Consider it Done

Maybe it never will really be done – with emphasis on DONE – but it is so close. There are a couple things to do on the inside of the addition but it is essentially finished. On the inside. The outside still needs to be painted and landscaped. That will have to wait until summer – whenever that will be.

March 17 was Ginger’s official move in day. She hired some youth from the church who were earning money for a missions trip. They were really hard workers.

The “easiest” way to get to her house is through our garage. When the landscaping is finished she will have an outside entrance.

The truck is almost empty…

…but the house is full. She is busily emptying boxes but right now there are no real good photos of the inside – just photos of boxes. This is the kitchen. Dishwasher is not installed yet.

But  getting to this point was a really wild ride. The first of March Ginger sold her mobile home and needed to be out by March 2o. So I put in a week of 12 hour days getting things finished for the final inspections. The last one was Friday the 16th. We passed. Well, with a couple of minor corrections that weren’t too hard to fix.

The cabinets had to go it. Dave, the husband of a lady Ginger works with, came to help.

The floor had to go down. Dave came to help one day and my nephew, Roy, came to help me finish it off.

Joyce’s brother, Jack, came from Eugene to put in the window and door trim.

The range hood went up – not very easily. Jana is helping me. She was here the week of Joyce’s surgery. Yes, a lot of the final work happened that week. To make a long story short, it was a really crazy four weeks. We found out about Joyce’s cancer with all the subsequent doctor’s visits, Ginger’s old house had to be packed and cleaned, her new house had to be finished, my sister, Doris, had a stroke so we went to Eugene to see her each Sunday afternoon (3 times). Doris went home to be with Jesus during this time but the funeral service was not until Monday after Ginger moved in (thankfully). Of course, all during this time life had to go on.

When it was over, Joyce and I celebrated by going to the coast for three days. We had a nice room with an ocean view and a hot tub overlooking the ocean. Oh, let me show you a picture.

Nice, huh?

Well, I need to post this. It has been so long I better get it going before any more time goes by.

Closer…

Closer. That’s all I can say. We are closer to being finished with the addition. The last time I blogged we were in LA enjoying the g-kids and the warm weather. We hated to leave the kids and the sunshine but it had to be. Our 29 hour trip home on Amtrak was 29 hours. Surprise. Then it was back to work.

While we were gone Ginger was able to prime all the walls so she and Joyce (and a little bit of me) went to work painting.

Our friend, Joann, is having fun pointing out a spot Joyce missed.

I began putting up light fixtures, switches, and outlets. We found a few problems with “what goes where.” I had some really good help but this also meant I didn’t know the exact wiring layout. I am working that out along with other “fun” projects.

We got all the underlayment laid down. Then it was a “really inspiring” umpteen hours on my knees – screwing it all down. But it is done. Almost 40 pounds of screws in it.

We put up a kitchen cabinet yesterday and hung Ginger’s bathroom cabinet today.

Oh yes, the electrical panel and meter I mentioned a couple blogs back. We got that fixed finally. We hired a guy from church to dig down and find the electric wire coming in from PGE’s transformer. He managed to do that without electrocuting himself! Our electrician coordinated with PGE to put in the new line and meter the same day he put in the new panel. We now have a very FULL 200 amp panel.

We hired some church kids to fill in the electrical hole and do some other dirt (mud!) hauling. It began to rain before they finished and it rained like in the days of Noah. Many compared the flood to the ‘97 flood (1997, I think). It was bad in the whole county – but only in spots. We didn’t have flooding but we did have run off. And the run off went under the new addition. So we got a sump pump and I think (hope) it didn’t get up into the insulation. There is still water under there. I’ll deal with it later. We fared much better than some.

Because of church obligations I have only been able to work 2 or 3 days a week so that is slowing the work. Also I did very little this week because I came down with a chest cold which is now becoming a nose cold. Hate this!!!

So I hack and  sniffle along my way. Wishing you better health.

Sheet Rocked!

It is now sheet rocked. Also textured which this picture does not show. That is where we left it – and left. We are now in Los Angeles enjoying sunshine and grandkids. We traveled down here via Amtrak. Our 29 hour trip turned into 32. Typical of Amtrak. But we enjoyed it anyway. Perhaps I enjoyed it more than Joyce because I didn’t have to drive.

Christmas eve we went to an early service at church, then to Nick and Kay’s (Korak’s brother and sister-in-law) for dinner and gift opening. They have a small house with umpteen people crammed in so it was lots of fun. Everyone gets along so well that it made a very enjoyable evening.

Christmas morning the kids opened stockings, then it was off to church. We opened our family gifts after lunch so the kids had all afternoon to play with all the stuff they got (way too spoiled and grandma and grandpa don’t help!).

Of course. Pictures of the kids are mandatory. Jeyanthi will be 1 in two weeks. She is learning things so fast. In the week we have been here she has gone from being real unsteady on her legs to pulling herself and “hand walking” along the couch. She points to the foods she wants and uses a few words but I’m not sure she really knows what they mean.

Josiah is playing a game at the California Science Center. We went there twice because there is so much to see and the kids had a great time. It is free and parking is only $10.

