Beautiful Sunday Morning!

We woke up to sunny skies again today!  Wow!  Two days in a row. I think that is a record so far this spring.  

Well I thought I should post a quick update on the house. Due to weather progress has been slower than what we had hoped but in the absence of construction activity we have had time to shop for things like facets, stone, flooring and tile for the bathrooms. So we have gotten a lot of decisions made and choices agreed upon.  And....this has proven once again that building for us is not an ordeal because we agree on a majority of items and on the few things we might have differences, neither of us has stood firm but compromised.  We seemed to almost always like the same thing even when looking separately and then showing the other we find we chose the same thing!  :)

View of front porch on the right and the front and side garages on the left

First 4 loads, 58 tons, of gravel in basement covering the plumbing.  270 finished the job of backfilling.

Starting the rough grading, side dirt pile gone, two more to go

Dave standing in the front garage

Northeast side yard behind side garage

More gravel for base of flatwork in basement; standing in future back bedroom in lower level.  On main floor it would be the master bathroom.

Have a great week.  Check back again for other updates.   :)

Walls, We have walls!

With all the rain that our area experienced last week, nothing was accomplished until Friday.  Friday, Caruth set-up the forms in preparation for the concrete to be delivered Saturday morning.  Another load of gravel was delivered in order to better support the concrete trucks the next day.

The drilling truck setting up on the south side of the house

Dave said when he arrived Saturday morning, there were 7 concrete trucks lined up ready to start pouring the walls.

Also the well digger was there ready to start on the 4 wells for the geo-thermo system.  So, Saturday and Sunday did see quite a bit accomplished to make up for the previous week.  

Monday, Jeff and Dave shopped for the supplies needed to install the electrical pedestals and started that step.  Also, Caruth returned and removed the forms.  Here is what the walls look like:

This view is seen as standing on the patio looking into the northeast corner of the house.  On the right is the retaining wall, which will act as a shelter for the patio and define it. 

Tuesday, Jeff installed the plumbing that needed to be installed in the basement floor before they spread the gravel over it in preparation for the floor to be poured. 

Thanks for checking in!!!

Footings are In

Thursday and Friday were busy days, which was good as Jeff and Dave thought they would need to work on Saturday, but they stayed late both nights until 8 p.m. and finished the planned jobs.  Jeff finished digging the trenches for the water lines and he and Dave got them ran. 

Jeff running the water lines

Dave's comments:  Looked like moles in their holes as trenches were dug outlining the house where concrete footings and walls would grow out of the ground.   The  picture shows a zigzag where the two attached garages will be; the curved trench is bringing in the water line from 250' away at the frontage road where the meter pit was placed.  It is six feet deep to prevent freezing in Iowa winters. This last winter the frost was up to 60 inches deep says the local contractors.


One of two farm hydrants on the north side of the lot, useful for future garden plots 

that Dave is planning

Footings around side garage

View from front garage into basement

Side view of front garage and porch area in back of it

Looking from the future front porch into the basement footings and

out the back to future patio

As I am writing this update, on Sunday, the 27th, it has been pouring since 7 a.m. with very little let-up.  Highly possible they will not be pouring the basement walls tomorrow.  This last week was a busy and full week of accomplishments, but with spring weather in Iowa, delays are to be expected. 

We move to Little Wall Lake County campground for a couple days on Tuesday, as our alloted time is up here at Ledges State park.  On Thursday we will relocate again to Prairie Flower COE for two weeks.  

I am not sure how much posting will be made next week as it all depends on the weather.  Tentative schedule is on hold until we get the walls poured. 

Thanks for checking in!

Jones Family

Day 3 - Boone house

Since it rained most of the day and we had some strong winds. I didn't go out to the lot to check the progress.  Dave is reporting today. Hence more accuracy, as he was there all day.

Here's 400 hundred feet of water line and two farm hydrants which will be put in tomorrow.  Xenia Rural Water Company put in the meter pit and activated the meter so we will have water as soon as we decide to turn on the spigot.     Will need the water soon for the well drillers as they will be drilling four 200 feet deep wells for the geothermal heat pump which will heat and cool the house.

 

 

 Water lines and spigots

The first 100 feet of driveway gravelled today with 3" clean limestone.   Getting ready for the heavy cement trucks tomorrow when they come to pour the footings.  The heavy trucks will help compact a good roadbed for the future.   Only about 600 more feet to put in. So we will have a circular drive for turning around the RV.

