by Well it was time to sit down to the desk top computer and dust off my writing skills to update my blog…actually it was brought to my attention that I’ve really dropped the ball on blogging so out of guilt here I am – hhahahaha.
Now its been 8 months since I last wrote – phew lots has been going on. It seems my life is never really dull – I mean I have moments of quietness but then something arises and we see some action! So back in November what the hell was I doing?? Oh yes we were planning a new house build – which we are 100 days into our build.
Here is a picture of Povery Acres – pre anything being done! Just lots of thoughts and dreams – which some of those are coming true. We’ve had to learn to negotiate with our builder and as well negotiate with each other which has been a great growing period for our marriage. As you can see in the above picture above snow is still covering the ground – and by the time we move in snow will be covering the ground again. Our initial move in date was September 30, 2013 but as we started down this road I was well aware of all the variables that played into that date and we now are being told November 1st. I have a target date of being in before Christmas which would be awesome!
We’ve rented a Cat, Rock truck, packer and hired out a Hoe & Operator as well as having a friend that I went to High School with who has a grader, loader & gravel truck. We seemingly built a road & two spots onto which would be built our shop & house. It amazes me how that can all happen – I don’t have a very clear minds eye so just trusted Clark & his crew and they came through with A’s all around for them!!
The Builder came in and by the evening of May 10th we had a footing outline of our house…first thing Clark says “I think it’s wrong” – good grief – in my mind all I could think “this is going to be the longest 6 months of my life” – ahhahah. Of course we got out the tape measure and measured it up – guess what – BANG ON! And so the beginning of house building began. That was 100 days ago – today we are at the drwall mudding & taping stage. The windows are in – the blow in insulation has been blown in and we are nearing the first coat of paint primer which will happen on August 26 (give or take a day or two). Then the interior finishes will happen and flooring next. It is really interesting to see how it all unfolds and people work together. We have been rather lucky with any crews that have come in – they have been patient with our questions or quick changes and only had one incident with the siders which was quickly put to rest.
We have been grateful to have had a friend who needed a housesitter for the summer – this job is coming to an end though on August 31 and we will move into the shop for the remainder of our homelessness. The shop has been up and is actually housing all of Clark’s shop belongings, and part of our house possessions – as well as our 2 cats – Bandit & Tito. We created a living space with front room, kitchen & sleeping areas for Clark, myself, & Cooper. Chloe called first dibs on the camper as her temporary home which is fine by us as she only lives with us during the week. Clark added a room onto the shop which is being converted into a bathroom – he & his Dad poured the concrete floor yesterday and over his next 6 days off (starting on Aug 21) we will put a shower, toilet & sink into it and will then be ready for move in. We already have a fridge, freezer & stove ready to see some action and TV/blueray hooked up for entertainment.
We’ve had an older fellow come in and ‘witch’ our land to see what water would be like or where’s it located – he claims there is a huge aquaduct right below where we actually wanted the well situated. Walt from Walt’s Waterwell Drilling came in – the first 200 feet was clay – and finally bedrock but only for 20 feet until they struck gold with water! We have 15 gallons per minutes which is pretty good – we’ll never run out that’s for sure! At our farm in Wembley we only had 7 gallons per minute – ran our house, my parents house & had 50 or so head of cattle and never once ran it dry. The quality of water has not been tested yet but the neighbor to the North of us said the water isn’t the best (has lots of soda in it) but that was the least of my worries – as long as it isn’t full of iron!
Clark wired the shop and trenched in the power to the house which is now running on it’s own instead of having a temporary panel strung out across the yard for the workers. We have no heat yet but should before we move in – our plumber has been on holidays but will show up to connect the boiler system and get us up & running in that area. Our shop & house will both be heated with in-floor heating – no conventional furnace at all.
When the going gets tough I stand in the middle of the acreage and shut my mind off – all I can hear is cattle moo’ing, birds and the wind – that is worth all the blood, sweat & tears!! So here’s looking at the next 104 days (if we move in December 1) – and I promise to try and be better at updating!! Otherwise enjoy the few pictures I’ll post below!
Cheers,
Shannon