Not too much progress last week due to slushy snow, cold temps, and rain.  Electrician came on Friday.  We started nailing up the outlet and switch boxes, installing recessed lights, and blocking for ceiling lights.  Had to run to town a couple times for supplies.

These are the gecko clamps that hold each piece of siding at the correct distance from the last one and allow hands free nailing!  Very clever!

Made progress on the front and moving around to the west side!

First afternoon:
Mom got going on the siding!  She is really enjoying taking the time to figure out the saw, nail gun, and reading a measuring tape!!

Second afternoon:
Still too chilly to work outside in the mornings.  The sun hits the house about 10:30 am.

Third afternoon:
It will take another person to help with long lengths over the windows and doors.

Dad is installing the recessed lighting in the porch roof.  The electrician came yesterday.  He's going to supervise the wiring and have Dad do all the hard work!

Me and Osker get pooped out by the end of the day. We've been going on daily jogs, playing ball, and sometimes sneaking off for our own romp through the woods!

It's been a little slow around here during the holidays, but today we're back on it!  We had gutters installed before Christmas, right before an inch of rain fell.  It sure helps with the mud problem!  Mom and Mike have started installing tongue and groove pine boards on the soffetts, or porch ceilings.  They finished the back of the garage today.

We had a quiet Christmas.  The thing I had to teach Osker was that all presents are mine.  Even if his name is on it, it's still mine.

BTW, the "keep Osker out of the chicken house" project seems to be working!  We're getting 2 to 3 eggs per day now!  Don't worry though... he's still in trouble.  He pulled a 13x9 cake pan off the counter and scarfed about a quarter of a carrot cake!!!

Merry Christmas to all our friends and family!


We hope all your dreams come true!


With Love,
Zoey and Osker

Carpenter Mike helped us nail up the first row of siding on the house so it will be straight and level!!!  Still working on staining exterior trim, but it's too cold most of the day to get much done.

Me and Osker were digging a hole that was next to a batch of burrs.  He got em baddd.  He also got caught eating a chicken egg!!  Mom and Dad figured he's just small enough to get in the little chicken house door.  Now Dad is on a mission to determine how the chickens can have free range while keeping Osker out.  He's conducting chicken IQ studies on how well they climb ladders, jump from hay bale to hay bale, and fly through narrow openings!!  At least they figured out what was causing Osker's badddd gas!!

We started digging the sewer trench, but after moving a few of the boulders, a link on the chain broke; then Dad discovered that the sprocket bearings were worn.  So now the digging bar is apart in the barn getting machined, welded, and new bearings.

The last door has been installed so the house is chicken proof!!!  Note the nice big guest room window!!!

This is our "sit on the stump together" trick.  We get a treat when we do it, so whatever...

BTW, Osker's library book cost $15.00!!!  The folks are being a little more careful about what they leave on the table!

This is a section of the air vent system.  It's just a fan that will move warm air near the wood stove to other rooms, or move cool air from the basement upstairs.  It would also work for air conditioning in the future.

The exterior doors have been installed and trimmed except for one more on backorder.  The porch ceiling still needs to go on before the inside is closed in, but we need to decide on recessed lights and wiring first. We bought a wood stove so we can work inside this winter.

Wonkette thinks we've upgraded her hen house!  Hope the last door arrives soon!