Road Trip

On a cold, snowy day, four of us took a road trip to Two.  We headed out Saturday morning and got as far as Osceola before stopping.  We ate in and had pancakes and sausage and toast and jelly and eggs and hot peppers.  Well.  Yes.  We had too much.  But it was good and we don't do that often. 

Then off we went in the snow flurries and cold, to Two.  We hauled down a rug, a chair, a this, a that.  The new cabin is going to be furnished before we even get the inside walls in! 

You have not experienced cold, real cold, until you go into an unheated house (or cabin) where the temps have been down . . . oh say Zero to 20 degrees.  And no heat.  When you walk in the stark, naked cold sucks the heat out of your body, right out of your bones.  Even with coats, hats and mittens. 

This little cabin has the same capability.  It will chill feet and bones and crack toilet bowls!  The cold extracts the heat right out of the 2X4s and boards and the walls contract; they moan and groan.  After a visit in the fall or winter, there is a process of winterizing.  It calls for draining pipes and applying antifreeze.  We empty the fridge (but leave the doors open so it doesn't mold in there!). So, we have learned how to protect the pipes and plumbing fixtures.  We know how to leave the little cabin so it is there and inhabitable upon our return.  And we try to deter the Japanese beetles . . .but, oh well, we haven't figured that one out yet!  Those darn Japanese beetles will be there come spring, by the thousands!  By the dustpan full! 

Winter

I heard a bird sing

In the dark of December

A magical thing

And sweet to remember.

We are nearer to Spring

Than we were in September,

I heard a bird sing

In the dark of December.

             - Oliver Herford, I Heard a Bird Sing



Brick Front Cabin

We thought we had photos in here of the finished front!  We do now!

Some day when the little cabin is the same gray as the big cabin, it will look all of a piece.  OR I have been campaigning for a darker gray, to contrast with the big cabin but I have not gotten Himself to see my vision yet. 

Excitement!

I'm so excited!  I finally figured out how to put the tabs in the blogs!  I'm jumping up and down, I'm so happy!  I love it that you can sort by "label" now.  If you just want to look at Family photos and entires, click the Family Tab.  If you want Little Cabin entries, click Little Cabin and if you just want to be updated on the Big Cabin, click New Too label.  Isn't that fun?  And if you want to read about Flora and Fauna, why just click that tab!

 ********BBBBBBBBBBBUUUUUUUUUUZZZZZZZZZZZZ***********

It is time for a Quiz! 

What does Flora and Fauna refer to? 

What does that mean? 

Whoever has the correct answer in the comment section first, WINS!

And, of hey!  If you want to see photos of northern Missouri, southern Iowa and/or the Amish, click on Neighbors!

My new life as a "builder"

Herself and I had discussed ever since the sale of III the possibility of building an addition to Grampsies little cabin. After much discussion, some heated, we decided to go ahead. The first step was to find someone to build or at least be in charge of building it. We both agreed to contact our old neighbor at III, Tim Medford, to see if he would be intrested in the task. He built churches for 20 some years and had built his own home by us when we were neighbors. He agreed to build us a cabin, and had many ideas of his own as to how it should be done. Althought some of the his ideas were not what "herself" desired, we finally came to agreement as to what would be done.

So the first task was the builder would draw up a list of materials we would need to get started. That done, we met at Menards in Clive on a Monday to pick up the materials. It took Tim and I a good three hours to pick out all the lumber, doors, windows, etc. We loaded it all piece by piece onto the trailer, and headed out.

He would take the materials to the cabin, and we would start the building process the following Tuesday. Here is the "cabin" backing into our driveway.

So after rounding up some food and clothes, I headed down Monday afternoon to the cabin so I would be there for work on Tuesday.

Tim arrived about 8:30 Tues morning with "Devon" an Amish person. After being introduced, I asked "Devon" if it would be all right to take his picture. "No" we do not pose for pictures. So I asked if he didn't know I was taking his picture, would it be all right. No answer. So I did get a picture or two with the Amish, but they didn't know it.

The Amish are great workers. No matter how hard they are working, they often would break out in to "song", religious songs of course, and they couldn't carry a tune, but it was fun listening to them.

Tues: we got the frame built and the floor joists installed, and the sheathing for the floor.

then went to work on the walls. I learned what "jack" studs, "king" studs, and "cripple" studs were. I had heard of them but now I was actually helping to install them for the windows and doors.

