Well, I didn't blog Saturday night, which means half of what happened that day has probably already left my mind! :) But I wanted to put something down quick with an update!
Tina's house has almost all the siding on it, and had it's electrical put in! It's really cool to walk through there...you can see where every outlet, smoke detector, light switch and door bell is going to be. There are little blue boxes everywhere! Zahn's and Robin's houses have all their Tyvek and windows in. Ashlee's house is roofed, and I think Nathan's is too. (See...it's a blur!) We were mostly in three groups this weekend: The Tyvek/Windows group, and two groups that were building the second stories of Garrett and Amanda's house and Selina and Jerica's house. Anna and Josh's house had all of the bottom floor interiors built (but not put in), and they will be getting joists for the second floor this week. I'm guessing Robin's house will get electric this week (I'm not sure if Robin and Zahn have plumbing yet, since I didn't walk through there.) Ashlee's started to get Tyvek'd and windowed at the end of Saturday. (Ahren and Daniel taught me how to Tyvek...SO FUN! You get to whack this big staple hammer into the side of the wall...very theraputic!) Ahren then taught me how to put a window in...hmmm...very precise hammering is involved and I don't think I like it! I'm guessing Nathan's is next on the house wrap, then Robert's (who still needs some sheeting put in), and by then Jerica/Selina and Garrett/Amanda's should be not far behind!
We have six houses entirely framed. 2 houses that I'm guessing will get trusses next weekend (which means as far as the building goes, they are entirely framed), and Josh and Anna's will most likely be finished up with the framing next weekend. That leaves three to start: Pennoyers, Linda's and ours.
I think optimistically we could be done framing by May, and then we have to wait til the contractors catch up! :) My educated guess is after plumbing and electric comes drywall, then paint then floors! Tina's house is there!
The best news of all was after working a ten hour day on Saturday, I wasn't sore at all on Sunday! (And I did lots of heavy lifting!) I do have a gnarly swollen bruise/scrape on my leg from hitting a bunch of 2x6 when I was walking by, and a splinter of sheeting in my hand that I still can't get out, but it's much better than being in pain! :)
We are so thankful for all the people who help us! It's truly a fiasco trying to figure out how to get in all our hours, work out childcare, and stay sane! So far it's all come together, and there are definately people who are giving up a lot of their spare time to help us, and we will never be able to thank them enough! You know who you are! Last weekend, we had to leave earlier on Saturday so I could go to my nephews birthday party. The next day, I was going to have to put in a 9 hour day by myself, since Ahren was staying home with the kids. Josh and Anna came out and worked half of my day with me, so I could leave at noon and spend some time with my family. That's LOVE! :) They had already worked their own 30 hours and still came out to help. THAT is building a community!
I still love it, and I honestly doubt there will be a time I don't. It's busy and stressful and exhausting. There are weeks I don't know how we will make it work, but while I'm out there hoisting up walls and learning, it makes me smile!
It won't be too long before you see pictures of our house being put together...it's right around the corner. A few weeks ago, it seemed like forever, but it's here!
(No pics this week...it was raining!)
Until next week!
HB
Monday, April 18, 2011
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Incentives!
We learned this week at our 8 am meeting that IF we have all the houses framed by June, we can have ONE WEEK OFF! As in NO WORK! 30 hours of freedom! Now, this might sound silly, but it's HUGE! AND, I may be a little over confident, but we have six houses framed entirely, two with the bottom floors done and sub flooring started, and another one (Anna and Josh's 1295) started today! We didn't start until mid February, and it's not even mid-April. That's 2 months. Why shouldn't we be able to do 4 houses in the time we've done EIGHT! I'm totally excited about this! :) It's so the contractors can catch up and finish plumbing/electric/roof etc. But it would sure be a blessing! :)
ALSO, if you've been trained to use a nail gun, and Ross is there, they can be used. This is the equivelant of trying to dig a large hole with a spoon, or dig a large hole with an excavator. Seriously. It saves us HOURS of time, and is so very lovely!!! I mean, it seriously makes me smile everytime I hear the compressor kick on!
Sam, Jerica, Selina, and other people (who I can't remember at the moment) worked on subfloor sheeting on Jerica and Selina's house.
