First, I want to let you know that I did get the salmon flu.  One morning I hesitated for just a moment before eating my breakfast.  The folks noticed that, took my temperature (it was high), took me to the doctor's, I got a shot and some pills, went home and never missed a meal!!

My brother Matt is visiting.  He's helping with a bunch of chores.  He and Dad took the power line down which provided power to the double-wide.  Yea!!

 Dad found a guy to haul the rusty, crusty away!!  We pay him $2500.  If he gets someone to buy it he'll reimburse us.  Even if we don't get reimbursed, we figure we can't salvage if for that price.  We have just a couple weeks to prep it.  Matt and Mom dismantled the back porch.  Plants have to be moved; the chain link fence will have to be partially taken down. 

 Mom has been taking the front porch apart

Meanwhile the ditch witch rides again!  The guys are digging the down-spout collection system (trench, pipe, etc).  Once that is done, the rest of the dirt pile can be moved and the landscaping can start!

Did you know that I love shoes?!  I love to steal them and leave them throughout the house!  Every morning me and Osker steal Mom's slippers from beside the bed.  Every morning she gets up and has no slippers and has to walk out barefoot and say "where are my slippers?!!"  We wiggle and wag!  It's great fun!  So for Christmas we bought her new slippers with my likeness on them!

 Since there are no more inspectors stopping by, we started working on turning the "unfinished attic/storage" into living and guest room space!  Mom sanded and varnished the beam, has primed, and is painting the one room.

Weather is nice so we decided to trench in the last water line from the storage tank to the new house!


A guy is coming today to see if he can haul the old double-wide away!

Mom started a new craft project that she has been dreaming about for a couple years.  She bought wool from a farmer who raises sheep for meat so it was only $1/lb.  She got 20 lbs in 2 dog food bags!  Fancy sheep wool for sweaters can go for $20 for a half pound.

She washes it, picks it apart, then cards it to get all the fibers going the same direction.

Then she spins 3 bobbins full, and plys them together.  It makes a rustic yarn which still has bits of hay in it!!

The plied yarn amounts to about 45 yards, which is then washed in hot water again to set the twist.  Then she cuts it into little pieces to work into a latch hook rug!  The 45 yards appears to result in 3" of the rug!!  Wonder if it will take longer to make a rug than it took to build a house??

 

The chickens have been staring inside.  They want the same rights as Me and Osker, that is, free run of the house.  They have been consistently laying 1-2 eggs per day all through winter, they don't eat much store bought feed, they're free-range, organic, and they know their eggs are going for $4.00/doz!!!  As you can imagine, I'm not into sharing my space.

Important news first!  Me and Osker did not get sick from the raw salmon we found!  Osker must be immune from his episode two years ago, because we actually saw him eat it, while I only sniffed it. We sure had our temperature taken a lot!

Today we got the glass enclosure installed in the master bath shower, and a new mirror! 

Yesterday, Dad hooked up the filter and UV system so that we now have clean, drinkable water throughout the house!  He's using PEX.  We know why it's called PEX because the tool you use to stretch the fittings kills your pec muscles!!!  PECs plumbing and window pains...

The sink for the brew area is functioning!  Still need shelves, etc., but it's great to have a sink in the basement!

Dad has been setting up his brew area and his data logger.  Rather than put it against the studs he decided to put up the sheetrock first.  He does the sheet rock, Mom does the mud and paint.

 He thought he was being clever by using all the little pieces.  It is clever unless you're the one doing the mud!!!  Dad likes puzzles so he made all the little pieces fit just right!!

Mom finished the window and door trim in the kitchen, living, den and guest room!!!

This is a dead salmon Me and Osker found yesterday!  The folks noticed an eagle flying down to the creek so we went to investigate.  This is probably a salmon that Fish & Wildlife threw in the creek. After salmon spawn they die.  Salmon released from the hatchery return there; F&W collects the eggs, then returns the dead salmon to the creeks and rivers. They're part of a complex ecological cycle for critters, and the creeks.

One part of that cycle is the fluke they carry that can be deadly to dogs.  Osker had it 2 years ago.  Since the folks know we were into it, we have to have our temperature taken every day now.  Do you know how that's done??!!!   Dad wants Mom to do it.  Oh well, we'll get a treat every time!

(Thanks to Sara and Sherman for educating me about the cycle!)

The last of the vents are being painted.  We had the paint store mix spray paint to match the wall color.

The laundry room cabinets are in!!!  Now we need countertops and lots of knobs!

Yes, I finally did it.  The powerful persuasion of food.  Mom is very happy with us now that we're walking into the tub on our own, and we're letting her cut our toenails all at one time (rather than one toe per day then running away!!)

Yaaa Hoooo!!!!!
We got our Certificate of Occupancy!!!  The inspector didn't look at anything!!!