House Update #3?

 Well, Campers,  a bit of an update on projects and events down here in the Lone Star State.

This was where my Brother's house was left off on our last update.  The "Guys" have been working pretty hard.

The roof is being sealed, siding support is being added.  Quite a bit of progress, there.  Although it may not look like it.

As I said. Quite a bit of progress.

On the other "in progress" project, the Horse Barn.   

As you can see the walls and roof are in.  The stall frames have been delivered, and are next for installation.  Doors and gates should be installed shortly thereafter.  Three remaining important projects still needed are Water, Electricity and Fencing.  Then we can free our horses from their current abode.  (Dusty dirt in their pen, they get to run free in a larger pasture, with grass, a couple of nights a week.  They're looking forward to wandering and grazing at their discretion.)

But....

No progress so far on our house.  The framers are still on my brother's house and will start on ours when finished.  Hopefully, soon.

The builder is still optimistic about a December completion.  We hope so.

Peace out y'all! 

Housing Update

Our house to be

Ok, Campers, looks like some progress is being made on our "forever" home.  The base for the flooring is pretty much laid out.  Still need electricity, sewage and water roughed in.  Contractor says he expects to lay concrete next Monday.  Hurrah.  And he says given how "warm" it is it should cure in about a week.  "Warm" being a Texan word for "Hot as Hades".  

 

Just so you know. 

Horse Barn

The Horse Barn is coming along nicely.  Just ordered the stall fences and gates and as soon as that's delivered (about a week to 10 days), that'll go in and the walls and roof will be installed.  Then we'll get the fencing installed for their paddock, hook up water and rescue them from their current accommodations.  I think they'll be happy.

Brother's cabin

This would be the base for my Brother's house.  As you can see, the base has already been poured.  It's a bit smaller, so a bit easier to do.  Also, being August in Texas, a bit more shade is always appreciated.

So...Things seem to be going well.  Keep your fingers crossed.  Still looking at a  December project completion date probably, but one can be hopeful.

Peace Out, Y'all!

juvat 

Progress Update "Home on the Range"

 

Ok,  I've gone through a lot of the Medal of Honor stories (still got a few left, but I'm keeping them in my pocket in case of loss of story creativity) and I've added a couple of stories about flying which I think interest a lot of you.  But, I'm dredging the bottom of my story index,  so, I thought I'd show y'all the progress on the house.  No Beans, we're not that close to moving in. Yet! But, in spite of some uncontrollable setbacks (AKA Weather) we're getting closer.  Here's the visual  story of construction progress.

Demolition of the old house (very old and decrepit)

Cleaning up the site

Electricity installed on property

Framing the foundation

Framing took 2 or 3 days

 Okay, we’ve survived the financial and weather hoops that needed to be jumped. Evidently 6 inches of rain in a couple of hours upsets the construction crews. What did I know. 

But back in action again 

 

Adding soil in preparation for pouring the slab

 

:Lots of fill AKA dirt! Lots and Lots

 

Weather cooperating this week, the next step is to level the dirt and then the plumbers and electricians will come in and set the pipes and pull wires and plumbing into those pipes.   After that will be pouring and curing the cement foundation of the main house.  Builder says this could take 3 to 6 weeks for the cement to cure depending on the weather and there's only one entity that controls that.  While that's curing, they'll pour the foundation for my Brother's cabin and get it started curing also.  Lots of balls in the air.  

 

Concrete has been poured in the horse barn.

 

They've even started on my brother's house

 

 

The weather has improved greatly and heavy rain is not forecast for a while. But, as can be expected in June, July and August in Texas, it's hot as H377. (You know what that's code for.) But progress is being made. 

 

We shall see what we shall see when we see it. Hopefully something like this!

Please Lord! 

 

 

 

 

Peace out, y'all!

Things and Stuff

 

Ok, Campers,  just an update I'm sure all of you are dying to receive.

 

First, there's this fluid coming down out of the sky, and having lived in Central and West Texas most of my life, I've never had a reason to  spend the effort to discern what it is and why it happens. 

 

 

But, having moved to College Station (Home of the Texas A&M Aggies.  Whoop! I never understood that, but learned that not doing that greeting correctly can get you a non-smiling reaction).

