Last night we crashed really early. We had way too much Hershey fun. Most of the family left the hotel and started home after the day at Hershey Park. We spent the night at the hotel and headed to NJ today for some appointments. In Hershey Park most people did not have masks on, but in NJ it appeared more people were in masks. The end of the day found us in PA with a little birthday party. So many candles, I am surprised we did not have to call the fire department.
Today’s product recommendations are supplies for that pefect celebration: 1) Everyone loves party blowers, and 2) party hats. Here’s the links to these products:
Kids enjoyed the pool at the hotel in the mornin and then we went on to some more Hershey fun. We didn’t wear matching shirts and we didn’t stick together. It was much harder to keep track of everyone without that yellow.
Our security camera system was awesome back at the house. We had wasps setting off one camera constantly, hummingbirds setting off another, regular birds another, and at night a spider building a web on another. We watched fed ex deliver a package and a cat jump into the house front door. We were getting notifications all day long. Maybe they work a little too good.
Today’s product recommendations are for things to bring to a pool for kids: 1) Don’t be caught with one pair of swim goggles or there will be problems, and 2) A great set of diving toys all can enjoy. Here’s the links to these products:
Day 94 – “Living the dream”. On to Hershey Park today. Beautiful breezy cool day. Everyone had a blast and came back to the hotel and crashed with exhaustion. Most of the day we hung out together. Yellow is the perfect color group shirt.
Today’s product recommendations are for family reunion planning and lots and lots of walking: 1) Love this guide for planning a family reunion, and 2) My legs and feet have hurt me for months. I switched to these sneakers and I am in heaven. Love Under Armour sneakers. They are so comfortable. Here’s the links to these products:
Day 93 – “Living the Dream”. Stayed in Clarksburg, WV last night at the Hilton Garden Inn. We watched TV for the first time in ages. I discovered that I really don’t miss TV at all. And the bed was horrible. I just sunk into it. What a disappointment. So funny, I was missing my air bed. Headed out of town this morning the birds left us presents as we drove under them. Good by to you Tremper’s. Splat, Splat, SPLAT. Ugg, we did have a clean car.
Lots of windmills in the distance as we drove through Maryland. It was hard to get a good picture with the cloudiness.
Arrived at Springhill Suites in Hershey and went to Chocolate World with the smaller Grandkids.
Then the Ortega Family Reunion started. My maiden name is Ortega. 28 of us met in a reserved meeting room and had a catered meal. It was crazy but fun reconnecting. Haven’t seen most of the family for a year. All the kids were really excited.
Today’s product recommendations are for keeping aware of your surroundings: 1) Love this indoor outdoor thermometer, and 2) We own and love this five camera Blink Outdoor camera system with the Echo Show. Here’s the links to these products:
Locked up the compound, security system armed, and home also being personally monitored. We are headed to the “Ortega Family Reunion”. This reunion was organized last year, so even though we do not have the new home closed in yet, we are headed out. Hopefully, it will not rain alot while we are away. We want the plywood to stay dry. We are contemplating canceling our cruises that are scheduled from September 13th through October 7th. We just need more time to get the house closed in and livable. There is also the Delta variant and new mask restraints on the cruises. Things are constantly changing with covid. Checked into hotel. OMG, the room is huge, the bed so comfortable, a TV, and a private bath. I am in heaven.
I think I was starting to go crazy talking to the mud wasps. Although, they do listen to me. The restaurants are packed everywhere you look. So not a good sign for the spread of covid. Found out my friends sister and her son are really sick with it. First day of being sick and 102 fever. Yuk!!
Today’s product recommendations are my traveling recommendations: 1) Indoor thermometer for your room while traveling, and 2) The most fantastic luggage I have found. Here’s the links to these products:
Today was a clean up and organize day. We set up permanent security system around all the buildings. It is unbelievable how many cameras Steve put up. He is a little crazy.
