All loaded up with venison, walleye, and salmon-and Dad's pickles

Jana and Jesse getting on the road to Ohio and Alabama

Surprise!

Thursday everyone started arriving to help out with the house. Haley arrived after lunch from Marquette, Michigan and began the work. In the afternoon Jana arrived with her miniature dachshund, Chester. She said she had brought us something and she hoped we wouldn't be mad. I am thinking right away, an animal-and we are a year away from our next puppy! I am praying, "please be a fish, please be a fish." As we got closer to her truck, I see a leash and think oh no, it really is a dog-what has she rescued? Jana said, "I found a dog just like Leica!" I look at the body, and indeed it looks like her! She then turns her head and looks at me, and I shout, "It's Leica (thinking why did she bring her-and in the next second I am thinking Jesse is here!) I am crying and saying, "Is she here, is she here?" Then, Jesse uncurls herself from the front seat! Jana had driven from Mobile, Alabama to Athens, Ohio to pick up Jesse!

All four girls will be together for the first time since we spent Christmas in Colorado Springs! We drove to Milwaukee Thursday night to pick up Emily who had flown in from Colorado Springs. Everyone was gone by yesterday (Monday) at 8:30! It was a whirlwind of activity and projects-from lamp fixing to concrete. Pictures speak a thousand words.

Family work ahead

Emily flies in from Colorado Springs tomorrow night, Haley drives down from Marquette, and Jana is driving up from Mobile, Alabama-all arriving tomorrow! We have some jobs ready to go and hope to have some fun too. We all wish Jesse could be here as well to make the family homecoming complete, but a busy work week keeps her in Athens, Ohio.
The great news is that we picked up the washer and dryer in Marinette today and the clothes line poles. There will be some concrete work done while the Rhoades Crew is here and the poles can be put in place!
We picked up a few more tomato plants at Andy's and some fertilizer so we will have many tomatoes, hopefully. The garden needs some help-or better soil. We have some tomatoes and a zucchini plant that are doing better.
We need to finish up some things in the downstairs bathroom before company arrives and we ordered some glass block for the "second try shower wall".

Screen Porch

http://www.remodelista.com/2009/07/10/architect-visit-platt-dana-porch-addition/

More work to do

Today I need to unload all the tiles and mortar from the trunk of the Jetta. It is hitting bottom sometimes when I back out of the driveway. I need to water all the plants as we have not had rain for weeks. The weather forecast for tonight is rain after midnight.

Peter had a nice birthday dinner at the Oyster House last night in Mobile with Jana and Jared.
He is trying to train Chester, Jana and Jared's dog. I think he is running out of time! Jana will come back to Mobile again tonight, and then Peter will be on the boat tomorrow for the "Friends and Family" weekend. The Cypress will be the center point for the Blue Angels Air Show off the beach in Pensacola. We enjoyed three days on the boat last year! The show was very exciting as the planes and jets fly directly beside the boat and right overhead. It is very loud but fun to be on the top deck!

Peter's "puppy".

Happy Birthday Peter!

Micah has "wheels" for school in Madison.

Gorgeous Lake Superior

Haley and Bill live in a wonderful place-so much to do and so much to see.

Haley, Bill and Peter on the Fourth

Peter and Andrea by Harlow Lake-Marquette

Lake Superior Beach walk with Haley and Bill

Hiking by Harlow Lake

How about this?

Take a picture like this

Micah at work

Brushing the screen porch area-Peter

The truck in the back yard

Hope this keeps the concrete in place this winter

Concrete prepared

More progress

Peter was on a mission to get things done before he left for Mobile to visit Jana and spend time on Coast Guard Cutter Cypress. The concrete for the patio between the two wings and the floor for the screen porch are done. It is very nice to go out and not bring in clay dust. We haven't had rain so the moosh is gone. We planted tomato and zucchini in 5 gallon buckets so they can get lots of sun by the screen porch. All the weeds have been mowed and the topsoil piles are shrinking. The shower wall has been rebuilt so the shower is functioning again. We went to visit Haley and Bill in Marquette over the Fourth and found a great deal on shower tiles for the downstairs bathroom. We also found lamps on sale at Pier One-thanks for hauling us around Hale! Lake Superior was beautiful and we had great weather for hiking a bit, biking and walking along the beach-the water was even nice (for feet). The Farmer's market had wonderful scones and more plants for the garden. Marquette is a fun place to relax.

Deadline nears

Peter went to the bank yesterday and the house has to be done on September 1. Two months to go! I think we will be alright. The screen porch, trimwork, closets and doors, landscaping, tile in the bathrooms and hallway, and installing washer, dryer, and upstairs bathroom fixtures , roofing the front porch, some concrete work and stonework on the fireplace and front porch, final stair treads, railing, and banister on stairs-oh, the list goes on!! Anyone want to help!

Andy will be finishing up the window seat and the extra pantry door soon.

Happy Fourth of July!