 

Sorry, I digressed.  Having moved to College Station, we have found that the fluid coming out of the sky could, IMHO, float Noah's Ark. I believe it’s called “Rain”!

 

Such is the case as I write this posting.  Mrs. J treated me to an "Out to breakfast" date at a restaurant we had only been to once before.  Most Excellent!  Just in case you're interested, it's name is "Another Broken Egg".  Highly recommended.

 

Back on the story, juvat!

 

On Story, Aye, Fearless Leader!

 

So we're headed out to perform our tasks that the Emperors (aka the Horses ) require daily. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear? 

 

No Beans, Not Santa and his Reindeer.  No, a Downpour that in the course of a few seconds brought the visibility down to a matter of double digit feet.  

 

Holy Moley.  Suffice it to say, Mrs J, being the driver*, slowed down significantly. Fortunately, so did the other drivers.  But, as we approached the decision point (head to the stables to muck in the muck or head to the hacienda and write this post).

 

Guess which option won out. 
 

So, I know that discussion of Rainfall in Texas will entertain all y'all to no end.  But, our lawn is green and ready for mowing and it's only the 11th of March.  Some of you, and you know who you are, are still shoveling that white stuff off your sidewalks.  

 

Enough about the weather, juvat!

 

No Weather discussion, Aye, Tuna,

 

As to progress on the current project we're facing.  The blueprints have been revised with several improvements that the various people, who know houses and the plans to build them, recommended.

 

No, Beans, I'm not in that group.  I just follow Mrs J around and say two things.  "Yes, Dear" and "Build it the way she said." 

 

That last one is not quite accurate.  Our builder knows what he's doing and what he says to Mrs J she usually OK's, sometimes there's compromise, but they get along.  So, I tend to keep my mouth closed. 

 

But, the video below is what the house will look like.  I thought this was a pretty cool method for the architect to show his plans with an understandable method.  Blue prints don't trigger my brain's interpretation of the outcome very well.

 

So, here it is.  Enjoy 

 

 

 

 

Akashi Designs

Peace out, y'all

*Still not allowed to drive.  However.....I have an appointment on Thursday with my Cardiologist.  If he says my Heart is beating properly, well, watch out. I haven't driven in 5 months but, that's not going to stop me.  Bwahh ha ha!

 

Work in Progress.

Ok, Campers,  just an update as I'm sure all of you are dying to receive.

 

First, there's this fluid coming down out of the sky, having lived in Central and West Texas most of my life, I've never had a reason to  spend the effort to discern what it is and why it happens. 

 

But, having moved to College Station (Home of the Texas A&M Aggies.  Whoop!, never understood that, but learned that not doing that greeting correctly can get you a non-smiling reaction).

 

Sorry, I digressed.  Having moved to College Station, we have found that the fluid coming out of the sky could, IMHO, float Noah's Ark.

 

Such is the case as I write this posting.  Mrs. J treated me to an out to breakfast date at a restaurant we had only been to once.  Most Excellent!  Just in case you're interested, it's name is "Another Broken Egg".  Highly recommended.

 

Back on the story, juvat!

 

On Story, Aye, Fearless Leader!

 

So we're headed out to perform our tasks that the Emperors (aka the Horses ) require daily. When, what to my wondering eyes should appear? 

 

No Beans, Not Santa and his Reindeer.  No, a Downpour that in the course of a few seconds brought the visibility down to a matter of double digit feet.  

 

Holy Moley.  Suffice it to say, Mrs J, being the driver*, slowed down significantly. Fortunately, so did the other drivers.  But, as we approached the decision point (head to the stables to muck in the muck) or head to the hacienda and write this post.

 

Guess which option won out. 
 

So, I know that discussion of Rainfall in Texas will entertain all y'all to no end.  But, our lawn is green and ready for mowing and it's only the 11th of March.  Some of you, and you know who you are, are still shoveling that white stuff off your sidewalks.  

 

 

Enough about the weather, juvat!

 

Aye, Tuna,

 

As to progress on the current project we're facing.  The blueprints have been revised with several improvements that the various people who know houses and the plans to build them recommended.

