Rain interrupts progress

This morning at 2:00 am I was brought out of a deep sleep by the sound of thunder and our chimes ringing. Chimes ringing means that we have some wind and that means soon we will have rain. Rain...yes...big time rain was just southwest of us and coming fast. I decided to check the tarps on the cabin. I have tarps up where we had to take some siding off to remove a door and put in a window. With the rain on the way I knew I should secure everything.
Now remember this was at 2:00 am. Here I was out in the cold trying to get the tarps readied for the onslaught. I felt the cold rain start to peck around on my neck and I knew that I did not have too much time to get this all done.
If I could just have had one more day of good weather I would be changing the tarps out for siding. Best laid plans of mice and men. Tomorrow I will be finishing up the copper and pressure testing the lines so I can insulate and button up the outside. Everything is coming together...

Somewhere in Time 

Finished the ruff in plumbing today.

Started out the morning traveling to Home Depot to get some more copper pipe. Had a stop over at Big Lots to get a bed for the cabin. They had a double bed on sale and we could not pass it up. While there Kris and I found us some recliners that are to die for. I guess I would have to die to afford them.
Upon return to the lake I had some lunch and then went head long into soldering pipe until the sun went down...literally. I had to cut the last 2 pieces of pipe with a flashlight. Got her done and was I glad. Tomorrow I will have to pressure test my work and see if I have any leaks. If I don't then I can button up the outside and get to work on the inside. 
Sherri has already started the painting. She is painting the loft first and it is rather tight. She is doing a good job although even with the lack of room to swing a brush. 
We are shooting for a completion date before Christmas. This way our family that shows during the holidays will have their own space.
Well here is to finishing up...

Somewhere in Time 

We made it

It was like a successful bombing run! We hit all our targets  and made it back to base in one piece.
Sherri says she has just about all her gifts bought. I on the other hand...as usual...am a little short on filling my list. I like waiting to the last minute so that I don't miss any great deals. You know if you buy too early you may find a better price latter. 
I got my table saw. I save $128.00 on this gift to myself. They had it marked down $100.00 and then with my VA discount I got another 25% off. 
Speaking of veterans...I noticed how many items in the stores were made in Vietnam! It was sad to think about the 56,000 men that perished in that since-less war! They gave their all for our cause and so many years latter I wonder for what? Those folks are still living in the same grass hooch we left them in all those years ago and they are happier than ever. Making all the clothes we now wear and the toys our kids play with...Just saying.
OK done with that...I am looking forward to finishing the cabin and moving on with my shop/art studio.
Tomorrow and Sunday will be spent finishing the plumbing and then I can button up the outside and work on the inside. They say it might rain Monday so I need to be done with all the outside work. I am sure it will all get done...

Somewhere in Time   

Black Sales

I want it painted black...that would make a good song.
This is Black Thursday and then tomorrow is Black Friday. Sherri and I are headed out to get all the bargains that have been advertised for months now. Everywhere you look someone has a sale on for some items that you cannot live without. 
Sherri is looking to get her a new fireplace for the cabin. I am looking to get me a portable 10" table saw. Yes I know I sold a good one years ago but who knew I would be back in the remodeling business? Besides the one I am looking for is portable and I can roll it around in my new shop to get it out of the way when I am not using it.
These sales can be dangerous so if it all goes well I will be able to post again tomorrow to let you know how everything went. One year a women ran me over with her buggy in the ladies department...like I was going to get the last bra on the rack? Come on people slow down. I think the real person comes out on Black whatever when these maniacs get to the stores. I just want a good deal on whatever and I have no intention of killing someone to get it. If they are out of that item when I get there...so be it...there will  be others. 
I am also working on my plumbing today. I would like to have it done by this weekend but then with all the sales Sherri has me going to I may have to finish up next week. 
So far everything is coming out nicely. Sherri has re-thought some aspects of the project...having me redo some things to make her feel better. That is the norm when it comes to her designs. She puts it on paper but when I complete the project she does not like the outcome so she will have me redo it. I am always ready for that so it does not bother me.
The only safe thing I have is electrical and plumbing. I have to do it the way it has to be and there is no changing it. Oh sometimes she will have me put in an extra plug here or there but once the circuit is run it is run.  
Same with the plumbing I tell her place the toilet and the other fixtures and once they are installed there is no going back. 
I know we will enjoy our new digs once we get through building...

Somewhere in Time 

Jason is coming to see us

My oldest son is coming to see us today. We don't get to see him much and when he is able to come down to visit we enjoy him. He works for Pepsi-Co as a CPA. They keep him very busy so he does not get a lot of time off. 
Sherri and I are straightening up some of the mess we have made while working on the cabin here. Trying to put some things away and making it look presentable. We have accomplished a lot since we started and hope to have it all completed by Christmas.
The new storage/workshop/art studio is stacked with all the building materials to finish the cabin. When finished I will have to put the shop in order so I can us it.
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and we are planning on staying right here. No plans to go off to anyone's house we just want to enjoy our little family here and eat some good ol turkey with all the trimmings.
The weather is turning cooler everyday. We did not have a fall as most areas of the country do. We go from hot summer into cold winter! Now that it is cool I can do some of the outside projects that need to be done. When it is hot in this part of the world I sweat like a horse on the gallop! I welcome the cooler weather and hope to get some things done outside that I have been meaning to do...