Garrett, Alan and Ross worked on the same for Garretts house, and then Anna, Julie, Ashlee, Dave, Kari, and I worked on building Anna and Josh's house! :) SO FUN! :) 
ALSO, if you've been trained to use a nail gun, and Ross is there, they can be used. This is the equivelant of trying to dig a large hole with a spoon, or dig a large hole with an excavator. Seriously. It saves us HOURS of time, and is so very lovely!!! I mean, it seriously makes me smile everytime I hear the compressor kick on! NOW, for the updates! :) This morning we sheer walled Robin's and Ashlee's houses, and then we started BUILDING Josh and Anna's house! YAY! Tina's house has siding, and I love the way it looks! See?
Ahren, Josh, Zhan and Bernie worked on housewrap and windows for Zhans house:
As always, I had a great time with my neighbors, and am totally amazed at how far we've come! I have so much fun working with everyone, and getting to know everyone! Just a few more pictures of my fun neighbors!
I'm going back out for eight hours tomorrow, so I'm sure we'll get a little farther on Josh and Anna's! So fun!
Until next week! :)
HB
Saturday, April 2, 2011
My Achin' Dogs!
Seriously. It's 9:15 pm. I left the site a little over 3 hours ago. It hurts to walk. These ten hour days are KILLER! Luckily, my feet don't hurt til I stop working! Ok...enough whining for this week's post! :)
I know this is going to come as a shock to you, BUT I framed, squared and sheeted this week (Shocking I know!) :) The exciting part of that is that we started our 7th house (of 12), and our first 1295 plan (there are three total). After that, we have three more plans and then all 12 will have been started! YAHOO!
So here are the updates:
Tina's house has a FRONT DOOR, sliding door, all the windows, plumbed, and has been house wrapped. Ross said siding will come this week, and the electrician. That sounds very house-like, and it's totally exciting! Zhan's house has the roof on, the plumbers I think are done in there, and it will start wrap and windows this week, as will Robin's house. Ashlee's house had half the roof sheeting done when we got there this morning. Nathan's house is all trussed and ready for sheeting, and Robert's house is ALMOST all trussed and ready for sheeting. Garrett and Amanda's 1295 was started this week. We had almost all the bottom floor interior and exteriors done. Man, it seemed like nothing went easy with that house today! We hit a snag at every turn. Makes for a long day with everyone standing around trying to figure out how to fix the problem!
Ross said all the other packages are being delivered soon (I forget exactly what he said), AND he even put in for our house to be cut! YAY!!!! People ask me all the time if it's frustrating to look at my slab when Tina's house is really house-like! It's not, and for a few reasons. At first, it's because I knew that Tina (or whoever's house is done before ours) won't get to move in until all 12 houses are done and have passed inspection. We are a team, and we move in as a team. That's the way it works. I think in a lot of ways, it would be harder to look at your almost finished house that you won't get to move into for whatever amount of time, then to be the last house finished.
But these days, it's a totally different thing that keeps me going. I am truly proud of the people who will soon be my neighbors. All of us come from different situations: Families, singles, couples...people who work full time, people who go to school, etc. I could name more of my neighbors who I think aren't "like" me than are. As I get to know each one, however, they make me smile. Their hardwork inspires me to always do my best, and that is probably the single most motivating factor. Yes, at the end of this, my family will live in a beautiful new house that we built with our own hands. The house that love built. THAT is amazing. But there are so many rewards along the way: getting to know new people, rocking out to the radio and learning what everyone does and doesn't like, finding common ground and respecting differences. Jerica taught me how to "dougie" and "Roll the dice" last week. Now, I assure you, I THINK I look much cooler doing these than I actually do, but we had fun. Ashlee (who I now lovingly refer to as "french toast") makes me laugh EVERY DAY I work with her...the girl is hilarious! Anna and I have gotten to be great friends, and I love her dearly. Our kids play together, and will grow up right down the road. Julie and I were plotting a rock band play date when we get moved in, I'm learning Garrett always looks skeptical (even if I wasn't the last one to touch whatever it is he's skeptically looking at), Robert is always smiling and never makes fun of me when I've cut the same board ten times and it's still not right, and Sam makes me both laugh and roll my eyes everyday. It seems like he's always 'on', and that keeps us all going. Daniel is dependable and funny, and Tina is such a hard worker and a sweet gal.
