ME AND MANZANITA: 2nd week

..talk about beautiful. Jim sent me this picture to remind me how beautiful the top of a mountain can be! Giggle. I haven't been at the cabin too much this year - I'm not very good living in a construction zone - but, I am looking forward to sitting on the deck, and just relaxing.

Jim and I did our civic duty again - we were ballot watchers for the Utah County election... The first election we volunteered at was the General Election last November, so this was was considerably easier. We were at the Provo Library again, which is close to home and it's just a fun activity.

The day after the election, Jim was back at the cabin getting ready for insulation to be blown in. It all started with putting plastic over everything that could potentially be covered....

...and this is what it looked like after being covered...

Jim put a barrier up to protect the kitchen from all the pieces of insulation blowing around...

...and in the loft...

... and even with all the preparation... there was lots that blew all over the place.

Our grandkids had their first day of school, and I was fortunate enough to get pictures... Mahayla started high school this year - when did this happen?... She still must only be a couple of years old...

Brea is just as cute as always.. She is such a social butterfly and is still playing hockey in her spare time and is involved in band at school....

Coy graduated from the school he was at, and has started 6th grade with a new school and new experiences. He's had a hard summer with a major surgery at Primary Children's Hospital, but is always cheerful and looking forward to the new school year. He's also playing hockey.

Ben is still such a sweetie. He loves to play piano, and hockey, and is just a delight. He's the goalie on his hockey team, and loves it!

I was talking with Jim last night and he suggested I publish a little clarification... We have TWO Ben's that we talk about in this blog. We have Ben - who is in elementary school and plays goalie on a hockey team (pictured above) and Ben, who is Jim's helper at the cabin - has already made it through elementary school and isn't much of a hockey player... I don't think... And, his picture is a couple of pictures down from this one... Giggle...

Back to the insulation. Jim had fans set up to get rid of some of the insulation flying around... and, this is the fan after the first couple of hours...

Ben (the elementary school graduate) climbed the scaffolding and actually blew in the insulation, while Jim stayed on the ground and fed the hopper. All I can say is I am glad Ben does rappelling, because I don't think Jim would like to be that far up in the air...

With so much insulation flying around, wearing a hazmat suit and a mask is imperative. We bought the masks and the suits and when Jim got to the cabin, he couldn't find his mask so he had to settle for a COVID mask. On the day after the insulation job was completed, I found his mask here at the house in Provo... grrrrr..

The floor in the great room was totally covered in insulation spray, but Jim got to work to clean it all up. I didn't think it was particularly healthy to breath in all that stuff all night... This picture is from the front door...

Lots and lots of mess...

We bought 56 bales of insulation for the first day, and 30 bales the 2nd day. Jim thinks we might need a couple more bales to finished the job and then invite the inspector to visit.

Uhuh... it was a little on the messy side of life... My antique ladder back chairs were covered...

And, this is what the finished project looked like!... the little spaces all filled with insulation. The next step after the inspector comes is to install tongue and groove wood on the ceiling.

We still haven't figured out how to complete the process above the stairs. There really is no place to erect the scaffolding so that it's safe to work...

While Ben was up on the scaffolding, he cleaned the blades on the ceiling fan. He said that when we turn on the fan, even thought he cleaned most of it off, there is going to be lots of "snow" falling.

The work on the kitchen cabinets continues. Jim found a little 9 inch cabinet to fill a space and it looks great.

While we were cleaning out the storage building, I found my Manhattan depression glass. I have been collecting this pattern for years. I sent it to the cabin with Jim and he found a home for it. I love this stuff. It was made from 1938 to 1945 and this pattern is called Manhattan. There is also a similar pattern called Park Avenue, but I prefer the Manhattan. Both are made by Anchor Hocking. A long time ago, manufacturers would put tea towels or glassware in bags of flour or detergent to encourage consumers to purchase their products...This was one of the promotions... Jim was telling me when he was putting it away, that he thought I was still missing some plates and glasses... but, I told him that I thought he had not looked in all the boxes I sent... And, sure enough, he found the boxes and got them put away also. I think I must have a couple of 100 pieces... and, I found one more box at the house in Provo... Jim was good to put it up in a safe place.

Here's another cabinet in my Manhattan in it. Trust me, there's more... but, I don't want to bore you..

And, the Pink Panther insulation got finished above the front door...and, above the bay window... The little finishing touches are almost completed.

Jim was busy at work framing the hallway where my washer and dryer are going to go. I have a stackable unit that is going to fit perfectly.

After framing was completed, the sheet rock was installed. Because this is not an outside wall, no insulation is required. You can see my stained glass window in the bathroom from the hallway.

And, Jim sheet rocked the closet in the master bedroom... Little by little, it's all getting done.

And, this little cutie had to let grandma know she got the care package and she had to wear the hoodie to school She loves it.

We had found a ceiling fan like this one, years ago, and wanted to install it in the loft. But, when we went to find it, apparently, it disappeared... And, no matter where we looked, it hasn't made an appearance yet. But, this week, I found another one.. it's sitting in the back of my car right now, but it's going to look great in the loft.

And last, but not least... most people know how picky I am about my nails... But, I think I had a weird moment of weakness this morning... got my nails spruced up, and have flowers and dragonflies put on them... never done this before in my life, and I really don't think I'll do it again... I stepped waaaaay out of my comfort zone... Giggle.