The plumbing is done, alleluia!  Now, on to electrical wiring. But not first without showing off the beautiful manifolds Jack made while we were still in North Carolina.   This is Mission Water Control!

All of the hot and cold-water connections come into these manifolds and they also connect to two 50-gallon water heaters.  If there is a leak in any room, you can turn off the water to that room here and fix the problem.

As I have mentioned before, I have to keep the new house picked up and try to keep it hazard free because of stop-in visitors.  So shout outs to this week’s and weekend visitors…the Dukemans from Raleigh, the Polstras from Lynchburg, The Loncellas from Pittsburgh, the Browns from Moneta with family from PA, and the Goffs from Moneta with family from Wytheville!  This week, sweet nephew (the Humes from Colorado) are on docket to visit!

Have a great week!  The refreshing rain has ceased for a bit!

PS. A loyal follower noted that all of the labels on the manifold are upside down. Since I took that photo on Friday, Mr. Jack has re-labeled them all so I submit a new photo!

Remember the song by the Five Man Electric Band called “Signs?”

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign
Blockin’ out the scenery, breakin’ my mind
Do this, don’t do that, can’t you read the sign?

Many times in my life, I have sought a sign to show me that things are ok or that life will turn a corner.  Once before we settled in Virginia,  Jack and I were driving back from the lake lamenting about our house not selling in North Carolina.  It took three years, which sure exercised our patience.  I told Jack I wish we could just get a SIGN!  Within 30 seconds of me saying that, he started chuckling and pointing to a sign (the kind you stick the letters in in front of a business to advertise the daily specials).  The sign said,  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart”  Sometimes God does have a sense of humor.  But other times I don’t know what the signs mean!

After my divorce, I was prayerful and seeking comfort.  Rising from my knees to my feet, I glanced out the front door and there were 7 mourning doves protecting my front door. They stayed so long that I was able to take a picture!  I ran across that photo this week. That’s the biggest sign I have ever gotten. And it was quite comforting!

This week, I have started walking in the cool of the lovely August mornings.  Yesterday, a deer stopped and stared me down.  I could not resist taking a photo of her.  She didn’t move a muscle and was so intense. I looked right at her.  Not until she moved, did I see her guardian Buck dash away too! He is to the left behind the trees. What does it mean? Is it a sign or just the wonder of nature at work?

This morning, it was butterflies.  I have seen more butterflies and less stinkbugs this year than I can remember!  It all just makes me feel whole and good!

So not to get overly nature-oriented nor spiritual, it all just makes me wonder.  Just blame it on the deer!

And besides that, Jack is still plumbing and there was nothing new to blog about except what is in my heart.  But, alas, he says he is almost done!  Next week if I blog about the plumbing being done, it will be a sign that there is LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL!

So to round out the song quoted above, hear the end of the song.

And the sign said, “Everybody welcome. Come in, kneel down and pray” But when they passed around the plate at the end of it all, I didn’t have a penny to pay So I got me a pen and a paper and I made up my own little sign I said, “Thank you, Lord, for thinkin’ ’bout me. I’m alive and doin’ fine.” Wooo!

And we are!

Spider Man (aka Jack)) is healing!  His toe looks so much healthier than a week ago and he is wearing shoes again!  He has completed the drain lines for the plumbing (small celebration!!!) and is on to plumbing for the water supply side. Pictured is one of two manifolds Jack built while we were still living in New Hill, NC.  I had them stored and I love it when it is time to retrieve things.  Carefully, I dug behind the trailer not to disturb any critters that may be lounging around (I am really creeped-out now -even though we don’t know where the bite occurred).  He mounted the first manifold it and has run a line to the first half bath downstairs.

  Yesterday the roofing crew (10 of them) arrived and roofed the porches in less than 2 hours.  It is amazing to watch their energy and enthusiasm!  Below is a short video of the rapid paced (Reliant Roofing) crew. Following are 2 photos showing the front and back green porch roofs.

Little Video of the
Roof_Crew

This week, our friends from Raleigh, David and Pat stopped in to see us and later today, Alex and Susan will come by.  We enjoyed a sunset boat ride with Tom and Nancy and so LOVE our boat owner friends! We also love having visitors.  Just give us a little notice so we can shower. The heat plays havoc on our deodorant!

After laundering them, I confiscated some of Jack’s work T-shirts.   Even after washing them, it seems they quickly take on a stankiness!! But since most of them are airplane logo shirts, I don’t want to throw them away.  Anybody have ideas for how to weave those logos together into something for the flying room?  Now if I can just get those ratty shorts he wears!

Thanks for following our journey!  You are all a part of it!

You may recall last week’s blog that Jack was taking a little vacation from the house construction. It didn’t turn out to be all that relaxing.  Besides chilly sweatshirt weather of 40-50 in Wisconsin (which actually sounds good those of sweltering in the 80-90 range), he also burned his hand against his airplane manifold while checking his oil.  One buddy ruined his propellor and it just left two pilots traveling together. But nothing tops the fact that he thought he had a broken toe but it turned out that along the way on the trip, he was bitten by a brown recluse spider.  He had to leave the plane and come home by a commercial airliner.  The doctor here gave him a shot in the behind then prescribed two powerful antibiotics; one used to treat leprosy!

We have not broadly shared the photos since it is so gross but if you choose to look at what such a spider bite looks like, you can Google Brown Recluse bites or you can click here at your own risk and see Jack’s healing toe.  Also read up about brown recluse habitats and be sure you are not harvesting a place they may live.

He was able to keep moving on the house in flip flops or crocs.  He is still working on plumbing and Steve is working outside on putting the trusses up for the porch.

 

We enjoyed Destiny who came for a short visit and my friend Stephanie and her daughter Lexie who spent some time with us!

 

I am currently getting drywall quotes as well as deciding on a trim carpenter.
Cundiff  Heating and Air Conditioning has been busy installing the HVAC system which includes bathroom and kitchen exhaust fans and the dryer vent!  We’re getting closer.

In the meantime, Spiderman lives!

 

 

 

 

 

This week, Jack winged his way to Wisconsin in a his pride and joy, the Pietenpol. He flew over a two-day period in 8 two-hour legs texting me in between each leg to let me know he was ok and where he was.  This photo is taken by his friend, Gene who is flying along side him in a Travel Air.  He left about 10:30 on Tuesday and arrived about 11:30 Thursday morning in Brodhead, WS.  Have fun guys!

In the meantime, my sister, Sherry came to town from Florida.  She will eventually move here full time from Jacksonville, Fl. Just Tuesday, their house was listed for sale in MLS and Wednesday they had two showings.

Not only have we been busy enjoying the lake together, we visited Mom, celebrated my brother’s and sister in laws birthdays, started building a Sherry a potting bench, and met new friends.

Here are a few shots of our shenanigans.

At Bedford Landings, the central vac crew has been working on their installation and the HVAC crew has been working inside while Blue Ridge has been working outside on the front porch installation.  They are pushing to get it done so the roofers and siding crew can complete their work. The rain has brought some challenges as have a few interesting architectural angles!

Here is a series of photos of the front of the house changing over time. This is the view from the Hangar where we take most of the photos but the backside is just as beautiful.  Maybe that is fodder for next week’s blog.

The structurally insulated panels were erected.

The plumber will be back next week to start the supply lines. Then the electrician should arrive to start wiring!  Can’t wait until that tradesman is home!