There are still neighbors I don't really know well. We kind of have "teams" we work in, so there are people I hardly or never see. But I know when this is done, we all worked for the same goal. And THAT is awesome. :)
The good news is that while I was telling you all how awesome my neighbors are, I forgot about my feet. The bad news: I have to hit "publish" and stand up now! :)
Til next week!
HB
I know this is going to come as a shock to you, BUT I framed, squared and sheeted this week (Shocking I know!) :) The exciting part of that is that we started our 7th house (of 12), and our first 1295 plan (there are three total). After that, we have three more plans and then all 12 will have been started! YAHOO!
So here are the updates:
Tina's house has a FRONT DOOR, sliding door, all the windows, plumbed, and has been house wrapped. Ross said siding will come this week, and the electrician. That sounds very house-like, and it's totally exciting! Zhan's house has the roof on, the plumbers I think are done in there, and it will start wrap and windows this week, as will Robin's house. Ashlee's house had half the roof sheeting done when we got there this morning. Nathan's house is all trussed and ready for sheeting, and Robert's house is ALMOST all trussed and ready for sheeting. Garrett and Amanda's 1295 was started this week. We had almost all the bottom floor interior and exteriors done. Man, it seemed like nothing went easy with that house today! We hit a snag at every turn. Makes for a long day with everyone standing around trying to figure out how to fix the problem!
Ross said all the other packages are being delivered soon (I forget exactly what he said), AND he even put in for our house to be cut! YAY!!!! People ask me all the time if it's frustrating to look at my slab when Tina's house is really house-like! It's not, and for a few reasons. At first, it's because I knew that Tina (or whoever's house is done before ours) won't get to move in until all 12 houses are done and have passed inspection. We are a team, and we move in as a team. That's the way it works. I think in a lot of ways, it would be harder to look at your almost finished house that you won't get to move into for whatever amount of time, then to be the last house finished.
But these days, it's a totally different thing that keeps me going. I am truly proud of the people who will soon be my neighbors. All of us come from different situations: Families, singles, couples...people who work full time, people who go to school, etc. I could name more of my neighbors who I think aren't "like" me than are. As I get to know each one, however, they make me smile. Their hardwork inspires me to always do my best, and that is probably the single most motivating factor. Yes, at the end of this, my family will live in a beautiful new house that we built with our own hands. The house that love built. THAT is amazing. But there are so many rewards along the way: getting to know new people, rocking out to the radio and learning what everyone does and doesn't like, finding common ground and respecting differences. Jerica taught me how to "dougie" and "Roll the dice" last week. Now, I assure you, I THINK I look much cooler doing these than I actually do, but we had fun. Ashlee (who I now lovingly refer to as "french toast") makes me laugh EVERY DAY I work with her...the girl is hilarious! Anna and I have gotten to be great friends, and I love her dearly. Our kids play together, and will grow up right down the road. Julie and I were plotting a rock band play date when we get moved in, I'm learning Garrett always looks skeptical (even if I wasn't the last one to touch whatever it is he's skeptically looking at), Robert is always smiling and never makes fun of me when I've cut the same board ten times and it's still not right, and Sam makes me both laugh and roll my eyes everyday. It seems like he's always 'on', and that keeps us all going. Daniel is dependable and funny, and Tina is such a hard worker and a sweet gal.
There are still neighbors I don't really know well. We kind of have "teams" we work in, so there are people I hardly or never see. But I know when this is done, we all worked for the same goal. And THAT is awesome. :)
The good news is that while I was telling you all how awesome my neighbors are, I forgot about my feet. The bad news: I have to hit "publish" and stand up now! :)
Til next week!
HB
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| Yeah Buddy! |
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| Rolling Trusses |
Sunday, March 27, 2011
The Punch List
I got to use my first EVER Dirty Dancing analogy yesterday. It was perhaps one of the highlights of my day! Ross had this two page list of things that need to be done. It included things like truss clips, tie downs, A34 clips on the somethingerother. He led a group of us around gesturing to this and rambling something off in construction gibberish. We all nodded, and it often included snippets of "I can show you that later" or "you'll figure it out".
