Overall: Still moving forward and making progress with construction. Hot and dry weather all week.
On a very different subject: we were hit with incredibly bad news from our landlord who told us she cannot extend our lease that ends in September. Her husband does not agree and is fine with us staying until Spring, but little else he can do for us. I have offered to increase our rent by 20%. Nope. Jim has revealed they have separated and she has moved to Virginia. She is selling the rental to begin selling off assets. Our heads are still spinning as we try to figure out what to do. I don’t see how we can find temporary quarters and where we will store our large household.
Monday – morning spent on the phone and computer – all construction related. Afternoon spent at the site doing electrical rough-in and other assorted tasks. Called for concrete on Friday, but they are fully booked for the entire week.
Tuesday – a repeat of Monday. The storm shelter is pacing the project now – scheduled to retrieve it tomorrow.
Wednesday – left Bloomington very early AM for a 400 mile drive into Tennessee to pick up a storm shelter. Severe weather & tornados are less frequent and not as intense as Kansas & Oklahoma, and Carole might not have insisted on it, if the house had a basement. Neither of us wants stairs in our retirement home, so a shelter was in the plan. Made it back to Bloomington in the evening after an uneventful trip.
Thursday – at the site early to unload and place the shelter. It is 3ft wide, 7ft long, 54 inches tall, and 1500 lbs of steel. The top will be flush with the concrete floor and has a sliding door. Kermit and I were able to place it using crude but proven methods. I departed to pickup a tractor with front loader. Called on Tuesday for 3 truckloads of stone to fill in that area with trucks scheduled to arrive starting around 10AM. Didn’t see any trucks until afternoon. Gravel moved and leveled.
Friday – tractor returned, materials purchase at a nearby lumber yard. Goofed off to play 9 holes of golf with a good friend. We are entered in an annual scramble golf event NEXT Saturday with a large group of friends from high school. Kevin and I are trying to get in a little practice before the big event. Friday afternoon spent with more planning, sourcing materials, logging receipts, etc.
Saturday – worked on compacting fill, and making concrete forms. The forms are needed to a create a small sturdy foundation for electrical boxes that will become floor receptacles in the great room, and power for the kitchen island. Mixed the concrete in a wheelbarrow.
Sunday – More compacting. Removed the forms, attached the electrical boxes and routed electrical PVC back to the mechanical room with the electric service main panel.