Lilly is our toothless one. She can only eat apples if they are cut up in pieces!

Until next time. Whenever that shall be.

A Slight Glitch

Now what is a project without a setback here and there? Let me tell you about it while we are in the middle of it. I have all the outlet and switch boxes installed and have the wires run for all of them. Now to figure out what to do with them. I think a few may not be correct. That’s a long story and I’ll figure it out later. Can you find the wires?

Here’s the kicker. My electrician – the one who is going to install the new electric panel, Tony by name – came to look things over. He discovered we only have a 125 amp panel. He also discovered that our meter – the one in the alcove under the roof – is also only 125 amps. We need 200 for the new addition. Question: do we only have 125 amps coming from Portland General Electric’s transformer located out back somewhere – in the neighbor’s yard or in a neighboring street, I don’t know where it is. This, of course means we have to involve Portland General Electric. They come out, discover our meter is under the roof in an alcove, and that our electric service comes in under the new addition. I knew this and I actually had the permission of a rather non-caring PGE employee to  go ahead and do this. The caveat being that if we ever had a problem with the line we would have to install a new meter at the back of the addition and run the service wire in the attic to the electric panel. We do have 200 amp service from the elusive transformer to our house (a buried cable, if you haven’t already figured that out).

Well, the above unnamed employee didn’t exactly speak for the company hierarchy so we have to install the new meter NOW. This involves getting the guy who locates power lines and other things, digging down and finding the power line, installing the new meter base, running the new service wire, getting this inspected and approved – then calling PGE to come and reroute the incoming buried cable. Tony is taking care of all this except the digging. Here is my friend Charles from our church digging the hole. Note how BIG the meter base is!

Charles found the line without electrocuting himself. Tony is leaving on vacation. Oh yeah, I should mention that. He is going to visit his dad in Puerto Rico for a couple weeks. So I will do my part by getting the electrical IN the house inspected and (I hope – pray about this) approved. Then get the wall insulation installed. Tony will do his part when he gets back.

And that’s the way it is. The drama continues.

Weathered In

This is just a quick update to let you know where we are in the process. No pictures this time. Sorry, Sue.

The house is now “weathered in.” That means it it ready for whatever weather might come – roof is on, siding is on, windows are in, doors are on. The gutters are not on yet but the gutter guy is coming soon. Our contractor left today with all his tools. Now it is up to me – and subs.

Interior framing is done. Plumbers have done their thing. The BIG issue was whether they could get the sewer line hooked up with the proper amount of fall. The easiest way was to go under our house to the far corner and tie into our present sewer. This was the plan the boss preferred; his worker thought it wouldn’t work. However he got under there and discovered the line would just barely miss all the heat ducts and just barely make the necessary fall. PTL. I will install the fixtures when the time comes.

The next thing we do is put in the little boxes for the switches, lights, and outlets. Then run the wiring. I will do all this with help from Ginger, Joyce, and whoever else I can grab. I will need to hire an electrician to replace our present electric panel.

After the wiring then it is the insulation (I will sub that out) and then the sheetrock – I will sub that out also. My goal is to be done by December 19 when we leave for LA to be with the g-kids for Christmas. Honestly, I don’t think we will make it. But we will try.

Prayer request… that Ginger’s house sells very quickly.

Regarding things other than the house. We just spent Wednesday and Thursday in Everett, Washington attending the memorial service for Joyce’s Aunt Margaret. She was 99 years, 3 months and 7 days. I’m not sure I should say “old” because up until about a year ago she acted very young. The family asked me to officiate at the service. I considered it an honor. On the way home we got caught in terrible Seattle traffic and didn’t arrive here until 10:00 last night. Today we had a potluck at the church for the senior adults. And so it goes.

Hopefully, pictures next time.

House, House, House

It’s amazing how one little thing can take up so much of a person’s time. Well, it’s not exactly little but it is certainly all consuming. Yes, I am getting time to do the church work for which I am being paid but…. well, you get the idea.

It has been so long since I posted anything that this will have to be rather simple and short. We moved into the new house on August 23. The remainder of the month was finishing up moving, cleaning the old house, and doing church work. Then we did more work on the house and yard. On September 17 we hosted a “Thank you Barbecue” for all those who helped us fix up the house and move in.

On September 25 we had an Open House so anyone who was interested could see what all the falderal was about. About 50 people came.

Meanwhile we got the plans for our addition (for Ginger) from our designer, made some changes at the insistence of the county, and resubmitted them. They told me it would take three weeks for a permit to be issued. Three days later they called and said the permit was ready. I am the General Contractor for the job and I sub out what I can’t do.

On Tuesday, October 2 Harold and Fran agreed to do the foundation, framing, roof – what they call weathering in, i.e. getting it weather tight. The next day we had a Senior Adult trip and when we got home the dig out for the foundation was almost done. This is supposed to sound like things started moving fast because it did. I’ve been scratching just trying to keep ahead of things.

Let these pictures tell the story.

