Sparkles...

The kids taking a break from skating...

Chance (obviously)...

Chance after helping Taylor get up, it took her a few minutes to get used to skating again... :)

Every time we go to the skating rink, I swear that I'll NEVER go again!! Inevitably though, I find myself saying the EXACT same thing about a year later! :) Yeah, I'd have more pictures, but my camera sucks inside the building for some reason... Of course I don't take my nice one, because I don't want to fall on it and smash it! :)

Pool House Day 6...

Yeah, doesn't look like much progress, but have you ever taped together four two gauge wires that are 120 feet long each?? I started getting it into the conduit, but then it started raining...

Pool House Day 5...

I started running the underground plumbing today...

My trenches aren't "exactly" 45 degree turns...

I don't often get frustrated, but I did momentarily while trying to run it. Finally I just said screw it and packed my tools up. I'll have to either go find some flex fittings tomorrow or do more digging, Umm... I'll try to find the flex fittings, I know they make them. :) I'm doing NOTHING else for the rest of the day!!!

Happy Birthday Chance!!!

The birthday boy and guests!

Chance has been wanting a dirt bike all year! I've been looking for one, but um, they were all kind of expensive! I finally found this outfit that has some that are reasonable, but they are 32 miles north on GA 400 (Of course only those familiar with ATL will understand what that means!) So I have to go get it tomorrow! So I had to get creative for the party since there were no other presents! :)

Pool House Day 4...

That's pretty much how I spent my afternoon, behind that thing digging trenches... BORING work I might add!

The kids decided to get more creative with the sand today... :)

Day 15...

When I got up this morning, there was a guy out there doing the grout on the flagstone...

They are preparing now to pour the pool decking! That trencher I rented wouldn't start! I just called the Depot, they told me to try jumping it... Ugh! I'm sure I'll demand a discout! :)

New Design...

I really didn't want to redesign it, but didn't have a choice because of that boulder...

First redesign...

Original design...

Yeah, I've already dug the trench for the main waste line, and of COURSE it's in the wrong place... :( Hey, what can I say, it IS the first time I've done this... :)

Construction Zone...

The kids are thoroughly enjoying all the construction work. They decided to build their own little 'flagstone' area right in the middle of the sand they are using to mix the mortar and grout... :)

Whatever! I just went out there, and they were like, "Dad's coming." When they saw that I didn't give a shit if they did it or not, they were like, "Hey Dad, check out our walkway!" :)

Pool House Day 3...

The pad is ready to be poured, I just have to finish the plumbing that will go in the slab...

This has been my view for the most part of the day! I have four trenches to dig! Gas line, sewer line, water line and electrical. I also am running ethernet, phone and satellite out there, but will run it in the same trench as the power...

Day 16...

They came out and finished the flagstone and tile today...

Looks pretty good, I can't wait until they do the grout tomorrow on the flagstone!!

Cory's Trip...

Cory just got back from a two week trip to Wyoming, Montana and Colorado! He brought back some beautiful pictures. He didn't have a way to save the pics, so we sent our camera with him as well, so he had two cameras and filled both up.

It was amazing looking at the photos! Cory had a GREAT time!

Not sure what this rock is, but it was interesting!

By Cory taking this trip, he got credit for two geology classes! The only thing else he has to do is meet up with the people he went on the trip with next week and they have to write a paper. He had a great time though and is back safe and sound!

Pool House Day 2...

Once we removed that boulder, we got three sides of the form up for the concrete slab to be poured... Or I should say Enrique did, even though he was working for me, I was kind of working for him as I've never poured a slab before and he does it for a living! :)

Ditto!

The BEST part of the day was, as we were working, I was asking about slabs. Enrique is going to do the slab for me as well!!! Gotta love Craigslist!! Have I said that before?!?! :)

Obstacles...

So it just so happened that RIGHT under where I need to have the slab for the pool house, there was this MASSIVE boulder!

Enrique and I managed to get it out though, but BARELY!! That's where it will stay!

THEN, after we spent four hours getting that one out, we found another!! TWICE as big! We spent two or three hours trying to get it out, it wasn't going ANYWHERE though with the tools we had, so we decided to just leave it! Enrique had a concrete saw, so we just cut the top of it off about six inches, which was a chore in and of itself... Whew!! I'm tired! It ALSO just so happens, that the boulder we couldn't get out is RIGHT where the plumbing for the bathroom and shower needed to go, so I am going to 'redesign' the pool house in a few minutes!! Because that boulder is going nowhere!! :)

Day 17...

They came out today and started the tile and flagstone...

They didn't quite finish, but they just left, and it's 7:00PM right now...

It was fascinating watching them cut up that flagstone! Looks pretty easy actually! Hmmm...

At the rate they are going, they just might make it in the 30 days! We'll see... :)

Van Meter Moving Day...

Wrapping it up!

