the mud pit

So I don't really want to blog about Hobbs now. Honestly, I'm a little over the project at this point. It's not that it's taking longer than we expected or that it's a lot harder than we expected. It's mostly how much of life it takes up. Even when we do set aside time to do other things, it's in the back of our minds. I can easily spot when Thomas is mulling over the next decision in his mind.

And this month has been especially difficult due to trying to make progress on the new laundry room/bathroom in spite of the blasted rain. 

In order to begin, Thomas had to dig a new footing. Sometimes this is easy. Of course not at Hobbs. He would take the tractor over after work, in between storms, and dig out a hole, trying to find a place to dump the mud. 

After digging a 3 foot trench, which should be more than adequate to lay the block, he failed inspection because the soil is too soft. And by soil I guess I mean clay. Thomas calls it "bull tallit". I call it disgusting. When you step in it, your shoe gets stuck. When you try to pick up your baby that has been playing in it, everything gets covered in mud. I have spent more time hosing off shoes and legs and clothes.

Right about this time, we needed to switch out dumpsters. But the ground was so wet from all of the rain that the giant dumpster moving truck got stuck. Thomas rushed home from work and tried to tow the truck out with his pick-up, and then the tractor (seen in the photo below). After an hour of trying, the truck finally got free, leaving some serious ruts in the yard.

After a lot more digging, and a hole nearly 6 feet deep, Thomas finally passed inspection. Then came laying gravel in the footing and getting cement delivered. Having a cement truck in your backyard is pretty much little boy heaven.

We were able to get the block laid. Then it was back to the tractor for filling in dirt and evening it out.

It rained and rained. And my baby got messy messy messy.

In the meantime, we finished painting the porch boards, and Thomas and Walker got the front porch done in a day. I primed the columns but we can't decide what color to paint them. And the front door. Suggestions?

Finally, Thomas and Walker were able to get to framing the building during the long 4th of July weekend. It must have poured rain at least six times throughout their efforts. Each time they would have to quickly put up all of the tools and wait it out.

Pulling off the old ceiling from Hobbs' utility room turned the boys soot black with 100 years of who knows what raining down on them.

By the end of the weekend, they had sheathed the entire building. A 3 foot moat is still around the outside of the room.

Inside will be a back entrance to a laundry room and an additional bathroom, complete with a stand-up shower, with access from the back bedroom. It will be worth it when it's done :)

And saving the best for last...the siding is on the front and side...which makes it look like a real house!

Now it's on to plumbing and electrical, roofing and siding for the back room. And I'm sure plenty of mud mud mud.