Category Archives: Kentucky

Steve spent some time figuring out how to get the hoist working. The hoist seems to be working great. This is going to work for all the heavy items we have to bring upstairs. Made Chicken Spinach Parmesan Pasta for dinner. Here’s the recipe if interested. It is easy and fantastic. Chicken Spinach Parmesan PastaContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 71”

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 toContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 70”

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 productContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 69”

Backfilling done today. Went and got my hair cut. Love the polished cement floor in the salon. This might be something we do to our basement floor. Picked up stuff at Lowes and ordered our wall oven, cook top, and trash compactor. They won’t be in until early November. Look at this car that wasContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 68”

The smell in our compound by the Mimosa tree is disgusting, but so worth it. There are thousands of dead flies in the trap. Lowes sold us some bad, old Type S cement bags. We think people buy it, it gets damp and then they return it. There are such big rock chunks in itContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 67”

Working on plastering , and covering the French drains with gravel. We want to backfill the house as soon as we can. Once backfilled it will be easier to get into the foundation and it sturdies everything up. Also spent time planning Kitchen designs with the help of some beautiful hummingbirds. We are going toContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 66”

Flies, flies and more flies. We bought some fly traps and hung one by the porch. I thought there was something dead under the house today. Kept walking around trying to figure out what the horrible smell was. Then I realized it was the fly trap. What a horrendous smell. First floor framing is goingContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 65”

Happy July 4th – Today was a relaxing day at the building site. Did some clean up but nothing big was accomplished. We hung around and the yard bunny came to visit. We made a trip to Lowes for Lag bolts to connect the Lally columns to the main girder. The farmers put up aContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 64”

Our cabin water is delivered via a house from the old house. It makes it difficult to mow the lawn. If you don’t move the hose and try to go over it, we have no water. Well you ask how do I know that? Trust me it is from experience. A lot of time wasContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 63”

Went to Berea, KY today to have lunch with my Granddaughter and Great Grandson. It was a beautiful warm sunny day. Berea is an artsy town and is home to Berea College. My son graduated from Berea College. Berea is the only one of America’s top colleges that awards every enrolled student a no-tuition promise. NoContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 62”

Sundays we have started going to Cracker Barrel for Breakfast. It is good to do something once a week besides work all day. After breakfast we did laundry and then came home and did a few videos of what the house looks like now. First video is main floor and second one is the basement.Continue reading “Living the Dream Day 61”

Bought a full length mirror. I can now actually see how I look everyday. The round mirror is the cruise ship port hole. Laying in bed at night I can dream about the waves out there rocking me to sleep. Or is is the rain and high winds. Steve is amazed that I need threeContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 60”

We are starting to look at kitchen layouts. Have to figure a design that works with all the windows and doorways we have. It appears the room may be a little narrow to add in an island. We are thinking a peninsula will work better with a sink in it. This design has an island.Continue reading “Living the Dream Day 59”

More wood was delivered today. S We are starting to frame out the first floor. It is coming together. The mud wasps are moving in before we can get in. We just keep buying cans of bee spray and knocking their nests down. Have you ever thought about how many nails it takes to buildContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 58”

We have turkeys daily in the fields out behind the house. The view from the first floor deck is so beautiful. I climbed up the ladder and am loving that I can stand on the first floor. Our little compound area is pretty cool. Check out the outdoor shower area. Living mainly outside, I haveContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 57”

Lots of great progress again today. It is very exciting to watch the house rise up from the ground. The structure is getting sturdier now that the outside wall sheathing is on the basement and the first floor sheathing is going down. We are using 15/32 plywood and not OSB board. Steve doesn’t like OSBContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 56”

The town is constantly cutting back the weeds on the side of the road. They grow very fast in this area. It does slow your travels down a little though. Science Hill, KY does a great job with keeping their roads maintained. There are no potholes, but of course they use very little salt andContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 55”

The progress today was incredible. The basement walls are framed. We are looking for three Lally columns for the basement girder. Temporarily wood has been used. It appears as though we will need to have some ordered out of the area and delivered. It is standard construction in the Northeastern part of the United States,Continue reading “Living the Dream Day 54”

It is a beautiful 62 degrees and a great day to work on the house sill. We are up early and starting the day with big smiles. So ready to work with the first wood. The wood is uncovered and the pieces needed for the sill are pulled out. First the sill sealer is placedContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 53”

Work on the stone on the French drain pipe continues. and some excavating was done to level a spot nice and close to the foundation for our lumber to be placed. And here it is – The first of many loads of lumber is delivered. It is a very exciting day. Some of the plywoodContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 52”

Storms rolling through and our last canopy is taking a beating. While it stormed we worked on another lumber order. After the storm damage we were able to repair the broken canopy. There is water around the foundation again. The French drains are in and the stone is being placed over the piping. Headed toContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 51”

Stayed in Clarksburg, West Virginia last night at the Hilton Garden Inn. We got up early and headed to McDonalds drive thru for breakfast. They must certainly like their syrup and butter in this state. They provided four packages of syrup and four packages of butter for three small pancakes. Imagine how much product isContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 50”

Today was all about the recital and taking pre recital pictures. Three generations of women. The oldest was never a dancer though. Then headed to the venue which was at a camp due to Covid-19. The Cicadas sounds were overwhelming in the parking lot. Jenna came out of dancing retirement and performed in the parentsContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 49”

Today was all about family. Took the boys for ice cream while Julianna had recital practice. What a warm wonderful day to sit outside and enjoy our sweets. Then headed back to the house to hang out and play with the Cicadas. Well, at least the kids played with them. I think they are gross.Continue reading “Living the Dream Day 48”

Not missing the work in Kentucky. Just loving visiting with family. We had a fun relaxing day spent with a few of our Grand children. The oldest sibling in her family found my phone very amusing. Love the faces. Tweens are so cute. Then the oldest grandson was intent on helping to cook something. LookContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 47”

We spent last night at the Hilton Garden Inn in Clarksburg, West Virginia. We are headed to our daughter’s house in Pennsylvania for our granddaughter’s annual dance recital. There was no way we were missing this special event. We also could use a little time away from the compound. Due to Covid-19, we had toContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 46”

Went to the casino today – lol the laundromat. The big difference is when you go to the casino you can leave with more money then you walked in with. When you go to the laundromat, you always leave with less money. French drain pipes are all in and look great. The water will drainContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 45”

Today was another hot apply the sunscreen and wear a big hat work day. I got away from the sun and went to a really nice nail salon in Somerset, where I was pampered with a manicure and pedicure. French drains are in. Came home and cooked Beef Quesadillas on the grill. After dinner sat,Continue reading “Living the Dream Day 44”

This morning we got up a little discouraged after the canopy fiasco yesterday. The canopies are all garbage now, except the original that we bought about ten years ago. That one we had over the picnic table and the spikes hammered in the ground. It is amazing how far the wind pulled them out ofContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 43”

The birds are lined up on the wires enjoying the show. They are making jokes and laughing at the big birds playing in the mud. “Hey Carl, get everyone from the Jones house wire. This show is better and funnier than watching TV through their window. Wilma – bring some snacks, looks like we willContinue reading “Living the Dream Day 42”