Penny and Me

Now that the outside of the building is finished I guess it is time for me to get back to my blogs.  It has been so long since I did one that I am not sure where I left off, so if I repeat anything – sorry about that.  I am just going to try and remember things I have done in the past six weeks or so.

Our weather here has been extremely hot the past few weeks.  It has been in the upper 90’s with no rain.  Kevin, bless his heart, has kept the grass mowed even with working on the building.  However, the weeds have taken over my flowers again.  I started cleaning out the azaleas, but I just can’t take the heat.  Getting too old I guess.  I did get enough weeded, that with the watering I have been doing they are blooming.  Two just have a few flowers, but one is doing great!

The Franklin Trees are doing great since we put them in containers.  One of them even bloomed this year which was a big surprise.

 

A couple of years ago I (Kevin) planted a snowball bush that I had purchased.  I wanted one because I can remember one in my Grandma Althoefer’s back yard that was huge and beautiful.  Finally, this year it has grown and has several medium sized flowers.  Hopefully, this will continue to grow and be as beautiful as I remember my Grandma’s. 

This year I bought two new crepe myrtles.  They are called Black Diamond.  I bought them because they were different.  Renea transplanted them into larger pots for me.  We will not put them in the ground for a year or two.

 

Of course, the lantanas are huge. I took this picture because of the butterfly, but it gives you an idea of how big the lantanas are.

Another reason I couldn’t get outside and play in the dirt is because I had the toenail on my right big toe removed.  Not much pain, but I couldn’t wear a regular shoe on that foot.  Kevin and Renea bought me some kind of goofy shoe that I wore.  It made a difference. Once I got used to it, I could drive.  Still couldn’t play in the dirt.  It’s healed now.  The weather has cooled down about five degrees, so I should be able to get outside again.

My deck furniture has fallen apart and is going into the trash.  The only thing that has survived the sun, heat, wind, rain and a little bit of winter is my swing.  It seems I will be buying new deck furniture in the spring.  Actually, my deck is getting really bad so I may need to do something about that.  I have been discussing it with Kevin.  No final decision has been made.

We said a lot of prayers during hurricane Florence.  Rita and Bob live outside of Wilmington in a town called Leland.  They were very fortunate that that didn’t have much damage.  Mostly just lost shrubs and bushes.  Then Samantha lives in Norfolk, and for a while it looked like she would get part of Florence, but she only got a little rain.  Brandon was out on the ship during Florence because they sent all the ships that were in dock out into the Atlantic.  He is back and is fine.

I’ve been busy doing some fall house cleaning.  I don’t do quite as much as I used to.  Getting too old.  I finished my t-shirt quilt top and it is at the quilters.  I picked up my Christmas quilt (this is for my bed) and the Christmas wall hanging. I had both of them quilted at Sunday Best Quiltworks.  The turned out really nice.  I also quilted several Christmas presents which I can’t mention because the recipients read my blog.  I have several more I am getting ready to start.  In between I am working on an embroidery project which is a Christmas present.  However, at the rate I am going it may be next year’s present 😊. 

Penny is doing fine.  She loves my first quilt.  I have it on the back of my couch, and that is where she lays.  I don’t know if it is the quilt or the fact that she can see out the window.  

Stephanie and her friend, Ray, got a German Shepherd puppy.  Her name is Bandit and she is adorable.  She is only three months old and she is going to be a big girl.  This picture is when they brought her here to meet all of us.  She is six weeks old in this picture.  Ray also has a dog named Kodiak.  He is an Australian Shepherd and is so sweet.  I am not sure how old he is, but I think he is about two or three.

I guess that’s about it for now.  Have a good week.

WE PASSED INSPECTION!

Yes, the building has passed inspection.  The inspector was here on Friday and said everything is okay.  The boat can now go inside and the inside can be completed.

The first two pictures are of Kevin, Jay, Ray and Stephanie finishing the roof this past Monday.  Of course, all the dogs were supervising.

