For Halloween, our garage got a coat of house wrap and some windows. Before that, Gary and Jimmy replaced the chipboard on the back of the garage because it had warped from all the rain we got while Bud and I were on our trip last week.
Roofing is supposed to start tomorrow.
We had a great time tonight at Kentucky's first basketball game of the season -- a 99-64 win over Pikeville College.
On the way home, we clipped a deer. Fortunately for us (and probably for her too), there doesn't seem to be any damage to the Jeep -- not even a tiny deer hair on the edge of the bumper.
Because of that, Bud swears he thinks we probably just barely grazed her rear. I want to believe him because I love deer. I don't want to hurt them!
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Day 56: Oct. 30, 2007
Bud still was busy with other things today, so he didn't spend much time at the construction site. Unfortunately, it was one of those days when it's hard to tell exactly what went on without having been there.
The dormer's enclosed now. And Gary and Jimmy built the final eave return and put the finishing touches on all of them.
Looks like it was delivery day. Windows and a door! Shingles too.
The dormer's enclosed now. And Gary and Jimmy built the final eave return and put the finishing touches on all of them.
Looks like it was delivery day. Windows and a door! Shingles too.
Day 55: Oct. 29, 2007
Gary and Jimmy finished sheathing the sides of the garage, so it's completely enclosed except for the doors and windows and the front of the dormer. They also built the returns on the corners of the eaves.
And they put roofing paper on the back of the roof, which means it's now ready for shingles. Bud chose the color this afternoon, and the roofers are scheduled for later this week.
Bud continued to work on his mom's estate. He was appointed executor today. He and Kathy, who cleans both his mom's and dad's houses, made some progress at his mom's this afternoon.
And they put roofing paper on the back of the roof, which means it's now ready for shingles. Bud chose the color this afternoon, and the roofers are scheduled for later this week.
Bud continued to work on his mom's estate. He was appointed executor today. He and Kathy, who cleans both his mom's and dad's houses, made some progress at his mom's this afternoon.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Days 53-54: Oct. 27-28, 2007
Early in the construction process, when deliveries of lumber and block started arriving at the house, Gary and Jimmy made a sign for our front yard.
"Attractive" didn't exactly describe the creation of plywood and fluorescent orange paint, but it put the house number out there where delivery drivers couldn't miss it.
This weekend, someone apparently decided they'd had enough of our custom-built sign. We were glad nothing else around the house seemed to be disturbed.
We hung around our current house for most of the weekend. Cleaned cars. Cleared out some of the garden to get it ready for winter. Watched drag racing and football. Stuff like that. I bought a couple of new Kentucky shirts so I'd be prepared for the first game of basketball season next week.
After at least four calls, we're still trying to get Bud's mom's daily newspaper stopped. Luckily, she was a pay-by-the-month subscriber, so the problem should take care of itself by Thursday.
"Attractive" didn't exactly describe the creation of plywood and fluorescent orange paint, but it put the house number out there where delivery drivers couldn't miss it.
This weekend, someone apparently decided they'd had enough of our custom-built sign. We were glad nothing else around the house seemed to be disturbed.
We hung around our current house for most of the weekend. Cleaned cars. Cleared out some of the garden to get it ready for winter. Watched drag racing and football. Stuff like that. I bought a couple of new Kentucky shirts so I'd be prepared for the first game of basketball season next week.
After at least four calls, we're still trying to get Bud's mom's daily newspaper stopped. Luckily, she was a pay-by-the-month subscriber, so the problem should take care of itself by Thursday.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Day 52: Oct. 26, 2007
The chipboard's on the back half of the garage roof.
We're making some progress on Project Cabinet too. Brian, the guy from the place that uses CAD, called Bud yesterday to let him know our drawings are ready. I called Brian back today and set up an appointment for next week to take a look.
Also yesterday, the woman from the other cabinet place we visited a couple of weeks ago called me. She asked if we'd consider moving the location of the refrigerator. Although I'm not convinced it's a good idea, I agreed. If nothing else, it'll be interesting to see a different configuration.
I also called the Amish guy back today to reschedule the appointment we canceled last week. Now we've just got to get it together and take a look around Bud's mom's to see if there's any furniture we'd like to put in the kitchen. We know it would please her a ton for us to use her stuff.