In the middle of one of these "I'll show you that later", I asked Ross if he'd ever seen Dirty Dancing. He said yes (Thank God or I might have fallen over.)
Me: "You know that part where he's teaching her the dance for the Sheldrake, and he says 'I'll show you that later, we'll do that later', and then they get to the hotel for the night of the performance, and she hasn't learned all those things?"
Ross: "Yeah?"
Me: "I'm in the hotel Ross."
And I WAS in the hotel...the hotel of A34 clips, porch clips and truss clips (although he was drawing me pictures, I was just CONFUSED!) We did do a good chunk of the manual labor part of the list: ripping out and replacing sheeting, putting in shear walls, adding studs and rails for cabinets and such. About the third time I trucked back up the stairs where Ross and the truss boys were rolling out trusses on Robin's house, Ross pretty much told me to finish what we knew how to do and then go build interior walls.
I've never been so happy to hammer in my life! :)
So here are the updates:
Tina's house was plumbed for water! (Duh..what else would it be plumbed for, right?) Josh, Bernie and Robert put house wrap on and installed windows. WINDOWS PEOPLE! :) Zhan's house was sheeted and had half the roofing on. Jerica, Selina, Julie and Carrie were putting up shear walls in the garage, and Anna and Brandy were sheeting the storage room. Zhan and his daughter cut out the doorways with a sawzall, put up porch sheeting, and worked on adding studs and braces. Shaun (Robert's brother), Nathan and Nathan's volunteer ripped out sheeting (ok...honestly, this was mostly Shaun busting it out from the inside with a sledge hammer much like the old kool-aid man commercials...it was both amazing and terrifying to watch) and then Brandy and Anna ripped nails out. I put some cabinet bracing thingees in with much help (I suck at "toenailing" boards in, and measuring. I'm not sure why I decided I was up for this task!) Ashlee's house had the trusses finished and she and her dad and brother were bird blocking it. Ross and the boys were rolling trusses on Robins. We have Garrett and Amanda's 1295 package delivered, and the other 2 should be coming soon. Ross ordered all the other houses on the main drag's packages to be cut!
It is truly amazing how much has gotten done. I learn something new every week (This week: AVOID THE PUNCH LIST), and I feel exhausted and full of pride when I leave. Brandy and Jody have been coming out to help, my mom has been manning the childcare front. It truly takes a village! :)
I took lots of pictures...I'm going to post quite a few to get you up to speed! :)
In the middle of one of these "I'll show you that later", I asked Ross if he'd ever seen Dirty Dancing. He said yes (Thank God or I might have fallen over.)
Me: "You know that part where he's teaching her the dance for the Sheldrake, and he says 'I'll show you that later, we'll do that later', and then they get to the hotel for the night of the performance, and she hasn't learned all those things?"
Ross: "Yeah?"
Me: "I'm in the hotel Ross."
And I WAS in the hotel...the hotel of A34 clips, porch clips and truss clips (although he was drawing me pictures, I was just CONFUSED!) We did do a good chunk of the manual labor part of the list: ripping out and replacing sheeting, putting in shear walls, adding studs and rails for cabinets and such. About the third time I trucked back up the stairs where Ross and the truss boys were rolling out trusses on Robin's house, Ross pretty much told me to finish what we knew how to do and then go build interior walls.
I've never been so happy to hammer in my life! :)
So here are the updates:
Tina's house was plumbed for water! (Duh..what else would it be plumbed for, right?) Josh, Bernie and Robert put house wrap on and installed windows. WINDOWS PEOPLE! :) Zhan's house was sheeted and had half the roofing on. Jerica, Selina, Julie and Carrie were putting up shear walls in the garage, and Anna and Brandy were sheeting the storage room. Zhan and his daughter cut out the doorways with a sawzall, put up porch sheeting, and worked on adding studs and braces. Shaun (Robert's brother), Nathan and Nathan's volunteer ripped out sheeting (ok...honestly, this was mostly Shaun busting it out from the inside with a sledge hammer much like the old kool-aid man commercials...it was both amazing and terrifying to watch) and then Brandy and Anna ripped nails out. I put some cabinet bracing thingees in with much help (I suck at "toenailing" boards in, and measuring. I'm not sure why I decided I was up for this task!) Ashlee's house had the trusses finished and she and her dad and brother were bird blocking it. Ross and the boys were rolling trusses on Robins. We have Garrett and Amanda's 1295 package delivered, and the other 2 should be coming soon. Ross ordered all the other houses on the main drag's packages to be cut!