Rick dug in the rear footings with the big John Deere this morning defining the sun room.  Meanwhile Jeff on the mini cut in about 250 of six foot deep water line trench.   Need the depth so the lines won't freeze in these Iowa winters.

 

 

Sunroom in the center leading out to the future patio in the back

Jeff trenching for the water lines

 

Very productive day. Jeff about froze though, so said it's long underwear tomorrow!

Day 2 - Boone House

Dave was up early, 6 a.m., eager to get out to the lot as the excavator was scheduled to return to finish the digging for the footings of the garage.

As they were reviewing yesterday's work, it was realized that the basement was not deep enough, so the excavator had to dig it again and go another 5.5 inches deeper.   So when that was done, he continued the digging for the footings around the garages. 

 

Front garage

 

 

Deeper basement

 

Dave had also made arrangements with him to pull up some trees on the hillside and then dig a hole to bury them.  Dave spent much of Monday clearing the fence line along the north side of the property.  It looks much better now, but still a lot of work to go, like ripping out old barbwire for one thing.

Brush from along the fence line

Trees and brush from the hillside in back of the house

Ready to be cut up for firewood



Meanwhile Jeff was busy scrapping out the left side of the driveway where they will lay rock on Wednesday, so the cement trucks will have firmer ground to drive on.  Dave and Jeff also picked up the Terratex fabric that will go under the rock for better support. 

starting the driveway



left side of the future circle driveway

 

 

 Looks like another productive day!  Wednesday it is supposed to rain, but again, I am hoping for it to go a bit north or south of the lot.  :) The only negative was the guys that are supposed to set the footings did not show up to take measurements and confirm the digging was correct.  Sure hope they show up on Wednesday!!!



 

A New Chapter

Last we checked in we were still in the South.  After spending time in Texas we headed home arriving back in Iowa in time to have two weeks to finish packing up the last 10% of our belongings and move them to storage in Ames.   We moved to Lost Island KOA, Waterloo, IA on the 26th of March and signed the closing papers on the 28th.  Due to the cold weather we stayed at the KOA for 20 days until Ledges State Park, Madrid, IA opened for the season. 

Between now, 21 April, and the middle of July, we will be rotating between Ledges and Saylorville Lake COE, Prairie Flower campground.  Hopefully, by the end of July, the sewer, water and electricity will be available at the lot and a pad near the side of the house will be leveled where we can park the Airstream.  Nothing is definite, but that is our hope. 

Today is the big day; we start the BIG DIG!!!  This day has been a long time coming.  We started the planning back in January 2013.  It is very exciting to see plans that Dave has spent hundreds of hours designing finally coming to be.

Facing south

Standing on the north side of the basement looking southwest.

 



Looking toward the back of the house which will face Northeast; this will be a future patio.

 

Warning:

 

This blog will not be documenting much travel the rest of this year; it will be devoted to the building of our new home outside Ames, IA.   We are so excited!!!  You can expect LOTS of pictures of the house in progress.  We were fortunate the rain held off and went around us today.  Now if the weather will cooperate for a few more weeks until the basement is poured, geo-thermo wells are dug, septic dug, water lines ran in along with the electricity.   I don't know the exact order of progress but will learn it as we go. 

 

 Dave and our builder, Jeff, have all the details between them.  I'll just be reporting and taking pictures.  :)  Oh, and handling the finances.  Also, the interior details....yeah, I do have a bit to do I guess.  So far, Dave has been responsible for all the planning, but going forward I will have some work to do also.  :)   I have to say I am very proud of Dave's project management skills and the amount of details he has laid out in a very impressive spreadsheet. Jeff was really impressed.  Said he hasn't had that amount of detail outlined for him from any previous owner/general contractor.

 

Hope you will check back in with us as we document this exciting time in our lives.  We also have some additional news regarding our son and daughter-in-law; they are expecting our first grandchild in October and are also in the process of buying a home.  They expect to move into their new home in August.  This summer is going to be a very busy and exciting time for our family. 

 

We are very blessed and thankful for all the blessings the Lord has bestowed upon our family. 

 

Hugs!

The Jones

KT and Nacho too!

 

 

 

 



Enjoying the Southwest

Hi All,
It has been a while since we have reported in; for over a week we had no reception.   So I'll start back where we left off.

Thursday, 13 Feb
We left Casa Grande and met up with friends in Maricopa to head west to Quartzsite, AZ for four days of boondocking in the desert.  Boondocking is described as having no hook-ups:, no water, sewer or electricity.  It was a very different experience for us and we had a great time with our friends, former Quad-Citians. 

