MANDIRT!!

Another couple of weeks have passed, and we are still moving forward....

Jim came home from work about a week ago, and was all excited because, this thing that he ordered came in, and he picked it up... I kind of looked at it and was at the "um, what is it" stage.  It's not really big, but he was really thrilled...  I know it has something to do with the electrics, but beyond that... I'm at a loss...

This is where I leave a space on the blog, and I ask Jim to look at what I've written, and explain... So, whatever you see next, it's not me.. It's Jim..

Jim:  Take it away....This is the main 200 amp breaker that goes out in the meter base that's mounted on the front of the cabin next to the glass electric meter.  If there is a power surge or lightning strike this will trip and stop any damage to the electrical system in the cabin.  There you go Cheri.

Wow... that was easy...

The big project that Jim has been working on over the past couple of weeks is getting the plumbing situated and the water turned on.  We have the plumber arranged, but, because we are not on city water, we have to dig a hole for a septic tank.. that has been the big push lately...  One of us, and I don't want to mention who, doesn't want to have to drive the 20 minutes to the restroom, several times a day, any longer... Thus, the urgency to get the plumbing in.

Here's the start.  Stakes in the ground so we don't get out of hand with the digging.  LOL.

Jim was telling me that as he started digging the hole, there was a mouse that ran out of the brush nearby and into the hole, and his knee jerk reaction was to kill the mouse.. Well, he was sitting in the seat of the backhoe, and was operating the machine doing the digging... he was trying to follow the mouse, with the bucket, to kill it...  the mouse was a little faster than the backhoe, and it escaped... As he was describing this to me, I am laughing crazy.. just thought it was a little overkill trying to exterminate a mouse... with a backhoe.. Kind of like taking a machine gun to a pillow fight... and the pillow won!!!  Had me laughing so hard, I was snorting..  Giggle.

This gives you a little perspective of exactly where Jim is digging..

Yep.. this is the mouse trap...Uhuh... can  you imagine trying to kill a mouse.. with this?  I mean, seriously, with antics like this, how can you not love this man?

Jim is having issues with the air cleaner.  It captures water in the rain and makes the backhoe run rough.  He wants to replace it with something a little more modern.

Jim took a little break from the digging and went inside the cabin to rest...  he was skyping with me at the time, and I noticed all the dirt on his hands... had to have him take a picture....

This is man dirt.

The digging job was finished Sunday afternoon, and this is the result.  This hole is about 7 feet deep, and is 11 feet across...  it's a beautiful thing for a big cement tank that will fill it up.

Last summer, when we were driving to the cabin, we found a cow in the ditch that someone had hit with a truck.. At the time, Jim mentioned that he didn't know how anybody could hit a cow being that they really don't move that fast, and the road we drive on is a dirt road, and the maximum speed we drive is about 30 miles an hour... Well, today, he found out how you can hit a cow.  He was driving from Tod's Junction after a lunch break back to the cabin, and a calf "came out of nowhere" running into the road and then turned down the road in front of him.  It missed getting in contact with the front grill of his truck by about a foot...while Jim was slamming on the brakes and sliding all over the dirt road.

After trying to kill a mouse with his backhoe, I was glad that he was picking on a larger animal, with a smaller vehicle!  Giggle..

Life is good and the adventure continues!

Jim & Cheri.

Marvin Gaye and Kim Weston "It Takes Two"

The Drifters - Under the Boardwalk

Seriously... Seriously..... sigh....

Have you ever had one of those weeks, where all you can really do is just sigh at the end of it...  Well, both Jim and I just had one... At both of our places of employment, all hell broke loose, and, it was emotionally draining...   THEN, on Thursday, Jim is talking to Garkane Energy, and Kane County about switching our temporary power pole to the fixed meter base, on the side of the house and, we found out all kind of exciting things. But, that story is later on in this blog....So, running away to the cabin seemed to be the right escape.

