aug2005%20018.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/aug2005%20018.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Here Gary starts laying down the hardwood floor. The blue sheet is a thin foam lining to make it soft enough for people to walk on and to add protective feature for fragile items that might accidentally land on it.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/640/aug2005%20037.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/aug2005%20037.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Then he starts to work on the balcony which is where my office would be.<br /><br />He placed tracking lights there, and an arched entryway from the kids' bedrooms area where the stairs are.<br /><br /> <a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a>Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1150135745873271182006-06-12T13:00:00.000-05:002006-06-12T13:09:05.876-05:00Living Room Post #6<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/640/DSCF0034.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: all; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/DSCF0034.jpg" border="0" /></a> <br />Gary is now applying the primer to the walls using a motorized painter which he bough on sale at <a href="http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=svGFvRcK6*Y&offerid=%0A64951.10001162&type=4&subid=0">WalMart</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/640/DSCF0035.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: all; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/DSCF0035.jpg" border="0" /></a> Patrick helped on the lower areas. He realized it was not easy even with the motorized gadget! At least he did not have to carry the container using his shoulder. <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a> Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1150134700385052282006-06-12T12:47:00.000-05:002006-06-12T12:51:40.393-05:00Living Room Post #5<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/640/DSCF0031.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: all; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/DSCF0031.jpg" border="0" /></a> <br />Before we proceeded to painting the walls, Gary did the ceiling here first. Above this is the balcony where I would have my home office. The wall on the right divides the living room and our master bedroom. That wall will be used for what we plan to be our "screen" for DLP projection TV in the future (we hope!).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/640/DSCF0033.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: all; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/DSCF0033.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here, Gary is installing the recessed lightings on that ceiling. We placed three of them. <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a> Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1150133824179974902006-06-12T12:33:00.000-05:002006-06-12T12:37:04.180-05:00Living Room Post #4<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/640/DSCF0029.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: all; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/DSCF0029.jpg" border="0" /></a>Mudding came next. Muds are placed over seams and holes created by the screws. It should be as thin as possible so as not to have problems with drying (may tend to crack if too thick, plus it gets harder to dry).<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/640/DSCF0030.0.jpg"><img style="CLEAR: all; FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/DSCF0030.0.jpg" border="0" /></a> Here Gary is using the power sander, and I do it manually using a sponge sander for the finished touch. <a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a> Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1150133477172385232006-06-12T12:28:00.000-05:002006-06-12T12:40:28.706-05:00Living Room Post #3<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/640/DSCF0014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/DSCF0014.jpg" border="0" /></a> Gary is putting up the sheetrock against the wall here.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/640/DSCF0016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/DSCF0016.1.jpg" border="0" /></a> The sheetrock has finally reached the ceiling!<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/640/DSCF0030.jpg"></a><br />Now we are ready for mudding and sanding. <a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" alt="Posted by Picasa" style="border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" align="middle" border="0" /></a>Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1150133056582300002006-06-12T12:10:00.000-05:002006-06-12T12:32:17.243-05:00Living Room Post #2<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/640/may2005%20053.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/may2005%20053.jpg" border="0" /></a> Gary has installed the ceiling fan here, but we are yet to work on the walls. In this photo, the ceiling is pretty much all done. That staging which we use to reach high places would soon be removed out of the LR once we have worked on the highest hard-to-reach areas.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/640/may2005%20049.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/may2005%20049.jpg" border="0" /></a> Gary finds his table saw and a lot more other power tools very handy!<br /><br />You can see on the background the windows, with walls still bereft of sheetrock.Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1121221808737442192005-07-12T20:56:00.000-05:002005-07-12T21:40:39.516-05:00Living Room Post #1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/1600/may2005%20009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/may2005%20009.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Here is the left side of the living room ceiling as viewed from the landing. Ahead is the right triangle of the upper window.<br /><br />AS you can see, before the pine boards were placed (interlocking like puzzle pieces), there is a layer of green insulation board overlying the plastic sheeting overyling the fiberglass insulation.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/1600/may2005%20042.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/may2005%20042.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Here, Gary had finished putting all the pine boards one by one on both sides, but he still had to tackle with the middle part which is exposed.