I presented a 2 hour seminar at our 17th Annual Kangeiko (Judo Winter Training Festival) in Fargo on the 1st of February. There were about 50 participants. I will put pictures on my new judo blog that I will share with you later this month.
While we are in Fargo for Kangeiko, Carol got notice that her aunt had died so we headed home on the 2nd of February, repacked our suitcases and headed for Illinois the next day. We met Carol's three sisters there. The funeral was very nice and it was good to catch up with family. We returned to Custer about a week later, anxious to sleep in our own bed.
Let me catch you all up on the progress of the house.
On the 6th of April, two years ago, we started the excavation for the house foundation. Carol and I hosted Easter dinner for the neighbors, the guys and I stood outside in shirtsleeves in the warm sun and watched the excavator dig. Last year we worked through the winter, there were some cold and snowy days, I think we took 3 or 4 snow days. This year Mother Nature has not cooperated with us, cold weather, wind and snow have been the norm and nice days have been rare.
"All Weather Roofing and Repair"out of Rapid City installed DECRA shingles on the garage on the weekend of 29 and 30 March. It was a matter of finding a couple of nice days in a matrix of cold and windy weather. They set up scaffolding on Thursday afternoon, we had a snow day on Friday, they showed up early on Saturday and Sunday morning and with a crew of five guys got the roof completed by late Sunday afternoon.
Anyone in this area need a roofer? We were VERY pleased with the work that All Weather Roofing and Repair did for us. They showed up when they said they would, dressed appropriately, were soft spoken - we didn't hear one discouraging word while they were on the job site, they worked efficiently and in harmony with a great amount of craftsmanship and cleaned up when they departed. We highly recommend them.
While the roofers were installing shingles I completed the railing on the deck off the sun room. I used the "cable rail" system manufactured by Feeney, Inc., special order from Lowes. A little expensive but a very good product that is easy to install and has a very good look. Best of all, Carol and I can sit in the sun room and our view of the property is not blocked.
In mid March we traveled to Pelican Rapids to help my mother move from her condo to assisted living, she will be 92 years old this year. She is doing well. It was great I got to see my sister Diane and her husband Rich whom I haven't seen in about a year and a half. We came home with a pickup load of family heirlooms as did each of our kids Brittany and Brady and Kristen and Gabe.
I have been cleaning up outdoors when the weather has allowed: picking up rocks, burning sticks and small scraps of lumber, raking out the ground and planting some grass seed. The ground was finally firm enough to pull the old Caravan up the hill with the tractor to the parking area with Gabe's help
When the weather didn't cooperate this winter I spent my days in the shop, starting my day building a fire in the wood stove... it is a great place to keep a cup of coffee hot. I built book shelves on the east wall of the shop and started unpacking books. It was great seeing my books again, I immediately selected several books by Donn Draeger on the history of martial arts in Japan and started rereading.... what a joy.
In the last few days got the kitchen light wired up to the switch and installed two sets of track lights in the pantry - before there was only one light and it was inadequate. I cleaned the garage for the 20th time I think, throwing out cardboard, consolidating loose items in boxes and reorganizing boxes - we are down to about 15 boxes in the garage. I reorganized the shop and at the end of the day yesterday we had the new pickup in the garage and the mustang in the shop... we heard there was the possibility of a thunderstorm in the forecast. I spent today cleaning up lumber left over from the construction... sorting like items and placing them on pallets. The place is beginning to look pretty good.
Things are going well for us, we hope things are going well for you too!
Van