Wednesday Kevin and Jay added the roof caps.  I didn't get a picture of that.  Sorry.

The south side of the finished building.

The north side of the finished building

The boat is inside with no room to spare.  Kevin actually backed the boat into the building with no help.  Renea wasn't home and I didn't know he was doing it.  He does a great job backing.

Kevin has declared this next week "break" time.  I don't blame him.  Most of the work was done in above 95 degrees every day.  He is hoping to go camping for a few days.  Then after that begins the inside work which will not be as labor intensive as the outside.  I will just be glad to get all of the "stuff" out of my house.

Working on the Roof

One day last week, I think it was Wednesday, Jay came over and Kevin and he finished the top ends of the shed.  They enclosed them with siding and included a vent in each end.  Great job guys!

Can you say hot, tired and exhausted.  It was in the upper nineties all last week.  It has continued to be there this week also, with no end in sight.

This weekend the whole gang came over to help with the roof.  We had Kevin, Bruce, Nick, Jay, Stephanie and Ray.  Again, as I said earlier it was in the upper nineties.

The girls, Renea and Jay's wife, came out to check on the gang.  Everyone was making sure they were taking breaks and staying hydrated.  It was a rough, hot, long day.

The north side of the building is finished!

The south side was started, but after two days everyone was done!.  Not sure when the next work day will be.

I had purchased several trays of sandwiches for everyone's lunch both Saturday and Sunday.  On Saturday, Kevin grilled hamburgers and hotdogs for supper.  Renea made baked beans, macaroni salad, deviled eggs, and several deserts.  Sunday supper was leftovers.  They had plenty of water, Gatorade and Powerade to drink.

Sunday Before Last

The work that Sunday was all roof work.  They had finished the support beams and now they started adding the plywood and felt.  They were hoping to get it finished.  However, they ran out of time, and a small portion was not completed.  The workers helping Kevin that day were Jay, Ryan, Steve, Stephanie and Ray.  Steve and Ray worked on the roof.  Jay did finish work from the ladder.  Ryan helped Kevin move and pass the plywood up to Steve and Ray.

Saturday

Bright and early Bruce and Nick arrived to help Kevin.  First of all Kevin and Bruce finished the top of the siding.  It is really looking good.

Back side of building

As they were getting ready to work on the supports for the roof, Bethany wanted something to do.  So, Kevin decided to show her how to use the tractor and mow some grass.  They didn't want to take any chances with her working on the building.

About the time she started off on her own guess who came to "help."  In case you don't recognize her, Shelby jumped the fence.  Kevin was not too happy about that.  This is the second time she has jumped the fence.  The first time she jumped she tried to get in the golf cart with me when I was in the backyard to take pictures.

Bethany did just fine mowing the grass.  Kevin made sure she stayed on the level part of the backyard.

Next on the agenda for the day was working on the supports for the roof.  This is Nick on the ladder and Bruce on the roof.  Kevin was cutting the wood and handing the pieces up at this point.

They made awesome progress.  They actually finished this because they wanted to start finishing the roof the next day.  They had a large group of friends and family coming to help.  At this point I had to leave to go to church so this was the last picture I took on Saturday.

Siding Being Installed

Needless to say, I have gotten a little behind in posting pictures of the construction progress.  It will probably take me three blogs to get caught up.  

The following couple of pictures are of Renea helping Kevin starting to put up the siding.

This picture and the next one are of Renea using the nail gun.  Yea for her!

Kevin is helping with the higher places that Renea cannot reach.

Later that afternoon and the next day a friend of Kevin's, Jay, came over and helped finish the siding job.

They even installed the doors on Kevin and my work area.  Ryan was also here this day helping.

You will notice in the next blog that all of the first row of siding has been completed.  I apologize for not getting pictures.  I could give you all of my excuses, but I won't bore you with doctor appointments, etc.