9/14/19
(Above: The [almost] fully floored Jacobhouse. Along with future trim activities, I plan on riveting or gluing some vinyl planks to the entry step.)
Building Summary: This morning began with my performing a now-customary rodent inspection. I found that there were signs of movement outside, but on the inside there were no such indications to be found. With there being no need for additional hardware cloth / caulking, I next set about filling 10 bags of cowmpost for the Moo-Magic Stand ($50.00 Jacobhouse funds in a little less than half an hour).
A trip to Harbison Farmers’ Market ensued where I procured a plenitude of produce, and this was followed by a return to Oldhouse, putting away groceries, and then venturing down to Jacobhouse whereupon I resumed flooring activity. It took about 1.5 hours to finishing laying the remainder of the kitchen floor. The morning was finished off by my cleaning the whole place up, taking some pictures, tending to a Master Blend customer and then heading back to Oldhouse through the beef pasture with Padre.
(7:23 PM Update): This afternoon, I procured some insulation board for Padre’s Studio project from Oldhouse, and I also obtained a sheet of ¼” beadboard/wainscoting for an idea I had in regard to Jacobhouse. This idea consists of my cutting strips of the sheet (perpendicular to the ornamental grooves), painting it turquoise, and using it as molding along the base of the raised kitchen area. To smooth the corners where the beadboard meets the supporting 2×8, I will apply a piece of aluminum angle-stock trim.
As autumn draws near, more bags are beginning to sell. Thus, the Jacobhouse project is supplemented.
TIL: Today I learned how to make a juicier burger on the grill. Firstly, it should be noted that I was already following the general rules of cooking with the lid closed (for a faster sear) and absolutely no pressing down on the patty. No, the primary improvements I implemented today were:
- Dunking each patty in the salty / starchy olive oil left over from the potatoes I had prepared just beforehand.
- Drizzling a little bit of butter on top of each patty after the midway flip.
- Preparing the patties from half-frozen ground beef. Supposedly, if the burger is kept as cold as possible, the fat within the burger holds its form and does not grow rubbery in texture.
Commentary: The task of flooring Jacobhouse is now complete, and along with it ends the second(or third)*-to-last major project within my abode. If I were to compare the sensation of completed flooring with any other thus far, I would likely compare it to the final electrical hookup.
No doubt, there was something more special about the electrical hookup – likely because it was so long in coming – but the presence of actual flooring has appearance-wise made Jacobhouse look much more like a place of residence… and a fine place of residence at that. I suppose what I mean to say is that the prior atmosphere of a construction-in-progress has been vastly diminished and replaced by a novel note of luxuriance and hominess**.
Final Note: Tomorrow I intend to use the measurements I found this afternoon to mark / cut the piece of beadboard I brought down to Jacobhouse. After appropriate sized pieces have been cut, I will paint those pieces with primer. Likely in the hay barn.
*The remaining two major tasks being: finishing (i.e. trimming, molding, cupboard doors, and etc) and furnishing (supplying my residence with the bare minimum of items/comforts to be found in an ordinary home).
** Speaking of hominess, I look forward to seeing how the floor feels in wintertime compared to the concrete-and-tile floor of Old-house. I have a feeling that Jacobhouse’s layers of linoleum / plywood / air will be much more comfy by comparison.