Sheetrock Hangers Done

The sheetrock crew is done hanging the rock, and it's time to put the finishes on. This should take about a week. and then it's on to the wood ceilings. I was looking forward to showing off the house, but plans changed sometime and we are not having Christmas at the cabin. I'm ready to get some work done, and in spite of getting sick the past few days, ready to get after it. Heat will be on either today, or Monday, and that will help so much with working late. I need to get some enthusiasm going and just shake off this disapointment.  Well, everyone have a great Christmas, Matt is sure excited.

Roger's 1st Descent of Rapids Below House

Well, I could'nt stand it any more so I got my boat and gear and descended into the Gorge. There had been about 3/4" of rain during the night and the creek had risen to 6" on the gauge, it was time to test the bottom level of what could be run in the rapids below our house. First off, I really have to get a good trail down there. Secondly, about 3" more of water is needed for a low water run. But I ran about 600' of the creek and had a blast, there are 2 really good class III drops, and alot of II+ boogie water. It was awesome just to get my boat on the water and look up to see our house. A dream come true for me. But there was alot of effort involved and I can't wait to get my stairway and trail developed, and clear some spots by the creek for a true wild ozark stream park. I just have got to find a paddling buddy to go when the creek comes up, but the experiance showed me what is possible in my own backyard.

Sheetrock Blues

I'm just spending time waiting on the sheetrock to be finished and the heat to be hooked up, probably take another couple of weeks. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I need some good weather to complete the deck railing and french drain on the front. I'm sure the holidays will slow things down some, so with some good days I could make some progress on the outside projects. I wish I had someone to paddle with becouse the river came up after last nights rains and is at a perfect level. In the future when this thing is done, I will always head to the river on days like this. For me, life is doing projects that take some very hard work and long time, and then enjoying the fruits of my labor for an equally long time. I have another few months to go before the fun begins, but I can see the light at the end of the house. Let's just hope it's not my electrician hooking it up, I wont be able to afford it. My daughter Whitney has been visiting for the past week, and she loves the new place. Her main comment after "WOW", is that pictures do not capture the scale of the place and it's site on top of the Gorge. This is so true and is the reason why everyone should come and visit if you are ever on the mountain.  I may just go screw off today, but don't tell anyone. SYOTMS  RJ

Rooms Become Divided

Sheetrock Goes Up

A very busy time of the year no doubt, and trying to build a house at the same time just adds on to the load. But I aint complaining, in fact I'm very lucky to have Robyn pick up my slack while I'm building us this place. Her reward will be great. The  sheetrock guys have been here a couple of days, and they really get after it. The same cannot be said about the guys who delivered it, the guy jumps out of the truck and says to me; "they don't pay me enough to do this s---". And then refuses to take any rock upstairs, leading me to call and insist that they do just that. The store sent out 3 other guys the next day, and I helped them carry it upstairs. It was not hard at all, 20 trips up the stairs for all of us hauling 100 lb. sheets per team. I have been busy finding and fixing a very persistant leak in some roof to wall flashing, and I think I finally have it done. My electrician continues to be a thorn in my side as several things were not done correctly or at all causing issues with the sheetrock. This really burns me, thousands over budget, and an incomplete job on top of that. My biggest mistake so far, and if anyone wants his name I will gladly email it to you.  The house really takes shape when the rock goes on the walls, and you get the feel of the floorplan. I hope Robyn likes it, as she has a hard time visualizing what things will look like when they are done. Out of all the delivery guys and the  guys sheetrocking, the universal reaction is WOW.  In fact, almost every person who has come and stepped out on the decks overlooking the Gorge, says "WOW". There is just no way to convey the scale of it all through pictures or words, and I say WOW everytime I check it out many times a day. SYITGS RJ

Sheetrock Begins

The sheetrock guys showed up today and got busy. The other pics are some scenery between the Osage and the family cabin in Outlaw Hollow.

