First Problems...

What remodeling project has even gone perfectly? I discovered the first major problem today. We can't dry clothing. A few weeks ago I asked Kevin if we'd loose our ability to do laundry. His exact words to me were, "I'll take your kitchen but I won't take your laundry. I'm not that mean." Well sir, you did.

You see, there is a floor joist right in our dryer vent. There is no where for the dryer to vent to. Consequently, when I tried using the dryer (because both you and the carpenter said I could) the tube blew right off the wall. I also have a sick feeling there is something wrong with our dryer but I'm remaining cautiously optimistic. So, right now I have a bunch of laundry that needs to be done and a dryer full of wet clothes. We used to have clothes line but that was eliminated the day the hole was dug.

Also, earlier this week the circuits were being played with and now one of the outlets in Ethan and Logan's room doesn't work.

Day 18: Walls!

At the beginning of the day we just had a platform and now look at the progress!

Hanging out in our new kitchen...imagine Brian in front of the new island and next to the sink. That "pole" won't be there in the end, it's just holding up the skeleton of a roof.

Day 17: Floor

The floor is down, no more big hole! We were under the impression more work would be done today but that's okay, we have been very impressed with how fast everything is going. I also have a date in which we need to be out of the kitchen...July 9. Our contractor gave me one more week, which is greatly appreciated! What has been most difficult about getting the kitchen packed up is the heat. We are averaging upper 80's in the house during the day and who wants to be packing in that kind of heat? The heat is supposed to break this evening so maybe I'll be more productive in the next few days. Otherwise, I'll be getting up at 4:40 am, with Brian who gets up to run, to pack!

Floor is Starting to Take Shape

At the end of day 16 we have floor joists!

Day 16: A New Folder Has Been Created

I have organized my pictures according to the stage of the project. One folder is "planning", another is "non-construction", while another is "digging." I have started a new folder titled, "building." We have entered a new stage...

The wood was delivered today and the carpenter is expected anytime now (although honestly, if he doesn't come with his crew I'd be totally understanding. It's 97 degrees out there according to our thermometer).

I was rather curious as to how the wood was going to get off the truck. During all of our other projects (basement, garage, pergola) the wood was removed by fork lifts. Here you go, it was "dumped" off the truck.
Another tight fit! He was hoping he'd be able to make the turn and get into our backyard but no such luck. Our cars now are going to be spending the night outside.

Day 15: A Clean Sweep Approach

We have had to rid almost every area of the house of stuff we don't use at least once in the last three years. The one room that has been largely untouched is: the kitchen. Since it's so small there really isn't a lot to get rid of or a large stock pile of food to eat but there is some. Today I started "packing" up the kitchen.

Below is my strategy; three piles. One for "I want to keep it and it needs to be accessible", another for "Pack it, we're keeping it" and finally, "Pitch it or Goodwill it." My strategy worked well and kept me organized. After all the stuff was gone off the table the Post-Its remained. I think I'll leave them there for the next time I tackle the cupboards.

And tackling cupboards is going to become a daily job because tomorrow the carpenter is coming to start his part. He told me that by Tuesday evening our hole will be gone...a platform will left!

Days 9, 10 and 11...Catching Up

Here we are 1 1/2 weeks into the project and have a basement floor! The cement guy, Adam, was here today around 4:00 and poured the floor. Here is a summary of the last few days:

The cement truck was a tight fit between the two houses

Pouring the floor

All done!

Day 10

Wednesday, or Day 10, the basement was prepared for the pouring of the floor. They came with a water pump and pumped out all the water that had accumulated in our hole, laid down plastic on top of the rock and punched a hole in the wall. The hole was necessary so they could measure the floor height (or something :).

Water pump in corner

Day 9

After learning that cleaning the "new" interior wall was our responsibility, Brian borrowed my dad's power washer and cleaned the wall. What a manly toy to play with...

Day 8: Backfill

While the boys and I were out terrorizing the local grocery store (see their blog for that story!) today, the addition got backfilled. Our mound of dirt is no more! While I didn't see the building inspector come I guess we passed since work continued.

