Powerball Winner

Not! The $340 Million Powerball ticket was sold in Jacksonville, OR at Ray's Market where we also purchased 3 tickets. Our numbers didn't match so we will not have the opportunity to share all the riches with our friends and family. It was funny seeing the news truck in our sleepy little town with wandering cameramen and news guys looking for that lucky winner. Gary was tempted to have some fun with them, by going into the store and having his tickets checked, but our house project called with lots of things to get done. (The news reporters were still hanging around 4 days later)

This week the steel beam was installed. What do you think? Do you think it's straight? The beam is at the corner of the patio roof and serves as overall structural support. We had to do this for earthquake requirements. The hole was roughly 4x4x4, filled with concrete and steel bars. A crane was used to install the beam against the backdrop of a foggy valley.

It cleared by noon and we had temperatures again in the high 70's. We have been told that the dense fog is no longer the problem it was back in the 60's and 70's.

Gary's dad told him a story of a lady on the east side who got lost going out to her garbage can years ago. If it gets that foggy we will be sure and tie a long string to the door so we can find our way back. I wonder what she had been drinking.

200 years from now, the house and all the rest of us will be gone, but the beam will still be standing.

They did the final grading of the site to prepare for winter. Everyone gets involved in the process. This boy is 10 years old. He is the son of one of the back hoe guys. Gary is going to have a discussion with our general contractor this week about his liability insurance.

The guys operating the cats are amazing. Gary heard a clanging when the cat was on the steepest slow and looked up to see it tipped on one of its tracks. We may hire this guy later to complete some other work for us. He can work magic on our slopes.

The site supervisor, Chunky. This dog is a blue healer. (Maybe he can heal the blisters on our feet as we have worked our ----- off this weekend. A very smart dog who loves to play fetch. He never quits.

The subfloor is finished and the framer, Graham is laying out the rooms and building specs. For those of you who have never built a house before this isn't the basement or a second floor. We still have a single level house.

By the way this Graham guy is really good. All measurements have been within 1/8 of an inch. In case you didn't notice he is also a Duck. I think we will get along fine.

The next photo is a stitch, not something Michelle did sewing.

Seeding the hillside to help prevent erosion. BTW - It is October 23rd-notice the shorts and t-shirts. Gotta love this weather!

This is a hell of a work out. (Maybe I will go back to running)

If you try this at home, stand upwind unless you like lots of tiny straw pieces stuck to your skin or in your mouth, eyes, nose and ears as well as other places. Actually, we are getting ready for halloween! A heard of turkeys, about 12 or so with a couple of big Toms, came by last night to check out what we were doin. They approved!