Somewhere in Time 

Back to Work

We got the RV inspected yesterday and now it is back in its birth here at the lake. I had a sigh of relief when we got settled in. We are now plugged up to our new 50 amp plug and all is working fine. I have to start the next phase of my plan which is the plumbing portion. 
We are putting water in the Tiny House...which by the way we will be referring to as the cabin from now on. Everyone is asking me what I mean by tiny house so now to make it simple I will be calling it a cabin here at the lake property.
OK now that I have that cleared up I will tell you that I have to plum the cabin with hot and cold water. We bought an on demand Hot Water Heater from Home Depot and will be installing it as soon as I get the water run to it. Sherri says washing in hot water will be so nice. 
I hope to get the plumbing all done in the next week. I will have to first install a shut off valve for the cabin so I can work on it without cutting the water off to the RV.
Everything is coming together as we have planned...now to pay for all of it??...

Somewhere in Time  

Back at the Lake

We made it back to our lake "Tiny House". Actually we are at the State Park just a mile from there. I had some electrical work I had to get finished which required me to have the meter pulled on the pole. I got it all done Monday and they hooked me back up that same day. 
We have to get the RV inspected for plates...another way the government gets our money...and that I have to do today. We will be moving from here straight to the inspection place and then by to get our new plates. From there it is back to the port and get parked. Not the most fun I have had in the past week but it is all necessary.
We took a look at the Super Moon last night and it was impressive. That will be the last time I see that I am sure.
Once we get back to the port I have a list of things that need to be done and then maybe in the next two weeks I can go back to painting and fishing...

Somewhere in Time 

Plan for the day

Last night we had June and Jim over for Gumbo. We had a great time visiting. It has always been fun to hang out with these two folks. We double dated many years ago and have been close ever since. It is just me and my sister left out of our family. We look forward to many years together...God willing.
Yes we have a plan for the day...
We must first look at the weather and see what is in store for us today. I looked on line and it says we will have no rain all the way until 2:00. 
Today being Veterans day I think...being a Veteran...we will all go out to eat and I will get my free meal at Chili's. Sherri has some points there and she and the kids can use those. Why not?
After we eat we may take everyone to the ferry and ride across the bay and then back. The kids get a kick out of seeing the Porpoise chase the ferry. It is really cool getting to see some of the big ships leaving out to sea. 
There is a lot to do here and our time is spent doing things that entertain us all...

Somewhere in Time  

One of our homes

One thing about living like we do you have one place you call home but it moves. This week our home is in Galveston and next week it will be somewhere else. We have tried living in a house but that has not worked out the last 5 or 6 times we tried it. We have a port in the storm but we don't stay there all the time and we just call it home when we put our jacks down there.
Sherri and I all our lives together have talked about being able to travel and live different places. Neither of us has ever really liked to stay in one place for a long time. We have had several houses in several locations and several RV's. Matter-a-fact we have had 13 RV's in our 40 plus years of marriage. We are not in the last one I am sure but we love the one we are in for now.
We are spending a lot of time on our little cabin on the lake so that when the time comes that we no longer can travel we will have place to be. It will never be where we want to be but it will be ours and the kids wont have to go far to find us.
For now we are here in Galveston and enjoying the surf and the pleasant weather. We could not have asked for better weather. We have had a little rain and some sunshine but not uncomfortable at all. 
We are having my Sister and BIL over this evening for Gumbo. Sherri makes an outstanding Gumbo and I can't wait to get some of it.
The kids are having fun on the beach and they love the waves. Yes it has been warm enough to swim! Their recess from school is spent out in the Gulf playing. You can't ask for anymore than that as a kid...

Somewhere in Time 

Beach time for the kids

This is Franki's Shell Mountain

Franki poses with her shell mountain

Kris is ready to dig 

Sherri doing her thing on the beach

Later it started getting a little cloudy but warm

Kris perched up on his mat so he does not get sandy??

We have settled into our new site here in Galveston. We love this RV park due to the fact it is right on the beach. We can walk down to the Gulf from our site and enjoy the surf.
The kids love to spend time down on the beach. They love to build sand castles. Out in the waves they ride their belly boards. What a great day for them to enjoy the Gulf. Sun is shinning and the temps are warm.
Sherri and I just love to set and watch the waves and the Gulls fly overhead. My favorite bird here are the Pelicans. They fly in formation like fighter planes and then dive into the Gulf for lunch.
We are going to do school after the beach and then head over to June and Jim's. We have a full day here...

Somewhere in Time

Moved across the street

Shortest trip I have ever made to the next destination. We are not a quarter of a mile down the road from our last stop. Sherri said she was just worn out moving this far...LOL.
We will be here for the week and plan on really having a good time. I have to say sorry to my sister for not making it over to your house today. We just had so much to do to get ready to move. 
It started raining as soon as we got hooked up and is still raining now that we are inside. 
All the motorcycles are leaving and it is getting quieter. We can actually hear the waves from our site. We can see the Gulf from our back window. This is one of the best sites we have ever had here. Once the Motorcycle trailer across from our back moves we will have a full view!
Can't say enough about our stay here. I will post some pictures tomorrow when I publish this post...

