11.30.2024

Since we can't do any building outside, it was a good day to get some inside jobs done.  Jim put some of the foam crack filler underneath the fixed outside door just to keep any cold out.  The new sweeps seem to be working well, but every little bit extra helps...

Now that Thanksgiving is over, it seems like Christmas is looming quickly.  Tomorrow is the beginning of Advent, which is hard to believe.  So it was time to get the Advent candle out and put the turkeys away.  Jim was a huge help as always in bringing up the empty tubs so that I could put away the fall dishes and decorations.  

It was a good day to do some car work.  Jim put the 4Runner up on the car lift...

He wanted to check the rear wheel seals that he fixed last year to make sure there was no leakage.  Everything looked perfect.  While he had the wheels off, he sprayed the fluid film on the undercarriage to help prevent corrosion.

Jim did fine without them for this first snow and we probably waited a bit too long, but we walked along the drive and put our snow sticks up...

Sadly, Jim contacted the insurance guy yesterday to take the Mini off.  Doesn't seem like we got too many rides in it this year!  Jim put it up on the lift and started draining the oil for an oil change.  He rearranged the cars so that they are all inside, but once he gets done with the maintenance, he'll be putting it on dollies and storing it in its winter spot.

High 31.9/Low 23.2

11.29.2024

Today was digging out from the Thanksgiving Day snowfall!  This was the view from our bedroom back window this morning, as the snow was frozen sliding off the roof...

Jim went outside after lunch to plow - he had to first get the Bobcat and drive it up to where the bucket was, near the stairwell door.  The snow was so thick and heavy that wouldn't work with the snow blower, plus the ground/gravel isn't really frozen yet, so that makes a mess.  Jim got it all done - including all the pileup at the end of the driveway, so we're good to go for now!

High 37.2/Low 31.8

11.28.2024

 

Happy Thanksgiving!  Always a day to stop and reflect on just how grateful and blessed we are, this year there is even a bigger sense of our blessings, with the medical and surgical challenges I faced this year.  We are grateful for all the support we received from family and friends, and will always be thankful.  We hope that you were able to make many new memories and revisit the past ones as well.

We had our first snowfall of the season and it was a dandy!  It started snowing in the wee hours and it hasn't stopped.  It was beautiful and definitely made us pause and take time for the holiday.  But we are also still hopeful that we will have some good building days to come!

A view from the kitchen window this morning...

The turkey is out of the oven and Jim is getting ready to carve!

Happy faces around the table...

The "before" view...

Last picture of the snow before darkness set in totally - we have at least 10".

High 33.8/Low 30.5 - 10" of snow!

11.27.2024

Mom and I had hair cut appointments and got back just in time for lunch.  Jim had been busy and gotten more rafter ties put up... 

Putting up the last one...

Fastening it...

Next job was to put a tie connecting the front and back together to hold everything in place.  Marking locations...

Jim also put the first two roof rafters on top of the joists...

Fastening the tie to the joists...

Starting the first roof pieces with one person is really tough - there's no way to stand, no easy way to get things in place.  But Jim is the master at coming up with ways to do things!  So, first some plywood so he can stand up easier...

Starting to put the first two rafters together on top of the joists...

The view from underneath as he puts a tie together at the top of the two rafters...

Putting a temporary joist in place in the front to hold the rafters in place...

Starting to lift up the assembled rafters...

It's up and a tight fit so it can almost stand by itself...

But that wouldn't be stable for long, so Jim is attaching a brace...

Fastening the rafter to the joist...

Checking to make sure it's level and adjusting the brace accordingly...

Removing the temporary board in front that helped keep the rafters in the right position when lifting...

Bringing up the next two rafters...

Starting to build the rafter set on the back side...

Lifting it up in place...

Putting up the brace...

Fastening it to the joist...

Leveling and adjusting the brace...

More fastening...

So exciting to see the roof structure starting to go up!

Unfortunately, we are under a Winter Storm Warning with 3-6" of snow predicted tomorrow.  But since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, we'll stay inside and watch it snow - and hope for more building days to come soon!

High 42.3/Low 30.4

11.26.2024

I had such a weird thing happen this morning.  I came out into the kitchen to start my day, opened up AirPod case to listen to an audiobook while I was working, and proceeded to drop one.  But then it was nowhere.  I searched everywhere and thought maybe I was losing my mind - ha!  When Jim came out, he got his flashlight out and searched to no avail.  Of course, Jim gave it some thought and figured out the only place it could be - behind the kick board of the cabinet!  He had to take it off...

And...ta da...he found it!  There is only a very small space at the top of the board and the AirPod apparently bounced and went right in.  Crazy!  But - best.husband.ever.  

Mom had an appointment today and we left early because the forecast was for freezing rain.  Thankfully, we didn't encounter any and it was fine.  Jim took advantage of a rainy morning to make a trip to Lowe's.  He was originally going to put up the rafter ties on every other stud, but decided to do every stud, so he needed more wood.  It's amazing that he can carry 12' boards in the 4Runner!

After lunch, Jim was down in the metal shop, cutting more clips...

And punching them...

Then we headed outside.  Jim unloaded the wood onto the saw horses and started cutting them to size...

Cutting the angles...

Once we got all 12 cut, Jim headed up to the shed and marked locations of the clips...

Attaching the clips...

Attaching the clips on the other side...

Setting the board into place...

Attaching the tie to the clip...

Jim put two ties up and then put a screw in at an angle to attach it to the top plate for extra strength and stability...

More than halfway done...

Dark comes quickly, so time to clean up.  We stashed the rest of the ties back in the pavilion until tomorrow...

High 44.4/Low 30.1