Day 6: The Day We Became Everyone's Favorite Neighbors

(note to readers: Day 6 was Saturday)

On Saturday we once again earned the titled of, "Favorite Neighbor." We first earned this titled on a hot Sunday morning, around 7:00 am in September 2004. This was the day that a very sketchy looking, foul smelling, shirtless guy showed up with a jack hammer and a pair of sandals to bust up our concrete slab during our new garage project. Yes, you read that correctly and are inferring beautifully...7:00 am, jack hammer, Sunday morning - who wouldn't love us? Since neighbors on either side of us are new (since Sept. 2004) it seemed appropriate for us to remind everyone why they should love us.

Saturday morning we knew someone would be at our house around 7:00 am so at 6:20 when I heard some pounding I just assumed it was the boys. Brian had gone running and was showering while I was in the basement getting caught up on the blogs (incidentally, I was dressed, presentable and ready for my day). I kept thinking, "why don't the boys just get up? They are in beds, nothing is holding them back!" when Brian yelled down, "The masons are here!" The pounding that I was hearing was them walking on our roof as they prepared to rebuild our chimney. Shortly after I went out and wished them a good morning their saw was busy sawing bricks. At least Jake and Tanya are early risers, Jake had just come back from his run when things got started.

Around 7:00 the other crew arrived to install the egress window well and put up pink foam. We continue to be amazed at how fast this first part is going! We *might* have a basement floor and backfill by the end of this week, but maybe not. Initially we were told we shouldn't expect anything this week so we aren't expecting anything.

Brian did remember to ask about the exterior wall that is our new interior wall...it is our responsibility to clean it. He borrowed my father's power washer and hopes to get down in there this week and start washing. Otherwise, that room might get framed out and drywalled very quickly this fall!

Day 5: Much to Our Surprise

Today Brian had a comp day so he joined us on a visit to see my grandmother. Much to our surprise we came home to tarred (I think that's what you'd call them) walls and some new supplies.
It's hot...and it's only the beginning of summer. It probably will get a whole lot worse. The air conditioners that I got yesterday from a friend unfortunately won't fit in the boy's room. The windows are new and don't open as wide as we need them to. Lucky for us though, our old crappy windows fit the air conditioner perfectly. We bought a new dehumidifier today because after a little research we determined that our other one had bit the dust. While it ran, it really wasn't doing anything (the lack of water in the collection tank; the hot, humid basement; and the iced over innards were our clues). The new one has been running non-stop for the last 6 hours and there is a noticeable in the basement. All these small appliances...I retract the comment I made to Brian a week or so ago that went something like this, "Without central air, I wonder what our electric bill is going to be like?"

We were wrong about the work stopping...our egress window well is going to be attached to the cinder blocks tomorrow and there is a possibility our chimney is going to be rebuilt (and that's a whole 'nother story and project!).

Now We Wait...

My guess is that it will be about a week in a half before we have any more work done. We won't leave anyone hanging, if there are no posts there isn't anything to report. See you soon!

Day 3 - We Have Walls!

The "hole" early in the morning...

The new foundation in the evening!

It was decided today that we just can't take it (okay, Ethan and I). Tomorrow I'm picking up an air conditioner from a friend who is going to lend it to us for the summer. Ethan complained today about being too hot. Poor kid...

Day 2: Footing and Masonry

Here are the materials that were delivered later in the day. I guess it's a cinder block foundation; we weren't sure if it was going to be block or poured concrete.

Footings were poured today and we should have walls in the not to distant future! Both Brian and I went to work today so we missed all the excitement but I guess a remote controlled crane came and the boys called all the concrete, "mush." Our kitchen window is filthy with little boy face prints and hand prints; I guess it wouldn't take a detective to figure out where they are spending a lot of time these days!

It occurred to me recently that we never posted pictures of our dirt moving project from a few weeks ago. You are looking at the back of our garage and approximately 3 yards of dirt. After the garage was rebuilt in November 2004 we really needed to fill in the back. There was 6-8 inches of exposed foundation. Since the boys were born just a few weeks later it just never got done. We kept saying we should do it, but never did. This year was time. The stakes are supporting Brian's hops experiment and the clumps are a sedum ground cover. Eventually, this could look really nice!