Somewhere in Time 

What a wonderful RV Park

Sherri checks out the lounging pool. Chairs in the water looks inviting 

This is worth the extra you pay for the month stay.

In the background is the new office

The view from the pool...across the road is the Gulf

This is the view of the pool from the office deck.

Sherri says she thinks she could enjoy this for several months

You could spend some long hours on this deck enjoying this view

Stella Mar is quite the park! Galveston has needed another RV Park for some time and now they have one. If you are ever in Galveston and want some real luxury try this park. I think you will like it!
We are here for the last day and soon will be packing up and moving...way across the street. Not very far but it still takes the same amount of time to pack everything down and get ready.
We are headed across the street to Dellanera RV Park. We had a week transferred from another reservation we made last year that we did not use. We decided to tack it on to this trip and use up that week before we head back to our lake property.
This coming week we hope to spend time visiting with Jim and June at their home on the bayous at Bayou Vista. They have a beautiful place there and we love to see them and share so many memories. It will be a peaceful and relaxing week away from all the projects that we have waiting for us.
Yesterday we did have a chance to go by and see them and visit for a short time and then we headed to shop for some souvenirs on the sea wall. 
WOW was that a trip. I have never seen the amount of motorcycles in my entire life. They say there was more than 450,000 bikes here...and I believe it. Everywhere you looked bikes were parked and more going up and down all the roads! This rally is second to Sturgis. 
We finally found a shop that sold souvenirs and I bought me a T-shirt that had Galveston on it. I now have 2 shirts that have my two favorite places on them. Colorado and Galveston. What more could a guy want for.
Yes today is a moving day so we will have to pack up and move on and I guess I should get started doing so. Just getting started is the hard part but once you get in gear things go pretty fast...

Somewhere in Time   

Here in Galveston

We made it down here...without any problems...thank the good Lord. We got off a little late waiting on our travel companions. They did not get all their stuff together in time and we ended up leaving at 1:00. That put us in Houston about 6:00! Yea I know that is not a good time to be coming through that town.
We pulled into Stella Mar at dark thirty and had to back into our site in total darkness. Not the most favorable way to park but we got it done. Sherri is a great director when it comes to back me in. She has got me into many a site without any problems. I hate parking in the dark but she put me right where we wanted to be.
We did not go anywhere...just hung around and fixed us something to eat. Tomorrow will be breakfast and Sherri will be headed to the Strand to shop. If she gets back in time we plan on going over to visit with my Sister and BIL. 
This will be a nice week for us...no projects...just relaxing and enjoying...

Somewhere in Time 

New addition to the homestead

She came in on time

Leveled up and ready for me to load up

We have had a storage problem ever since we made our storage building into a Tiny House. So to remedy that problem we ordered another red building. This one is a 12 X 16 with an overhead door and one window. I plan on  taking the old door to our old storage building and putting it in the side you see on the lower picture. 4ft of the end where the roll up door is will be walled off for the yard tools and lawn mowers. This will give me a 12 x 12 room to store all my tools and art studio. For now all we have time to do is get loaded up for our trip...

We are getting ready to leave for Galveston. Our kids are going down to the Lone Star Rally there and we decided to go early so we could visit with them and hang out with all the other bikers...LOL. This will give us a break from working on our project here on the lake. We love the coast and love to see and visit with our family down here. June and Jim have always been one of our favorite people to be with over the years. We have always enjoyed our stays there with them and this will be no different this year. See ya soon.

OK we are excited about getting down to the coast and setting by the Gulf...

Somewhere in Time

Halloween

Kris is playing the part

Franki wanted to know what exactly is a gypsy

What a crew

We have a lot to do but not so much that we can't stop and get into Halloween. Kris is a vampire this year and Sherri went into make-up mode so he could be transformed into a spooky looking vampire. I think she gets as much excitement out of this as the kids do. 
We have Franki with us most of the time. We are homeschooling her too and so she had to be dressed in her Gypsy outfit. What a pair these two made. The Gypsy and the Vampire...didn't they all come from the same area in Europe?
We took them to Hallelujah Night at the church. They put on a fun night for the kids so they can dress up in their costumes...play games and get candy for playing. Most of the games have a religious theme to them so the unholy theme of Halloween is played down. I never thought of it as unholy but then in this day of political correctness you have that mentioned a lot.
The kids had a blast and we had free hot dogs and cold drinks while they ran up and down having fun. The nice thing about all this is that they get to have fun and we don't have to walk up and down some busy street worrying that they might be run over are harmed. It was a good night.
Today my barn arrives. Hey!! It will be so nice to clean up all the mess around here and hide it in a barn where I don't have to see it. Slowly but surely we will be getting rid of it so I will have a clean barn too. 
Well the sun is just about to come up over the eastern trees and that means I need to get through with my coffee and head outside to get things ready for the arrival of our new barn...

Somewhere in Time