The Walls Are Closing In

Jennifer and I installed 9 4x10 sheets today.

During a break, this guy visited. I couldn't believe how close he would let me get to him.

After I took the next shot, he jumped at the camera and shared the shit out of me.

More Visitors

Edwin, Lisa, Ryan and Michael came to visit.

Insulating And Neighborhood Shots

Insulation is going in. We are almost done with the upstairs at this writing. After an inspection, we'll be allowed to put sheetrock up. It's very frustrating to live and work around the supplies and tools. I should have cleared more crap out. Pat had a word or an expression for this when we worked on 35 Longyear, but I forgot what it was - something like being caught in the weeds. You start working, you leave debris like bags and remnants around you, you trip over them and tools, you get sawdust and fiberglass all over the furniture and your clothing, you have to clean your bed every night...ugh.

We have adapted well, though. I am amazed at both Cara and Jennifer and their patience and tolerance. Finn has been a real trooper, too. He even hauled two huge bags of insulation up the stairs. Then he played alone for a good part of the weekend and did not complain about it.


An Amtrak thunders by Beacon.

Beacon Harbor. Notice that the thick vegetation is gone (see earlier shots). The vegetation was water chestnuts or water caltrops (trapa natans), an invasive species. Just like real caltrops, the outer shell of the fruit is very sharp and painful to step on.

Moonrise over Mt. Beacon. I was on the roof, for the first time ever, to patch a hole.

Mt. Beacon half an hour before moonrise. Jennifer got Finn a book about Boston. The book shows a picture of Beacon Hill, and Finn has that confused with our town and mountain.

Short Vacation

We're taking a respite of a sorts in Texas. More to come.

The New Skil Poster Girl

We've been furring now that we are close to closing the walls upstairs. Lola watches.

With A Little Help From A Friend

Jennifer and Ngaire painting.More work down below. The cross-braced section will be able to be pulled out in case I need to get under the porch.
Ngaire getting tired of my photography hobby.
We went to High Falls for fun. This is the only picture I was permitted to post from that adventure.

More Porch Trim And a Visitor

Jennifer's friend Ngaire (rhymes with 'diary' but starts with a 'n'). She is from Australia but currently flies jets from Miami. Mostly.


More trim on the porch...

...compare to earlier photos...

...screen door on the back and the awning is gone. There was a nest of some nasty flying insects behind it, but I did not get stung.
I was home all day waiting for the electrician to tell me what to tear out next (wires, wall). The upstairs is ready for a rough inspection. After that goes down on Monday, we are ready to insulate the upstairs.

On tap for the weekend: making more areas open for the electrician, finishing the screen door, more porch work, painting, removing more old wire. Maybe new joists, new studs where needed, more furring.

At some point we'll let Ngaire rest and we'll either go to the Coxing area of Mohonk (popularly called "Split Rock") or back to High Falls for some relaxation.

Trim Work On Porch

We're exhausted. Jennifer painted 5+ hours. Finn played alone, very patiently. We returned him to his mother, then we went to the rapids at High Falls for some fun.

Siding And Painting

Jennifer on high, painting
Putting shiplap on the porch.
The new color scheme
Shiplap for porch is finished. Trim tomorrow.

Stoicism

I bet no one gets the joke. If you do, I'll buy you a pizza.




Finn got his red roof. He and David enjoyed lunch in the new house.