I have a week's worth of photos to upload, but the internet here at Mom's isn't cooperating. Rich is updating his Facebook page almost daily, (not sure why Facebook accepts photos so much easier than Blogger...), so those of you on FB can catch-up on our progress there. I hope to get photos loaded here ASAP.
Stay tuned,
Kris
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Sometimes Life Gets Ugly...
Monday, July 13, 2009...Has anyone ever had to dial "911?" I did today. A 5-minute encounter along the road with the neighbor "lady"...(and I use the term loosely, believe-you-me)...escalated to the point of her threatening to "throw me on the ground and kick the sh-- out of me" at which point I told her I'd be calling the police, at which point she began screaming things at me that I won't even pretend to spell.
When she returned "home"...(again using the term loosely...those of you who dare to visit us after we're moved in will understand)...she was screaming further obscenities (perhaps she screamed the whole way down the road...she's got good lungs, if nothin' else), giving us the single finger salute, and proceeded to crank up her boombox as loud as possible and plop herself down in the front "yard"...(loosely, again)...on a lounge chair. I guess that's how she relaxes after a hard day of harassing the immigrants.
The first encounter was witnessed by my four children and a township worker who was trimming along the road and had to stop behind us while I was being tongue-lashed. The second encounter was witnessed by my husband and three Asplundh tree trimmers paving the way for our power lines. (They finished quickly and took off...I wonder why?)
If you've never had the experience of being hated...when someone just is disgusted by the very sight of you...well, I hope you never do. I don't think I've ever met a meaner, angrier, nastier person than this woman who will in a number of weeks be my closest neighbor.
Several years ago something like this would've been my undoing. Rocked me to the core. Made it difficult for me to function and dashed any hopes I had for a happy life there.
Not now.
Because it's not her opinion of me that defines me. It's HIS.
Romans 8:31a..."If God be for us, who can be against us?"
Romans 8:38-39..."For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
So, I made the call. (I was actually talking to 911 on the phone when she came down the lane cussing and waving). About half an hour later the officer arrived. Went to her "home" first. Stayed only a few minutes, but long enough to come to some conclusions of his own. Came up the hill and took my statement. He believed we should press charges, which would result in a $400 fine and an opportunity for her to appear in court. We decided that we'd like him to give her a warning this time, but let her know that any further accosting would result in swift action on our part.
He left our property and returned to hers. A lengthy discussion ensued. Providentially, her husband returned home just as the officer was leaving, and he talked to him at length, as well. I don't know if the officer will follow up with us, but I intend to call him tomorrow if I don't hear something. He will be filing a report and I am to call him if any further incidents occur.
In other news, I got viciously flogged by a rooster Friday morning. Getting flogged is painful, and I have the bruises to prove it. But, I'd rather be flogged than receive the tongue-lashing I received today.
At least we can EAT the rooster.
Stay tuned...who knows what will happen next?
Kris
When she returned "home"...(again using the term loosely...those of you who dare to visit us after we're moved in will understand)...she was screaming further obscenities (perhaps she screamed the whole way down the road...she's got good lungs, if nothin' else), giving us the single finger salute, and proceeded to crank up her boombox as loud as possible and plop herself down in the front "yard"...(loosely, again)...on a lounge chair. I guess that's how she relaxes after a hard day of harassing the immigrants.
The first encounter was witnessed by my four children and a township worker who was trimming along the road and had to stop behind us while I was being tongue-lashed. The second encounter was witnessed by my husband and three Asplundh tree trimmers paving the way for our power lines. (They finished quickly and took off...I wonder why?)
If you've never had the experience of being hated...when someone just is disgusted by the very sight of you...well, I hope you never do. I don't think I've ever met a meaner, angrier, nastier person than this woman who will in a number of weeks be my closest neighbor.
Several years ago something like this would've been my undoing. Rocked me to the core. Made it difficult for me to function and dashed any hopes I had for a happy life there.
Not now.
Because it's not her opinion of me that defines me. It's HIS.
Romans 8:31a..."If God be for us, who can be against us?"