Sunday afternoon our friend, Red Fox paid our yard a visit. I'm giving him/her all the credit for the lack of rabbit sightings we've had recently! One of our neighbors admitted he's a little cocky about his vegetable garden. He's not messing around with chicken wire because the fox has been so efficient this year.

Day One - Hole

(Brian) The renaissance has begun. At approximately 9:00am after taking the boys to the playground (they were up at 5:30am) we got the call that the digger was here. I practically ran home to see this thing with two boys clinging to their wagon.

Sweating and already hot, I pulled the boys into our neighbors yard and watched them as they tried to take in the digger.

For the most part the boys were a little scared of the digger and that is not a bad thing for what was going on.

It was neat to watch the bucket dig everything out. We forgot to trip the circuit breaker for the power to the garage and when he hit the power, there was a little spark. Ooops.

So begins a new list of items and I'll try and find a way to keep track of them. Today began the first day of no air conditioning. That was disconnected.

Today began also, the first day of no power to the garage, thanks to the spark. Today also began the first time that Andi is/was right with a prediction.

She said we would be without air conditioning for this project. I said they would simply move it. Well, they moved it alright, they moved it out of the way.



The boys and I spent most of the day watching the progress and conversing with Jeff, the excavator. I asked him if he ever dug up anything neat. As a fellow dude, I thought this job would cool if you dug up some treasures or dead bodies.

Well, as it turns out, he's dug up dead bodies before, but they were for graves. He said that during one job, his buddies buried an iron box that was all rusted and taped dollar bills on it. He thought he had dug up some hidden treasure. Too bad it was only a joke.



At the end of the day, we were left with a big hole and a big pile of dirt. The pile wasn't as big as our friends, Jeff and Bridget, but still a lot of dirt. We have one corner of our driveway that was cracked and tread marks from the tires all over the back yard. Luckily we were able to avoid hitting the patio, but just barely.

Tomorrow Kevin and the mason will be out. I'm not exactly sure what they'll be doing, but I imagine they'll be eying up the job. Kevin told us, that by the end of the week we could have a basement floor and wall. Next week he'll be on vacation, so nothing will be done, but that's ok since you want stuff to cure for a bit. Look for an update tomorrow.

***(Andi now writing in response to a comment left by Jeff) This is what was left for backfill...the other (approximately) 11 dump truck loads left as they got filled up. It was a constant rotation of dump trucks throughout the day. Kevin did make a comment about your dirt pile and how it sat there for months...hee hee hee

****(Andi still writing) I think I've written about my regrets in life before...I don't have many but one of them is planting Chinese Lantern behind the house. It's a weed by my definition and has been impossible to kill/get rid of the last few years. Today I turned to Kevin and said, "We are paying $XX,XXX for this addition, do you think you could kill the Chinese Lantern? It upsets me that the plant I hate the most might survive this construction project." He got the attention of the excavator and instructed him to shave the top 6 inches of the remaining flower bed. Excellent, although this is the most expensive Weed-B-Gone we've ever purchased.

Ready or Not...

Many weekends have been spent giving my plants away and transplanting. Many hours have been spent thinking and planning how this whole not having a kitchen is going to work. Many dollars have been spent already preparing the house and purchasing some appliances. We are ready.

Tonight I gave my plants in the backyard a good drink of water seeing as I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to water the next few months. Our spigot is right where the hole is going to be so that will make water problematic. We have the best neighbors, three have already offered to let us hook our house up to their house so that's probably what we'll be doing. I have shown great restraint this year in purchasing plants...I didn't purchase any. Only two hanging baskets; which will be easy to water. There aren't any planters of annuals on our property which is quite a change from last year.

Yesterday I hung clothes out to dry for what might be the last time this year...at least until we have new grass.

It's definitely a nervous excitement on my end. I'm trying to keep focused on the end result!

They're coming

Today Andi and I cleaned the basement and garage today in anticipation of getting a hole installed in our back yard. We were making room and filling in spaces, while taking the opportunity to purge the basement and garage too. There was a knock on the door in the mid afternoon and it turned out to be the excavator, Jeff.

He was here to take a look at the site and get some measurements. He was kind of eying up the drive way and noticed our nice new concrete driveway. "Did Kevin talk to you about the driveway?"

"Yes," we answered him "we know that we may get the concrete all busted up."

