Day 38 – Living the Dream.

The heater arrived today from Amazon. Just in time for some really hot weather. It is 80 degrees in the shade. I love the heater. It was a recommendation from my friend Brenda.

When it tips a little it turns off. Steve also bought me silicone gloves from Amazon. He was worried every time I cooked. No more setting my gloves on fire now. Love the sayings on my to go cups. Works for morning coffee and afternoon cocktails.

At dinner time we lower the side of the canopy otherwise we burn in the Kentucky sun.

Tonight’s dinner is Chicken Alfredo with Peas. This is a fantastic recipe that is not as heavy as others I have seen. Easy and fantastic!! Click here if you would like to try this great recipe.

We ordered a John Deere riding lawn mower tractor today. It is being delivered tomorrow. I am the official lawn mower from now on. As I have stated before I am a princess and have never ever mowed a lawn. Should be interesting. I carried some water to Steve for cement mixing so he does not have to climb in and out of the foundation so much. He decided not to leave a wheelbarrow opening in the foundation wall. Now we have to climb over the wall and use the ladder to get in and out.

We have decided to shorten the number of courses of block to 8 courses, then the cap blocks, the wood sill, and the rest of the basement walls will be wood. We don’t want the foundation to stick way out of the ground. We are bringing the siding down over the top of the basement wall. Steve is constantly adjusting and designing as he works. It will be a surprise to us all when done.

It appears our MSC 14 day cruise leaving Miami on August 28, 2021 on the MSC Meraviglia is cancelled. The cruise website just posted “On September 18, 2021, MSC Meraviglia will add 7-night cruises from Miami.” I guess we now have more building time. Our next cruise is 9/13/2021. Bought windows for the basement today.

Steve has lifted so many blocks that his arm is killing him (tennis elbow). Bought a wrap for him to use while working tomorrow. Hope it works and he can continue laying block.

Today’s product recommendations are: 1) The La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Balm B5 cream is the best ever fort dry irritated skin. Steve used on major skin irritations caused by cement block scrapping. I used after Mohs surgery – no scaring. Best cream ever, and 2) a Good Canopy for sun and rain protection anywhere. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 37 – Living the Dream.

Woke up this morning to pouring rain. Thank goodness for the canopies. It is hot, humid, rainy jungle weather.

We ate breakfast at the picnic table listening to the Morning Doves just like we used to do in Pennsylvania. Really missing the Northeast today – family, friends, and the easy life. I don’t envy people who live like this or in worse conditions everyday. This cabin and house would be a luxury for many people. I am thankful for this experience as it gives me so much empathy for the different living styles in the countries we visit. People live in environments that to me would be unbearable.

Steve needs a hard hat for the constant beating up his head is taking from the canopy frames. All day long I keep hearing him say ouch and other words I won’t write here.

Keeping the cabin and breakroom clean is a constant battle. I clean more now than in a large house. With your bathroom in your bedroom, you want everything ultra clean.

Today was a dragging day for me. Not much for me to do on this part of the job. Steve worked on the right side blocks today and is still working on that side. He killed a thirty year old trowel on this job.

Look at the pictures of another type of bug crawling around trying to get out of the water and going into holes bored in the dirt around the foundation. Yes. I am obsessed with bugs!

Today’s product recommendations are for masonry work: 1) Masonry tools, and 2)a Mason chisel. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 36 – Living the Dream.

Debating about these laundromat trips. Spending lots of money and time on going. My friend Ann asked why we didn’t put a washer and dryer in the old house. The old house is gross, but we are now contemplating buying the set we will put in the new house. Putting it in the tool room off the kitchen or on the back porch. Haven’t made a decision yet. We woke up to pouring rain this morning and then it rained on and most of the day. Very humid and hot even with the cloud covering. Around 4pm, it turned hot and sunny. Steve has five courses of block completed on the one side and back.

The canopies are working good. We moved them around and set them up for tomorrow. The blocks need to be kept dry.

The weather forecast shows rain everyday for the next week or so. The objective right now is to get five courses of block done all the way around. We will leave an open area in the front so we can still bring a wheelbarrow in and out.

After the five courses are done, Steve will plaster and tar the outside, and put in the drainage pipes, stone, hay, and some dirt on top. Then back to laying more rows of block.

Today’s product recommendations are for protecting yourself while doing hard physical labor 1) A good pair of gloves, and 2) Heavy duty canopy to protect yourself from the sun and rain. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 35 – Living the Dream.