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/1600/may2005%20050.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/may2005%20050.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />He made pieces of wood from 2x2 boards, shaped them accordingly, and stained them the same color (it was not easy for a non-pro calculating the angle and actually cutting the pieces to fit!). The next thing he did was to line the electrical wiring through these A-shaped boards (support) and box them in.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/1600/may2005%20043.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/may2005%20043.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Here he had covered the gaps, boxed that thing, and made a line for the ceiling fan.<br /><br />It is very warm to the eyes...very homey...<br /><br />I could already imagine lots of things to do in decorating...<br /><br />The next thing we did was to get a ceiling fan from Home Depot. Not much choices but I did not want to get online. It is better to see it in actual prior to purchasing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/1600/may2005%20047.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/may2005%20047.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />This is the box of the ceiling fan that I chose. Big enough for the size of the living room (60 inches diameter), and simply elegant. (No fancy lights that look like <span style="font-style: italic;">baso </span>for me, please!)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/1600/may2005%20048.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/may2005%20048.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />These were the parts ready to be assembled. Of course, that part had to be done by Gary!Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1120319485107394442005-07-02T09:43:00.000-05:002005-07-12T20:55:39.336-05:00Small things done during the cold months<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/1600/DSCF0002b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/DSCF0002b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>During the winter, Gary did little things like installing eletrical outlets. He also made the stairs leading to the second floor of the garage.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/1600/DSCF0006b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/DSCF0006b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> We used the second floor to store things temporarily, like the swing, boxes of clothes, construction materials, etc.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/1600/DSCF0003b1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/320/DSCF0003b1.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>We are dreaming of someday converting it into a "Planetarium" like space where we can watch the skies on a clear night and do some stargazing...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/6682/393/1600/DSCF0006b1.JPG"><br /></a>Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1157506226458125932005-01-13T21:27:00.000-05:002006-09-05T20:30:26.483-05:00A Recap of What We Have Accomplished So Far with Our HouseIt's a new year - 2005. We started working on our house in 2003. Without the money to hire professionals to make the plan, and work on everything from construction (including foundation up to roofing), to electricals and plumbing, as well as the minor construction work like insulation and walling with sheetrock, we try to make do with what skills we have. I myself have no prior knowledge with building, especially a house built in this kind of climate. With my hubby's explanations, I'm beginning to learn the why's (I used to wonder why in foreign movies, the walls were very easily destroyed by hurtling a man's body onto it. Now I know that it is not made of cement and that it is hollow. And now I also know that wood is a better insulation than cement and is less expensive.) I began to understand more about the dynamics of air (hot vs. cold) and water (good thing I have a very good understanding of the basics of fluid and air dynamics from physics lessons from high school to college; if not, I would be gaping at my hubby everytime he explains something).<br /><br />So, before we actually start doing something this year, here's a recap of what we have done so far:<br /><br />All below can be archived from <a href="http://loryscastle.blogspot.com/">first part </a>of Our Tahanan blog.<br /><br /><em>2003<br /><br />april - cleaning the site, water pipe<br /><br />may to june - foundation done<br /><br />june - laid the radiant heating system, cement floors and erected the first wall<br /><br />july - proceeded with the skeleton of the house (walls and joists and rafters)<br /><br />august - finished roofing, added doors and windows</em><br /><br />From this point on, the plan for the interior is pretty much flexible. WE try to arrive at a final plan inside as we get the feel of living in it. We also install electrical wires as we feel necessary. (Well, we usually make it a point to have an outlet every 2 ft along the wall, enough for working with the vacuum cleaner anywhere in the house without needing an extension cord. But we keep in mind not to overload the lines.)<br /><br /><em>september - I and my boys arrived; worked on temporary shower/bathroom/toilet and sink and countertop<br />installed major appliances (washer/dryer, oven, dishwasher, fridge); bought dining set<br />later purchased and installed fiberglass shower/jacuzzi and toilet; phone line activated again; computers set up<br />I worked on fiberglass insulation in preparation for the cold weather<br />Gary started working on the main furnace in a room within the garage.<br />october<br /><br />november- jacuzzi installed<br /><br />december - furnace and chimney in living room installed; chimney<br />stairways made<br /><br />2004<br /><br />january - insulation and plastic sheeting of living room finished<br />- enclosed the washer/dryer in the washroom adjacent to the mud room<br />- started working on the 2nd floor rooms (insulation/plastic sheeting/sheetrockin)<br />- I made temporary shelves in the kitchen<br /><br /></em>From this point on, the details of our incremental work on our house can be viewed on the archives of this blog.