Foundation

The digging is done, and the foundation is poured!

Check it out:

There is room for a crawl-space, and they dug a trench for a sturdy foundation footing...

The forms were created... and it was calculated that we need a paltry 3 cubic yards of cement for our little project...

So we were all surprised when they showed up today with the father-of-all-cement mixers -- an 18-wheeler!.. Talk about overkill...!!... Hmmm... and a special treat... we had a cement pump to "deliver" the stuff into the forms... guess everyone has had enough wheel-barrowing! Easy!

Next week they will begin constructing the floor. They will create an access hole into the crawl-space, and soon the porch ceiling will come down.

It will be a couple of weeks before the old walls come down and we have to live amongst the mess. For now, it is real nice to observe the process from inside looking out...

Bye Bye Patio

The back patio is gone -- reduced to mountain of concrete and dirt! A lot of dirt is coming out of the hole... And six tons of concrete!!!! All of it has to be hauled out by wheelbarrow.... it was piled onto the driveway & under the carport... it overflowed onto the grass and into the garden... Dirt was everywhere - good thing we are having dry weather for a few more days!

From the driveway, the Bobcat can reach it...... So far, three trailer-fulls have been hauled away....

(this photo was a couple of days and a couple of truck-loads ago... )

Here we go Again!!

This came about rather suddenly. We have begun another remodeling project! HooYay! It is something I have been imagining for a few months... and the opportunity arose to get it started, so... HERE WE GO AGAIN!! We will be losing our back porch, but gaining a better living/dining room layout... as well as...(drum roll, please...) ... Closet Space!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES!!!!!!!!!!

before:

This morning was filled with the sound of jack-hammers and digging. The old cement has to come out, then a couple of feet of dirt will be dug up and hauled away... to create a "crawl space."

The weather cooperated, it was mild and sunny - and the workers got a LOT done today. Just two guys did all this work in eight hours... amazing!

(Bet they'll be sore tomorrow!)

We plan to re-use the large windows across the back - (they are nice dual pane safety glass...) - so they were protected with plywood sheets. The old walls will stay in place for much of the construction... Plan is to keep the mess away from the indoor areas for as long as possible...

Here is what things looked like at the end of the day today..... (Rosie would have been thrilled to explore this...)

LUVS 2 FISH

My brother Lives to fish. Even as a toddler, he carried around a fishing pole... Our Dad was the same way, so, I suppose it is genetic. And, because I adore him, it makes me very happy when he comes home happy with something like these beauties! And... ummm... just to be clear, most of his fishing is "catch and release".... he condones barbless hooks and that whole "ecologically correct" bit....
Sorry -- but -- in my opinion, well......why catch them if you don't intend to eat them.???...?...? That won't ever make sense to me... 'cuz I just plain don't "love" the act of fishing... I like catching!!... and I'm not at all good at catching trout, so it is a real treat when I get to enjoy the fruits of my brother's labor! These are some of heftiest he's brought me. They were cleaned and already headless when they arrived... (not as photogenic as they could have been...) The top fish is a Rainbow Trout, and the lower is a Brown Trout. These were caught near the town of Burney, from the Hat Creek (I imagine it is more of a river, than a creek...) on land accessible only to members of a private fly fishing club... it is supposedly a very beautiful location... to go fly fishing in the snow...

The best thing to do with freshly caught fish, is cook it right away!! So when my brother showed up today to give me freshly caught fish, I dredged it in flour, with salt and pepper, stuffed in some Meyer Lemon slices, and sauteed it in a mixture of butter and olive oil. (If it was summer, and my herb garden wasn't frozen, I'd have stuffed it with Lemon Basil!)

This was my BRUNCH, today. Just for me, as I am "home alone" without the hubby or daughter. For a few days. Too bad for them, huh!?!! haha...

Thanks... big Bro... for sharing!!!

YYY