A week ago, I got a call from our weird neighbor, and he said that he had something that we might like for the cabin... I couldn't imagine what - this guy is totally out there somewhere on another planet.. Well, he said he wasn't sure what it was, but, he thought it might be a bird feeder...  So, I walked next door and there was this gnarly copper and plastic looking thing, and sure enough, it was an old bird feeder.. and, it needed a whole lot of work.  The first thing I did was run it through the dishwasher.  You know, our dishwasher really is a multi purpose machine - it's washed everything from rocks, motorcycle and car parts to bird feeders...  The first pass got all the dirt and muck off of it, and then Jim dismantled it, and I scrubbed it down in the sink some more.

... and it turned out quite pretty.  The neighbor said that he believes it belonged to his parents, so we are estimating that it probably is about 60 years old. We can't find replacement parts, but, Jim did his best to reconstruct it, and it's now hanging in the garage.  I think it's crazy interesting, and will look amazing at the cabin.

Jim's BIG project this past week is building the bridge that crosses from dry land across "Galt's Gulch" to the deck.  This whole balancing act that we have to go through (walking across three 2x10's) just had to go.  I am always so afraid that the boards are going to break and I am going to fall head first into the gulch!  The project starts out looking really simple, and then gets a little more complicated really quickly.

Here's a shot of  the upper and lower boards to be glued together to form a curved beam, 

They don't look like much yet.

As Jim is working cutting wood and measuring and doing all these guy things that he's so good at, I had the task of holding the string or measuring tape... yep, that's my contribution.  But, about half way through the project, I notice that Jim has red on his fingers and I am so sure he'd cut himself and is bleeding all over the place... I am all in a twist over it, and he keeps wiping his fingers on his pants, but no blood is wiping off.. so, I figure it's bleeding like really crazy.. and he keeps wiping... well Jim soon figures out, that he was using a red marker to draw the lines on the board, and he got some of the marker on his fingers...  Thus, we made a trip to Home Depot, and I bought him some construction markers... and they are.. BLACK.

OK, three curved beams and a few things to hold them together and I'm getting the idea.

Jim didn't get all the bridge completed at the house - just enough to transport in the trailer.

And there's those pesky three 2X10's I've had to walk over.  Grrr . . .

.. and, he put more of the treads on the top when he got on site..

I told Jim that I wanted an arbor at the place where the bridge meets the deck, just above the gulch.. I think eventually, we'll get it done, but, for now, I'm just thrilled for the bridge and the two 2x10's that we've been balancing on, are gone... (those two 2x10's scared the heebeejeebees out of me whenever I had to walk over them...but I kept it inside and looked tough crossing them every time.  I swear, the gulch wanted to swallow me, I am sure...)...  I am wanting flowers growing up and over the arbor.. not sure what kind of flowers, but something warm and inviting... which I am SOOO sure is Jim's main objective... giggle... And deer proof!

I think it looks amazing.. What 'cha think?

When Jim was working on the bridge, he had to secure it from underneath... he told me that when he was in "The Gulch" he was singing the song, 'Under the Boardwalk'.  At the same time, I sent him the song by Marvin Gaye...'It Takes Two'.  Maybe he needed my help, maybe he didn't... BUT, I would have loved to be under the boardwalk with him, because it does.. take two!

We are slowly transitioning the cabin to a place where we can do cooking.  We have a microwave and a hot pot, and a little refrigerator, but, still it's not enough to cook a real meal.  When Jim got into Panguitch on Friday night, he bought some waffles and sugar-free syrup, and this was his breakfast.. ON MY MOOSE PLATES!  He said it was great with a cold drink of milk!

Jim's been working on the backhoe on and off over the last couple of weeks replacing the rotted out gas tank, and this past weekend, he tried it out for reals... AND, it starts, and works!  So, he started digging the hole for the septic tank.. I never thought a septic tank would be so exciting, but you have no idea!!!

