Day Two

That's one pile of dirt you got there ...

This hole is one of two that is finished and ready for the push pier ...

Unfortunately we needed to further dismantle the bookshelves...

Two final holes ... for this room anyway!

I must say ... that's one heck of a mess and I'm so glad I don't have to put it back.

With all of the jack-hammering that has been done along with rebar cutting that is also occurring there is alot of airborne dust. There is a fine layer EVERYWHERE in the basement and some of it is filtering upstairs. Oh well, at any rate, another day under our belt.

Tomorrow's photos will be more interesting ... a backhoe will be here to dig trench around the house. Hm-m-m a moat? I'll be the "Queen of the Castle"!

Day One

We were told we needed to clear shelves and remove flannel board ... so ...

we did as we were told

... resulting in an overcrowded storage area ...

A mole?

 No, just a hole!

But, not just one, two!

This was after half a days work. There are still two more holes to be dug in this room ... wonder if there will be enough floor space for the temporary storage of the dirt, etc.! Only time will tell ...



Prep Work ...

Spent last week-end clearing out the basement rooms. Haven't seen them this "bare" since moving in 35 years ago!

Furnace room area at north end of big room. See the lovely new furnace?

My "sewing library" at south end of big room. I have since learned that I will need to empty that area as they will be digging up floor at that end to put in push piers.

Area under the stairway has become a major storage area for all of the other "stuff".

Even the bathroom was called into duty! Left the area open so it could be "utilized" when needed ...

... and in case I feel motivated ... I've got a temporary sewing station set up in the living room.

... and the prep work begins ... ho-hum

Where'd it go?

Here 'tis!

Dismantling south patio ...

... storing the stone tiles ...

Slate walkway

the "Dan/Mitch Walkway" will be removed by contractor



We're in countdown mode now. Work will soon begin to resolve our settling problems. Exterior prep is finished and I will begin clearing the basement rooms later this week ... ARGH!!!

Foundation repairs will occur on three sides of the garage, all footings on the "sunken" living room, and the west wall beneath the enclosed deck. In all we will have 29 "push piers" and 4-7 "anchor wall systems" installed. This should stabilize the foundation.

Dang Drought

Humongous Heat Pump -- twice the size of the old one.

Cooler temperatures are confusing our Iris ... they think it's spring?

Yes, we are in a drought. This is our well cap ... notice the "gap"?

Dinner Is Served

I have a habit of looking out the dining room doors as I pass through. Imagine my surprise when I found the family of turkeys strolling through the yard feeding on our "salad bar"! They have been a constant morning sighting for several weeks. This was the first time I had witnessed them so close to the house, they are usually in the pasture south of the house. Before I grabbed the camera they were actually beneath the bird feeder in foreground. They are interesting creatures, and gutsy too--turkey season opened September 15th!

One of the neighbors corrals butts up next to our west fence. This summer its been the home to their bull and a palomino. Whenever we are out in the yard the horse will come over to the fence to see "whassup". Perhaps it is a habit created because whenever we see him we feed him apples? Can't tell his age, but he is a beautiful creature. The bull? He isn't quite as congenial ... he likes to hang out near the shelter and the hay bale.

~~~ Wizard-ing ~~~

I'm bummed. Sewing/quilting projects were put on hold due to furnace/heat pump issues. With that major expense out of the way things were returning to normal. I was looking forward to returning to the sewing room to complete the quilt-in-progress, "Slash your Stash". Unfortunately when installers were needing into crawl space for duct work we discovered foundation problems. Long story short ... we're under contract to have major foundation repairs made. Work will begin in mid-October. Now, what to do with all my "down" time?

I was reading through one of my quilting catalogues when I found a quilt design computer program. While researching that program I came across it's less expensive wizard "sister", which I felt better suited my current needs. I'm usually designing a quilt with colored pencils, graph paper, calculator, etc. The wizard seemed to be the next step, so I ordered it! Program arrived this past week, is installed and I've laid out a quilt for the "boy cave" in Ogallala. So, I'll be happily entertaining myself in the second floor computer room while basement wall/foundation issues are being addressed/repaired!

I'm still bummed with the expenses that lay ahead ... but when the work is finished we will have repaired our settling problems!