Finally, a header...

John wanted everyone to know that hefting that massive header into place was a photo opp extraordinaire.  At the moment it's being held in place by some fairly major "scorpion" screws but, even so, I doubt there's much chance it falling down.

There was a lot of measuring and head scratching going on today but a few more rafters went up so little by little it's getting closed in.  Please zoom in on John at the end of the day in P2.  Think that says it all...

A long shot...

I was going to complain about the unrelenting wind today, but then I watched the evening news.  We have no right to even comment in that area.

John did complete his "homework" assignment, i.e. finishing the rafter extensions over the sunroom.  There are two more rafters yet to go up around the chimney but those are waiting on Brian.  We don't want him to think he's not needed!

A "lady's" dressing table...

Hairbrush -  check
Face cream/sunblock - check
Carpenter's pencil - check
Leather palmed gloves - check
Measuring tape (the guys don't steal my pink one) - check
That smiley thing? Use it to massage sore muscles at the end of the day.

Not much use for most of this today as we went to an energy conference.  Great day to do that as temps were in the 30's with the wind blowing.

No blog tomorrow as we go off to the theater...

No need for a stair master here...

P1 - While John & Brian prepare to raise the ridge beam (the center board that goes between the rafters at the top), Gus, the cat does a last minute inspection.  He's become quite the pro going up, and down, all the ladders.

P2 - Rain was predicted started early in the afternoon so none of us expected to work after lunch.  However, it held off and the guys were able to get up several rafters over the main room.  (They put up most of the rafters over the sunroom in the morning.)  The ladder to the far left?  I gather that's the stairway to the stars...

PS - We had that beautiful mushroom from yesterday with this morning's scrambled eggs.  It tasted as good as it looked!

Those wild & crazy brows...

Brian's back!!!!!!!!!  Rafter work has begun although this picture makes the roof line look far simpler than it actually is.  Lots of weird angles and an uneven roof to connect to etc. etc.

P2 - our centerpiece at lunch today.  It looks like cauliflower but they're really a special type (that's my descriptive when I can't spell let alone pronounce the name) of mushroom that Brian grows.

P3 - rehearsal day followed by a "little light" lunch.  Gigi (from Maine) happened to be in town so she (and her violin) joined us as well.  John was very happy that Brian was there to protect him a bit from the UR&EC (usual rehearsal & eating crew) of Stacy, Susan & Debby.  One question raised at table was how closely related Brian is to John because they were wondering if Brian's eyebrows would someday become wild and crazy like John's.  I gather it's time to give John a haircut and eyebrow trim...

Not rain or sleet or snow...

 The project must go on...  John's hard at work in the basement designing the plumbing needed for the new solar panel/controller for the hot water.  I don't know what he likes most - figuring out how the parts go together or going to the hardware store to get the parts.  Me?  I don't do plumbing, period.  I'm fine just reaping the benefits.

Be careful what you wish for...

 John has been saying he needs more upper body strength.  Instead of going to the gym and lifting weights, he's been hard at work lifting 4 x 8 sheets of sheathing, then holding them in place while I attempt to get a couple of nails in to secure them.  Let's just say that he often "gets" to lift those panels multiple times.  I like to think I'm just helping him regain those muscles he thought he'd lost.  Do you suppose my nailing skills had something to do with why didn't get all the green panels up before we were rained out or was it the extra long nap John took?

3 sheets to the wind...

After a good deal of "discussion" on just how to put them up and one semi squished pinky (not mine), we managed to get 3 sheets of sheathing up before it started to rain.  This, of course, was much more exciting than remembering to cover the holes in the roof.  But, hey, nor'easter rain gear is not only for lobster fisher people.

PS - the pinky only required a small bandage which, admittedly, some workmen would have just used duct tape on...

Big to little...

As we lay in bed this morning planning our day, we had a long list of things to be accomplished.  It seemed reasonable to assume we'd get to them all.  But then... there were "chipmunks in the belfry" (actually the eaves) of Stan's apartment over our barn.  It took not only a while to spot the little critters (we considered bats, mice, rats - yuk!, squirrels before we finally saw the chipmunk), but then to find the Havaheart trap.  As of tonight we've scored one.  Gus the cat has also been on the case but we think he's batting zero.  Then there was rehearsal for John and lunch for us all at a friend's.  And I had to pick up lettuce & eggs at a neighbor's farm.  And we had to make a supply run to the bigger hardware store.  Enough with the excuses.  We did manage to complete the last wall we started yesterday and get the ice & water shield around the bottom of the walls so a "little" progress was made after all.  Plus it was a beautiful day to just enjoy being outside in the spring in upstate NY!