It is truly amazing how much has gotten done. I learn something new every week (This week: AVOID THE PUNCH LIST), and I feel exhausted and full of pride when I leave. Brandy and Jody have been coming out to help, my mom has been manning the childcare front. It truly takes a village! :)
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| Tina's First Window!!! (And housewrap!) |
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| Robin's Trusses |
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| This is Zhan. He's teaching me to listen closer and slow down when I talk! It's a good lesson for me! :) |
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Tina's house, Zhan's house, and half of Robin's house (which had trusses by the end of the day)!     That's all I have for today! :) After taking 20 minutes to upload pictures, I think I may start an album, and then people can just check the most recent ones each week! :) Until next week! HB |
Monday, March 21, 2011
It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...
Man it was GORGEOUS on Saturday! I actually had TOO MANY clothes on! :) I'm not going to bore you with what I did all day (you could just check my last five blogs...that's what I did!), but we are moving right along!
Tina's house has it's roof...I mean the actual ROOF on it! :) Plumbing and I think windows are coming in this week. Zhan's house will be sheeted and roofed this week. Robin and Ashlee's houses will get the trusses delivered. Nathan and Robert's houses are almost done with the second stories! Then we'll do the interior second floor walls on that one, and then trusses will be delivered.
And THAT, my friends, is six houses almost done with framing! HALF WAY THERE! :) YAHOO!!! :) I know those six houses are far from finished...but it's so fun to see how much progress we make. Ross said we'll be putting house wrap on Tina and Zhan's soon, and then siding. My educated guess is we'll start the 1295's next (but I don't actually know). I really enjoy being out there...although my ten hour day almost killed me Saturday! I've been thinking a ten hour day is better than having to go out two days in a row, but my shoulder may be disagreeing with me! :)
My favorite part is driving the kids up there. After the comment about how our house still looks like nothing (although we DID get slab on Thursday!), Clarissa starts shrieking about the Roof on Tina's house, the "triangles" on Zhan's house, and the framing on the other houses. Friday we drove past Ross on our way in to see the houses, and Clarissa said "Is that your boss?! Do you do everything he says?" :) I said "I try." And she said "I try to do everything you say, too, mommy. But sometimes it doesn't work out well". :)
Next weekend will be a little more low-key. Next week is spring break, and Ahren will want to go out during the week (because he can!) :) So we will probably only do a few hours on Saturday, and spend the weekend with the kids.
It is such a blessing. I love getting to know my neighbors more, learning more, getting stronger. It's hard work, the scheduling is a nightmare, and my body hates me the next morning. BUT, it is SO worth it.
So until next time,
HB
(I've been slacking in the pictures department. I'll get lots of pictures this week and post it to an album and link it. So fun!)
Tina's house has it's roof...I mean the actual ROOF on it! :) Plumbing and I think windows are coming in this week. Zhan's house will be sheeted and roofed this week. Robin and Ashlee's houses will get the trusses delivered. Nathan and Robert's houses are almost done with the second stories! Then we'll do the interior second floor walls on that one, and then trusses will be delivered.
And THAT, my friends, is six houses almost done with framing! HALF WAY THERE! :) YAHOO!!! :) I know those six houses are far from finished...but it's so fun to see how much progress we make. Ross said we'll be putting house wrap on Tina and Zhan's soon, and then siding. My educated guess is we'll start the 1295's next (but I don't actually know). I really enjoy being out there...although my ten hour day almost killed me Saturday! I've been thinking a ten hour day is better than having to go out two days in a row, but my shoulder may be disagreeing with me! :)
My favorite part is driving the kids up there. After the comment about how our house still looks like nothing (although we DID get slab on Thursday!), Clarissa starts shrieking about the Roof on Tina's house, the "triangles" on Zhan's house, and the framing on the other houses. Friday we drove past Ross on our way in to see the houses, and Clarissa said "Is that your boss?! Do you do everything he says?" :) I said "I try." And she said "I try to do everything you say, too, mommy. But sometimes it doesn't work out well". :)
Next weekend will be a little more low-key. Next week is spring break, and Ahren will want to go out during the week (because he can!) :) So we will probably only do a few hours on Saturday, and spend the weekend with the kids.