Romans 8:38-39..."For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
So, I made the call. (I was actually talking to 911 on the phone when she came down the lane cussing and waving). About half an hour later the officer arrived. Went to her "home" first. Stayed only a few minutes, but long enough to come to some conclusions of his own. Came up the hill and took my statement. He believed we should press charges, which would result in a $400 fine and an opportunity for her to appear in court. We decided that we'd like him to give her a warning this time, but let her know that any further accosting would result in swift action on our part.
He left our property and returned to hers. A lengthy discussion ensued. Providentially, her husband returned home just as the officer was leaving, and he talked to him at length, as well. I don't know if the officer will follow up with us, but I intend to call him tomorrow if I don't hear something. He will be filing a report and I am to call him if any further incidents occur.
In other news, I got viciously flogged by a rooster Friday morning. Getting flogged is painful, and I have the bruises to prove it. But, I'd rather be flogged than receive the tongue-lashing I received today.
At least we can EAT the rooster.
Stay tuned...who knows what will happen next?
Kris
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Framing Week #5
July 6, 2009 to July 10, 2009...We completed adhering the rigid foam insulation to the exterior walls. Applying the adhesive in large globs rather than thin lines seemed to improve its holding power. We also weren't working in the rain, which probably helped, as well. This is a different angle...not sure if we have another shot like this one. Roof is almost ready for shingles.
Shingling is in process here. I am amazed that these men will do this job...it is so dangerous! It is a learned skill, like so many others, but one slip while up on the roof could be disastrous. They have been in my prayers. Amish Ray even worked a day and a half...by himself...because one of his helpers was on vacation and another pulled a muscle. Would YOU climb out on that roof ALL BY YOURSELF to shingle a stranger's house? It's not like anyone would know if he fell! Brave, brave man.
Two of the three rectangular Velux skylights are installed in the third floor roof...these will help to illuminate the bedrooms, as they only have one window each. A third skylight will go in between to illuminate the hallway below.
Inside the third floor, 8' ceiling is taking shape...original plans called for ceiling height of 7'6, but it was no problem to raise it to 8'. We wanted to expand the spaces as much as possible, and both bedrooms will have ceiling fans, so the additional height will be an asset. Knee walls are also in the works, and the space between the knee walls and the roof will provide us with 4 crawl spaces for storage. (Not sure what we'll store there just yet...)
The third floor bath is visible on the left...it juts out from the roofline on the back side of the house. It is not a large bath, but will probably be used the least (shared by J-Bird and Sissy). Third floor still needs doorways, closets, exerior sheathing, interior skylight framing, and crawl spaces finished.
Meanwhile, at the end of the week our excavators returned to install the french drain system. The black cloth is laid over a layer of stones which covers the black perforated tubing which is supposed to carry any water away from the foundation. More stones will be placed on top of this cloth before the final backfilling is done. The finished ground level will follow the top edge of the blue foam...which is why we cut it at an angle.
Here is the stone on top of the tubing, before the cloth has been laid down.
Inside view of the Velux Sky Tunnels (on the right and left), and the opening for the woodstove vent pipe in the middle. Once the ceiling is finished and the other halves of the sky tunnels are installed, the light will be diffused throughout the room.
Dad and I started installing electrical boxes on the second floor...kitchen wall outlets here.
Master bedroom, wall on left faces the driveway...main floor bath framing visible on the right... (I'm making a few changes here now that I see how the space works).
And...our windows are here! I'm so anxious to see them in place! We have been struggling with molding choices around the windows...I keep envisioning wide brown boards setting off the white vinyl windows from the fern green siding. When we saw the windows we realized that we had ordered them with a wide white brick molding already attached, so we decided to drop the brown trim board idea. More money saved!
Next week is shaping up to be a busy one, so
Stay tuned,
Kris
Shingling is in process here. I am amazed that these men will do this job...it is so dangerous! It is a learned skill, like so many others, but one slip while up on the roof could be disastrous. They have been in my prayers. Amish Ray even worked a day and a half...by himself...because one of his helpers was on vacation and another pulled a muscle. Would YOU climb out on that roof ALL BY YOURSELF to shingle a stranger's house? It's not like anyone would know if he fell! Brave, brave man.
Two of the three rectangular Velux skylights are installed in the third floor roof...these will help to illuminate the bedrooms, as they only have one window each. A third skylight will go in between to illuminate the hallway below.