We're making some progress on Project Cabinet too. Brian, the guy from the place that uses CAD, called Bud yesterday to let him know our drawings are ready. I called Brian back today and set up an appointment for next week to take a look.
Also yesterday, the woman from the other cabinet place we visited a couple of weeks ago called me. She asked if we'd consider moving the location of the refrigerator. Although I'm not convinced it's a good idea, I agreed. If nothing else, it'll be interesting to see a different configuration.
I also called the Amish guy back today to reschedule the appointment we canceled last week. Now we've just got to get it together and take a look around Bud's mom's to see if there's any furniture we'd like to put in the kitchen. We know it would please her a ton for us to use her stuff.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Day 51: Oct. 25, 2007
Back to work for me. And apparently for Gary and Jimmy too.
The garage has half a roof now, including roofing paper. It's not easy to tell from the photo, but there's no roof whatsoever on the back yet. I'm sure the guys have done other things too, but they're hard to pick out when Bud's not there to witness (and aid in) the progress.
Bud got started on his mom's estate today. It seems like just the other day that he finished with his dad's.
The garage has half a roof now, including roofing paper. It's not easy to tell from the photo, but there's no roof whatsoever on the back yet. I'm sure the guys have done other things too, but they're hard to pick out when Bud's not there to witness (and aid in) the progress.
Bud got started on his mom's estate today. It seems like just the other day that he finished with his dad's.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Day 50: Oct. 24, 2007
We drove until just before midnight Tuesday and, in an unusual move for us, decided to stop with about three or four hours to go. So we got home at about noon today, barely more than 48 hours after we set out.
Our new plan of leaving the final few hours of our trip until the last morning seemed to work well. Usually we arrive home in the wee hours, exhausted and ready for bed. This time, we were productive. I brought in and unpacked our things while Bud unloaded the motorcycles and put away the trailer.
We took care of a few errands around town (including checking out the building site, where the garage now features a partial roof), ate lunch and then took a several-hour nap. When we awoke, our mail had appeared magically, delivered by our wonderful neighbors, Mark and Debbie, who managed both our mail and our trash cans while we were gone.
After dinner, we relaxed for a while. And now Bud's gone to bed and I'm yawning.
Our new plan of leaving the final few hours of our trip until the last morning seemed to work well. Usually we arrive home in the wee hours, exhausted and ready for bed. This time, we were productive. I brought in and unpacked our things while Bud unloaded the motorcycles and put away the trailer.
We took care of a few errands around town (including checking out the building site, where the garage now features a partial roof), ate lunch and then took a several-hour nap. When we awoke, our mail had appeared magically, delivered by our wonderful neighbors, Mark and Debbie, who managed both our mail and our trash cans while we were gone.
After dinner, we relaxed for a while. And now Bud's gone to bed and I'm yawning.
Day 49: Oct. 23, 2007
After breakfast at the hotel, we headed to the Harley Vehicle and Powertrain Operations plant -- the birthplace of my motorcycle and many of the parts on Bud's. We had thought we'd ride there, but wake-up temperatures in the 30s cooled my interest in that plan.
We genuinely enjoyed the facility tour. It was interesting to see the stages of production. But I wondered if the employees felt a little like zoo animals as we tromped through their work areas and stared at them.
Following a visit to the gift shop, we unloaded both bikes for photos in front of the plant. From there, we loaded back up and drove across the river into Kansas to snap a couple of pictures. While we were stopped, we left the Jeep and trailer on the side of the road and zipped back across the river on Bud's bike to take photos with the Missouri sign.
Then we gassed up the Jeep, fed ourselves at Burger King and started up Interstate 29 toward the top of Missouri. We exited a few miles before Iowa and headed off to the left for a picture in Nebraska. Then it was back to the interstate and into Iowa.
And then we turned around and started toward home.
We genuinely enjoyed the facility tour. It was interesting to see the stages of production. But I wondered if the employees felt a little like zoo animals as we tromped through their work areas and stared at them.
Following a visit to the gift shop, we unloaded both bikes for photos in front of the plant. From there, we loaded back up and drove across the river into Kansas to snap a couple of pictures. While we were stopped, we left the Jeep and trailer on the side of the road and zipped back across the river on Bud's bike to take photos with the Missouri sign.
