#disoldhouse

Suboptimal start. But it’s going to be a gorgeous day. I have no commitments other than to making it an enjoyable and productive one. Perfect chilly and sunny weather. Clean overalls and my “good” yard work shirt. Comfy work boots. Energy drink in hand, ambition in my brain. Let’s see if I can make all the things happen! #DisOldHouse #MacJohnsonFarm

Here's a fun #DisOldHouse update: We've been without a functioning kitchen since we moved here mid-renovation last July. WELL. Today the cabinetry gets delivered. FINALLY. And I just ordered the appliances. Wondering if it's possible we can be 100% by 6/1? I sure hope so. Countertops, flooring, electric finishing, backsplash, oh my!

This time last year, a GIANT shipment of trees and shrubs I ordered the Autumn before arrived. If you know our story, you know the timing was miserable. I did my best to keep everything alive and prepare it for container 2025 living as none of it would make it to our property for proper planting that year as originally planned. WELL. Today I took inventory and man, it’s rough. Survivors: 2/100 short leaf pines. 1/200 eastern redbud. Most elderberry hung on. Maybe half the serviceberry. As far as I can tell, none of 300 various oaks. 0/75 pecan, 0/75 hickory, 0/25 cottonwood. #DisOldHouse

Today our rooftop solar generated ~75% of our power. I bet we would have been >100% had we not charged Jillian’s car and not washed (and dried) multiple comforters. None of this is a problem, just excited commentary. So much fun. #RooftopSolar #Solar #DisOldHouse

It was supposed to be sunny today. It is thus far, not. However the still 100% cloud coverage is the thinnest it has been all week, except for a few very brief Sol Peekaboos yesterday. We’re on track for our best solar production day ever. Yay! #Solar #renewableenergy #DisOldHouse #KC #RooftopSolar #Resist

Sooooo. A nice IBEW fella came, knocked on the door said we’d have a small blip in power while he confirmed the install AND added the extra meter. Today we formally add solar to the list of things we harvest here at #MacJohnsonFarm, phase 3. Exporting power even with it being super cloudy out. Weeee! #SolarPower #Solar #DisOldHouse #RenewableEnergy #RooftopSolar #KC #Missouri

I spent most of the day digging through and sorting junk in the basement. It is 🤯 how much crap Grandpa and his buddies managed to cram down there. And then we complicated things when we dumped a garage worth of stuff there when we hastily moved in, too. Yeesh! #DisOldHouse

It was only 18° (f) when I decided to finish shoveling compost this morning. Turns out, it’s hard as hell when it’s frozen. Also yesterday me was a super jerk to today me for not just getting it done. But now I have my trailer back, yay! Stuff needs tending to. #MacJohnsonFarm #DisOldHouse #Gardening #Zone6B

#CrocusLawn update! We drove by our old place and that yard is COVERED in the first wave of blooms. It’s the third year over there, I think. I got super sad on my way home, but was greeted by a few first day blooms here. First year is rough. And the pest pressure is higher in this neighborhood. 🫤 Yellows bloom first. These are #CrocusRomance and a generic “yellow crocus” #BulbLawn #DisOldHouse #Gardening #Zone6B

I played in the dirt today and it was warmish. I’m filthy, and happy. I’ve finally decided on a use for some of the TWO PALLETS of cinder blocks I have: Small gardens at opposite ends of the chicken run (will be protected from hens) with a cattle panel arch spanning between. Pretty excited, NGL. I forgot what a pain it is to try and get the blocks straight, and plumb. Yeesh! #DisOldHouse #MacJohnsonFarm

We spent most of the day on outdoor tasks from our Autumn to-do list. 👀 Many of the trees and shrubs we ordered before Grandpa passed survived the winter, despite the odds: Last year, we ran out of pots, soil, and time, so some were planted multiple per 6 inch pot. 😬 We’re excited to start fresh with our gardens. #DIY #Gardening #DisOldHouse #Zone6B

Good morning! It's solar install day here at #DisOldHouse. Feels pretty silly to be putting solar up top when the interior renovation isn't done and we still don't have a kitchen. We're not even sure if we'll stay here long term. AND we're two months late for amazing tax credits. Terrible timing all around, but it's an act of resistance, and it feels amazing. #Solar #Resist #Renewables

An evolution in my DIY learning and #DisOldHouse adventure: I’m handy with plumbing, except for supply side stuff. But I’m determined to install our new water softener on my own doing some copper pipe work and Pex A, too. Today’s 🤯= I know NPT is the standard for pipe thread. But today I learned MIP (male iron pipe) and FIP (female) are actually NPT. Why the hell aren’t they called MNPT and FNPT?!? Also the fittings are brass, not iron! #plumbing #diy

Kitchen question: single basin sink or double? We will have a dishwasher so we will no longer be hand washing dishes, if that sways your choice. #DisOldHouse

If/when we are ever able to build our forever home, I'd like heated floors. I don't care what tech is used or how we accomplish it, I just don't want frozen feet from my floors anymore. #DisOldHouse