Phase 3, 4 and into 5

Phase three:  Build new pantry and kitchen space to the enclosed stage.  

Phase four:  New Roof 

Phase five:  Interior drywall, electrical and plumbing. 

Did you notice?  No more time frame or projected dates of completion. I don't even make any wild claims anymore. I just go forward knowing that it will at some point... be completed...

...when it is completed.

Regardless... Phase 3 and 4 are as completed as they can be now that winter is here.

The exterior walls are all up and exterior is painted... 98%.  The area around the front door is still unpainted.  Painting requires a minimum of 4 hours a day of above 50* temps... won't be seeing that until.. May maybe June.  But don't cry for me... there's plenty to do until then!

The roof is COMPLETE!  Thankfully.  The phrase 'we have a roof over our heads' has never meant so much.  The firewood has been collected and now it needs to be chopped and stacked but it's here which is the important part.   So we're keeping warm in our new spaces.... our very unfinished new spaces.

Electrical, plumbing and drywall are all very important.  And tedious.  And dusty.  And as soon as they are completed.. I swoop in and paint which makes all the difference and looks fabulous.  Of the 7 areas inside that need completing... 2 are 99% complete.  The pantry and the new bedroom.

Phase 5 is going forward... in stages... 

Phases 6-10 may even pop in and out before Phase 5 is fully finished.  (Obviously my phases were not the best outline of construction.  I've hung up my hard hat and am resigning as project manager time scheduler.  I'm working on my new title.)

Kindred Spirit

I hope that some day when someone discovers our wall of famous signatures indicating our presence in the Utah house, that they are filled with a happy moment of contemplations about who we may have been.  Hopefully our decision to write on the wall (and date it) will inspire them to pause and reflect upon the mark they are leaving in the world.  Hopefully it will bring a smile to their face of the happy people who once spent time in the dwelling where they now make their memories.

It certainly brought a smile to my face when I saw this...

I don't know who Michael Brown is/was.  I wish he had dated his exclamation of presence. I'm ever so grateful that I saw it.  Patrick didn't mention it when he was doing the demolition of the kitchen wall.  I'm also pleased that his 2x4 post will be remaining.  If it had been 6" over either way, we would have been oblivious to his message.  6" left and we wouldn't have exposed it.. 6" right and it would have been smashed and removed before any examining would have found it.  (The garbage truck happened to be coming down the road as Patrick completed this demolition and the remains went straight outside)

I have every intention of signing our work in some fabulous locale before we seal up our renovations.  Perhaps we'll enclose a small time capsule within the walls.  What should we include?

Phase 2

Phase one:  Build new room off of living room to the enclosed stage. (projected completion July 17)

Phase two:  Build new combination bathroom/laundry and dining area to the enclosed stage. (projected completion Aug. 3rd )

Leaving Phase 1 incomplete to begin Phase 2 is difficult but I do understand the necessity of the order for exterior completion before winter.  The other option is not to do so much in one year.  That is not how I rumble!  So, more chaos and eager anticipation.

Difficulties with Phase 2

• Our deliveries were missing essential material
• Our deliveries were delayed
• Plumbing!
• Rain, leaking in Phase 1 area since the roof is incomplete until Phase 2 is completed
• Damaged items had to be reordered, more delays
• Chimneys

Phase 2 compensated all its difficulties by providing helpers.

Caleb surprised us with a visit for his birthday.  We poured concrete (he loves to work with concrete!). We also put together the beginning of the new floor for the laundry/bathroom.

Liam spent the day at our house.  He thought it would be fun to see Duncan after an absence of 5 months.  Not sure if he still thinks it was fun.  They climbed under the house to put the vapor barrier on the underside of the new flooring.

Missionaries popped by to see us.  They saw that we were doing a project and asked if they could come back to help.  We weren't sure if they were serious but told them they can if they want.  Saturday morning three of them, masked and wearing work clothes,  knocked on the door.  They were eager for something to do.  They aren't allowed inside because of Covid and when it began to rain they sat on the porch to wait it out.  I kept everyone supplied with fruit and cookies and water.  For one, this was the first time using a drill, a chalk line and a power nailer.  The walls were partially up and needed cross pieces put in.  They also cleaned up all the demolition debris and then started putting up the plywood and the walls really took shape.   It was Grandpa Ted's birthday so they lucked out and we served Voreniki and Root Beer floats.

Meanwhile... on the roof, 

Derek hopped up on the roof a few times to help Duncan.  He didn't last long after he sunburned terribly, even though he wore a hat.  Long sleeves were found for him, but he wasn't eager to get back to working. 

Between progress there was a lot of needed research and discussion.  Plumbing issues to solve, roofing angles to get right...  likely a lot more.. but it begins to sound the same to me and I had other things to work on.  I had to empty the old pantry and make decisions on bathroom fixtures and lighting placement. 

It's exhausting!

Listening to all the discussion and watching all the construction!

It does eventually all come together and begin to resemble a house.

Amusing moments of Phase 2

Since plumbing was out of commission while they ran the new drains, we created a temporary outhouse behind the barn in the ravine.  We gave strict instructions DON'T use the toilet!  The restrictions lasted a few hours.  In a quiet moment in the evening we suddenly realized.. someone is in the bathroom.  "Whittaker, DON'T FLUSH!"  

"I forgot.  Okay I won't flush."  

A few minutes later he emerged from the bathroom... rushing water noises behind him... "Oh NO!.. I forgot.  I flushed!"  

No one wanted to be the one to let daddy know that when he returned from town with the plumbing fittings there was a surprise awaiting him under the house.  

The theme song for the evening came from a little ditty Jim began singing. 

Oh dear, what can the matter be...

7 old ladies locked in the lavatory

they've been gone Sunday til' Saturday

Nobody knew they were there....

Sunset over construction site

Phase two:  Build new combination bathroom/laundry and dining area to the enclosed stage. (projected completion Aug. 3rd )

We didn't quite make the projected date of Aug. 3rd.  On Aug. 14th, since Phase 2 was at yet another stalled point waiting for materials to be delivered, we began demolition on Phase 3.  The materials arrived on the 20th. but Phase 3 was not at a stopping spot, so now there's two projects on the go for a bit.  Hopefully Phase 3 will go quickly and get us back on track.  The weather is cooperating.

Phase three:  Build new pantry and kitchen space to the enclosed stage.  (projected completion Aug. 31st) {or possibly Sept. 15th}