Inside the third floor, 8' ceiling is taking shape...original plans called for ceiling height of 7'6, but it was no problem to raise it to 8'. We wanted to expand the spaces as much as possible, and both bedrooms will have ceiling fans, so the additional height will be an asset. Knee walls are also in the works, and the space between the knee walls and the roof will provide us with 4 crawl spaces for storage. (Not sure what we'll store there just yet...)
The third floor bath is visible on the left...it juts out from the roofline on the back side of the house. It is not a large bath, but will probably be used the least (shared by J-Bird and Sissy). Third floor still needs doorways, closets, exerior sheathing, interior skylight framing, and crawl spaces finished.
Meanwhile, at the end of the week our excavators returned to install the french drain system. The black cloth is laid over a layer of stones which covers the black perforated tubing which is supposed to carry any water away from the foundation. More stones will be placed on top of this cloth before the final backfilling is done. The finished ground level will follow the top edge of the blue foam...which is why we cut it at an angle.
Here is the stone on top of the tubing, before the cloth has been laid down.
Inside view of the Velux Sky Tunnels (on the right and left), and the opening for the woodstove vent pipe in the middle. Once the ceiling is finished and the other halves of the sky tunnels are installed, the light will be diffused throughout the room.
Dad and I started installing electrical boxes on the second floor...kitchen wall outlets here.
Master bedroom, wall on left faces the driveway...main floor bath framing visible on the right... (I'm making a few changes here now that I see how the space works).
And...our windows are here! I'm so anxious to see them in place! We have been struggling with molding choices around the windows...I keep envisioning wide brown boards setting off the white vinyl windows from the fern green siding. When we saw the windows we realized that we had ordered them with a wide white brick molding already attached, so we decided to drop the brown trim board idea. More money saved!
Next week is shaping up to be a busy one, so
Stay tuned,
Kris
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Framing Week #4 (Lots of pictures!)
Monday, June 29, 2009...Work continues on the third floor rafters. Daniel (on the right) and his helper (left) are installing the roof overhang supports. I don't know how they work up there...not only it it 3 stories high, but the driveway is so steep that it makes it feel more like 5.
Daniel at the peak. The weather was beautiful...as was the view, I'm sure.
Ray out back working on the third floor bath bump-out:
Continuing on the overhang supports:
Perhaps Daniel had too much roof work for now...they've traded places:
Sheathing begins on the front side of the third floor...Ray and Daniel combine strength and agility 3 stories high...not for the faint of heart!
Hubby took this week off to get started on a few of our projects. First up...constructing the box that will support the outdoor furnace. We used some of the treated lumber that was on site...hope they don't miss it!
My dad was on hand this week as well...to help out where needed and to evaluate the plumbing situation. He thinks we have a few challenges ahead...has that ever stopped us before?
Once the box was constructed, we prepared the location and set it in place. We prepared the box to accommodate corrugated conduit, which will carry the PEX tubing that carries the heated water into the house. But we realized our measurements were a bit off, so the conduit was removed and will hook into the furnace from outside the box. Here hubby is bringing in a load of 2B stone:
The box is filled, and we're placing deck blocks in the corners to support the furnace legs. Leveling the blocks is crucial...we don't want the furnace tumbling down the hill.
Ahhhh...a thing of beauty. You don't think so? Well, if you'd worked as hard as we did putting this thing in place...you WOULD think so, I'm sure.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009...Rained a lot this morning. No work at the homesite.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009...Of all the days to forget the camera...this was NOT the one. Perhaps the most excitement so far took place today...and we didn't capture it. Moving the furnace into place proved to be a huge challenge. Ray thought he could lift it into place with the Skytrak...but the combination of incline and soggy ground from the day before prevented us from completing the job. He got stuck...Hubby had to pull him out with the Magnatrac...he nearly tipped his machine over...and ended up setting the furnace down rather rapidly (though skillfully) so this is where it ended up...it's propped up and tied to a tree for now...waiting for our excavator to try his machinery next week:
Thursday, July 2, 2009...After that excitement...we were ready to attempt something a little less stressful...backfilling inside the footers. Hubby purchased this steel ramp at university salvage a year or so ago, and it really came in handy for this job.
Hubby was cautious entering and exiting the garage...there were only a few inches to spare:
The ramp allowed Hubby to bring the stones right into the basement and dump them where needed...A LOT faster than using the wheelbarrow!
