Category Archives: Home Building

Another Lowes day. Starting to get prepared to do the basement floor. Bought six mil clear plastic and another wheelbarrow. Cool wheelbarrow it has two front wheels. You can’t tip it over and dump the concrete. Next week we will order the stone for the basement. After stone is in and leveled the plastic goesContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 112”

This dream is rain, mud, sun, bugs and humidity. Flies are back again. The good part is the fly trap in the tree is catching them. There are also a ton of larger bugs getting in the fly trap. Better in there then on me or in my cabin. Although, I have to say swattingContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 111”

Another Lowes run for me. Had to pick up more planks to stand on for roofing. The weather today is hot and sunny. By 9am it was already super hot on the roof. We had to replace a sheet of plywood between the dog house dormers. Even though it was really nailed it soaked upContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 110”

Shed dormer shingles are on and the shingles are started on the Dog house dormer side. It was a overcast cool day. It was a perfect day for working on the roof. Today’s product recommendations are for keeping aware of your surroundings: 1) Love this indoor outdoor thermometer, and 2) We own and love thisContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 109”

Tried working today, but got rained out in about an hour. Steve spent some time building roof ladders. He used these kind of ladders to roof our rental last year. They worked great. Cleared up later in the day. Steve went up on the roof and put on some starter shingles. Today’s product recommendations areContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 108”

Strange weather today, cloudy and humid this morning, then hot and sunny in the afternoon, and finally lightning and rain in the evening. Not much was accomplished today with the house. We did our normal Sunday fun day stuff. Breakfast out, laundry, harbor freight shopping, and Lowes shopping. Took a few pictures of the houseContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 107”

Rained on and off this morning. Cooler with no sun so it was nice working conditioning. So I wanted to see exactly how much our air mattress has expanded. It started at 60x80x22 inches high. It is now 68x81x21 inches high. Wonder how big it will get and how close to the floor we willContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 106”

The birds were back on the wires this morning waiting for work to start. They are probably discussing how the big birds are building a really big nest. They love watching the action. Sheathing continued today. Almost, almost done. The shed dormer side is starting to look good. We put one of the high frontContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 105”

Steve says even after we move into the new house we can continue our outdoor showering. It is really inexpensive and it will save us money. Is he crazy!! I don’t think so. Actually, I know we are not doing that. Don’t the dog house dormers look gorgeous. They actually make the side of theContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 104”

My hope is that all who are reading these daily posts are developing a better appreciation for the construction industry. A builder/general contractor has to have an extensive knowledge of building codes, building design, building materials, excellent people skills, and endurance. It takes a lot of skill to build, remodel, and refurbish a home. LastContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 103”

Last night was a very stormy night. Therefore, no outside water activities took places. Dishes and showering left for the morning. Have to shower early though before work starts on the house. You can see right in the shower from up high in the new house. Someone said, rent the cabin and shower facilities onContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 102”

Sheathing went up today until it started to storm about 2pm. Still pouring with thunder and lightening right now at 4pm. Sheathing is on the front and the back of the house. We are hoping to have all the Sheathing done by the end of the week. The corn tassels came up overnight and theyContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 101”

Today is Sunday, our funday. Even though we had the week off we took today off also. We had breakfast at Cracker Barrel, and did our normal Somerset Sunday stuff. The Car wash, laundry, Lowes, kroger, etc, etc, etc. Alot cooler this morning at 61 degrees at 8am. Somerset is such a weird town. AContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 100”

Hard to get back into this building/glamping experience. Steve worked on getting the Dog house dormer side of the house ready for sheathing. By the end of the day that side is ready for sheathing snd so is the front and the back of the house. The corn has grown tremendously and the soy beanContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 99”

Drove home from West Virginia today. We are seeing more masks again and people are talking about covid AGAIN. The floor and tables on the back porch of the old house are covered with pieces of the burnt ceiling. Someone who lived here must have grilled a little to close to the house. We areContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 98”

Today was a hard day. Had an appointment in NJ and then we started driving home. I am so sad!! I love NJ and PA. Drove to the same hotel in WV. Had a different room with another horrible bed. Got back to reality and startimg reading the news and found out the hype aboutContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 97”

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, butContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 96”

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 waspsContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 95”

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 andContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 94”

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 myContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 93”

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. WeContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 92”

Day 91 – Living the Dream. 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, andContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 91”

Day 90 – Living the Dream. 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 fullContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 90”

Day 89 – Living the Dream. 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 cameContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 89”

Day 88 – Living the Dream. 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.Continue reading “Living the Dream Day 88”

Day 87 – Living the Dream. 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 thenContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 87”

Day 86 – Living the Dream. 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 inContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 86”

Day 85 – Living the Dream. 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 –Continue reading “Living the Dream Day 85”

Day 84 – Living the Dream. 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 willContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 84”

Day 83- Living the Dream. 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 goodContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 83”