Then we gassed up the Jeep, fed ourselves at Burger King and started up Interstate 29 toward the top of Missouri. We exited a few miles before Iowa and headed off to the left for a picture in Nebraska. Then it was back to the interstate and into Iowa.
And then we turned around and started toward home.
Day 48: Oct. 22, 2007
Bud and I decided early this morning that we'd get out of town for a few days, a good move for our mental health. So by 11 a.m., we had said goodbye to Jamie and were on the road, motorcycles in tow -- with a round trip of about 1,600 miles ahead of us.
The national Harley Owners Group offers a contest each year that involves taking pictures of yourself, your motorcycle and an issue of the group's magazine at various locations. You receive points for cities and counties (the goal is to collect one of each to represent each letter of the alphabet), all 50 states, each Harley facility and a handful of other sites.
Bud's goal this year was 66 points, and we were down to the final six. He had planned this trip much earlier in the summer, when we thought we'd be able to ride it. But we had never found time.
On our itinerary: Iron County, Mo. (the only county that starts with 'I' in a several-state area!); Missouri; Kansas; Nebraska; Iowa; and the Harley plant in Kansas City.
We took a left at St. Louis and headed down to Iron County. We'd endured rain since entering Indiana hours earlier, but the downpour finally turned to a sprinkle just before we backed into a rarely used driveway and unloaded Bud's Wide Glide for the first photos. (We hauled my V-Rod along for the trip also, but we always take all of our contest photos with just his bike. Photos with two different bikes might not cause confusion, but why chance it?)
We loaded the bike back in the trailer and pointed ourselves toward Kansas City, encountering varying degrees of raininess along the way.
When we finally arrived at our hotel about 11 p.m. local time, we decided we weren't too tired to try our luck at a casino that was about a mile away. Fortunately, Bud fared better than I did, so part of our trip was financed by Harrah's. Hooray!
The national Harley Owners Group offers a contest each year that involves taking pictures of yourself, your motorcycle and an issue of the group's magazine at various locations. You receive points for cities and counties (the goal is to collect one of each to represent each letter of the alphabet), all 50 states, each Harley facility and a handful of other sites.
Bud's goal this year was 66 points, and we were down to the final six. He had planned this trip much earlier in the summer, when we thought we'd be able to ride it. But we had never found time.
On our itinerary: Iron County, Mo. (the only county that starts with 'I' in a several-state area!); Missouri; Kansas; Nebraska; Iowa; and the Harley plant in Kansas City.
We took a left at St. Louis and headed down to Iron County. We'd endured rain since entering Indiana hours earlier, but the downpour finally turned to a sprinkle just before we backed into a rarely used driveway and unloaded Bud's Wide Glide for the first photos. (We hauled my V-Rod along for the trip also, but we always take all of our contest photos with just his bike. Photos with two different bikes might not cause confusion, but why chance it?)
We loaded the bike back in the trailer and pointed ourselves toward Kansas City, encountering varying degrees of raininess along the way.
When we finally arrived at our hotel about 11 p.m. local time, we decided we weren't too tired to try our luck at a casino that was about a mile away. Fortunately, Bud fared better than I did, so part of our trip was financed by Harrah's. Hooray!
Monday, October 22, 2007
Day 47: Oct. 21, 2007
Bud, Jamie and I cleaned more food and cat things out of Bud's mom's house this morning.
During my nap time in the afternoon, they explored the building site and then went back to his mom's and cleaned out the refrigerator. We grilled for dinner. Jamie plans to fly back to Pennsylvania tomorrow.
I ran by the construction site before dinner and snapped a few photos. As you can see, the dormer's framed. I guess Gary and Jimmy got that finished Friday. When I talked to Gary on Wednesday afternoon, he said they wouldn't work Thursday.
During my nap time in the afternoon, they explored the building site and then went back to his mom's and cleaned out the refrigerator. We grilled for dinner. Jamie plans to fly back to Pennsylvania tomorrow.