Bruce, my personal hero...

At last! The last wall!  I know it looks dinky but (in spite of John's best effort to convince me otherwise) I knew I couldn't lift it, let alone muscle it up into place.  Noting that it was quitting time for Bruce I gave him a call and he very willingly came over and gave John a hand.  Thank you Bruce!!!

You may be thinking that compared to other days we sure didn't do much.  However, John had more deconstruction to do to make room for the new wall plus it is spring after all.  I spent the morning ripping out weeds and planting seeds in the vegetable garden.  These big windows on the south are nice but they do look out on the vegetable garden so the pressure is on to have at least a few things growing in it by the time we are able to use these rooms.

A room with a view...

After much "on site" discussion and contemplation (it's nice to have our own architect, a.k.a. Brian, working with us) regarding roof angles and pitches and window placement, we celebrated the end of day by completing the south facing sunroom wall.

Brian went home after dinner tonight so we're on our own until Monday. Yikes! Who knows what trouble John & I can get ourselves into without supervision?!

Where does this wall go?

It's a good thing John & Brian are fairly strong because, when a wall has to be turned 90 degrees, it helps. They assured me that building it this way (I still have my reservations) but it worked - see P 2.

P 3 & P4 - The guys have switched over to figuring out the angles for the new roof. Plans or not, there are certain things that just have to be worked out on site.

Inspections continue...

P 1 - With the help of Brian, John's cousin (once removed I think is the way it goes) and chief architect, the building began in earnest... that is until Don & Charlie, P 2, showed up to inspect. And not only did they inspect (gave us the fisherman's thumbs up so I guess we passed) they failed to bring us any fish from their morning's endeavor. So instead of a nice trout for lunch we had to settle for egg salad sandwiches (P 3). After a much too leisurely lunch, the second wall was raised, P 4. The window opening in that wall looks huge but it's not any larger than the bay window was so think it will be fine.

PS - Not only did it feel a bit like starting a Habitat project today but the weather also made us feel like we were back in Texas. It was HOT, temps in the 80's and quite breezy.

Heads up...

John woke up this a.m. chomping at the bit to build something instead of taking something apart. So we built headers (the part of a house that goes over the windows and doors and keeps the roof from pressing down on them thus causing all sorts of havoc). The van seemed a perfect place to store them out of the way and out of the rain.

A Sunny Saturday...

P 1 - Drainage ditches in the front yard raked smooth & seeded before the rain we're supposed to get tonight.

P 2 - Notice the door in the sun room is gone (actually that was done yesterday but I forgot) and parging (don't you love that word) was completed on the foundation (thanks to Dale, not us).

P 3 - Marilyn & Jim showed up for Happy Hour along with Stan who had been pruning our apple trees. We started in the patio but were rained out so "braved" the kitchen. We all got VERY happy on the wine Terry left - Thank you Terry!!!

P 4 - It's been a long day for some...

The Big Pour

The day dawned by actually being able to see the sun and, the heavy frost quickly melted, and the day was moderately warm. Perfect weather for pouring a new floor.

After chasing down the concrete truck (he overshot our road and was headed out to who knows where), it finally arrived and the pour began. Fairly undramatic. The truck was empty within half an hour which left little to do except smooth it over every hour or so as it hardened. I take that back. There was a little to do. Gus decided to go "wading" across the new entrance to the sun room so was treated to a foot bath (highly protested) and confined to the indoors the rest of the day. Sorry, no photos of that. I was too interested in getting the concrete off his legs and feet before he ended up as yet another "puss in boots". (I can already hear your arghhh...)

Planning ahead...

P 1 - Heavy plastic followed by insulation followed by wire mesh followed by radiant floor tubing. The plan is that it will at least keep our footsies nice and warm next winter.

P 2 - The lumber arrived and I don't know who was more relieved, John or the driver, that Dale and his skid steer were still here. Sure made unloading all that stuff a LOT easier! The plan - to turn it into some walls and a roof.

