Inside Woodwork Continues

Well alright, were finally getting a little rain, not enough to fill the river but cool light rain. The weather has been awesome, but rain is what we need. The tile man returns today to mostly finish the showers and floors, the only problem is we need the plumber to return and fix his mistake in the guest bath so we can finish the tile tub surround. The tile is looking awesome and I am very happy with thier work. The rock pebble shower floors really stand out and are my favorite part, again Robyn has done an outstanding job in selecting the right colors and style for all the ceramic tile work. We have also finished all of the beams in the house and they look great. The woodwork inside is coming along nicely and wow,  cherry and walnut go together like pine and red cedar, a perfect compliment. The window sills are a work of art and just jump off the wall at you, I can't wait to post pictures. Speaking of pictures, I will be back in bussines in days becouse we bought a new computer and I will be able to post soon. There is so much to show so make sure and check back soon. I played at Low Gap Cafe on saturday night and had a great crowd with every song generating a good round of applause, I was due a good performance and had actually practiced for the gig. It feels so good to see people enjoying my music, and that will be my direction as soon as I complete this house. This week we will complete all the woodwork inside except the awesome room and begin laying the hardwood floors, did I just say that, LAYING THE HARDWOOD FLOORS! This is the fun time, everything we do makes things complete. I will post a months worth of pictures this week, so check back and check it out. Later RJ

I admit it, I am addicted to my deck. Every night after putting Matt to bed, I slip away down to the house, start a fire in the outdoor fireplace, and enjoy star gazing and practicing my guitar until sometimes 1 am. It has become my favorite place, and as long as the weather is good, I,m sure I will spend tons of time there. Last night,  I wrote down some lyric to a song I have been playing around with for awhile, just came into my head while enjoying the fire. This is a good sign, and I think alot of things will just come to me sitting out on the deck. I so wish I could post pictures, I have so many new things to share, but the old laptop is down and out and I cannot figure out how to post pics on this thing. The woodwork on the inside is really something special and really will be a conversation piece. Cherry and walnut go together like the Buffalo river and good times, and as it ages it deepens in color and richness. I will post later aboutnall the progress made the last week and all the new happenings. Meanwhile, dad and I are going to hang out on the deck tonight with a fire. So pray for rain and maybe syotrs  The Hollowhead

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

Three Glorious Days On The River

Getting ready to put on the river for the next couple nights, wish there where more water, but you take what you can get. An old friend of Scott's from Texas is here, so it's gonna be abig boy and  big  fun trip, Matt is so disapointed he's not coming.  But, we have another trip planned for next weekend with my dad, so he'll definately be on that one if we get some rain. For some reason, I am burnt out at the house and just need to let loose, get away, recharge. River is so low we may end up dragging most of the way, but who cares, 3 days on the river is heaven. The rock masons are finishing the interior fireplace today, and it looks great. I am trying to get this new notebook to load pics, but no luck so far, too bad becouse alot of stuff has been done. Everyone have a great weekend, and if your lucky, SYOTR now!!

Correction to earlier post

correction; the law school at university of Arkansas is not named after Bill Clinton. It is the Bill Clinton school of public service. And for the record, I am glad he was not thrown out of office, I was not making a political statement, just an analogy. Anyway sorry for getting off track, I just had to vent. As soon as I can figure how to load pics on this new xoom, I will post a bunch of pics, wild azailias and rock work. Going on 3 day float trip friday with old friend of Scott's friday. Yehaw

Frustrations Set in on Blog and House

The rock masons are rocking and rolling along, and it looks fantastic. All of the columns are complete and the outdoor fireplace as well, they are working on the interior fireplace today. The rock completes the look, and compliments everything so well. My choice was to go with a rock that looked more local, but Robyn has great taste and I am so glad I trusted her judgement becouse it looks perfect. Next on the schedule is the hardwood floors and interior woodwork, so I need to find my groove. I have really been discombobulated lately and to tell the truth, have been very unproductive. If you read the heading on this blog, it mentions frustrations, and I guess that's where I'm at. Speaking of Robyn's tastes, the colors for the paint she chose are awesome and create the mood of the house. I admit it, she coordinates all the paints, flooring, and wood finishes so much better than I do, even though there are no stains on any of the woodwork , the differant woods we are using are all very distictive looks and actually will darken with aging. Walnut and cherry floors
, walnut window sills, cherry paneling in the awesome roocherry window and door trim, cherry door jambs, and solid one piece walnut stair treads. Not one piece of trim or woodwork will have come from a lumber yard, it's a truly custom house that has been milled as much as built. It will be very interesting to see what the appraiser values it at becouse there are not many like it. well,