Today’s product recommendations are for keeping aware of your surroundings: 1) Love this indoor outdoor thermometer, and 2) We own and love this five camera Blink Outdoor camera system with the Echo Show. Here’s the links to these products:
Dense fog here this morning, but still the hummingbirds are buzzing around. I think they get wired on the sugar water. They love our little compound,
but so do a million other bugs.
If you leave a dirty dish around the ants have a smorgasbord. They get so full they just roll over on their backs in contentment. Not a movement in the bowl which had Blueberries and whipped cream in it last night. You would think the ants were dead, except if you touch one they all go crazy scurrying around. So miss my dishwasher. But “I am Living the Dream, oh yeah Living the Dream” .
Today, I gave up and went into the air conditioned cabin this afternoon. I have so had it with the heat, the mold,
the sound of the air compressor,
and the wasps building their nests around me. Alison had said to stay in the cabin and enjoy the comfort. Today I did that. It was so nice!!!! I don’t want to make a habit of it though. I feel bad being all comfortable while Steve is miserable working in the heat. I should be a little uncomfortable also. Although, I was a princess today and loved it.
The tub and shower were delivered,
the hoist was used to bring the shower base upstairs,
all the rafter tails are cut and ready to be installed on the shed dormer side of the house,
and the fascia board is on the the dog house dormer side.
We found lots of coal mixed in with the clay dirt around the house. Must have hit a layer of coal while digging our the foundation.
There are so many butterflies on the lawn. We have no idea what they are doing.
Today’s product recommendations are for keeping aware of your surroundings: 1) Love this indoor outdoor thermometer, and 2) We own and love this five camera Blink Outdoor camera system with the Echo Show. Here’s the links to these products:
This new house should be being framed by a crew of eight not two. But it is slowly getting done. It was another exciting day the siding was delivered. Steve and Justin worked all day getting the shingles upstairs and the siding in the basement.
The neighbors dog came over and I walked him home and met our closest neighbors. They are a nice younger couple with five children under eight. I am sure we will not see much of them. They are very busy with work and their children. It is so different here compared to the PA/NJ area. Whenever you meet someone they always ask you to come to their church and there is a church around every corner. Our skylight came in today and surprise surprise, I messed up and ordered the wrong type. There are curb mounted ones and deck mounted ones. The curb mounted are higher off the roof and you build a box on the roof with 2×6’s and drop it on the roof. The deck mount is lower to the roof and put right into the roof. The deck mounted ones are much more pleasing to the eye. Well had to return the curb mounted one and reorder the Dec mounted one. The good news it is a larger skylight which I like. Steve has to reframe for it though. He was not to happy. Lowes is coming tomorrow with cast iron shower base and tub, and range hood.
Today’s product recommendations are for keeping aware of your surroundings: 1) Love this indoor outdoor thermometer, and 2) We own and love this five camera Blink Outdoor camera system with the Echo Show. Here’s the links to these products:
Day 88 – “Living the Dream”. Heating and air conditioning contractor came today to give us a price on putting in the central heating and air conditioning. Nice man and his helper. Funny he was seventy years old and flew up the ladders like a young man. So amazing. Now I keep hearing “If a seventy year old can go up so easy. Why can’t you?” Both dog house dormers are basically framed. The rafter tails are all on and just the tips of the ceiling joists need to be trimmed. Then the facia board needs to be placed on. After that the framing on the left hand side of the house is complete and ready for sheathing. Front and rear fly rafters still need to be completed.
I have been getting lazy the last week and we have not been eating as healthy as we had been. Therefore, my blood pressure has been creeping up. It could be the stress of this Living the Dream though. Going back to healthy eating. It is 5pm and 95 in the shade. Hot, hot day.
Today’s product recommendations are for keeping aware of your surroundings: 1) Love this indoor outdoor thermometer, and 2) We own and love this five camera Blink Outdoor camera system with the Echo Show. Here’s the links to these products:
Can’t wait to knock down this disgusting old house. We were talking today about counting the number of snakes, mice, bats, and other critters that run from the house when the excavator bucket starts beating it. I want a turn with that bucket. Revenge!!!Today was hot and sunny then terrible windy pouring storms ripped through, then hot and sunny, and then the lightening storms ripped through again. Short day due to weather. One doghouse dormer almost done. It has been connected to the house.
