So . . . I thought, if you can't fight them, use them. There are soooo many that I just figured I might as well make my own Riverbed which, when done, will 'flow' across the front of the house and all the way down one side. This is the start of it here. As late in the season as it is, I was lucky to be able to still get a few plants in so it didn't look completely naked. Next Spring the plan is to get more plants and ground cover in. Our Sidewalks, (below) are on the City's schedule to be replaced in the next year or so ... :)
There is so much that has gone on this last month that I'm not sure where to start. I really need to write more often so each Blog is not a book in itself. :/ Reminder to self: Procrastination ALWAYS catches up to you.
How's this for a Step ladder! That's a 14' ladder. I 'might' get up on it but I'd probably never get down! :/ The Electric is in! A few trials and tribulations, (like not hearing before a weekend if the inspection passed the previous Tuesday, so we could move forward with the insulation. You are not allowed to cover ANY of the wiring before an o.k. on the inspection). In the scheme of things though, that becomes minor compared to some of the other shenanigans we've had to deal with. The electricians will be back to hang the lights and finish the rest off once the ceiling and walls are in.
That's my son, John, making some temporary steps for me to get up and down to the RV. Could have really used them at the beginning of the season but we've learned, you take the help whenever you can get it!
The Kitchen Island is in! Sides to be finished with Beadboard ~ but, how do you like the Top? That's the top from our 'Solid Oak' Dining room table. (Don't cringe ... it turns out o.k.) We actually have two tables, this one, and a Beautiful Round table made of Parawood. (Also called Rubberwood. Parawood is from Southeast Asia and these trees are where latex and natural rubber come from :). Both tables have had various uses in various rooms around our home. Since we are downsizing we had to make the decision as to which one stayed. We decided to keep the round table because, without its leaves, it takes up less space. So, yup, decided to take the top from our Oak table and turn it into the top for the island. My girlfriend and I found this table in an Antique store in Cashmere, Washington. (They have the best Antique stores there.) The tag said the table was Oak. The top was Oak, the legs were Oak, and the underneath was Oak. It was Oak. It was Oak UNTIL we cut out the hole for the sink. Then we found out that it was just a veneer over press-board on the top AND a veneer underneath. Who would have thought there would be a veneer on the underside? Well, it certainly made it look like it was solid Oak. :/ Needless to say, we didn't feel nearly as guilty cutting in to our tabletop once we realized it wasn't the solid oak we thought it was! But, it still looks pretty! :)
Plumbing is in!
Gas Fireplace installed! Gas Water heater installed!
BUT THEN, YOU KNEW IT ALL WOULDN'T BE THAT EASY . . .
The gas company came, dug up the street, ran gas to our house, patched up the street, put the gas meter in, and then they lock it until the State Inspector says all is o.k. Meanwhile, the Heating Company came and installed our inside gas lines so we would be able to use our gas fireplace, gas hot water heater, gas stove, gas barbque, etc., etc. Then they called for the Inspection so the meter could be unlocked.
What we didn't know was that the State Gas Inspector was also the State Plumbing Inspector.
When I came a few days after the inspection was suppose to have taken place the meter was still locked. AND, ... the plumbing (?) was Red Tagged. Where did the plumbing guy come from?? I called the Heating Company who told me they didn't know why the meter was still locked ~ they passed inspection, and they didn't know anything about the Plumbing (even though they would have had to let this person in because they had the key. How does that work?) But, I was told they would check and call me back in a few minutes. No call back. Called again. No call back. Its now after 5 on a Friday night. I called their personal number (What can I say. . . it's that New York thing again :/ ) Still no resolution though. Would have to get back to me. Glen calls the personal number the next day (See... he's learning!) and is now told that the State Heating Inspector is also the State Plumbing Inspector and, of course, while he was there inspecting the gas lines, he also inspected the Plumbing.
He didn't like the Plumbing. His Red Tag comments were not very nice. :( They led us to believe that we were going to have to tear up our concrete flooring and concrete patio and redo all the lines. All we could envision was money and time flying away laughing as they went. Glen was not able to get a hold of him until Monday. The weekend, to say the least, was complete Stress. The phone conversation on Monday did not go much better. (You know, some people should just not talk on the phone. It is not their friend. This person is one of them.) He would be up Tuesday and go over everything in person. Glen had to take that night off from work so he would be there in the a.m.
Tuesday morning did not go as bad as expected. Much better one on one. No, we wouldn't have to tear up the concrete. He could make us but he wasn't going to. : / But, we would have to dig up across the whole backyard and partially down the driveway. Forty-two inches deep (the city of Mullan Water District only requires 36 inches ?) There goes the two truckloads of gravel we paid to have hauled in so we wouldn't have all mud out there this winter :( But, water line is now changed and comes in through the bathroom floor instead of the kitchen floor. A few other minor 'violations' on the inside, easily correctable are scheduled to be worked on next weekend. What the heck, it's just time and money.
Of course it rained and everything turned to mud and required 3 changes of clothes for the day.
But, we got the 42" and that part passed inspection.
I did get a few more Boulders for the 'River' out of the deal though . . .
(these can only be moved with a backhoe so not quite sure how this is going to work . . . :/ )
Oh yes, the lock on the gas meter . . . Seems that won't get unlocked until after ALL of the insulation is done, ALL of the sheetrock is up, and AT LEAST one coat of paint is on the walls. Evidently the state doesn't allow the gas to be on while you are working on the place. (No one we've talked to seems to have heard of that rule before . . .) So the heat we thought we would have while we worked on the place is isn't going to exist. (29 degrees last night) When we questioned the reasoning behind that we were just told to get an electric heater. :/ Now, call me silly, but I would think that a company that installs gas lines, gas furnaces, gas water heaters, gas fireplaces (need I go on?) in new and existing construction, would have known that. And, call me even sillier, but I would have thought that they just might have mentioned that to us before we went to all the time and expense to install these items at this point in time when we probably won't be able to use them for several months. Just thinkin' out-loud here mind you.
You know, even when it rains, water or otherwise, there is still a beauty to life that can't be ignored.
til next time . . .
Charleen
