Home Sweet Home

Today was another long day, and I'm beat, and this is going to be a relatively short post.  Sorry, but we'll have to save the major introspective recap for later.

Things started off relatively flat.

At one point I was going about 80 when this guy passed me at a good clip.  That was super sweet.

Later in the day, I passed this power plant, which I had seen on my way East.  Turns out, it is the Escalante Station, a power plant that provides electricity to 250,000 people.

When I got to Gallup, I got off the highway and drove through town.  I stayed at the Road Runner once. That was probably about 15 years ago.

 As I was driving through town, a freight train went roaring past, bound for points west.

Earl's Family Restaurant was welcoming the stuffed bell pepper.  How 1950's of them.

 Next door to Earl's was another groovy restaurant, and I had to get a pic.

Later on, I passed the Cholla Power Plant that I had also passed on Day 2, shortly after leaving Winslow, AZ.

Eventually, we made it to California.  When we got to Barstow, I found a Starbuck's that had free WiFi and wrote this post, on my upcoming lecture in Denver.  Then we made our way to the nearest In n Out Burger, and then on home.

When we pulled into the driveway, Todd howled.  They seemed really glad to be home.  I am glad to be home.  It feels a little weird.  The road trip has come to an end, yet the house isn't finished.  The next time I see it, it will be done.

I'm embarking on a new big adventure, with my lecture in Denver coming up, and all the ideas that has brought to the fore.  I feel like I'm finally ready to seriously take up the problem of architectural theory.  Where will all this lead me?  Impossible to say, at this point.

It feels like I'm at the beginning of a new adventure.

800 Miles in 14 Hours

That pretty much sums up today.

We left Russellville, Arkansas at about 8 this morning, and pulled into Albuquerque at a little past 9.

I think I'm just really ready to be home at this point, and was pretty motivated once I realized that I could get close enough tonight to make it the rest of the way with one long day tomorrow.  The dogs were doing really well too, sleeping for the most part, so I just kept going.

There wasn't a ton of picture taking today, but there were a few interesting things that we saw.

Just after we pulled out of Russellville, we passed a cooling tower, so I'm guessing there is a nuclear plant there.

Once we hit Oklahoma (don't you just want to break out singing?!) the landscape really flattened out.

Heading for Home

Today I packed up my little car, and P + T and I headed for home.

It was pretty emotional for me.  The last few days had been a bit of a flurry of activity.  I was welding like mad, and got some nice little 'extras' made that will give a little extra bit of a custom edge to the house.

Ms. Client, aka Farmer Jo, has a collection of horse shoes that she has found on the property over the several years they have lived there.  I cut one in half and made her a pair of coat hooks out of it.

Tennessee House Railings

First, I apologize for not blogging in a while.

The last few weeks have been frustrating in a lot of ways.  

I haven't been able to devote all the time to the project that I have wanted to, partially for exciting reasons that nonetheless took me away from my work here.  And, partially because I've had to put out various fires and deal with things that just come up that required my attention, as happens in life.

The main thing house-related that has been occupying me has been the steel railings for the mezzanine.  All the interior railings have been fabricated and were delivered to the powder coating shop today.

Here's how they all came together:

You may recall that I had built a prototype and reviewed it with the owners.

Day 56: Birthday in Tennessee! Hooray for Me!

Today is my birthday.  In the spirit of everyone on the Book Face encouraging me to 'make it a great day' and 'do whatever you want to, it's your day' and all, I am starting off with a blog post.

Actually, I already kicked off the day with letting the drywall finishing crew in, and getting them going, and reviewing some things with Bob the Builder and his sidekick Jeremy (yes Bob the Builder has a sidekick.  I don't think I've mentioned him yet.)

I never really expected to still be here in Tennessee for my birthday this year.  I thought I would be here for a few weeks, from late August into mid or late-September.  But, the whole experience with the house has been so much better than I ever expected, that it has been well worth it.

In a little while, Bob and I are going to go pick up some of the steel parts for the mezzanine railings, and I will spend most of the day working on them.  What better way to spend one's birthday than welding?!

Here is the railing mockup.  Those pieces of 2x4 are under it to raise the height up to the point where Mr. and Ms. Client are comfortable with it.  That will be the height of the final railings:

Day 50: Drywall Goodness

Today the drywall guys rocked.

And they rolled.

Here's the evidence to support my claim:

Day 49: Groovin' With the Drywall Crew

The guys hanging the drywall (aka sheet rock, gypsum board, gyp board, wall board, etc.) are like a breath of fresh air around here. Yesterday there were 4 in their crew, and today there were 5.

They show up early, work hard, and get an amazing amount of work done in a day's time.  They split up into teams of 2 or 3, with one (or two) measuring and fitting the cut pieces into place (often up on a ladder or scaffold), while the other one is down on the floor, cutting the pieces to fit.

