weather or not we should...

Had some very rough weather today. High winds, near torrential rains, hail, and a few tornados swirling around the area. But even so, we had no leaks and the plastic I had covering the hole in the wall stayed in place (thanks to parking the boomlift with its platform pressing the sheathing to the wall).

This weekend I'll have to forego the pleasure of working on the wall. We're going down to celebrate Kathy's grandma's birthday (nearing a century).

walls of Jerico...

Man! Working on the bricks in the back of the building, the bricks just fell out of place. The mortar was just powdery sand. The more I pulled the bricks, the worse it got. I think I'm going to have to replace most of the wall. Lots and lots of work. Had help from Glenn and Kathy. Also had the loan of a boom lift from the Tripletts.

Tomorrow, I'm going to finish demolishion and try to start laying my first layer of new brick. It will be my first major experience laying brick. I've have good advice from Cecil Crutcher who was a bricklayer for more than 50 years. Fingers crossed.

just anothe brick in the wall

Friday I will finally start the brickwork. Timothy and Elaine are lending me their "manlift" to reach those pesky second floor holes. Here's hoping I don't screw up.

Tomorrow night I'm singing with jim at the Bistro. Been horse for a week; hope this works.

Windows 2011

No, not a new computer platform. We're getting bids on new windows for the "manor". We've recently made some design changes that I think will be for the best. Can't wait till this summer so I can really get to work.

Things look good down there all trimmed and clean. Hope to be ready enough for a party on July 4. Plumbing will be a priority! I was just thinking: If we could get plumbing working, we could conceivably move into the Grand Hall and finish the upstairs as we go. It's worth discussing. Hmmmmm....

Merry Christmas...and all that...

Did some painting and decorating for Christmas on the "Manor" as Kathy calls it. We got some solid maple flooring from Kathy's boss, that he got from a gym floor being replaced. This will become our central floor area downstairs- the heated part. I also went shopping for fireplaces. It's gonna be great.

...and a bit alarming...

Okay- for the second time, one of our motion sensors has triggered an alarm with nobody around to set it off. Same sensor each time. So I have bypassed that one sensor and the security company is sending a guy to check it tomorrow. I could just see getting a false alarm while I'm out of town and can't check it personally. The city will charge an arm, a leg, and three fingers for too many false alarms.

And by the way- when I went down to check said alarm malfunction, the eastern walls and the refrigerator were dripping water. I checked...no leak; it was just room sweat I guess. Really? It just doesn't seem right.

Okay, sooo......

I got the railing painted and for decorating. I did not finish getting the overhang fixed, so I still have that to do before I can hang the lights. Kathy and I have decided to install two fireplaces- one in the living room and one in the main hall, one right above the other. Should be easy to put in, but it will be later.

When pulling out the rotten boards of the entry hall, I found that not only was the floor joist rotted, but the space between the floor and the ceiling below was filled with dirt and pecan shells and shredded cloth= rats! I filled three trash bags with the detritus and removed the remains of the floor joist. I'll replace the joist, re-deck the floor, cover with hardi-backer, and then tile the entryway. Working just a couple of hours a day should see this done well before Christmas.