Thursday, September 15, 2011

Cold and Wet!!!!!

Today we worked for 6 hours in the rain and wind with an optimistically high temperature of 50 degrees....there were times that we could see our breath!  All of this because they are delivering the roof trusses on Saturday and we have to have 2nd floor walls standing straight and steady.  Currently we have three up and ready.
We hired a young man who drove down to the house yesterday looking for work.  I am a sucker for people who are motivated enough to get out there and look.  He was a great help and fun to work with.  He had us all singing "In 1817 I took a little trip, along with Col. Jackson, down the mighty Mississip..."  He knew all the words and we just joined in when we could.  He also told us he was lucky because, "My woman, I guess you could call her my woman, gave me all of her old boyfriend's tools since she sent him down the road with just a bag of his clothes."  Yep.  That's a lucky man.

Anyway, it was freezing.  It did stop raining every once in awhile...long enough for the wind to blow in the next little shower!  Brrrrrr....
Here are my freezing cold hands:
Oh, well, you can't really tell how blue my fingernails were and how pruny my finger tips....trust me.
But, we did get the 3rd wall up...amazing to me...the whole thing.

Finally, Stevie came, just in time to take a photo of our pitiful selves...wet and cold.

But, the good news is that we live where you can go to your favorite little place to eat looking just like this and they are still happy to see you.

Stevie treated us to a HOT cup of tea and a HOT cup of soup.  That's what friends are for.   Warmth when you are cold.  My little husband went to ask the car dealer that we always deal with if he could borrow a pick up truck to gather a few more 2x6x8 boards for tomorrow and he's not back so I am guessing that they let him.

I love living in my little town.
And tomorrow is supposed to be nice and dry outside!  Last wall here we come....

12 comments:

haybales said...

I have always been proud of you two during this "house-building" adventure. But today, though, I am especially proud of both of you for hanging in there during the inclement weather! Looking forward to helping you on the last wall. Fall weather is approaching. Won't this be fun?!?!

MonchyB said...

I am proud of you too! But not myself this time- I still didn't write about stove. But you might want to come over to learn how to build it?
Haybales, how are you? I'd need your help too;) Love you both, teachers!

Donna said...

Stevie, you have been a big help already, but the last wall is special, huh?
Monika, I would love to come and see how to build the stove, but I don't think I can swing that trip soon enough! We'll just wait for your directions.

K said...

Well, you have a great pair of hands. Nicely shaped, strong, just as beautiful as you'd expect a mother-of-hundreds-of-children's to be. I know that feeling, that chilled-to-the-bone feeling. If I don't get the Christmas lights up just after Halloween, my hands get so cold, they could get cut just by pulling the light string across them. And when we were working on this house of ours, it was even later in the year - it was October when we shingled, and December when we finished the inside. G's brother actually brought the carpet up in his truck when he came with the L.A. family to stay for Christmas.

We were painting with space heaters the size of airplane engines screaming all over the house. And putting in the cabinets and doing the finish work. The first night we stayed in the house, sleeping on a mattress that lay on the carpet pad in the den, the pipes from the hot water heater froze up.

But see - I remember it all. Because we were both doing work on the house (not all, but a big chunk) - because that house belongs to our hands. Frozen and thawed.

no spring chicken said...

You poor pitiful little people. Way to stick to the schedule... once again I am amazed at what you are capable of. You deserve your wonderful little town with people who trust and appreciate you!

Blessings, Debbie

Melissa Plank said...

Wow, it is an amazing process, I'm just as excited for the work on this home as I would be if it were my own! So many of us are with you in this, in spirit! God Bless!

Donna said...

Kristen, I was still cold this morning and it was actually harder to go out this morning than it was yesterday and it was not even raining this morning. I put on 4 layers and what bravery I could find. Took those layers on and off all day. I imagine we will have a few cold days working inside, too. Winters are cold and long here...and I love them. I can't wait for the first night we get to sleep in our new home.
Those big heaters! I have worked on a friend's house when they had them...a little scary, but so nice.
Debbie, we are really looking forward to being able to relax just a bit after we get it under roof and weather tight....ahhhhh...only 5 day weeks instead of 6 day weeks.
Melissa, wish you could come and see it in person! Thanks for being a part of the whole adventure!

W-S Wanderings said...

Yep, we're here with you. Warm, but with you. I remember those giant heaters too. Noisy beasts. Warm, noisy beasts.

Winter, it does have its charms, if one has WALLS and WARMTH. And its all coming - winter, walls, and warmth. Yay!

Donna said...

Yep, it's a comin'. Probably around mid October in these parts! Hope the warm insides come about the same time...

K said...

I love how it's like we're all sitting around the table, sipping good things and just talking together. LOVE it.

Donna said...

I know, right? I love my blog friends! Your conversation makes my heart happy!

Anonymous said...

Hi Donna! I'm proud of you, too and would love to be there helping! You look so great together - tired but happy! Wonderful to see the roof on it's place and the house has found its shape!
What a sweet letter you received and you made just adorable heart for her to keep!
xxx Teje