Neighbor came by on her four wheeler all terrain vehicle and gave us bags of rattlesnake beans. Hmm, never heard of these before. Have to figure out how to cook them.
Today’s product recommendations are for keeping your self in shape 1) It is important to sleep well. This topper is hypoallergenic, resists bacteria, and regulates moisture, temperature, and odor, and 2) The TheraBand are the best for strengthening your muscles. Highly recommended by multiple physical therapist as the resistance band brand they use. Here’s the links to these products:
Today was the day to take care of the uncomfortable air bed. Ordered a Queen size four inch Bamboo Charcoal Memory Foam Mattress Topper. Hopefully, that will take care of my sleeping issues. I had thoughts about ordering a platform bed frame and mattress. It is so tight in the cabin that we have to pull the air mattress away from the wall to make the bed everyday. The air mattress is light and easy to move around. We are thinking a platform bed and mattress would be too hard to move around to make the bed.
Lowes ended up not coming with our delivery today even though they messaged with the time yesterday. Apparently the cast iron five foot shower base did not come in. Rescheduled for Thursday.
Very hot (in the 90’s) and sunny here today. Work was done on the doghouse dormers. Adding those dormers really increased the framing time and also the expense. Lots of wood is going into those dormers. I think they are so worth it for the light and space. They are also going to look gorgeous from the outside.
My day consisted of exercising, working on DeesTimes, picking up garbage (as they work they just throw their garbage out the windows), going to Lowes for nails, cooking and cleaning. Just a normal day at this camp. We are going to dinner tonight with our son and his family. Back to the Mellow Mushroom.
Today’s product recommendations are for keeping your self in shape 1) It is important to sleep well. This topper is hypoallergenic, resists bacteria, and regulates moisture, temperature, and odor, and 2) The TheraBand are the best for strengthening your muscles. Highly recommended by multiple physical therapist as the resistance band brand they use. Here’s the links to these products:
I am very tired of sleeping on an airbed in a cabin. I was up in the middle of the night last night, just wanting to go sit in a nice comfy living room, on a sofa or chair, drinking a hot cup of tea and relaxing. Awe – dreaming of that day! It will come soon.
Got up this morning at 6am, threw on some clothes, and opened the cabin door to go make some coffee at the old house. A huge bird flew by me, went half way across the yard, turned around, and flew back at me. Scared me to death. I was not expecting something to wiz by my head. Not sure what kind of bird it was. It was still dark and I was really half asleep. Wish I had gotten a picture. I think it was sitting on top of our cabin. Going to set an outside security camera up to see if it comes back If it sits on the top of the cabin, I will be able to get a picture. In the daytime, I sit in the old house with the door open working on the computer. Birds fly in and out of the house all day long, but they are little. They startle me sometimes, but not like that big bird.
Today was a partial day off. We will not be taking the day off tomorrow. We are getting a Lowe’s delivery tomorrow and need Justin here to help hoist the cast iron bathroom stuff up to the second floor.
We went to breakfast at Cracker Barrel and saw some really nice old Ford trucks lined up in the parking lot. This weekend is a Somernites Cruise weekend (Somernites Cruise – The Official Car Cruise Capital of Kentucky). Town was super busy with lots of tourists, motorhomes, huge boats, and weird vehicles. One day after we have the house completed we will attend some of the events in town on one of the Cruise weekends. Currently a day off is not really a day off. Have to head back and do some clean up.
Today, I am done feeling sorry for myself and I adjusted my attitude. Okay, so I was hacked on Facebook twice and I actually think my third one is compromised also. I lost 43 days of my journal, “Living the Dream” – Boohoo!! I am letting it go and moving on. I will try to duplicate the days from pictures, but you can’t get back the feelings from those days. With that said, I am moving on and starting renewed. As my friend Ann would say, “Dolores put your big girl panties on and move on”. Thank you Ann for that advice. Learned my lesson though, which I already should have known. Don’t keep stuff on Facebook, BACK IT UP if it is important to you. Someone will always steal your dream!