They are constantly (very loudly) calling dimensions out to one other, often with the recipient way across the room or across the house.  To ensure accuracy, the cutting guy calls the dimension back to the measurer (also very loudly.)  So there is this constant shouting of numbers going on (but you really have to think of it as calling or hollering, and it almost has a musical quality to it.  It really isn't shouting.)

Add to that the (attempted) gospel stylings of one of them, intermittently breaking out in between the dimension calling.  Today it was predominantly "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" intermixed with "I'll Fly Away".

Day 48: Finally! Drywall!

Things are rolling along.  After what seems like a couple of really slow weeks on the project, (although I have managed to say pretty busy,) it's getting really fun now.

Before I get to the good stuff, here's some general catching-up stuff:

The other day I woke up to a very heavy fog...

Day 42: What Time is it? Tile Time!

It's the end of Day 42.  That makes it the end of our 6th week since we left L.A.  I feel like saying, "I can't believe it has been 6 weeks since Paul, Todd and I started out on our big adventure" except that, I actually can believe it.

And, at this point, I think I can begin to see the end point.  I think we have about 2 more weeks, maybe 2 1/2 left here.  Then it will be back to L.A., via a slightly more circuitous route than brought us here.

These past few days have seen a few minor, but fun, adventures.

Day 37: Update with a Zillion Photos

Things are still moving along somewhat more slowly, and probably will be for the coming week.  Later in the week they should be starting to hang drywall, which will be tremendously exciting.

This week's big achievements were the insulation of the exterior walls, and a second thing that I'll fill you in on in a minute, after a few pictures:

Day 34: Photo Updates

Today, Ms. Client uploaded some new pics to her photo album over on PhotoBucket.  Here are a few highlights:

You can see the whole image gallery here.

There is also a little bit more to report, so maybe you'll get 2 posts today!  I know that's rare, and I'm not promising.  I'm just sayin.

Day 30: A Successful Tour!

I'm writing this on Day 31, being Sunday, September 12th.  I am going to make a greater effort, moving forward, to get these updates out earlier in the day.  Today we're going to look at wood flooring up in Knoxville, and I may get some welding in later in the afternoon.

Today's post, however, is about yesterday's fun day of showing the house to some special guests, who drove from Atlanta and Nashville.

Day 29: A Meeting of the Minds

Well, people, I really have to apologize for not posting all week.

It seemed like little got done this week, although there were some important things that did get done.  But, there were also things that I felt should have gotten done, but didn't, and not for any apparent (and meaningful) reason.

And, I have to be honest and say that I'm feeling a little burnt out.  I've been away from my 'normal' life for about a month, and working nonstop on the house for over 3 weeks, without any real break, and it's beginning to wear on me, just a little bit.

There is some relief in sight, because we are getting to a point where we are close to drywall going on, and some other more mundane things, that will give me a break from the constant attention the project has demanded.   I might even take the dogs and go away for a few days, just for a little change of scene.

What got done this week?  Let's see.

Monday was a holiday, but the framing crew worked anyway.  They worked on exterior siding and miscellaneous things inside.  I believe the electricians were here also.

Tuesday should have been the day the roofer came to start on the 2 roof decks, but he decided to extend his camping trip a day.  *SIGH*  This was also the last day for the full-time framing crew, and since the roof wasn't on those roof deck areas, because the roofer was still camping, the framer peopleguys couldn't install the doors there.

Because the doors weren't on, I had to scramble when it rained to put some plastic sheeting up, for some protection on the openings.  By myself.  In the rain.  But everything was ok in the end.  Mostly.

Wednesday the roofers started.  The tapered foam they use to build up the slope on the plywood surface, so the water drains away correctly, turned out to not slope at the pitch they told me, but is twice as steep.  Thus, all the work I had done over the weekend, to calculate the height of the sloping roof surface at the door threshold, and figure out all the corresponding details, was meaningless. *HEAVY SIGH*

I don't have a huge reservoir of confidence in these guys at this point.  The product they are installing is a great roofing system, when installed correctly.  I just hope they can get get the job done.  I guarantee you that I will be blasting it with a garden hose the day after they finish.  If this thing is going to leak, I want to know about it now, not next spring or summer.

The framers are peopleguys, and the roofers are clearly not.

Wednesday was also the day the electrical inspector showed up.  I left when he got here.  I don't do well with government inspectors.  (That's really an understatement.  For more information, read Atlas Shrugged.)

Yesterday, the roofers came back and worked on the roof over the front door.  They stayed late, and yet, somehow, still didn't finish it.

Also, the steel brackets for the timber beams showed up, having been powder coated.

