Happy Halloween! (Sure miss you, kids! See you soon!)

Our little Pumpkin-Piper-Pie!

And Cowgirl Abby!

It seems we were ready for a Padded Room! Now, we have one!

ALSO.....our pine ceiling and mountain high grade douglas fir floor were delivered.

Here's our ceiling & floor. The pine is re-purposed wood from the big Las Conchas forest fire that burned in northern New Mexico this summer, specifically, from the area around the Dixon Apple Orchard. We purchased it from a place in Las Vegas, New Mexico called "Old Wood" - an amazing saw mill with many philanthropic ventures. Check out their amazing operation at their web site, if you like. (google David Old, Old Wood, Las Vegas, NM).

Plugging away.......

........that's what we are doing now. Our adorable electrician has gotten power to all essential places now, and his inspection went perfectly. The redwood table and mantle arrived from Berkeley, CA and they are glorious. In fact, my brother put the mantle up yesterday and it really is lovely. Our framing inspection yesterday did not go so well, I am sorry to say. There are a number of fixes (six) that must occur before we can call for a re-inspection; hopefully we will have that back on track by week's end. It is hard when we can't do "the fixing" and must rely on others (framers!). Some of the fixes we can and will do. Then there is the matter of the fireplace inspection. I have a bad feeling about this one - but time will tell. So many inspections! I do think our society has gone overboard in terms of protecting the populace. Personal responsibility and due diligence and all that...what happened to those? But, I know it is important to protect people from shoddy, unsafe building practices. I feel protected.

The prospect of hot water by week's end has dimmed. A tiny glimmer of hope remains. Insulation will likely not be happening this week either, unless there is a miracle by Friday. We are scheduled for Friday, but a LOT of other things must happen first, including that framing re-inspection!
< sigh >

We are truly enjoying the spectacular views of Autumn color out our windows! They are in just the right spots to see the sunset, the horses, the beautiful golden cottonwood trees and brilliant red Virginia Creeper vines. This is a real treat.

So, generally, we are doing well. Progress continues, with just a few small blips!

Blip....Blip......Blip.

Our Guard Gineas

These little Guard Guineas don't miss a thing. They have witnessed all the craziness that has transpired (and continues to transpire) at LBF since our project began. And today - there is a LOT of crazy here! Framers finishing up (Oh, I do hope!), our family electrician will prepare for his county inspection here tomorrow, and some fine tuning of the window and door installation (my honorable brother and a trim man). Meanwhile, the garden has not yet been hit by frost, so my work continues there. Lovely work, that!

Our windows and door are simply wonderful!

At last, we can lock our home...and go someplace! We feel much more snug and cozy now, even though we are so far from finished. Each day we inch nearer to the day we can occupy this new sunny space.

And now, the view up the acequia. The changing trees and vines have a light all their own.

Some of our Pumpkins!

The Rouge de Temps (also called Cinderella pumpkins, because Cinderella's coach was made from one of these!) are my favorites! But they are all spectacular!

Miles is trying to decide which pumpkins he will take home!

Into the garden........

By the light of the FULL moon

Last night we were laying down insulation by the light of that big, glorious full moon. It was spectacular, easing gracefully over that beautiful mountain, lending light for our work! A few days ago, we had mentioned to our neighbor, Frank, that we would be doing this. And who came walking up our driveway at 6pm, just as Commander got home from work and we began contemplating the project? Frank. With cutters, gloves, and eye protection in hand. It took the three of us about an hour to get all the spaces on the new "old roof" filled with fluffy R-30 insulation. Tomorrow, if all goes as planned, the roofers will deck over our insulation and on Friday we should get a real roof! Hip Hip.....hooray! Running water and a roof in one week. (fingers crossed).

Are you sitting down????

I hope you are! Because I have NEWS! We HAVE RUNNING WATER IN THE HOUSE! Yes - you read correctly. Running water. When we turn the faucet (as we have continuously done time after time for the past five weeks, and nothing happened), WATER comes out! AND...when we flush....the tank fills up...ALL BY ITSELF!!!

IT IS the LITTLE THINGS that make the difference. WE ARE HAPPY!

PS Do you suppose the water will actually come out HOT someday??? Woah there, Nellie. One thing at a time! ;)

Water, Water Everywhere!

These first two pictures are of the old roof on the existing house, which you can see, is in the process of being modified. It was not a good roof, and we decided it needed a new slope. Previously it was much too flat and leaked. With the rain this week, after having been scraped....I dare say that it really leaked this week! Oh, well. It is just water.

A view of our progress (which has been slow this week), from the acequia path.

Granny went home today!

Yes, it's true. We are so happy that Granny was able to leave the hospital for home today. Three long nights and days there, and she is doing a lot better now. She sure has two big, bad injuries on her head, but the tests showed no serious damage and no definitive reason for her tumble. Papa is most happy to have her home!

It is such a wonderful thing to have family who all work together when such a thing occurs! All personnel reported for duty, and love and concern flowed.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch - make that the FARM, things are slogging along. Slowly. We had the biggest rain we have had in the last 2 years, much of which ended up in our house (the old part being repaired and the new part). Now the wind is blowing upwards of 45 mph, so the plastic on the window openings is doing some serious blowing and billowing. The windows were to arrive last week, but have been delayed. The fireplace was to be installed by now, but some parts were missing - delayed. The plumber took an out of town job and won't be here until next week. (Going on week 6 for no water and no gas in the house.)

The hang ups on the construction seem very trivial when compared to the health and safety of our Mom & Dad, and all of our loved ones, for that matter! We are GRATEFUL!

A weekend of BIG cleanup & trips to the dump.

Also a bit of hot air balloon watching from our new portal! It affords a FINE view! Today it is raining, so I have been placing buckets here and there inside in places where the old roof will meet the new. We are dried in on our new roof, awaiting a redo of the old roof and a seamless connection between the two. Hence, drips!! The real roofing should happen by week's end.

Granny took a spill Monday morning and is in the hospital - some nasty head wounds where she hit the wall and floor! The doctor said her brain is "beautiful" though - thank heaven She will get to go home tomorrow, so that will be very good. We are so concerned about her and about Papa! We will slow the kitchen project down some until they are back up to speed!