Ready for Sheetrock

Foam Insulation Arrives

Big day today, foam insulation was started and they will finish tommoroe. You can't believe how much differance this product makes, and I know I am very glad to use it. I sure hope we had everything done that we needed to, I know of at least one item that was not completed and should have been before the foam.  It can still be done, it will just take more time. The front shed roof has also been completed, and I am again so glad that I chose to do this, kinda takes the sting out of the electricians bill. Sheetrock will be delivered monday and Jason will start on tuesday, the whole process will take about 2 weeks. Rockwork and some trim is about all that's left on the exterior of the house, oh wait I forgot about the ceiling on all the covered decks, so we still have about 2 weeks left outside to complete. Anyway, with the sheetrock on the way Scott and Mike are moving to my brother Scott's place to put in a couple of weeks. It will be cool to see his place get some things done over there. Well, the holidays should slow folks down a little, but my goal is to have all the sheetrock done before the end of the year. Then the massive project of the wood ceiling starts and it's really up to me to accomplish this. I just don't have alot left for labor, and this is where I need to make my money back. I really love trim work, and am looking forward to working in a well insulated house with the heat on.    A couple of things happened this past week that are really cool, the first is that a resteraunt in Low Gap of all places has opened and it is awesome! This is not a greasy spoon or Dairy mart, this is the best food in all of the Harrison area. The cook and owner Nick Boutini, had a place on the square in Harrison that was featured in Southern Living, and Arkansas Living, and he is an awesome cook. We have already eaten there twice this week, and met folks from all over the mountains here. I have already talked to him about playing there during the warmer months, how cool would that be. The seafood there is FRESH!!!!! from Pensacola, and good god Nick can cook!!    The other cool thing is that my brother Scott has procured tickets to the COTTON BOWL!!! Yehaw, me and Matt are so excited, go hogs go!!!  Well, everyone have a great weekend and Ill post pics. of the foam later. SYABRS  RJ  Oh my gosh, I forgot to mention that I saw a Bald Eagle soaring directly over our house yesterday, preety dang cool!!

Kayakers in the Gorge

Got a big rain saturday night and brought the creek up. It's my job to let folks know what the level is, so I got up and went to look at the creek.. It's a go! The kayakers were headed our way. I went down and talked with them about what level would be considered minimum, we are trying to co-relate my gauge to paddling. Some folks who were not boating came down and hiked into the gorge to check out the action at the Mushroom. Man I wish I did'nt have to work all day getting ready for foam insulation. It was so cool watching the guys come through R and R rapid right below us, but a heavy fog kept visibility low for much of the time. After the excitement died down I got to work, and late in the day I found another leak, damn! Cannot do insulation with any leaks! Also our stereo guy did not show, and we have to have it done before foam. So, foam was delayed another day.  All the siding is done, except the crawlspace, and it looks great! It is time to make this place feel like a house with sheetrock and wood ceiling. I worked long and hard yesterday, and I will do the same today. But it is snowing outside and sticking too, so who knows how things will turn out. Ok, just walked outside and there is 1/2" of snow on ground. Winter up here starts early.   Hope it does'nt cause more delays. Take Care, RJ

Ready for Insulation

Well,  just scheduled the foam insulation for monday, and I have a little to do to get ready. Just a small punch list and I can take a break for a few days while the foam is completed. The last few weeks have not been kind to the schedule with black friday and an exudus of employees from the store coming at a bad time. I always have to pick up the slack at these times, and the store is the most important. I have worked many days in a row with only Thanksgiving off, does'nt bother me except I'm too scattered. But, the sheetrock will come after the foam and things will take off again. The ext. siding is complete, with the exception of the crawl space, and it looks great. The rough in electric is complete and the bill was presented to me. OUCH! By far the most over budget item, I have been dead-on with all my quotes, and this bill was almost double what they said it would be. Really upsets me, and I will deal with electricians differantly from now on. I will never be taken by surprise like that again, and I don't understand why the electric rough-in would be as much as the entire HVAC system and the rough-in plumbing costs together.  Oh well, it is what it is.  This is kinda the turning point of the project, it's a big deal to have insulation and sheetrock complete, and the focus turns to the interior projects. We also will have heat, and that will make everything easier, and I will be able to work late.  Well, everyione have an awesome day. SYOTMS hopefully. RJ

A Hike in The Gorge

All of these pics were taken within a quarter mile of our house. I took a wander to parts of the Gorge I have never visited, but still only stayed out a couple of hours. I never lost sight of the house.