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2 months in the new house, and we are just giddy with the way this has turned out. I’ve said it many times – with GE moving us every 6-7 years, we had homes we loved and others not so much. When I came up with the floorplan for the house and shop, I incorporated all of the things we loved, and none of the things we disliked. Everything about the house and shop floorplan is just what we wanted.

I talked about this in late July; the stress of working 7 days a week after the drywall and interior paint was completed, along with the overall 15 month commitment it took to build this thing…. took a toll on me. For the past couple months, I’ve gone on “construction sabbatical” – taking it easy and enjoying retirement. I’ve done some simple tasks (toilet paper holders) lol. There have been days when I totally goofed off and didn’t accomplish a damn thing. Spent time washing a car or two, working on cars, helping friends in Bloomington with projects, sleeping in, etc. Hell, I’ve been getting real enjoyment simply sitting on the deck and bird watching.

Summer is retreating and Fall is near. I’m getting firewood cut and working to get the woodstove installation completed. This week’s picture is an example of my geekness – I cut a piece of cardboard into an 8″ circle, punched a small hole in the center, and placed it in the flue pipe up in the great room ceiling. A plumb-bob was utilized by hanging it from the center hole in the flue pipe round cardboard down to the woodstove. I monkeyed around moving the woodstove, until the round flue pipe exiting the stove was accurately centered / located to the pipe in the ceiling. Yes – I AM easily entertained !

We have broadband internet in our home on Howard Ridge ! So-SO nice to have access to the world wide web without having to travel. I visited the operating headquarters of the SouthCentral Indiana Rural Electric Membership Co-op (aka: SCI-REMC) on Tuesday morning. Explained our situation: request made June 1st, was told 3-4 weeks lead time. called back for status at the end of June, called again the week before we moved on July 12th, called again at the end of July, etc. At one point, I was addressing four employees who had been summoned to the lobby. I was friendly, spoke calmly, smiled, and asked a lot of difficult questions. Finally, one of them got on a computer behind the service counter in the lobby. She got our account activated and an installation appointment setup for Thursday. Note: I had a similar experience with SCI-REMC getting the main power to the house last Fall. In other news: the ice maker stopped working on our new refrigerator. Called customer service, and they said a technician would be out to see us within 5-7 business days. On the 7th day, they sent an email and said “parts were not available, would we accept a $500 concession”. My reply: uhhhhhh… NO. no thank you. not acceptable. If you can’t repair the fridge we have, then bring us another one and haul this one away. More to this story. and finally for this week’s summary of our adventures: this my second week of physical therapy to correct a “frozen shoulder” or…. adhesive capsulitis. I have a very sore right shoulder with limited range of movement. near constant pain. the shoulder started giving me trouble midway through construction. did what I could to limit right shoulder involvement, but using only my left arm was impractical. I thought I was in pain before physical threapy began, but this is torture ! They tell me my range of movement is improving – I think they are blowing smoke up my ass, but will continue for 5 more weeks.

Crazy hot weather was the theme this week for us and most of the central USA. It was so hot, we had to close windows and turn on the air conditioning. The hot temperatures provided pleaseant memories of living in Kansas and Oklahoma. I am really getting comfortable with sleeping in, drinking coffee and bird watching to start each day. Not much progress on outdoor projects for obvious reasons. Got the first garage door opener installation completed. First time using Liftmaster 8500 door openers. A lot of nice features, a poorly written instruction manual, and a bit complicated to get working properly. The next 2 door openers should be go easier. Moved additional shop tools, materials and supplies from dad’s garage and the storage unit. Getting the shop organized is motivating me to get back in the business of finishing construction. Carole is continuing her effort to get the textile studio operational. Bottom line: the longer we live here, the better we like it.

Summary: Not much accomplished toward finishing touches on the house and shop. I installed the garage door opener switches, and moved more tools and materials from dad’s garage to mine. Spent time this week helping family and friends and working on my collection of cars and trucks. With all of our experience moving – seemed natural to volunteer helping with a move being made by Casey, our niece. Not a large household to relocate, and thankfully her new apartment was on the 2nd story and not the 3rd. I followed that physical day by pouring and placing concrete on Friday. Kermit (the guy who worked full time for me with excavation and foundation tasks on our project) recently broke ground on a house that will become his residence. In a casual conversation, told me he had ordered concrete to pour footers on Friday. Carefully chose my words and asked asked if he – wanted – any help. To say Kermit is a hard working dude is an under statement, and I knew he would tell me he didn’t need any help. He said if I wanted to help – he wouldn’t turn me away. It’s been 15 months since he and I poured the footers for our project. When we were done with Kermit’s footers, sitting under a shade tree, exhausted; I said we should consider having future concrete projects contracted by younger men. This week’s picture is the inside of my shop. Needless to say; still lots of household belongings to unpack. Now that I have 5 cars in the 5 parking spots, I am concentrating on the work shop area of my space for metal and wood working. Having the shop more functional, will make projects like the built-in pantry – easier to complete and more fun at the same time.

