November/December Updates

Finally!  We have updates to our progress.  I can't believe it's been 2-1/2 months since the last blog posting.  We took a bit of a break, but progress is still being made!

October 25

It was amazing how much stuff fell onto the floor from all the work on the roof.  More sweeping.

Finished clean-up!

The top of the building now has a new cap along the edge and is ready for the roofers.

October 30

Let the roofing begin!

November 2nd

This is what that new capped edge looks like from the new roof!  Look at the nice clean lines of the building! So exciting!

And SIX NEW SKYLIGHTS!!!  The inside will be so bright.

Dale admiring the new skylight and all his hard work.  What you're seeing is all NATURAL light on the second floor--no lights have been turned on.  This office space is going to be gorgeous.  Just imagine new white walls, beautiful wood trim and shiny wood floors.  In just a few short months, we won't have to imagine because our dream will come true and this area will be done!

Dumpster diving!

November 9th

It's been a long time since we've seen the back of the building without a dumpster or enclosures.  All the new windows and doors have been installed on the main floor.  MAJOR accomplishment!

Luckily, Jenny (Dale's sister) was in town and was willing to lend a helping hand in moving brick from outside down to the basement.  Our dear friend, Howard Glas, was also there, but left before we could get his picture.  It was quite the operation we had going...  there was a piece of plywood on the stairs and Howard would slide one brick at a time down the plywood, I grabbed them at the bottom and placed off to the side where Jenny took over stacking them.  I couldn't believe how sore I was the next day.  This was all in preparation for our first snowstorm.  Didn't want to have to shovel around the brick!  Thank you Jenny and Howard!!!  

Jenny mentioned that she never saw any pictures of the two of us with the building.  Thank you for taking this picture!

And another one in front of the building.

November 15

Now that the new roof has been installed, we no longer need the tarps to keep the water out.  Dale  could now fold up and store the 30' x 50' tarps.  I took this picture because when I looked up and saw him doing this I thought, how lucky we are to have a big building so he could fold these up inside where it was nice instead of out in the cold.  Then it dawned on me... if we didn't have the building, we wouldn't need to be folding tarps!  Doh!

Remember this ugly wall in the Alley building?  This is BEFORE....

And AFTER!!! Building has been painted with the help from dear friend, Laurie Langner!  Keep in mind, the plan is to remove the plaster on this wall to expose the brick.  This painting was nothing more than some much needed therapy.  Would like to thank Gallus Painting for providing the paint!!!!  You have no idea how much this helped our attitudes as we move into Winter! 

The goal for the day was to paint the long wall in the previous picture.  I was getting hungry and wanted to head to Dave's for burgers and beer.  But NOOOO....  Laurie looked over her shoulder, saw the ugly openings (shown in this picture), looked in the paint bucket and said, "we should paint the other wall!!"  I suggested eating first and then coming back to tackle the rest.  But NOOOO...  "It'll only take us about 45 minutes!"  So I did what I was told, we finished this wall, and it took more than 45 minutes.  I am REALLY hungry now and ready to head out for a bite to eat, but not before Laurie placed a broom in my hands and told me to sweep up.  

It turned out beautifully thanks to Laurie, but I don't know if I can invite her back.  She's a bit controlling. :)

December 5th

Decorated windows for the Annual Old Fashioned Christmas event.

Then we took the rest of the month off from the building.  Not so that we could get recharged, but because Dale had other jobs that required his attention.

It was a great year on the building and now that demo work is back underway, we'll start seeing some amazing progress in the next few months!