<br /><br /><em>april - further work on 2nd floor (mudding/sanding)<br /><br />may - painting the kids' bedrooms; beds made; wirings for power/telephones/computer network installed<br /><br />june - worked on powerline (transferred main line)<br /><br /><br />july - gary transferred his office location to second floor contiguous with Ben's room; worked on garage doors and trims; started on sidings<br /><br />november - finished sidings; made stairs in the garage door to convert second floor into storage room<br /><br /></em>Some friends (both old and new) find it amazing that we are building our house almost without the help of people outside of our family, but believe me, if we had the money, we would hire someone else. Although we would probably not spend more for a larger, more lavish housing. We planned this house so that we have enough space to move and for everything to have its place, without being estranged from each other by mere distance and space. Also, as part of our foresight that in our empty nest stage, we will not have a big empty house to see us through until we reach our sunset. Our master bedroom was located at the first floor in preparation for weak arthritic knees...Hubby and I have long decided to live together forever, here and for eternity and beyond, if there is.<br /><br />On the other hand, building it by ourselves is not so bad...we get satisfaction, we can't blame anyone else if something goes wrong, we learn from our mistakes, and yes...we can rightfully say that this lovenest (which may not be a dreamhouse to other people's standards) is truly one we built with our blood and sweat, and therefore, our hearts will always reside in this house.<br /><br />Plans for this year:<br /><br />work on the living room<br /><br />work on the kitchen<br /><br />I already have an idea of what I would like to do with my kitchen. One thing definite: I will not have granite on my countertop save probably for a small space where it can take the trauma of hot pots and also serve as my kneading area when baking. That is, if we will have the money for it.If not, laminated countertop will suffice.<br /><br />I am practical and I abhor lavish and extravagant practices for the purposes of showing off and maintaining image. That's also probably one reason why I created my blogs. A lot of people show off what they have on the internet, and you can very well see the reasons why they are such show offs---they have the money obviously! My blogs reflect the life of a simple family, one that is probably the average (at least in this area), that despite a frugal lifestyle find happiness that is deep, mainly because of meaningful relationships that are not based on money or economic status, but one that is based on love and a sincere desire to help one another...These blogs are no Cinderella type of story. It's more of reality, but very unlike the so-called reality TV shows which really annoy me.Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1162998782253273642005-01-09T09:06:00.000-05:002006-11-08T10:22:13.486-05:00Garage and Furnace Room<p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/173/949/320/garagefront.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/173/949/320/garagefront.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br></p><br /><br /><p>This is an old photo of the garage which also shows the furnace room already in place. The furnace room was constructed during fall of 2003, in preparation for winter. Its walls are insulated with fiberglass to keep cold air out and maximize the use of the warm air the furnace produces.<br></p><br /><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/173/949/320/furnaceroom%20003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/173/949/320/furnaceroom%20003.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br></p><br /><p>When you enter the furnace room this is what you will see: the furnace (which Gary covers with insulation materials as well), and the oil burner (blue, on the left). The two are connected, with the hot water coursing through the copper pipes. The silver pot-like thing above the furnace is the expansion tank. It has a rubber valve inside, with air on one side and hot water on the other. It serves to "absorb" the fluctuations in volume (since the furnace goes from cold to hot to cold, creating volume expansion/shrinking depending on the temperature). The expansion tank maintains the pressure at 10 psi. Without it, there is the danger of explosion secondary to very high steam pressure if water/air gets too hot.<br></p><br /><br /><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/173/949/320/furnaceroom%20002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/173/949/320/furnaceroom%20002.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br></p><br /><p>This is a better view of the side where the oil furnace is, with its own expansion tank. During the early days we placed our upright freezer inside the furnace room (I asked hubby if it would not do harm that the freezer is placed in the hot furnce room. He said the freezing cold air in the garage would do more damage.) Those circuit boxes behind the expansion tank are relays getting signals from the low-voltage thermostat to the high-voltage furnace. (I'm not sure if I got it right...that's what I got from hubby's explanation...haha!).</p>Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1100110793951776892004-11-10T13:19:00.000-05:002004-11-10T13:28:13.240-05:00Sidings All Done!Gary has finished the siding all around the house (hooray!). He worked hard for the past months (starting first week of August), often working late at nights when he comes home and also during weekends. Here is a view from the front. The narrow beam of wood showing is where the future porch roof will be attached. Then at the cove between the living room and the kitchen will soon stand the sunroom.
<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/1024/100_0891.jpg"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff 2px solid; MARGIN: 2px; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 2px solid" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/400/100_0891.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />And here is how we plan for the front of our house to look like in the future...(Gary used the Punch Pro software to design our house)
<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/1024/houseplan10.jpg"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff 2px solid; MARGIN: 2px; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 2px solid" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/400/houseplan10.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />And this is how it appears from the back...
