HUNTING SEASON, RAIN & SNOW

WEEK TEN-- The title tells the tale for this week.

Frank set up his hunting blind on our first floor deck. The weather was miserable--cold and wet. Tuesday evening he took a shot at a doe.....and missed! That's not like him. Neither he or John had sited in their rifles, so it's our theory that it/they were not sited properly. John spent more time out than Frank did. He shot a doe from off the back porch, where it was dry, Wednesday afternoon. He got it, but not where he tried to. (More proof of not being sited in.) This was his first success in eight years of hunting.

Frank was able to put the shed where we want it.

Most of the week was cold, wet, and windy. We tried to work on the house, marking in where doors, windows, switches and outlets were to be placed. The cold and damp made it raw and not suitable to do any thing. We gave up on all but trying to keep water from going through the deck into the basement. Wednesday morning we decided to try tar paper. I tore the plastic off, and blew water off the deck. Frank went for the tar paper. Just as we started putting it on, it started to rain. We finished half of it, getting soaked and cold, but gave up after that. Friday our large tarps came. We planned to put them on Saturday. Frank awoke to snow on our back doorstep (by the radar.) He hurried out to spread the tarps. By the time I woke up and got out, the tarps were on, and so was some snow. I helped with weighting it down.

The next sunny time we have, we will try tying it down around the sides. We would also like to try to do the layout again.


Since the news is sparse, I thought I'd add this picture of our driveways. Notice the fancy "K".

Rain Delays

Week Five.

This has been a disappointing week. Since the basement floor is poured, and all the bundles of supplies are at the site, we would like to put in some work on the house. The weather, however, has not cooperated most of the week. One wet day, Frank tried to dig a trench for the electric. He used the tractor, and that didn't work. Then he either rented or borrowed another implement, but couldn't get the trench deep enough. Craig had promised to come today and dig it for us, but never showed.

Frank did get the meter box ready to go. We have no idea when the electric company will come to connect us. We do know that the work order is in and the bill is paid.






One sunny day, gravel arrived for the main lane--getting it ready for winter. It's a good time, because we should not have any more heavy equipment coming for our house. We will have another truck deliver our windows and doors plus other supplies, but that should not be as heavy as the others. The same sunny day we also received a load of gravel. Now our lower driveway looks like this.






We had visitors this week, and they weren't trick-or-treaters. They were bovines of the longhorn variety. They visited two nights in a row, and they left more than these prints! They visited both houses and messed up some of Johnya's newly sown lawn. Frank also chased them today--just before an ATV came looking for them. I think they've been moved to a new pasture, and the fence isn't doing what it should.





Our two little trick-or treaters were out last night. John and Tonya take them to a friend's house in a smaller town, and they go out a little there, as well as have a party. It was so cute yesterday. The girls were down in their room, singing, "I love Halloween!"

We were able to get a couple things done this week, in spite of the rain. We ordered a garage door. We finished laying the sill plate.



We also managed to place the permanent posts.


Little by little, our supplies are diminishing, but there are still many bundles to go. Our invitation remains open. If you want to help out, come on over. We'll find a hammer, and we still have plenty of nails!

Week Two

Week two is now history, and I have progress to show you.

My main accomplishments for the week have been to become more involved with the meals, cleaning, laundry, and watering plants. My cold and Sciatic problem are improving. I applied for and received a library card and a Giant Eagle card. After all, one must be equipped for life. I have repacked and listed all the food and cleaning supplies I brought along. Now we can check the list before buying more. Frank and I have made a dent in the contents of the PODS unit, trying to find things we need or want. I tried doing some mending, and realized that I had packed my CD player cord as my sewing machine cord. I thought about trying to find the correct cord, and thought it could easily be a time consuming and hopeless project. Back out to the PODS. And EUREKA!! It was the second box I checked! Therefore I have mended and painted--just a little.

Meanwhile, Frank has accomplished several projects. He has built a loft in the garage for storage, and helped move things up. He has added lighting to the loft and the garage itself. He has laid a cork floor in the mud room, and fitted it with base trim. (Hence my painting.) He has made several runs to various towns for supplies. He leveled a place for our house package when it arrives next week. He has nearly completed compost bins for us to use. His newest project is getting tools ready to use on the house--new sturdy sawhorse and a new stand for his saw.

Monday Mike returned to work on our driveway. At least three loads of stone were brought in.

Thursday, however, we both did little but watch. Superior Walls came and installed our basement walls! We thought it was exciting to see a hole for the house, but now, to see the beginnings of our dream house take shape--words fail me!! They brought the whole thing on one truck, which necessitated it being pushed up the long driveway. Luckily there was very little damage to the drive.








Then a tall crane began setting each section. These were secured to the previous section.







Joe, the foreman, decided the new guy was taking too long to hook each section to the crane. He decided to take a little nap on top of the wall while waiting.





And now, the shape of our dream house is apparent.






There followed more work on our driveway.

Meanwhile Johnya's have gone on vacation to John's college class reunion and to visit his sister in her new home.

What will next week hold? Hopefully, Superior Walls will return to pour the basement floor, but we have not heard from them yet. But on Friday, two semis are scheduled to bring everything we need to start the building itself!