Summary: Having the time of our lives… We make it a point to sleep in every morning, unless a scheduled task or appointment requires getting up and around early. We’ve been able to avoid falling into that trap thus far. I’m not thrashing to get a lot done every day, but we are keeping busy and checking things off the list. I’ve spent more time the past couple weeks on car maintenance, which has been ignored since breaking ground in April 2022. Nothing more to report than that for the past week. I’ve included a picture of the back (west) side of the house to include the deck.

Summary: We accomplished additional home improvements, such as commissioning the central vacuum, more handles on laundry room cabinets, and other piddly projects. BUT most important – I am changing how we are going to complete this construction project. Sleeping in, followed by morning coffee, playing wordle, more coffee and light reading has become a favorite part of my daily routine. I have also put a higher priority on the activities I have always enjoyed, like vehicle maintenance. I haven’t washed a car in a couple years – and it shows. Spent a full day in the shop with the goal of creating a space designed to be my wood working shop and getting 5 BMW’s parked inside my portion of the shop. A sort of tetris game, moving and organizing the many yet-to be-opened moving boxes, making sure of adequate space for each automobile. The picture for this post is proof of that goal achieved. Spent several hours with Carole in her textile studio, doing the same thing – moving and organizing a large quantity of moving boxes filled with components of her sewing and quilting hobby. We were able to get plenty of space carved out and she assembled her quilting machine so she can begin working again, while slowly unpacking.

It took more than a week after moving in, for me to realize; after getting the building occupancy permit in July, I can back away from the full time effort required to reach the occupancy permit level of completion. After 15 months of full time construction; it is time to be retired and spend our precious time on the hobbies and activities that give us joy. I still enjoy remodeling/construction as a hobby, so the house and shop will be completed, but not at the expense of everything else. Living here is: as satisfying as we hoped it would be.

Another week of pure bliss, living in our new retirement home. Kept busy installing handles on kitchen door and drawers. Caulked around the shower door to complete that installation. Helped Carole start organizing her studio.

We were surprised on Wednesday, while Carole was showering – the water went off (at the shower head) She shutoff the water at the shower control and shouted for me. I got there to see water everythere. She told me what happened, so I told her to stand in the master closet (adjacent wall). When I turned on the shower, she could hear water running in the closet wall, and water coming out from under the wall. The plumber was out the next day. Found an uncrimped PEX fitting. Problem solved.

We completed our move from the leased home, fully cleaned and ready for new tenants. Shortened the legs on barstools we have owned (and moved) since 1990. Had a couple homes over the last 43 years, where they were the correct heighth. Lowered them 6 inches, and they are perfect for this home.

Met with our new insurance agent to iron out details in the quote she provided last week. Indiana Farm Bureau insurance, was…. lacking (pick a subject). The timing for the change is perfect (and was planned): just moved into our new home and vehicle license plates are due next week. Installed towel racks and a shower caddy in our bathroom. Elected to ease into retirement by sleeping in a bit, then reading while enjoying morning coffee – think this will become a permanent strategy for my mornings going forward.

Still waiting for internet service, which will aslo be used to stream all the content for TV watching. Had an epiphany and purchased an OTA antenna. Used our neighbors wi-fi to access Amazon. Antenna arrived the next day. Assembled it and put it outside on the deck, aiming the antenna in the general direction of Indianapolis. Boom ! 39 channels with an awesome hi-def picture. Now we have local networks for weather and news.

Overall: What else can we say ? We are living in our new home ! ! So-SO many things yet to be completed to actually finish the home, but we are good with that. I’m a couple days late publishing this week’s post – we have no internet at the new house, and was super busy moving and getting out of the leased home. I forgot about the blog until Monday evening.

Monday: all day moving prep at the Arlington Rd rental. Moving wonky things ourselves rather than spend a lot of time, carefully packing a difficult piece – that only needs to travel 14 miles.

Tuesday: Happy Anniversary to us ! Married on this day in 1981. This is one to remember for sure. Our activities today ? same as yesterday. Movers will be here at 8AM on Wednesday.

Wednesday: The company: 2 men and a truck – brought five men and two trucks. The entire crew were really hustling, taking them over 4 hours to load, and just over 3 hours to unload. Got a basic furniture layout in the great room and the bed setup in our bedroom. First night on Howard Ridge !

Thursday: 2 men and a truck arrived at dad’s house at 1PM as scheduled. We completely filled dad’s finished basement to look like a warehouse last year when we had to move. Could barely squeeze between rows and stacks of boxes and other household belongings. Took the guys a couple hours to load and about the same to unload. Still have my entire shop of tools and materials in dad’s garage, but there is still room to park one car in an oversize 2 car garage. Asked dad to be patient, as I won’t have the shop building in a condition to accept the stuff in his garage until the shop is put away and organized. The weather today was horribly hot and extremely humid today – had to close windows and turn on the AC. Thunderstorms here overnight.