Off we go to the new place! It was a TRICK getting that trailer in there. I pulled in first and then realized that there was no where else to go. So I had to back out VERY carefully, then maneuver it around and back it in, which I might add I'm AMAZED I was able to do without destoying several other vehicles in the process! :)

Adam and Andrea's new place is GREAT!!! I'm sure they will enjoy their new home!! Of course I'm on call this weekend as well, I got called while I was over at their new home, LUCKILY we had just finished unloading the trailer and truck! Of course Taylor and I MISSED the pizza and beer!! So that was unfortunate! :(

So I took care of the 'issue' at the office and then headed back to check on the progress Enrique was making, who actually showed up this AM at 7:30 to get started doing all that grading for me! He was DONE when I got back! So I paid him, and he is coming back tomorrow to build the frame so I can pour the pad for the pool house!! Rather HAVE someone else pour it that is!!

So off to Home Depot I went to get all the pipe and fittings I'll need for the waste lines and the water lines, and the materials I'll need for the frame: lumber, rebar and wire. I guess first thing in the AM I'll run down and get the trencher at Home Depot and while Enrique is building the frame, I'll be trenching and running wire and pipe!! Joy, joy as it will be in the mid nineties again tomorrow!

Craigslist...

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE this site lately??? I put a wanted ad on there day before yesterday saying I needed these areas graded:




I got many replies from people that wanted to do it. In the ad I had said that I have a bobcat, just come do it. Why don't you do it Matt you might ask... Well, have you ever driven one? It's an art, that's for sure. Anyway, Enrique is coming out tomorrow morning at 7:30AM to do it for me. I told him about the concrete pad for the pool house, and he was like: "That's my trade, I'll help you do that too if you want." We'll see how that works out, but I think I lucked out!!! So while I'm out tomorrow helping the Van Meters move, my work will be getting done for me!!! :)

Day 18...

Didn't do much, just delivered two pallets of flagstone and a pallet of mortar...

Of course I think they said that the gunite needed to dry/cure for three days... I wonder if they will be out tomorrow? We'll see! :)

Soon after I posted, they brought out a dump truck load of sand. Tanner and Taylor started playing in it soon after... :)

GREAT!!

So I started digging out the area where the pool house will be, and I ran into a HUGE stump and an even bigger boulder...

I started digging out the stump, then my neighbor came over to look at the pool. Then I was trying to see exactly how big the boulder was, and my neighbor came back over with her husband to look at the pool. Finally, after they left, I was like, "You know, I don't feel like digging that stump out right now.". So I said screw it, that's enough for today. :)

Pool House Day 1...

Let the games begin! I barely know what I'm doing, but hey, how hard can it be??

I've marked out where it goes, now just have to build the damn thing! :)

Codes, codes, codes...

Sheesh! Who knew there were so many codes to deal with! Since this is the first time I've ever gotten building permits, I never really cared! :) Although everything I do IS done correctly, I've never actually BUILT a building from scratch which has plumbing, electrical, HVAC, concrete slab, etc... Not to mention the fact that the building is about 150 feet away from the house! Since I'm going to have a bathroom, shower and small kitchen up there, there is of course the whole "How do you tie into the septic system?" question... To which I have NOT been able to find the answer. Even though I've looked online, through books and even went to the library today and checked more books out! So I might have to 'wing' that one... :) The water supply line out to the building is another question, I may have to actually inquire about that as I don't really want to lose any water pressure in my house by running a supply line out 180 feet!

I did however manage to get the building permit today for the pool house, with minimal effort. Of course they practically know me up there as I recently pulled the deck and pool permits. She was asking me if I had the plumbing, electrical or HVAC permits yet, to which I replied: "Huh?" Then I just started talking about how I had the pool permit, and I ran 2 gauge wire out to a sub-panel that will feed the pool equipment as well as all the circuits in the pool house... She was like, "Oh, well then I'm sure you have those permits then." Whew!! Because I have zero clue. I have talked to several of the inspectors as well, and they all seem nice. When I called to see at what phases I needed them to come out and inspect the deck, the inspector was like, "Oh, just build the damn thing, then we'll come out and take a look." I was like, "I thought you had to inspect the footings for the posts before I poured the concrete." To which he replied, "Nah, we'll just probe the footings once you are done." So hopefully it will all be smooth sailing as I prepare to get this thing done!!

I've got to get that area ready for some guy to come pour the concrete for the slab mid next week, and NO, I've not yet started! I'm about to go to the subdivision they are building down the road to check out the plumbing that goes in the slab prior to the pour! Don't want to screw that up, and I barely know what I'm doing in that department! Can't be that hard though! :)

How Do You??

So about three months ago, we bought this refrigerator on Craigslist (have I mentioned how much I LOVE that site?). Cory and I tried to carry it up the stairs, couldn't... I think the thing weighs about a thousand pounds. Actually severely strained my rotator cuff trying to do it. They told me to go to physical therapy for 4 weeks. I went to one session, then was like, you know, I've got better things to do. I told my mind, deal with it, we're working anyway, pain or not... Then went on about my business. So the question, "How do you get a refrigerator you can't lift up to the second floor?".