It was about 2 weeks ago, I had this bright idea... We have had such a problem finding contractors to help us with different projects.  One of them was finding a plumber who was going to be available in our timetable.  I was at work, and I thought of an old friend of mine who has done work for us previously, but, I didn't have his phone number.  I did a search, and I found an address for him in West Jordan.  So, I wrote him a letter, and asked him to call me.  And, guess what - he did!  I told him what we needed and he asked to see a set of plans.  Because Jim works in West Jordan, Jim went by after work last Friday afternoon, and they checked out the plans, and discussed the project back and forth.  My friend, Rick, said that he would like to see the cabin before we moved forward.  He came down on Saturday, and walked the cabin with Jim, and made a plan...  I said, THEY MADE A PLAN...  They made a plan for.. PLUMBING... like toilets, and sinks, and running water.. that kind of plan..  So freakin' exciting.  He is going to do the work in September when his schedule calms down a little bit... We couldn't be more excited.

Jim stayed at the cabin from Friday night to Monday evening, mainly because he needed to meet with Rick the plumber on Saturday, but, also because he was meeting with Garkane Energy on Monday.  We found out that the temporary power pole that they put in... well, it was set up for an RV, not a house, and they weren't sure if they needed to dig up the road and put bigger wire in, or what they were going to do.  We were a little stressed all weekend thinking that along with the several thousand dollars we paid to have the power put in, would need to be all redone and re billed because they didn't do what we asked... Well, Jim met with them, and we found out that they did put the 200 amp wire in, not just the 60, and they don't think they are going to have to dig up the road... just move the wiring over to the house...  dodged a bullet on that one...!

And, we had another woodpecker in the cabin.  We aren't quite sure where they are getting in, but, once Jim saw him, he opened all the doors and invited the little beast to exit.  He did..  because, when they don't, they end up dead on my living room floor.  They are not the brightest, but, they can figure out how to get into the cabin, but not remember how to get out..

And, last but not least, please tell me this is a dog's paw print, and not something in the feline genre...  please... You see the toe nails are retracted and don't imprint in the mud.  That's a dog, right?

Our goal this summer was to have the four way inspection completed (furnace, plumbing, electrical and structural) and that is proving to be a challenge... So much work, not enough time and energy.  The adventure continues for us... gonna be working hard and long for as long as we can, and before the snow flies..

Jim and Cheri

..just trying to recover

..it's been such a long, hard week, we decided not to go to the cabin and work this weekend... more of an emotional, and physical recovery weekend..

But to start with, co-workers at my job found me this sign...

I love it... Thanks to the Account Managers!

AND, I was in a store on Saturday, and I saw this interesting clock... When I saw it, I immediately thought of Jim, and how amazing this clock would be in his workshop...  But, knowing Jim, I thought that he would give me all kinds of reasons why I shouldn't buy it... I was going through the list in my head of what I would say to convince him like... it's an engineering kind of thing... you need a clock in your workshop... it's incredibly unique and reminds me of you...  all these kinds of things.... Well, when I showed him, he immediately said, "I like it - it's looks like an engineer would buy it, and it'll be perfect in my workshop"... I immediately said, "Where is my husband and what did you do to him?"  I then asked him pertinent questions that only he would know, and he just laughed at me... never gave me the right answers, so it's still suspect if he's been abducted or not.  I did buy it, he does like it, and when my husband is released from this alien abduction, I hope he likes it too...

Jim drove down to the cabin on Friday afternoon before I even got home from work... which is good, because the plumbing is still not in, and ya....  He sent me these pictures from the truck as he drove south on I-15...

Jim Insert:  As I drove down to the cabin I kept running in and out of rain showers.  The weather report said it would be gone by Saturday.  But it made me a little philosophical.  In all the years of doing this and it seems like a lot of trips have gone down, I always leave exhausted from my day's work and so look forward to getting to the cabin.  (Are we there yet dad?)  I usually arrive by 9:30 and just unpack and mellow out.  

This looks so inviting, even in the dark.  I love this picture.  This was taken on Friday night.  The stars were absolutely amazing against the ink black of the sky.  You could see the Milky Way streaking across from one horizon to the other.  I love the look of the cabin at night...Don't those two chairs look inviting?

