We're Still Here

No, we didn't run back to Africa. We're still here. It's just that we haven't really done anything picture worthy in a while. As those along the coast well know, hurricane season is upon us, and hard as it is to believe, even way over here in the mountains a hurricane can wreak havoc. Tons of rain and thunder storms are keeping us off the roof, which in turn is keeping us from moving onto the next step. So, while we are getting lots of odds and ends done, there is not a single picture I could take right now that would make someone say "wow, they ARE getting a lot done!"

We did get to run up to Cape Cod for a VERY short weekend during all this rain and celebrate the 2nd birthday of Matt's goddaughter and the wedding of two very close friends. And Matt did manage to pick out an 18 foot long reclaimed heart pine beam for our porch roof. It should be pretty cool, although in all honesty, neither one of us have actually seen it. I think I'm past the point of hand selecting every little thing for the house. If it will hold the porch roof up ROCK ON! That's all I need to know. Although, we will need to figure out how to get the beam to the house - it's a little bigger than the truck.

So keep your fingers crossed - if the rain holds out for Labor Day weekend, we will hopefully have some awe inspiring photos that show "wow, they ARE getting a lot done!" Assuming we don't get washed away in the tent before then.

One Man Wonder

Rain put a bit of a damper on our plans to finish "skinning" the roof this weekend. We had folks lined up for a full day Sat., but the rain didn't let up until late afternoon. Thus, Sunday we were left with a roof in no better shape than it had been all week.

Until Matty had the idea that he could plywood the roof himself...

Yep, the one-man-wonder pulled off his biggest "don't try this at home" feat to date. He managed to get 3/4 of the remaining roof plywooded and tarpapered all by himself. Now you may be wondering to yourself why I myself was not up there helping. I, in fact, spent most of Sunday wondering the same thing. But, Matty laid out the ground rules for this project months ago and at the top of the list was 1) Laura is not allowed on the roof - EVER. I have a pretty substantial history of head injuries (some might even say I'm a bit uncoordinated). So Matty has forbidden me to get on the roof, for fear that I would plummet to a certain death. And no amount of stubborn debate on my part this weekend managed to change his mind. So, instead, I stood on the ground looking up at something like this, trying to figure our how I would break his fall if he slipped...

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's back to work we go!

I love shingles! No really, I do. They are not heavy. They only require one power tool to install. I do not have to worry about cutting off appendages. I do not have to worry that I will stumble and throw myself onto a circulating blade of death. Nope, nada. It's just hours and hours of lining up pretty shingles that smell wonderful, all fresh and cedary - and the best part - I can do it all by myself. I even got to pick out and purchase my first major tool, a refurbished Senco pneumatic staple gun. I love shingles and I love eBay. You have to use your imagination a little bit, but we think it will look stunning.

And while I am happily whiling away the hours putting up siding, Matty has been finishing up the framing for the roof. Luckily he likes framing because if it were up to me, it would never get done.
A view of the inside with the new roof frame, taken from the living room looking towards the kitchen.
Our gable end additions officially tied into the main roof.

There's no place like home

Wow, what an adventure. The african safari was definately the trip of a lifetime, and one that Matt and I are very grateful to have had the opportunity to experience. Words, and even pictures, fail to give justice to such a spectacular place.

We have, however (as predicted), returned with even more determination to work hard on the house. The enjoyment of tent life is sure to have a shelf life (it's hard to compete with the 5 star tents on safari), so the day after flying home we were back at work. We've got a punch list of all the loose ends we need to tie up before we can have the roofers come over, however none of it is exciting enough to warrent posting. So, instead, I have posted our before and after floor layout. The original house was a total of 840 sq. ft. and the new layout will be approximately 1400 sq. ft.

There's no place like home, there's no place like home...