1.30.2015

Hard to believe the month of January is just about over - spring is getting closer and closer! 

Jim continues to work on things and we are back in our routine of alternating long walks around the village with going to the gym.  Last year at this time, Jim was having trouble with his knee.  It's so wonderful that he has no pain and is able to get back to running.

Our custom steel door and all of our siding came in to Lowe's this week - exciting!  And more exciting is that our rep is storing all of the siding until we need it.  We have to get on the delivery schedule for the door - we are hoping for Wednesday but if not, it may be Monday of the next week.

One of the things that Jim has been working on is scaffolding - he'll use it now to build shoring for the concrete deck pour.  However, it's not as easy as just ordering scaffolding - all the new parts and pieces have to fit with our old scaffolding.  You would think everything would just work but that's not the case.  He had to have a sample shipped first of some connections to make sure they would mate. 

So today was the scheduled delivery day.  As these things always go, we had a messy snowfall overnight into this morning.  I had a doctor appointment at 11:30 and Jim really didn't want me driving in by myself if I didn't have to.  But the scaffolding was coming on a big semi truck and they were supposed to call an hour before - but last time they didn't.  Anyway, we finally got them to give us a window of time - Jim dropped me off at the doctor and headed to the property to get the forks on the Bobcat and get the Bobcat down the hill.

Patiently waiting for the truck to come!

Timing actually worked out really well - Jim didn't have to wait at the bottom of the hill too long before the truck came.

The forks work great - took him no time to get the scaffolding off the back of the truck.  Then he just had to get back up the hill.

 

We went back up after lunch to unload the scaffolding and put it inside the carriage house.  I hadn't been up in awhile so it was good to visit!  Everything looks great inside.  It's supposed to get bitter cold tonight - there is a wind chill advisory out tonight and the actual temperature will be well below zero - so it's always scary worrying about the building.

 

It's also amazing that Jim is able to get both the truck and the Bobcat up the hill.  Underneath all this beautiful fluffy snow is still an incredibly thick layer of smooth ice!

 

High 28/Low -4

 

1.19.2015

It's been cold here in upstate New York - not really getting much snow, but the snow stays on the ground nice and white since the temps stay cold.  That's the way Jim & I like it - much better than the freeze/thaw cycles that leave you with slushy puddles, gray and dirty snow.

Jim spent a couple hours yesterday and a couple more today working on installing the power steering assembly back into the box truck.  That required laying under the truck in the snow but things went together well and he said it is now working better than it ever has - so it was all worth it!

Not the best truck repair conditions!

Jim continues to research, order and plan.  In his spare time, he's been reading all about Pex tubing.  He'll use that for the radiant floor heating in the concrete slabs for the carriage house.  I love all the new techniques and products we are using - makes things exciting.

We keep checking in with Lowe's, giving our rep there more products to research.  We are still waiting for the steel door to come in.  The date keeps being shoved back and she said hopefully next week.  I know Jim is anxious to get that up temporarily.  She's also looking into a masonry gypsum board to use in the shop - like drywall except masonry.  It's much more rugged and impervious to moisture and mold.  All good things for shops.

Everyone stay warm!

 

1.11.2015

Winter settles in...

Happy New Year 2015!

I'm definitely behind on posting anything but needed to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy, Healthy New Year!  Hope that everyone had a very blessed Christmas with family and friends!

We had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed Kyle & Julia's visit immensely!  We're already looking forward to seeing them when they come up for Chowder Fest at the end of the month.

Jim continues to work on project management while winter sets in here in upstate New York.  He and Kyle worked a little bit on some metal shoring projects over Christmas.  Jim continues to find suppliers, track down supplies, and work on plans while we wait for spring.

Here we are continuing the tradition of the Saratoga Peppermint Pig - taking time to be thankful for all of the many blessings of the last year.

Our special pouch and hammer for the breaking of the pig is in some box in some location so we had to improvise!  But our thanks were sincere!