Wed: finished the walls

 and prepped for the roof trusses. 13 of them weighing in at 4200 lbs. The truck that delivered them could only get part way up the drive, so we had to carry them one by one to the north end of the cabin and lift each one at a time up and over the wall and slide it down to the south end of the cabin. Then using a 16 ft 2X4, push it up into place while the Amish workers secured them into place.

Thurs: installed roof sheathing and wall sheathing

Fri: finished sheathing, Tim made up order for the metal roofing and siding which would be installed the following week. I was not part of any of the metal work. Here, we are unloading the "brake", borrowed from Dana, our son-in-law. It is used to bend and form the metal trim. Thanx, Dana.

This has been a very interesting project, from discussions, planning, purchasing, building, everything. I have never worked so hard in my life during the building, but it was very rewarding. Although I was tired and sore at the end of each day, I can proudly say I kept up with the younger lads, and a couple of times, they had to rest when I kept going.

One funny thing was "blister" kept showing up. He was nicknamed this because, as Tim said, he just keeps coming back. An old gent who rides around the lake on his mower would show up several times each day, to point out errors(in his opinion), offer all kinds of free advice as to the way he would have done things, and generally try to talk to everyone when we really didn't have the time to just talk.

One day he showed up bringing several packages of hamburger, buns, catsup, mustard and wanted me to grill burgers for everyone. So, at lunchtime, I cooked 6 burgers, one for each of the 3 workers and myself, with 2 extras, as thats all I had room for on the grill. I figured while we were eating the first serving of burgers, the others could be cooking. So, I took the first 6 in, called the guys in to eat, went out to put the next 3 on the grill, then went in to get one of the previously cooked burgers to eat. BUT, when I went in, each of the guys had taken 2 burgers each, walked out to eat them, leaving me with NOTHING. I was shocked, but nothing I could do, so I had to wait another 15 minutes for mine to finish cooking. Anyway, we all got to eat good that day, as usually we only had a lunchmeat sandwich at noon.
This is a picture of a couple of the Amish "helpers" caught in unaware action.

Ok, Thurs. Oct 27, 2010, I headed for Mo for what i'm hoping will be the last trip to work on the new cabin. We have to install the "Nova" brick on the front of the cabin. The builder said after the "start" row, that it would go fast. Hah!!  Every 4th row we had to drill holes in the brick and screw them in to help secure and tie it all in. While it maybe easier that real brick and mortar, I don't think it was any faster. We finally finished the brick late Friday afternoon.(PIC) We were both beat and glad it was over with. Then came an hour of figuring the final bill for his labor. That out of the way, it was time to say "good-bye". Tim went on his way, and I cleaned up from all the concrete dust and dirt and awaited the arrival of "herself" and hopefully her approval of the final finishing touch. Now we will start thinking about finishing the interior, which will be a slow process, as we have to do the wiring, plumbing, insulation, interior walls and doors, drywall, and on and on and on. It will be a challange and it will be fun, and will also mean some new tools for me.

(Himself) or the BOI

Chapter 4

This is going to be a 4-room cabin.  As of this weekend, anyway, that is the plan.  There will be a master bedroom about 9 X 12, a bathroom with tub, shower, stool, sink and stackable washer and dryer and even a little closet space.  There will be an upstairs "loft" and a livingroom.  Oh, well, and that wonderful big front porch will be another room!  When we build the dogtrot, that will be another room and more storage. 

If you look closely, you can see a line on the floor.  There is the bathroom with, to the left, an area for the stacking washer and dryer and a closet (under those boards), then a pedestal sink, a shower/tub and the stool.  No window.  Look up.  There's an exhaust fan!  Except today Himself said, we'll see . . . about a little window on whichever wall the tub/shower is NOT.  maybe. 

And see those half circle windows leaning on the back wall?  They will go in the dogtrot to provide some natural light. 

Now there.  You can see the tape.  Here is where we will enter the bedroom.  We will have two nice big windows, to catch the summer breezes.  There will only be room for a queen size bed and a nice size dresser.  We might squeeze in two bedside tables to hold the Vicks and the Icy Hot close at hand. 

Here is where we will enter the new cabin, from the old cabin.  Himself and I discussed whether we would need a wall to close off the bedroom.  I said, let me think about it.  I came back later and said "we DO need that bedroom wall.  We need it in case we are still in PJs or in case we want to hide from whoever is coming to the front door!  lol

And this, this is a view out the living room windows.  There are the rocking chairs that I carried up yesterday and there is the Shagbark Hickory Tree left standing and intact, throughout the construction.  I love that old tree! 

