Xmas

Krispin flew in from LA to Colorado Springs airport late (near midnight) on Christmas Eve. Our friends Dom & Wendy invited us on the spur of the moment to join them for their Xmas dinner along with their son Andrew who had flown in from Annapolis where he attends the Naval Academy. This was wonderful as we hadn't had a chance to do any prep whatsoever for any holiday observances ... bet you can't guess why.

Up at our house, Evan (who had flown away to celebrate with his parents in Philadelphia) left a rather large wrapped package for us ... we worked around it for a few days waiting for the 25th when we ripped off the red stuff to find a beautiful house number post for the end of our lane. Evan had used a left over piece of house timber to create the sign ... it will be planted in the ground in the spring and encased in cement to thwart any efforts by the cattle to loosen it as they they exercise their customary lean and scratch maneuvers.

The right-most image is one of Chris with Jacob on his stilts (for spackling reach)... when Chris asked him if it was hard for him to get used to the stilts, he said that the first time he tried it he fell and broke both arms ... after that it was fine. (!)

We keep having snow ... and it is very pretty, but makes it hard to provide parking for the workmen ... not to mention getting up the driveway that first day. Usually we get plowed out within half a day or so after the white stuff stops falling.

Inside, many non-picturesque things are happening. For instance, the full basement plus Chris' whole workshop are getting wallboard tacked up and spackeled by a service called "The Mud Doctors" ... they have special equipment that lifts and holds the giant wallboard sheets so that one man can get the wallboard up by himself. I was very impressed. Wallboard is mean stuff. Chris is so thankful that he doesn't have to do it himself ... he's got plenty on his plate just dealing with the living quarters.

Here's Evan working on the shower in the guest bath ... tiling ... tiling ... and more tiling. Around the corner is Chris doing more spackling. Are we having fun yet?

Lest you think I am a slouch, here are some pictures of me at my prime task of these last several months ... where it looks as if I am kissing the board, I am actually blowing wood dust out of the corner nail holes so I can fill them with wood putty prior to painting. Please note my very own personal ladder in Swedish colors so everyone will know without a doubt that it is mine and don't touch it (!) Meanwhile, Chris is up at altitude painting the walls prior to installation of trim boards in the clerestory.

And lastly I spent several serene hours on a balmy day moving and stacking firewood onto our wood porch which had gotten a bit depleted.