Concrete work to begin again

Micah and Peter are back from working in Marinette and will be working on forming up the concrete for our house. It is a cool day again today-good for work. I am enjoying my pre-kindergartners each morning and try to find projects or cooking to do at home.

It's looking more like a home!

The garden

The "Victory Garden" is in place. 12 tomato plants, 12 peppers (all varieties of hot), a bean plant (planted at school with my kindergartners), a melon, and carnations, lemon drops, lantana, johnny jump ups, blue trailing things, and gladiolas I think.

This is the lone Elm tree we see off of Hwy 57

The Elm at sunset-Dad's special tree

Bookcase by no books yet!

The rugs add some warmth to the "art gallery".

The sectional has six sections-this arrangement works best

The couches are in place, but not the art work

The pillows on the oatmeal colored sectional in the living room

Another pillow

Pillow making time

I bought the fabric at IKEA in Round Rock, Texas when we went to work on my mother's house in Lago Vista. I wanted something to add some color. I made six on Monday night. Thanks Mother for letting me sit and watch you sew for so many years. I did pick up a few good skills.

Tom puts the OK on the porch he designed

My brother Tom and wife Molly from Des Moines

The new wall and door into storage room

Stairwell painted and ready for "real stair treads"

New drywall, spray and paint downstairs

Big weekend

We were very motivated to get some cleaning up done as Tom and Molly were arriving Saturday morning. We had a good work day Friday as Peter got the primer on the basement bathroom, hallway, and stairwell. Friday we got the painting done and the bathroom back in business. All the tools and work stuff were removed or put in the work room, the sectional got moved to the living room, rugs down, bedrooms almost looking real. We stored the extra hardwood flooring and organized the rest.

It was fun to see Tom and Molly. It was great to have the architect of the porch put his approval on the almost finished front porch. Way to go Brandon and crew-perfect. We also found a Honda Express at a rummage sale, so Peter has his long awaited mo-ped for his early birthday present.

Sunday Peter roto-tilled the front garden area and we planted tomatoes, peppers, a melon, beans, and flowers. We put a new light fixture in the downstairs bedroom and the stairwell.
The blinds are helping a lot, the house is staying around 70-75 now. Having the high casement windows open all the time is great. The water cooler with Mary's artesian water is working out nicely.

I will put some pictures on tomorrow.

Painting and cleaning

This week we have been washing windows and getting screens on. Last night we opened the casement windows that are on all four peaks of the house. Hopefully it will get some air circulating with the ceiling fans. We have had 95 degrees all week and it will continue! It did get down in the 60's last night so the house cooled down to 71 overnight.
Peter has started painting the hallway and bathroom downstairs. We need to put the bathroom back together after the spraying and painting. We are looking forward to Tom and Molly's visit tomorrow.

To add some color

We went to Evans!

Herb garden and other plants

Labels on spice jars from IKEA

Organized spice drawer

Is everything sealed?

Getting ready to spray texture in basement bath, etc.

More preparation with Tony

Kitchen floor in and almost done

95 degrees prompted the blinds in kitchen

Screen porch graded and ready to pour

Work

At work again

The hardwood is all in place. We need to clean it, put the soft pads on the furniture and get cozy! Peter was in Marinette most of the week doing concrete, so I got to organize cupboards, drawers, and the pantry. The bad thing was the stove and refrigerator were out of place and the stove out of commission as the hardwood went in the kitchen last and Peter was gone. I wish I had a picture of him crawling over the cupboards, feet in the air, after he hooked up the gas again.
Today it is more drywalling in the basement outside the bathroom and bedroom. Tony is coming down this afternoon to tape and get ready to spray that area and the step walls. I think that will be the end of it, with just painting to do.

Things yet to do: construct screen porch, trimwork inside, doors (not many) finish off closets, tile in entry way and upstairs bathroom, flooring in downstairs bathroom, install sink, stool, mirror and cupboard in upstairs bathroom and install the air conditioner. Landscaping outside and getting the garden started.

We went shopping yesterday and got a cooler for our special artesian water (thanks Mary), a radio for the kitchen that picks up NPR, soft cushions for the furniture, 2X4's and plywood, and a tablecloth for the umbrella table (yes the orange one from Texas), and a covered trash container. Pictures later when we get the furniture moved.

Almost done-Mark fitting final pieces.

Mark Growe from New Holstein

Tear out complete

Oops! Straightening the floor in the living room.

Today Peter and Mark tore up part of the living room hardwood floor, straightened and reinstalled it correctly. Now, Peter knows how to do hardwood floors! Tomorrow Mark finishes the kitchen and the job will be done.

Andrea washing the kitchen window

Window washing

We washed the inside and outside of the North windows-three more sides to go. We also put the screens on-quick and easy.

Marinette Food Fight

TV News Report

Eagle Herald

I think Shawn Limberg was a lifeguard at the Civic.

All set to finish the kitchen