We Have A New Pet On The Patio, Lizzy

While sorting through all the stuff that's landed on the patio table during the rain, I uncovered Lizzy.  We put a small towel at the base of the potted plant to keep her warm and dry (I don't know how to take care of a lizard!).  I checked on her the next day and she was--and still is--curled up inside the towel.

There was an article in the newspaper earlier in the year asking people to take a count of the lizards they find on their property...we have one!
http://www.nhm.org/site/activities-programs/community-science/lost-lizards-project

A Rainbow!!

December 23rd we had our first break in the weather after several days of rain.  We've had over 8 inches of rain in the last week--since December 16th.

Our resident squirrel, Buddy, has become a regular on the trailer's patio fence where Gerry leaves him a few peanuts.

 

 

We're pretty sure Buddy is the son of the squirrel we call Mama.  Mama and Buster were pals--she felt safe enough to let him sit close by.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

Tuesday night I noticed water dripping from the shower ceiling fan in the house.  Gerry checked  the plastic covering on the roof and moved things around to eliminate a collection point between the existing rafters.  That shifted the water flow and Wednesday morning there was a steady trickle running down the tile at the front of the shower and several water "blisters" had developed on the shower wall.

 

View of the attic space above the shower.  You can see the wet boards on the right side and around the ceiling fan, but the water was leaking in the shower on the opposite side!

 

Gerry Wednesday morning adding more plastic over the bathroom ceiling.

 

 Through the small opening, you can see the water under the floor boards of the existing house!

 

Water in the master bedroom area.

Bad Timing for Rain

As luck would have it....Gerry was very close to pouring the greatroom and shop concrete slabs--planned for Friday--but he's had to put it off until sometime (?) next week after the rains pass through.  

No, that's not a "White Christmas," it's plastic covering as much of the prepared surfaces as possible.

Since when do we get so much rain this time of year??

 

Preparing for the Shop's Foundation

 

A raccoon left his prints in the sand.

 

Progress on the Foundation

Master suite foundation has been poured:

 

The base material--gravel, sand, etc.--for the Great Room slab has been laid:

 

View from the front porch (it was a foggy morning):

 

Debis is collecting in the front yard; unfortunately, the plants aren't hiding it very well as the pile grows taller!

Foundation Forms Are Ready For Concrete

 This is the foundation under the master bedroom and bath.

Looking from the master bedroom toward great room which will have a slab foundation instead of a raised foundation.

 

Support for the roof--there are several of these pillars being created under the original foundation to support the new roof.

 

This is the foundation under the front window of dining room.

 

Just a look from the driveway.

I Felt the Earth Move......

 

These trenches are for the master suite foundation.

 

 

More to come.... 

Frost in the Yard

We've had a few chilly mornings this past week.  It may not seem like a big deal to some of you, but here in "sunny southern California," we are not used to cold weather.  Plus...I have to go out in that cold morning air to get from the trailer to the bathroom shower on these chilly mornings!

This picture was taken Tuesday morning, around 6:50AM when I was leaving for work.  Gerry moved the "walking planks" so you could see the difference between the ground that was covered and the area that was frosted.

 

Miscellaneous Activity in the Backyard

Some of the original foundation has been removed to make way for the new foundation.



Gerry built a roof over the birdfeeder to help keep the birdseed dry in this annoying rain!

Trimmed the tree at the back of the yard.  (It's hard to see in the picture.)

The Rain Cave.  So far, I have not had to hike in the rain from the trailer to the house (bedroom & bathroom); however, the path does get a bit muddy.  The bedroom & bathroom are staying nice and dry.





Digging Trenches

Progess has been slow over the past 3 weeks because of the unseasonal rain.

We're digging trenches for the new sewer lines and water runoff.

A Break From Remodeling - Vacation

I took a weeklong vacation to visit my Aunt & Uncle's in South Carolina.  They live on Hartwell Lake.

Shelter From the Rain

Gerry built a cover that expands the patio and trailer to keep it dry during the rain.

It also makes it easier to keep the patio clean from all the falling leaves.

Demo is Done - Before, During and After Photos

This is the house as of October 5th,  I'm several days late with this post.

All the stucco, plaster and framing has been removed.   The third large dumpster was picked up on the 4th.

Front of the house:

Back of the house:

We got the plastic up around the bedroom, bath and hallway just in time for the rain last week!