It is starting to look like a foundation and a tent city. Borrowed two canopies and bought another one. It is hot laying the block when the sun is out and if you look at the coming days weather it looks like a good chance of rain everyday. Hoping the canopies, tarps and plastic keep everything dry. Steve started on the block early this morning. He says a real woman would get down there and lay some block. Haha, guess I am not a real woman!!

Below is a video of the cabin. Actually it is two videos. I turned my camera off by mistake while showing the shower.

They picked up the round bales of hay behind us today and took them away in tractor trailers.

Later in the morning we went and picked up ten square bales of hay from a local farmer. Hay is $4.00 a bale here and in NJ it is $7.00 a bale. The hay will be needed in about a week for over the stone which will be over the drainage pipes around the foundation. The hay protects the stone and drainage pipes from dirt filtering down. Eventually it rots, but by that time the dirt has stabilized and hardened. The owner of the farm and his young son were so nice. The son was like eight or nine. He showed me all around and introduced me to his cows and horse.

Weird thing happened to me today. I had to show I was over eighteen in order to buy WD40. What do people do with WD40?

Today’s product recommendations are for protecting yourself while doing hard physical labor 1) A good pair of gloves, and 2) Heavy duty canopy to protect yourself from the sun and rain. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 34 – Living the Dream.

There are 105 cement blocks in each of the cubes. Each cube weighs about 4,000 pounds for a total of 32,000 pounds plus whatever the pallet with the caps weighs. All that weight will be in the foundation walls. Each block weighs about 38 pounds and Steve will be lifting and moving all of those about 900 blocks. Extreme weight lifting for sure. Look at the size of those cubes compared to us.

I placed my phone on top of one of the cubes today and oops there are holes up there. It fell into the center of one of the cubes. Needless to say, Steve was really upset. He had to remove blocks off the top until he could reach it. It is brutally hot here today, 86 in the shade.

Look at my new back porch lizard friend. He is big and ugly.

Eating Chicken spinach parmesan pasta for dinner tonight. Click here if you would like to try this great recipe. Deestimes – Chicken spinach parmesan pasta

Been doing one pot cooking on the side burner of the gas grill. It was yummy.

Today’s product recommendations are for cooking ease: 1) Stainless steel pots are the best. Absolutely love this pot, and 2) Tongs to serve the spaghetti dish. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 33 – Living the Dream.

Woke up this morning to heavy rain, thunder, and lightning. So tired of trucking up to the old mouse infested house for morning coffee. We have to keep everything in plastic storage containers to protect it from bugs and mice.

And tired of these itchy bug bites that just don’t go away. Anyone who camps for fun, unless they are in a motor home in my opinion are crazy. I know I am a princess or maybe because of my age a queen. It will be so nice to sit inside with a nice cup of coffee and watch the storms out the patio door. That dream keeps us going. A lot of our morning moods is due to the darkness at 6am. Sun rises at 6:19am and sets at 8:55pm. We are up before sunrise everyday and ready for bed before sunset. We are in the Eastern Time zone, but it is a little over a half hour drive to the Central Time zone.

Today, we have water front property – no diving allowed. Steve used the excavator to dig a trench to drain the water out the back corner. He then swept the water off the footings to the corner.

Yesterday evening we filled stone In over the footing so the blocks could be placed inside the foundation area. Steve shoveled the stone back out after the block was delivered today.

We ordered all our doors and windows from Lowes, except for the basement windows. They wanted $500.00 a piece for casement windows for the basement. Price seemed excessive to us. We are going to redesign a little to fit another type of window. Put a foldable wall table up in the cabin. We are full to capacity in there now. Today the cement blocks were delivered. Be sure and watch the video. The Moffett is so cool. The day turned out gorgeous.

After the block was delivered, Steve started the corners with stick man watching.

Today’s product recommendations are meant to keep you cool: 1) A straw hat, and 2) WaterBabies sunscreen spray. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 32 – Living the Dream.

We woke up to a wet, cold, dreary day. First thing we did was measure and set the four corner pins for the house. The footings are spot on and everything is square. These pins are used to start laying the block.