Saturday morning, the sun comes up before 7:00 and always wakes me up and then it's OK, this is wonderful to lie here. its so quiet and peaceful.  Let's get going!

I always make a mental plan of what I want to accomplish that weekend.  This weekend I wanted to complete the modifications to the backhoe gas tank rebuild and get the power into the cabin from the street by mounting the meter base on the outside wall.  As usual Streeter had to design the install "better than code".  I guess I want this cabin to be some sort of monument to our existence after we're gone.

Back to Cheri. . . .

This is really something that Jim is going to need to explain...  I know this box has something to do with the electrics, but...

More electrics. . .

More from Jim:  The electrical work is tedious, boring and takes what seems to be forever.  It isn't too exciting to post pictures of electrical boxes and wiring on 2X4s but what is satisfying is to finally hook up the circuits to the breaker box in the basement and turn the lights on for the first time -  with power coming through your house.

OK, back to Cheri.

Well, this what I know about... the lights in the hallways (square lights) and the light in the main floor bathroom (round light) in the main floor bathroom, turn on by flipping a switch!!!  I love it!

...and, this light (kitchen) turns on by flipping a switch also!

On the drive home, Jim usually stops in Fillmore to fill up with gas and get a bite to eat.  He stopped at the Maverick (best gas prices), and went to use the restroom... this is what he saw... He went in there, and said that there wasn't any "men type stuff"...  Apparently, Jim has never been in a ladies bathroom before... he wasn't used to all stalls!  Giggle.  So where do the women go when it's turned into a temporary men's bathroom?

By the time Jim came back home, the weather was lovely...  the roads were clear, and apart from being tired, Jim made it home safely...

As a post script... I was talking with Coy this afternoon and he wanted to know where Papa was... So, I told him that Papa was at the cabin in Bryce Canyon.. He didn't know what Bryce Canyon was, so, I pulled up a picture for him to see... This is called "Thor's Hammer".. and this is the picture I showed him..


As soon as he saw the picture, he gasped... and, in a very quiet reverent voice said, "It's orange, like my hair!"  And, I told him, "Exactly!"... he just stared at the picture, in a very, very reverent manner, totally amazed at the red rock, and was taking in the whole picture... was a beautiful moment.



..he just never knew he had "Bryce Canyon" hair!

Post, post script from Jim.  You see that mountain peak to the left of the sunset?  That's where our cabin is.  Just over that peak on the other side slightly to the left.

The adventure continues... Jim and Cheri

...after many weeks of absence.....

 It's been many weeks since our schedule was freed up so a trip could be made to the cabin to continue on with work.  Jim spent a couple of weeks in Dubai on business, and then, after all of that, we went on a quick little vacation to California.

Jim took a little walk through the open air market in Old Dubai and had a couple of pictures taken.... looks like he's turned into a local!!

One of the vendors in the market complimented him on growing a "really good beard".... If you look at the little box in Jim's right hand, it's a box of Tim Bits from a Tim Horton's Donut franchise.. in Dubai.. I swear, Dubai has everything.

At the pool, in the background, the tallest building in the world.

After getting Jim home, and working on getting the time zones in his head straightened out, we took off for California... with our cat, Mokie...  We couldn't find a babysitter for the cat over the long weekend, so he made the journey with us...  Let's put it this way, he won't be visiting California again... After he hissed at me, and bit me, I have decided that we are not friends...

While we were in California, we experienced a first... we felt a 7.1 earthquake!  We were in our 5th wheel, and all of a sudden, the 5th wheel started rocking back and forth.  I thought Jim was on the outside of the trailer and was working on something, and making it move back and forth.. then, I realized Jim was in the trailer with me.. he thought I was making it move back and forth... well, we learned later on that evening, that it was an earthquake about 100 miles away... Of course, when people asked about it, I had to tell them that we were romancing, and I just figured Jim rocked my world... giggle...  (saying that, people don't have a response... giggle...)

