The Chalkboard
Polyurethane Finish
Day #210
Sunday, March 21, 2021 – Because we are going back home this evening and won’t be here in the fumes, we started applying a polyurethane finish to the kitchen ceiling and flooring. I’ve been using MinWax products for years and find them to give a high quality finish.
I finished half the ceiling over top of the new kitchen flooring…. Rob had already stained the new kitchen floor back in the begining of February.
Then we removed the tarp covering the floor and put a coat on that. The only bad thing about a polyurethane finish is the fumes that it emits while it dries. We won’t be staying the night.
After we got everything cleaned up and put away we left the cottage and went to Wingman Brew N Cue for dinner. I had the fish tacos with fries. It was nice enough to sit on the outside deck.
The parting shot of the weekend is brought to you by the Juniata River. River life is awesome!
Kitchen Cabinet Shipment
Day #209
Saturday, March 20, 2021 – Spring begins today and we received another shipment of kitchen cabinets from the Lewistown Lowe’s. All is well.
Our first shipment of kitchen cabinets was back in February.
Rob continued to prep and paint the interior paneling.
Funny thing, I found an Aladdin toy in the parking lot at Lowe’s. Of course I took it to add to my collection.
Pantry Closet Paneling
Day #208
Sunday, March 14, 2921 – This morning I framed up the pantry closet door header. After the header framing I finished up the exterior pantry closet paneling.
Next I framed the drop header at the beam. This drop header framing will carry the paneling that will cover the breakfast bar light fixture boxes. With the paneling completed we are ready for the “Worm” wood trim across the bottom of the beam.
Last but not least I plugged up the old kitchen sink drain hole that passes through the floor.
On the way home this evening as we got closer to Dillsburg we learned that there was a large forest fire on South Mountain above our development. Sure enough as we got closer we could smell the smoke and eventually see the smoke and the fire. We had to take County Line Road back to the house.
Chokey Trim
Day #207
Saturday, March 13, 2021 – Up at 6:14 AM this morning. We are heading to the cottage for the weekend. Going to finish the last kitchen window, and trim out the Chokey and the Pantry.
We took two vehicles because I have too much stuff jammed into the truck. I don’t have room for the suitcases.
On the way we stopped at Sheetz at the Mifflintown exit to use the bathroom and get a coffee refill. After that we went straight to the cottage.
At the Cot-Taj-Mahal we got the heaters on right away. Rob worked on getting the walls ready for paint. I worked on the Chokey trim, the last Kitchen window and the Pantry Closet.
Later in the afternoon, we decided to go Boulevard Barbeque for wings, and side salads. This is the first that we have been out in quite a long time. Rob has her COVID vaccinations and I have one of mine. I’m ten days into the immunization response so I feel okay going out to dinner.
We had a good day. I got the Chokey trim and the last kitchen window done. Tomorrow I will trim out the Pantry closet.
This s the first overnight stay at the cottage in 2021! Yeah!
Kitchen Window Trim
Day #206
March 6, 2021 – Today we did a one day down and back to the cottage. I installed some of the kitchen window trim and then we hightailed it back home.
First stop was the Sheetz in Mifflintown for a Schmagel. Next up was the Lewistown Lowes’s for pre-finished MDF boards for the extension jambs, some primed molding, a box of exterior screws and four 2×4’s.
At the cottage. I got started right away. Turned on the heaters, set up my cutting station and started trimming out the kitchen windows. It wasn’t as pretty as I’d like it to be but with a 70 year old structure made of rough cut oak, what can I expect.
I got three windows trimmed out before cleaning up. This leaves one kitchen window to trim out. It was close to 6:00 PM before we finally left. When we got to the gate at the end of the lane the sun was setting behind the mountain above the cottage. It was really beautiful!
Cement Backer Board Backsplash
Day #205
February 28, 2021 – Today I’m installing 1/4″ cement backer board above the base cabinets in the new kitchen. We will have a ceramic tile backsplash above the countertop and the cement backer board is a good choice for this installation. I am using a Hardie Backer Board product.
The installation proceeds from the left to the right in the kitchen.
Robrandi follows me up with the shop vac. Gotta keep’er clean!
I didn’t want to stay late today but the Hardy Backer Board installation went pretty slow. I had problems with the last pieces at the coffee nook. I finally got it re-cut and installed. We left the cottage around 4:45 PM. At the end of the day we were ready for the backsplash.
Typical winter situation in the backyard. Dreary and flooded…!
