Dry Wall Started

As in each step of building this home I am always excited for the next step to start. I went to the house about 2:30 this afternoon to find the dry wall crew fast at work. They had completed the third bedroom ceiling and were starting on the walls. I was so happy to find them working today.

I asked the men how long it takes to dry wall a house this size and they promptly answered, "one week." For the next week all my photos will be of men working on the dry wall. Hang in there with us, the "mud-men" are next.

Dry Wall

The dry wall materials were delivered late yesterday afternoon. The dry wall installers are now scheduled to start our house on Friday....or Monday....or Tuesday.... We hope they will complete their present job today to start on our house tomorrow.

Paul has created a game for our family to play called the "I am looking forward to...." game. This game has helped us stay positive. We have been living in Rita's 31' Airstream trailer for over a year now. Each of us agree we are looking forward to our own bathrooms again with full size tubs. This has been a fun game for our family to play. What would you be looking forward to?

Poisoning Prickly Pear

Our little 10 acres has an abundance of prickly pear cactus. Rita attended a special poison class and learned how-to kill the cactus. She called me this morning and wanted to come start poisoning the pear today. I was excited to tag along to learn the specifics of how-to spray pear. With no workmen at the house today this would be a good day to start. The dry wall work is scheduled to start on Wednesday.

Rita taught me how to mix the poison and provided all the supplies. It is an easy and painless job unless you find yourself standing right in the middle of a red ant bed like I did. You never saw anyone pull their jeans off so fast! Once those ants started stinging me up my pant leg modesty went right out the door I didn't care if all the neighbors saw me with my pants off, those ants hurt! Sorry, no pictures of me with my pants off.

I have learned how-to of spaying pear. Now I will go back and poison the ants before I start again.

Cabinet Shop

Leon Beimer and his son Eric, of Beimer Cabinets in Rowena, Texas will be making the cabinetry for the house. Steve Gains, our builder, has always called on the Beimer family to create the custom cabinets for the homes he is building. We met with these men yesterday in their shop for over an hour. We were impressed with their attention to detail, design skills, and very clean shop.

Quiet House

Today as we walked around the house it was so quiet inside. I found myself swallowing to pop my ears thinking I had a problem, but there was no problem with my ears, in fact there was no problem at all the house should be this quiet with good insulation.

The first photo is the kitchen space and back french door, the second photo is the living room and front french door.

Blowing Insulation

The insulation work continues as the men blow the fiber in the spaces between the studs. They work pretty fast.

The roofers have just a little bit more work to complete over the garage and their job will be complete. I have come to love the word, completed (past tense).

Next, we wait for the sheet rock men. The builder told us we are next in line on their list.

Flag Repair

Paul noticed our Texas flag was starting to show signs of wear at the top corner. When Paul took it down the American flag looked incomplete flying alone. We were in Eldorado this weekend at Paul's parents, while we were there Rita mended the flag for us. Monday, Paul ran the flag back up the pole to complete the pair. They look good together.

The inside insulation work started yesterday afternoon and Daniel's Insulation Co. was back early this morning. I am not sure how long it takes to complete the insulation. The roofers were also back on the job this morning picking up where they left off over the garage.

Insulation

We went into San Angelo yesterday to do our weekly shopping. On our way back we stopped at the house to see how far the roof-work had progressed. To our surprise we found the insulation work had started. They had gone through the entire house ceiling every opening they could find. The roof was half done as of yesterday and almost completed today.

All Work Continues

With our delay due to the rain it was a welcome sight to see all the different crews back to work today. The plumbers were connecting the gas line to the fireplace in the study, the electrician was back running more cable, and the roofers picked up where they left before the rain.

The insulation work has been rescheduled for Monday. The builder wants to make sure the interior is completely dry before the insulation is installed.

Mueller Metal Roofing

The roofers completed the back of the house and started on the front Monday. The front will take much more time due to all the cuts around the dormers. I was asked what type of metal roof we had. Ours is a metal corrugated panel roof manufactured by Mueller, Inc. out of Ballinger, Texas.

We had some rain late Monday afternoon and rain all day today. Paul keeps saying "when the roof goes on it will stop raining." This has been an unusually wet year.

Nice Green Roof - Pretty Red Kayak

We have had many nice compliments on the green roof from friends and family. I took this picture Friday evening after the roofers had finished for the day.
This weekend Rita (Grammy) and Elizabeth tried out their new kayaks. They both took off in the river like they had been kayaking all their lives. They joined Paul's brother Dan and wife Debbie for a trip up the river. They decided to launch from a very pretty place known as Mineral Wells Crossing on the South Concho which is up river from where we are staying.

Johnny, Johnny & Johnny

This is Johnny the electrician. He has been very patient with me and my many outlet changes. We have had Johnny the plumber and Johnny the painter also. Our builder knows lots of Johnny's. The electrician has been the only one working at the house this week up until today.

After lunch today we drove by the house and found the roofers had started laying the green metal roofing this morning. It was exciting to see the building process moving forward. I realize I say this often, but with the slow progress this week I was excited.

I asked the roofers if they plan to work tomorrow. I didn't get a big, yes, as I had hoped. They will complete the back today and the front next week. The front will take much more time due to the many cuts around the dormers.

Labor Day

If you look at the previous house photo and the one above you will notice the stucco trim work is now complete. The color of the stucco we chose was the closest to the color in the mortar.

We were expecting the green metal roof to go on this week, but recent rain caused the roofer to get behind in his schedule.

Our Labor Day weekend was fun filled with company driving through to see the house. Rita's two sisters and brother-in-law were visiting her from San Angelo and College station.

Also, Paul's brother Dan and wife Debbie bought two new kayaks. They were gracious to share their new toys with everyone which was great added fun together this holiday. We all took turns paddleing round the river where we are staying. Rita was the only one of her sisters confident enough to try her hand in one of the kayaks.