You could scratch the finish off them with your finger nail.  The worst powder coating job I have ever seen.  But, since they are installed up high, and not where they can be reached and touched, we decided to install them anyway.

I can touch up the paint manually.  If they were going to be installed outside in the weather, or inside where they would be handled (like the mezzanine railings) they would be rejected.

Ms. Client chimed in on those, and affirmed that in all her years at her old job, in automotive parts quality control, where she dealt with a lot of powder coating, she had never encountered powder coating that flaked off like that, and that that would have definitely been rejected.

We plan on putting the powder coating company on notice that if this happens again with the upcoming railings (which will be subject to handling and touching, as well as have some outdoor components) they will be rejected.

This morning, the electricians were back, finishing up a few things they needed to finish up.  They left early, and Dave, the genius framing crew boss peopleguy, came over and installed the steel brackets.  I helped, and it was a great way to end the week.

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The real excitement this week is in what went on last night and will be happening here tomorrow.

Last night I went down to Atlanta and gave a talk on the house and my design work for the Atlanta Objectivist Society (aka ATLOS).

It was really fun, the audience was very attentive, and they asked great questions.  It was also really fun that Jenn, aka Rational Jenn, one of the group's organizers, brought her son Ryan.  To get the complete picture of how clever and brilliant this little guy is, you should just read her blog.  Suffice it to say that if Jenn should ever fall short in her stated quest to take over the world, I have absolutely no doubt but that Ryan will carry on and finish the job for her.  So it was a treat to have him at the lecture.

Tomorrow, the group is converging here, right here at the house construction site, for a picnic, tour, and pony rides.  How great is that!?

And, there's even a bit of a special event on top of the special event.  I get to host the first in-real-life meeting of two of my Objectivist blogging friends, Trey and Jenn.  So, it will be a meeting of the minds, and I'm going to open a bottle of wine or two for the occasion!

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Farmer Jo has been working on cleaning up her barn, and getting things ready for pony rides.  It's actually a horse (named Lacy) that the kids will be riding, not a pony per se.  I may even go for a ride myself!

Todd was trying to help out in the barn but kept getting distracted by Bonjo the Donkey in the next stall. That dog is utterly obsessed with the donkeys.  Lucky for him, he keeps getting shocked by the electric fence, or he would end up getting kicked into the next county.

In other news, if you click to embiggen this pic, you can see a gang of wild turkeys about to rumble with a bunch of cows:

The herd and flock actually formed into rows all by themselves as the two groups of animals approached each other.  It was pretty interesting to watch.  I don't believe there was any bloodshead.

And now, for my grand finale, I present Paul and Todd, performing feats of cuteness, high upon the grand mezzanine:

I can't wait until I don't have to look at that awful green foam ceiling any more!

Day 24: Sunday Evening, Weekend Update

Last time I checked in with y'all (actually, that's what they say in Atlanta.  Around here they say y'uns.  Sometimes I have no idea what people are even saying) was last Thursday evening.  A lot got done Friday too, and the crew is coming back to work tomorrow also.  They will be laboring on Labor Day.  That's their choice.  I'm happy about it.  We have rain in the forecast and doors that still need installation.

Almost all of the windows are in, except for 3 that were special order items (just because they were slightly odd-sized) and won't be here for about 2 more weeks. 

Friday night we had a particularly fiery sunset:

Day 21: Windows! Floor! Stuff Happening!

Today was another big big day on the construction site.

I interacted with the plumber today, for the first time.  He seems competent, and is friendly and chatty like the locals in Middle-of-Nowhere, East Tennessee tend to be.  

Let me explain what I mean.

Day 20: We've Turned a Corner

Today we turned a corner.  Or, turned a floor.  Or something like that.

We finally got the floor installed over part of the mezzanine.

Earlier this week we hit a rough patch.  I am pleased to report that we have successfully worked through issues with the lighting, material delivery delays (a couple of critical timbers), some budgetary concerns, and probably something else that I'm forgetting about (because it's resolved and therefore crossed off my mental (and physical paper) list.)  

We are, as they say, moving on.

Will you just look at that floor?!  Isn't it exciting?!

Here we are standing at the top of the stairs, looking towards the front bedroom, through the smaller of the two openings to the floor below.

This is Dave, the highly skilled genius carpenter/framer peopleguy, working at the top of the stairs.  He clearly enjoys his work, and is among the best framers I've ever worked with.  His whole crew is quite exceptional.

The underside of that part of the mezzanine forms the entryway.  The front door is (will be) to the right in the next picture:

The rest of the mezzanine floor should be fully installed tomorrow.

Here I am, inspecting:

At the end of the day we were visited by a mucky creature, up from the depths of the pond:

The water level of the pond is very low - things are pretty dry and they could really use the rain around here.  

