Two steps forward, one step back

The first floor decking is done. There are 4 walls amd you can see where the windows and doors will be. It is beginning to look like a house. We have a few good things like the walls are up and they look good. We will not be having a masonary chimney. Not enough footer for it. We have about 10 inches and needed at least 12. So, back to the original plan. The basment plumbing is done and inspected. Now the basement floor can be poured. This is to be completed today, I understand. The last of the supplies are being delivered tomorrow morning. Between 7 and 11 AM. It is my day off and the old guy is working. Guess who gets to be there... Yup, me. I will be fine. More time to knit or stitch or read. Down side, no bathroom. Then there were a couple of oopsies. The plumber got stuck in the septic system. He was looking in the wrong rear view mirror? and talking on his phone and backed right in. Ooopsie. At least we know that AAA can get up the hill. Then there was the person in the construction crew that backed the big piece of equipment into the garage wall. Poundage wins. The wall came down. Again, oopsie. AAA was not able to help here. The blocklayers will be coming back a little sooner than originally planned. Things are moving along pretty quickly. Much faster than I anticipated. I am beginning to wonder if Christmas in the new house might, maybe, be possible. We will see, now, won't we?

Finally, really this time.

It has been awhile. It seemed that all I was doing was whining. I will try to stop that. We have, really, finally begun. We have a hole, filled with block and waiting on the plumbing to be done wo the floors can be poured. We have a small pond, soon to be twice as big, as it is really pretty small. The old guy was talking about a dock. The boy laughed out loud. He intimated that a dock of any respectable size would span the pond. Most people agree, as do I. Apparently public opinion wins. It will be bigger. Then he can consider a dock. He really wants a dock. I, on the other hand, want a zip line, fish and wood duck nesting posts. We will see. We have lumber and logs. Yes, they came. On a big ole truck, up the still nasty but much better driveway. Dave, the builder, is busily setting the deck and microlam and waiting on further info regarding the chimney. The mason has indicated he can build and face a masonary chimney for about what we have budgeted for a nonmasonary one. Ths pleases all the men as it seems it is far superior when it comes to functionality and saftey. This change will require another approval from the county building commission royalty. We will need to get a drawing and then have an opportunity to hold court with them for possible approval. If not given, we are back to the original drawings and the nonmasonary chimney. Again, time will tell here. We went and looked at bricks and stone for the chimney. Apparently, I have expensive taste. I like the hand made bricks versus the machine made ones and managed to pick out one of the most expensive of the lovely stones they have on site. There was also a charming brick firepit type structure outside the building. Very nice. The old guy wants one. I think it would look fine outide the walkout lower level. Or by the pond. With a bench or two. Next to the dock. According to my niece, Julie, many more exciting shopping forays are in my future. She and my sister-in-law, Debbie, can hardly wait. Lighting, bathroom stuff, flooring, wall covering, carpeting, countertops, to say nothing about bath linens, leather furniture and heaven knows what else. The list seemss endless. They are incredibly excited about this. I wish they lived closer. In the meantime, if it gets to where nothing more can be done until approval is received, Dave will begin working on the garage. This is a stick built ediface and has no chimney. If it takes too long, the garage may be complete. Which might require a garage warming party, or something like that. It will probably involve the barrel of Jack Daniels that Paula is considering purchasing at Sam's Club. It is apprently a steal at a mere $8,000. I hope it is enough to get through the weekend.

Tomorrow, tomorrow

Digging will begin tomorrow. At least that is the plan at this time. The dozer is already there. He went out and checked. No surprise there. He has swept the barn, cleaned the barn windows and arranged the chairs. More chairs will be taken in the am. He is prepared to make coffee and take cinnamon rolls. This is after all, an official BIG DEAL. Friends are planning on being there to watch and kibits with him. I have no option but to be in attendance. I will, of course, bring my knitting. As I have no excavation skills, my kibitzing rights are nil. We will be up and out early, I am sure of that. I have no idea how long this part will take. I have to work tomorrow afternoon, so I will probably miss the finale. He will fill me in.

