Pendant Lights

I can see that there will be a number of places in the house and barn where pendant lights will be perfect. My studio is the obvious place for a few industrial pendants since I will have the nice cathedral ceiling.  The kitchen is another place that I think they would be good.  However the ceilings in the kitchen will be quite low.  I'm sure that with a short cord they will be OK.

Here is a selection of some really neat pendant lights collected from various blogs.  The first three remind me of rusty Elizabethan collars- I can see a dog faced light bulb???  These are mood pictures- I will eventually have a posting about lights that I can actually buy.  The really neat Restoration Hardware light I would get though....

The next are small white drops.

These lights are just cool and clever-

Restoration Hardware

Sometimes you just need to look-

Siding going onto the barn- Dave's bank of windows

Just gorgeous!

Windows from inside in my studio

progress on the foundation

In a nutshell...

The composition of this picture tells the whole story in a nutshell.

Bob set the little purple digger in a perfect spot for a picture!

Here are some pictures of the windows that Peter, his son and Shane made for the barn.  They are really beautiful and we are so lucky to have such talented people working on this project!  I can't wait to see them installed. 

They installed one window so we didn't die of anticipation to see how they would look. 

One installed in Dave's workshop.  Looks great!

The Tyvek sheathing the barn makes it look like a big present.  Add a bow and who could ask for a better gift!

 All it needs now is a bow!

A charming bit of Tripp history

The best part of having a home with a lot of history is that you never know what has happened in the past at your house.  You feel bonded to the house like it is yours and yours alone.  That no one else ever lived there before you. You know from the layer upon layer of wallpaper that were removed over the years, the tile counter tops that are the aggravation of a lifetime and the funny pass through from the bedroom to the hallway so that you don't have to negotiate the beam that runs across the staircase, that some one else did in fact live here.  All the things that are not of your taste or doing were done by someone else.  There have been many previous tennants of the Tripp house since 1775, some I know and most that are long since gone.

Over the summer one such previous owner (I know her as a customer but had no idea that she ever lived at this house) gave us a charming painting of our house done in 1981 by Marian Dock. She passed away last August at the age of  99.  Marian lived in the house at the far end of our property and was apparently a prolific painter!  We were thrilled to receive such a wonderful folksy painting of the house back before much had been done to the far end.  Since this was painted past owners have put in French doors and a sunroom replaced the screen porch.  Now the current project will change the house yet again. 

Summer at the William Tripp House

Last week I was reading the local paper and saw an article about Marian and a picture of the painting shown below- the winter scene.  Now, Marian was apparently quite a lady and I would have liked to have met her.  Education was important to her so part of her estate was designated to further education.  The painting is part of a month long exhibition at the Deep River Public Library that includes more than of her 30 works.  The sale of Marian's artwork will benefit the eductional programs at the library.  Naturally, we have purchased the winter scene below.  How could we not?  I think a 3rd painting should be in the works for after the house is completed to finish off the series.  Since Marian is no longer available I think that Alicia Melluzzo of Deep River would be a perfect artist for the commission.  Alicia did a wonderful watercolor of our shop (and mural) and I have a growing collection of her small paintings.

Winter at the Tripp house



We're lucky to have a little bit of house history that we never knew existed until recently!

Yikes!

Lots going at the house this week.  A rain day yesterday on account that the rain and wind was coming from every angle but a lot of progress has been made nonetheless.  Bob and the little purple digger are back and going to town digging a huge hole outside the back door.  The stump from the black walnut tree has come out.  Check out the size of of that sucker!

Holy cow ...that's one hell of a stump!

Watch that first step... it's a doozey!

The fence has been reconfigured to allow for Bob's dump truck to come in and out and a second secure area for the dogs to roam.  The dog part has been a challenge for us.  To take the beasts out we now have to go out the front door and then walk them on leashes around to the gate and the fenced in yard.  Now, try to take 3 jumping pooches out at one time- no way.  So each morning I have to take them on their own personal outing.  After a few days I have learned to feed them fast before taking them out. The other night I was jolted out of bed by Dave who announced that the dogs had run away.  How could that have happened?  Well, normally Dave has good command of the dogs, they seem to listen to him (not to me. no one listens to me)- anyway, he opened the door and off they went into the darkness.  Jet black dogs in pitch black night.  A recipe for disaster.  Out into the night I flew calling Pip.... Coal... nothing.  Dave went out in the car to look.  I called time after time.  I was a nervous wreck.  At long last I see Coal trudging up the driveway wagging his tail.  Relief!  But where was Pip?  I called again.... looking up and down the street...... just then I see the little body running towards me.  Relief again.  We are all in the house breathing hard. But where was Dave?  Eventually I heard the car pull up and the door open.    I made him promise never to take them out without a leash again!  Since "the incident" all has gone smoothly.

