Schrader Landing: August 2008

Friday, August 29, 2008

Oh give me a home...Where the Buffalo roam...

We have such interesting road signs!

Did you think I was kidding???

They seem so calm here, but several weeks ago they had a stampede and it was an interesting sight!

They have tunnels for crossing under the road. And they are never in the same field from day to day. I was lucky to find them fairly near the road when I took these pics.

Apparently here in North Country the buffalo do roam! Eh?

Our Apple Trees...

We've known that our meadow was ringed with apple trees, since we first discovered them in Spring 2007 when the blossoms burst into bloom. But, we missed apple season last year by still being in CT and not visiting the land at the right time.

This year we we really enjoyed the blossoms again and were hoping to be able to see the cycle all the way through.

Somehow I thought they'd all be crab apples wonderful for the wildlife, but not great to pick for people eating. So imagine my surprise the other day by discovering what appear to be nice red apples hanging from several of the trees.

It's still too soon to tell what they taste like, I know nothing about apple trees except that I loved looking at them all summer.

I don't know when I will taste one. They are still mostly attached and there are some worm holes in them.

But, I really love looking at them and will probably start trying to find information on what type they are and what I can do to help them grow.

Odds 'N Ends...

I took another "nature walk"...things keep growing and changing...It's wonderful.

Crisp nights have started the foliage turning and berries are forming in abundance

An interesting sign seen along our road.

This Sunflower is for Ellen...

A crazy bright mushroom...

Framing the loft...

This view is in the loft. That wall is where our TV set will be. There is a half wall that will hide the side of the TV so it won't be visible as you come up the stairs. It also serves to hide all the wires in the back. Behind the TV wall is the walkin closet, then the little hallway...and finally the bathroom.

It's been kind of fun to be walking through the walls...but that has come to an end now. Too many electrical wires snaking through, and too many cross supports now.

Our pine panels will be vertical, harder work for the builder, but we decided we liked the contrast against the horizontal logs.

Back to the house (upstairs) the framing continues...

View from dormer window to bedroom hallway. On left of the small window is a walk-in closet. On the right is the bathroom.

View from bedroom hall...bathroom now on left and walk-in closet on right.

This picture is one of my favorites! I finally got the sense of how the finished bedroom will look. The main part of the bedroom is 14 X 17. The little hallway is 4ft 6in wide. The walk-in closet and bathroom are 10 X 6 each.

I have to add that this was entirely Rick's own design. He took into account the measurements of all our bedroom furniture. Made sure the walls would be the correct size. He insisted on the walk-in closet. It all looked good on paper! I'm here to tell you that master bedroom is fantastic!

Finally ready to shingle the garage roof...

Roof boards all up now...

Lots of alcove space between the supports...

This is the view from the Hayloft door!

More on the garage...

There will be lots of storage up here over the garage.

The roof boards are almost half done.

It was a badge of honor for all who hit their heads while the temporary supporting beams were still attached.

(editorial comment: OUCH !)

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Little by litte...framing continues...

This is up stairs, Mike is working at the doorway to the master bedroom.

This is Mike standing on what will be to top of the stairs. That half wall will hide the side of the TV set.

The bedroom...

Monday, August 25, 2008

Lots of horses around here...

They wander the fields...

Is this little one looking at the camera too????

They eat the grass...

They take siestas...

Then, they eat some more grass...

Mooooooooooo....

Every day we'd see "new faces" out in the fields. You knew they were just born and wouldn't move away from the mothers.

This little guy we noticed right away. Unfortunately, I never thought to take a pic until he was already getting bigger. This field had 3 little ones, and day after day we'd see them hanging out together while the rest of the herd would be off to themselves (but never too far away). It's been a wonderful feeling to watch them grow! In this picture I think he was really looking right at the camera.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

The first car to try the garage...

The Rick Mobile is first. He couldn't get all the way in due to building materials blocking the way.

He was able to get in past his side mirrors and test out the "fit"...He did it again later with me in the car and I see no problem at all! It appears to be the same size (width) doors as our old garage.

The site is back to normal...

Looks wonderful to me. Rick and I (of course) started last night to plan pathways and stairs.

And grass...don't forget the grass.

And bushes and mulch...oh we have our work cut out for us! And flowers, I really missed my impatiens this year. I've always planted lots of those...

You can barely see the well back through the trees here. Rick set up this barrier. This is currently a "prime parking" spot, so we didn't want any tire marks until it has a chance to settle a bit.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Thursday was busy around the site...

Our excavator showed up to dig the trench for the well and electric to the house.

We co-ordinated having the well drillers come back to lay the pump and feeder lines and install the pressure tank in the basement.

I love watching these big machines do their work.

Mike (wearing his electrician hat for the day) was there to lay the electric wires from the pedestal to the basement.

By the end of the day we not only had one side of the garage roof finished to the peak, but all the mounds of dirt and rocks were once again filled in and graded. More photos of the finished job tomorrow (I hope).