I ran by the construction site before dinner and snapped a few photos. As you can see, the dormer's framed. I guess Gary and Jimmy got that finished Friday. When I talked to Gary on Wednesday afternoon, he said they wouldn't work Thursday.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Day 46: Oct. 20, 2007
We survived. Of course, it wasn't easy -- to live through or to write about. At least I can choose not to write about it yet.
Following the funeral and burial, Bud, Jamie and I went out to eat with my dad, my sister and her husband. Later, we dropped Jamie off at her mom's, and Bud and I came home.
I napped through the first half of the UK game. Jamie came back to visit at halftime, and we all watched the Cats lose together.
Jamie's gone back to her mom's now, and Bud's finally napping. I'm trying to figure out exactly what I should be doing.
Following the funeral and burial, Bud, Jamie and I went out to eat with my dad, my sister and her husband. Later, we dropped Jamie off at her mom's, and Bud and I came home.
I napped through the first half of the UK game. Jamie came back to visit at halftime, and we all watched the Cats lose together.
Jamie's gone back to her mom's now, and Bud's finally napping. I'm trying to figure out exactly what I should be doing.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Day 45: Oct. 19, 2007
Visitation was tonight. Bud was incredibly strong, and there were so many people to talk with that the two hours passed quickly.
When we got home, Bud, Jamie (his daughter) and I cracked open a bottle of Old McBrayer in honor of Bud's mom. It was a 90-year-old bottle of bourbon he bought online -- and it was amazingly smooth.
Tomorrow will be the hardest day.
When we got home, Bud, Jamie (his daughter) and I cracked open a bottle of Old McBrayer in honor of Bud's mom. It was a 90-year-old bottle of bourbon he bought online -- and it was amazingly smooth.
Tomorrow will be the hardest day.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Day 44: Oct. 18, 2007
We made Bud's mom's funeral arrangements this morning. Last night, Bud went through a drawerful of notes she had made about how she wanted things handled, what she wanted in her obituary, and so on. We did our best to honor each of those wishes.
At Bud's mom's house, we tossed a lot of food that had been opened -- crackers, cookies, like that. We also threw out the litter boxes.
We got out of town for the afternoon. When we returned, we checked on the construction site. It looks like Jesse finished up his wiring today. On Wednesday morning, the guys started to frame the garage dormer. I'll get a picture eventually.
At Bud's mom's house, we tossed a lot of food that had been opened -- crackers, cookies, like that. We also threw out the litter boxes.
We got out of town for the afternoon. When we returned, we checked on the construction site. It looks like Jesse finished up his wiring today. On Wednesday morning, the guys started to frame the garage dormer. I'll get a picture eventually.
Day 43: Oct. 17, 2007
Bud's mom died today. She was 82 but seemed to be in good physical health, so her death was completely unexpected. We're grateful she died peacefully in her sleep. Her love for Bud, her only child, was immeasurable.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Day 42: Oct. 16, 2007
The guys waited until the sprinkling stopped this morning and then climbed up to cut a hole at the spot where the access ladder will drop from the garage attic. Just then, the rain started pouring. So they finished the hole, and that was it for the day.
The remainder of the concrete block arrived before the hard rain too. We guess the block layers will be back again tomorrow since today was a no-go.
When the weather cleared in the afternoon, Jesse installed the electrical boxes for the garage.
The remainder of the concrete block arrived before the hard rain too. We guess the block layers will be back again tomorrow since today was a no-go.
When the weather cleared in the afternoon, Jesse installed the electrical boxes for the garage.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Day 41: Oct. 15, 2007
Gary and Jimmy squared the foundation for the great room this morning so the blocklayers could get to work.
After the foundation was under way, Gary and Jimmy put gutterboard on the ends of the garage rafters. After lunch, they placed studs at each end of the roof.
Jesse, the electrician, pulled the wiring from the house to the garage. He and Bud marked locations of switches and duplex plugs, so that Jesse can begin wiring the garage tomorrow.
The block guys also should be back tomorrow to finish the foundation.
After the foundation was under way, Gary and Jimmy put gutterboard on the ends of the garage rafters. After lunch, they placed studs at each end of the roof.
Jesse, the electrician, pulled the wiring from the house to the garage. He and Bud marked locations of switches and duplex plugs, so that Jesse can begin wiring the garage tomorrow.
