February Break

No school this week for Mr. Cressman.  So instead...

1) He replaced the screws that had functioned as door handles for our basement door.

As usual, he went above and beyond, whittling out the area behind the handle to make it that much easier to grab.

A bit classier than its predecessor, the screw!

Note the hinges in the foreground.  They belong to...

2) Our bathroom door!

The door revolutionizes the bathroom experience, let's just leave it at that.  Actually, the first time I was in the bathroom with the door closed, I asked Mick -- in the great room -- a question, and got very concerned when he didn't respond.  Turns out you can't hear as well through a door as you can through empty space, or through a curtain!  Go figure.

And before you leave the bathroom, don't forget to check out...

3) The second set of shelves over the utility sink.

Speaking of shelves, the medicine cabinet now has a back...

...because...

4) Mick has been paneling the kids' room!

I realized today that the kids' room is the last spot in the home in need of walls!

Back to doors (Mick was really on a door kick this week), head to the basement to see...

5) The basement door!

Yes, the light (and cold air) no longer have free access to our basement through the bilco door.  This door proudly (and warmly) bars the way!

I just realized I forgot to take a picture (although it wouldn't have been a particularly pretty one) of...

6) The insulation in the basement!

Mickey has been insulating the inside of the perimeter box.  I think the house feels warmer!  (Of course, I thought the house felt warmer as soon as he brought the insulation into the house.)

Head back upstairs to see...

7) The matching doorknob to our basement door installed on the front door.

It might not look like much (except prettier than the fake brass one), but it is so solid!  I have never seen such a solid doorknob.  It also has this great feature that doesn't allow the door to open from the inside if it is locked -- so no more locking ourselves outside in the mornings when we go out to feed the animals, huzzah!

Immediately to the right of the door, we had discussed a simple box for wallets and flashlights and things.  When I left for work Tuesday morning, Mick said he was "making plans."  I asked him a question about this simple three-sided box that he was designing, and he hushed me up and told me he had everything under control.  Well, I'll say he did!  He again went above and beyond what I was expecting for our...

8) Box Extraordinaire!

Super convenient, looks great, and plenty of room.  (Do you think he'll stop losing his glasses now?)

Not bad for a week off!