My Plan for Having This Thanksgiving in the Newly Renovated House? Not happening!

I have many things for which to be thankful, but having my first Thanksgiving in the newly renovated house is not going to be one of them. I had planned on a Thanksgiving dinner with vegetarian turkey and all the fixings, but the fates (and a few others who will remain nameless) have conspired against this plan. There are no internal walls, no bathrooms, no kitchens, no floors installed, and no boiler. In other words, there will be at least a few more months before any move-in can happen.

Oh well, I suppose I should count my blessings. At least there is some slow progress being made. And there is always next year.

Porches are Done, and the Work Moves Inside, Hopefully

Back porches are coming along

The ironwork for the back porches is done and the cement work is happening slowly. Each of the three apartments will have a back porch. The top two porches are larger than the bottom porch, which opens onto the backyard. I think the porches will make the apartments feel more spacious and bright, and will allow for small gardens and outside storage of things like bicycles.

Insulated

To improve energy-efficiency and soundproofing, we've installed lots of insulation. We used a fiberglass insulation that is "Green Guard" certified, and an inexpensive, green option.

Fenced In

Work has been proceeding painfully slowly. There are issues, ahem, with people who are not yet completing work they have been paid to complete. This fence is one of few signs of progress, and was constructed by Bob, the homeless man who works for my father now and again.

Going Green in a Recession

Here is a link to a NY Times piece that nicely discusses the dilemmas of people who want to do green renovations, but have to consider the cost of such renovations.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/garden/eco-meets-the-economy.html?hpw

Tillary Street Canyon

With the stalled construction site next door, the view from my backyard has a southwestern feel. The large hole in the ground is now overgrown with wild shrubs and small trees. If you can erase the skyline in back, and the fence running down the center of the lot, you might think you were in a southwestern canyon.