July 2004:  This is the first room we tackled. 

The future Dining Room had been used as a kitchen.
We removed the knotty pine from all the walls and the drop ceiling.
With every wrench of a board, the loose plaster would fall on our heads.
The knotty pine is good wood and we saved it.  De-nailed every good piece.
Now we have to remove the frame for the drop ceiling.
Looking at all the plaster which we need to knock down and haul to the dumpster.
Ditto, looking toward the hallway.
This picture shows the plaster dust.
Finally down to the studs.
Here's Dad starting the wiring.
Added insulation to the outside wall.
What to do about the "roof" over the bow window?
What to do about the ductwork jutting out?
Mike builds the framework above the window.
The drywall lifter is here!!!!   (We nearly killed ourselves trying it without the lifter.)
The lifter holds the piece of drywall in place until it is screwed in.
Ceiling is partly covered.
All of ceiling done.  Starting on the walls.
The lifter works on the high walls too.  Love this machine.
This side of the room is completely dry-walled.  We did this in a weekend.
All done except the frame around the window.
Brother Bob is here to do his magic.  He muds the joins in the dry wall so expertly that

very little sanding is necessary.
Bob works amazingly fast.
Jonathan helping us sand the walls.
Jonathan's front view!
We are getting closer!  Painted the ceiling a pale yellow.
Walls are BRIGHT Yellow!
Karol sent gave Mike a Rooster for the new dining room!  The doorway behind Mike was later closed off.  It will be a laundry room and the entry will be from the hallway.
Strangling the rooster.  Ah.  That's cruel.
Let's see, what's left in here?

Well, all the molding, the lighting, the floor, the furniture....   Getting there!

 
Finished painting the molding.  Mike had to make all new molding -- since the molding from this room had been taken down and the room covered with knotty pine.  He made it look as much as possible like the old molding throughout the house.
We are taking down the porch outside, so the saw and other related equipment move to the dining room!
David and Chris Roth have traded us - their antique dining room set for our modern glass table and chairs.  Here we've placed the furniture in the room, before laying down a new floor.  Couldn't wait to see it!  And we need it work on, on Memorial Day Weekend '05! 
Karol comes back to help!  Also Hallie and Jonathan.  The girls recover the dining room chairs first.
Karol pulls the material.  Hallie wields the stapler.
Watch your fingers, Karol!
They've got it down to a science, now.
Next "we" start on the curtains.  OK, Jean was busy taking pictures.....
Hallie lays out the material for cutting (the really scary part).
Karol made the pattern to Jean's specs using a big piece of cardboard.  Then she "whipped up" five valances.  Mike and Jonathan "whipped up" custom made valance supports.  By the end of the day, all the curtains were hung (see two slides down).  Beautiful.
First meal in the dining room.  Karol has just returned from Japan and brought us a gift.  See the Kimono on the wine bottle?
The new chandelier in the dining room.  It's "dripping" with prisms.
Jean's bought the mirror over the buffet at the church rummage sale.  For $5.00.
Bob has brought us 16 bundles of red oak for the dining room floor.  Of course, he doesn't trust us to lay it ourselves (thank God!)
Now the saw is on the new porch.  Bob is cutting the oak to size.  He lays some boards, measures, runs out to cut, runs back, over and over.
The beginning of the day laying floor in the dining room.
6:00 at night of the same day.
Several weeks later, we polyurethane'd the floor.  This meant getting up at 5 AM each weekday morning for a week.  Jean rolled on the polyurethane.  Mike came by with a big paint brush on the end of a pole to smooth it out.  Each day, a new coat.  Then we went to work.
Kathy and Roy Arrowsmith arrived for Labor Day 2005.  Here's Kathy.  She helped Jess and Jean to put up on border in all three bedrooms - and (re)hang lace curtains in the dining room.  Roy and Mike were working on the porch all weekend. 
Posting for the camera.  Kathy, Roy, Jean and Mike.  THANK YOU, Roy and Kathy, for all your help.  (And the good time that went with it!)