Insulation and Drywall

So much for the sun being out. It has been cold and rainy for several days. Our sandy lot is a pile of mud and moving into our friend's cozy guest house is starting to become a must. We just hate to give up as it's so nice to be there in the morning to keep an eye on things. Also, once we move it will be harder keeping tabs on Barney and our cat, Minnie, will have to become an indoor cat.

This week has been very productive. Siding never happened and we aren't quite ready, but insulation was put in and drywall is in progress.

Watching the insulation process with the very nice crew was fascinating. First they spayed a liquid which turned to foam and puffed up and hardened. That went around all of the seams and pipes.

The next day they blew in cellulose between the studs. It was instantly warmer and quieter in the house and it defined the rooms. It really helped us get a feel for how the finished house will eventually look. Luckily, we love it!

Friday a big truck with a lift delivered the drywall. They popped out an upstairs window to get the big sheets of drywall up there.

They needed time for the insulation to dry well and then Dennis and his crew were quickly at it part of Saturday and Sunday. They worked fast with rock music blaring and lots of laughs. They're great guys that surely know what they are doing. Makes us smile!

Next week they will continue to drywall and then the crew comes in to do the finish mud. Mike and Bob will continue with the fireplace that now has cedar corbels and is ready for the mantel. Then they can start the stone work.

A new finish carpenter is supposed to join in and master carpenter, Bob, continues to work part time. Hopefully then can soon finish the cement board trim on the exterior and the siding can be started. We're getting there. We're trying to learn patience. It's hard, but we realize we are blessed to have such a problem. Onward and upward!

A Quick Update

 In one week, we went from hot summer weather in the high 80s to late fall weather with lows in the 30s. So much for getting to use our cute little deck. Thank goodness for air conditioning and heat in our cozy little tin can. We'll stay on site as long as we can, but with highs in the low 40s coming up this week, our friend's little guest house is starting to sound like a good idea.

This last week, Bob and Mike got the fireplace in and ready for stone. They boxed in and insulated the chimney. I was not at all a happy camper watching them up on top of the ladder and on the steeply slanted roof in high winds. The term "Senior Citizen" has no meaning to them! Bob got a piece of my mind when it was over and I told Linda on Mike! I do not want a new house on my own!

I was glad Chad was there to help watch them and assist.

Work continued on the cement board around the base and middle of the house. The bottom is done and they got a good start on the middle. Brad came over to help for a while.

When the cement board is done they'll be ready for the siding which should start this Thursday. 

They also worked on attic openings and finish work inside to get ready for the insulators that are due to come this Wednesday. They were booked once but had to be cancelled as we weren't quite ready. Then, once the insulation is dry in about a week, Dennis is ready with his crew to start dry walling. 

Meanwhile, David turned in our order for cupboards and vanities this morning. I am getting excited!

This next week should bring some good progress so hopefully I can post again soon. The sun is out and it's cold, but life is good!

A Taste of Home

Finally our plumber showed up and we were impressed with his speed and percision. Our son Chad,  who is also our electrician, continued to work while Mike and Bob got things ready to put in our fireplace. Our grandson, Blake, is proudly pointing out our very first plug!

 

Meanwhile we worked hard with a lot of thought to finalize our cabinet & vanity order as there was so much to consider. Mike and our nephew, David, spent a lot of time with us and it all ended with happy satisfaction. I am excited.

The big news of the week is that Bob finally lost his patience with the Brooklyn Water Works as they kept putting us off to hook up our sewer. He went over in person and let them know how unhappy he was. After over four weeks, that afternoon, one of the supervisors came out to survey the situation. The next day it was hooked up. Bob's brother, Butch, dug the necessary trench for the power, and our son Chad wired it. Mike got the land graded before rain moved in. It rained hard all day Saturday keeping us from moving from VanWagnen's to our land, but by Sunday afternoon the ground was ready. It had been a great stay (three months) with our incredibly gracious neighbors. It was so perfectly convenient. We will never be able to thank VanWagnen's enough. But finally, home sounds pretty darn good.

We had bought some old dock pieces to use temporarily earlier in the summer. We never got around to putting those in and Bob decided they would make a good deck for our trailer. It helps as it is so sandy which tracks in and makes our floor gritty. We had fun setting everything up with a little table and chairs to give us some outdoor living space. I caught a great sale at Shopko and added some mini mums and candles. What a lift!!

It was sweet to be there for our first night and we had coffee on our deck in the morning. We are home!

Monday Bob and Mike started work on the cement board that goes around the bottom of the house and between the two floors to frame the siding. They cut and painted and got a start with the help of a master finish carpenter, Bob, who is now going to work with us part time.

Cold weather is about to move in, but this morning, in my sweats, with coffee in hand, I got a lovely picture of a wonderful sunrise. This is the sky over our trailer.

Ahhh! Makes my heart happy!