The block is bring delivered Thursday around noon. Laying the block probably won’t start until Friday. It is supposed to rain all day tomorrow, also. So glad we went to Lowes yesterday and picked up 26 bags of type S Pro finish Blended Mason Mix and a tarp to cover the bags. Each bag weighs 80 pounds. Steve did some weight lifting yesterday to load and unload the truck. He likes to use this premixed mortar instead of getting sand and cement to mix yourself. He mixes it in a wheelbarrow as needed. Works great you only mix what you need. When you use regular sand and bags of cement there is always a lot of sand left over. As you can see we have nowhere to get rid of all the dirt as it is.

We made our daily trip into Somerset today to the plumbing supply store and bought four inch PVC drainage pipes for around the foundation walls. The pipes were a little over $7.00 each at plumbing supply and about $14.00 at Lowes. It pays to know your prices and shop around.

Cooking on the gas grill side burner is hazardous. My gloves keep catching fire.

Today’s product recommendations are: 1) Silicone oven mitts. After multiple times of my mitts catching fire. Steve bought me these., and 2) Silicone trivets. Look at the many different things you can do with these. Absolutely love them. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 31 – Living the Dream.

It was an exciting morning. I was up and out of bed singing “The Concrete is coming. Oh Yeah, The Concrete is coming. Woohoo, we are going to have some footings today. Oh Yeah! We are so happy to see something changing after the long holiday weekend. Although, Relaxing with family was nice. It was very nice to have conversation with people about other than building materials. Picture taking was forgotten. I only took a few.

The concrete arrived early!

It was amazing watching the truck.

The strength needed to wheel the concrete around was incredible. Steve said I needed to take my turn at moving some concrete also. That is so funny. Can you imagine me doing that. No way could I push a wheelbarrow around full of concrete. Office work for me!!

Footings are ready!

Steve then added a clean out riser to the septic tank and covered the holes that were dug to find the septic and inspect it.

Then off to Lowes we went to look at windows and doors. Lowes does not sell Anderson windows and Home Depot is over 50 miles away. Looks like Pella windows for us.

Today’s product recommendations are for outside toddler toys since I spent some time watching Spencer play: 1) a toddler trampoline, 2) a bubble lawn mower. Oh wow he was running and laughing with it, and 3) The Radio Flyer bicycle stroller combination. I have bought this for numerous one year old’s birthday parties. Mothers and toddlers love it. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 30 – Living the Dream.

After a cold night of temperatures in the 40’s, it warmed up to 76 this afternoon. What a beautiful, sunny, clear day. Not a cloud in the sky.

We bought a weed Wacker/eater/trimmer or whatever you call it from Tractor Supply. It is a Husqvarna upper mid level priced one. In Kentucky they call it a weed eater, in NJ and PA they call it a weed Wacker, and the package says weed trimmer. Steve weed wacked around the cabin and house hoping to discourage the snakes from staying around.

We spent time going over the house plans and made a list of the windows and doors to order. Even though we have a house plan we are not totally following the specifications as drawn. It may take a few weeks to get the windows. Tomorrow I will be getting prices and delivery times from a few different places. We think we are going with Pella windows on this house. Any other homes we have built we have always used Anderson. It depends on prices and delivery times though.

Coming home this afternoon I thought something that was really interesting is that this property is on the top of a mountain. The wind blows most of the time. The backroads coming off the highway are really narrow and you drive up a really scary road on the side of a cliff with no guard rails. Our new motto is “Don’t leave the Pavement”. They will not find you for weeks if you do. Even where the roads are level there are ditches on the side. People drive really fast here on these narrow roads and two cars barely have enough room to pass.

One last comment for the day. I hate insects!!!!

Today’s product recommendations: 1) A monocular is so much better than Binoculars. view animals in the field or use on a cruise to see ocean life or far off land, and 2) of course you can’t be without a gas powered weed Eater. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 29 – Living the Dream.

Showering in the outdoor shower last night in 50 degrees was crazy. It was warm under the water, but walking to and from the shower was really cold. Our heat source in the cabin is my blow dryer.

I woke up this morning freezing. Went up to the house and used a work light as a heat source there. We have used work lights before in other houses when we lost power. They give off a lot of heat. It was so cold I ate breakfast in the house and drank lots of hot coffee.

Usually we sit together at the picnic table. Steve was brave he sat at the picnic table and stared at the foundation. I think he was trying to wish it dry before the cement comes on Tuesday. The foundation went from a dry desert to a swimming pool real quick. At the end of the day it is drying out though.

