Week6 day1

Monday July 17, 2006. Itchy In the Tower

Hi, Greg couldn't believe Mike volunteered to put the insulation in the tower. Its got to be the worse job in construction. I watched Greg plumb the half bath-another bit of trouble that he managed just fine. The wiring is nearly complete, the insulation is going in and the drywall starts Wed if all goes well tomorrow. I'm puttering in the mud room, getting the closets ready for shelves, etc. So once again, there aren't pictures worth sending. Work started at 8 this morning which suits everyone but Greg. He's a bit of a workaholic we're finding out.

Rick, Janet and Dick came here on Sat for an overnight. We had a good visit and I think they enjoyed seeing our project. Janet's contract was renewed for another 3 years, so they can stay on in Dubai if they want.

Bed time! Love, Jane

Week 6 day 2 Tuesday July 18, 2006 Another Itchy Day

 Greg got the plumbing finished in the bathroom. Just has to hook up the water line which he'd like to do before the drywall goes up. Just in case.... Dave worked on the studio ceiling installing the sun tunnel. Mike and I put vapor barrier on the tower ceiling and started the walls, very fussy and messy. Not my favorite day. Zapper had to drive his girlfriend to the airport in Calgary, she's in a poetry competition in Las Vegas so we were short a man. Dwayne is our dry wall man....to come tomorrow at noon, starting with the tower, the pressure is on, there is still so much to do. Greg put the new old door in the mud room a few days ago. Looks nice, matches the color of the cedar. We're hoping the drywall will go quickly so we have some time off from activity next week. But at any rate, it's a relief the insulation should be finished tomorrow. Looks like I'll be going to town for paint soon! Love, Jane

Week 6 day 3 Wednesday July 19, 2006 Still Insulating.

 Hi, the new white insulation is definitely less itchy than the old pink. Makes the room brighter, too. It was a slow day....we require a vapor barrier separating the house from the tower, so its complicated and tedious. Its not quite finished. Dwayne must not have gotten the message to show up at noon, cell phone problems, perhaps, because he didn't show. We weren't ready for him anyhow, so it's just as well. Greg got the new power lines hooked up and tested enough of them to make him happy. The water line is also hooked up and he worked on the lightening rod set up. Its ready for the rod....are we?!!!!! he grounded it twice, so hope that will do. Our ground to the power at the house is up the drive at the first pole, so connecting the grounds isn't possible. So tomorrow we hope to start the drywall. Greg thought it would take a week to do.

The red tuck tape we use to tape the plastic seems to attract visitors. Michael saw a humming bird fly into the tower. Then later, I went to close the mudroom door and there was a poor little humming bird trying to get out of one of the closed windows. I carefully cupped it in my hand and it sat on my finger as I guided it to an open window...sorry no picture! Love, Jane

Week 6 Day 4 Thursday July 20, 2006 The Shape Revealed.

 Hi, big day today, the drywall got put up in the tower today. Looks pretty good. The wall in my studio also came down and the space is wonderful, even unfinished. The new white ceilings will help give me more light. So things are moving along. Any body know what kind of bug that is? Its pretty big, over an inch(body) and the tail 3". Flies slowly. Michael will be going up to the fire tower tomorrow....kind of caught him by surprise. The heat wave hasn't really hit yet, tomorrow will be hot though. Looking at 95' on Sat or more. It probably is dry south of here where he's going. He's scrambling to get ready. It's a lot of work to get bedding, clothes, food, kitchen stuff, entertainment, etc, together for possibly 2 weeks. It's not bad timing, though. Dwayne will be the only one working here next week as Greg and Dave head up to one of the local fly-in lodges to work on its roof and Zapper has the week off. The windows will be delivered next week if all goes well. I'll probably head to town soon to buy paint-I should start as soon as Dwayne is finished. I'm hoping for a relaxing weekend. There are piles of construction debris in the drive, but I really don't want to load the van and drive to the dump alone!

The end is in sight(sort of)....at least after the drywall is finished, perhaps I can clean the house....but, can't say I miss dusting!

Love, Jane

Week 6 day 5 Friday July 21, 2006 Sweet Silence

Hi, the drywall is almost up. Dwayne's not as hard a worker as Greg, quitting at 3 today, but Zapper said he was in a car accident and can't lift the boards as easily now...he's not very big. He did bring a friend to help. But I was very happy to see everyone gone by then so after I cleaned up, I had plenty of time to take in the transformation. It got up to 95' today, toasty in my studio by mid afternoon. I finally have some free time, though the house is a disaster. The vegetable garden is doing great. The corn finally is continuing to do well and we will be eating corn soon it seems. We had our first tomato yesterday which is early for us. Beans coming soon I think. The flowers peaked last weekend. This heat really stresses everything except perhaps the lavender. I will be madly watering no doubt. Michael made it to the fire tower without any problems. He did forget potatoes and garlic, which is tough to be without for 2 weeks. He's having trouble with his fridge, but they'll have to come fix it for him or he'll starve.

I have 2 delightful days of peace ahead of me. Though I'm sure Dwayne will be pretty quiet when he does come on Monday.

Love,Jane