Catch Up

I have to play catch up because it has been awhile since my last post. I have been filling time working through small projects trying to prepare for the rush of August and September. I got the chimney tore out of the back room and the new footer poured. The mason is coming next week to price the new one so we can have some heat. It seems like no matter how far down the line we go, there is always something left to be demolished. I got the old chestnut beam I saved from our old shed installed as the support for the floor around the stair case. I love to recycle and especially when it is some old rare wood. I have been able to notice the days getting shorter so the panic is about to set in.

Day Six...Thursday

Well, another day flanked with thunderstorms but due to the amount of work already accomplished we had a fairly easy finish. we got the dormer walls framed and the sheeting put on them. We put in a few ceiling joists upstairs and set all the windows. A big thanks to Michael for all his hard work...could not have done it with out him. We are pretty much dried in now and only have to collect the trash in the yard to pack the dumpster for a wrap. It has been a long week, hope everyone has enjoyed the progress as much as we have.

Day Five...Wednesday

Big day today finishing more than expected again. We started by sheeting the other half of the main roof. We had the main house dried in by 10:00am. As soon as that was done we made the decision to tear off the side roof. The rain threatened all day and finally caught up to us with 3 sheets of plywood left...the bottom dropped out. We were able to get finished up a little wet. The house really took some shape today. We ran into some wormy chestnut today which was a good thing but not before discovering some asbestos siding. Just one more thing to deal with.

Day Four....Tuesday

Well...the day started with a couple hours of rain of course but the good Lord helped keep morality high and once again more was accomplished than imagined. We framed the gable end walls first and then moved to the roof. Wade and Mom loaded round two of the 30 yard dumpsters. The sun peeked out for a couple hours so we sheeted the 10/12 sections first and then moved on to the dormer roof. Black clouds were looming constantly but the storms kept breaking up right before they hit us. We ended up drying in 1/2 of the house and sheeting both ends. Todd's trigger finger was smoking by 5:00 but without fast finger we would never have made it so far. Thanks Bud.

Day Three....Monday

Well...the day started with a heavy fog and no optimism. We started framing the first wall after laying out the plates and discovering how bowed to exterior walls were. Not much accomplished as of 9:30am. We soon got over the minor stuff and got down to business. By lunch we had the two side walls framed and almost sheeted. We began the rafters about 12:30 and every time I would hand one up I would threaten bonuses for those who finished the roof in one day. We ended up getting all the rafters on and the roof covered up by about 6:00pm. Using a single ridge beam was crucial to this operation. Mike, Todd, Wade, and Mom were my all-stars. The long tiring day was so worth it to see the look on Maranda's (money makers) face when she got home...as if we don't work while she is away.

Day Two....Sunday

Not much to speak of today. We went to church and were hoping got get a jump on the week but it seemed to rain every hour. I did not want to take all the tarps off only to get caught in a shower. We picked up the windows from town and got a movie. I think we are out of containers to catch water if anyone could spare any. The dogs are even depressed.

Day One.... Saturday

Well an exciting beginning to the start of our big week. I got started about 6:30am preparing to tear off the roof. Michael showed up about 7:30 to my surprise and I could not have been more pleased. We got the tear off done by 11:30am thanks to Mom, Dad, Mike, Gardner, Maranda, Jenna, John, Wade, Wells, and Myself. We got a little we about 3/4 of the way through. The weatherman has said rain but we don't have any other options. We took an early lunch and immediately after started putting in the rim joist and finishing the plywood subfloor. It seemed like every hour it would rain a little, but we kept pushing on. I still find it hard to believe no one got hurt. Anyway, with about one small piece of plywood to go the good Lord decided to bless this parched country with a downpour. You can't complain for the rain and the sound of drops in about 50 randomly placed pans, pots, and buckets makes quite soothing music as we lay hunkered down in this blessing of a house. The entire inside is soaked and we have plastic covering anything of value. There are only three places to be right now...under the two dry places in the house or the shower.