Came home after breakfast out and Steve worked on backfilling around the front of the house and the side.
Really nice, you now can step into the basement window easily and get on the ladder.
It was cumbersome to move the dirt around between the new and old house. The excavator is to big to drive between them.
Steve used the bucket to move the dirt in that spot and kept hitting the gutter on the old house. Whew, thank goodness the old house is still standing.
More dirt needs to be brought around from the back to the front. Ground needs to be brought up another foot.
I was the cleaning crew and picked up all the pieces of wood and garbage on the first floor this afternoon. It was getting kind of messy.
After it was all clean I just had to sit in the first floor bedroom. Can’t wait to have a real bedroom.
Steve continues to lose weight. His new shorts are already to big. He could not fit between the studs when we started and now he has plenty of room. He no longer has to walk around a wall.
Steve decided he would cut the lawn while I was cooking dinner and didn’t move the fresh water hose connected to the cabin. Apparently lawn mower blades cut through hose. So off to Lowes to buy the last potable water hose they had and picked up more wood to finish the dog house dormers. Even in the evening the town was busy. People were lined up as old and weird vehicles cruised the strip.
Today’s product recommendations are for bug bites: 1) I have personally not tried these bee sting sticks yet, but am ordering because everyone says they work great, and 2) La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5. This cream is the best ever. I would never be without this in my house. Can be used on any skin irritation. Recommended by my dermatologist after Mohs surgery. Here’s the links to these products:
This morning, we finalized how the front of the house and porch are going to look. The house is really taking shape now. The front porch will be ten feet wide and six feet deep with two columns. Tomorrow Steve will be doing more grading so that there will be two steps up onto the front porch. There are two double hung windows upstairs in the front and a smaller fixed window to the right of the front door halfway up the stairs.
The insects have changed again. The flies are basically gone. Now we have what the locals call sweat bees. They bite!!!
They worked on framing the front wall today. There is so much framing, I am amazed. We actually need more wood. The skylight for the second floor bathroom was ordered. It will be in August 13th and will be placed in the roof between the dog house dormers over the double sinks.
I made it up the ladders to the top floor. My legs were shaking when I got up there. But. YES YES YES. I made it and did a video. I forgot to show the linen close in the video. It is located after the first bedroom on the right of the hallway prior to going into the master bedroom.
Tomorrow Steve will start back filling a little more around the house.
The dirt is horrendous. It is hard hard clay. Not sure how anything grows.
Today’s product recommendations are for bug bites: 1) I have personally not tried these bee sting sticks yet, but am ordering because everyone says they work great, and 2) La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5. This cream is the best ever. I would never be without this in my house. Can be used on any skin irritation. Recommended by my dermatologist after Mohs surgery. Here’s the links to these products:
Last night I tried to overcome by fears and climb to the second floor. I just can’t get off that top ladder. So it will be weeks before I can actually see what it looks like. I will try again when the front wall is up. It should be good when that outside wall is there. My daughter-in-law, Bobi came over for lunch and zip right up the ladder. I am so jealous, why can’t I do that?
Our lumber is almost gone and you would think the framing would be done. Not yet though. Off to Lowes this evening to get another $800.00 more lumber to finish the framing.
Hopefully, sheathing will go up in two more days. Steve just keeps adding to the job with great new ideas. He is thinking of putting a sky light in the bathroom over the vanity. That is the area between the dog house dormers.
We should be in this house by next Christmas. LOL. We love our tiny house though.
Today’s product recommendations are for framing: 1) No way would this job get done so quickly without this Bostitch pneumatic stick framing Nailer, and 2) the Dewalt Compressor to run it. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:
Need to wear a mask here in the mornings here in Kentucky. Not for Covid, but because of the smoke smell in the air. My friend Valerie told me yesterday that the haze and smoke smell is traveling all the way across the country to east coast (NJ, PA area). It is from the California wildfires. That is so incredible. I was unaware of the largest fires ever going on. No TV here. We get the news on the internet and must miss a lot.
