Today we're bringing you the final installment in our plaster repair/skim coating series. It's been a long time coming, but wrapping up any significant finish project like this is actually one of the more tedious aspects of the overall project. And like the many steps before it, this step involved less overall work, while somehow taking more time and requiring more overall attention to detail. Unfortunately, this is just a general progression of things when it comes to this type of work, but it's VERY close to complete.
After our last few steps of getting the corners just right, as well as seemingly nonstop sanding in the corners and on the large flat areas, followed by additional layer after layer of progressively thinner skim coats, we're finally at a point where the wall is nearly smooth. If you've been handling a similar project of your own you've likely endured the dry hands, clothes caked with dust, and inevitable bird poop-like accidents that come with the territory. Don't worry, it's made you a better DIYer.
With a quick glance inspection, your wall and ceiling should essentially look smooth, consistent, and without significant flaw.
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Wednesday, December 4, 2013
This Reader Reward is now closed. Congratulations to our winner, Margaret!
You know what they say. "It's the most wonderful time, of the year." In Old Town this is very true as this coming weekend marks the highly anticipated Christmas events celebrated throughout the town by locals and visitors alike. Yes, that's right, it's the Campagna Center's annual Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend, and we can't wait!
In celebration of the occasion, we've got a great giveaway for two tickets to an event that's near and dear to our heart, the Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend Holiday Designer Tour of Homes, but more on that a little later in the post.
The Scottish Christmas Walk Weekend has been celebrated the first weekend in December for the last 42 years, and the 43rd annual event kicks off this coming Friday. Starting with several kid friendly events during the day, the first night is capped with the Taste of Scotland. The Taste of Scotland is a great charity event at the George Washington Masonic Temple where the attendees taste many different types of Scotches having a grand old time. The men don kilts, the ladies their tartans, and the town really kick off the Christmas season by celebrating the night away.
The main event, the Scottish Walk parade follows on Saturday morning, celebrating Alexandria's Scottish heritage with lots of kilts, bagpipes, dogs, and classic cars. This event is one that is celebrated by many in the area, regardless of Scottish ancestry.
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Amidst this past long holiday weekend's marathon of moderate gluttony spliced with periods of recovery, which most often resembled one or both of us wallowing like a beached whale, we were fortunate to experience a Thanksgiving with several wonderful friends and excellent food. Sprinkle in some unabashed consumerism, a ceremony to flick the switch on a tree covered in lights, and the unfortunate need to interrupt the preferred holiday and weekend's events with day job drudgery (being an adult stinks), and you've got yourself a recipe for much of our last several days. But I'd be foolish if I left off our attempts to work as much as possible on our ongoing house projects.
That's right, we continued on our seemingly endless march of tasks in the bathroom and our attempts to produce crisp clean walls and beautiful ceilings. At a certain point the incessant sanding begins to feel like I'm fully entrenched and have become some sort of a maniacal sanding savant, but unlike Dustin Hoffman's character in Rain Man, whose useful character trait was counting cards in Vegas, I have this particular aptitude for sanding compulsively until the walls are smooth. Wow, what a gift.
Like my makeshift bright light for spotting sanding imperfections?
However non stop the sanding had been, it's not only been limited to the walls but also involved the countless dots of wood filler we've been placing on all of the small nail holes in wainscoting, trim, and crown moulding throughout the room.
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Friday, November 29, 2013
While many of Old Town's residents are tucked into their warm beds with dreams of turkeys, stuffing, and pies occupying their thoughts, we've set out for the 2013 rendition of the Old Town Boutique Black Friday deals! That's right, 30% off between 6:00am and 8:00am, with 20% until 10:00am, and 10% off until 6:00pm. As much as it's a great event to score some bargains at some of Old Town's best small businesses, it's also a chance to see some of our small business owner friends, check out their amazing holiday windows, and generally enjoy Old Town the day after Thanksgiving. We're setting out bright and early and will be updating this post throughout the day with our various finds. We hope you enjoy.
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Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Now that the holidays are upon us, many are looking for a little weekend getaway to a picturesque destination where you're able to enjoy some of the sights and sounds most frequently associated with the season. From Christmas trees to menorahs and carolers to kilted bagpipers, few places are as special as the extraordinary destination we have in mind.
Picture yourself strolling along historic brick sidewalks and cobblestone covered streets in a neighborhood where the likes of George Washington and Jim Morrison (yes, of The Doors) called home. Where you can duck into the corner chipper for a pint and the best authentic fish and chips this side of the Atlantic, or make a stop at the old fashioned ice cream shop where the servers still wear little paper hats.
Your stroll would allow shopping among the various boutique small businesses that line the city's main street for everything from clothing and home decor to cigars or that perfect bottle of wine, and everything in-between. You'd have the opportunity to tour 200+ year old museum residences or a WWII Torpedo Factory turned artists' studios.
When you're ready for a bite to eat prepare yourself for more delicious dining options, from the casual to very upscale, than you could likely handle over the span of several weeks. There are literally more than one hundred dining options within walking distance. And if that doesn't leave you feeling too tired or stuffed, pop into the local speakeasy or swanky bar for a modern twist on some classic cocktails or drop in for a little raucous Irish pub life. Does any of this sound like somewhere you'd like to be?
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