No More Thermostat Wars!!

Hallelujah! But since this is Texas...this too shall pass. However...it finally got cold enough to have the heater on. This hard and loud tile floor finally got too cold to stand on barefooted...even with houseshoes on. So I've unfolded the winter pajamas and stepped into them, slipped on a pair of Daddy's old socks before slipping into the houseshoes, and I am set. I like winter. We don't really have much, and as I mentioned above, it will probably be short-sleeve weather again in a few days. But for now. It's freezing outside baby! AND it has snowed in Houston again!! Only the fourth time in the last 15 years! Further evidence of global warming. LOL


I moved my plants in yesterday. In the past, I moved them into the dining room and just jumbled them in the floor behind the table. When the weather warmed, moved them back outside. Freezing weather again, the plants came in. This year I cleaned off the metal baker's rack that they live on out in the screenroom. Then moved it in where it blocks one-half of our French door...the door we never open. Plants will get indirect light and should be okay throughout the winter.

Speaking of plants...Isn't this a beautiful thing?! I am so proud of my Christmas cactus. I've owned several over the years and never got one to this point...this large...and blooming! The oldest part of the plant came from Sam's best friend's mother's plant. Okay...that's Ben's mother, Bernice. Sam and I were visiting her in Wadsworth Texas around the turn of the century - one side of it or the other, I forget. As we walked in, I handed her a part of her Christmas cactus that had broken off the mother plant outside. She told me that I could have it. Poor lonely thing...I purchased a small pot at Wal-Mart and planted them together. I can still pick out the older part and am glad of that. These blossoms are on that part... Bernice was a special lady.

Sam is still working on his shop building. He is going to do some work for me in my sewing room...but in the meantime, he's still practicing with the woodworking tools he is acquiring. Some are used...some are new. I helped him set this shelf up on the bench and prop it up so that he could attach it to the wall.

He's doing a really good job IMHO.

But he does make a dusty mess. ;o) I like his portable workbench. And under it is a collapsible router table.

I subbed today. One of the ninth grade kids reported that their teachers really raked them over the coals from my note last week. They were much better today. Besides...there were two of us. Both Ag teachers are gone with some of the kids to a competition of some sort. They left a movie for the classes to watch...both classes in one classroom. The other sub said one of the classes that I was scheduled to have just about made her quit...yep...freshmen. As soon as they walked in, I told them to either sit down or get back outside until the bell rang. Outside temperature was in the upper 30s. They WENT OUTSIDE!!! Guess they showed me LOL!! Bell rang, they filed in and sat at their desks. The other class had to bring in desks from their classroom. I immediately demanded quiet so that we could call roll. Someone talked. I stopped and got their attention again with an "I WILL call a principal!!" We got the rolls called, sent to the office, movie on, and had a fairly quiet class. ;o)

Tomorrow to the library for our first Breakfast With Rudolph. We invited kids from four elementary schools, a private school, two childcare, and one Head Start. Our football team will be playing a playoff game in Nacogdoches so we don't know how this will go. Let us pray...

WAHOO!

That's what Sam hollered when he came in the house about 11:30 a.m. today. I jumped when he stuck his head in my sewing room door where I was working diligently piecing my new quilt.

I helped him earlier this morning on the final plumbing. When I got in the house I was almost as filthy as I was when I was a kid making mudpies. Even though the dirt hadn't had water added to it, the sweat on my body did a good job. I was coated with mud. (I was down in the ditch while he operated the tractor...what's wrong with this picture?)

Here's everthing covered up and smoothed out. He still has to do a bit more leveling, then top with topsoil. I asked if he going to landscape? He thought I was serious, so answered seriously. Nope. He doesn't want anything that he has to trim around.

He purchased the toilet paper holder, towel bar and ring. It's a good thing he got what he wanted from Lowes. I would'a never thought of buying something there. While even though inexpensive compared to some of their other fixtures, I was going to make a stop by the dollar store and buy cheapo. LOL That's probably exactly why he got them. (Hmmm...no photo of the toilet paper holder. It's made like the towel ring so no roller with the spring in the middle to hit the floor.)

I stocked the cabinet over the commode with a towel, a change of clothes, and some toilet cleaner...like that'll ever happen. Well, it probably will if I do the cleaning. I remembered the toilet brush and plunger too. Sam put the toilet paper in the cabinet. ;o)

See the mirror over the sink? It looks like a window, but that's a reflection. Would you believe that he complained about the old towel? It looks better in the photo than up close. You can see the holes and the ragged edges. ;o) I told him that I could do better for him. I'll make a raid in the camper and do a bit of rotating with older towels in the house.

