Raise the Roof

Sawdust in the Morning with our Bundle of Sticks!

We have a framed front door…the crew is creating our dream one stick at a time.

The gasline crew digging another trench.   Coordinating all these workers is a project in and of itself. 

And the Walls Came Tumbling Down

Haven’t wanted to post for several days after the walls went up and then came back down.   You know I visit the site every day…and as we walk onto the floor Al, asks didn’t I tell them 2 X 6? I said I had heard him say that in our final conversation with contractor.  

  

So here lay the walls that are 2 x 4 and were all in place….frustration set in, I cried…I think I even used an outside voice when I said…This doesn’t make me happy!

New lumber arrived and the crew goes back to work

This view from the back porch will make me smile someday!

PSST…Rumor/roomer has it we are being FRAMED

How often do I visit the lot….sometimes several times a day.   Today was an off day for the workers but the lumber did arrive for the framing!  Soon it will look like progress is being made.

I’ll be back tomorrow!

The Cement Crew

Busy Day at Thompson Pasture/No Longer A Pasture

Cement Concrete Pumping Crane

The operator was very worried the truck was going to tip over because the ground was so soft....

The truck survived...the floors were poured and then......

The Rain came...hoping that all will be well tomorrow morning!

Still Gravel

Travis has been working on the property since the first day they broke ground.   He was there last night until well after 7:00.   Cement was suppose to be poured today….rain rain go away!   I promise to be very patient during this process because rain will definitely cause problems if the cement is poured.   Framers were set to be on site Monday morning.  Forecast is for more rain tomorrow and Monday, so updates will follow when the rain quits washing the spiders out!   Come on Sun dry up all the rain!  

Gurrrrrr Rajs!!!

Soon this will be a cement floor…the place where Hockey Gear sleeps at night! Oh how I hope there is room for the cars!

Still Dirt!

Today it is just dirt with lots of trenches, gravel, cement and pipes.   We can’t wait until our dirt is something more. 

JUST Dirt

Daft specks all around.

Individual residences soon to be found.

Rectangular halls rooms

Timbered roof line.

Time for Poetry - Our Favorite School Subject–Recess

Recess! Oh, Recess!

BY DARREN SARDELLI

Recess! Oh, Recess!

We love you! You rule!

You keep us away

from the teachers in school.

Your swings are refreshing.

Your slides are the best.

You give us a break

from a really hard test.

Recess! Oh, Recess!

We want you to know,

you’re sweeter than syrup,

you’re special like snow.

You don’t assign homework.

You make the day fun.

You let us play kickball

and run in the sun.

Recess! Oh, Recess!

You’re first on our list.

We’d be in despair

if you didn’t exist.

We’re happy we have you.

You’re awesome and cool.

Recess! Oh, Recess!

We love you! You rule!

Today We Pray for Energy

Dear Heavenly Father,

Today we pray that You willl sustain us for this new journey. Energize us to lift our heads and take one step forward into today. Though we never thought this opportunity would come, we are grateful for each day as it comes.  Starting over is a luxury we never thought we could afford. But then, a gift, a surprise, a miracle. And here we are, rich with opportunity, staring down a clean slate, and standing on the edge of the brightest horizon.

For this, O Father we thank You. For this, we stand in awe. For this, we pray for the courage to believe it’s true and the wisdom to have faith that this will be a blessing we will all cherish. Starting over is joy, trepidation, and celebration. Sometimes starting over is the opportunity we never wanted and other times it’s the second chance we never dreamed we’d get.

As we stand at new beginnings and grieve those long goodbyes that we know will be there for we have already felt the tug to stay in place, teach us what it means to hold onto what we need for the journey and gently let the rest go. Keep pace with us as we learn to keep pace with You. Thank You for not rolling Your eyes when we find ourselves here again saying the prayer over and over again.  Thank You for never leaving us alone.

We pray for the spirit of love to abide with us always,  In Jesus Name Amen.

Cabin Life

When I'm a grownup,
I would like a home away from home.
A cabin, perhaps, isolated from the world,
where there would be a pond just up the way with ducks.
Maybe I will also have a treehouse, or a hammock,
where I would read and watch my grandbabies play in the water!

May 5th– When Everyone Acts Like Wa-na-bes

While the boys are playing hockey in Logan – we celebrated Cinco de Mayo here at home.

Coctel de Camarones estilo Mexicano – Ali has mastered this recipe and everyone loves it!

While the boys were enjoying ice-cream we enjoyed
El Burrito!   Glad Mike Gallegos was working he is the best chef ever!

Did We Clean the Sink in Logan??

Back in Logan for another game of hockey with Zane, Kendry, and Ryder.   Playing full ice is great for these guys who love to feel the need for speed non-stop!

Yes they won 5 – 4.   Kendry had 4 goals today, 2 off of rebounds from Zane, and 1 from an assist by Zane.   Zane scored a goal – he said the goalie caught the puck but it was over the line in his glove so he should get credit for that!!!    The boys made friends with Zander who is from the Logan team.   Hockey family just keeps growing. 

After the game it was off to Angie’s ….where the locals eat! Time to see how this challenge we have heard about works.   An entire sink is brought to your table filled with mounds of vanilla ice cream, two whole bananas, whipped cream, nuts and, a cherry on top.  ‘Cleaning Angie’s Sink’ is a challenge many Utahns take on in hopes of earning the coveted bumper sticker rewarded to all who can finish the giant dessert.

✿⊱╮♥The Manhattans - Kiss And Say Goodbye.✿⊱╮♥

Hoping I Survive This Process!

I’m sure the contractors are already tired of me asking so many questions and wanting the answer to make sense to me….Our plumber is doing an amazing job.   He has found a few errors that we are having to work around/errors created by measurements not being accurate to plans!!!   That is why I hope I survive without freaking out on a daily basis! 

Call The Best, Flush The Rest!

Gage was on Thompson Pasture very early this morning.   He will be working until sunset to make sure everything is done correctly.   He pointed out a few issues to us, but assured us that he can do the job and it will FLUSH!

French Drains

Tomorrows project….

• Excavating 8” below top of foundation footing allows clearance for applying a 4” gravel bed layer and positioning the 4” diameter french drain level with top of footing.
• Additional gravel is applied 6” above top of french drain filtering the below grade ground water prior to percolating into french drains perforations.
• French drain perforations “weep holes” are positioned downward in gravel bed allowing water percolation into perforations.
• Reducing the volume of standing water at base of footing prevents hydrostatic pressure and water migration under footing and slab locations.

How Firm Our Foundation!

Here is what I was told by the work crew ---- even though they speak very broken English….Poured concrete establishes about half of its final strength after about one week of curing. What is curing…well curing is defined as a chemical process the concrete goes through in the days immediately after it is poured.  Full strength does not occur for 28 to 60 days, depending on conditions, the building process can begin when the foundations are about 50 percent cured, which is anywhere from 4 – 6 days depending on the temperature!   Of course it had to rain this week.  April is over – what’s up with the showers! I need my May Flowers!

Daily Visits to Thompson Pasture

Foundation Work