We explored the various vendors, that frequent Quartzsite during the winter months, one afternoon and found a few good deals.  There are dozens of vendors there at any one time and during some of the big events, such as the Gem and Rock show or the RV show, there will be hundreds of vendors to satisfy the shopping needs of thousands of boondockers.

Another day we explored a little of the vast area of BLM land that surrounds Quartzsite, which is where all the boondockers camp while in the area.  For more information about Quartzsite check out this link:  Quartzsite  This article was written back in 2006, but it is still pretty accurate.  Would we do it again?  By ourselves, no, I like hook-ups too much, but with friends or part of a rally for a few days, yes.   The good was we sat around and caught up with our friends who we hadn't seen in four years, cooked and ate some nice meals and enjoyed the evenings under the stars until we got chilly and then went inside for our nightly Mexican train domino contest.  One night the moon was full and so bright, we couldn't see the stars.

 

 

   

 

 

Monday, 17 Feb

This morning after another delicious breakfast (we shared some good meals for boondocking),  :) we all packed up and headed north to an Arizona state park, Cattail Cove, near Lake Havasu City, AZ.  This town is known for the town developer that bought the London Bridge and brought it brick by brick back to Arizona and had it erected and a water way constructed under it.  The whole town developed around this attraction.

 

 

Wednesday, 19 Feb

After bidding our friends a farewell, we left for Joshua Tree National Park and camping for one night at Joshua Tree RV and Lake Park.  Oh my!!! The wind was horrible when we arrived in the area.  We could hardly walk the dogs or open the door to the Airstream. Sand and dirt blowing everywhere; what grit!!! UGH!!! Since we planned to head out again the next day, we spent the late afternoon touring the park and then had a late supper at a Rib joint.  Really good ribs, they just fell off the bone.  Our plan was to get up with the sunrise and explore the park for a couple hours in the very early morning for the best sun exposure on the granite rocks and the Joshua Trees. 

 

When we got up, Dave wasn't so sure we were going to make it as I was feeling sick for a good portion of the night.  We made it though, I was feeling better than I though I would and since we drove thousands of miles I didn't want to miss the experience. The trees are so unique and the groves of them in the park make for a surreal viewing experience.  At least for this Midwest girl! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dave has some really good pictures on his camera so anyone interested, I'll show them when we are back home. 

 

After touring the park we returned and hooked up the Airstream and headed for our next destination which was Borrego Springs State Park just south of Joshua Tree.  Quite a few people raved about this park, but after spending a couple days in the area, I just don't see the attraction unless you like ATVing in the desert.  The town itself had a nice little Farmer's Market where we bought some just picked Clementines.  They are so good!!!  We also purchased just picked strawberries and I made a shortcake when we got back to the campsite.  Oh so good!

 

The best part of these two days was the park itself, Leap'in Lizzard.  It was so nice for being in the middle of the desert and nothing but sand.  They rack and sweep the sites daily; the whole park is immaculate!!!   Peaceful, but only because there were no ATVers staying there at the time.  

 

Saturday, 22 Feb

After a restful and enjoyable two days, we started our trip to Jojoba Hills Escapee Co-op where we intended to stay for two weeks.  The route was exhausting!!!  It was very slow going because even though the elevation only ranges between 2300 - 5000 the roads are narrow, curvy, winding, and up and down the whole way.  Jojoba Hills is beautiful as a RV resort can be; built into the side of the mountain, the views are very nice. 

 

After two days there though we were enjoying the place it was evident we would have to leave after only one week instead of two.  A local farmer has a cannon boom on a motion detector to scare away wildlife from his crops.  Nacho was freaked out the whole time!!!!  He didn't want to leave the Airstream.    We did spend Tuesday traveling to Oceanside and San Juan Capistrano where we enjoyed some ocean views and walked along a beachside walkway. 

 

 





Wednesday we woke up to a Severe weather alert that San Diego and Riverside Counties were expecting high winds, heavy rains (up to 7 inches) and thunderstorms.  So we chose not to drive in that weather on Saturday, our original day of departure, but instead took off for Casa Grande.  A six hour (supposedly) drive from Jojoba Hills.  The roads out were even worse then the roads in (different route) so it took us a bit over 8 hours to arrive at our destination. 

 

We will stay here for a couple days relaxing and visiting with our friends again, before we head to Texas where we will stay until we can find a 4 day window to drive back to Cedar Falls.  Our destination right now, for next week is a state park just south of Austin.   We will check back soon, but until then stay warm in the frozen north!!!!

 

Kisses, KT and Nacho