Nothing happened this week except for more frigid weather and snow. Mr. Contractor is still waiting to hear from Ms. SalesRep, saying she found someone to drag our house up the hill. Overnight temperatures have dropped into the teens and single digits, so the slab will get poured after the house is set. Happy, happy, … Continue reading Rebuilding the Dream, Pt 121

Only a little got done at the property this past week. Between the frigid temperatures and the Thanksgiving holiday, Mr. Contractor spent the week with his family. He got the backfill as complete as he could before he left. (C) 2022, JJ ShaunBackfill along the south and west walls. (C) 2022, JJ ShaunLooking south and … Continue reading Rebuilding the Dream, Pt 120

Work on the house is going slowly. Mr. Contractor has been steadily moving dirt and burying the back side of the basement. His goal still is to have the basement ready to receive the house by the last week of November. (C) 2022, JJ ShaunLeveling the area above the house. (C) 2022, JJ ShaunThe window … Continue reading Rebuilding the Dream, Pt 119

First Reader and I drove up to the property yesterday afternoon to see how the house was coming along. Mr. Contractor was busy backfilling the west side of the basement. (C) 2022, JJ ShaunMr. Contractor backfilling dirt. It was a pleasant surprise to find him working on a frigid Saturday, moving dirt from one of … Continue reading Rebuilding the Dream, Pt 118

Mr. Contractor has been making steady progress on our construction. He has been moving dirt from areas that will someday contain a garage but will be parking and “toy” storage until that happens. For now, though, it’s our dirt source. (C) 2022, JJ ShaunOur dirt source. Peeking in the downstairs window opening, we could see … Continue reading Rebuilding the Dream, Pt 116

The “squeegee” delivery turned into a bust on Thursday. The company I talked to could sell us the material but would not authorize their trucks to drive it up our mountain. Their excuse was that the road was not well maintained enough to put wear and tear on their equipment. I kept my comments to … Continue reading Rebuilding the Dream, Pt 114

Step by step, our new home is taking shape. Our contractor has added dirt to the base of the yet-to-be basement ahead of the slab pour. (C) 2022, JJ ShaunCleaning and leveling the base layer. But, before the foundation can be poured, drainage will need to be added around the outside of the newly cured … Continue reading Rebuilding the Dream, Pt 112

Yesterday marked the second anniversary of the beginning of this journey. On October 18, 2020, First Reader and I were given two hours to pack what we could fit in four vehicles and get off the mountain. Family members drove up to help us pack and get all of our cars out of harm’s way. … Continue reading Rebuilding the Dream, Pt 110

A lot can happen in a few days. The first round of cement has been poured, and the frost wall is in. (C) 2022, JJ ShaunThe frost wall on Wednesday. The forms for the basement went up at the end of the week. They are ready for the next stage — pouring the cement. (C) … Continue reading Rebuilding the Dream, Pt 106