Chapter 3

Another trip to Mo to check the progress.  The shell is complete except for the "brick" that will finish off the front of the cabin.  Tim, the builder, is visiting family in Wisconsin and will stop in Des Moines on his way home to pick up the brick.  One day this coming week, Tim and Himself will lay the brick up the front and then all that is left to do this fall, is to settle up -- pay Tim for the labor and pay for the materials and then get back to work, nose to the grindstone, and save and save so that next spring we can insulate, put down the upstairs floor and plan and do whatever else we can afford.  It will take us several years to get everything done and paid for.  We are sure looking forward to the adventure!

We have had a few lively discussions (disagreements?), negotiations, changes of mind.  We have some challenges ahead.  We hope this adventure keeps us young and motivated and forward looking.  You all come along for the ride! 

We slapped together some steps this weekend for this end of the porch.  We borrowed the ladder from the boat for the other end.  Himself put on the doorknob and locks at the backdoor and we picked up, putaway, and planned and plotted.  Saturday evening was so nice, we even moved the rocking chairs from the little porch to the big porch and this time of year there are no insects! 

Here is Himself, deep in calculation: 

          insulation, check. 

          wiring, check. 

          light fixtures, check. 

          outlets, check. 

          braces, bolts and bolsters! 

The other side is thinking, now the davenport will go here, the round table there, we'll hang a little flat screen and here's where the coat rack will go.  lol  Not quite that extreme -- but, well, you know how it goes. 

Poor little cabin looks like "poor relation" now but don't worry, little cabin, we have plans for you!  There is a new roof, new siding and a new doorway or two in your future! 



Big Cabin sits up big and tall.  We (I) did not imagine the size and I always thought it would sit lower but I will adjust and get used to it and I think, when we are done, it will look "all of a piece".  Or so I hope! 

There's a big room upstairs, waiting to happen.  We are glad we put in the bigger windows up there.  We had thought to put in windows half that size but these will allow good ventilation and light up in that loft. 

You all come back in a few days.  Himself and I laid out the floor plan this weekend.  We marked them out with masking tape.  Everything subject to change, of course!

Inside out, mostly

Himself checking out the view to the south -- over the "little" cabin. 

Way up there you get a view of the Lake!

This is the upstairs room.  It will  be about 12 X 24. 

It might be the bunkroom!  or the sewing room.

Maybe the office?

This eventually will be screened in, I'm thinking. 

This is probably about where the stair will come up/go down,

looking into the living room. 

This is the Master Bedroom.

Don't you love those windows?

This is the front hallway. 

Straight ahead is the front door out onto the big porch.

Just at the left, is the "connecting" door that will take you to the little cabin

through what is now the bedroom window of the little cabin.

And this is the living room, looking out toward the road up the hill, and out of the park.

It faces that big tin shed across the street but when the trees are leafed out,

there is not much you will be able to see out these windows except trees and leaves! 

What do you think?  Won't it be fun?

Won't it be fun after Himself and I discuss and argue; negotiate and bargain; bribe and blackmail, while making the decisions involved in finishing it out!  For instance, one issue already won and lost was the bathroom.  I thought there should be a window in the bathroom.  Himself did not. 

None of our bathrooms on Chestnut Street have windows, said Himself. 

No, they do not, said the other side and I've always wondered why? 

So three days straight I texted or telephoned and said, what about a window in the bathroom?????

Well, scroll down to "bathroom". 

See who won Round 1!

One round down, 101 left to go!

There's the bathroom -- way back there in the far, dark, corner of the cabin,  with nary a window cut out! 

House Raising

Our neighbor at the Lake, called these the concrete mushrooms.  She emailed and said we had "concrete mushrooms" sprouting on our lot!





I am just going to put these photos in for now, and let them stand on their own!

I have been waiting for Himself to Blog.  I even offered him photos for him to write around but he has projects at both ends.  Not only is this cabin rising in northern Missouri but our heat pump is being replaced in southern Iowa.  In addition to that, he's working half days at OMC and trying to finish trimming the house.
We expect to make a trip down and back middle of this week and may get there again on Friday.  I would enjoy being there for the WHOLE thing but we are really busy and struggling at work, what with this "going paperless" project and I hate to turn my back!

