Happy New Year

We went to Cincinnati for the Christmas weekend.  Time flew bye as we were able to spend time with lots of friends and family.

Christmas day was spent at Nonna's.  I made her a calendar filled with family photos.  With the help of a friend I scanned some old photos to add to the digital photos we had.  I felt good about it since I was able to include images from 1940 to the present and they featured all of Nonna's family down to the most recent great grand child.  If you ever want to do this, I highly recommend Shutterfly.  They have tons of backgrounds to choose from and many templates also.  BTW, Nonna loved this gift.  Cousins, check it out when you are visiting.  There are some oldie but goodies in there.

Here is Nonna going through the months.

The Friday after Christmas, Kent, Jeff and I picked up Nonna and went to Uncle Joe's new house.  It is fantastic, and Ruth, as always, cooked up a delicious meal.  Plus it was great to see my cousins and their kids.  Jeff, Carolyn and I relived old memories as we tried to assemble the latest Lego set.  Tad and young Joseph helped out too.  The Spongebob Pineapple lasted about 10 minutes before it was crushed by a wondering ball.  After fixing it a couple times I gave up.  It was assembled for a short while and that it satisfaction enough for me.  Although it's fun to build the "set" it is more fun to use the parts and make something else.  I will leave that to the youngens. 

This is Grant eating a cookie.  Isn't he adorable.  Wait a minute, I don't remember seeing any cookies there...do I?... hmmmm.

After enjoying a round of disc golf in the beautiful weather on Saturday, Kent and I visited Roy and Tif.  Let's just say that I love baby Jade's hair.  It sticks straight up no matter what.  I think she is going to be a rock star.

After dinner we played wits and wagers (the game of the year, apparently)  It is pretty darn fun, so play it, if you have a chance.

Kent was playing around with the black and white mode of the camera.  Can you see the hair!

There may be hope.

And his name in John Groce.  

Yep, it's college basketball season once again.  After too many years of lackluster, Tim O'Shea left OU before we could give him the boot.  (Which is a-okay with me.)  Step in Coach Groce who has assisted at OSU (that other Ohio school), Xavier, and NC State.  

We went to our first game last night and OU beat Holy Cross in a close, exciting game.  Finally, it seems OU is working on an offense.  It's not pretty, yet, but there is some strong talent out there.  Defensively, OU is quick, sneaky, and scrappy.  This will go far in the MAC.  However, they need offense, and a pure shooter.  It seems like OU has always had a player who comes off the bench and lights it up.  I haven't seen that yet.  Last night there were too many in and outs.  And missed free throws.  Jees almighty, that is frustrating.  We are up by 3 with 42 seconds left and you gotta make those free throws boys.  

OU could become quite good in the next few years.  If that happens, I hope OU can keep this guy.  It's the curse of the MAC.  We bring in these young hopefuls, they turn our teams around, and how do they reward us... by going on to bigger schools.  Enjoy it while it lasts, folks.  

GO BOBCATS!

What's happening.

Well, it 's been a bit of time since we last updated.  As mentioned before, the house is moving slowly now.  Which is fine.  Because our lives are plenty full.

To catch you all up...

The big blue truck we just purchased a few months ago caught on fire.  It's totaled.  The dash and bench seat are a blackened charred mess.  The engine may be okay, so Kent is researching the next move.  Replace the cab?  Put the engine in something else?  Buy a whole new old truck? Buy a whole new newer truck? So many possibilities.

We went to South Carolina for Thanksgiving.  It was a good time until we tried to drive home.  Note to self.  Don't ever try to drive anywhere the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  

Now it's preparation time for Christmas.  I hope you all get what you want.  

Random House photos

Since the weather is frickin' cold, we haven't done anything on the house.  And I know you are all jonesin' for an update.  So here are some photos taken over the last month or so.  But before that, I have to say Mother Nature, Gaia, or whoever is being a real bitch right now.  70 degrees a week ago and in the 20's now.  Not cool.  There is snow on the ground from 2 days ago.  Not much snow, have you, but the fact is that it is sticking around.  What ever happened to a gradual entry into winter.  

Okay, I had to get that out.  

Here is Kent during the digging spree.  Yeah, shovels!  Which reminds me, there still is digging to do to find the sewer line... ughhhh.  

PJ working the chop saw.  vrrrooommm.  Or rather ssscccrreeeeeeecchh as it cuts the wood.

Totally posed picture.  But I do work a bit in there, and most of it is good.  I am especially good at starting things.  Since I have to leave for work everyday around 11:30, the boys usually finish the projects I start.  And they don't have to redo that much of my work.

 Maybe this should be my facebook pic. hmmmm.

Beams

This week we put up the beams that run down the middle of the house and will provide support for the joists.  These red oak beams will be exposed so care had to be taken to not scratch the wood.  Below, you can see the contraption we built just to lift the beam.  

(Insert funny tagline here)

Once the top beam was in place with a temporary support under it, we took the measurement for the permanent support beam.   We cut it, applied the little base to be able to nail it to the floor and up it goes.

and up...
Almost there...

Light at the end of the tunnel...

Yeah!  

Finished product (just like in the shows, looks like it happened in an hour, when in actuality it was the next day.)  Notice, too, the joists above.

As you can see, the one beam has been sanded and finished, but the other 2 still need the finishing.  Homework for the weekend.

More on the house

Somehow, this past week didn't seem to be as exciting as the past few.  I think because putting in a whole deck seems like a bigger accomplishment than digging a hole and filling it with concrete and block.  But nevertheless, it's all progress.  Even if half of your work gets buried.  

Here is the ol' ditch, filled with concrete and block.  Ready for the walls.  

We are also getting the joists ready.  PJ and I streamlined the processing of these 2x12's on Friday.  He was sanding and routing them, after which I applied the linseed oil.  We got the majority of them done before I had to go to work at noon.  Check out the grain on these yellow pine 12 footers.  

The major beams that are going to hold up those yellow pine joists are pictured below.  They are oak cut and milled locally.  The beam on the right has been sanded and oiled.  The left one isn't oiled yet, so you can see how the oil will bring out the grain.  So pretty...

If you aren't familiar with Fast Orange, it is soap that many mechanics use.  It is gritty to get the oil and grease off your hands. I love it, too,  after working in the garden.... it gets all the ground-in dirt off of your hands.  The pump below is now stationed in the kitchen, since we are using daily.  It's a sign of hard work when you get to use the orange. 

Digging, digging, digging...

With the weather so nice, we are getting the outside jobs done. That means digging.  We are putting a small addition onto the front of the garage, so that means more footers.  More footers means digging.  Thankfully, I haven't had to do much of it.  PJ, our trusty young worker, has been breaking his back, and Kent, too, has done a lot of work. Not only are we (or they) digging through that lousy clay famous in these parts, but the asphalt driveway as well.  

Here is Kent with the mattock tearing up the driveway.  

He's a strong boy.  See his veins poppin' out.  Okay, so it's not the greatest shot.  Take my word for it.  He's strong, for a skinny boy.

This ditch is about 32 linear feet and then 2 feet deep, or more.  That's a lot of digging.  Anyone need any dirt...

Tomorrow, the cement truck comes, and the footers shall be poured.  Then the block will be laid, and the walls can be built.  Excitement abounds!