Tragic day

getting started

ouch, third day of workin in the trenches. I sprained my back picking up the compacting machine so I'm walking around all bent over and in pain. I need a hot tub. Concrete crew coming next week, and were just about ready for them. We have the footing dug and compacted, we have site debris removed and hauled away and we have spread gravel all over the job site. Tommoro we will do some final site layout measures and continue to get a head start on site clean-up. The Banker and Apraiser have made visits in the last 2 days, and have really been impressed with our place. This is good. It will be so nice to complete the foundation, this is not my strength but I have learned alot. All of my experiance in foundations have been on flat land with simple layouts. Let me tell you, a sloped site is so much harder to layout and get right. But it must be right so we get off to a good start. Sooner than we think, we will be framing up. And I cant wait.

It begins

This is my first post to share my now financed effort in building our dream home/mini-lodge situated on a bluff overlooking the very dramatic Osage Creek Gorge. Contained within this gorge is a beautiful class 4 kayaking creek loved by many for the rapids it holds.I stumbled on this awesome site after driving by the entrance countless times over 7 years, then just bothering to look one day. I designed the home, then drew up the blueprints. The design was a product of the site, and the 41 windows that I have bought for salvage prices. I accumulated the windows over a 4 year time period watching for returned, new, custom vinyl, low E windows for sale at a local supplier. Why I make such a big deal of this is becouse over that 4 yr. period, I aquired 41 matching windows, 4 - 8' tall ext. doors and 10 6 panel int. doors all for 2400.00 . The retail value of all that is somewher around 18000.00 a figure I would have never spent. This is the spirit of the project, typical house construction is always over budget and we cant be.  I will be the general contractor, and the lead man for all carpentry, framing, decks, ext. finishes, flooring, walls, ceilings, and all int. trims. I will build the cabinets and install all countertops. We are subbing out foundation, septic system, plumbing, electrical, roofing, HVAC, and blown foam insulation.     Let the race begin, I've got alot to prove and I'm ready to get it on.                                                      

Envisioning the Osage