Heavy Equipment

Excavating

Mowing

Working fast because more rain is coming!

Big Beam

We got two very long 2 x 12's up to serve as a header beam between the kitchen and dining room today.

Two 2x12's screwed together (super strong!)

The 2 x 4's that were holding up that wall came out. It's exciting to see the big opening between the two rooms, even though you really have to squint and use your imagination that there will one day be a kitchen and dining room!

While we were working, this robin kept bumping up against the living room window.

I spent some time playing in the muddy clay left by the bobcat. I was trying to get the puddles to drain so that we can eventually finish the grading job. The clay was so heavy and sticky that I abandoned my tools and ended up just making channels with my finger.

I wasn't the only one who had been playing in the mud!

Bobcat

Tom's friend Mike was finally able to get a start on the grading on the up-hill side of the house -- a measure that we hope will improve the drainage and keep water away from the house. Tom and Mike also used the Bobcat to remove the concrete patio between the garage and the house.

Patio chunks

Rotted sill where concrete patio touched the house

Bobcat tracks (artsy shot)

Finished!

We brought in some extra help this week and got tons of work done on the exterior of the house, the kitchen, and the new bath. We can't wait to move in!

APRIL FOOLS!

HazMat Team

I'm going in!

The View from the "Kitchen"

We got a glimpse today of what the view will one day look like from the kitchen.

Marching Onward

It's felt like slow-going this month, probably because so much of what's been done isn't really visible. We've had a few days of warm weather though, and it's been wonderful to just open up the doors and windows and to do some work in the yard.
       A few weeks ago we finished the drainage work around the front part of the house. Dug the ditches, lined them with plastic, then put in drainage pipe wrapped in weed cloth, filled it with gravel, and then topped it off with sand. Easy, right?

Tom's been hard at work fixing the floor joists in the future kitchen, utility room, and bathroom. There was a bunch of rot and termite damage to contend with. The joists are sistered up with new 2x8's and now it's one SOLID floor!

For a few reasons, we're also jacking up all of the walls. The main reason is to slide some thin PVC between the concrete foundation (the blocks are open, not capped) and the sill plate as a termite prevention measure. The sound of the house creaking and groaning is...interesting.

PVC termite shield, with metal at seams

Today we started taking off the vinyl siding in preparation for installing some of the big windows across the back of the house.

We had to wonder, who was Joe?

We got a bonfire going to burn up an ever-growing brush pile and roasted some hot dogs.

And we enjoyed the view of the creek and a red-tailed hawk circling overhead.