With a bobcat!! :)

The thing came with forks, so I just basically shoved it through the front door just like I did with the entertainment center... I might also add that my rotator cuff no longer bothers me! Mind over body!!

I LOVE The Internet...

So I'm NOT a person that likes to deal with concrete! I found this site:

Bid Clerk

I posted a job listing saying I needed a 14' x 22' concrete slab poured for my pool house. I've already had 3 calls, and have actually just gotten a bid submitted for only $870!!! I was calling a few people and MOST wanted WAY more!!! The Internet, I LOVE it!!!! :) So that pool house might get up quicker than even I would have imagined!! :)

End Of Day 20...

Amazing really, but I suppose not... It only took them a few hours to complete it!

Yeah, the pool house is going over there next to the pool heater, and NO, I've not yet started on it!!! It won't take long to build though (yeah, right Matt!) I prefer to be optimistic! :) Set your goals HIGH, then if you don't reach them, you probably still got a LOT more done than a pessimist who is setting goals... :)

So next step is laying the flagstone coping around the edge of the pool, then layers of tile around the top and then plaster... Should have the flagstone and tile delivered tomorrow, and possibly up on Friday!! We'll see how that works out! :) The kids are starting to get excited now, so I better go get my ass busy!!! :)

Day 20...

So the concrete trucks arrived today!!

I guess the county inspector didn't bother to come out until yesterday, and of course they could not proceed until the inspection was complete... They started several hours ago, and looks to me like they are not going to take long!! They just use that machine behind the cement truck to spray out the gunite much like spraying water, then there are about 4 guys shaping it as it is sprayed out.

What A Chore...

So I've had SO many projects going on for I don't even know how long... Today, I finally got that other piece of the entertainment center upstairs, I busted the crown molding on the top getting it in the door. So I was looking for a tool, but couldn't find it. I went to Home Depot and bought another one and fixed it, but then was like, you know Matt, time to clean the garage!! So I said screw it and decided to clean the garage. I had tools scattered ALL over, and couldn't find half my tools when I needed them. I spent 20 minutes today looking for a freaking hammer, and I must have 8 of them! I didn't take before pics:


I did get the AFTER pics though!! :) Taylor LOVES sweeping, so she swept while I cleaned and put all my tools back where they go! So now I'm ready for the construction of the pool house, the deck, etc... Tomorrow I get to dig trenches for the electric and gas lines. Yay! NOT!! Of course I WON'T be doing it by hand, I'll rent a trencher... :)

Work, Work, Work...

WOW!! I knew I had a lot left to do, but it kind of hit me today. I just spent the last few hours removing the rest of the debris from those steps I tore down...

Whew! What a chore! I am now ready to dig the holes for the deck posts though!

That's how much debris was left, I just decided to start dumping everything right there. Once I am done, I will rent a roll off and then use the bobcat to load it all in. I'm NOT doing it manually again at the dump!!!

Of course I still have to get the foundation ready for the pool house. I have to run the plumbing and tap into the septic tank for the shower/toilet/sinks in the pool house. The pool fence is on its way. Which I'll have to put up obviously once it arrives. Of course the deck, but that can wait if need be... :) The most critical thing though is I have to run the electric and gas out to the pool equipment!! I have the wire and the conduit to run it in. I need the gas pipe yet, but should pick it up tomorrow at a supply house nearby. I guess I'll rent a tool to dig the trench for the electic/gas tomorrow or the next day. No, they can't be in the same trench. Plus, I have to bore underneath the driveway for the electric... Whew, I get tired thinking about it. Whatever, it will all soon be done. So who knows when there will be a meaningful post on here again... :)

Pigeon Forge II...

Yeah, not sure why, I see some people post TONS of pics, it will NEVER let me... Anyway, more pics for those who care to see them... :)

In front of the cabin we rented!

Ditto!

We ate breakfast at this cool diner called Mel's Diner. GREAT food, and fun and friendly atmosphere!

The guys INSISTED they wanted to go on the Sky Lift! So I let them... Getting strapped in...

They raised them up, then let them go... :) Not sure I would have done it, but I suppose I would have, but I had to watch Taylor as she was not tall enough.

Anyway, we had a great time. We went swimming as well, shopping, eating, etc... I HATE the traffic in Pigeon Forge, but hey, it's a tourist trap! I am SO GLAD to be back home though. I've been without an internet connection for nearly three days!! NOT GOOD! Of course, I did have the dialup thing, but 28.8 doesn't cut it with me!! I can't even do it. Amazing though, because I remember not long ago, that was all we had! Time flies though, and the technology gets better! Now back to work, I have a deck to build and a pool house to build!!! :)