Friday: spent the morning  trying to make sense of the mountain in cardboard boxes in the shop.   Went to Arlington Rd to begin moving the rest of the household goods we didn’t want the movers to try and load up.   Nice weather has returned.  82 degrees, low humidity, and cool temps in the house with ceiling fans running and windows wide open.

Saturday: spent the moring in town buying towel racks, and other essential stuff. Another truck load of belongings taken from Arlington Rd to Howard Ridge. Mowed dad’s lawn, and worked on a detailed plan for the walk-in pantry. Another day with windows open and ceiling fans keeping it cool and comfortable in the house and shop.

Sunday: Moving boxes in the shop to open up a space for wood working tools and a workbench to begin making the shelves for the pantry. Installed handles on the kitchen cabinet doors. Went into town to pick up dad for Sunday dinner. The rental on Arlington Rd was only 3-4 miles from his home in Blue Ridge, compared to the new house which is a 12 mile trip. The extra miles are trivial, compared to the joy of great food and conversation with dad, so the Sunday evenings at our house will continue !

Howard Ridge Blog summary:

Mission accomplished. We completed the construction of a new custom home and work shop to our specifications. After spending the past 4 nights and 5 days here; we both absolutely love it. While this would seem to be an appropriate end of the blog, I’m have decided to keep it going for now. I have benefitted in a number of ways (primarily recalling specific events w/o relying on memory). Starting next week, the Sunday posting will be a single paragraph, briefly listing the specific tasks accomplished toward completing the house and shop.

Overall: Hallelujah ! ! Objective achieved ! We have an approved final inspection and occupancy permit ! Two men and a truck local movers are scheduled for Wednesday, to relocate our household furnishings from the crappy leased home to the place we intend to live; for as long as humanly possible.

Monday: Kyle continued working the screen in breezeway project. Ralph was here for a few hours, connecting appliances. I worked on shop electrical receptacles and collecting pieces of styrofoam and breaking down cardboard boxes. Dropped off the styrofoam at a friend’s place of business, who has a large commercial trash dumpster.

Tuesday: Chris arrived early morning and was done at lunchtime. All of the plumbing is now complete and in working order. Kyle completed the breezeway, and that will be the last project he performs for us – for at least the near term. We have discussed this moment several times over the past few weeks. Kyle already has carpenter work waiting for him. Once we have settled in after our move, received the final draw for the loan, paid the remaining bills… we will see where we end up with cash. I’m prepared and eager to DIY all of the projects to finish the house, but if we can afford to utilize Kyle, the pace of completing projects will be quicker.

Wednesday: Hauled the remaining cardboard to the local recycling center. Completed the final wire rope runs for the deck. Had a few that wouldn’t tighten/tension up adequately. General clean up in the house, removing all traces of construction work. Joe was here to help hang the last 3 shop light fixtures in the shop.

Thursday: Disassembed the scaffolding in the shop and relocated the scaffolding and other construction materials and tools to the local storage unit I’m renting. Cleaned and straightened the shop building for tomorrow’s inspection.

Friday: Lonnie (Brown County Blg Insp) arrived on time. Spent about 15-20 minutes walking through both buildings. Had a couple questions, which were easily answered. We walked onto the deck, and he measured the overall heighth of the deck railing cap. Called me over and asked what I saw on the tape measure. He said what I already knew: building code is clear – a minimum of 36″. He and I both saw 35 & 5/8″ ! I told him what I was feeling: “Lonnie, I am completely crushed.” I never checked the overall heighth when Kyle and I were fitting the deck rail cap. Then I said: my mistake and you know I’ll correct it. He said: send me a picture showing the modification and a 36″ inch tape measurement. Then handed me the occupany permit and checked off the remaining blocks on the building permit. With that – we’re approved to move in ! ! Mark the date: July 14th. Construction complete (but not 100% finished)

Saturday: Spent the day, moving bulky items to the house. Worked through the inventory of RTA cabinet panels and hardware we have that will not be needed. Also have a few items we need to complete the kitchen cabinet project. Because these are RTA cabinets, which means each cabinet is a kit of parts and they are modular, allowing flexibility. The Menards software that compiles the individual list of parts, makes assumptions about how each cabinet will be installed and used. No problem to return excess material.

Sunday: Carole and I spent part of the day at Howard Ridge. Hauled a couple more loads of stuff too difficult to pack. I completed the RTA cabinet parts inventory, to determine: what we need to keep, to return and to order. Will visit Menards on Tuesday with material and a list. Carole worked on RTA cabinet assembly for the cabinets that were in the way of the plumber last week. Back at home relaxing for the evening. Only a couple more days in this leased shithole…