We've had an unusually warm and dry autumn this year, which means we've had great weather for continuing restoration projects around the house. 

The renovation on the third floor continues on-schedule, and should be wrapped up by mid-November. All the wallboard is up and everything's been mudded and sanded, which means we'll be starting the interior paint next week. The wainscoting on the knee walls will go in at about the same time. The hardwood flooring is in transit and should be ready to go in during the following week. The bedroom is getting new solid oak flooring, while the third-floor landing will be finished with reclaimed tongue-and-groove oak from a home just two doors up from the 1899 Inn. The bathroom tile is being selected and should be installed shortly after that. The new cast-iron slipper clawfoot tub was delivered last week. Most of the trim and fixtures have already arrived, so things will come together pretty quickly! 

But the good weather has also created the perfect opportunity to tackle some outdoor projects. Laura and Caitlyn (our brilliant HelpX volunteer) have been scraping paint off the front porch for the last couple of weeks, and they recently started the actual repainting process. They've also been touching up some of the house's 42 storm windows and screens. While the front porch is still usable, there's a little extra clutter as they paint away. 

But it isn't just the front porch that's getting a paint makeover. We've got a really great friend who happens to be a contractor, and he generously loaned us his large boom lift (for the second year in a row). We've been using it to touch up exterior paint on the second and third floors. Parts of the house in need of repainting are a full 35 feet from the ground, and extension ladders just aren't up for the job. Fortunately, Laura is a pro at operating the lift, and she's already hit a few spots that didn't get covered when moved into the house five years ago.  As long as the weather holds, the bulk of the repainting should be done by early November.