A little sun, a little white stuff...

Awakened early (5:15) to the sounds of Gus rolling his whiffle ball around (it's surprising how much noise those things can make on a wood floor!), John decided to brave the snow filled air and cut off the rest of the rafter ends on the sunroom roof and block up the "in betweens" with foam. Shortly after he finished, Dale showed up to cut out the block to allow for the door. Stepping up and over to get into the sunroom, while good exercise, did not seem like a good long range plan, so we opted for block removal.

P 2 - Between the watering and the rain & the white stuff the dirt/sand has settled nicely. By the time we arrived home after John's Wed. rehearsal, Dale had leveled it and starting putting on the top layer of gravel.

P 3 - Less than 5 min. after I took the first two photos, it clouded over and we got a nice pelting of small hail. However, the temp. in the kitchen with the double layer of plastic over the opening, remains a balmy 50.

Down the drain?

Look up the wall. Please notice that, thanks to a little strong arming by John, the roof over the now defunct bay window is gone. (I did help clean up the mess he made so please don't think all I do is take photos.)

What on earth is happening in P 2? No, we haven't struck water or gas or whatever. We've turned the sprinkler and soaker hose on the earth base for the new floor. Apparently it has to settle before they can pour the floor and Mother Nature isn't cooperating with the rain this year. So we're helping her out a bit by adding some water of our own.

Dyngus Day

This phase of the construction/deconstruction is nearing completion. Although the photos don't show it very clearly, those weird angles that held in the windows on the front wall of the sun room are now gone thanks to John. He only needed a few swats of the pussy willow (it is Dyngus Day after all) as encouragement. Don't know what Dyngus Day is? Read all about it at http://www.dyngusdaybuffalo.com/whatisdyngusday.html . Dale came with his skid steer (my favorite piece of heavy equipment next to the mini backhoe) and added fill to what will be the new floor. At this point we might be building a giant sandbox. The cats think it's all for them...

Easter

Just trying the new room on for size. John found himself settling in with no problem. After our little "sitting" we're thinking (thanks once again to Terry) to expand the doorway into the sun room and make it a wider opening instead. Will have to give it another sitting once the floor is poured to see how it feels then.

Happy Easter!

Beware of stopping by...

Bruce should know better than to stop by to see how we're doing when we're in the middle of a project. Don't have work clothes with you? Don't worry, John always has something in Bruce's size. P 1 - the two "twins in coveralls" taking the old solar collectors off the roof. (Bruce doesn't like heights and helped anyway.) P 2 - The twins taking out the windows in the sun room to let in a bit more of that brisk breeze. You might ask what the temp was today. I've come to the conclusion that checking the temp in the kitchen is a bit like checking the temp in Tillie, the non-air-conditioned VW, when we were traveling across country in the summer. You just don't. P 3 - a small worker's lunch in the only warm room (unless you count the bathroom). There's always room to eat. P 4 - At the end of the day. For those of you who haven't been here, we're trying to "save" the pine ceiling in the sun room although, realistically, it would have been much easier to tear it off and start over. But then again, we're rarely too realistic when it comes to home improvement and food.

Two days in one...

Waking up to find the kitchen had "cooled" to 51 degrees, it seemed a good day to go to the pool, take a friend up on an offer of lunch, and pick up a little something for John for his birthday. P 2 shows his new adult "kit", i.e. new parts for our solar hot water system. It comes complete with 26 manuals so John will have reading material for weeks to come. (Admittedly it's not quite the same as the new Corvette his cousin is getting but it is a bit more interesting than a load of concrete.) P 1 shows the real workers getting started with the block laying and P 3 & 4 show what we found when we came home. Gus & Bertha, the cats did a VERY thorough inspection, particularly Bertha who was wide eyed wondering what buried what under that big pile of dirt. Now, on to today...

P 1 - laying drain pipe around the foundation. P 2 - If a big backhoe and a skid steer aren't enough, another neighbor came with his small backhoe to dig our trenches. This trench is for the circulation line for the solar collectors. P 3 - Since the "trencher" was already here we decided to have a couple more drains added in the front. Industrial size bags of grass seed are on the list. P 4 - Wed. night this was our bedroom. John really made a wreck of it today. P 5 - Our bed relocated. Please note the wall which a few days ago we opened up to re-insulate and the new radiator hanging on the wall. (it isn't hooked up yet but give us a break). P 6 - Whoops - someone forgot to move their slacks after the bed was moved.