As always, J-Bird jumps right in to lend a hand. He is learning to find satisfaction in hard work, and for that, we are thankful.
Hubby on his way in with another load:
Hubby maneuvered around the many obstacles with ease:
Looking from the ground floor bathroom towards the garage area...you can see the clearances are pretty tight:
J-Bird working at breaking up several chunks of excess concrete, poured out onto the ground (and basically wasted) after the footers were completed. We should've thought ahead to build some forms to capture any extra material...we paid for it...now it'll just become expensive fill.
I-Bird perched in his future bedroom window...watching his brother?
Meanwhile, the building crew is installing rafters in the great room. The rafters are cut from 2" x 12" x 22' boards...they extend from the peak of the roof out over the porch. They cut one rafter to use as a pattern and used that pattern to mark all the others. The pattern piece was the last one to be nailed in place.
Another view of the great room rafters...looks like a giant ribcage:
This is looking from the far end of the great room towards the center hall. You can see the roof line (with the black felt paper adhered) extending down into the great room. We think there will be a section of vertical wall built and installed here (so the angled roof section will be hidden).
The peak of the roof overhang on the deck. Someone...some time...will have to get up there and stain that treated roof support beam. Any volunteers?
This is the view roughly westward out of my future kitchen door. There will be a small landing here and steps down to the yard on this side of the house. The garden will be on the other side of the rock piles in the foreground.
We decided not to spend money on a dumpster. We've been sorting and stacking the scrap wood...there's quite a lot leftover so far. The boys will have lots of project fodder! We're bagging the unusable trash and will dispose of it at the local dump.
Panoramic view. The felt paper is adhered to the third floor roof, and bathroom bump-out is sheathed and ready for finishing.
We finished installing rigid foam to the back wall, but still have the sides to do. We removed 2 bracing boards to use for leveling the wood furnace, and those foam panels came loose. We're not sure what happened, but the rest of the foam seems to be sufficiently adhered.
Looking up towards great room...front porch posts and roof supports are in place...it is HIGH up there!
One day soon there will be a different vehicle parked in the garage...and we'll be able to call this place HOME. We can't wait!
Daniel at the peak. The weather was beautiful...as was the view, I'm sure.
Ray out back working on the third floor bath bump-out:
Continuing on the overhang supports:
Perhaps Daniel had too much roof work for now...they've traded places:
Sheathing begins on the front side of the third floor...Ray and Daniel combine strength and agility 3 stories high...not for the faint of heart!
Hubby took this week off to get started on a few of our projects. First up...constructing the box that will support the outdoor furnace. We used some of the treated lumber that was on site...hope they don't miss it!
My dad was on hand this week as well...to help out where needed and to evaluate the plumbing situation. He thinks we have a few challenges ahead...has that ever stopped us before?
Once the box was constructed, we prepared the location and set it in place. We prepared the box to accommodate corrugated conduit, which will carry the PEX tubing that carries the heated water into the house. But we realized our measurements were a bit off, so the conduit was removed and will hook into the furnace from outside the box. Here hubby is bringing in a load of 2B stone:
The box is filled, and we're placing deck blocks in the corners to support the furnace legs. Leveling the blocks is crucial...we don't want the furnace tumbling down the hill.
Ahhhh...a thing of beauty. You don't think so? Well, if you'd worked as hard as we did putting this thing in place...you WOULD think so, I'm sure.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009...Rained a lot this morning. No work at the homesite.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009...Of all the days to forget the camera...this was NOT the one. Perhaps the most excitement so far took place today...and we didn't capture it. Moving the furnace into place proved to be a huge challenge. Ray thought he could lift it into place with the Skytrak...but the combination of incline and soggy ground from the day before prevented us from completing the job. He got stuck...Hubby had to pull him out with the Magnatrac...he nearly tipped his machine over...and ended up setting the furnace down rather rapidly (though skillfully) so this is where it ended up...it's propped up and tied to a tree for now...waiting for our excavator to try his machinery next week:
Thursday, July 2, 2009...After that excitement...we were ready to attempt something a little less stressful...backfilling inside the footers. Hubby purchased this steel ramp at university salvage a year or so ago, and it really came in handy for this job.
