Ding dong the deck is done, the deck is done.

The deck is done and so am I, Oliver out....

Changes to the kitchen nearing completion

Finally, close to being able to clean the sheet rock duct for the last time.  Next up, decisions whether to put wainscott up on the exterior wall. Or we might just trim out the windows and surrounding molding with old exterior siding we've salvaged and restored.  Either way we're just about to put this behind us.  Thank Christ.

After that I 'll do some on the job training on laying hard wood flooring. 

The pantry/laundry room and bedroom walk in closet is also complete minus the hardwood flooring.  I'm going to practice/learn with the flooring in the closet.........it will be hidden with the clothes.

And it keeps spreading wider

Like a middle aged persons hips

Hers is bigger than mine

I just noticed it's been a month since I last posted something.  Lots has been happening but I've been slow to take the pictures to document the changes.  And let's face it, no one just wants to read what I have to say. 

So for now I will jump around a little bit and show you some picutres of the start of the barn and of garage.  Truth be told the garage has been completed to about 95%.  My issue is I should have started the garage after the barn was almost complete as the barn seems to dwarf the garage in size.  Hers is bigger than mine.

So that's hers, and this is mine.  It's a good thing I 'm not the sort of husband who's afflicted with a Napoleon complex with penis envy.

The last four weeks has also seen major changes internally with the house. These changes will be uploaded to this rambling diatribe this weekend.  A deck has been built and we've managed to stay married.  11 years tomorrow.  We may go out and see the locals dirt track race.  How romantic is that?  Get covered in dirt, watch the locals in the grandstands act like a Jerry Springer audience, an eat some food prepared a week earlier.  Priceless.

That's what you get when yours is bigger than mine.  Oliver out (in the dog house)

Another four legged friend

Enjoying the freedom of 8 acres



and meeting new friends

Oliver out

All it takes is a dollar...

Ooops...that's the lottery.  It takes more than a dollar to go from this

To this



The wall with the green step ladder leaning on it will be removed making our combined kitchen/den. The entire room will be apporximately 28L x 22w.  Off the sliding glass door will be a 24 x 12 deck.

As I stated above it doesn't take a dollar, it takes a lot of antacids and a dream (there's the lottery saying).

Oliver out..........

Classified Ad: Handyman needed, must be able to work in heat and long hours

Well it's become apparent that we need some experienced, knowledgeable help around the property.  Just to much to do and not enough hours. 

We advertised for such as person and had 3 applicants show up for interviews.  The first test we had them perform after filling out their application was driving the tractor cutting the paddock area.

The first applicant was someone that one would expect had experience, simply by the way she dressed.  Yes, that's correct a female. What was somewhat troubling is she arrived drinking a beer.  We proceeded with the tractor test anyway, figuring there wasn't anything to hit in the open acreage.  Please notice the posture

The second applicant was also a female.  Based upon her answers on the application we were afraid she would tend to over analyze her work assignments and then focus on us. Not something we need at this point in the project.  She had a couple of positive points going for her, 1: She wasn't drinking when she arrived and 2: Her attire was more appropriate for an interview.

Problem was she couldn't figure out how to lower the cutting deck to actually cut the field.  Which led us to our third applicant, a male.  Very smart and personable.  Based upon his answers on the application we thought we had a sure thing and couldn't wait to give him the tractor test.  We immediately became wary when he couldn't figure out how to where his hat(s).  Red flags went up as he approached the tractor.

After much debate we decided on applicant number 1.  We plan to give her a call this weekend as it's her

 birthday (that's what it said on the application) and we figure she could use the good news.  Hopefully she'll be able to answer.

Oliver out.....................