On the Road....
Tue, Apr 29 2008 10:05
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I haven't been home much more than one night in a row for a couple of weeks- for work and for fun. Still a couple of weeks of the same to go, so I've made only quick trips to Big Hill.
I did go out yesterday to check progress and take another round of home site photos. After getting foundation related plumbing plans worked out, Mike, Mark (plumber, will add his photo) and I stood close to the ridge talking and taking turns looking at buildings and things in and around Glen Rose through my wide aperture binoculars. They could name almost everything we saw.
Earlier that day I ran errands all over town, including early voting for City Council. I voted for three women, including my next door neighbor, Barbara. I was the 4th person to vote and saw that the 3rd person was her SO, Ted. Love this small town!
Speaking of neighbors, Rita has been in the hospital. I'd wondered why she hadn't dropped in lately.
Hopefully the concrete for the outer wall will poured this Wednesday. This is going to be one heck of a foundation.
I did go out yesterday to check progress and take another round of home site photos. After getting foundation related plumbing plans worked out, Mike, Mark (plumber, will add his photo) and I stood close to the ridge talking and taking turns looking at buildings and things in and around Glen Rose through my wide aperture binoculars. They could name almost everything we saw.
Earlier that day I ran errands all over town, including early voting for City Council. I voted for three women, including my next door neighbor, Barbara. I was the 4th person to vote and saw that the 3rd person was her SO, Ted. Love this small town!
Speaking of neighbors, Rita has been in the hospital. I'd wondered why she hadn't dropped in lately.
Hopefully the concrete for the outer wall will poured this Wednesday. This is going to be one heck of a foundation.
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Slow but Visable Progress
Wed, Apr 23 2008 08:53
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This week Mike and crew started with the outer support for the concrete walls of the graded foundation. Every 2x12 has to be help in place with rebar that has been placed into the rock after a hole is drilled for it. So, the progress is laborious. But, I can see the edges of the house clearly and exactly, and I can tell where the surface of the floor will be. It is a few feet higher than the ground in the front and several feet higher at the back of the house. That sky deck is going to be aptly named.
The work site is crowded with trailors, wood, metal, trash, piles of rock, dirt, and tree leftovers. I suspect it will get worse before it gets better.
The work site is crowded with trailors, wood, metal, trash, piles of rock, dirt, and tree leftovers. I suspect it will get worse before it gets better.
Footprints in the Rock
Sun, Apr 13 2008 10:38
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I have photographic evidence of home building! Tuesday Mike filled the 12 inch holes with concrete and rebar. I am able to see a rough outline of the house, and I am assured the non-exactness of the piers is nothing to fear.
This there will be more rebar along the outer walls of the home drilled into the rock. Mike worked on finishing other projects this week, and his dad had surgery on Friday.
It was very cool to walk around the house site and know pretty much exactly what room I was in. Everyone told me their house looked small the first time they walked around the site. They must not have lived in 520 square feet at the time, because to me it looked huge.
Friday night I stood in the middle of the house to be and got a little teary eyed for no real reason, just overwhelmed I guess. Lost a pretty big deal at work that day, and wondered about my future in this beautiful place, felt the beauty of the surrounding landscape, the newness of spring. Oh boy.....
Saturday Chad, one of my co-workers, and his 3-year old daughter, Sarah, came out and we walked down the hill looking for fossils and bugs. Sarah is a true adventurist. Later I went to the Gosdins and took family photos. They took me on a tour of their farm and homesteads of both generations. I had a great time.
I took another round of home shots this evening. If you look closely you can see the rebar.
I am building a house on Big Hill!
What Goes Down
Mon, Apr 7 2008 11:06
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...must come up. Or so I am promised. I have several holes drilled into the rock for the piers. They look more like an Andy Goldsworthy art project. The retaining wall and dirt for the foundation pad are next. Just waiting my turn. Not my forte.
This weekend I worked for several hours clearing and burning on Saturday. Sunday I napped!
Today I worked from home and then went back to before the sun set. It was too windy to burn so I did some chain sawing and piled up my cuttings. I started having that feeling of being in over my head, of not having the ability to do this. Of thinking I shouldn't be doing this alone.
But, in my weakness God is strong. And He is faithful. I still feel that I am in the right place, doing the right thing. I left in the failing light, under a smiling crescent moon, exhausted, covered in sweat and sawdust, and grateful for another evening on Big Hill.
