8.9.2021

The mountain air is wonderful - even when it's warmer.  We had our own little cloud on Angel this morning...

Jim worked in the master bedroom this morning - here he's finding the studs so he can place the plywood backing...

Starting to fasten...

Figuring out the cuts for the baseboard piece...

Starting to fasten...

This corner looks so pretty!  Jim went as far as he could go but he's all out of pine.  A trip to Ghent is in our future!

In the afternoon, we headed back outside.  Jim scooped up dirt from his pile...

Then brought it down next to the pole barn...

Another load...

Smoothing out another load.  This area is looking good!

Jim moved the remaining dirt out of the way ...

Doing some grading on the sides of the driveway...

Continuing to extend the driveway back - this area was obviously the base for the stone wall that went through here - it's amazing the number of big rocks right here, especially when you think they were moved with horses and manpower.  Very humbling.

Jim used the excavator to pick out all the big rocks and then dumped them in our growing pile to rebuild the wall.   Then we filled another bucket with smaller rocks...

Still no rain so Jim put a sprinkle of water on the grass seed - hopefully we'll get some tomorrow evening if the forecast holds.

High 83/Low 65

8.8.2021

Jim had to catch up on some paperwork this morning - never enough hours in the day for everything!  He did some moulding work in our bedroom this morning, working on this little area behind the door...

He shaved a little bit off the end of the cap moulding so that it fit perfectly in the little space next to the door frame...

In the afternoon, we were back outside continuing to extend the driveway area, make dirt and get rocks out...

This dirt pile is to be used for fill next to the pole barn where the lean to will go; the other dirt is mostly topsoil so we'll save that for other areas...

While we had so much dirt disturbed, Jim got the metal detector out to see if we could find any treasures.  We found a square nail, a really old bolt and a newer shotgun shell.  Still looking for the big treasure!

We picked up lots of smaller rocks...

Jim used the excavator to pick up all the big ones...

Things are really looking nice!

Jim brought up a bucket of dirt to see how it would go filling in this area...

Compacting it with the Bobcat...

A good start!

After he got things cleaned up, Jim headed into town to get more diesel fuel for the machines.  Once he got home, he watered our new grass seed areas - we were supposed to get some rain both yesterday and today but no luck.

High 80/Low 63

8.7.2021

Jim got the other side of the plywood backing pieces primed today.  He also put primer on the nail holes on the door frame areas in the second bedroom, getting them ready for painting.

In the afternoon, we headed outside - Jim made more dirt and continued to work on the upper driveway area...

He brought dirt down to fill in on the sides of the stairwell patio area...

Doing the manual work...

Filling in the other side...

Using the Bobcat to compact this area...

Both areas graded and grass seed planted!

I had to run into the post office this morning; on my way up the driveway, one of the deers just stood still and posed for this picture.  It didn't move for quite awhile.

Off to church...

High 84/Low 64

8.6.2021

 This morning, Jim unloaded the car of our water softener salt and plywood we picked up at Lowe's last night.  Today, he got it cut into the moulding backing pieces...

Then got them primed...

Jim started taping the edges of the moulding in the second bedroom today.  In the rooms, he wants to get furniture pulled away from the walls, moulding installed and painted, and then furniture moved back.

All taped...

This color is called shaded ice - looks really pretty.  The cap moulding requires brush painting but he's able to use the small roller for the rest of it...

All done and removing tape...

This wall is done!

Jim has the upper driveway area looking nice, including an area for our outdoor wood burning furnace if we decide to do that...

He used the excavator to pull out the big rocks from his dirt pile...

Then we filled the bucket with smaller ones by hand...

A bucketful of dirt to finish up the area next to the driveway...

Dumping...

I picked up 50 pounds of grass seed yesterday when I was out, so Jim filled a pail for me to use to spread while he finished grading.

Then a little bit of water over the new grass seed...

This area looks so finished now - you can just see the new grass growing - ha!

High 82/Low 62 - beautiful!

8.5.2021

 

I use these words to describe how Jim works every day!  Our plans include an Applebee's date night tonight so we'll celebrate then!

This morning, I left for grocery errands while Jim started working on the moulding in the second bedroom.  When I got home, he had this whole wall done and was touching up the seams and nail holes with primer.  In this room, we are going to paint the moulding before putting furniture back in place.

He wanted to get the hitch on the 4Runner so he could get cars moved around.  This is really heavy - kind of impossible for Jim to hold it up by himself and fasten it in place.  So he hooked a strap on one side...

Then he was able to lift it into place and get it fastened...

All done!

We did more dirt work this afternoon - here Jim's bringing another bucketful down.  Check out that beautiful sky!

Starting to fill in this area...

More hand work with the rake...

Doing some shoveling...

This area looks great - almost done!

I picked up another 50 lb bag of grass seed while I was out but we'll wait until tomorrow to put that down.  Jim had to consolidate his dirt area on the upper driveway; he's about out of dirt so he'll have to do some excavating to make more dirt.

We are heading into Lowe's this evening - Jim is all out of plywood for the moulding backing pieces.  Prices had come down some last we looked so fingers crossed that they didn't go up.  

High 78/Low 58 - beautiful!