Week 28 - 20 October 2012

It is Saturday the 20th of October. 

At the beginning of October we were about a month behind schedule.  We have had a crew of carpenters for the past 3 weeks and are catching up!!

Late in August, visiting with Craig at the Custer Limestone / Upper French Creek Beer and Wine Drinking Society get-together, about the slow progress on the house, Craig recommended that I contact Luke Neff of Luke Neff Construction Company. Luke had done some work for Craig and knowing Craig is pretty particular I took that for a good recommendation. Luke was busy for most of the month of September but would be available the first week of October.

At the social after the Red River Judo Open Judo Tournament at the end of August, Sam Rudd, fellow judoka and long time friend indicated that he would like to come out and give us a hand for a week.  So a couple weeks later I gave Sam a call and asked if he was serious about giving me a hand for a week or so.  He was and a few days later he drove out from Saint Cloud.  Sam and I started out our week by cleaning up and painting the pond.  We used an epoxy paint called PondShield, it is similar to the Rhino bed liners that are sprayed into pickup beds.

Using a large excavator we moved a 4 ton rock into the pond.






A week later Mark started working again half time.  We completed the sheathing and waterproofing on the south face and started working on the roof.

 

Luke Neff started work on the 1st of October.  Mark and Luke built the entrance roof over the back entrance.  Every one worked on the rafter tails and roof.  The roof has two layers of 2" extruded polystyrene insulation taped and foamed into place with a layer of 1/2" OSB on the top.

We had originally planned to build the footings for the master bed suite ourselves, but we were behind schedule so we subcontracted the entire project out to Jenniges Masonry.  This is what the footing looks like from "Cell Phone Rock."

Sam watches from Cell Phone Rock while the crew with Jenniges Masonry pours the walls of the closet.  The closet will also serve as our tornado shelter.

 

This is a view of the tower.  This was taken mid week, since then we poured the stem walls to the left and installed sheathing on the tower walls.

The electrical inspector came by on Friday and approved the rough in of the electrical in the house.  The insulation subcontractor will be here on Monday to insulate the exterior walls and part of the roof over the bedrooms.  The appliances are going to be delivered on Monday.  The windows have been ordered and should be here in a couple of weeks.  I have a call into the sheetrock subcontractor but we are still playing tag.  Sam and I have been working on the plumbing and should have the water on in part of the house by the end of next week.

we can see the light at the end of the tunnel

It has been another four weeks, an interesting four weeks, since I last shared a story or two. 

I flunked a treadmill stress test on Wednesday, the 2nd of October at 7:30 in the morning and by 4:00 pm I had been admitted, EKGed, sedated, cathed, angiogrammed, angioplastied and stented.  I asked to watch the procedure and was told that I watched half of it and then passed out from the anesthesia... I remember the room but not the procedure.  There was no heart damage, no heart attack.  The hospital staff was very professional and worked in good harmony.  Of course, I feel like I won the lottery... a major artery was 98% blocked, it would have been a widow maker!

I was told to not lift anything more than 10 lbs until Monday.  The doctor was concerned about the artery opening up where they inserted the catheter in my right wrist.  Carol's interpretation was NO work until Monday.   I was tired so I went with her interpretation.  That weekend the kids came for a wedding party at the  Prairie Berry Winery, but we got a blizzard... everything was shut down!  The kids had to get out of the house on Friday and they got the suburban stuck on the way home.  Carol and I got in the tractor and drove about a mile or so from the house, plowing the road as we went.  Pulled them out and plowed our way back home.  It was good that the kids were here, they kept the doors clear of snow.  Lots of food, lots of drink and lots of laughter.  Great way to survive a blizzard.

Come Monday I just went back to work.  I feel great, in fact I have more energy than I have had for many months.  Carol tells people that she couldn't keep up with me before and after the stent there is no way. 

Mark Strege and I worked together and completed the installation of the foam and T1-11 sheathing on the south side of the house.  Carol had painted the T1-11 in the garage. 

Carol and I installed the steel siding.  This was the last side, so it completes the exterior.  The roof is complete except for 10 feet of ridge trim which was ordered and awaits pickup at Menards next time we go into Rapid City.

Luke Neff and I worked together on my birthday and completed the wood trim on the south side. 

 

Ken Nysether visited for a weekend.  It was great getting a chance to catch up, our lives have been so busy for many years and when we get together, typically for a judo or climbing event, we never get a chance to visit at length.  Ken and I sloped the drainage channel, that we call the "moat", around the north side of the house... Ken loves to dig in the dirt so we had a good time.  We moved some heavy rocks!!!  I remember being short of breath, a few days later I failed the stress test.

 

Carol and I have been working on the master bedroom suite, just about everything needed some attention: sheet rock, taping, plaster, painting, electrical and plumbing.  The toilet and vanity are fully functional and all the electrical is completed except for the installation of one 2 pole circuit breaker, which is on back order... unfortunately it serves the bathroom.

I completed the installation of the radiant heating system and we fired it up... just in time, the weather has turned significantly colder, since the blizzard we have been 20 degrees F below normal temperatures.  The house has been very comfortable for the last week.

Our schedule for the next week includes completing the trim in the master bedroom, the last 10% of the sheetrock in the tower, the tower floor and the shower water proofing membrane and tile.

We are entertained daily with an assortment of critters:  we have 3 rabbits that live under the wood pile, a half dozen chipmunks, and a squirrel.  Several times a week we have deer browsing in the yard.  A few days ago as I exited the house a bald eagle flew over my head, about 50' in the air.

 

Best to all of you in your journey through life.

 

Van