One of the first things Jim had to do this weekend, was to replace the gas tank on the backhoe.  Apparently, it had a metal gas tank, and it rusted through. So, Jim researched it out and found the only way to pull the gas tank was to either pull the engine out or split the frame of the backhoe.    He decided to cut the top off and mount the new gas tank inside the old gas tank.  We have a lot of dirt work to do this summer... the property needs to be graded so that a retaining wall can go in.  Jim was working on the repairs in the morning before the area really heated up.  That big round thing above the gas tank is part of the frame of the backhoe.

While Jim was in Dubai, I found this amazing stove and bought it... we are now changing how we were going to put the kitchen upstairs together... Now, I think this stove and oven is going to go in the kitchen on the main level, and the wood-burning stove/oven is going to go in the kitchen downstairs... I still think it's going to look amazing. (I hate making big purchases without Jim... I took pictures, and sent them to him, and we agreed it would look amazing... but still.... don't like making these purchases...) PS:  This brand of stove was made in... CANADA!!  Jim asked if it was gas fired so we could convert it to propane.  Turns out it's electric.

Jim has been furiously working on the electrics and he told me this was his big accomplishment this weekend... the electric conduit for the meter was installed on the outside of the cabin and we can now call Kane County to come and remove the temporary power pole... Jim was so excited.. in the same breath, he told me he didn't think it would mean that much to me, but it was a HUGE advance in the cabin building.. I am glad he was excited, but, he is right, I guess I don't understand the importance.

I have been looking for a large iron framed mirror... something that would go along with the other wrought iron things I have collected, and this past weekend, I found one!  I know it's large, (it's actually a BIG ASSED mirror.. - about 4' wide and 3' tall.) BUT... it's what I wanted... I think it's beautiful...  The game warden is out of town this weekend, and I am a little nervous to see what he says about it... giggle... First thing he said was "where are you going to put it?"  I know exactly where I am going to put it... in the bedroom downstairs where my granddaughters are going to sleep...  I want them to get up in the morning, and look in that mirror, and see how amazingly beautiful they are... and, be able to know they are loved, and love themselves... just because...

And, the other thing I bought this weekend was a box of 6 can lights for the cabin... Jim told me to buy them, so, you can't blame me for being a shop a-holic... But, in reading some of these blog entries, it looks like I really like shopping...  OK, I admit it.. I really like to shop... I think it gives Jim heartburn some times.. but... a woman's go to do what a woman's got to do!

I don't know much about this electrical stuff... but, Jim does.. and he was pretty excited when I bought this...

..and those beautiful light fixtures we bought... well... as you can see, they are now installed!  The two lights above are in the kitchen for the island.... Both are working now!

..and, this huge white fixture is about 22 inches across, it's beautiful and it's now in the main floor bathroom....

..and, this coach light (gas light) looking fixture, is in the loft bathroom upstairs... I think it looks absolutely beautiful...

And, Jim has been working feverishly this weekend to get the electric service/breaker panel up and running... He was explaining each set of bare, white and black wires represents a part of the house that now has light switches, electric plug outlets and light fixtures.  So we now have four circuits, the south side of the kitchen, the living room lights, the central hallway and bedroom and the main level bathroom.  But we still have a long way to go . . . keep going Jim!

Since Jim has been away at the cabin this weekend, it's given me lots of time alone and to think and ponder my life... Jim and I always joke about why I love him, or that a lot of times I'd like to slap him upside the head... but, I came up with two reasons why I am amazed and love my Jim....Although I know I could list hundred of reasons, these are two that stood out in my mind over the past couple of weeks... One, he makes me want to be a better version of myself.. and two, he pushes me to explore new things and get out of my comfort zone...  I probably will spend the rest of my life rolling my eyes and staring at the ceiling when he tries to explain his work to me... But, I love that man more than I can explain...and, whether he is in Dubai, or Florida, or California or just at the cabin in Bryce Canyon, I miss him terribly when he is away...

As always, the adventure continues.

Jim and Cheri