Workshop Delay

Today was supposed to be the day that concrete was poured for the workshop slab. Sadly, it is not going to happen. There was a slight misunderstanding/miscommunication between me and the contractor.

The enclosed portion of the building is 30' x 45'. Because the land slopes down to the lake, the edge of the slab closest to the lake ends up being about 24" higher than ground level. We will have a 10' covered section along that long side which will serve, in part, as a sloped drive up to the building. I made the mistake of telling the contractor that I thought that we would like to be able to sit under that covered portion if we were grilling or otherwise needing a break from some awesome project. He took that to mean that we wanted that covered area to be level rather than sloped. The problem is that it would not be possible to drive a vehicle from the driveway into the workshop with no slope!

When the concrete prep work was finished yesterday, I realized that we had a problem, so I had to call the contractor and break the bad news to him. He was not happy but cancelled the concrete and had his crew out today to be sure that it was the way I wanted it!

Here is what it looked like before the slope was added:

The section on the right side of the pad is the overhang section.

In this view, the overhang is at the front of the pad.

The views below are after they added the slope. Yay! We will be able to drive into the workshop!

So, the concrete is now scheduled for next Wednesday. Wonder if I can get each of the dogs to put a paw print in the wet concrete...just one?

Terry's Christmas Present

It is just a year since the construction on the new cabin began. We have really enjoyed living here - me since late April-early May and Terry when he finished his job in north Texas in August. Despite the drought and issues related to it - the burn ban, the continually dropping lake level, frequent watering of  my new grass - it has been a peaceful and relaxing place to come home to.

Terry is out of town again building a solar power plant in San Antonio, so it is mostly just me and the dogs with an occasional visit from Matt or Nick. Yesterday was the last day of work before the holidays, so I am looking forward to some serious R&R!

In honor of our one year anniversary of beginning cabin construction, it seemed fitting (or just plain crazy!) to begin another construction project. Our workshop/garage will soon be rising from the ashes of the old burn pile! I am so very glad to be rid of the burn pile and grateful that there will never be another one there! It was very irritating to continually find certain people were throwing non-burnable items on the pile...so, good riddance!

The shop will be a 30' x 40' metal building. Terry will have room (we hope) for all the vehicles, yard equipment and toys, as well as some workshop space. I hope to steal a corner for a storage area, and we are planning for the future addition of an efficiency apartment for guest overflow.

This is looking from the road side toward the house and the lake. The brown shed in the background on the right will eventually go away so there will be a better view of the house as you come in the driveway.

This is looking toward the road.

...looks like we are just at the edge of the water line...

December at the Lake

December has brought some cool weather and also some very welcome rain! We had a couple of showers that provided enough moisture to warrant the lifting of the burn ban we have been under for more than a year. All the trees and brush we cleared before building the new house have been sitting in a huge pile since November of 2010. The burn ban was lifted on Monday, November 28, so Terry and Matt began burning on Tuesday the 29th. They burned for three straight days - 12 hours a day - to get rid of it all! The pile of ashes is just about the center of where the workshop will be.

That task clears the way for the construction of a 30' x 40' workshop/garage which will begin this week...hopefully...if there is no more rain. I want to be sure to clarify that we are NOT wishing for no rain. It has been too dry for too long to do that, but our goal of having the workshop completed by Christmas is slipping away. There is no specific reason for wanting it done by Christmas (other than dominoes!), so we will be patient if the rain does delay us any further.

There always seems to be a domino effect...or maybe it is a reverse domino effect...in my projects. In order to accomplish one task another task needs to be done first, and in order to get that task done something else has to happen beforehand, etc. The workshop is one of those dominos that has to happen before other things can be done.

Birds continue to make news at the lake! The goldfinch love their new feeder and have been emptying it almost every day!


The flicker hangs on the sunflower feeder, but no one seems to be interested in the suet.