<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/1024/100_0888.jpg"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff 2px solid; MARGIN: 2px; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 2px solid" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/400/100_0888.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />This is how we want the back to look like in the future... <a href="http://www.hello.com/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: none transparent scroll repeat 0% 0%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px" alt="Posted by Hello" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbh.gif" align="absMiddle" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/1024/houseplan9.jpg"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff 2px solid; MARGIN: 2px; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff 2px solid; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff 2px solid" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/400/houseplan9.jpg" border="0" /></a>
<br />The porch, sunroom and deck will all have to wait as our budget will permit. Meantime, Gary is planning to work on the interior next, especially that the weather has gone icy cold outside. We are so delighted to have finished the siding, as cutting the vinyl in a very cold day is quite hard. The coldness turns it brittle. Besides that, working at a height on an icy cold windy day is no fun at all. And I was so relieved that finally, the worst working-with-heights project is finally over. Though the ceiling in the living room is quite high, too, it is far less scary and the height is shorter than with any of the heights from the gable ends' exterior down to the ground.
<br />Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1098576309019884972004-10-23T19:05:00.000-05:002004-10-23T19:05:09.020-05:00Tadah! Before night was over, Gary has finished that biggest gable end of the house. I am sooooo proud of my husband! <a href='http://www.hello.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbh.gif' alt='Posted by Hello' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a><br /><a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/1024/oct23%20084.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #FFFFFF; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/400/oct23%20084.jpg'></a>Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1098576207640844992004-10-23T19:03:00.000-05:002004-10-23T19:03:27.640-05:00The window on the 2nd floor was hoisted up there using a rope. Gary used the top rung of the ladder as "pulley" around which the rope went, one end tied up to and pulling up the window, which Gary held as he went up the ladder, and the other end Dad and I pulled down synchronuously as Gary lifted up the window. Then Gary continued working on the siding and the soffits. <a href='http://www.hello.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbh.gif' alt='Posted by Hello' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a><br /><a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/1024/oct23%20083.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #FFFFFF; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/400/oct23%20083.jpg'></a>Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1098575922829074612004-10-23T18:58:00.000-05:002004-10-23T18:58:42.830-05:00Gary continued upwards... <a href='http://www.hello.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbh.gif' alt='Posted by Hello' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a><br /><a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/1024/oct23%20030.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #FFFFFF; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/400/oct23%20030.jpg'></a>Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1098207680453605732004-10-19T12:41:00.000-05:002004-10-19T12:41:20.453-05:00Then after fixing the chimney back he also made a door there beside the window, then installed the corresponding fixtures (he ripped the shack's door off to transfer here), then started putting the sidings up. These were done last weekend. That night Mom and Dad dropped by just in time for Dad to help Gary lift the window up the staging to be installed on the second floor. <a href='http://www.hello.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbh.gif' alt='Posted by Hello' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a><br /><a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/1024/oct15%20023.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #FFFFFF; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/400/oct15%20023.jpg'></a>Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1098207429662839782004-10-19T12:37:00.000-05:002004-10-19T12:37:09.663-05:00After finishing the cul de sac in two days of the weekend prior to the last, Gary started with the highest and most difficult wall behind the garage. Here he is putting the chimney bib in place first. He had to dismantle the chimney prior to that. <a href='http://www.hello.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbh.gif' alt='Posted by Hello' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a><br /><a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/1024/oct11%20070.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #FFFFFF; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/400/oct11%20070.jpg'></a>Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1098207297999902812004-10-19T12:34:00.000-05:002004-10-19T12:34:58.000-05:00Then continued putting the vinyl sidings in place... <a href='http://www.hello.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbh.gif' alt='Posted by Hello' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a><br /><a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/1024/oct5%20002.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #FFFFFF; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/400/oct5%20002.jpg'></a>Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7090639.post-1098207112075223282004-10-19T12:31:00.000-05:002004-10-19T12:31:52.076-05:00Gary has just placed the flashing at the cul de sac behind the washroom, as part of the prep for putting the sidings. <a href='http://www.hello.com/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbh.gif' alt='Posted by Hello' border='0' style='border:0px;padding:0px;background:transparent;' align='absmiddle'></a><br /><a href='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/1024/oct5%20001.jpg'><img border='0' style='border:2px solid #FFFFFF; margin:2px' src='http://photos1.blogger.com/img/205/945/400/oct5%20001.jpg'></a>Mananghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01624312516837924706noreply@blogger.com0