It is such a blessing. I love getting to know my neighbors more, learning more, getting stronger. It's hard work, the scheduling is a nightmare, and my body hates me the next morning. BUT, it is SO worth it.
So until next time,
HB
(I've been slacking in the pictures department. I'll get lots of pictures this week and post it to an album and link it. So fun!)
Sunday, March 13, 2011
I'm sheeting in the rain...
I thought 21 degrees and snow was bad. I lied. Working in the POURING rain is NOT fun! I couldn't keep my fingers dry, went through three pairs of gloves in an hour, had to go to the little hardware store and buy new dry socks on my lunch break AND switch shoes. Anna and I were glaring at each other the entire time, and occasionally our significant others just for good measure, not because we were mad, but we were MISERABLE! Thank goodness after lunch, it drizzled lightly for about an hour, and then the glorious sun appeared!
So as I said last week, these blogs are going to get very boring from a technical standpoint. Guess what we did this week? Yup...you guessed it! Framed and sheeted exterior walls, and then framed interior walls. Daniel, Garrett, Ahren and Josh rolled trusses, and another group put floor joists down in Robert and Nathans houses. We had lots of awesome volunteers this week: it feels SO GREAT to have all your volunteer hours covered by the time you leave on Saturday! We still have 2 1/2 hours to make up this week, but we enjoyed a day off together on Sunday, and it was SO needed! I'm hoping to find a way to work these in once a month!
Some exciting things we learned this week: We are going to be the first group that gets two different types of siding! It will make the houses look more "fancy", and we also have two-tone paint schemes. AND, our garage doors will have windows! SO AWESOME! :) We still haven't picked our door...I'm guessing we'll end up with Ahren's choice.
There was some really sad news: Obama's 2012 budget cuts nation-wide mutual self-help programs. We were encouraged to write letters to our senator about the importance of the program to us individually. Our house and the rest of the Kingston Cedars group will be able to complete, but all the rest doesn't look so good right now. I know what an amazing thing this program is for my family, and it's sad that it looks like it will be discontinued.
So the short recap is this: The 3 1320 plans are moving right along. Tina's house has the roof sheeting on, and looks like a house! (With no doors and windows, of course!) Zhan's house had the trusses rolled out this weekend, so I'm guessing sheeting for the roof will happen this week. Robin's house was the one we were working on. We had all the second story exterior's up, and were starting to frame interiors. I bet that will be done this week easily, and the boys will be rolling trusses on that house next week. Robert and Nathans houses were getting joists so we could put the subfloor down on the second floor. Which means I'm sure we'll be throwing up the exteriors on those next weekend, and I anticipate a few new lumber packages this week as well. The great part is that once we start ONE MORE HOUSE, half the houses will be started. I know this really means nothing, but it SOUNDS accomplished! We've only really been working "full time" since the beginning of March/end of February, and it goes quickly! :)
Your still-slightly-pruny-from-all-that-rain homebuilder,
Heather
So as I said last week, these blogs are going to get very boring from a technical standpoint. Guess what we did this week? Yup...you guessed it! Framed and sheeted exterior walls, and then framed interior walls. Daniel, Garrett, Ahren and Josh rolled trusses, and another group put floor joists down in Robert and Nathans houses. We had lots of awesome volunteers this week: it feels SO GREAT to have all your volunteer hours covered by the time you leave on Saturday! We still have 2 1/2 hours to make up this week, but we enjoyed a day off together on Sunday, and it was SO needed! I'm hoping to find a way to work these in once a month!
Some exciting things we learned this week: We are going to be the first group that gets two different types of siding! It will make the houses look more "fancy", and we also have two-tone paint schemes. AND, our garage doors will have windows! SO AWESOME! :) We still haven't picked our door...I'm guessing we'll end up with Ahren's choice.