Anyway, I am really liking this addition.  I didn't know it would be so big!  Himself says from the upstairs loft, one will be able to see over the little cabin.  It won't look "of a whole piece" probably until we can get the little cabin resided and the dogtrot added on.  But still, we will be able to use the livingroom and our first interior improvement, we hope, will be the bathroom with shower!  Anyway, lots to tell and lots to come and I know Himself will join us soon.

New Adventure

to quote Himself, "our new adventure" has begun!  Himself and the contractor made the first decisions today . . . and Himself made the first down payment!  lol  Probably the first of many.  I'm hoping you know who will get to writing in here and give some of his observations and points of view.  October 4, three of us will go to Des Moines and pick out siding and windows and doors -- exciting things like that!  I am almost convinced I should stay home but Himself thinks I should go.

Here

Here is Himself, digging out old footing piers so that he can level and "pour' new footing piers.  He gets down and dirty!   But he getsherdone!  

Here we have been digging and hauling dirt away.   He digs and levels and I haul good black dirt to my garden and then scrub the mildow from the cabin's north wall. 

Here, I have started cleaning.  Remember, children!  If you ever get lost in the woods, look for the moss on the north side of the tree so you know which way to walk yourself out of there!  lol



Here!  yes, here.  This will be the building site.  In just a couple of weeks, I should have photos to show you so our imagination doesn't have to do all the work!

I can't wait!  I am so excited and looking forward to digging holes and framing walls and laying subfloor.  I'm looking forward to battles (oh no, not battles!  discussions, planning meetings, strategy planning with Himself on finishes, colors, layouts, details.  I am hoping he will be motivated to post in here again!  I'm throwing down the gauntlet! 

Here is an adventure, waiting to happen!

Scrumptious

Whoever thought Nana would be posting photos of food?  I must think I'm Pioneer Woman or something (oh wait, I do!  I do think I'm Pioneer Woman -- remember all those posts from III where I said "I can do/endure/chop/dig/build/heal/deliver this because I come from Pioneer Stock!)

Himself and I created this pretty meal last Saturday evening at Too.  Himself smoked that pork and created those home-made french fries!  Yum!  I layered the pork and tomato and provolone cheese and toasted it under the broiler.  Throw in a home grown ear of corn and some previous fresh air and exercise, and you have one deliriously happy, well fed, spoiled rotten girl! 

At the Kitchen Table

I'm sittin here at the kitchen table at Too.  I really hadn't wanted to come down this weekend.  We were here last weekend and I thought I had better things to do at home . . . like clean house, get ready for company in a couple of weeks and see my grandchildren.  But, Himself, wanted and had projects lined up and so I didn't moan or whine (or very much anyway) and here we are.  Me at the table with this new friend of mine with thunder rumbling overhead and lightening flashing off to the south and it is right.  I was meant to be here, relaxing.  We have had an extremely busy (wild/crazy/maniac) week at work and as the economy continues to slump, we just get busier.  I have been pretty much in control and level and digging down and getting her done until today when we got the word that next week is the target week.  Next week, we get our training and our go ahead and we move to the new paperless era.  We give up the paper copies and learn how to get our scanned documents out of the computer.  I have to admit, I got a little anxious.  I thought about hyperventilating and pounding the walls shouting "Why?"  "Why?"

I wondered, how will I get my work done using new software and retreiving scanned documents when I almost have too much work to get done now using known and proven methods?

Then we arrived at Too and breathed in the rain freshened air.  We took a golf cart ride around the quiet lake roads.  I settled down and remembered that I have always survived every new software upgrade.  I've waded through many system changes.  I am determined, if not young and agile and quick.  I will adapt.  I will getherdone. 
So this is where I should be right now.  Here at Too.  Rocking on the screened porch with Himself, releasing the tension in my shoulders, letting the worry go.  Enjoying the moment . . . love,  Nana from Too

Buggy crossing

Hot day in July

under ominous clouds.

The Amish trot down our road.

The Amish trot down their road now!

I like sharing the road with the

slower paced, old world folks

and always hope to take a photo that will

remind me of good days in the country.

Distant Memories . . .

Distant Memories . . . sometimes in this entry distant memory means a "photo from a distance" . . . other times it means a memory from a distance.  I love looking through all the old photos of us at Too.  I can't believe we have been going and enjoying for so long.  Enjoy along with me -- enjoy this visit to Too! 

oh hey.  Not fair!  this is from a trip to Kansas City, I think, back in the mid 1950s.  I would have been too young to stand up on that wall.  I would have fallen off backwards.  Just ask Granny!  But I do have a few scattered memories of this family trip to the Kansas City zoo. 

Good times.