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 This is the new stone hearth in the Kitchen.  We filled the old fire hole up with stones and then poured in concrete and then laid down some nice flat stones to make it even with the floor.  The little stone wall on the right hides the edge of the ramp up to the dining room and we covered the wall with cement board and will probably put more stone work or some rustic tiles on the cement board.  The mortar is still wet in the picture, but it will dry a light gray.  The new stove will sit here and look real pretty. 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2007

A cool cloudy morning.  Ken arrived about 10:30 to go get the stove so we rounded up Dillon and headed out.  I staid home and did yard work.  The stove arrived with no trouble and Ken will loan us his compressor so we can sandblast and refinish the stove.  I will need a few fire bricks as well. Gave Ken the windows and screens I got free from PACA to use on the front of his house.  Young Steve arrived and he, Dillon and Dan began work on sheathing the upper chimneys.  Old Steve turned up with his friend Jeff, a carpenter and soon they were all swarming over the roof and buttoning things up.  We put little galvanized roofs on the chimney shafts and now they look like big dormers, but shed the water beautifully. 

Then Jeff and Dan tackled the front soffits and fascia and trimmed the roof metal in front.  They also installed the front cornice so we can finish trimming out tomorrow.  Jeff will do the chimney stucco for me later this month if I can swing the money and Old Steve says he can do the drywall and insulation on the dining room ceiling.  He suggested we sister in extra 2x6 joists for the insulation and to make the dry-walling easier.  And he agreed that I should lower the back bedroom ceiling as well to make it easier to heat the room.  We finished up about 5pm and went into town for groceries, concrete and two more sheets of galvanized roofing.  Taco’s for supper and a nice sunset drive home.  Nearly hit a deer on the road just this side of Evergreen..  It’s the season to be more careful.  Quiet night at home reading.  Jeff is coming tomorrow to help do the gable trim and porch ceiling.  We should look mighty good by Monday.  Not bad progress for less than 3 weeks of work.  Gave Jeff  $40 for his work and he acted like it was way too much.  He’s a nice guy, seeing hard times and a good carpenter so it’s a pleasure to employ him, though I suspect he may dring a Bit.  Lots to do tomorrow and they are predicting a sunny day, but possibly rain on Monday and Tuesday.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2007

An absolutely perfect day in the Ozarks.  Sunny, slight breeze, clear sky.  Late breakfast and than Dan and I concentrated on cleaning up the courtyard and all around the house so we could finally mow.  Young Steve and Jeff came around Noon and we started to put up the bead board on the porch ceiling.  Jeff figured out how to raise the diagonal wall in the living room so that we can keep the high shed ceiling in the living room, but have a flat ceiling on the porch.  There were a few issues considering how un-square the house is, but we managed.  Probably would have probably gone a bit faster if we had had the proper lumber, but Jeff is a real saver and insisted on doing the job with what we had on hand.  Norm Abrams may not approve of our methods, but we “got ‘er done.”  Steve, Sr. joined the group and by dusk the job was done, although we were all a bit wacky and a bit lubricated. The porch looks great and once it has its screens and trim, it will be a beautiful place to sit out. Now that the porch and chimneys are tight to the weather, the house is much warmer.  Once we get some more trim up and the last of the soffits and fascia in place, we will be in fine shape.  We also got the grass cut and finally trimmed off the extra long rafters on the back of the middle wing.  We will concentrate on the trim tomorrow and wire and insulation this week.  If I can keep the pace going and the money on track, I might actually have a real house this year.  A  late supper and night of reading and so to bed.

That’s Dan holding the panel up on the ceiling .  Old Steve is the one  standing on the bench in the shadows and the boy with the big black afro is Young Steve.  I took the picture and I’m not sure where Jeff is at the moment.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2007

Rained cats and dogs last night, but no leaks in the new roofs or walls.  HOOORAY!  Small leak in front of the dining room fireplace.  One of the roof screws cracked the edge of a purlin and I think it is the source of the leak.  A little roof tar ought to fix it.  Little Draco spent the night with us.  Its really funny watching him jump on and off the bed while Duchess, who is twice his height, has to struggle.  She was so pissed off watching the athletic little French man show off.  Dan and I started wiring, while Johnny cooper watched and chatted our ears off.  Got the living room and small bedroom and the porch wired and working with only one small wiring goof that was easily fixed.  We went into Lebanon late in the afternoon to pick up more wire and plugs and to arrange for my pills with Dr. Hite.  Called Jon and discussed  how he and the home crew will handle the bills while I am down here.  I will have to go home in early November to do some finances and attend a Preservation Board meeting.  Take-out Chinese for dinner.  Returned home and placed the rest of the electrical boxes upstairs and worked out the wiring schematic.  TV and early to bed.  More wiring and trim work tomorrow if its sunny.

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