Almost ready for the shed

Got most of the vines and cutting out of the area for the shed. Still have one more tree limb on the oak tree to cut. I took most of the cuttings with leaves down to Jody's ranch at the bottom of the hill and filled in the gullys. The goat herd finally came up to check it out. They were really excited by all the green leaves, though Bettima seemed as enamoured with nice branches to scratch her head between the horns. It was dessert as they had just eaten.
moved everything to piles for recycling and then moved them again for the backhoe. We got 4 loads of fill from in front of Chris's house. Its spread so I have a 24foot pad for the twenty foot shed. There is even a pad on the side for a rainwater tank. [the shed will have as much roof space as the second floor but will be much easier to put on raingutters. My goal is to eventually have a fully automated drip garden eventually. I have a planter on the deck doing with a Dutch cotton wick and nothing else. I will put a similar wick in the front rainbarrel planter as soon as I find enough rags to make a wick that will cover floor of the planter and then hang down into the water in the tank. anyway its late and will get finishing up in the morning. The bill for 1 hour of backhoe and 4 loads of fill was 120$ not bad for a combined deal with me Chris and Robert. A special thanks to Edward and his son for all their work.

The old Shed is torn down

its in piles of parts screws and bolts. A few panels are intact but most are in a pile for the recycler down on Trails End. Got a pile of household trash too. The shelf unit from the shed is now in the pumphouse and has helped me organize that area. Got enough baling wire and signal wire for an army. I will need some of that as I will be openning up the fence so we can put the shed into the lot. Chris will have some extra file dirt for me and it will go down towards the water tank. I will probably use the cinder blocks from the old trash cans and maybe a few more. I might use a few railroad ties if I can find them nearby.
The delivery time for the shed is weekend after this. Price rose to 400$ from 250$. Still a deal. It will cost 65$ to move and deliver that fill dirt also.
more clearing out tomorrow and will need to pick up a few parts to connect the fence. I have my list but will have to go down to get those at tractor supply. The idea is unhook the fence and pull out the poles then roll the chain link back and set the Shed down. Then get the fence back up before all the deer on the mountain find out about back garden. I might have to pull the fence back tomorrow if the fill comes in right away. Think I have a day or so.

Wow 4 days since last post

Last Friday I worked some on the presentation for the Travis Country Appraisal District. I will focus on the condition of the roof as the land is priced pretty accurately. I finished the mould ing around the front door and need to seal a few more things next week and then put a coat of paint on it. Its still sitting with its original primer and nothing else. I found a new can of exterior white semigloss which should be just right.
Over the weekend I realised the pictures needed to be dated and retook most of them. Walgreens did a great and swift job of printing them. Since the Apprailsal board has been known to keep your pictures and board I bought a new trifold board from Office Depot . Nearly forgot the bowed roof on the north side and had to put those pictures on Monday before the afternoon presentation. I drove down and got everything done in 2 hours including arriving an hour early. We are at the same valuation as last year, though the land is valued less by 10 and the house slightly more. After comparing all the houses on the circle we are doing pretty well. I have the spreadsheet if anyone is interested.
The heat continues and the evenings are still hot due to cloud cover. No rain in the forecast but more 3 digit days. The attic is too hot, maxs at 131 F today. At least it cools faster with the better air flow. Hard to believe the summer is just started.
Its so hot the the shed that we were going to get 10' by 12' grew to 16 by 20 with a height of 11'. Its going in where the old shed was except it will poke out thru the fence like a regular garage, actually the will be a garage door to open if you wish. It is about 10 years old but the folks who have seen them say they are great shape. The original builder is going to move them for us. Robert's is a little bigger then ours and will sit directly on the old slab.
I emptied the old shed and placed most of the contents. The shelf went into the pumphouse and other stuff is piled for recycling. Tomorrow morning I take all the branches and tree trimmings down to Jody's house and will fill in her erosion. That was convenient. There is another p
ile ready for the metal recycling center. I may have a full pickup truck full of household trash too. Thats cheap at $4.00. Its crunch time as the shed will be delivered on Friday and I need to set some cinder blocks for the skids under shed. The very back may require some buildit up about two levels.
Time for bed now, early day tomorrow..................

There will be a new camera breed

check the gallery link most change in camera since silver to digital. Hope Liz gets a chance to play with one.

getting ready for the Tax Protest

I walked around taking new photos for the Tax protest hearing on Monday. We got word last night that we are now paying members of the water coop. Actually it was a text message from someone to Karen. All this for water for the trees and landscaping and I guess for fire if it comes to that. just need to keep it off the leaves of the plants. I tried the new hinges and they make the plantation shutters easier to move and they are much easier to put up and adjust.

Last night I added or cleared two more soffet vents. Several have been closed off with pieces of the insulation. The attic is cooling down faster in the evenings. The rooms will be better insulated when I finish turning all the insulation with the glass wool down and the paper side up. When I finish that, I will add the reflective insulation. There should be a much warmer winter.

The front door is getting its final moulding today. I insulated it and will attach it and be ready to paint the door ( it was primed but never painted). It will be white like the windows with a few small green details like the whole house. I will probably have to buy some white paint but there may be some hiding in the storeroom. Still no further information on the possible shed for the back yard.

Off to look for some paint and then pickup a trifold for the Tax Presentation.

Big Thunder Storm and rain last night

Lots of lightening flashes and then rain all at once. The wind tore two grommets out of the sun sheild over the deck and the one over the little garden. My round gardens were completely flooded, as I forgot about all the runoff from under the deck. It was sure cool this morning. Openned the windows and cooled the whole house down quickly. I headed for Home Depot and got more rain gutters. I fixed the one on the south side of the house so it does not leak and put in a larger rain barrel (85gal). That barrel is moved to the back (North side) of the house. Most of the deck is guttered enough to catch any rain tonight.
I picked up a free red Oak about 18" tall, and some small elms and put them in the island until they mature. Maybe tomorrow I will cut more from the cedars.
time for bed.....

Last Days

Spend most mornings in the attic turning the insulation paper side up and stapling it to the rafters. I figured how to use our red fiberglass ladder to get up. Still more to do but it will be finished in a month. Its cramped and hot and dangerous ( nails protrude from the nailed on asphalt shingles) and I can only spend a hour or so and then want to come down and get shower. I have 4 bays done and maybe 20 to go.

Fathers Day I got a long phone call from Liz and later in the day with Ryan. It made it a very happy Fathers Day. I went to South Austin and visited the Natural Gardener. Spotted some great trellises, trees and even some Pomegranates that might work as a screen down at the bottom of the property. Need to get at least one to see if it can survive down there . They are hardier then bamboo and won't need as much water. Shade clothe is the same price as HD (Handy Dan). Bought some seeds and got some Texas/Mexican Buckeyes. Not the same as the German ones but still a sturdy tree with a three seed pod.

In the afternoon I helped Maggie choose two ceiling fans, weather stripping, Hot water heater blanket, and reostats for the lights. Even got one reostat to work with a two switch light ( 9$ in stead of 5$). It was late and just got the main ceiling fan and light installed before it got too dark to work ( you have to cut off the power when you put up a ceiling fan) Got some dinner and saw the Central Market down in South Austin.

The heat continues............