Today was a scary day for all of us. They worked on the rafters with no floor under them. They pulled them up with clamps and ropes to get over the open stairwell. I stood on the ground very worried. Can’t wait for that roof to get on.
Eight rafters, rafter tails, gable walls, soffits, and sheathing before the shingles can be put on. This is a very complicated project and two people doing it in the extreme weather, either pouring rain or hot hot sun. The roof angles are all over the place. Very unique indeed. This home will be beautiful when done
Probably another two days before the roof sheathing is put on. Having French dip for dinner again.
Butterflies are loving us and the Mimosa tree.
Today’s product recommendations are for framing: 1) No way would this job get done so quickly without this Bostitch pneumatic stick framing Nailer, and 2) the Dewalt Compressor to run it. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:
Woke up to a wacky smoke detector blaring. It is scary to wake to that blaring sound. We are not sure why they keep going off. There is no smoke or fire. They keep going for about 10 minutes and then stop. What the heck? Not real dependable are they? They are battery powered ones we bought from Lowes. Going to get two more today from Amazon. The new house once completed will have interconnected hard wired ones with battery back up. The ones we have now are just temporary so we have some fire/smoke warning in the old house and cabin. Ordered siding today and it us being delivered next Wednesday. Woohoo – moving on. So I am told from Larry and Terie that the tree in our yard is a Mimosa tree. It is an amazing tree. It was another hot sunny day. It is 90 in the shade at 5pm. You can actually see steam coming up from the corn field. It is very hazy. Lots of roof rafters were put up today with the help of the hoist and Justin.
Probably another two days before the roof sheathing is put on. Having French dip for dinner again. It is one of Steve’s favorite after a hard day’s work.
Today’s product recommendations are: 1) Set up a remote for anything anywhere with the BN_LINK wireless remote, and 2) the electric hoist that is inexpensive but a remarkable work horse. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:
Woke up this morning and my Facebook account’s password was changed along with my email. I WAS HACKED!!! Why would someone do that? I have tried everyway I can to get it back, but nothing seems to work. It seems as though Facebook does not care either. They have terrible customer service. So today was a stressed out day. I will be doing all my writing on this site from now on. Make sure you follow me on http://www.DeesTimes.com . I have better control of my own site.
It is hot and very sunny. Ceiling joists, rafters, and the ridge were passed from the ground until they were exhausted.
They then decided to try the hoist. Awe it works so much easier.
At the end of the day, the second floor ceiling joists are up, part of the ridge, and two rafters. It was a very hard day. Steve says it was the hardest he has worked the entire time on the house.
We bought a remote control for our cabin air conditioner and air mattress. It was so nice not to have to get up and turn the air conditioner on and off last night and this morning there was no need to pull the bed away from the wall to pump up the mattress to firm it up.
We have the nicest tree ever in our yard? it is covered with Butterflies and humming birds. I am not sure what kind of tree it is, but it is amazing. Continuous flowering!
The shower was loaded with spiders last night and they weren’t daddy longlegs. They kept like jumping on me while I showered. How gross. It was the fastest shower ever. Sprayed pesticide today, so hopefully no spiders in my shower tonight.
Today’s product recommendations are: 1) Set up a remote for anything anywhere with the BN_LINK wireless remote, and 2) the electric hoist that is inexpensive but a remarkable work horse. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:
A few times every night, we have to move the air bed away from the wall and hit the switch to reinflate it. We have solved that problem. This remote-control electrical outlet works great. We can just hit the remote and the air bed start inflating.
We are using it to control the airbed, for turning the air conditioner on and off at night, and for remote operation of the lights in the old house. What a great find this was for us. Here’s a link to the one we purchased through Amazon.