Kitchen Paneling Continued
Day #204
February 27, 2021 – Stopped at Sheetz in Duncannon for a hot coffee on the drive to the cottage. Today’s plan is to continue the kitchen paneling installation. Really, the only wall that needs to be covered is the end wall. It should be pretty easy to complete.
I continued the paneling installation on the left side of the kitchen end wall next to the window and I moved right towards the refrigerator space.
It’s pretty crowded in the kitchen. Two ladders, a bunch of base cabinets, tools, shop vac, materials and compressor hoses. Yikes!
Again, I left off the paneling above the base cabinets to allow for the installation of a ceramic tile backsplash. The paneling behind the refrigerator went all the way to the floor. There will be no ceramic tile in this area.
As the kitchen paneling continued Robrandi came back through and patched the nail holes getting ready for the final coat of paint.
At the end of the day I had the paneling installed on the end wall of the kitchen. Hoo raw! This pretty much finishes up the shiplap paneling in the kitchen. We cleaned everything up to take these photographs. I can’t wait to cook something in the room.
Tomorrow my plan is the begin the installation of 1/4″ Hardie Backer Board in the space above the base cabinets. Lowe’s in Lewistown has a good stock of this backerboard so I don’t have to run all over the state to find it.
Kitchen Paneling Continued…..done!
Barn Siding Installation Continued
Day #203
February 24, 2021 – I made a trip to Lowe’s in Mechanicsburg to pick up a load of pine barn siding and Shiplap paneling and then it was off to the cottage. Today I will continue the barn siding installation in the kitchen. I hope to complete this ceiling work today.
When I got to the cottage I saw a strange set of prints in the snow. I don’t know if it was a rabbit or what. I made a mental note to see if I could figure it out later.
To complete the barn siding on the ceiling in the kitchen I had to first relocate the temporary electric wires. I cut them loose from the ceiling joists and re-attached them to the top of the pantry and utility closet (Chokey). I bridged this space with a piece of furring strip.
With the electrical wires re-located the barn siding installation continued and I quickly reached the peak of the ceiling.
Here are a couple photographs of the completed barn siding installation at the kitchen ceiling. I will install a center beam to cover and finish off the openings at the peak. We are going to purchase some reclaimed “Worm Wood” for this beam.
The cottage and the river are beautiful in the winter especially with a nice covering of snow.
Later in the afternoon I walked down to the Boob Tree to see how Karen, With the Good Arm was making out. She was all snug in her Boob Tree cavity just like we left her. I hope she keeps a good eye open for high water in the Spring.
Kitchen Paneling Installation
Day #202
February 20,2021 – Just down to the cottage for the day. It’s still cold and snow covered. I worked in the kitchen on the white shiplap paneling installation. I reported before that the paneling we are using is by Murdesign. It is their Shiplap/Orleans style. Like all the materials during the pandemic, I had to go to two or three different stores to get what I needed.
I set up my saw horses in the center of the kitchen and proceeded with the paneling installation clockwise around the room. The gable end above the future breakfast counter is complete.
Between each panel cut I fired up the shop vac to try and keep the sawdust to a minimum.
The kitchen panel installation went pretty smoothly. Above the base cabinets I left out the paneling. This area will be covered with Durock Cement Board or Hardie Backer Board in preparation for a ceramic tile backsplash.
I paneled the outside of the pantry and part of the utility closet (Chokey). The electric panel / service will be relocated out of the pantry in the future. I will install paneling and shelving inside the pantry and then a Bi-Fold door to finish off.
At the end of the day I cleaned up the kitchen paneling debris and set the cabinets back in place. Once again, it looks awesome! The end wall in the kitchen looks naked but it too will be covered with the same white shiplap paneling.
Kitchen Cabinets – First Delivery
Day #201
February 14, 2021 – Sometime between yesterday afternoon and this morning I got a message from Lowe’s advising me that they had received the first delivery of our kitchen cabinets. So, I packed up and headed back to Lewistown to pick them up and take them to the cottage.
When I got to the Lewistown Lowe’s they had eight (8) cabinets. I was concerned that I would have to make more than one trip but surprisingly, I got them all loaded in. One trip, how about that.
The ground at the cottage was still covered with snow and it was cold. I got all the kitchen cabinets inside the cottage and unboxed. One of the cabinet backs was broken and had to be returned. None of the cabinets have mounting rails. These are Lowe’s Diamond Brand Cabinets. We were going for “inexpensive” but these are very cheaply made. I can only hope that once they are in place that they hold up.
This is the general location of the first of the cabinets. The kitchen is going to be awesome. It’s exciting to see how this renovation is coming together. There is still a shit ton of work to do but we will get er done. This has been a good Valentine’s Day.
