Of Floors and Porches!

We have… if not floors… at least some floor joists! Seeing the progress is so exciting. And the addition area looks ENORMOUS when it’s like this! I guess that’s not a bad thing, right?

I hadn’t even planned on it, but I couldn’t help but take a few minutes to work in some Scripture blessings on the floor joists:

I wonder if Daniel Black knew this verse from Proverbs 24. When he came to this land, he worked the pasture and built his barn first (1852), then built the house (1853).

We have started working on the back porch – mostly removing the screen and cleaning up a bit. I think this should be called our 7th room since it’s going to be quite the labor of love. Emphasis on labor. Lots of work to do here. But when it’s done… it’ll be awesome!

Some before pics of the porch – so we can remind ourselves later how far we came with it! 🙂

We covet your prayers! Thanks, Friends! <3<3<3

Scenes From Under the House

Hey Friends! If you are not still completely fascinated by the field rocks that are holding our house up, then forgive this post as just one more we want to document for posterity! I just love these pics of our 1853 foundation:

The occasional tree stump wedged under the house truly does crack me up!

In other news… the concrete has been poured and marked off for the addition. It’s a big mess, but that’s not new to us – it’s progress!!

Hopefully this fabulous weather will yield lots of great work this week. More later!

Waitin’ on Nate!

It’s so much fun to see big things happening at Coaling. The contractors worked today to get the house sealed up before Tropical Storm Nate got here. I know these pics make it seem like there’s just a big mess out there, but it looks like nothing but progress to us!

Back porch/addition area yesterday:

These support beams are single, 15′ pieces. Impressive.

Anybody need a dish?

Eric found this on the back of a door hinge – Sweden??

The foundation stones have been my favorite things to uncover about this house. Daniel Black must have taken these out of the pasture and built his home on them. Under the whole house are stacks of these rocks. Some stacks have been propped up with concrete over time, but the whole house has been sitting on piles of rocks… for the last 164 years!

And every so often, there’s a tree stump.

More foundation rocks:

Scenes from around the construction site…

How about these rough hewn beams from under the house?? I’m seeing a pretty cool mantle in my future!

Check this out! These tin roof pieces are stamped by US Steel and TCI – the Tennessee Coal & Iron Company. These two companies merged in 1907 and had production facilities in the Birmingham area. Home grown tin roof, right here!

Nails, circa 1850s:

And… we are ready for Nate, but praying he is kind to us and the good folks of the Southeast. Prayers for all who are in his path. May God protect us.

CONSTRUCTION!

Big things have started at Casablanca in Coaling! Mostly just demo, but hey, we are thrilled about it! The first task is to tear off what was once an old porch on the back of the house. Years ago this porch was enclosed to make the only bathroom, a laundry room and a closet. Now it’s on the way (after an expansion) to being two bathrooms, a laundry room, a closet and a master bedroom. Can’t wait to see how this fills out!

Before:

Yesterday:

Check out those foundation rocks from the 1800s!

And… just if you’re wondering how much progress my fabulous (and really cute) husband is making on the living room ceiling…

Only 6 more boards to go for Phase 1. But now the power is out… so at least he can take a short break! Bless.

 

Progress!

Check out the Living Room ceiling progress!! Eric is doing so good!

Original popcorn coming down:

Post popcorn:

Today:

Only 6 more boards to go with the sanding… then, of course, all kinds of other stuff like caulking, oiling, sealing, yada yada…