A month or so ago, Russ finished the gable end of the addition.

And for anyone who has been here, Russ also cleaned up two piles of junk!

Also, we are supposed to get a really bad storm tonight. So we took the gift cards that my mom and Ed got us for Christmas and the one that Russ's mom and dad got us and bought our front door. Russ installed it this evening. It is solid Mahogany.

When Dad left to go home, even more was complete!

Dad finished the "main drain" line for all the plumbing before he left for home. He said, and Russ agreed, it is the most difficult part of the plumbing!

Here is the back of the house as of now. The big opening on the left side of the photo will be double doors to go out onto the (nonexistant) deck. There is another door at the other end of the building to exit onto the deck from the master bathroom.

And here is the front of the house, with all the windows installed.

If we had the front door and the double doors for the back, the house would be "dried in" as Russ calls it. The roof is on the addition; we went with standing seam roofing and will change the rest of the building to the same type of roofing when money permits.

A lot Lot LOT got done while Dad was here and I cannot thank him enough. He provided motivation, some financial resources, and helping hands while he was here. We could not have gotten this far without his assistance.

I would also like to thank Gary. He stayed for a week and helped out every day. He didn't ask for anything in return. He wanted to be able to hunt for hogs and deer. He didn't get either. But I think he was thankful for the work and friendship.

With my Dad's help...

When dad arrived, very little was done on the inside.

This photo and the next show a LOT of work. Here the rafters on in for the addition, ready for the roof!


Here, it shows how much was done on the inside. This photo was taken from about the same spot as the first one on this post.

The roof on the addition is on. More exterior walls complete. And some windows are in!

Walls, frames, and more

My dad came to Texas again to help us put up the framing - for walls, doors, windows, etc.

Russ and Dad (Jim) have been working since Saturday on the house. They have removed all the old windows, the old doors. They have put up more than 150 2x4's in the new walls. And been framing for the new windows and doors.

It certainly is exciting!

The New Beam

Last week, Russ had his business partner and employee over to get the beam up for our living room addition. See the photo! They also got some of the old wall out.

Next, he needs to extend the ceiling joists and put up the roof trusses. Then, we should be ready to enclose the addition and start putting up walls!

Columbus Day Holiday

On Columbus Day, we had a holiday from school. I was able to give Russ some much needed help out at the house. I finished getting the insulation out of the building. I swept a bunch of the floor. Finished pulling out the nails in the walls and ceilings where I couldn't reach due to the large pile of insulation.

Russ worked on putting up the wall for between my craft room and the "jack and jill" bathroom.

We also pulled off the electrical boxes that were on the outside of the building by what will be our front door.

I hope that in the next few weeks, we can get the rest of the "bat" insulation off the trailer. Once that is done, we can get the rest of the wood and trash out of the inside. And in two weeks, (after I return from Notre Dame) I am going to get the metal out to the recycling place. Then, we will have a barren floor and can start getting the old glue-down carpet up and the footer boards down.

Electric Meter

WE HAVE POWER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!