10.24.0216

This is a terrible picture because I took it from the kitchen window this morning, but as the sun comes up there is a period where the mountains just look so bright and pretty with the fall leaves.  Although we passed peak a few days ago and the crazy winds yesterday really took most of the leaves off the trees.  We can now see the mountains from our property again.

Jim was able to start back on some siding work today...it had been a few days.

Working across in between the windows.  These areas require lots of cutting both on the gable ends as well as all the window frames.

Jim cut smaller pieces to go underneath the windows to carry the siding across.  But these fasteners will show so Jim marks and predrills holes so that everything is lined up perfectly.

Attaching the siding underneath the window...

Using the shear to cut a few more pieces...

Jim got siding to the top of both windows today so time to do a little touch up painting while the sun was still out.  Temperatures were chilly today with some remaining gusty winds - unfortunately, it looks like today's temps are as warm as it will be all week.  Takes some getting used to working in the cold weather again.

Next project was to put the trim underneath the gable rake boards, so again Jim is predrilling.

Attaching the trim to seal this area...looks great!

Jim got to use his newly reassembled jointer to shave a little bit off the side of one of the pieces...

 

Having accomplished some good siding work, Jim headed down to the shop to work on his car.  But first, he put together the new smaller heater we bought at Lowe's the other day.  He made good progress on the car work too - the new calipers came in the mail on Saturday so he's hoping to get them installed tomorrow possibly.

 

High 50/Low 32

 

10.23.2016 - A Great Surprise Weekend!

Kyle & Julia surprised us and came up to spend the weekend!  They drove up in their gorgeous new VW Jetta and got in about 10:00 on Friday night.

Unfortunately, Saturday was a rainy day but we still managed to get a lot done.  Jim and Kyle headed out to the property in the morning and picked up the truck.  Then Julia and I met them at the book storage unit.  We moved all the boxes of books that were on top of Jim's out feed table so that they could get the top off and the table moved out.

Then we restacked all the boxes of books back into the storage unit. 

Carrying the table down the hallway...

Then the table top. 

We loaded them into the elevator and then into the back of the truck.

Once we got back to the property, it was time to bring everything in the shop and get it set up.

Jim is so thrilled to have the last of the stored tools into the shop.  The out feed table will make things much easier for him.

Since it was a rainy day, Julia and I headed home where we experimented in the kitchen and made pumpkin spice English muffins.  Yum!  Meanwhile, Jim and Kyle worked in the shop getting the tools that Scott helped Jim bring in yesterday cleaned and reassembled and got everything working and in its rightful place.  We got to take their new car for a drive when we went into Saratoga to go to church in the evening.  Then it was home for dinner and a movie!

This morning after breakfast, we all headed out to the property.  Even though it rained on/off both Thursday and Friday as well as pretty much all day Saturday, there wasn't a muddy spot to be found on the property!  The agenda for the day was to start work on getting permanent power into the carriage house.

First, we had to do a little yard clean up.  A part broke on the chain saw the last time Kyle & Julia were up, so Jim had to order that part.  That enabled Kyle to finish cutting up the tree that we cut down last time.  Plus we moved our pile of limbs from that weekend's clean up away from where we would be working.  When we have time, we'll get the chipper out and take care of all those branches.

Kyle and Jim loaded up the giant spool of service wire into the Bobcat.

 

They took it up near the meter pedestal and Julia and I got it covered up to protect it from the elements.

 

The first task was to unearth the electric line that Jim had going from the meter pedestal to the temporary pole.  He had the line in conduit buried about 18".  First he used the Bobcat to scrape away the dirt...

Then Kyle would use the pick to find the conduit...

 

While Julia would pull out the conduit...

Repeating that process over and over...

As we got closer to the meter pedestal, the line was buried deeper.  Julia even did some shoveling duties!

Jim used the excavator to dig down deeper to expose the connection to the meter pedestal.

Success!  The line is all uncovered!

They moved the line away from the trench and Jim filled in the area and did some grading.

Once that was done, they figured out where the trench would go from the meter pedestal into the house and marked the line with blue paint.

Clearing away some of the piles of dirt near the pedestal so that they can begin trenching.

Starting to trench the line...Jim wants it about 3-1/2' deep.

Continuing to trench...

Kyle took some turns digging!

 

While they were digging, Julia and I took some stakes and marked off the upper driveway to help the driver place gravel when we get it ordered.

Our line of flagged stakes...

Jim also put stakes and caution tape up to mark the trench for safety.

Kyle's doing some more digging while Jim does some trench work...

Then switching places!

By the end of good daylight and when Kyle and Julia had to head home, they got into the driveway area.  Not too much more to go!

Of course, any time we dig in the dirt we find literally tons of giant rocks so Jim did some clean up.

 

Besides all the help they gave us which we greatly appreciated, we really had a fun weekend with Kyle & Julia here and were so glad that they came up to visit!

 

High 53/Low 39 - wind advisory out so it felt much colder!

 

10.21.2016

The weather was really nice this morning - nice and warm.  Unfortunately, Jim had to spend that nice weather getting ready for Scott to come over to help him move the tools from the truck.  But a necessary evil - that needs to be done and we are just grateful for the help.

Jim got the shop all ready for the tools...sure looks nice!



Then he brought the truck around and spent time making things easily accessible for the move...



Finally he was able to think about doing some outside work - here he's predrilling the top window trim.

Attaching the trim to the top of the window...

 

Looks good!  Unfortunately, the weather changed and just as we were getting ready to eat lunch, it started raining.

 

So Jim started doing some inside work - Scott ended up coming over about 3:00 and the rain had stopped by then.  These tools are SO heavy - it was great to have another strong man to help.  Here they are moving the top of the planer into the shop.

Putting the top onto the planer...



Next is Jim's radial arm saw table...another crazy heavy piece.

Using the mover's straps to help carry it in...

The last task was to try and get the top onto the log splitter...they were able to get this done too so it was a very successful afternoon!  The log splitter will just stay on the truck - Jim can strap it down and it will be fine. 

 

 

Scott had brought his girlfriend's little girl with him so I spent a lot of time playing with her and keeping her out from underfoot!  They stayed quite awhile talking and checking out the carriage house.

 

We got a big surprise this evening - Kyle & Julia called and they are on their way up for a visit!  We're excited to see them!  Unfortunately tomorrow is supposed to be another rainy day but I'm sure Jim and Kyle will find lots to keep them busy!

 

High 69/Low 46