There was some really sad news: Obama's 2012 budget cuts nation-wide mutual self-help programs. We were encouraged to write letters to our senator about the importance of the program to us individually. Our house and the rest of the Kingston Cedars group will be able to complete, but all the rest doesn't look so good right now. I know what an amazing thing this program is for my family, and it's sad that it looks like it will be discontinued.
So the short recap is this: The 3 1320 plans are moving right along. Tina's house has the roof sheeting on, and looks like a house! (With no doors and windows, of course!) Zhan's house had the trusses rolled out this weekend, so I'm guessing sheeting for the roof will happen this week. Robin's house was the one we were working on. We had all the second story exterior's up, and were starting to frame interiors. I bet that will be done this week easily, and the boys will be rolling trusses on that house next week. Robert and Nathans houses were getting joists so we could put the subfloor down on the second floor. Which means I'm sure we'll be throwing up the exteriors on those next weekend, and I anticipate a few new lumber packages this week as well. The great part is that once we start ONE MORE HOUSE, half the houses will be started. I know this really means nothing, but it SOUNDS accomplished! We've only really been working "full time" since the beginning of March/end of February, and it goes quickly! :)
Your still-slightly-pruny-from-all-that-rain homebuilder,
Heather
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Build it, square it, sheet it, lift it. REPEAT
Boy...30 hours a week is a whole additional full time job! Ahren and I were out there for a cumulative 17 hours on Saturday, and then I was out for another 4 hours on Sunday morning. I had to leave because Aubrey's 8th birthday was today, and we had a very important pool party/luau to attend! The childcare definately makes it more challenging, but it's truly tough for everyone. We have someone who works six days a week, people who work funny shifts that span the entire days (like 10 to 7), couples who have to do 20 hours themselves, but one half of the couple is injured/in school/working, etc. We have been SO Blessed in that it's been possible for us to find all day childcare for the kids on Saturdays. This allows us both to go out for 8-10 hours, and then just worry about our other 10 volunteer hours, which if they aren't volunteered we have to do ourselves. I have some amazing, caring, AWESOME neighbors, and they had all their hours all covered, so they gave their and their volunteers time towards our required hours! YAY FOR AWESOME NEIGHBORS! :) So this week, we are all covered (and caught up from last week), and I will breathe easier...for five more days! :)
As far as the technical house stuff, it's going to be VERY boring reading VERY quickly! :) We pretty much do the same thing everyday (which is good, because we have 12 houses to build!) In exciting news, Tina's house got TRUSSES! I mean, you can walk through her house, tell which rooms are which, and it has a ROOF! (Well, it looks like a roof with no actual roof stuff). I pulled into the build site Saturday and Ross was doing the funny "Trying to keep my balance" arm swing. I was none too pleased to realize my husband was in the trusses group (but luckily never saw him on the roof!) Here are some pics:
I framed Nathan's house with Anna, Josh, Selina and Nathan. (I'm thinking I'm forgetting someone, but if I am I'm sorry!) Then after lunch Robert and his brother Shawn and Julie came over and helped us. Sunday morning I did more framing, and the super sweet Brandy came out to help! We saw a deer in the build site, and then put up the tallest wall EVER! Seriously. Look:
As far as the technical house stuff, it's going to be VERY boring reading VERY quickly! :) We pretty much do the same thing everyday (which is good, because we have 12 houses to build!) In exciting news, Tina's house got TRUSSES! I mean, you can walk through her house, tell which rooms are which, and it has a ROOF! (Well, it looks like a roof with no actual roof stuff). I pulled into the build site Saturday and Ross was doing the funny "Trying to keep my balance" arm swing. I was none too pleased to realize my husband was in the trusses group (but luckily never saw him on the roof!) Here are some pics:
It is a bottom floor wall that goes TALL because the stairs go up there! :) We also got to pick out our doors...Ahren and I aren't totally on the same page. We'll see how that goes. And we got the first copy of receipts...it's seriously two inches thick!
As far as the Ben-Judah homestead, Julie (another awesome neighbor) sent me a facebook message Friday to tell me we had slab insulation and rebar, so we were ready for slab to be poured! YAY! :) I didn't get a picture, but you've seen others...it's all the same!
So that's all for this week!
Your Happy Homebuilder,
Heather
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