"I'll bring some wood planks, maybe that will help a little."

"It's going to be a tight fit."

They must be bringing a rather large digger to be concerned about the width of the driveway. Also, our dirt pile won't be taken away immediately, as some of it will be needed for back fill. I think our entire back yard will be disrupted.

We asked if he was still coming tomorrow and said that they should be that be by 8:30. I think tomorrow will be a very exciting day.

We'll have a hole!

New on your Ranch News at 10

Cheap shitty replacement microwave creates disappointment among ranch owners.

I mean come on, I know I only paid like $40 bucks for this dam thing, but you'd think it should be able to pop a f@#$ing bag of popcorn. Consistently this thing has gotten more temperamental. Last night it took like 20 minutes to microwave two potatoes. I can't stand this already. I don't want to have to go out and buy a new new microwave just yet. WTF?

Kevin, please build us a new kitchen as the one we have right now is very inadequate. We have even less space now that our replacement microwave is taking up valuable real estate on our counter.

PS - we also have ants. This kitchen sucks.

The house is winning 1gozillian to none.

Genesis of a Ranch Renaissance

Wednesday began like any other for us. The routine was normal and we were all pretty much normal. I woke up at my normal 4:45 to go for a normal 5k run. Andi woke up 15 minutes later for a normal day of correcting papers or creating tests. The boys woke up at 6 and by 7 we were all hydrated with coffee and milk and happily watching Little Einsteins.

I left for work and shortly after getting settled in, the normal day turned out to be not so normal. Andi called, speaking rather frazzled, "the electricians are coming!"

"What? Who?" I said.
"The electricians are coming to move the power, they said they'll be here by 10. I don't know if I can take off of work. What should we do?"
"I'll call Kevin from OAR and find out what's going on."

As it turned out the electricians were indeed available today to come and move our power. See, if you can't tell from the picture, the main power for the house is smack dab in the middle of where our new kitchen is going to be. That presents a problem if you're going to be prying thing off with large metal tools.

Luckily my boss is cool and told me to go home. I said I would dial in and reconnect, until they cut power that is.

I got home to a fleet of trucks (literally there were four trucks from this company) and two little boys playing outside pointing to all of the commotion going on. In this shot you can see the new junction box which is to supplement our already maxed out circuit breaker. They had to dig a small hole, trample our garden flowers and drill through the brick to get this installed. Don't worry, it looks a lot more put together now that it's done.

For most of the time they did a lot of putzing around, but I know there is a lot of putz work when it comes to power and electrical installation. After all, one small mistake and you're able to make light bulbs glow like Uncle Fester.

I was a little unsure if the boys would be able to nap while all of this stuff was going on. Soon after this picture the dudes took their own lunch break and at that time, the boys went down. They slept through the rest of the experience.

The dudes told me WE Energies would have to come out and verify their work before actually moving the power. So, I was a little surprised when they said they were just going to move the power now. We did end up losing power for about 1.5 hours which wasn't that big of a deal. I read on the couch while the boys slept.

The electricians were here for most of the day and didn't end up leaving until about 3:30, right when the boys woke up from their nap.
They ran to the front windows to wave to the big trucks leaving.

After speaking to our contractor, Kevin, he indicated our dig date is still slated for this coming Monday. He didn't want to firm up any days until the weather and electricians were done. As you can see the only thing remaining to move is the cable.

From the looks of the weather, we should be all clear for the next couple of days. I hope everything works out. I think I'll be having a mental health day on Monday.

Confirmed Reports of Rabbit Carnage

We used to have a few stray cats around here. We also used to never have a bunny problem. Now there are no cats and lots of bunnies. We also happen to have (believe it or not) a red fox. The fox was looking pretty bad earlier this spring and all the neighbors thought it was going to die soon. There were a few weeks when there weren't any sightings so I assumed it was dead. Then, a few days ago it was spotted looking healthy. It was also spotted surrounded by pieces of a rabbit. Maybe the fox was just hungry!

Summer Dinning Room

We built the pergola during summer of 2002. Five years later our dream and vision is becoming a reality! (still no furniture...just haven't found what I want. Until then lawn chairs and portable picnic table have sufficed.)