Start the Week Strong

Week 2 of ceiling installation and I hope to complete all of it by friday.  It looks awesome and is one of the best features of the house. I did'nt get much done this weekend, so I guess I will work some nights this week. The big deal now is putting a finish on all this ceiling, I am leaving the scaffolds in place to make it easier to reach all the high stuff. But this is still alot of work, and not something I enjoy. Just gotta get in a zone and do it. My goal is to have all the ceiling installed and with a finish by the end of january, a doable goal with hard work. After that, it's time to start on interior woodwork and paint. Of course there are a million things to decide on , order, deliver to mill, pick up, and install. But momentum is building everyday and I gotta keep at it everyday so I can get my life back. Speaking of that, it will be strange after a year of building a house to get back to some daily routine of whatever work I do. I worked at the store saturday, and I truly enjoy doing that, but I wonder if we might get something going on our dream of building luxury treehouses and I could just do that. Who knows, I keep an open mind and even though I'm gettin older, still believe I got my best music left in me. Wake up Roger!! time to get after it. I'll get some pics today and post them later.  SYOTRS RJ

Latest Progress Pics

A WORKING HOT TUB ON MOUNTAIN!!!!

Two BIG things today, the hot tub is warming up as we speak, and we completed the ceiling in the awesome room. The ceiling is a big deal, by far the hardest part of what's left. Now that the scaffolding is in place I have decided to stain and finish the beams and complete all of the sealing now. I am even going to install the fans, that way once I pull down the scaffolding, I will be done up high. The ceiling in the awesome room is beautiful, spruce has a totally differant look than pine, and I am so glad we got it. Thanks go out to Bro Dave on this for hooking me up, it is certainly one of the best features of the house. The hot tub is much needed right now as I am working from early to late and my bones have always needed good long soaks in hot water. All the better that I will be able to gaze at the stars and listen to the creek to complete the setting. I have come up with a plan for the area around the tub and outdoor shower, and I can't wait to have some time for this fun project. Meanwhile, it's a race against the calender now, after the ceilings, there is nothing left that I can't do myself and I'm good at everything left to do. (or so I think I am) The biggest question mark is the rockwork, and if I can do a significant amount and save some money. The most important thing right now is to constantly mark things off the master list. It really does'nt matter what, becouse everything has to be finished to close the loan. But you know, things are looking real good right now. Let's have a party in the Hot Tub uhh hu. RJ

The Huge High Ceiling

Wood Ceilings and Log Posts

OK, quick update. I have decided to spend the money on labor to get all the ceilings done, and after our first day installing, feel like we should be done in a couple of weeks. This is the biggest project left to do and using a 3 man crew speeds installation up a bunch. I can really begin to see the end coming soon( not the end of the world), and after the ceiling is done, the floor will be the biggest project left. I finally found a good source for cedar logs and went to the mill and picked up 15 logs for posts. When I asked how much?, the good man said 6 bucks a piece. WWW-hat, wow, that's cheap. Good logs too, so a major score for me. He also has a bandsaw to cut up my massive logs for the awesome room, and to cut my cherry logs into lumber. After they are cut, I will deliver them to the planing and drying mill just a couple miles down the road. It is so cool having these small mills around here to work with. Not one piece of trim in our house will have come from a lumber yard or home center, it will be one of a kind. I also installed  the door to the crawlspace on sunday and completed the hot tub deck, so things are being knocked off the list fast.  I'll take some pics today and post of all the latest progress, everyone have a great day. SYOTRS  Hollohead

First Ceiling Boards Go Up

Making Everyday Count

Ok, Getting so much done the past couple of days that I hate to break stride. I'm really focused in on sticking with projects until they are complete, and it's making a differance. The railing on the upstairs deck is almost done, and that would leave only 10 l.f. left to build.  The hot tub deck is built, and we will be soaking within a couple of days. I have also started on the interior ceiling and I love the way it looks, it also is the easiest ceiling board I have ever installed. I have decided to install all material that I have and not order anything else until I dont have anything left, that way all loose ends will be tied up as we go along. This means that I will be installing ceiling boards for the next several weeks, and it also means that the big bundles of lumber that have dominated the site for the last 9 months will be completely gone soon. The last utility to install is the septic system, and the site needs to be clear to get that done. It all is coming together for the final pushes, and the biggest efforts from me. I was installing ceiling last night until 9:30 and this will become the norm. By my estimate, around 120 labor hours are needed to complete all of the 3600 sf  interior and exterior ceiling. I will need help on at least 1500 sf of that and my goal is to be finished in 3 weeks with all of it.  After that, It's time to start on all the trimwork in the awesome room and the rest of the house. Well, there is a light dusting of snow on the ground and it looks like this will be the coldest day of winter so far. It has been such a mild winter so far, a welcome relief since the past two winters were so cold. But I need to find something to do, so I'll leave you now and get something done today. SYOTMS