We keep talking about our view and building a home being the American Dream, but ha the way we are currently living is far from it. The one thing better is we are eating healthier. I am really getting into wholesome good cooking. We are not eating any packaged products and mostly salt free. Steve can’t believe I cook so well. He has basically done all the cooking for the last 10 years or more prior to this project. He is eating food that he never would have tried before and loving it. I think he is to tired to complain or cook. We went to Lowes and Tractor supply today. It is unbelievable, plywood is now $67.05 a sheet. It has gone up $4.00 in the last eight days. When will it stop increasing? Hopefully, before we order. If you are interested in Lumber. Here is a link to how Port Canaveral parking lots are loaded with imported lumber instead of cars. Hope importing brings prices down. https://www.wesh.com/article/port-canaveral-lumber-shortage/36572422.

Today’s product recommendations: 1) Dixie disposable hot cups, and 2) a Conair Hair Dryer. Not expensive and takes a lot of abuse. I have been carting this hair dryer around for a long time. It works great. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 28 – Living the Dream.

We have developed a morning routine now. I get up at 6am, throw some clothes on, and walk to the house looking for snakes and other animals. I loudly knock on the back door to scare away any critters that may be scurrying around. Cracking the door I shout “Hello, I am here, it is my turn to use the house”.

I then make coffee and hook my hotspot up to my laptop. Steve then has his privacy time in the cabin to get himself ready for the day. Remember our bathroom and bedroom are one and the same. He is always saying that I am trying to always occupy the same space as he is.

After breakfast, I have the cabin to get ready for the day. Showers are reserved for after dishes in the evening for two reasons. One is to hopefully not bring any ticks and such to bed and two because it is usually the warmer part of the day. It is to cold in the morning to shower outside. The weather is so crazy today, it is in the 50’s this afternoon. Showering should be fun tonight. It is a good temperature for construction work though, but it is a holiday weekend.

Cement is coming on Tuesday and block on Thursday. The block place is backed up because of the holiday weekend. So the work boots are off now and Steve will be working in farmer mud boots for a few days.

A base of stone has been placed in the foundation in order to make working better. We are off to a good start.

Just need cement and block to move on. About 25 horses trotted past the house today. You don’t see that everyday.

Today’s product recommendations are Dickies hoodies, and belts. 1) Steve loves the Dickies full zip hoodies for working. They have Sherpa lined for winter. He has different ones for different temperatures. He used to always work in Carhart jackets which he also really loves, but finds Dickie hoodies are so much easier to work with, and 2) a Dickies work belt can’t be beat for durability for the physically hard working man. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 27 – Living the Dream.

By the end of each day after doing the dishes we are ready to pass out. Hopefully, today will be better since it was an off day. This morning while eating breakfast we could hear the rain approaching. It came in fast and strong then stopped and a beautiful rainbow appeared.

I just picked up a new name today – The Camp Cook. I feel like I am on a wagon train headed west – Wagons Ho.

We are so glad we have a canopy over the picnic table. It is either pouring or hot and sunny. This canopy protects us from both. Awe – the little comforts.

You know people actually pay for this camping stuff. I am not a camper outdoors woman at all. We do have a lot of comforts for cooking here though. A gas grill, electric griddle, Kuerig coffee maker, microwave, and refrigerator.

The outside light is hooked up on the cabin now. The cabin keeps looking better everyday.

Well, we are sitting on the back porch of the house now and it is pouring again. The excavation hole is turning into a swimming pool and it is supposed to rain all night.

Today’s product recommendations are: 1) When working in mud or pouring concrete, you must have a good pair of PVC boots. Protect your toes, and avoid cement poisoning, and 2) an electric griddle is a must for any camping trip or house rental vacation. We take ours on vacation to the Outer Banks, and also have used in Homewood suites. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 26 – Living the Dream.

Long hot day today. Steve is still on the Jumping Jack, aka the mini excavator. Him and Justin have been working non stop in the heat since early this morning.

It is going to rain tomorrow and he is working until the digging is complete, ground leveled and rebar in place. We want to be ready for the concrete.

The ground is so hard that he could not drive wooden stakes in. Had to run to Lowes and buy Rebar steel bars. The stakes are used to mark the height at which the concrete is poured into the footings.

