The spruced up den and other projects

Sometime around 1990 Dad mentioned that he'd like to replace the metal windows in our den.

Instead we bought (and 6 or 8 years later threw away) heavily-insulated roman shades.

Then we installed a ceiling fan to move alternately hot and cold air.

We built a second home that has ceiling fans to move alternately hot... (you know the story)

We built a new room and a garage with his and her closets... his tools and bikes, my gardening toys and tools... they are a bit larger than our clothes closets, and much more fun.

Sometime in 2010, Barby suggested we build a bigger bathroom.

Dad mentioned that he'd like to replace the metal windows in our den.

Generally I figure 2-5 years between birth and execution of home improvement ideas

But... here we are after 20 years, on DAY ONE:

Hope we like it, 'cuz we're in it...deep.

'Course there is that metal window in my little office, so it seemed a no-brainer to replace it too. Right, Tommy?

Oh yes, there's another metal window. The one in the upstairs bathroom. Tommy, you do understand that we must do something about that too, right?

Meanwhile, by DAY THREE, things are showing promise in the den. You may notice that the trim looks new. The room had three different trims. We couldn't leave that the way it was. Course we found a little rotten wood; you can see the replacement door frame in the middle of the next picture:

Well! what do you think? After nine days we've got our den back!

Almost. The cupboards will be inaccessible once we put the love seat back. So, we emptied them, sent tons of paper to recycling, and put new stuff back there. It's the Princess Trail Time Capsule.

My office is ready, it's in it's usual state, a cozy place somewhere between a mess and chaos.

The bathroom will take a little longer. Perhaps I didn't mention that while we replace the window it would be foolish not to do something about the floor. It would be inconceivable not to replace the light fixture and the towel rods. And the medicine cabinets were gross. The wallpaper is in the trash, and Margaret Arthur chose new paint colors.

Almost forgot, I need to do something about those vanity drawer knobs. One more trip to HP.
One last picture. The Time Capsule is sealed (sort of), and here is the other side of our den.

One more last picture and one last story:

The den TV died a month or so ago. I suggested to Dad that we take the TV from that new room we built and put it in the den. Then we could get a bigger TV for the new room. THIS WAS NOT A 2-5 YEAR DEAL. I almost got whiplash Dad got me to the TV store so fast. Another view of the den:

Next project: teach Barby which remote to use.

Thanks, Pops, and, I love you guys.