 

No, Beans, I'm not in that group.  I just follow Mrs J around and say two things.  "Yes, Dear" and "Build it the way she said." 

 

That last one is not quite accurate.  Our builder knows what he's doing and what he says to Mrs J she usually OK's, sometimes there's compromise, but they get along.  So, I tend to keep my mouth closed. 

 

But, this is what the house will look like.  I thought this was a pretty cool method for the architect to demonstrate what the house will look like.  Blue prints don't trigger my brain's interpretation of the outcome very well.

 

So, here it is.  Enjoy 

 

 

 

 

Akashi Designs

Peace out, y'all
 

It must be another Monday!

Good morning, Campers.  Hope you northerners are staying warm.  Given that the low Sunday morning down here was below freezing (26 degrees, but at least the wind is blowing), it must be cooler in the Great White North.  There is a bit of something I believe is called "Rain" in this week's forecast. Hope it's not Freezing Rain, NOBODY knows how to drive in that!

We shall see what will be!

I did get some good news this past week.  Rather than spit it out, I'll see if y'all can figure it out.

Yep, the Brain and Spine Neurologist gave me the go ahead to wean myself off the neck brace over the next 3 weeks.  Need to wear it to bed and if I am going to be physically active.  But...it is progress.

No, Beans, he was unable to find my brain during the exam.

Feels wonderful to take the brace off. I was getting a bit "cranky" so Mrs J is now happier also.

This past week we also had our first episode of "Why did you move to College Station?".

 

Mrs J and I had our first time alone with the Grand Kids.  MBD and "The Rev" had "Saving the World" requirements at work.  So, they asked.  We said Yes!  It was pretty fun, although we were glad when the 'Rents got home.

Yes, Beans, we slept well that night!

As regular readers know, we own two mare paint horses.  Just to refresh y'all, their names are "Cabernet" and "Merlot".  While Mrs J and I do love wine, their names were given them before we adopted them.  They moved to CStat a couple of weeks before us.  Our rental house is a bit small for them, so they are being boarded at a place called "Stall and Oats" 

No, Beans, I'm not kidding!

They seem to be doing ok.  The stabling agreement includes a requirement that we have to muck the stalls at least 3 days a week.  

Don't ask, Beans!

 

 That's them on the right side of the fence.  Merlot is on the left, Cabernet on the right. They seem to be somewhat enamored by the MALE Paint horse on the other side of the fence.  They didn't want to have anything to do with us while they were flirting, so mucking was a bit easier than usual.

Thank you, Lord!

We also had a bit of progress this week on the house we're  going to build.  We set up a meeting and met on the property with the Builder and his Wife.  She happens to be a Realtor, so she also had a lot of good suggestions.  

This is the back of the house which will be demolished.  That's how close the "jungle" is. The trees that are to the right of the house will be cut down. 

 The builder walked the perimeter of the property which is no easy task.  The intent was to check the integrity of the fence.  The fence will require repair/replacement.  Given my neck condition, I elected to not go with him, too easy to slip and fall.  A fall might not be a good thing medically and getting out of the brush might not be feasible either. Additionally, we found lots (lots and lots) of underbrush that will need to be taken out.  There were a few Live Oak trees that weren't in too good shape and were a bit closer to the house than we'd like, so they'll be taken down also.  But the majority of the Live Oaks will stay.  Shade in Texas is a sought after blessing. 

 Yes, Beans, another advantage of taking down some of the trees is....Firewood.

On the good news side, he said that adding a couple of acres of fenced in area was feasible and should be enough for horse grazing.  Additionally, a fenced in yard for the dogs and a "front yard" for the Grandkids to play in also were feasible. 

The driveway is gravel and might need a bit of work, but all in all, completely doable.  Additionally, the electrical hook up (whatever it's called) is in a very convenient location for all five buildings that will be built.  

Beans, those would be our house, my Brother's cabin, the horse barn, my workshop and Mrs J's "She Shed", (her sewing cabin) 

So, it's off to the bank this week for a construction loan.  We've already got verbal approval for that so, hopefully, no problema.

All told, a pretty darn good week!  Hope yours was also and continues to be in this week.

Peace out, y'all!