This gives you an idea of what is happening. As I write the roofing is half way up one side. There is black paper (called felt) on everything else. We have been blessed regarding rain – not much of it and not really a problem. It rained yesterday and will rain Sunday but all next week will be nice.

And so it goes on Jade Street. Come and see us.

We Are Blessed

The best way to tell about the last two months is to say, “Whew, I’m tired.” In fact I can’t remember the last time I was this tired. But we are blessed. We have had a verrrry busy two months. Okay, now that I’ve said that, let me show it to you in pictures.

See, I said I was tired! Just don’t mess with my baby. Actually I think I was just waking up from a much-needed nap. Jeyanthi came to visit the 9th of July and went home the 24th of  August. She brought her mom and dad and brother and sister with her, of course. It sure was fun watching her change while she was here. She learned to roll from her back to her stomach and then almost to her knees to crawl. Her dad thinks she learned to say, “da da” but I think it was more like “gra pa.”

She and auntie Ginger get along well. Ginger even went with them for their own week-long family vacation in Kentucky. They did that the week before they left for home. Here Jey and Ginger are studying the plans for Ginger’s addition to our house.

More about the move later but here Jey and Lilly are enjoying the fun of empty boxes. And below they seem to  have shrunk as they sit in a huge chair on a trek to a children’s museum.

The Willamette Valley Fruit Company makes pies at a place just outside Salem. A friend helped us discover that every weekday from 9:00 to 11:00 is Happy Hour – a slice of pie is $1.00! We just HAD to show the kids this wonderful place.

On Monday, July 25th we signed the loan papers for our house. But no key. They (Federal Government) wouldn’t let it close until August 1. But that week we were at Fir Point camp so we let Ginger pick up the key. She said it was quite anticlimactic. Instead of some big "Here’s-the-key-to-your-new-home” ceremony by the realtor, she left the key in an envelope at the Remax Office. But Ginger couldn’t get it on the 1st – something about not getting the fax that the loan went through. So Ginger picked it up on the 2nd, went to the house, and couldn’t get the key to work. After trying various doors, going back to the Remax office, getting the listing agent to help, they discovered the key really worked but the front door was stuck – they had to push really hard on it. So finally, what began about a year and half ago as an idea to move to Salem culminated on the 2nd day of August.

As I said, we were at Fir Point Kids Camp having fun and getting more tired. But really the purpose in being there was to teach the Bible story in a way the kids will not forget. The theme was from Group Publishing – PandaMania. Many churches used it this summer.

Some of you will recognize that Jana is a fireman warning us to be careful about fire as we act out the story of Elijah praying for fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice. The sacrifice was a nice big, mouth-watering Hershey’s chocolate bar. The point was made that a sacrifice is something that is important to us.

Here we have a wonderful picture portrait of Hannah and Samuel. Remember, in obedience to a promise, Samuel was given to the priest to serve in the temple.

Fir Point camp extended from Monday to Friday. When we got home Friday it was a quick turn around to leave for our church camp out Saturday morning. It started Thursday and ended Monday so obviously we were a little late. It was at a campground west of Portland with lots of hiking trails. The picture below is one of my favorites. Jey is enjoying her ride as we hiked one of the trails.

Sunday morning we had our worship time in the amphitheater. About 80 people were at the campout but not all of them were there at the same time and some were relatives of our church people. Nevertheless there weren’t very many people in the church building back in Salem!

Smores are always good and even better over a campfire rather than a barbecue (see an earlier post). When we got home from the campout it was time to go to work on the house. It needed paint…

Thanks Carol. Also thanks to Wayne, Cathy, Michele, Jerry, Billie, Korak…

…Josiah, Lilly, and Jana! I  guess a little fun makes the work a lot easier. There was a lot of cleaning, painting, and  fixing. We removed the carpet in the family room replacing it with laminate. The rest of the carpet was carefully cleaned.

Joyce’s brother, Jack, came to give advice.

My nephew, Roy (and wife Twyla) came to help with the laminate.

Then it was moving time. I chose Tuesday, August 23 which gave us Wednesday to finish up the odds and ends of moving. The city of Salem chose the same two days to pave the street in front of the old house! They gave us 17 hours notice or I would have picked different days. At first they were going to start at the other end of the street, then decided to start at our end. My pickup is pulling the trailer in the picture above. The pickup belongs to Kalab, our assistant youth pastor. We also had another pickup and another small trailer. We all made one trip but the paving crew had too much tar on the road for the other two rigs so Kalab and I braved the elements to get to the house (actually the tar didn’t stick to the tires very much). The whole paving thing was simply a big inconvenience. The guy with the small trailer actually hand-trucked the washer and dryer down the street to his vehicle – plus some boxes. Between us and the paving, we gave the neighborhood something to talk about at dinner.

Here’s our moving crew, L-R: Phil, Jeff, Wes, and Kalab. The Greencrest house is now clean and turned back to the owners.

There are a lot more pictures but I better post this. We are in the house, slowly unpacking boxes and putting things away. There are still things to do (window coverings are still  incomplete) but we are picking away at them. I’m tired but we are blessed.