Week 3 July 30, 2009

They were here today to tar the walls that join to the existing house. They also scored the concrete for the door and window they missed framing in.

Week 3 July 28, 2009

Today we got tarred! They didn't do the side that faces under the existing house. We figured maybe they just got "tarred"-(tired!) This gives us an idea of where the ground line will be.

Week 3 July 27, 2009

Today Hickory went to doggie heaven. We have been having problems with him breaking out of his kennel for the past few months. He was extremely anxious during thunderstorms. We tried anti-anxiety drugs to no avail. He chewed through wood, wire, and metal to get out at various times. On Friday he got out and went to the neighbor's and scratched up cars and tore screens on the porch. Saturday, the neighbor came over to show us the car damage and Hickory bit him. After discussing the situation we decided he needed to go. The plan was to take him to the vet this morning. Yesterday while we were at church, he escaped again. This time though he disappeared. I got a call this morning from the Humane Society that he had been picked up on the edge of Helena- about 12 miles away. So after getting him out of jail, I took him to the vet. It was really hard leaving him there. He looked at me with his big brown eyes asking "Where are you going without me?" It was a hard day for both of us. Generally he was a happy loving dog. His anxiety was getting worse and worse all the time and we were out of options for dealing with him. We are very sad and will both miss him very much.

There was no work on the house today. Dave is meeting with the builder tomorrow morning to discuss next steps.

Closet - July 25

Today we finished putting in the poles for the closet. It was a lot of work but now we can move onto the next step. Here is a pic of Dave as he finished filling in the last hole. After having 7 in the ground, we got chased in by a hail storm. We wanted to get the last two in today too so we went back out to finish up after the storm passed.

No work tomorrow though. We are going to Great Falls to the state fair to see the group America. We need a fun day once in awhile!!!

Week 2 July 24, 2009

The basement walls need to dry a few days before there is any more progress. Then they will seal the cement and backfill so the cement truck can get back in to pour the floor. Hopefully we can get some work done on the closet tomorrow!!

Week 2 July 23, 2009

The forms are down and one window didn't get framed in. Also, there is no door between the two basement rooms. I guess the cement saw will get a work out! The measurements aren't exactly like we planned. The sizes we wanted were for the inside measurement. So we lost 16" each way because of 8" walls on each side. The only place it may be a real problem will be in the breakfast nook at the end of the kitchen. It will be tight to get a small table and chairs in. We may have to redesign the bathroom to make more room for the breakfast nook.

The photo with the ladder is the basement under the living room. Dave placed the ladder at the middle of the room. We measured out where stairs would be to get an idea of the size of the living room. I think it needs to be 4ft wider! We could use another 2ft on the kitchen too!

Week 2 July 22, 2009

Yahoo! We have basement walls!!!! They finished the forms and poured the concrete today. We aren't sure if they framed one of the windows or the door between the two basement parts. I guess we'll see when they take forms down. And they connected the water again!!! Yeah!!!

Also, Monday night we bought a bunch of meat and went to put it in the small chest freezer on the porch. We discovered that everything was defrosted. The workers had unplugged it to use the outlet and didn't bother to plug it back in. Fortunately it wasn't rotten yet, just defrosted.

Week 2 July 21, 2009

Wow! They were here by 8am and started removing the forms from the footings. Around 10am Dave called me to tell me he was heading home to make sure we got windows and doors where we want them in the basement walls. He called later to say they had the outside forms up and would pour the walls today or tomorrow. Well, they didn't pour today. And they didn't reconnect the water either! They had to disconnect it to set up the forms but were supposed to fix it before they left. Sink baths again tomorrow!!!

Week 2 July 20, 2009

Yeah!!! They did the forms for the footers today AND poured the cement!!! When I came home Dave was standing out in the yard with a big grin on his face. We are so excited that con-struction is happening instead of the de-struction of moving earth! We'll rest easier though when they get the cement walls up to support the house. The first photo is Dave standing about the middle of the basement under the living room. The other will be the basement under the kitchen. We're not sure they will be big enough!!!!

Closet - July 18-19

In addition to the living room/kitchen construction we are also adding a 12'x12' closet onto our bedroom. We are doing the work ourselves to save money. Saturday morning Dave finished digging the holes for the poles. We got one pole in Saturday afternoon before getting ready to go to the annual Symphony under the Stars concert. We enjoy going with friends each year. Brad playing in the concert was an added bonus.

Sunday after church we got 3 more poles in place- only 5 more to go!!! With the hole dug it won't take long to get them in place.

Day 5? July 17, 2009

Were they here today????

Day 4 July 16, 2009

They did lots more digging today- under the house. They also put metal posts under the existing poles to provide more support. And they took out the phone lines again! Oh well, without phone service we won't get any of the "this is your last chance to extend the warranty on your car" calls.

Day 3 July 15, 2009

We have water!!! Yeah!!!!! We have phone service!!!! Yeah!!!! They tried to put in the forms for the footings today but the dirt kept caving in around. They will need to dig out some more and do the forms a different way. A bigger hole!!!! The plan is forms tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday morning and cement in the footings Friday afternoon.

Day 2 July 14, 2009

Al (the builder) said we had water when he left. Apparently, when they were digging and exposed the underground poles, the house shifted enough to pinch the water line. The plumber isn't available until tomorrow. So....no water for another day. The phone company wouldn't take a work order from Al because he isn't the owner. Dave had to call and arrange to meet them tomorrow to get the phone line repaired. Hopefully everything will be working again!

The only evidence of work today was more structural support for the existing house. That should keep it from shifting any more.

Day 1 July 13, 2009

We arrived home from work to find a gigantic hole in our yard!!! Yeah!!!! The long anticipated addition is under construction. Our joy was short lived though. We discovered that in the process of digging, despite all the wiring being marked, we were without water and phone! Off to the neighbor's to tote water for washing and flushing!