The Floating Carport! Wait....What?

Well, that's what it looked like, anyway.  The carport didn't really float, but was transported from one place on the property to another, putting into action the middle-of-the-night-brainstorm my dad concocted.

This is probably one of the coolest things I've witnessed in a long time.  Let me see if I can recreate it for you....

1. He is raising the carport slightly using the
two boards and sledgehammer as a lever.

2.  The entire thing was raised and supported at intervals
with stacks of blocks.

3. In the back of his pickup went the jack....

4. ...and a frame was built that would support
the carport from about center.

5. The support frame was jacked up to touch the roof.

6. Extra supports were installed to keep it from swaying.

7. The front support beam was installed earlier, but when
the carport was raised for moving the pressure made it
lean forward.

8. Extra supports for balancing and guiding were attached
to the crossbeam.

9. Here is the destination.

10.  It's on the move!!! The truck needs to drive
forward about 20 feet, turn right into the driveway and
straighten out ....  

11. ....before backing up another 40 feet into the spot.

12. His guide is my brother who is watching the others on
the outside and behind the carport.

13.  See the feet underneath the door?  Almost looks like
it is walking along Fred Flintstone-style.

14. The truck inside the carport is in reverse
and on it's way back!

15. It got alittle close to the retaining wall
on the right side....

16.  ....so they pushed while Dad continued slowly back.

17.  Almost there!

18.  Getting closer!!

19. Perfect fit on the right.

20.  Made it!!!!

21.  They left just enough room to open the door in the back. 

22.  Here is where it once stood and home of the future garage.

23.  And this is the great mastermind - my amazing Dad!  :-)                  

In case, pictures aren't enough here is some video footage 

of the event taken by my daughter, Shelby.

Floating Carport - Part One

Floating Carport - Part Two

Progress!

It's been a busy week and I've been a negligent blogger.  

• Tree trimmers came and removed large branches that were hanging over the house.
• Friend Electrician came and helped Brian wire the shed.
• Meeting with Salesman about a sunroom.  Yikes$$$$$$$!!
• Meeting with Friend Contractor who advised us on the room addition/sunroom.  Much better!
• Friend Painter came and sprayed the shed.
• The kids and I started painting a couple bedrooms. (Pictures below)
• Brian built new doors for the cellar and insulated the shed.
• And I'm sure I'm leaving something out.

All this took place around the necessities of life: work, school, laundry, shopping, church, and more.  I'm kind of tired.  I know it's familiar, but it's true and I can't hear it too often.

But those who wait for the Lord 

[who expect, look for, and hope in Him] 

shall change and renew their strength and power; 

they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] 

as eagles [mount up to the sun]; 

they shall run and not be weary, 

they shall walk and not faint or become tired.

Isaiah 40:31 AMP

At our Ladies' Bible Study last night we discussed the importance of spending time actively waiting on God.  This is not a passive, lay down on the couch and twiddle your thumbs kind of waiting.  Rather, the kind of waiting that involves remembering God's Word and His promises; meditating on the truths we need to see at work in our lives at this very moment.  For one it was healing.  For another wisdom.  For me, strength.  Here's the beginning of my list of Strength and Energy confessions I'll be pondering in the coming weeks.  

He gives power to the faint and weary, 

and to him who has no might He increases strength [causing it to multiply and making it to abound].

Isaiah 40:29 AMP

When the To Do List is so very long, it becomes even more necessary for me to stop awhile, refocus, be thankful, and receive from the One Who gives me strength.

Here are those pictures I promised.

Silas' color scheme....green with orange trim!
Doesn't look bad, does it?

I know, I know...this one is staged, but
I forgot to take a picture while they were painting. :-)

Shelby's room is an amazing brown that looks
like a chocolate malt.  Mmmmm....

This old wallpaper was in the closet in Silas' room.
I'm going to keep a sample and frame it.

There is some pretty trim in the closet, too.

Underneath the old wallpaper was a plaster-coated wall!

Just a little teaser here....on Tuesday I plan to dig up and transplant the peonies from my flowerbed that came from my Grandma and Grandpa Trail's farm.  These plants could very well be over 60 years old.  I'll have to find out when Grandma started her peony garden.  My mom suggested I leave a remnant behind for the people who eventually buy our house.  I don't think so!  This piece of my heritage is coming with me!  

Who knows what lurks behind those doors?

We were experiencing a mysterious lack of water supply 
to the master bath and refrigerator at the new house.  
I said a prayer and ventured into the cellar.  
It took only a few seconds to discover

a couple shut off valves that hadn't been turned on yet.  
We now have water!  Thank you, Lord!

(I feel like such a she-woman!)

This is a recent status update from my Facebook page.  I received 19 "likes" and 2 comments.  I think 19 "likes" is a record for me.  With such a response I decided it was time to open the doors to the dreaded cellar!  Don't be afraid.  It's really not that bad....for a cellar, that is.

Watch your step now.  Look out for cobwebs.

Check out this doorknob!
Think it might have been here in 1890?

Maybe we should turn on the light.

There!  Now we can see where we're going.  I told you it wasn't so bad.
From here you can see the ac & furnace ductwork, water heater & water softener.
Ummm - what's the dark, shadowy area back there?
That's just the crawl space.

First, let me show you the shut off valves I found the other day....

Good thing the little doo-dad on the upper right looks just like the thingy that's 

attached to the  refrigerator.  I can certainly put two and two together!

Are you kind of creeped out by the crawl spaces?  Yeah, me too.

Let's take a closer look, okay?

It's kind of hard to see, but notice the old boards at the top.

Brian, my he-man husband, and Silas have already been exploring back there!

See that water bottle?  It marks the opening to unexplored territory in the crawl space.

This is on Brian's list for next weekend.  

Look carefully at this picture and the next.  See those stacked rocks?

These were carefully placed by a previous owner to brace the floor joist.

Comforting, right?  Not really!  But, it'll do in a pinch, I suppose.

However, also on the list is a visit from a professional who can properly brace the building!

Ready to head back up and out?  Me, too.

Wait!  Why is there a mirror on the back of the door?

And why are there hooks on it?

I don't think I even want to know!

Come on, let's get out of here.

I hope you enjoyed the tour of the cellar.  Come again!

Let the Demolition Begin

Saturday dawned full of promise and anticipation.  While I was at a women's conference at church, Brian, our children, and a few friends went to work at the house.  There is a long-term list of projects a mile long, but Saturday was the day to clean up the yard and tear out a wall!  

This is the offending wall from the kitchen side.

And from the dining side.

Now you can see straight through from front to back and back to front!

This is all that's left.

They got a pretty good sized burn pile started.

THIS is what he's been waiting on for weeks!