What a beautiful spring we have had, the redbuds were awesome, the dogwoods have been also, and the differant greens are spectacular. The only bad thing is our view is shrinking, so it,s time to cut a couple of trees that are blocking the view from the deck. The rockwork is looking fantastic, and it really adds the finishing touch. Everything looks better when the rock goes up, and I need to get busy on the interior woodwork projects becouse we start the hardwood floors next week. But, just like fall, it,s hard to stay focused when it is so beautiful all
around you. Although this has been the realization of a dream for me, after a year of building I need a little break to recharge my batterys and make me more productive. Yea, I know what ya'll are thinking, all Roger does is take breaks. But I can be very productive when my mind is right, so it's important to stay refreshed. The time to return to a regular routine of some sort is coming soon, and I have to figure out what my next adventure is going to be. I know this sounds crazy for a 51 year old guy, but I feel like all of my best music is still inside of me. M
y goal i (the monkey just destroyed this post)
s to write 100 songs in my li
fe, and I'm only a quarter of the way there. I also want to start a band and do alot of live performances. I know what your thinking, someone has to like and listen, but I am going to do it. Well, I have a monkey climbing on my head(Matt) so I better feed it, so everyone have a great

Rockwork Begins

Rock work has started and it looks fantastic, hope we got enough money that I dont have to do any of it. We are down to the point where are budget is gone and we still have work left to do. Of course we knew this would happen, and have planned for this all along. We will begin installing the walnut and cherry floors next week and I can't wait, it really means we are getting close. My biggest projects left are the front porch, and the interior woodwork, which will probably be the last things completed. Tile flooring and the tile showers will come in the next couple weeks also, so it's an exciting time. There have been so many distractions lately that I have not accomplished alot, so I better get after it. Stay out of the storms way, and have a great day. RJ

The River Calls

Ok, so we spent saturday night on the river and had an awesome time partying with some friends of our friend Jim. A couple of doctors and the construction mgr. at University of Missouri, so they were some interesting dudes. They have been coming for annual and frequent trips to  the Buffalo for years, and love the river like we do. We stayed across from Jim Bluff and had a great campsite, there were hundreds of people on the river. The weather was incredible and the water was coooold! Matt is really starting to look like a paddler, getting more comfortable and confident in boats by himself, and of course him and Cooper did some cliff jumping. Those two boys really love the river, and get so excited when we are going, and get sad when we leave. I can relate. Oh, I don't want to leave out litle Lucy, who was really helping her dad get down river with some powerful paddling herself. You know, it just does'nt get any better than this, and it looks like we have instilled the love of this great river, and of the great outdoors in these kids. Oh yea, I am building this house and the rock mason is starting today. Yippee, I can't wait to see the first rock go up. We are close to ordering cabinets and countertops and it's always hard saying no to the people who we are NOT buying from. But , this means we are 3-4 weeks away from a huge step, we just got to get the hardwood flooring done first. Man I am ready to live here, I started doing the actual framing of the  house last april 25th, and I need to be very close to finished on the first anniversary. Got to go meet the mason, so SYOTRS and have a glorious day. RJ

Cherry and Walnut Combo Impress

Cherry paneling in awesome room

Walnut window sill

Granite I thought was going in

Mudroom countertop

Walnut flooring acclimating

Looks like a paddler lives here

The view from my office

Spring is Here #2

Took a walk in the Gorge yesterday and took 150 pictures, hope you enjoy some of these. Spring break is almost over, and it's time to really get after it. I have enjoyed some time off, and now I am ready for some action. Although I have enjoyed this year immensly, I am ready to finish and move on to something else, like trails in the gorge. Peaple think I'm crazy when I tell them my plans for trails in the Gorge, but I am determined to have a footprint in this rugged place so we can enjoy more throughout the year. It really is perfectly situated for my plan, just alot of hard work. Painting will be finished next week, and I will pick up our hardwood floors for Scott and Mike to begin installing a week from monday. I will be putting in the stairway this week, and begin on window trim when I complete the stairs. 2 months of hard work should get me either complete or very close, I  really need to stay in tune and focused. I will order cabinets and countertops this week, and all of our tile has been ordered for flooring and showers, not alot left to choose. Well, I hope everyone enjoys this spring, get outside and experiance it. RJ

Spring is Here #1

massive oak gaurds the gorge

front soffitt and can lights finished

outdoor fireplace mantel supports in place

ready for hardwood floor

painter is getting done

one of the rapids below our place

sitting on a cliff

the deck rapid

The power of floods

not a place for a novice

Big Rain Event

Had about 4" of rain over the past couple days, and it created a monster in our back yard. No one came to try and tame it though, but man it was perfect. So perfect that I decided to sleep on the deck and let it sooth my sleeping. It was awesome!, just something about sleeping beside a raging creek. The little waterfall across the gorge from us made a big showing yesterday and you could see it as you walked onto the deck. Wow, what a spot  when it rains. Me and bro Scott enjoyed a soak listening to the creek and waterfall, then warmed by the outdoor fireplace, I can't wait to share this place with a bunch of family and good friends as soon as we are complete. We got the painter going, and are fast approaching hardwood flooring. As soon as our spring vacation at home ends, it will be an all out push to finish this project. From now on, I will take spring break off with Matt, and we will spend all week paddling and camping with Scott and Cooper and Lucy. A vacation at home in our backyard!  The next couple of months will bring an end to all this work, and we can spend more time enjoying this wonderful area we call home. I know I really needed to take this time off and recharge my batteries, even though there is so much to be done. Sometimes it's just time to get your yaya's. Next projects are; 1) front porch and posts, 2)hardwood flooring, 3) stairtreads, 4)rockwork, 5)interior woodwork. A few more days of fun, then it's back at it, so maybe, SYOTRNOW