PS - The temp in the kitchen this morning was 43 degrees. Thinking of moving stuff into the frig to keep them warm.

Happy Birthday John!

Not everyone has a birthday this exciting... Photo 1 - Betty is always the first to call (7:00 a.m.) to wish John a HB. Surprise - John is not only up but he's already hard at work putting the finishing touches on the wall. His good wife always plans exciting activities to fill his birth day. P 2 - Discussions with codes guy - so far so good. P 3 - John about to get a "big goose". P 4 - There's always time for a musical interlude. The dedicated trio is running through some pieces from Carmen. It's rather interesting to hear them practice with backhoe accompaniment. P 5 - HB luncheon complete with cake and candle. This might also be know as the last supper as it was the last meal eaten at the table before the bay window left us. P 6 - The first shovel of the big dig. P 7 - Concrete for footer being delivered. Not every birthday boy gets such a special delivery. P 8 - Goodbye bay. P 9 - The new look. Hopefully this won't last long...

A "tweaking" consultation

Our cousins have a solar hot water system that regularly sends heat off the collectors at 190 degrees F. Our system is doing good to get to 140. Our guardian angel of building must have been watching over us when we went to a solar energy class last week. This morning the instructor came out to help us "tweak" our system. (Of course this tweaking is also leading us to "invest" in several new and improved items. Are any of you surprised?) You can see John & Todd in the first photo if you look closely through the window. That's also them on the roof in the second photo. And the third photo is where the collectors will go once we move them off the roof. Yes, you're right, there's a lilac bush in the way but the backhoe is on its way and should be able to move it for us. (However, the question remains - where exactly did we bury our last dog?? Not sure I should keep you posted on that issue.)

The next photo is the unexpected block delivery for the foundation. Bertha the cat is sitting in the flower bed I didn't expect to have to move to give the backhoe enough room to maneuver. And the last photo is the unexpected appearance of the back of the house at the end of today. Please notice the plants have been moved. The digging of something other than plants starts tomorrow!

Once upon a time...

Where once I had a nice, sunny, and sometimes neat, sewing nook there is now a nook waiting to get new windows and a straight, conventional wall.

Below is where all that stuff went so even though that room isn't being renovated it, too, is completely out of commission.

You've heard it said that "nature abhors a vacuum". I might also add that if you don't fill that vacuum up with stuff that nature will take care of that for you with things such as dust bunnies and missing cat toys and that spool of thread you thought you remembered having but couldn't find.

April fools (that's without the ')

Although we don't always bow to outside pressure, we have decided to blog our latest, and perhaps most foolish adventure. It will take place right here at home. The project? Another construction project of course.

Our bay window has failed. Our sun room windows and door have failed. Our heat bill is too high (join the crowd, right?). So instead of just taking the easiest road, selling out and living in our van, we've decided to redo the whole back end of the house and add a room to connect the kitchen and the sun room. It is April after all and it has been a mild winter.

To date I've moved the herbs from the corner garden and John has moved my rocks (can't let those beautiful rocks get buried). John has started to remove the siding. The photo on the upper right is what the insulation looks like behind the siding that's missing. Yuk! The mice have been very busy making our house colder. All that will be redone and mice tunnels blocked for good this time we hope.

Since the project didn't seem quite big enough we also decided to tear into the wall in our back room and fix the air leaks (bottom photo). We plan to install the newer type radiator we had under the bay window (our effort to recycle). The old one we had there works great but is a bear to keep clean (and I HATE to clean). Please notice the four chairs around the stove. The two comfortable ones are for the two cats (somehow they just didn't go for the straight backed chairs...). In the last photo is the radiator that's been taken out. It probably weighs about 200 pounds. That's my foot beside it showing how narrowly it missed my foot when it got away from John. I'm happy to report I'm still fairly quick on my feet otherwise you would now be sending me condolences about never being able to walk again.

So that's it for today. Don't expect a blog every day but I'll try to do my best. Happy April Fool's Day from two real April fools.