I am officially as of today called Hero Support. I do whatever is needed to back Steve up. Lol. While running errands and scanning through radio stations, I realized it is a different world here in Kentucky. A large amount of the radio stations play spiritual music or Country and Western. Tomorrow, we plan an off day. Although, we will be ordering block, and doing some odds and ends around.

Today’s product recommendations are: 1) Steve likes really heavy duty outdoor extension cords. He says they don’t have good ones at the local big box stores like Lowes and Home Depot. He ordered the ones below, and 2) the Mason’s line you need to mark from one spot to another so you have a straight line. Will be used a lot when laying the blocks also. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 25 – Living the Dream.

We are both truly exhausted this morning, well actually all mornings. It takes awhile to get motivated. We go through periods where each of us say “I WANT TO GO HOME” – Haha, but where is home? After we sit awhile and listen to the happy birds or it may be that the caffeine starts running through our veins, we gain our motivation. We then start moving and decide to do what we need to do “GET THE HOME BUILT”. If you talk to anyone who has built a house, the hardest part is getting out of the ground. We are getting there. Ordered the 3000 psi concrete for the footings today and it will be delivered on Tuesday. The price is reasonable at $121.00 a yard.

Modified stone was delivered today for using around the foundation.

White trim is now painted on cabin and shutters are up. It looks so cute.

Footings are being dug. It rained so much this afternoon that the clay dirt is a slippery mess.

So in other news I had an exciting afternoon. A huge, I mean huge snake slithered out from under our cabin and headed to the side weeds. No idea what kind it was. Steve says a Copperhead and a friend said a Bull snake. The receptionist at the local physical therapy office said a Rat snake. I don’t care what you call it, it is a snake! I can take the ticks, bees, and mice. But snakes under my cabin is a big nooooooo! I am buying high work boots. I can’t believe I am saying that, since I love nice women’s shoes. That was the largest snake I have ever seen in the wild.

Put together an outdoor counter height table today.

See I can do some things to help. I also, do shopping, decorating, ordering supplies, organizing, tool and cabin cleaning, and cooking. Yes, I am busy. I keep being asked what do you do all day. You must be bored they say. Well, I don’t think so.

Today’s product recommendations are: 1) I love my new outdoor counter height table. I bought it thinking it would be perfect to use now and on the new house’s deck. I am actually considering buying another one, and 2) You can’t get enough Softsoap. We use at picnic table hand washing station and by cabin sink. Constantly washing our hands. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 24 – Living the Dream.

Reflecting on retirement and what is retirement. To me, it is doing something different that you could not do while working a full time job. Work is the essence of life and good for your soul. We are certainly over flowing with work.

The round hay bales in the farmer’s field are huge.

I so miss a dishwasher. Everything is hand washed now. Camping at its best though. We can fill our dish washing pans with warm water from the shower.

Talking about the shower. I love taking a shower at the end of a hot day and looking at the sky above. It is very cool. Cabin and shower are now all stained thanks to Justin.

We are starting to get more organized in the cabin and doing a little decorating. Want it to be a little homey. Look at the excavation work done so far. Steve has put in two long days on the excavator. It is nice that there are no rocks. Tomorrow is dig the footings day and get ready for the cement truck.

Today’s product recommendations are: 1) I wear Lee straight leg jeans ordered from Amazon. Arrive fast, are very comfortable, and most important of all they come in petites, and 2) Sterlite 12 quart dish pans work great for everything when camping or using to washing dishes. Package of eight is great to have. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 23 – Living the Dream.

Today was dig the foundation day. We will probably spend another two or three days on excavating the foundation.

Before starting this morning, we decided we better make sure we could obtain the rafters needed. Lumber supply is limited and so very expensive. We were looking for 2x8x22″s but they are almost impossible to get. Therefore, we decided to cut down the size of the home. We are now building a small cape cod style home with a 26×36 footprint. It will be set up so a garage can be added later, when hopefully lumber prices have decreased. Currently a 2x8x24 regular lumber costs $80.00 each piece. FREAKING CRAZY PRICES!!! I spent a lot of time calculating costs and setting up excel documents. We are keeping track of spending. We really want to have the home worth more than we spend on building it.

Farmer behind us was out and about again. They made huge round bales of hay today.

Steve calls our cabin his little love nest. Lol

Today’s product recommendations are: 1) If you are working in the sun you have to have a large brim straw hat. Really protects your face. and 2) Sunglasses to protect your eyes. Steve always buys these Aviator glasses. They are polarized, stylish and inexpensive. When you work with them you scratch them up and replace them frequently. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 22 – Living the Dream.