And, we are off. In a manner of speaking.

Yesterday was a banner day. We went from no block layers to three of them. We have chosen one, and he has given us good advise. A call to the excavator and we are off... Digging will commence in one week. The footers will go in immediately after and the laying of block will start a few days after the footers are done. Yesterday we had the ground breaking with a smallish group of family and friends. At least it seemed smallish until we went for ice cream. It seemed much bigger inside. The old guy made the toast... "To the house. May she go up fast and easy, stand long and strong and serve this family well for generations to come. To the house." There was consumption of Crown Royal Maple and assorted other beverages, a little digging (the ground was very hard and dry) and we went and ate ice cream at The Olde Mill. Before we started all of this, a trip to our current barn found quite a surprise. There is a hornet's nest inside that is bigger than a bushel basket. Yes, bigger than a bushel basket. A little terrifying if you ask me. I don't even want to imagine how many of those little winged beasties there are living inside. There was a challenge issued regarding specific male body parts and the destruction of said nest that was accepted by our son, known in family circles as the boy. This separates him from his father and his son, all John's. That aside. the boy went out after we came back and looked it over and sprayed alot of bug stuff on the giant nest. He left the light on so he could go out later and see how well he had done and to get into the barn for continued assassination attempts. Good idea, but not so much. Hornets like light. They buzz and fly around in the day time. They go to bed when it gets dark. While it may have been night time outside, inside it was high noon. No sleeping hornets. Indeed, there were many kinda sorta confused and angry hornets. He sprayed. They counter attacked. They won. He got to the light and turned it off and ran for the house. There were no stings but not because they didn't try. It is hoped they will calm down in a day or two and we can try again, at night, in the dark. Maybe, by then, they will have forgotten what we look like. One can only hope. More on this later. Many thanks to those that braved the heat and threatened downpours to came out and celebrate with us yesterday. When the logs start to go up, there is promise of barn porch sitting, stitching and knitting, Crown sipping, lots of kibitzing and maybe a little cigar smoking while we watch the spectacle. We are all looking forward to this.

Still no blocks

Okay. This has officially passed into the ridiculous. No block layer. The second one we thought we had has become non communicative, once he found out we already have an excavator and only need concrete and block work done. He has not returned a call in about a week. I am ready to get someone on my own. The neighbor next door says he knows someone that lays block, but no, we can't call him because we might piss someone off, per the old guy. Well, do I count at all? On top of that, he wants to have the ground breaking. Now. Like immediately. Like, isn't this a bit premature? No, he wants to do it NOW!!! Okay. What ever. I am becoming very weary of this project an it is not yet even a hole in the ground. So, tomorrow around 3 PM, we will dig a few shovels of dirt, drink a toast and repair to The Olde Mill for ice cream. Joy! The builder is still out of town, I believe. Is it possible that when he gets back that he will be home long enough to get this thing rolling? Or will he, too, disappear again? I am concerned that he is not going to be able to give our project his full attention if and when it gets going. He seems to be a very busy man. Yes, I am negative today. Maybe we can get the first guy for blocks and the second guy for concrete work and skip the second go between all together, since he is the one not talking. I am tired and it is only 10 AM. On the other hand, apparently the logs will be part of the log folks Fall program. The have a seminar type thingy in the fall, 2 weeks from now, that they use for showcasing their products, etc. Out logs will be the ones they will be using in the hand hewing demo. The old guy is so excited. He wants to go and watch. Of course he does. The logs have, again, been scheduled for delivery, now in late September. At the rate we are going, a new date may be needed. Maybe 3 times will be the charm. lets hope we can get this thing moving in the near future. I do believe that Christmas there is now absolutely out of the question. I am not sure that it will even be closed in by then. And I am not sure the driveway is up to a fall and winter build. But, then, that is another story that we will not go into right now.