The doghouse dormers are looking great. They are huge and are taking a lot of detailed framing. I think they are going to be so worth it for the look, the light, and the extra space.
The shed dormer side is also going up quickly due to the hoist. It is so easy to bring up heavy pieces of lumber with the hoist. Upstairs will be two bedrooms ad a full bath.
Here is an Amazon link to a hoist like we bought. We bought ours from Harbor Freight. It is amazing. You can do so much with it.
We are loving this mimosa tree. It is really in full bloom now. It makes the yard look so pretty and brings in lots of butterflies and hummingbirds.
Next year, I am planting these seeds from Amazon along the left side of the property. A nice border of these trees will be wonderful. Here’s the Amazon link:
Even the potted flowers are loving this Kentucky sun and heat.
The grass is also growing extremely fast, and the green bucking bronco is getting a lot of use. It seems as though Steve is always mowing. He bought that for me, but he is actually doing the mowing.
There is a constant stream of hummingbirds all day long at the feeder.
I love sitting and watching the Hummingbirds.. Actually, am I watching them or are those little helicopters watching me.
Our outside shower with the propane hot water heater is working out fantastic. We are loving our showers. The only downfall is you have to keep an eye open for bugs/spiders while showering. There is also the possibility that someone is standing on the old house and looking in. When not in use we keep the unit covered and protected from the rain.
If you have a need for an outdoor shower by your beach house, garden or pool. This works great. Here’s the link to the one we bought from Amazon.
This Chicken Alfredo is Creamy and delicious without using any heavy cream or butter. Most recipes for Chicken Alfredo have ingredients that have way too calories for me to enjoy. The recipe below serves 2 very large servings and can be modified to serve as many as you want.
Ingredients
1 Chicken Breast cut into cubes
6 oz spaghetti or whatever amount you would normally cook for dinner
1 tbsp oil
1 cup chicken broth/stock low sodium
2 cups cold 1% or 2% milk
2 tbsp cornstarch
1 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese grated
2 cloves chopped garlic
1/2 chopped Jalapeno pepper
1 1/2 cups frozen peas
If you want to do some preparation in advance you can:
Cut your chicken breast into cubes
Chop your garlic
Chop your jalepeno
I like to do all the chopping earlier and not have to do it while cooking
And store in one container in the refrigerator.
Directions to prepare and serve:
If you have not done the advance preparation you should do your chopping first. I normally do not Grate the Parmesan cheese earlier. So now is a good time to grate the parmesan cheese and refrigerate also
Cut your chicken breast into cubes
Chop your garlic
Chop your Jalepeno
Grate your Parmesan cheese and set aside in the frig
Add oil to a large skillet
Add the chicken cubes, chopped garlic and chopped Jalepeno to the oil
Cook over medium heat for about 20 minutes.
While chicken is cooking
Put a large pot of water on and bring to a boil
Whisk the milk, cornstarch, chicken broth together in a bowl and set aside
Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente.
After chicken is cooked add milk, cornstarch, chicken broth mixture to the chicken mixture in the skillet
Bring to a boil and boil for about 2 minutes until thickened stirring constantly. Add more chicken broth if it get too thick
Add the grated cheese to the thickened chicken mixture and stir until melted
Add the drained al dente cooked pasta and peas to this skillet mixture
Cook for a few minutes until peas are soft
Serve and enjoy
Serve the Chicken Alfredo on individual plates, in a large bowl for table serving, or place pot right on the table.
Grate extra parmesan cheese on top if desired.
Today’s product recommendations are for cooking: 1) A good whisk is a necessary kitchen item. I personally have a few different sizes of them, and 2) The best ever knives are the Cuisinart color knifes with blade guards. They are so sharp. Everyone who comes ober and uses them are amazed. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:
Today is our going out for breakfast. Cracker Barrel pancakes, bacon, and eggs. So nice to take a break away from the job site
We also went to Harbor freight and picked up some dollies.
Steve is working on a way to use the hoist to bring shingles up to the upper level. He does not want to carry them up a ladder. Here’s a video of a test for hoisting up two bundles of shingles.