Hubby was cautious entering and exiting the garage...there were only a few inches to spare:
The ramp allowed Hubby to bring the stones right into the basement and dump them where needed...A LOT faster than using the wheelbarrow!
As always, J-Bird jumps right in to lend a hand. He is learning to find satisfaction in hard work, and for that, we are thankful.
Hubby on his way in with another load:
Hubby maneuvered around the many obstacles with ease:
Looking from the ground floor bathroom towards the garage area...you can see the clearances are pretty tight:
J-Bird working at breaking up several chunks of excess concrete, poured out onto the ground (and basically wasted) after the footers were completed. We should've thought ahead to build some forms to capture any extra material...we paid for it...now it'll just become expensive fill.
I-Bird perched in his future bedroom window...watching his brother?
Meanwhile, the building crew is installing rafters in the great room. The rafters are cut from 2" x 12" x 22' boards...they extend from the peak of the roof out over the porch. They cut one rafter to use as a pattern and used that pattern to mark all the others. The pattern piece was the last one to be nailed in place.
Another view of the great room rafters...looks like a giant ribcage:
This is looking from the far end of the great room towards the center hall. You can see the roof line (with the black felt paper adhered) extending down into the great room. We think there will be a section of vertical wall built and installed here (so the angled roof section will be hidden).
The peak of the roof overhang on the deck. Someone...some time...will have to get up there and stain that treated roof support beam. Any volunteers?
This is the view roughly westward out of my future kitchen door. There will be a small landing here and steps down to the yard on this side of the house. The garden will be on the other side of the rock piles in the foreground.
We decided not to spend money on a dumpster. We've been sorting and stacking the scrap wood...there's quite a lot leftover so far. The boys will have lots of project fodder! We're bagging the unusable trash and will dispose of it at the local dump.
Panoramic view. The felt paper is adhered to the third floor roof, and bathroom bump-out is sheathed and ready for finishing.
We finished installing rigid foam to the back wall, but still have the sides to do. We removed 2 bracing boards to use for leveling the wood furnace, and those foam panels came loose. We're not sure what happened, but the rest of the foam seems to be sufficiently adhered.
Looking up towards great room...front porch posts and roof supports are in place...it is HIGH up there!
One day soon there will be a different vehicle parked in the garage...and we'll be able to call this place HOME. We can't wait!
Friday, July 3, 2009
Insulating the Concrete Walls
June 28, 2009...With the completion of the waterproofing of the poured concrete walls, it was time to add rigid foam panels to the exterior...not only for an extra 7.5R in insulating value, but as an added barrier against moisture in the ground floor rooms. These foam panels are 24" x 8', and are tongue-and-grooved (sort of) to fit tightly together.
We realized that following the manufacturer's directions would require approximately one tube of adhesive per sheet, so we decided to try to make do with a little less, and use extra lumber from the building site to hold the panels in place until they were adhered to the walls. J-Bird was perched on the plateau behind the house and set the boards in place as we glued the panels.
It drizzled on and off all day, but besides that, working conditions were pleasant.
The younger boys were go-fers...going for the boards as J-Bird needed them. They really pitched in and helped quite a bit.
Hubby and my dad are holding a panel in place as J-Bird places the support.
And not to be left out...Sissy comes with her contribution. Because of the constant drizzle and mud, she was absolutely filthy by the time we headed home.
We're almost 3/4 finished with the back. Rafters are defining the third floor roof line.
Here's a different angle...looking up from the lower yard.
Stay tuned,
Kris
We realized that following the manufacturer's directions would require approximately one tube of adhesive per sheet, so we decided to try to make do with a little less, and use extra lumber from the building site to hold the panels in place until they were adhered to the walls. J-Bird was perched on the plateau behind the house and set the boards in place as we glued the panels.
It drizzled on and off all day, but besides that, working conditions were pleasant.
The younger boys were go-fers...going for the boards as J-Bird needed them. They really pitched in and helped quite a bit.
Hubby and my dad are holding a panel in place as J-Bird places the support.
And not to be left out...Sissy comes with her contribution. Because of the constant drizzle and mud, she was absolutely filthy by the time we headed home.
We're almost 3/4 finished with the back. Rafters are defining the third floor roof line.
Here's a different angle...looking up from the lower yard.
Stay tuned,
Kris
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