Still waiting...

It is Friday, finally. Still no block layer. How hard can this be? We do have a line on a new one. We are waiting for an estimate. He is apparently available immediately so I hope the estimate fits into the alloted fianacial slot. Could we be so lucky? The old guy is gone again. He is back in Montana, basically the same area, just a different fire. The one they went for is mostly contained and has been given to a Type 3 team for monitering. The were assigned to another, the Schoolhouse or the Lolo, I am not sure which or maybe it is both run together, but it got really big, really fast. It evidently went to crown with big wind. The have now assigned it to a Type 1 team and they will close out tomorrow. They are being staaged in Missoula for a day or two based on weather predictions for wind with dry lightening. So, nice beds, great food, laundry and, based on what he says, boredom. Nothing to do but wait. He is not a good waiter, nor the others, I bet. What they do is a bit of an adrenaline rush and they kinda like it, or they wouldn't be there. If they get do not get a new assignment by Monday, they will probably disband and go home for a day or two to reset their clock and then come back for a new stint. Right now it is at a level 5 nationally. This means that they can be kept indefinately, for 21 days at least. The old guy will probably just hole up out there rather than come home. Coming home would mean 2 days to travel and then 2 more days to rest, in addition to the cost of tickets on a right now basis both ways. Most of the rest of the team are more local and they drive to and from, approx 2-3 hours one way so the 4 days he would use is far greater than any of the rest of the team. It would be much cheaper time and money wise to stay. But, as it is with this business, time alone will tell what happens. Mother Nature is absolutely in the driver's seat and she doesn't give out details of the trip she has planned. I work all weekend so I will be busy at least. The gal next door has a birthday tomorrow and her husband is having a surprise party tomorrow night. I will probably go for a bit after work. We have really great neighbors. One downside to moving. The kids are good kids and keep my lawn mowed while the old guy is gone. They like the cash and I like that I don't have to wrestle the mower around. It is a win win situation. This is the first year all 3 of the boys are in school. Kristi will graduate from nursing school in December. This has bee a trying couple of years for them but they seem to be bearing up pretty well. She is a good student and will graduate with honors, unless something unforseen happens. Her husband is so proud of her, and rightly so. I look forward to watching her graduate almost as much as our daughter in law a few weeks ago. She, too, graduated with an associate in nursing. She missed graduating with honors by about a tenth of a point. I was as proud of her as I could be. She did well and it was not an easy task for her. Going back to school when you have been out for years is not the easiest thing to do. Both will make wonderful nurses and both will continue on for their bachelors degree. Well, I have certainly gotten off subject. But, like I said in the beginning, we are still waiting.

Tuesday, counting down til Wednesday

This is gonna be a long week.  You can tell when it seems like it should be the weekend and it is only Tuesday morning.  Geesh!

No movement in the house area.  Still looking for a block layer.  This is turning into a nightmare.  One of a minor type, but a nightmare anyway.  There is nothing we can do at this time but wait.  Yes, I know, I think I am a good waiter, but this is getting ridiculous.

On another subject, school has already started here.  It is 2 weeks until Labor Day.  What are they thinking?  Summer is short enough without kidnapping the last 2 weeks.  Yes, kids are getting bored by now, and it is not all that good for them to be away from school for 3 whole months, but...    If they want to go to school all year round and give kids a month or 6 weeks every quarter, that would be different.  That would be enough time for some good relaxing time and clearing your head time for both kids and teachers. Both of whom need it, by the way.  Would you want 30 kids penned up in one room for a whole day in your charge?  No thanks!  Teachers are saints and we do not value them enough.  Just sayin'.

But back to where I was.  The way they do it now seems like no one gets time to do anything in the scattered days off thru the year and then the summer stretches just a little too long. We might really do better with a year round school schedule.

Oh well, off to pharm.  Maybe it will not be a crazy day, although the moon was lookin' a little full last night.  But that is another couple of paragraphs that do not belong here today.