We made a special stop by Lowes today for the sign. He thought it would be fun. I told him that it was false advertising. It says, "Restrooms." There ain't but one.

Sam wanted to go celebrate so we went to Longview and ate at Olive Garden. "I" have leftovers!

Update on Building...

Sam finished his potty room last week. I just haven't had time to post photos.

It's small. Not enough room to cuss a cat without getting hair in your mouth,

but it's adequate.

A cabinet over the commode is needed for a couple of towels, change of clothes, and necessary paper products. He also needs a towel bar and toilet paper holder.

The utility tub outside the room is plumbed too. After the photo, he screwed a leftover piece from the potty room of finished backer board behind it for splashes.

Ditches are dug for plumbing and Sam has piping installed from the well house to the building, but the ditch digger was centered behind the tractor and the ditch is about 6 inches farther from the building that Sam planned on. He had to get additional plumbing and couplings. Then...it rained. And it rained. Yesterday it didn't rain, but he was gone. So, it rained again today.

But...Sam was in bed sick. He must've eaten something yesterday that really played havoc on him. He said 'it' started just before midnight. I must've been sleeping hard because he didn't wake me the first time. He's feeling better now...up and dress. But the only thing he's had has been 7-Up.

Can't Sleep

I had a coke along with popcorn at the movies tonight. Since I don't normally drink caffeine to start with, those near weekly movie nights keep me awake past midnight.

We got about 3/4" of rain today. Low temp was 71...high was 91. While it can't be classified as cold, it was a whole lot better than the temperatures we had in June. Alas, the 100s will return.


And guess who left the camper door open? During a break in the rain, I went up with a mop, but nothing was wet.

Sam got the plumbing stubbed out and the ceiling and walls up in his potty room.

After he puts the corner moldings in, he'll move the shower surround in and secure it in place.

And the door is installed along with the door facings. The utility tub is plumbed and the plumbing is stubbed out for the hot water heater too.

I don't know what all he finished after I left for the movies...I'll report in later.

Cooler Today

'Cause the only time I did any work outside was first thing this morning!! I went to Mama's to raid the garden. I am sooo glad there was only one cucumber. I can't make dill pickles...they get soft. I can make a really good bread and butter pickles, but Sam doesn't like them...so I don't. Sam also doesn't eat them raw...I do. But can't eat the volume that's been coming out of one or two pickings!

Mama doesn't know this, but I took several to the library Monday afternoon and gave them to a patron who came in. At least they didn't ruin.

My crepe myrtles are finally blooming!

I get impatient waiting on them even knowing that they are a mid-summer bloomer. I am a bit concerned about the tree on the far right. I need to get some water down to them.

I walked up to the building to help Sam. He had the 'roof' on the potty room and plywood on a couple of sections. After dry-fitting the drain for the shower, he also dry-fitted it.

No commode yet. He's going to insulate the walls, then put wallboard on the inside before installing the commode and securing the shower.

Here's the tub. The hot water heater will go beside it.

Imagine my surprise when I walked up to the building and saw the FIAT he had hid out in the building! He didn't mention buying a FIAT!! Where's MY set of keys???

;o) I went back to the house to wash some clothes and clean some floors. Yuck! But I'm not complaining...the air conditioner was working just fine thank you very much. After a while, I walked back up to the building. Sam needed to go to Mt. Pleasant (20 miles or so away) to buy the wall board for the inside of the potty room. I had a brilliant suggestion to eat at David Beard's Catfish King. Back to the house to clean up and change clothes. When we got home...we didn't go back outside.

My kinda day!

Hot as...

...well, you get the idea! When we got through Monday afternoon about 4 p.m., the thermometer had 103 degrees! This afternoon at 4 p.m. as I walked in the house the outside thermometer had 100 degrees. A cool spell. Argghhh!

I've been helping Sam in his building. The plywood walls are all installed. Sam is cutting trim for the windows. I got outside in time to hold the last piece in place. ;o) Great timing!
Umm...this looks like a knife from my kitchen...

Next on the To Do list...frame out for the potty/shower room.

Yep. It's small. Just large enough for a shower stall on the left and a commode on the right. I think the 'footprint' is about 4' x 8'. Sam hammering in the last nail on the 'rafter.'

The shop sink (a tub on legs) will be on the outside behind the shower wall.

I'll get up early in the morning for another raid on Mama's garden. Then back home to help Sam put plywood sheeting on the outside of the potty room.

AND, the intense heat is supposed to let up a bit with a chance or two for rain. I'll be doing my rain dance.

Oh! I made a neck cooler. And it works! One of those strips of fabric sewn into a tube with the polywhatever crystals in it. It's amazing how a teaspoon and a half of those things swell to a big fat sausage! I'll have to make another and post a tutorial...although they are all over the web...

