Loaves and Fishes
Posted on November 5, 2013 by
I could entitle this blog one of many things…”When it rains, it pours,” or “Loaves and Fishes” or “Blessings abound!” Many of you know I have been praying for Loaves and Fishes as we complete our house. And God is bringing forth answers to prayers in so many forms!
Following my surgery, I was “down” and stayed in a reclining position for at least 3 days. Then I could take it no longer. I figured if I had been walking and working on a fractured hip for 6 weeks without screws, then with screws, it should be even stronger. But I am going slowly and easily, using the golf cart, the crutches, sometimes a walker in the hangar, and those riding grocery carts! So, don’t stereotype grocery cart users! But I have noticed, I can’t reach everything and I am seeing new products at knee level!
I went to the house Sunday and pitched a fit at the mess! I am gone for a few days and it is an unsafe mess pile of window jamb wrappings and straps, soda bottles and pizza crusts! Grrr! I rolled around on a “shop” stool and picked up some so there were fewer tripping hazards. Then I crutched upstairs and scooted around on my butt to stain the bull nosing that the trim carpenters had installed. Railing comes next so that needed to be done.
Then Monday, the parade of contractors began. We tried to count just how many contractors woke up Monday morning and said, “I think I will go to Bedford Landings today!” Today, shout outs to everyone trying to make our dream a Thanksgiving reality, and Thursday, hopefully I can get around and take photos.
This is who showed up yesterday:
Blessings abound and our Loaves and Fishes are just starting to overflow! Y0u ain’t seen nothing yet, we will be in by Thanksgiving (she said determined!)
I just had to blog! There was so much activity today, it just warmed my heart! And I just had to share!
The drywall crew is nearing completion and will be done by Wednesday. They had to get the stained glass window installed so they could complete that wall. Here is what it looks like installed. They wall drywall around the bracing. I made this when we were still in NC. For those who live here, you know that shape is Smith Mountain!
Jack has been water proofing the star gazing deck so that it doesn’t drip on people who may be on the screened porch below. A slow and tedious (but very necessary) process!
The pavers called last night and wanted to come prep the driveway today. I was delighted with this news. These photos shoe looking toward the runway and looking toward the road from the front porch.
The HVAC guys (Cundiff Heating and Air) were installing the big units under the front porch.
Wednesday will be a big day!
This is so exciting! Well, not the hip part! But not using crutches will be exciting!
Thanks to Tom who stopped by to hunt this week, got cold, and decided to warm up by helping Jack put up the joists for the star gazing deck! He traded his weapon for the preferred tool for this job – a pneumatic palm nailer. Thanks Lisa for that invaluable tool you gave us!
This week on the menu, we have drywall, drywall dust, and drywall paste. Working around the drywall crew of six, is a two-man tile installation crew. They have laid the tile in each bathroom and are covering it so as not to get drywall goo in it!
Jeff is doing a great job with the tile! This is the Flying Room bathroom floor under construction.
Working around the tile guys and the drywall crew are two homeowners. Jack has completed the floors on all of the decks. That’s a good thing so I don’t fall through again. He is starting to build the upper (star gazing) deck.
I have been hobbling around still doing some exterior painting, admiring the stonework that was installed next to the driveway, and scheduling our final contractors for paint, trimwork, flooring, and kitchen. My sweet sister has been here this week contributing time to helping stain window trim and stain concrete. Since stone is too expensive to do all around the base of the house, I have had to investigate alternatives for covering up the drab gray concrete. I have been told that staining (instead of painting) will allow us to still adhere stone if we decide (or win the lottery!) to add stone later. Some areas are getting a creative flair. For example, this is where the guest hot tub will go but instead of full stone, it will receive an Italian piazza treatment, once complete.
Prepping for my creative flair!
Hobbling now for over 4 weeks, I did go have an MRI yesterday afternoon and after a quick glance, the on-call doctor immediately called. Apparently I have a hip fracture and I should be on crutches or using a cane. But as (those faithful follower) readers know, I have been pulling wire, climbing ladders, and not really stopping for the past 4 weeks. I can’t really imagine how a cane might help now. Nonetheless, I found a walking stick at the thrift store. Tomorrow is the Orthopedic appointment for the more inclusive reading.
So…for today’s blogging pleasure, we have a little fun photo identification activity (sorry, I am a teacher!). I am going to post photos of tools that have specific jobs. You try to decide what they are and then I will tell you what they are. Fun, right?!
Name these items!
If you said wet saw, scratch cutter, mixer, stand-up automatic screwdriver, square, ½ drill and pump-jack stilts you would be correct! Here are some of these tools in action.
Wet saw: Used to cut tile to size.
Stand up screwdriver: Saves your back somewhat on deck work, right, Dave?
The drywall crew looks like robo cops! Pumps them up about 4 feet.
Just like a cake mixer, I have seen several crews us this mud or concrete mixer.
But this is my favorite one. I often catch Jack looking like this. Name that tool, Jack!
“I know I have seen this somewhere before.”
Why isn’t it called a triangle? That’s what I want to know!
I can see light at the end of the tunnel. The final steps are all coming together SO FAR! But before I share what has happened this week, I wanted to share a mini-documentary of those friends I have captured hanging around with us as “trailer trash!”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhOmVR33FTs (Drat! No audio. use your imagination)
Indeed the drywall process is a mess but I am staying out of the house as much as possible. This week, the house was drywalled and is nearly complete with the wall board. Next week starts the “mudding” process and I guess “I ain’t seen nothin yet!”
Here are a few shots of that I took of progress inside.
Jack’s college roomie from Knoxville, TN helped finish the Koontz Deck and the Friends and Family Front porch in addition to some interior framing. Thanks Kenny!
I love the rock covering the concrete foundation along the driveway! Thanks to my sister for giving us the numbers for our birthdays in March!
From upstairs looking into the great room toward the master bedroom.
The entry hallway. Note the Time Capsule by the door. Twice the dry wallers have moved it thinking it didn’t belong there. I have discussed it now with them!
Here is the link to the blog about the Time Capsule.
The tile guy tiled around the gas fireplace. The mantle is yet to be mounted but check out the closet full of drywall!
On a side note, I did go to the orthopedist today and got a shot of cortisone. It hasn’t helped much. I have an MRI scheduled for next week to see if this injury from falling through the porch joists is a cartilage tear. Not sure what next steps are.
In the meantime, the light at the end of the tunnel is keeping us both going!