The block guys also should be back tomorrow to finish the foundation.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Day 40: Oct. 14, 2007
We checked out the construction site this afternoon and found nothing new. But it's always nice to see everything that was there Friday still hanging around. All ladders, wheelbarrows and lumber were present and accounted for.
Bud picked a ton of lima beans yesterday afternoon, so we shelled those today. This year's garden also contributed tomatoes and corn on the cob to our delicious dinner. Sadly, it probably was one of the last times we'll grill out this season.
Fall and winter bring their own fun -- basketball season, big snows and snowcream, building fires in the fireplace, winter holidays. But the end of the garden always makes us sad.
This year, it's especially hard to say goodbye. Not only did we have an exceptional garden despite the drought, but we're also not sure where we'll plant our vegetables next year. There's plenty of yard beyond the Garage Mahal, but it's all so shady. And murdering another tree doesn't sound so appealing to me, even if we will replace it.
Bud picked a ton of lima beans yesterday afternoon, so we shelled those today. This year's garden also contributed tomatoes and corn on the cob to our delicious dinner. Sadly, it probably was one of the last times we'll grill out this season.
Fall and winter bring their own fun -- basketball season, big snows and snowcream, building fires in the fireplace, winter holidays. But the end of the garden always makes us sad.
This year, it's especially hard to say goodbye. Not only did we have an exceptional garden despite the drought, but we're also not sure where we'll plant our vegetables next year. There's plenty of yard beyond the Garage Mahal, but it's all so shady. And murdering another tree doesn't sound so appealing to me, even if we will replace it.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Friday, October 12, 2007
Day 38: Oct. 12, 2007
The garage is all raftery. (Coinciding with the official start of college basketball season. Must be a sign that Kentucky will win a national championship this year!) Gary, Jimmy and Tom finished them today.
Bud spent the day hanging around the other house waiting for the cable guy to show up with our CableCARD. (We've been using a box since we switched to digital last week.) When guy finally arrived, he didn't know how the heck to install the card. Bud said we were lucky to escape with our TV intact.
So the cable company is sending another guy tomorrow. An actual tech instead of a contractor. It can't be worse, right?
I made an appointment for next week with the Amish furniture makers. They'll probably be the last stop on our Cabinetmakers of the Region tour.
After that, we'll just wait for the estimates to come in, and then we'll choose. We're getting a little concerned about making a decision soon because, as you can see from the photo, the concrete block for the addition's foundation has arrived. The mortar mixer also was dropped off today, so we're guessing the block layers will show up early next week.
Bud spent the day hanging around the other house waiting for the cable guy to show up with our CableCARD. (We've been using a box since we switched to digital last week.) When guy finally arrived, he didn't know how the heck to install the card. Bud said we were lucky to escape with our TV intact.
So the cable company is sending another guy tomorrow. An actual tech instead of a contractor. It can't be worse, right?
I made an appointment for next week with the Amish furniture makers. They'll probably be the last stop on our Cabinetmakers of the Region tour.
After that, we'll just wait for the estimates to come in, and then we'll choose. We're getting a little concerned about making a decision soon because, as you can see from the photo, the concrete block for the addition's foundation has arrived. The mortar mixer also was dropped off today, so we're guessing the block layers will show up early next week.
Day 37: Oct. 11, 2007
Today was the first day of raftering.
Bud, Gary, Jimmy and Tom put chipboard around the top of the front and back of the garage. Then they put up the first section of ridgeboard (the board that runs horizontally along the peak of the roof) and rafters -- completing probably a little more than a third of them.
Bud and I visited the home of a couple whose cabinets came from the Amish cabinetmakers Gary and Jimmy recommended. The cabinets, and the rest of the house, were beautiful, and the couple had lots of helpful suggestions.
We're going to try to visit their cabinetmaker next week. It's about three hours away, though, and Wednesday promises to be busy for me at work. So we'll see.
Bud, Gary, Jimmy and Tom put chipboard around the top of the front and back of the garage. Then they put up the first section of ridgeboard (the board that runs horizontally along the peak of the roof) and rafters -- completing probably a little more than a third of them.
