Misc Pictures

Today was the funeral for the Miller's grandmother, so no one worked today...  I did clean up the outside so that the dirt can be back filled to the foundation walls.  The transformer was there when I got out there this morning, so the power compnay did that sometime this morning.  The power isn't turned on yet, but we're getting there...

 

  

  

  

 

Power -- Almost!

Well, the Amish didn't work out there today because the Miller's grandmother passed away, and they had to go up to Michigan for the funeral.  So, I went out today to get ready to drilll holes in the piers for the metal bases for the deck posts and porch posts, and I was pleasantly surprised to find the power company was there working on putting in the entrance.  My electrician has put up the meter base and the main box, so I've just been waiting on the power, etc...

The wires are in the ground, and there will be a transformer in the back of the house, but it isn't in place yet.

Here are a few pictures, though it was dark, so they aren't the best...  The wires are just hanging -- hope they aren't hot yet!

Whirlpool, Tub, and Shower

We were able to move the three big fixtures into the house today, and so the framing of those rooms can be finished up.

We also were able to pour the rest of the concrete today...  And, the front porch is sealed...

Piers for deck posts...

 

Master bath -- whirlpool on left and shower on right.

  

Hall tub / shower (also a whirlpool)...

  

Bradley's Closet...

 

Breanna's closet...

  

Kendrick's closet...

  

Front porch...

 

Amish Friends

I was able to have a very interesting discussion with one of my Amish friends for about an hour and a half this evening.  Enjoyed it very much, and I know my wife would really like to have been there to ask questions...  She will soon have that opportunity, I'm sure...

John is a 23 year old Amish man who has been working construction (mostly, barns) with his two older brothers for a few years now.  He is married, and they have two young daughters (about as cute as I have ever seen)...

His oldest brother just relocated to another state, and so John is about to purchase the land he lives on from his brother (so that his brother can purchase land where he is living now).

We talked about a lot of different things, and it will be hard to do justice to everything he told me, but I'll try to relate interesting odds and ends...

They are now having trouble doing business with some banks without a social security number, but the more local banks seem to still be willing to work with them.

They do register births with the state and get birth certificates, but some time back, the state wasn't willing to register their births, so they now arrange to have an English "midwife", and sometimes she will have regular checkups with the mother-to-be, and then they must notify her within 10 days to have the birth registered.  Sometimes, she will actually participate in the birth itself, and sometimes not.  Sometimes, they still prefer to use Amish midwives for the actual birth.

They do take vitamins during the pregnancy, and they really don't have many still-births or other such problems at birth, like the pioneers of the 19th century routinely had.  A lot of time, the English midwife will be present at the birth just because then she will have a phone and transportation in those cases where some emergency arises.

They try to avoid having to go to a hospital, generally, but they will go for emergency situations.

John's grandmother just passed away within the last day or two.  She lived in northern Michigan (not exactly sure where).  So, they are chartering a bus to come and pick them up so they can travel the 6 hour drive for the funeral.

John didn't seem to mind my asking various questions about their lifestyle and beliefs, but then, I have had several Amish ask me questions also...

I have really enjoyed the opportunity to become acquainted with several Amish families, and look forward to learning more about them.  I have a great deal of respect for their adherance to their beliefs, though I don't personally agree with their beliefs.  They are generally an honest and hard-working group of people.  Though, there are dishonest and lazy among them just as every other group of people in the world...

Concrete for Porch and Deck Piers

We poured almost all of the remaining concrete today -- we have just one more pour this week to put the the piers on top of the deck footings that we poured today... Here are a few pictures...

Digging the holes for the deck piers...

Front porch slab...

Finished footers for deck with re-bar ready for the 1 foot piers that will be above final grade.

More Weekend Pictures...

Not a whole lot to do this weekend, so here are a few more pictures with a little more light than yesterday...

Looking down the hallway (in the daytime).

 

 From the family room toward the kitchen.

  

The well pressure tank -- in the storm cellar.  The boards are temporary -- to support the ceiling while they poured the concrete...

 

Weekend...

No real progress today.  I was able to (almost) finish drilling and putting down the treated 2x4s on the concrete (bottom of the walls).  And, I put a piece of 3/4 inch plywood on hinges over the ladder to the storm cellar...

Here are a few pictures from various angles...  Yes, it was a bit dark...

Standing at the front porch looking into the front door (a little dark).

 

On the front porch, looking in toward the kitchen side.

  

On the front porch, looking toward the living room side.

  

In the dining room, looking toward the half bath (center) and library door (right).

  

In the dining room, looking down the hallway.

  

At the end of the hallway in the dining room, looking across toward the kitchen (note you can see out the window from the end of the hall way).

  

In the kitchen, where the sink will be, looking out the front window.

  

Standing where the stove will be, looking out the front window.

  

In the kitchen, looking out the laundry room door.

  

In the hallway, looking out toward the dining room.

  

Same as above...