Larry's back and the weather changes

Big Larry was finished up this week, so Lisa and I went over to Halsey's and picked him up. There were 3 totes for each of us. I brought a bunch because I wasn't sure how much we were getting and it's better to have more than not enough. We each got 245 lbs, so Big Larry probably went a little over 800 pounds for live weight. I thought he was a little heavier than that, but have no experience judging something that big.

The cold, snowy weather finally broke. It was in the 50's and sunny today. Most of the yard and driveway melted off.

This is more like what we expected for Kentucky weather. It felt great being outside today.

Brush pile gone (mostly)

I lit the brush pile late this morning. It burned for about 4 hours. The horses were NOT amused. They all ran to the front of the pasture and stayed there until the fire died down a lot.

It's mostly gone now. We will light it again in the spring to finish everything off. There was still too much snow in the pile to get it all this time around.

Skirting finished

Today was warm enough to cut the skirting without shattering it, so I got it all cut and put in place. It looks better and should be easier to keep the house heated and also keep the water pipes from freezing again.

The shed's place next to the driveway. Right now it's mud season, so I had to stop moving stuff into the shed from the barn, but it should firm up tomorrow or the next day. I'll finish moving everything then.

Finally done

I got started on the last remaining roof panels this morning after I cleared the snow out of the inside of the shed.

Lynne and Heather took turns helping to get the rest of the roof on.

And the doors! We got them put on before we took a break for lunch because it started snowing again. I want to level the doors up a little better than you see here. Not too bad for a first guess, though.

The shed is almost done.

This and a lot of wind is what we woke up to yesterday. It's pretty, but not much fun to work in.

Heather, Lynne and I got the corners put up before Lisa and Mom arrived. Yesterday's snow had melted off when we got started. It returned before we got done, though.

Starting on the third wall. Mom was holding the tray with the screws in it so I didn't have to go searching for them when I needed one.

Lisa was holding the nut on the inside and I was driving the bolt in from the outside. We moved along quickly like that and got the walls up before we took a break for lunch.

The roof is where it all slowed WAY down. It just takes a lot longer working on top of a ladder. We ran out of daylight before the roof got finished. There is still 4 more roof panels and the doors to be put on, but it looks like a shed now. Thanks for the help, everyone!

The shed is started

Getting started on the framework for the floor. I had to trim all the cross beams about 3".

Then I nailed them all together and Heather helped me level it up and block the center to help stabilize the floor. The shed is a metal building and measures 10 X 14

Then we laid down the plywood and started nailing.

Since Allen had already left to go back to New York, Heather filled in for him. She did a fine job, too.

Then I trimmed off the overhang across the back. We now have a shed floor. We're still working on assembling the rest of the shed, but should have more done tomorrow.

The new shed

My new shed is here! Some assembly is required. OK, a whole lot of assembly. Allen will be here for a couple days, maybe I can get him to help assemble it.

The long sides of the floor joists and the blocks for setting it on. That is about where it is going to be built, right next to the driveway.

The rest of the floor frame and plywood for the floor. I would have started it today, except it's raining and I hate working outside in the rain.

Last month's moving day and more

This is the skirting finished around Heather's room. I have run it down the back to the kitchen, but only have 3 pieces left. We'll be a bit short of finishing, but I still have some work left to do underneath, anyway.

We have a driveway now! The first load of gravel was dropped when we were between the first load and the second load on moving day.

Lisa and Boo were helping to kick the desk around to make it behave.

Heather's truck and Lynne's car with their first load of the move.

This was the first load out of the apartment. Moving day is always an adventure. I uploaded the pictures backwards, so they are out of order. But we have our internet access back as of today, so I can start posting again. Thanks to Lisa, Jim, Boo and Marianne for helping us move. We really appreciate your help.

Water line repairs 10/24/10

Melvin found a small leak in the water line when he was hooking the water up. It was pin-hole sized, but leaks don't fix themselves. So, I cut the line and spliced it. (after turning it off, of course) I still got a little wet.

Then turn the water back on and check the repair for any seepage. Heather was watching it when I turned the water back on.

Sorry this wasn't put up earlier. The site wouldn't let me put up any pictures the last couple of days.

Skirting started

The tailgate of the truck makes a decent workbench for cutting the skirting. So far, only 3 pieces went in without cutting them.

It's a much neater appearance with the skirting in place. I don't think I'll be able to finish it all before we move over here. It's only a week away now and I still have to go to work.

Getting ready

This was the underside of Heather's bathroom before I started.

This is almost finished, with new insulation and vapor barrier. I finished up the edges after this was taken.

I got started on the skirting, too. I didn't get very far, but it's started.

And I put in new locks and deadbolt. They are a set and keyed alike, both the front door and the back.

Clearing out

The storage room in Mt. Sterling is now empty. Lisa and I got the last load out of it today. Heather helped me unload it into the house. Now we just have the stuff in the apartment to move by the end of the month. And, of course, the unpacking part of it all.

Moving to Bath County has begun

The final grading over the septic tank. The mower won't have any trouble with the grade.

No more trenches and the front yard is all done, too.

The first load out of the Mt. Sterling storage room. I already told them it would be empty by the 20th. (that's the end of my month)

Moving in has begun!

The Owingsville storage room is empty and waiting. It will get lots of stuff over the next 5 days.

We're juiced

Heather told me the power company was out yesterday, so I went over this morning to look. We now have a meter.

And after checking the connections and the transformer switch, I discovered we have power. I'm not sure they were supposed to turn it on, but it is on.

Less fun Sunday

This is how I spent most of Sunday this week- fixing the brakes on a Subaru. The rear brakes were gone and needed some work. They are better now. While I was out at the new place, I filled in the hole around the water line and tucked the trailer tongue underneath. We are still waiting on the fire marshal to do his inspection so we can finish up.

Power pole and septic system

A power pole! They finally came out and put it in. We're not hooked to it yet, though. They have to wait for the fire marshal to inspect the place before they will hook it to the house.

The septic system is all hooked up and working. I took the trailer tongue off today, too. It looks much neater with it off, and makes it easier to put the skirting on. We're almost done!

We have stairs

We now have stairs to the front door. Lisa and Jim were over today and helped me put the porch in place.

This looks kind of weird, but this is how we got the porch over to the front door. I used the chainsaw to shorten the legs about 10 inches to fit under the door.

We have a mailbox, too. Jim and I dug the hole for the post. I finished putting it up after they left. Then I did some painting inside.