Building to Date

It's at a stopping point. Doors are ordered. Electric service is ordered. Sam's been making a few purchases to get things ready for the electricity. Elton is doing the same on his building.

The pile of leftover insulation in the back is sitting on top of the bathroom. It will be used to insulate the bathroom. Two windows in the building. The other side will house the camper.

Four skylights will help with lighting.

Oops!

Starting off with an "oops" is indicative of something gone wrong. I pulled out the bread machine yesterday. Contrary to the directions, the first thing I do when I slip the loaf out of the pan is to take a bread knife and slice a good thick slice of the top...butter it...yeah, yeah, yeah...cut it in half and share with Sam. BUT!!! I do get the first bite. Oops. No salt. We have to salt the bread before we can eat it. It is still delicious!

We had a bit of a storm last night. Lightning and really heavy rain for 30 minutes or so. Then it settled down. We got about 1 1/3 " overnight. Cooled the temps down a bit, but this afternoon, it was definitely warmer and humid.

Here are the blooms fully open on one of the mother-in-law's tongue. I am always surprised at the sweet, sweet perfume that comes from these small blossoms.
Look! Three little hairless babies! Okay!! Featherless! The mama really got fracious waiting for me to get the photo and leave her brood alone.

Ta-da! My sweater back is finished! Um...I thought I purchased one dye lot. The middle section sure has more red/orange in it. Laura (friend who taught me to knit) and Carol both said that that sometimes happens with variegated yarns. CAN'T SEE THE CABLES! All that work and they just fade away. Last night I cast on and knitted a couple of rows of ribbing for the front. Knitted more today watching a couple of movies.

I am so excited about this new digital television broadcasting. At first I wasn't, but we've gained a few channels. One of which is THIS. "Classic" television shows and old movies! I wanted one The Earthling with William Holden and little Ricky Schroeder...filmed in Australia. Very good! Tonight I finished up Dancing With Wolves. I don't normally watch that much television in one day.

Photos of the building on Wednesday.

Before lunch - no roof. Roof went on after lunch. Crew decided to head home leaving the job unfinished.

This morning Elton arrived. He and Sam put the trim and gutters up on the front. Tomorrow, they will continue around the sides and back of the building.

Lost Quote and Metal Building

I found this. I copied it from a book I was reading awhile back and forgot to write down the book and author. So while I can't give credit where credit is due, I definitely do NOT claim it as mine.

"I think I've fallen in love with my family."
Clarke laughed, then clinked his bottle with James' beer. "Congrats, old friend - today you've finally become a man."

I really, really liked that. I could go all philosophical and even gushy perhaps...but there's no need. The statement stands on its own.

The building is ready for the insulation and sheeting!


Sam and Elton did all the framework and installed the walk-in door. They could do the insulation and sheeting on the building as they did on Elton's (except for the roof). But, it's getting really hot outside. So a crew of three or four who work for a friend of Sam's will be here middle of the day tomorrow to do the insulation and sheeting. It'll take a couple/three days.

Then Sam will install the two windows, arrange for electricity, frame out and build the bathroom. He's putting in a utility sink in the shop. In a separate room with be a toilet and shower. He wasn't going to put in a shower but...why not? A small electric hot water heater under the sink will take care of that. And let us not forget the overhead doors...Sam will hire someone to do that too.
Every evening I took photos of the progress...and a few other things as well...
The little camera sure is clear even when zoomed all the way. This tree is NOT close to the building.

This is the "break room." ;o) Chairs, table, water jug, septic tank. SEPTIC TANK?! It is still above ground therefore empty. Squint and look over the top of the septic tank. Can't see it yet.

Let me zoom again...

She stayed still a long time. I took about a dozen photos before she turned and ran back into the woods.

Sam took me up on the scissorlift a friend loaned us. I'm not afraid of heights, but the swaying movement going up nearly did me in. I had a two week bout with vertigo a month or so ago. The movement was just too reminiscent of that.

Once we got to the top (20 - 25 feet off the ground) and stopped, I really enjoyed the view! (See the stuff to the right of the house? That's our camper and the container Sam is now using for his tools. I think he should move the container behind the new building, but last plans he shared with me are to sell it...and we had a buyer back in November for it. If they are still interested, it will be gone in a month or so. The camper will be stored in the building. Sam has installed water and a grey/black water dump in the building. Then, he intends to break up the concrete pad (a once-upon-a-time carport for the trailer house that once sat where the brick house is...except not down in a hole) that the two are sitting on and do some grade work to make a more gentle slope.

We continue to wonder and ponder why the woman who had the house built didn't build it where we are putting the shop building instead of cutting into the hillside and putting it where she did.