I'm Back!

It,s full on, leaf on now, and the Gorge has taken on a new look that's definately differant, but still really cool. It's snake time also, and you don't go outside at night without a light or you might step on a copperhead. The creek is still running strong, but we need rain real bad to fill up the river and keep the creek going as long as possible. I cut out a few trees yesterday to enhance the view, and I still have alot of thinning to do, but the treehouse effect is really cool when all the leaves are on. I am working on interior woodwork now, and Scott and Mike will be joining me for a couple weeks starting on monday. Our goals are to complete all window and wall woodwork, wrap any exposed beams, build the oven cabinet, install all ceiling mouldings, and install the 1/2 logs at the picture windows. Only after completing all these items will we begin on hardwood flooring. The plan is to completely finish all of the projects that we already have material for, and then reassess our situation. That would leave us with 2 major projects left; 1. the septic system, 2. kitchen cabinets, both of which can be completed rather quickly. We are very ready to move in, but we have to be patient right now as the whole thing draws to a close. The tile showers and floors are going in next week and should take around 2 weeks to complete,  after that we can install vanities and commodes. There are still a number of items left to complete outside, but nothing that will take more than a couple days. I am wtill working on being able to post pictures here, hopefully I'll get it figured out. I'm just about out of the funk I was in over the end of hogs football, and am starting to be more productive. I hope Matt can enjoy all of that, but that passion for me is done and over, thankfully I have so many more things that are so much more fulfilling than wasting time on that mess. Pray for rain, we need more river trips. Later RJ

Heaven is Just Down the Road

Well alright then, I feel so much better spending 3 days on the river with some great company and just soaking it all in. I wish that I could load pictures so I could share some  great scenes, and I will get that done asap. But right now, I just feel so much more energized and I wish we had gotten more rain last night, becouse we need more to take my dad down the river. We had planned to do just that this coming weekend, but the river is too low, please do your rain dances. There is not much rock work left to do, and I am starting on hardwood flooring this week, so the house is moving along. I really feel ready to get after it again, so I will fill you all in on my progress soon.But wow, took long hike up Sneed creek mostly wading in the solid bedrock pools and millruns and scouted this beautiful creek for a kayak run. The run will require being shuttled 2 miles down into the canyon on mules carrying our boats, thankfully, I am friends with a man who owns mules and rides this trail often. Oh yea, he also lives at the Compton trailhead where the ride begins. This is all just serendipity to me, and it means that this adventure must be undertaken. Ride mules down a 2 mile steep mountain trail, jump in boats and paddle 2 miles in a swollen class 3 Sneed creek into a flooded Buffalo River for 4 miles to Kyles Landing. How cool! Add this to my list. Get out and enjoy this great weather friends, and SYOTRS RJ