The Power of Little

   Numerous smallish but, for us, huge projects ensued. They were done primarily by Pete since I simply come up behind him and clean, then clean some more, then paint. Let me take this moment to present the kudos he so well deserves. Pete has two power tools - a circular saw and a drill. With only those he  finished the archway between the kitchen and dining area

    he produced the frames of both the front and back doors,

framed in and moulded five windows,

              

then put up the moulding in the front hall.

   By the end of those bouts, he decided it was time to buy a mitre kit. No power involved.

   When I now watch 'This Old House' I fail to see the challenge. With a plethora of professional help, state-of-the-art tools and a seemingly limitless budget, how does that help those of us at home watching? Aren't there people out there who buy old homes and don't have seven figure salaries? Oh wait, I know the answer to that.
   In the first three months of living and working in our little house, we spent about $150 on primer and paint, sheetrock and sheetrock accoutrement cost around $200, $50 or so on wall and pipe insulation, less than $50 on lighting fixtures, $25 on the all important caulk and $400 worth of wood.
   But what we are doing is absolutely nothing compared to those who originally built the place. The nails in our floors are home made. When this house was built the wood had to be felled, hewn and finished on property. Metal melted down for nails. Plaster made and mixed with well water. No Ace Hardware or Home Depot. To those before us, we may as well all be on 'This Old House'.