Gnome, Gnome on the Range...

Look closely for our guardian gnome who mysteriously showed up when we were looking at possible building sites. He's been watching over the work...sometimes he is over on his side in the morning...too much gnomka at night we suspect...but the workers set him upright at the start of each day.

All This Work For...NOT MUCH!

Weather this spring/summer has been pretty awful for all gardeners here in NWA. Our neighbor who, as an example, usually puts up 300+ jars of beans, jarred 35 a few weeks ago. Due to the heavy spring rains, gardens went in late; then, we went from rains to very hot which stunted plants. What did come up i.e. lettuces, have been bitter to the taste. Folks here are hoping for a good fall crop and we will plant again hoping the same. Notes to self...raised beds and drip irrigation for next spring.

First, and so far, only tomato! Gorgeous but destructive caterpillars ravaged several plants and one isn't doing well with the extreme heat. All this presents an excellent argument for hydroponics...ah well, next year maybe...

From Here On Up

From here on up the house starts to take real shape - the ability to really see the rooms, how the space is going to set up for the final look, what we should or shouldn't have accounted for in the plans.

Framing in the water catchment tanks...

Ceiling framing of the tornado shelter. Thankfully we have been able to incorporate a shelter into the building of the house. It's quite a bit less expensive this way and will provide us with shelter in a storm. Our neighbors here can't recall a tornado on this side of the mountain we are all on, however tornadoes have more frequently touched down all around our area. Better safe than sorry.

Watch out...he's on the loose with his toy...

Now that Butch is feeling more comfortable with driving his tractor he is out and about helping where he can.  Any excuse to use his tractor will do.  No job is too big or too small!  To quote our neighbors,  Marvin and Grace, Butch is moving the world one rock at a time.

Butch and the Last of his Big Boy Toys...

Yeeeeeha!  This will be one fine ride...once he figures out how to get it off the trailer.  Thankfully our trusted builder, Morris, is an expert with machines and a patient teacher.  Not sure what we'd do without him.

John and His Boys Are Framin' Fools! Best in NWA and Fun To Work With To Boot.

Crew working hard to get those figures right.

Floor joists are almost ready for the flooring...

Water Catchment Tanks in Place