I keep looking at those ladders. Oh boy – you have to climb 2 sets to get to the upper level of the home. I will soon get up the nerve to climb them. I try but chicken out on the part where you get off the ladder. There is nothing to hold onto and no walls.
Made Chicken Alfredo with Peas for dinner today. All our cooking is done on a gas grill with a side burner. Our dishes are done in wash basins outside so the less pots the better. This is a healthier lighter alfredo sauce then you would normally get at a restaurant. Definitely fairly low in calories. I would recommend and Steve loved it also. You have to realize here that Steve is very picky with what he eats.
The fly traps smell horrible, but they catch the flies. Look at these full traps.
Upper-level framing will continue for a few more days.
I am working up the nerve to climb those ladders.
Today’s product recommendations are for keeping aware of your surroundings: 1) Love this indoor outdoor thermomeer, and 2) We own and love this five camera Blink Outdoor camera system with the Echo Show. Here’s the links to these products:
Another hot sunny day. The second floor is going up. Look at the views. I haven’t climbed the ladders to the second floor. Soon, I will get up the nerve.
Ugly bugs/bees are out. EEEK – I hate bugs. They are on the outside of our shower. I know they are inside also.
Somedays you see a lot of progress and today is one of them. The upper-level walls are going up quick. And look at the views. If you like farmland the views from every side of the house is awesome. Beautiful corn fields surround the home.
The rent a john is so gross. It is great that it is now far away from the house. We no longer even use it.
After a long hot day, we headed out to the Mellow Mushroom for dinner. Very cool southern pizza chain. I understand that every location is decorated differently. Of course, like all modern chain restaurants it has a tv everywhere you look. It is hard to concentrate on your dinner partner when your eyes keep going to the tv’s. We don’t currently have a tv in the cabin. A tv is a treat right now.
Today’s product recommendations are for keeping aware of your surroundings: 1) Love this indoor outdoor thermometer, and 2) We own and love this five camera Blink Outdoor camera system with the Echo Show. Here’s the links to these products:
Breakfast of Champions at the picnic table before starting work. Steve is building muscle and losing weight but eating a lot of food. See what hard work does for you.
Second floor walls are going up. Justin and Steve are working hard.
Working on the siding order now.
Beautiful working day today. Not a cloud in the sky. There is nothing like working outdoors.
The only problem is the flies. We have swatted so many flies that the fly swatter is falling apart.
Today’s product recommendations are for keeping aware of your surroundings: 1) Love this indoor outdoor thermometer, and 2) We own and love this five camera Blink Outdoor camera system with the Echo Show. Here’s the links to these products:
Today’s product recommendations are for keeping aware of your surroundings: 1) Love this indoor outdoor thermometer, and 2) We own and love this five camera Blink Outdoor camera system with the Echo Show. Here’s the links to these products:
Day 73 – Steve and Justin are working hard on the upper floor decking. They seem very happy!! That hoist set up is making their job so much easier.
I spent my day looking at bathroom shower designs.
Today’s product recommendations are for keeping aware of your surroundings: 1) Love this indoor outdoor thermometer, and 2) We own and love this five camera Blink Outdoor camera system with the Echo Show. Here’s the links to these products:
The Hoist is absolutely the best thing. Didn’t cost a lot and will be a back and time saver for sure.
Watch this video for how we use the hoist to get the tongue and groove plywood up to the second floor.
Storms came through and took our canopy out again. Steve is not a happy camper tonight.
The hummingbirds are very happy though.
Today’s product recommendations are 1) Of course a hoist for lifting anything. We could not have done this job without one, and 2) Clamps. Steve uses clamps for everything. Listed are ones like he used hoisting up the plywood and also clamps he uses to hold tarps on his truck. They come in handy for everything. There are so many things that you cannot do yourself unless you have some clamps. Here’s the links to these products:
Cook this for a great one pot recipe that everyone will enjoy. This recipe serves 2, but can be adjusted to serve as many as you want. Do step 2 the prep work early in the day and store in a container in the refrigerator. That way you can be enjoying a glass of nice wine with family and friends instead of cutting things up. I use the Barilla Protein+ spaghetti and would highly recommend it. We started eating the Barilla Protein+ pastas about 10 years ago. It is the only pasta I cook now.
