Welcome to Domek Lesny!

This blog is dedicated to our house in the north woods of Wisconsin.  We took ownership of the house after Joe's father died in March of 2006.  It needed a lot of TLC as the work was beyond Joe's father in the later years.  This blog is the tale of our clean-up, restoration and decoration efforts.  We decided to name the property Domek Lesny as it means forest cottage in Polish.

In the two years after my Fathers death a lot of work has gone in the house. The 1st floor or "road" level of the house has been totally remodled or redecorated. Last year with the help of Susan, Larry, Pam and Lou we started to basement or "Lake Level" of the house. This year I am looking forward in complete the interior of the house.

Joe Wardzala

  

Well filming is over. The movie crews have left. And I had to go back working on the house.

This weekend I was able put 3/4ths of the boat dock in. The water is really cold, yes we have a thawed out lake now. I put on the waders and put the dock in. I think water is just above freezing. Putting in the first 2 sections was easy. But when I got to the 3rd section, some water got into the waders and... Wow! That was cold. The 4th section needs repair before it goes and it needs to warm up a little bit.

I started or restarted the work on the downstairs bedroom. Here are some images.

The top image is the Family room. As you can see it's painted. I am using it for storage. The middle image is the frame for the pocket door. I ordered the doors for it this weekend. They are glass doors in a Cherry wood frame. As you can see I might have over engineered it a little (but the main support beam for the house runs right above the frame. The bottom image is the bedroom. I pulled out the 2 closets and 1/2 the drywall. And if you look very closely you will see the reason I am pulling down the drywall...black mold.

The wall to the left in the bedroom will be partially removed. The closest will go on that side. Actually the closets will be in the next room. We are pulling out the summer kitchen in that room. And I thought the closest would be better if not against the foundation. And the back wall will be totally redone. It's going to be rebuilt following something I saw on Holmes on Homes; 2 inches of rigged foam installation and then the stud wall will be built next to that. And if I can find it...paperless drywall. If not then Green board.

And for those who know my pet peeves.....That black outlet will be replaced with an Almond color one. But moved over since that is where the closet door will be. You also can see the lights I put in, 3 on each side. I am keeping the fake parquet floor; it's kind of growing on me. Wait that is black mold!

Joe

  

We went up Friday night. While driving up, I told Susan even if the driveway has 1 foot of snow I am go to drive in and park in the garage! Well we still had a 2 foot snow drift at the end of driveway. And...well before I tell you that story let me flash back 22 years.

It was the end of March 1986. I drove up with my Dad on a Friday night to open the place up. We were driving his old Jeep Wagoneer (1984 to be exact). I remember that it was really foggy because it was very warm and the snow was melting. It was so foggy that the headlights of the car were just reflecting off the fog. So I decided to drive with the lights off, which made my Dad yell "You are going to give me a heart attack!". I only did that for a few seconds, but it was fun messing with my Dad.  When we finally arrived at  the house, there was 2 feet of snow on the driveway. I remember my Dad saying "Just pull in". So I did. I made it 30 feet before getting stuck. My Dad had a fit, apparently he was only kidding about pulling in. All was fine and the snow melted the next day and I was able to get the car out in the morning. But I had a lot of fun trying to get in.

Back to the present. Friday night I saw we had a 2 foot snow drift at the end of the driveway. But beyond that the snow was maybe 8 inches deep. With a clear spot further down the drive. So I pulled in. Almost got stuck. But I took it easy, and made it all the way into the garage. I have to say it was more fun when I got it stuck in 2 feet of snow with my Dad. And Susan did not yell "You are going to give me a heart attack!" I wonder why so many of relatives have heart problems?

I have no images this week. I did not do much work, so nothing to show. Lot's of mud every where.

We did go out to dinner Saturday night at a local Italian restaurant. I over heard people talking about how Johnny Depp is in the area filming a movie named Public Enemy. I guess he plays John Dillinger. He is reported to be staying at a local Hotel. And because of the filming a lots of homes in the area have been rented out for the cast and crew. Darn I would do anything to have Johnny Depp stay at the house! So if he is reading this, give me a call. I promise to clear the snow on the drive way.

Joe

  

Spring has almost arrived in the Northwoods. I don't think so! Friday night we still had over 2 feet of snow in the driveway. So once again we had to walk through snow to get into the house. Nothing really major went wrong. Well the circuit breaker for the clothes washer decided to fail. We had to run to Rhinelander for other things anyway.

On the trip up I found out that Susan is becoming a Hodag expert. She has been doing research and we might have a Hodag section opening up at the Library. Enjoy the youTube video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zt9VAFEOGtI


We did not spend all our time tracking down hodags. We did prime the ceiling and walls  "The Great Room". And I did paint the ceiling.


If you look closely you see 2 paint swatches on the wall to the left of the Windows. We both agreed that the lower color was it. Later on that was veteod after we saw the colors after sun down.Doesn't the ceiling look nice?

I was able to walk around the property. I discovered that we a small river running through the Boat House. There was 1/2 inch of water flowing right through the Boat House Below are photos from next to the house to give you an idea how deep the snow is (was).



As you can see there is a lot of standing water next to the house. I always refer to April in the Northwoods as "The Muddy Season". Once all the snow melts. All you have is mud.

We did go out to dinner Saturday night to one of my Favorite Places, Minoqua Brewing Co. They have a new item on the menu, Mesquite grilled pork chops. They are great.



Hopefully all this snow will be gone soon. It's April!!! Bring on the mud!

Joe

  

Friday night I did a few google searches on frozen Water supply lines for water pumps. I found that the most common points are freezing is right where the lines come into the house. That is between the house and the well. And most likely the line is frozen inside the house. I found a recommendation to heat the water pipe with a Hair dryer.

Saturday morning we returned to the house after a nice stay at a local Motel. The furnace stayed running over night. The first thing I tried was turning the water pump back on. Still nothing. Then I heated the pipe with a really heavy duty Heat gun, being careful not to set anything on fire. After about 10 minutes I tuned the pump on. Shortly after that I had a trickle of water, then after a minute a gusher. WooHoo! we had water again. Whew!

We had only one minor problem. I did not put the hand sprayer back on correctly on the kitchen sink, so we had water everywhere. But no pipe burst this year like last. Note to self, remember to leave to valve open at the pump and to blow out the drain lines for the furnace.

Saturday I put up more drywall. See image below.



You can see on the left the wall I pulled out last fall. Well I guess that is not see, because it's not there anymore. That is where 2 pocket doors go in. Ignore the wires hanging from the ceiling, they are not live (I think). You can see some of the paint sample on the fireplace mantle (right side of image). We did not pick any of those colors. The Cinder Block wall next the fireplace will be tiled with something that goes with the fireplace.

Lots more work coming.

Joe

  

Today was the 2008 grand reopening. Well almost. This morning we left home only to drive trough a blizzard, that was only for two hours of the trip. We made it up in our normal time. When we got to Domek this is what we saw.



We had to hike through the snow to get to the house. Who knew how much work it is to walk through 2 feet deep snow. You will notice the house did not collapse after I removed a wall in the basement. And there is a 4 foot snow drift  on the roof.

The first thing I did was to turn the power back on. Then the heat. Then I went back to the car and picked up Max "the Cat" and Susan too.

After about an hour in the house I noticed that the furnace shut off. And was like 30 degrees in the house. I had to call someone out and fix it. A condensation line froze, I thawed it out and the heat if fine. But the water is another story, we have none right now. I have to wait for the line between the well and house to thaw out....maybe tomorrow, maybe a few weeks. Maybe I will have to call someone.

We are staying in a Motel this weekend...Unless the water line thaws out. I doubt it. Max is staying at the Motel too, he is freaking out a little.

We went to dinner at local favorite place named Tula's. Normally we have all you can Eat fish fry (AYCE). But today it was only the 2 piece dinner. And I took one piece home. It was very like my parent's, they used to steal the rolls and pieces of fish from the all you can dinner menu.

After dinner we walked over the Super Market to pick up a few things. Susan need to look at the magazine section. The had all the good Wisconsin Magazine. Not only did they have Walleye Magazine, they had Crappie Magazine. But, they had the best one of all BASS! I would have been lost with out my Bass. So we loaded up the cart with my Bass in tow and went back to the motel.

Joe

  

It's been 2 years and 1 day since my father passed away. In that time alliances have been made, alliances have been broken. Promises have been made and broken. And we are still here waiting for the day for a certain person to keep their promise. And for that day for my mother to be moved from Wilmington back to the cabin in the woods.

Any way this Friday begins this year’s remodeling projects. This year the lower level (basement) will be completed. My brother and sister will be up in late May to visit. Little do they know of the work I have planned for them (so don’t tell them). There will be lots of painting going on, so Lou bring your electric paint roller!

After watching a Mythbusters episode in where they blow up electric hot water tanks. It is my number one priority to replace the 35+ year old Electric hot water tank. I am amazed that it still works and does not leak. Well we will find out Friday. I hope I do not break any water pipes like last year , especially in the new bathroom.

This year I hope to write funny stories about the work. Maybe we will have talking cats again. Maybe the wild turkeys will return. Maybe I will recognize a Coyote as a Coyote and not a fox.

Lots of fun coming.

Joe

  

If there is any one person who has influenced my life more than any one person, it's the person in the image above. He is my Uncle Willie, my mother's brother. We just called him Unc. My mother described him as a "character". He was a fun person to be around. He had this great ability to talk in circles. He was a very intelligent person. And very kind.

I remember when I was kid and he would call for my Mother. I would pick up the phone and say hello. He would say "who is this?" I would answer it's Joey. He would say "Why are you calling me, what do you want!". Of course I had to say no you called here. But he would always insist that I called him. I found it funny.

Years ago we brought him to "Domek".  I remember he wanted to wonder the farmers field behind the house looking for Marijauna. I am not sure if he found any, or if he was really looking. But it had everyone wondering.

About 10 years ago we were at a wedding for one of my cousins. And I was talking to Unc in the entry way of the church. He asked me "What is the place?". I said "a Church?". He said "this place? " I said, "a doorway". Unc: "No Larger". Me: "Planet earth?". Unc: "Smaller". Me: "United States". Unc: "Smaller". Me: "Orland Park?". Unc: "Smaller". Me: "A Church?". Unc: "No, no. this place". Right at that time we both said at the same time "A Foyer!". It was very funny. At that time I realized I had some of his ability to talk in circles.

Unc used to repair old Radios. He always had a lot of radios around his apartment. They were always out of their cases or cabinets, but worked. I remember I was very facinated by the radios and the fact he could repair them. That influenced me to learn about electronics and later computers. He always had old copies of Popular Mechnics and Electronics around his apartment, I used to read them. And I used to get into big trouble at home because I used to tear apart the TV to be like Unc.

Today, 12/26/2007,  Unc joined his sisters: Marie and Ceclia, his Brother Richard and Mother Sophie.

We will miss you William.

Joe

  

I know it's the start of winter, but I wanted to post this image. This image was taken in July during the Schmidt Family reunion. It is a Great Blue Heron that landed along our shore line. I have named her (assume it's a female) Sophia or Sophie in honor of my grandmother on my mothers side.



The reason I named her after my grandmother is that this bird was being very protective of something along the shoreline, I assume her young. My mother and Grandmother were very strong people, the defended themselves well, defended their families, their opinions. I think that is were I get my drive stand up for others when I see someone being mistreated. This is for you Grandma. Merry Christmas.

Joe