Well, the cabin is actually starting to feel like home. Last night I took my first shower in the outdoor shower. The instant hot water camping shower is fantastic. The shower head and water flow is better than the Hampton Inn. That is so unbelievable. Hung up a shower caddy to hold our bathing products.

It is so nice to be eating more nutritious again. No more prepackaged breakfasts or fast food for us. Eggs on the griddle for breakfast. Chicken quesadillas cooked on the grill is our new favorite dinner. They are loaded with fresh vegies. Beautiful flowers on the table and birds singing while we eat.

Interior of cabin is spackled and painting is complete.

Mini blinds are up now. We have been hanging bath towels from nails to cover the windows while we sleep.

The air conditioner works so well we have to turn if off. 61 inside cabin and 90 outside.

The outside of the cabin is moving right along. Trim is up and first coat of stain completed on front and one side.

The cabin will now just be fill in work. We have to start digging the foundation tomorrow. So the existing house is our shed and the shed is our house. How funny is that.

I am the Gopher woman. I constantly go for this and go for that. Running to stores everyday (Lowes, and auto parts store). They changed the oil and greased the excavator today.

Today’s product recommendations are: 1) Once again, the instant hot propane camping shower. Great for camping, and outside yard shower. I am truly amazed at this product. and 2) The outdoor shower organizer we are using is actually for inside over a shower head. Really nice for either inside or outside. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 21 – Living the Dream.

Last night was the first night we slept in the cabin. We slept very well except for the screaming animals. We are not sure if there were coyotes or bob cats in our yard. The yard is very lite up at night, which to me is very comforting. The cows and chickens were also very noisy last night.

This morning we were up early and out to the laundromat. Really missing my washer and dryer. We have to stay at the building site because lumber is currently like gold. Plywood today was up $2.00 in the last 24 hours. A sheet of plywood is now $63.05. Steve also conducted excavator operating school today. I am next to run it. Probably tomorrow.

Today’s product recommendations are: 1) Light up your yard and walkways with solar lights. 2) We keep out laundry sorted in laundry baskets and ready wash or take to the laundromat. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 20 – Living the Dream.

Moved out of the hotel today and are staying in the tiny house/cabin. Placed some blocks as a step into the front door.

Got started on building the outdoor shower. We showered at the hotel this morning, but will need a shower tomorrow.

Electric is hooked up and lights are on inside. Very bright nice cabin. Not as bright as I would like it by the sink area. As you can see the lights are on the sloped ceiling facing the front of the cabin.

Sink and toilet are now working.

There is still a lot of finish work to do on the cabin, so we can live fairly comfortable for the next few months. I will be using the grill and grill side burner for cooking all our meals.

Today’s product recommendations are: 1) A straw broom. Nothing sweeps better. 2) LED flush mounting ceiling lights. We have used these a lot. Really bright and lights up a space and also inexpensive. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 19 – Living the Dream.

Shopped for Plumbing and Electrical fixtures for the cabin today.

The hay around cabin was cut this morning and then teddered this evening. A tedder is used after cutting and aerates the hay to speed up the process of drying. The next step is to windrow the hay clippings. That is to place them in lines ready to bale.

The air conditioner is now in the window

and real plumbing is being installed. Ahhhh, no more Port-a-john with blue water splashing up on your butt. So, so disgusting.

The sheet rock has been taped and the first coat of spackle applied.

The wardrobe is installed and will serve as a divider for the bathroom. It blocks the view if someone were to open the door and you are in the bathroom area.

All is coming along fantastic. The plan is to spend tomorrow night in this cabin. Then we are on to excavating and digging the house foundation.

Today’s product recommendations are: 1) This little GE room air condition. It takes our cabin from 80 degrees to 65 in no time at all. 2) If you are working and need a stepladder, Steve will only buy Werner ladders. He says they are the best and last a long, long time. Here’s the Amazon links to these products:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 18 – Living the Dream.