Ingredients
1 Chicken Breast cut into cubes
2 chopped fresh tomatoe
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
2 cloves chopped garlic
1/2 chopped Jalapeno pepper
1/2 teaspoon Dash salt-free garlic & Herb seasoning blend
6 oz spaghetti or whatever amount you would normally cook for dinner.
1 5.5 ounce bag of fresh spinach
1 1/4 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
If you want to do some preparation in advance you can:
Cut your chicken breast into cubes
Chop your tomatoes
Chop your garlic
Chop your jalepeno
And store in one container in the refrigerator with the Dash salt-free garlic & Herb seasoning blend sprinkled on top:
Directions to prepare and serve:
Add water to a large pot and bring to a boil
While waiting for water to boil prepare your other ingredients, if you have not done the advance preparation. I normally do not Grate the Parmesan cheese earlier. So now is a good time to grate the parmesan cheese and refrigerate.
Cut your chicken breast into cubes
Chop your tomatoes
Chop your garlic
Chop your jalepeno
Grate your Parmesan cheese.
Add the pasta to the boiling water
Cook until al dente.
Remove 3/4 cup of the pasta water before draining pasta.
Drain the pasta and leave in the colander.
Using the same pot
Melt butter over medium heat
Add
The advanced prepared ingredients or
The chopped garlic, chopped tomatoes, cubed chicken, chopped jalepeno and Dash seasoning blend
Cook 25 minutes
Add the pasta
Add the spinach
Cook until spinach is soft and cooked adding reserved pasta water as needed to keep pasta from drying out.
Add grated parmesan cheese and toss until combined and melted slightly.
Serve the pasta on individual plates, in a large bowl for table serving, or place pot right on the table.
Grate extra parmesan cheese on top if desired. I personally find there is plenty in the spaghetti and don’t need any on the top.
Today’s product recommendations are for cooking and storing: 1) KitchenAid Grater and storage container is fantastic. I have bought cheaper ones and they actually bend if you use them a lot with hard cheese, and 2) I really love the Snapware Pyrex storage containers. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:
We fixed the broken canopy with clamps. It is not going to last though. It is forever broken. Just trying to hang onto it for awhile longer.
Around the house is a mud bog. We put down pieces of plywood to walk on. You have to be very careful as the plywood sometimes starts sliding and you are off mud boarding.
The views make this so worthwhile. Breathtaking isn’t it?
Today’s product recommendations are for keeping aware of your surroundings: 1) Love this indoor outdoor thermometer, and 2) We own and love this five camera Blink Outdoor camera system with the Echo Show. Here’s the links to these products:
Trying to get the floor sheathing up to the second floor. We used a chain and the excavator with no luck.
The excavator scared the tree frogs out of hiding.
It poured this afternoon and the canopy is breaking.
We ate French dip for dinner at our bistro table on the back porch due to the rain.
After dinner dishes we headed to Lowes to browse bathroom styles.
Then on to Harbor Freight where we purchased a hoist. That should work for getting the floor sheathing to the second floor. Steve is excited about trying it out.
Today’s product recommendations are for keeping aware of your surroundings: 1) Love this indoor outdoor thermometer, and 2) We own and love this five camera Blink Outdoor camera system with the Echo Show. Here’s the links to these products:
I made my way up the ladder to the first floor today. Look at the views – aren’t they gorgeous. They are working on putting in the floor joists and putting up sheathing.
I am amazed at how much work it takes to put one floor joist in. Watch the below two videos.
Today’s product recommendations are for keeping aware of your surroundings: 1) Love this indoor outdoor thermometer, and 2) We own and love this five camera Blink Outdoor camera system with the Echo Show. Here’s the links to these products:
