We’ve begun the deconstruction of our back porch. Final goal is a screened-in porch. So far we have removed the trim, panelling, and insulation from the walls and ceiling. So we are down to the framing, exterior walls, and electric wires.

We’ve slowed for the moment while we sort out where the electric is coming from and the best place to cut it off at. A bonus item we found:

Along with the insulation, and the anticipated walnut shells and mice skeletons (this is not our first deconstruction in this house remember), we found a whole pile of dry grass. Did the mice really bring it in piece by piece? Was this somehow intentional?

A couple other unexpecteds. The window into the kitchen we thought we’d open up (and probably find the solution to our electric source in) was boarded up much more securely than we thought it would be. That’s ok, really, because that can be its own project now instead.

But while that hole was very well covered, there were other areas where that lovely wood did not extend, and we found only lath.

Which is a little mysterious to us. Our understanding was that this was built as an exterior wall. Those broad pieces of wood in the previous photo are what would have formed the structure under the wood siding. So if there is lath here was it not an exterior wall? And does this somehow explain why there are two doors that lead from the kitchen to the back porch, on the same wall, 10ft away from each other?

Oh, the stories our house has to tell.