Farmer Jo seems to think the pond has sprung a leak.  Apparently, the way you fix a leaky pond is to get pigs.  The pigs wallow around in the mud and pack it down, filing in the cracks and stopping up the leaks.  Farmer Jo also made it abundantly clear that she is not about to get pigs.  She seems to have her hands full with the myriad horses, donkeys, and dogs.

I wondered whether Mr. Turtle was off in search of more watery accommodations.  

He would be happy to know that, as far as I'm concerned, after the windows & doors get installed, starting tomorrow (yay!) I don't care how much it rains.

Day 19: Back on Track

Today was definitely back on track.  Still no mezzanine floor, but they will start up on it tomorrow morning.

Which means I'll be standing on my mezzanine tomorrow!

WooHoo!

Let's see what they did today:

First, they built the mezzanine stairs! Even though there isn't a floor on the mezzanine yet, there is a stair up to where it will be.  This is very exciting.  Now you can go upstairs!  Just be very careful, and watch your step at the top.

Here we are at the top of the stairs, turning and looking back:

Turning to the right, you can see the main post that holds up the roof, and the larger front area of the mezzanine beyond.  The floor joists are ready to have flooring planks laid on top of them.

Turning further to the right, we are facing the direction we would be in, if we had just arrived at the top of the stairs.  At the very bottom of the picture, you can see 2 joists where flooring will go.  Then there's a beam, and then an opening.  The room beyond the opening is the front bedroom.  This is a fairly complex space.

Now we are downstairs again, looking towards the front bedroom, with the stair on our right.

Finally, here we are standing in front of the door to the front bedroom, looking towards the stairs.  Scroll back up for a second and compare this with the very first picture.  This is one of my favorite views in the whole house.

So, things are definitely back on track.  Moving forward!

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Today's extracurricular activity consisted of watching them unload a couple hundred bales of hay:

The hay will feed the horses and donkeys through the winter.

They have this conveyor that brings the bales into the loft.

Today was a good day.

Day 18: Not as Fabulous a Day as I'd Hoped

Last Friday was pretty magical. They erected almost, but not all, of the mezzanine beams, and I was sure they would be laying floor up there today.

Boy, was I wrong.

Today went at a snail's pace.  Our work today involved coordinating the electrician and framers.  Because of all the exposed beams and plank flooring, the best way to install lighting is to drill little holes down into the beams (or joist, depending on the situation) through which they fish their wire, and then mount the lights on the sides of the beams.

Things started off really well and were going smoothly, until one of the joists got drilled wrong.  It wasn't ruined, but it meant it had to be installed in a different place.  I had picked out the nicest looking joist to be installed at the front door, but now it had to go somewhere else.  Not the end of the world, and all the joists are very similar.  However, with solid wooden lumber, they are really all different, and no matter how good they all look, there is always one that looks better than another.  So it wasn't the end of the world, but it meant I had to re-evaluate the whole thing and pick a new one to go by the front door.

Then one got nailed into place where there shouldn't have been nails visible.  That one was mostly my fault, because they did ask, and I was a little vague with my answer.  I thought they were talking about a different one, and wasn't as specific enough as I could have been.  Luckily, I was able to save that situation, and no one will ever know where the hidden nail holes lie! (Ok, ply me with alcohol and you might learn.  Maybe.)

It just seemed like the beam selection and direction took forever.  After lunch, I found myself trying to help the electrician find the right kind of wire for the low voltage lights.  Seriously, people?  Can't the electrician please just know where to get the wire?  The internet was excruciatingly slow.  It was positively agonizing.

During and after that, someone who is not me, but who is in charge of the budget for the project, and who signs the checks, decided that we needed to trim some of the budget out of the lighting.  That would be the same lighting I had stayed up until 1 a.m. Sunday night drawing and detailing, for the electrician to start roughing in this morning, and for which beams had been drilled already.  Great!  No problem!

Since I want to have a happy client in the end, all I can really say is, it's all in a day's work, and that today's work involved dealing with a lot of curve balls.

By the end of the day, things started looking up again.  I came up with a really good lighting alternative that was acceptable, and was treated to the beginnings of some exterior siding:

After all the workers left, Paul + Todd and I ran a couple of sprints up and down this giant hill behind the house:

It was exhilarating, and Paul and Todd loved it too, and I think I'm going to start running up and down that hill a lot more.  I can take them around the place off leash now, and they know where to go and how to behave (mostly!)  It really was nice, and my back started feeling a lot better, for the first time since it went awry Friday night.

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In other news, the local bank was robbed late last Friday afternoon:

Be on the lookout for these two:

Don't they look super friendly?  Apparently they may be armed and are considered dangerous.  You can read all about it here:

I'm not sure whether Officer Barbrady has caught up with them yet, or not.