Crunch Time

Very detailed work, the kind that takes total focus and time, has been the norm for me in the past 2 weeks. Still about 2 weeks of that mindset to go with all the intricate woodwork about 2/3rds done. More than anything, it's all the sanding that gets old, but this past week the hardest thing was climbing the ladder and scaffolding literally hundreds of times to complete all of the Awesome room's high windows and cherry paneling. I am so glad that is done, only 1 round window to go in the whole house  now, and I am very proud of the results of the window trims, some of the coolest work I have ever done. The awesome room's woodwork is 95% done now, and it's time to move into the bedrooms and totally complete them so we can move in. Granite comes this week, and the glass vanity arrived yesterday, so just about everything excepting the shower doors are here. My carpenter has abandoned me, so it looks like I will have to do the doors myself, leaving our move in date in jeopardy. Whatever, either way we will be in in a matter of  days. But I must admit, I am growing tired of working by myself day after day in such an intense manner, and I am just about ready to return to a regular life, whatever a regular life for myself is. I'm really just ready for my next challenge, whatever that might be. The rock mason did not show last weekend, so we might not have that complete when we move in, damn that pisses me off, becouse it would have been perfect timing if he had just done what he said he was going to do. No one has come thru for me in the clutch, so it's up to me to just do it myself. The dream project is soon coming to a close and it has been a blast, but I believe I have had enough fun. Later, The Hollohead

Water Returns to the Gorge,

4" of rain in the last week, and THE CREEK LIVES! If it's real still, I can hear the gurgling of the wonderful waters of the Osage Gorge coming back to life. This is like a rite of passage every year and is eagerly looked forward to. So many things are being done that it's hard to write about it all, I just gotta keep going so we can live here. Gutters complete, cherry paneling complete,  rock work 1 day away from complete, very close on all trim in awesome room, and cabinets just waiting on granite. Doors and trim are next, with the last details being the master vanity top and the kitchen island. It's hard to believe that I am marking the last items off the list, but it's true. I don't know if I will get any more help, so I have to push on like I won't . I have been after Scott, begging for just 2 days of help setting the doors, but he can't get away from his current job. Hopefully he will come up this weekend, At some point I will just have to start installing doors, becouse I'm running out of other projects.                           This past weekend, our good friend John Sagers took his son Gatlin and Matt backpacking into the gorge and camped at the Mushrooms. Matt slept in his own tent by himself, and hauled out his own gear in his own pack. What an adventure for a 7 yr. old!, something we will repeat in the future. I of course had to work, but my time is coming. I  have been having trouble uploading pictures, but hopefully I can get some on soon, couse it's looking awesome. Well. gotta get after it, later, RJ

Last Days of Summer

Looks like one last week of 90 deg. temps, then the highs for friday and saturday are only supposed to be in the upper 70's. Like every year, once september roles around, the weather starts to cool off fast. Todays will probably be our last swim in the river for the season, so I think we will just spend the whole afternoon there. The weather in August has been awesome, cool temps, rain!, and great cool nights just perfect for deck fires and hot tubbing. Another awesome thing about this August is the amount of shooting stars I have seen. Some of these sightings have been spectacular, with long tracks thru the sky trailing long tails of stardust. I wonder why I see so many great shooting stars, but it's not much of a mystery, I spend almost every night outside in one of the least polluted night skies in America. Rock Masons and gutter guys are supposed to be working today, but you never know, it's a holiday and they might figure that out and stay home. I will do a couple hours of work before heading to the river, or so I thought, just got back from checking jobsite and both are working. Makes it hard to get something done myself, just too much in the way. Guess I'll have to go to the river, dang. The end is near, and the next 3 weeks will be a marathon race to get as much done as possible before moving in. It is so cool seeing the details and finishes that were so carefully thought thru, and planned, come into reality.  Everything looks just right, and even though Robyn and I have battled at times, we seem to have struck the perfect balance on every issue. Hope you think so too.

Last Pieces Fall into Place

Bingo, I scored on finding some wide cherry lumber in Atkins, Ark., and my last worry about material is solved. It's more expensive than what I have been paying, but less waste, and I have to have it to finish the house. The cherry paneling in the Awesome room is looking sooo good, I was concerned that I had made a mistake trying to do custom cherry paneling in such a big room, but it's perfect. To tell the truth, Lost Valley Canoe has been a great resource on info about local mills and who to call to find out where to go for sawmills and kilns. Thanks guys! So much is happening so fast that it's hard to keep up on the blog, that and I am working so many more hours. I'm kinda worn out from the push already, but there is still 3 weeks to go.

cabinets are in, rockwork has started on the inside, all power problems are solved, 3 weeks until granite installed, 2 weeks until arrival of glass vanity top, plumber coming to hook up main into house and finish all other plumbing, rock work on exterior complete, carpet will be installed in 1 week, interior doors are 1/2 complete, gutters will be completed on tuesday, fans in awesome room installed, plenty of walnut and cherry to finish all trim details,  and finally, wide cherry lumber to complete the awesome room has been found. The only thing missing is the incredible amount of work involved to put all that material up. It will be close, and there will be incomplete items, but I still believe we can do it. Here are some pics of the latest progress. Later, RJ

Cabinets Arrive

What a day! Cabinets were delivered, exterior rock work is just about complete, and interior doors are in Harrison. I will install the cabinets tomorrow and call for the granite tops, which should be installed in about 3 weeks. I think I have convinced Scott to come back and set all the remaining interior doors, and that's about all I need from him. The plan is to move in and finish up while we live there, something that is not the best, but at least I get to keep right on working every day to finish. There's really not much left on the outside either, mainly the front entry porch and part of the french drain. My main problem now is finding some wide cherry to complete the paneling in the awesome room, I have material for everything else needed to complete the house. The cabinets are great looking cherry with shaker style, and I will spend all  day tomorrow installing them. After that, I will spend the rest of my time completing all of the interior trim work. 4 weeks left till our self imposed deadline to move in. I guess we will let everyone know when to come over and help us move, I know how much everyone loves to move.  It's supposed to rain this weekend, but since it's only a 60% chance, that basically means no chance, so I will get  a lot done.

Return To Cool

Weather has been amazing lately, after a scorcher of a summer, we have had a run of days in the 70s and 80s, and nights in the low 60s high 50s. Perfect weather for hanging out on the deck, having a fire, and soaking in the hot tub late at night. We have had some rain, but still need a lot more to get the river in shape. Just in the past few days I have been lucky enough to see 5 bucks in velvet just hanging out at Mr. Warren's cabin, one of them an 8 pt. and a couple of 6 its. And then, I came upon 12 wild turkeys crossing the road, wow, the turkey seem to be coming back strong. I'm pushing hard on everything I can to meet our move in date, and it's coming down to the wire. Kitchen cabinets and interior doors arrive this week, and I picked up more cherry today for trim and paneling. 4 weeks of hard work baby and I can drive this thing. Just in time for fall, if there is one. I'm gone, syotrs RJ

Big Final Push

Vacation has come and gone, and I am ready to get after it. Another week,and the cabinets and interior doors arrive and will make the biggest difference. The finishing touches are all that's left before we are able to move in and I am able to move on. Five weeks to get the inside ready to move in, so I am racing the clock. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot to do until the stuff gets here, but I will do what I can. I am going to start posting again, so  check back for the final push to completion on this awesome house.