Bud and I visited the home of a couple whose cabinets came from the Amish cabinetmakers Gary and Jimmy recommended. The cabinets, and the rest of the house, were beautiful, and the couple had lots of helpful suggestions.
We're going to try to visit their cabinetmaker next week. It's about three hours away, though, and Wednesday promises to be busy for me at work. So we'll see.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Day 36: Oct. 10, 2007
Gary, Jimmy and Tom installed the rear ceiling joists in the garage today. They also placed chipboard down the middle of the ceiling; it's the beginning of the floor in the upstairs storage area.
Meanwhile, Bud and I checked out a more expensive use of wood during our cabinet-finding expedition.
First, we visited a place that will use computer-assisted drawing to show us how our finished kitchen will look. I'm excited about this because I've been worried that the upper cabinets will look strange since they'll be so tall. (No soffits and 9-foot ceilings, remember?)
We met with the owner, who showed us a few quick ideas and gave us a tour of the facility. He'll turn the project over to the company's designer, who'll e-mail us a first draft. I can't wait!
Our second stop was a dealer who sells the same line of custom cabinets we liked many, many weeks ago at our very first stop.
It turns out the dealers of this line have protected territories. And we live in the territory of the first dealer. Of course.
So I explained our experience with the other place (whose rep still hasn't called, BTW). Our new rep said she'd talk with the regional manager to make sure her store will be permitted to handle our project.
We gave her all our specifics, and we have our fingers crossed.
Meanwhile, Bud and I checked out a more expensive use of wood during our cabinet-finding expedition.
First, we visited a place that will use computer-assisted drawing to show us how our finished kitchen will look. I'm excited about this because I've been worried that the upper cabinets will look strange since they'll be so tall. (No soffits and 9-foot ceilings, remember?)
We met with the owner, who showed us a few quick ideas and gave us a tour of the facility. He'll turn the project over to the company's designer, who'll e-mail us a first draft. I can't wait!
Our second stop was a dealer who sells the same line of custom cabinets we liked many, many weeks ago at our very first stop.
It turns out the dealers of this line have protected territories. And we live in the territory of the first dealer. Of course.
So I explained our experience with the other place (whose rep still hasn't called, BTW). Our new rep said she'd talk with the regional manager to make sure her store will be permitted to handle our project.
We gave her all our specifics, and we have our fingers crossed.
Day 35: Oct. 9, 2007
The guys got started on the garage roof.
Bud, Gary, Jimmy and Tom cut the ceiling joists. Then, they lifted the 16-foot boards up and nailed them to the top plate at the front of the garage. In the center of the roof, they attached the joists to a board that they had secured to the top of the I-beam earlier.
Tomorrow, they'll place the rest of the joists (in the back half of the ceiling), which are 14-foot boards.
Also, Jesse installed the main breaker panel in the basement today.
Bud, Gary, Jimmy and Tom cut the ceiling joists. Then, they lifted the 16-foot boards up and nailed them to the top plate at the front of the garage. In the center of the roof, they attached the joists to a board that they had secured to the top of the I-beam earlier.
Tomorrow, they'll place the rest of the joists (in the back half of the ceiling), which are 14-foot boards.
Also, Jesse installed the main breaker panel in the basement today.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Day 34: Oct. 8, 2007
The ceiling beam arrived today in two pieces. After it was set in place and welded, the guys installed two permanent support poles. (Unfortunately, Bud had an appointment somewhere else this morning, so I don't have a lot of details about the process.)
Gary and Jimmy also framed the garage bathroom. And the HVAC guys were around much of the day too.
Big update. LOL.
Gary and Jimmy also framed the garage bathroom. And the HVAC guys were around much of the day too.
Big update. LOL.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Days 32-33: Oct. 6-7, 2007
We spent a mostly relaxing weekend hanging around the house we currently live in -- got caught up on some cleaning, laundry, other household stuff. We decided last week to try digital cable, so we marveled at the clarity of HDTV for a while.
On Friday, we tried a new-to-us sushi restaurant. The quality of the fish was excellent, and we enjoyed our servers too.
We went for a nice ride Saturday afternoon, taking advantage of the above-average fall temperatures, and also stopped by to visit Bud's mom. Her new cat isn't looking quite so kitteny anymore. He's become a juvenile with an incredibly long tail.
