8.31.2020

Jim worked on the upper ceiling joint in the auto bay this morning as well as more coats on the screws...

Working down the wall...

Wow!  The Mini was the first vehicle to drive on the new concrete driveway!  Jim wanted it on the other side of the garage to get ready for the next concrete pour - which will hopefully be Friday morning.  Jim called and reserved a spot and asked for the same driver so fingers crossed that the weather forecast stays good and all the elements align for another great pour!

This afternoon was spent getting ready for the pour, working on grading outside the garage area.  We struck a line on the house...

Scooping up extra gravel...

Checking the grade and slope...

Working down the area, continuing to check grade...

Jim brought up some finer gravel to fill in some low areas...

He got things in pretty good shape so at the end of the day, he got the lawn mower out of the pole barn and did a little grass cutting.  The mower will have to stay out now since part of this next pour is in front of the pole barn.

Today was the grandkids' first day of school in Ohio - prayers to everyone going back to school as well as for all the teachers and staff that everyone stays safe and healthy!

High 71/Low 54 - beautiful!

 

8.30.2020

 Jim was back plastering today, continuing to work on the ceiling of the auto bay...

Mid-afternoon, he switched to do some work outside getting ready for the next concrete pour.  Here he's figuring out elevations with the laser level...

Then working on the forms to get the curve that he wants...

Using the Bobcat to scoop up some gravel in front of the pole barn to get that area ready...

We struck a reference line on the outside of the pole barn floor and then Jim was working on starting to do some grading (which always involves hand shoveling!)...

High 69/Low 47 - beautiful!

8.29.2020

Jim worked this morning on installing drywall around this pilaster in the auto bay.  Another tricky piece to cut going around the beam plus he stuffed installation behind the drywall next to the beam as well.

Fitting the next piece...

Drywall done and corner bead attached!

Jim decided to wire all the receptacles back up in this area so they can now be turned on with the switch rather than the temporary bypass he had set up while he installed drywall in this area.

Then it was plastering on the ceiling of the auto bay...

He worked on plastering the upper part of the tapered joint today; he'll do the lower one tomorrow to insure a good seam.  Then it was working on the hip seams...

Church time!

High 73/Low 56 - on/off light rain

8.28.2020

Back to working in the auto bay this morning, putting up the corner bead and finishing the top details around the beam...

All done...

He also put drywall up above the garage door; however, he's out of 5/8" J-channel so they aren't completely fastened yet.

Working on marking and figuring out the cuts for the next piece of drywall - this one has two receptacles and conduit at the top...

All done as well as the other corner piece!

Then it was moving on to plastering on the ceiling...

First coat plus screws all done on the ceiling...

We picked up more off-angle tape yesterday at Lowe's so Jim is taping the the seam where the wall meets the upper wall area...

The seam is all done - things are looking all covered now!

High 74/Low 57 - beautiful!

8.27.2020

It was a little drizzly outside today but it didn't matter because it was another drywall/plaster day for Jim. He used some of his 5/8" scraps to drywall the wall space next to the garage door...

Putting the drywall in place...

This final piece had some hand cuts...

Plus J-channel on three different sides...

Fastening it into place, which finishes this wall area...

We marked this piece of drywall and then Jim moved it into place...

Fastening it...

Then it was time to load up the banjo with plaster and do some taping, starting with the ceiling in the auto bay...

The auto bay is almost all taped!

Once that was done, he moved on to tape the corner...

Then worked around the back wall...

All taped here too!

At the end of the day, we headed to Lowe's for Jim to pick up some 2"x4"s so he can do a little framing in the stairwell and we picked up a few things at the grocery store while we were out.

Want to wish a very happy birthday to my mom today - she's 87 years young and an inspiration to all of us!  Just wish we could be there to celebrate in person but hopefully the world will feel a little less scary about traveling soon so that I can make a trip back to Ohio.  We love you, Mom!

High 62/Low 56 - fall like!

8.26.2020

Another plaster day for Jim - he really wants to focus on getting the auto bay done and there is a ton of work to be done!  He started working on the angled joints this morning - these are tough because there is more of a gap in some of these areas just because of the angles the two pieces meet.  So he has to use small pieces of tape to make sure to get the seam straight and fill in plaster as needed.

You can see those joints are done now!

Unfortunately, in order to do the ceiling (and back upper wall), all the light fixtures have to come down.  Jim started working on that project...

Finishing capping the wires on the last fixture to come down from the ceiling...

Setting all the screws on the ceiling...

This was such a gorgeous day - have you even seen a sky so blue?  Plus it didn't even get to 70 degrees today so it was perfect!

High 69/Low 47 - beautiful!