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?

Construction Bloopers

All work and no play... 

No worries there.  There has been plenty of play.

For some it seems to be their job.

They have managed to find delight in cast off building materials.  These are extra pieces of the concrete forms... otherwise known as robot walkers.

The tubs have been very useful for collecting scraps for burning, garbage, moving dirt and obviously for rolling around in.

The new ripstick backyard stage was enjoyed, for the few days it existed, before pesky things like walls, roof and plumbing were put in the way.

Then there was Duncan.  He found amusement on the actual jobsite... It was his personal jungle gym.  They delighted in calling to me to come see how he became stuck under the house!  It looks like the house in the Wizard of Oz when it landed on the Wicked Witch.  He was neither, dead nor stuck... but definitely wicked!  The tubs also doubled as a place to sit for the few seconds between tasks.  

Crash, Bang, Boom.. Ta Da

Kenzie may have crashed the party... and the window but it has led to the next bit of noise here.

Once the area was cleared out...

A more careful demolition took place.

Then the new sounds of crashing and banging began.  And the countdown to having the 7' x 6' gaping hole in the side of the house to be filled... as snow flurries began to fall outside and we stoked the fire and kept it roaring in attempts to keep what little warmth inside the house that we could.  

The progress was well anticipated and each step applauded  

Finally enclosed again, the temperatures began to rise again and moral was boosted.... or at least blankets and coats were no longer needed as we huddled near the fire.  

It was late at night when it began to finally take the appearance of a finished project.  Everyone was eager to try out the new nook... 

Exactly how the new alcove will be used is still unknown entirely... but it's been put to good use... even if it is still lacking a coat of paint and a few final finishing details.

I'm not certain if we have become so accustomed to tighter quarters or are simply giddy to all squeeze into our window seat and enjoy the views outside. 

But somehow the sight of the two littles enjoying a quiet evening moment was the most delightful to see.