Bud found another cabinet place for us to try, so now we have three to visit. (Not surprisingly, no estimate or contact of any sort from the first place.) Every cabinet maker we've discovered has the nearly the same hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., which makes it a little difficult to get to them without finding some time away from work. That's my goal this week.
On Friday, we tried a new-to-us sushi restaurant. The quality of the fish was excellent, and we enjoyed our servers too.
We went for a nice ride Saturday afternoon, taking advantage of the above-average fall temperatures, and also stopped by to visit Bud's mom. Her new cat isn't looking quite so kitteny anymore. He's become a juvenile with an incredibly long tail.
Bud found another cabinet place for us to try, so now we have three to visit. (Not surprisingly, no estimate or contact of any sort from the first place.) Every cabinet maker we've discovered has the nearly the same hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., which makes it a little difficult to get to them without finding some time away from work. That's my goal this week.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Day 31: Oct. 5, 2007
Bud and Gary removed bricks from another of the house's original supports today.
After that, Bud resumed cleaning out the basement. No snakes have surfaced yet. (I have to report, though, that Bud saw a wild cat that hangs around in the back yard playing with one by the garage yesterday. Eeeee!)
The HVAC crew was at the house today too, continuing to work on the second floor.
Nothing to photograph that you haven't seen before: additional holes in the upstairs ceiling, a basement that still wouldn't pass for uncluttered, and more jacks holding up joists.
Next week, Bud plans to keep working on the basement when Gary and Jimmy start on the garage roof.
After that, Bud resumed cleaning out the basement. No snakes have surfaced yet. (I have to report, though, that Bud saw a wild cat that hangs around in the back yard playing with one by the garage yesterday. Eeeee!)
The HVAC crew was at the house today too, continuing to work on the second floor.
Nothing to photograph that you haven't seen before: additional holes in the upstairs ceiling, a basement that still wouldn't pass for uncluttered, and more jacks holding up joists.
Next week, Bud plans to keep working on the basement when Gary and Jimmy start on the garage roof.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Day 30: Oct. 4, 2007
Bud and Gary put the second coat of sealant on the garage floor this morning.
Bud spent the rest of the day cleaning out the basement. Eighty years of clutter makes clean-up a long-term project. No need to post a picture -- because unless you saw the before, the after will just look like a still-cluttered basement.
Tomorrow's plan is to continue leveling and cleaning. The I-beam for the garage ceiling is scheduled to arrive Monday. Then they'll start roofing.
As I post, things aren't looking good for Kentucky against Steve Spurrier. Again.
Bud spent the rest of the day cleaning out the basement. Eighty years of clutter makes clean-up a long-term project. No need to post a picture -- because unless you saw the before, the after will just look like a still-cluttered basement.
Tomorrow's plan is to continue leveling and cleaning. The I-beam for the garage ceiling is scheduled to arrive Monday. Then they'll start roofing.
As I post, things aren't looking good for Kentucky against Steve Spurrier. Again.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Day 29: Oct. 3, 2007
Project 'Level the Floor' continued today. The guys shored up another spot. They also removed a layer of brick and a bunch of shims from an original floor support. The house had settled all around the original support, so that was the high spot on the first floor.
Gary and Jimmy also sealed the garage floor. They plan to add a second coat of sealant tomorrow.
I met with the block/stone sales rep at the house this afternoon. He brought samples of a stone facade we can use to cover the addition's concrete-block foundation.
You wouldn't believe how closely the samples matched the original house's limestone foundation! The sales rep explained that they created the forms for the facade by making rubber molds of quarried stone foundations like ours.
So, anyway, we're getting an estimate. Yay!
Gary and Jimmy also sealed the garage floor. They plan to add a second coat of sealant tomorrow.
I met with the block/stone sales rep at the house this afternoon. He brought samples of a stone facade we can use to cover the addition's concrete-block foundation.
You wouldn't believe how closely the samples matched the original house's limestone foundation! The sales rep explained that they created the forms for the facade by making rubber molds of quarried stone foundations like ours.
So, anyway, we're getting an estimate. Yay!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Day 28: Oct. 2, 2007
Well, we certainly got concrete today. 25 cubic yards.