Calling this journey, “Living the Dream” started as a joke. It was better than saying “What the HECK have we done?” Saying “Living the Dream” makes us feel good about this journey. Actually, if you give it some thought the American Dream is to own a home. So we started this project to keep busy, make a difference in our lifetime, and also have a new home to live in Working everyday like this is keeping our minds and bodies active. We are taking a Diamond in the rough and making a real diamond. This home will stand for 100 years. What a legacy to leave. So think about it, “Are you living your dream?” Anyway, today we booked another night at Hampton Inn. Things are going slower than anticipated. We wanted to stay in the hotel for the coming weekend also, but rates are skyrocketing. People are out in droves vacationing. Somerset, KY is a big vacation spot with Lake Cumberland right there. Houseboating is huge here.

Also Somerset, Kentucky is the THE OFFICIAL CAR CRUISE CAPITAL OF KENTUCKY. If interested in visiting see Somernites Cruise – The Official Car Cruise Capital of Kentucky This event is held the 4th Saturday of the month, from 12pm-6pm April through October. Events are are held on Thursday and Friday nights of cruise weekends. The main event is the Saturday Show & Shine. It is a non-judged event, open to all customs, classics, muscle cars and highly modified late models. Streets are blocked off in downtown Somerset. You can show off your classic vehicle, meet other vehicle owners, and view other cars. You can watch along the street as 1000+ show cars and trucks enter downtown.  The “Cruisin the strip” begins at 6pm. We really want to attend one Saturday once we get a house up.

Today, we bought 14 sheets of sheet rock

and finished most of the sheet rocking in the cabin.

Steve is so happy he brought his sheet rock lift with us.

A sheetrock lift is a must have for anyone wanting to do sheet rocking without assistance. You can lift those sheets up to the ceiling and hold there while you screw in the sheetrock. Use to hold against the walls also. Many friends have borrowed this handy tool from us. We have even bought this as gifts for people. They are great. Buy one today! Here’s an Amazon link:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 17 – Living the Dream.

Very very hot day today. Took some pictures of the Somerset, KY Hampton Inn that we have been staying at. Thursday night our home will look a lot different than this hotel.

Thursday morning will be our last shower inside for awhile

and no more hotel breakfasts. Starting to get nervous.

Finished the plumbing rough in,

glued the vinyl down,

and insulated the cabin today.

Pretty funny, Steve cut a plastic bag out to protect him from the insulation pieces. Worked for that, but almost gave him heat stroke. 80 here today.

We will be back to making Dunkin Donuts coffee in my Keurig. Here’s an Amazon link to the Dunkin Donuts Original Blend coffee we love:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 16 – Living the Dream.

We closed on our PA rental home today. We officially no longer own any property in the northeast United States. It was a big Lowes shopping day with buying flooring, electrical, and insulation to finish the cabin. It is amazing how prices have increased. A roll of 12/2 guage that was $55.00 six months ago, now that same roll of wire costs $140.00.

We are trying to get the cabin buttoned up by Thursday. We decided we will be staying at the property starting Thursday. Oh boy!!! We have been paying about $3,700.00 a month to stay at Hilton hotels for the last 4 months. We haven’t been at the site after dark yet though.. We will see if staying in the cabin works out. Definitely an adventure. Looking at camping magazines, maybe I need to learn a few things.

The cabin is now wired for electric.

It will kind of be like a trailer where you plug it into an extension cord for power.

I went to my fourth physical therapy session. It is amazing I can walk again. I am hoping to avoid meniscus surgery.

If you have sore muscles Apercreme is the best. I have been using on my leg and knee two times a day. Once in the morning and once before bed. Steve uses as needed for overused muscles also. It has no smell and works great. Here’s an Amazon link to purchase:

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count

Day 15 – Living the Dream.

This morning we were dragging. Slept a little later and got to the homesite a little later. The first thing we did was place an order for a large Werner aluminum ladder. Steve fell off the cabin roof yesterday because he was using a ladder to small for the job. Coming down off the roof he can’t see the ladder to place his feet. He said that is the first time he every fell off a roof and he has done a lot of roofs in his building career. He is fine. He fell in the back of the cabin where the property drops off. Therefore, he rolled when he hit the ground. Of course I was in by my computer and never heard him.

Ugg, so today I stayed right there while he finished roofing the cabin. Also, I assisted with ensuring his feet went on the ladder rungs when descending.

After he finished the roof. He put the door and window in.

It is looking good. We want to have the cabin done by Thursday. Then on to the foundation.

Looking for a great pair of work boots. Here’s a link to the ones that Steve has bought and worn for years.

To view the complete daily diary click here: Living the Dream – Deestimes – Make every step of the journey count