Wish I Was Kayaking

 Seasons of the Gorge

Big rain last night and today, so I let everyone know that the creek was rockin. I don't think anyone jumped on it, but it was BIG. I am so ready to be able to skip out on work and go kayakin it's driving me nuts, but the mission has to be completed. The past 2 years have not been kind to my boating fun, but my day is coming soon. The past 2 days have not been kind to production, and I gotta get it back going. Installing the ceiling is apparently a 3 man job becouse production has dropped thru the floor as I have been at the store the past  couple of days. The payoff hopefully will be in the Home Depot loads I have been processing at the store. I have already scored the following items: 1)real granite vanity tops and undermount sinks for Matt's bathroom and the guest bathroom. 2)assorted lighting fixtures and ceiling fans. 3)cabinets for the mudroom 4)mirrors for bathrooms5) commodes for all bathrooms. Finally I am saving some money again, and it could have been more if we had not already bought all our faucets. All these products are in new shape and of high quality, and exactly in the style that we like. How lucky can you get! Well my goal of having all the ceilings done by the end of the month is certainly in jepordy, but we'll survive. You try not to get used to busted schedules, so I live in a fantasy world and insist that we will be done when I say we will. Well it's getting time to go down and listen to the roar of the Osage, so I'll leave it with some pictures of last years floods. SYITGS  Hollohead

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