While the concrete guys were creating our fabulous new floor, Bud, Gary and Jimmy were off on a new adventure. They started working on jacking up the back part of the house.
They placed a 6x6 under the joists and used a couple of bottle jacks to try to raise the sagging floor. (They first tried a 4x4, which bowed pretty quickly.) Their handiwork replaced a crossarm from a telegraph pole that Bud's dad had used to support a cracked joist.
Bud said they weren't able to lift the floor a lot today, but they'll keep working on it tomorrow.
While the concrete guys were creating our fabulous new floor, Bud, Gary and Jimmy were off on a new adventure. They started working on jacking up the back part of the house.
They placed a 6x6 under the joists and used a couple of bottle jacks to try to raise the sagging floor. (They first tried a 4x4, which bowed pretty quickly.) Their handiwork replaced a crossarm from a telegraph pole that Bud's dad had used to support a cracked joist.
Bud said they weren't able to lift the floor a lot today, but they'll keep working on it tomorrow.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Day 27: Oct. 1, 2007
As promised, the garage floor is ready for concrete.
Gary, Jimmy and Bud finished leveling the gravel this morning. Then they covered the floor with a sheet of plastic, which will prevent moisture from rising through the floor from the ground.
They also laid rebar across the floor and tied it together to form 3-foot squares. After that, they tied the rebar to supports that hold it a couple of inches above the gravel base.
In cabinet news, we got a call last week from the first cabinet place we visited (more than a month and half ago). I had called the designer/sales rep the week before to find out what was taking so long. When she finally returned my call, she requested another week to complete our estimate.
I'm not hopeful that we'll actually get a bid from her this week. Now that we know what level of service to expect there, we obviously won't be choosing that place to build and install our cabinets. But we do want another estimate for comparison's sake.
Gary, Jimmy and Bud finished leveling the gravel this morning. Then they covered the floor with a sheet of plastic, which will prevent moisture from rising through the floor from the ground.
They also laid rebar across the floor and tied it together to form 3-foot squares. After that, they tied the rebar to supports that hold it a couple of inches above the gravel base.
In cabinet news, we got a call last week from the first cabinet place we visited (more than a month and half ago). I had called the designer/sales rep the week before to find out what was taking so long. When she finally returned my call, she requested another week to complete our estimate.
I'm not hopeful that we'll actually get a bid from her this week. Now that we know what level of service to expect there, we obviously won't be choosing that place to build and install our cabinets. But we do want another estimate for comparison's sake.
Days 25-26: Sept. 29-30, 2007
Another recuperation weekend. We're starting to sound like the sickliest people around! Happily, I think we're finally both much better, although I'm still taking a cough medicine that makes me want to hibernate.
Anyway, if the concrete's still coming first thing Tuesday, the amount of work the guys will have to do Monday will more than make up for our weekend sluggishness.
Oh, and I forgot to mention in the last post that Robbie, the plumber, got back to us Friday with an estimate on all the fixtures he and I discussed a week or so ago.
Good news! By letting him provide the fixtures, we save a boatload of cash and we get better-quality stuff. I'm giving up the sink I loved so much, though. For just a few dollars more than the one I had chosen, Robbie can get us a similar-size (but rectangular, darn it!) sink that's usually ridiculously expensive.
The part of me that wants a really high-end sink couldn't pass it up. But the part of me that was so thrilled about the shape of the sink echoing the curve of the breakfast bar is still second-guessing the decision.
Anyway, if the concrete's still coming first thing Tuesday, the amount of work the guys will have to do Monday will more than make up for our weekend sluggishness.
Oh, and I forgot to mention in the last post that Robbie, the plumber, got back to us Friday with an estimate on all the fixtures he and I discussed a week or so ago.
Good news! By letting him provide the fixtures, we save a boatload of cash and we get better-quality stuff. I'm giving up the sink I loved so much, though. For just a few dollars more than the one I had chosen, Robbie can get us a similar-size (but rectangular, darn it!) sink that's usually ridiculously expensive.
The part of me that wants a really high-end sink couldn't pass it up. But the part of me that was so thrilled about the shape of the sink echoing the curve of the breakfast bar is still second-guessing the decision.
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