Day 31

Here is what they did while we were at the Orlando Temple on Friday. They finished the roof edges for the side and worked on the cathedral ceiling. The building inspector said it looked like we were building a church.

Saturday in anticipation of our upcoming 47th wedding anniversary, we started our orchard so we'll have fruit next spring. I'm watering our new fig tree. In the background you can see the peach, nectarine and persimmon trees. We'll be adding more as the week goes on but that was all that the car would hold today and it took several hours to dig the holes and prepare the soil.

Day 30

Nothing has changed in the front (except that we have chairs on the porch to enjoy the view and the afternoon breezes), but in the back they have put up both of the valley beams and are framing in the upper windows on the window wall of the great room. Tomorrow they should finish all the trusses for the roof.

This is one of the trapezoid windows that will go in the upper space. It is double-pane insulated low-e so the evening sun won't heat up the room while we view the spectacular Florida sunsets.

Day 29

Today they started wrapping the house in preparation for the metal roof and the log siding on the second floor. But most exciting was the creation and installation of the first valley beam for where the great room joins the rest of the house.

Day 28

Today they started putting the plywood on the roof, starting with the front porch.

Here's what the house looks like when you drive onto the property.,,

and here's the back by the master bedroom about ready for some roofing.

While the workers were busy building, we were at Jessica's 8th grade graduation.

Day 27

What a difference a day makes!

With our new man toy, a extending forklift, they worked on the porch rafters getting ready for the roof...

and worked on the side closing in the upstairs and getting ready for the logs on the second floor.

Meanwhile, Oliver practiced shaving so he can be man enough to use the man toys.

Tomorrow they'll close in the other side of the house.

A visit with Carrie

Saturday Carrie had an 11 hour layover in Miami on her way to Santiago, Chile on business. We drove down to spend the day with her, mostly exploring the various beaches and topping all off with a delicious meal at a Brazilian braza or steakhouse. If you have never been to a braza, you need to try one out. They always have a fantastic salad bar and a large variety of meats brought to your table on a sword one at a time. You need to come with a big appetite.

Day 26

How is this for a surprising picture for Friday's work for Day 26? It is starting to look like a house. It just needs a roof and some real windows!

No sooner said than done. Here is the Anderson Window delivery truck. It was delayed until after our "strong husky men" had left for the day, so Caroly and I were the strong husky substitutes. Since our foundation is four feet high, the front porch served as a loading dock and we simply wheeled the 17 windows into the house with the window dolly. The driver helped out.

Monday they start work on the roof for the great room so we should soon be dried in!!

Aurelia's Graduation

We are moving into new stages of life. Our first grandchild, Aurelia, graduated from high school and is soon off to BYU. She was the senior class president and gave the welcoming address. You can see her poise best on the movie screen in the background. Even receiving her diploma showed up best on the screen.

Here she is showing us the colored cords for her various academic honors and the summa cum laude medal for being one of the top ranked students in her class of 500 students.

Day 25

Thursday was porch rafter day. This is the finished view from the back.

Here you can see them putting up a beam and then the various finished products.

Here's the surprise look at the end of the day that greeted us on Friday after Aurelia's graduation!

Day 24

The outside still looks the same...

but inside they have put on the braces under the second floor...

and installed our temporary stairs!!! Notice the landing that we can use as a stage for grandchildren productions.