All Wrapped Up

The framing crew is wrapping up their portion of our house.

Onyx keeps a watchful eye on their every move.

Window holes have been cut in the OSB.

 The house has been wrapped in the plastic vapor barrier material.

 The final bracing in the attic area has been placed.





All the braces, that were in the rooms, have been removed.  We are able to get a real feel of the rooms now!  I am starting to place furniture... in my head!

The soffit and fascia are ready to be installed.

 Materials arrived late last night.

Installation began this morning!



Brick has been ordered.  Shingles have been ordered.  Windows have been ordered.

We are still on track to be in the house by my birthday!  April 4, 2013!  Bring It!

Traditions

Each year, at Christmas time, my boys and I make jelly, for those we  hold close to our hearts.  It's the only tradition we have kept since the fire.  I actually thought all would be lost and there would be no jelly this year.  When Drewman asked "Are we making jelly?", I headed to the store to buy pectin and jars, then started looking for the items needed to prepare this years jelly.  I was afraid it was going to get costly and I would have to purchase the items needed.  I found most of the items were in the mobile home.  I only had to purchase the strainer/ricer and the jar funnel.

Early Saturday morning, the tradition continued!

During the summer, we gather fruit.  This years fruit was given to us by a dear family friend and neighbor from when I was a little girl.  He gave us 6 cases of peaches and asked only for a jar or two of jelly.

I blanch, peal, pit, slice and freeze the fruit until it is time to prepare the jelly.

The fruit is cooked down until it is tender and ready to be ran through the strainer/ricer.

 The fruit is then placed into the ricer and all the juice is removed.

The juice is then cooked with sugar and pectin, until it is thickened.

 I fill the jars.

The lids must be heated in boiling water, in order to get a good seal between the jar and the lid.

 Drewman places the lids, on the jars filled with jelly, and screws down the rings.

The jars and lids are hot! This has to be done quickly.

 We then transfer the jars to a safe place to cool.  We keep the jars turned upside down for a bit to evenly distribute the heat.

Once the jars are turned over, they are left alone for 24 hours.  Throughout that time frame, we hear the popping of the seals, on the lids.  This lets us know we have done everything correct.

Isn't it pretty?

Jelly making is something I did with my Great Granny B and Granny B, when I was little.  I have always enjoyed it.  It was something I wanted to pass along to each of my boys.  I believe they like it too.

The tradition of doing it, during christmas time, came from something my Daddy did when I was little too.  Each year, Daddy would play Santa for the kids in our area.  He would dress up and deliver the kids their packages.  I can't dress as Santa, nor could I pass out gifts, but I can prepare something from my heart, pack the "Sleigh" and deliver to those I love! 

This year, the sleigh didn't get packed and delivered for Christmas, but should be delivered by New Years.  Are you on the list?

Deck The Walls... FaLa La La LaLa

In less than three days, our house walls were covered with Oriented Strand Board (OSB), there were rafters and the roof was decked.

The OSB is placed on the exterior walls and the roof.

Covering the window and door openings, for the time being, will provide extra support as the ceiling joist, rafters and decking are placed on the roof.

These are the ceiling joist.

They support the rafters.

It was exciting to watch, all of this happen, over the weekend.  Flower Boy and I couldn't stop looking out the windows of the mobile home!

The rafters are being put into place.

Lifting one side, so they can attach the other.

And they are up!

Moving right along.

All the rafters are in place!

Now for the decking.

The first row took about 10 minitues to complete.

The entire north half of the roof was done in less than an hour!

It's really starting to look like a house.  Don't you think?

The supports are being added to the gable ends.

DONE!!!

Santa was a little confused when he arrived on Christmas Eve.  He wasn't sure to deliver to the 5th wheel or the mobile home.

So he left our gifts in our NEW HOUSE!

BEST CHRISTMAS EVER!

If Walls Could Talk

If walls could talk, this is the story these walls would tell, about the first time they met their new family.

Flower Boy inspected every nail, every header, and every lag bolt, to make sure they were in their proper place.

Drewman stood in his room and noticed what great cell phone reception he has there.

Daddy's Rancher Girl cried!

She went from room to room crying.  As she walked through each door opening, she cried.  As she looked out each window opening, she cried.  As she stepped into each closet, she cried.

The family stayed within our walls till after dark that night.



Few words were spoken.  Each of them had their own silent prayers, blessings and thanksgivings.

For our family, the feeling of "We don't have a house." made a turn to the reality of "WE HAVE A HOME!"

The weather forecast for Christmas is a probability of heavy snow with blizzard type conditions.  The goal for the framing crew is to have the house dried in before the storm hits.

Hoping... Praying... Wishing... Dreaming...

Meetings, Decisions and Choices

When we chose the builder, one of our requirements was to have a set down meeting each week.  This is to make sure we are all on the same page.  For the builder, it is to give updates, projections and answer any quiestions.  For Flower Boy, I'm sure it is so he can keep me calm during the week.  For me, it has been needing to know a plan.  I'm a schedule and list type girl.  I NEED A PLAN!

Last weeks meeting was short and sweet.  Flower Boy told the builder, "She isn't flipping out yet, so we are doing alright."  (not sure I know how to take that...)

We also have meetings with an inspector.  He is the liaison between the mortgage company, the contractors and the home owner.  Since we had a mortgage on the house that burned, the insurance company had to make payment to the mortgage company and us.  The inspectors job is to make sure our home is built in a timely quality manner and we stay on budget.  When the builder needs a draw of funds, the inspector comes out to make sure the project is where it should be for the money being spent.  If there is ever a time when a contractor goes over bid or doesn't finish in the time stated, they have to answer to the inspector, not us.  We are thankful for that and pray this never happens. 

Decisions have to be made.  Some on the fly and some need discussion.  The builder has Flower Boy's number and calls him for all questions.  Most of the time, that call is followed up by a call from Flower Boy to me, then back, to relay to the builder.  Flower Boy is my liaison of sorts.  He wants to make sure I have whatever I want and I'm happy.  Before our conversation ends, the words "whatever you want" come out of Flower Boy's mouth.  I AM A HAPPY GIRL!  I mean, after all, this is my dream home!

I thought decisions were hard.  NOT!  Choices are harder!  I have choices on almost everything that goes into our home.  Last week, it was windows.  Windows?  Really?  I know nothing about windows. 

Then my mind went to doors, hardware, lighting, door knobs, paint, stain, molding, fixtures, faucets... 

This could be a shoppers nightmare and I hate to shop!

I'm glad I have already chosen brick, trim color, appliances, tile and flooring!  I'm sure Flower Boy is too.

Gotta GO!!  I have a meeting!  Or is it a decision?  No, maybe it's a choice...

The Lulls of Construction

We have had a lull in construction this past week or so.  You may remember me telling you about the time it would take for the slab to cure?  Well...  We had a cold snap right after the slab was poured.  This made the curing process a bit longer than expected.

Things have gotten off high center.  The cables for the Post-Tension System were pulled to their 25,000 PSI.

The cables went from this,

To THIS!

When the brick is laid, it will cover the cables.  There are a total of 27 cables in the slab.  At 25,000 PSI per cable, there is A LOT of tension in our slab.

Yesterday afternoon, I got a big surprise.

BUILDING MATERIALS ARRIVED!!!

I heard a noise, looked out the front door and this is what I saw.

I screamed!

All of the sudden

BOOM!

It was better than seeing Santa!

Can you believe ALL of the walls to our house were on that truck?!

This time, I was able to send Flower Boy a text!

Hoping and Praying for walls by Christmas.  Maybe even today!