The barn is really taking shape.  The second story is so- 3 dimensional and today when I got home I have the outline to the roof.  It is very cool.  It is really spacious and the ceiling so high.  That's great when you live in an antique house with low ceilings.  I will have 2 skylights, that according to Peter will have a remote control opener and moisture sensor.  How high tech.  That's great since I don't need to be calling Dave every day to have him check the iron and the the skylights.  The iron is enough I think.

Looks like one of those toys you have to put tab A into slot B...

Lots of windows!

Temporary stairs to the studio.

Dormer taking shape

My own window on the kingdom

So cool!

Opening for staircase

Windows overlooking chicken coop

So happy.....

So Thankful.....

Two lucky girls!

I hope that everyone had a very nice Thanksgiving holiday.  There was so much to be thankful for this year!.  Firstly I want everyone to know that Cranberry and Gravy are safe and sound still in their pen happily wandering around and snooting for bugs etc.  These girls had no idea how good they had it!!!  The heritage breed Broad Breasted Bronze turkey from Whitegate Farm- from all reports from meat eaters was delicious.  Thank you Jay for preparing a most delicious meal for us all.

This year has taken us on quite a wild ride.  Last year at this time we thought we were going to move so we were busy getting little things in this house fixed and the cottage ready for sale....we spent many months looking for the perfect house to buy that does not exist.... and then the huge decision to stay here and undertake this most overwhelming, all-consuming yet totally satisfying project.

I also want to apologize to my husband for the over use of the words "I" and "my" used in this blog.  These words will be replaced with "we" and "ours".  Dave is not the name of our dog and I am not a single woman.  Sorry honey.... I got carried away.

While the holiday has quieted the building activity around the house for a few days, the G&S crew went great guns before the break and will be back tomorrow for more.  I was thrilled to hear the Greatful Dead playing as they worked!  Check out how far the barn has come in just a short amount of time.

Walls up!

To.....

Floors down...

Location for the staircase to "Green Grape Press Ephemera".

Really taking shape...



The other night when I got home it was pretty late and I went out to look at the progress of the barn.  I looked out over the house to see the most amazing view.  I decided to spend some time taking it all in so I laid down of the new floor of the barn (why not, it was there and new) and gaze out at the little William Tripp House.  I tried to take a picture but of course it was too dark but just imagine the house with the moon coming up over the roof line.  Silhouetted was the chimney and top of the pine tree.  It was lovely.  I just think that the position of the barn to the house is perfect.  I can picture myself working in my studio and looking out over the little cozy house.....  then running like Hell into the house (a direct shot to the door) when I'm done so no beasties get me in the dark.

While I have been minding the shop this week, Dave has been busy getting things put away inside the house.  Tomorrow they will start to shorten the sun room by 7 feet.  This means that everything in Dave's 18th Ce. tavern needs to be washed and packed up.  Same with the Canton china in the dining room. There's stuff and boxes everywhere!  We've discovered some really neat things that we forgot we had!  By the time it gets unpacked at the end of the project it will again have been forgotten and rediscovered.  Hopefully the new configuration of the house will let more light in and we can actually see these treasures!



Fish and visitors stink after 3 days.... so true!



Looks like a painting- no?

Little Canton collection- Ask me if I care that it is all repaired or chipped.

And there was wood....

The Tool Trolley

A drum roll please....... announcing the long anticipated arrival of the Gulick and Spradlin (G&S) crew.  After maybe 6+ months of preparation from measurements to design, permits, dirt moving and pouring of cement- G&S is in the house.  Well, outside of the house anyway!

The little purple digger was gone when I got home on Wednesday night.  I felt a little sad about it but knew it would return soon.  The first to arrive the scene was the G&S "tool trolley".  I have no idea what they call the little trailer that keeps all the equipage needed for the project but tool trolley is what I'm calling it.  The G&S crew arrived in their black trucks and shortly thereafter a load of wood for the barn.  Dave and I kept peering out the windows to see what was happening.  I am sure that the novelty will wear off soon but for now it's fun to see what is going on.  I am relieved that they are all outside and across the driveway.  I am however wondering why I never got curtains.  Does not seem to be the right time to invest in them either.  Oh well......

Last night Dave and I stood outside with the flashlight and admired the progress of the day.  I took a deep breath in to enjoy the smell of lumber.  Wood smells good! 

Floor of barn starting to take shape

Stacks of lumber all ready to go!

A portion of the barn floor taking shape

I loved this structural view of the foundation with the wood and stone

Supporting the floor