Last Wed about 40 roof and floor trusses arrived, and Ken and his dad spent most of the rest of the day carrying them from the front yard to the backyard, where they're currently living under another big blue tarp until their day in the sun. We're hoping that day comes this weekend, but it depends on the mason pouring the slab to the new basement room.
During the week the block work progressed:
And Ken rigged up a way to try to keep us from air conditioning the entire neighborhood while our back wall is missing:
The blue sheets are insulation board, which is better than nothing. Still, PECO is making out like a bandit this month.
The mason actually turned up last Saturday to get the block work moving along since he wants to be outta here by the end of this week (something on which he and I completely agree). The same day Ken leveled the sonotubes out front that will be filled with concrete soon and will act as the piers for the new porch.
Sunday the kids and I rolled home from my parents' house and got to witness the week's worth of madness for ourselves. It's a little dusty in here, but my parents lent us an air purifier with a hepa filter, and I turn that on whenever I can to try to relieve some of our allergies that are being wickedly stirred up by all the commotion around here.
Monday through today the mason and crew continued their work, and now the block walls are within a few measly blocks of being done:
In the above photo you can see (somewhat) the two little windows (one near to you and one on the far side) that we had them set into the wall so there's a little light in the new storage room and some air as well should we want some. They put the far window in the wrong place--it should've been in the center of the rear wall, not that side wall--but Ken is already mentally noodling around with how to adjust for that booboo.
Now it's time for a few complaints:
(1) On Monday we returned home late in the evening to find the large two-part gate on the west side of our house hanging wide open. We usually close it because of the dogs, but no big deal since it's not as if the dogs are outside when we're not home. Problem was when Ken went to close the gate and found that the left-hand half had been torn from the fence and was mangled beyond repair. Our guess is that the mason's work truck snagged it on the way out and ripped it off the hinges, but they might have also run over it to cause the damage we saw. Regardless, we now have a yard with a wide open side to it and two dogs who like to chase rabbits and squirrels. Which means standing at the gate every time the dogs go outside and getting eaten alive by the neighborhood mosquito population that is apparently immune to Deet. Ken's gonna talk to the contractor about how they'd like to repay us for the gate.
(2) I just want this part of the job done and all the contractors off my property. I work at home two days/week and am getting tired of the overheard conversations and the constant noise. It was cool at the beginning, and now I'm over it. Please, finish!
(3) I don't have a third point.
I have been asked by multiple people how I am handling having such a disaster surrounding me both inside and outside the house. I have but one survival technique: I picture my enormous new kitchen with its beechwood cabinets, granite countertop, and slate floors, and I remember why this is all worth it.
Anyway, more to come. Ken is currently down in the crawl space dragging the old oil tank out. We had PECO hook us up to the natural gas line last winter (saved a huge bundle on heating), which makes the oil tank obsolete, obviously. He filtered the oil that was left in it--roughly 40 gallons the last I heard--and gave it to neighbors, and now it just remains to get a very heavy (200-250 gallon?) oil tank out of our lives.
Special bonus feature:Monday night we attended an open house at Engine 50 in North Philly to celebrate my father-in-law's retirement from the fire dept after 37 years of service. Here are some pictures to enjoy.
Murphy family photo
The huge crowd of people celebrating Dad's retirement:
Dad receiving a plaque commemorating his brother, Lt. Stephen E. Murphy, who died in the line of duty in winter 1998
And, like a true gentleman, him immediately turning over the plaque to Uncle Steve's wife, Aunt Denise:
As a practical joke, Dad had his twin brother dress up exactly like him and wander around the party confusing people. That's Uncle Den on the left and Dad on the right:
Dad sliding down the fire pole to show the grandkids how it's done:
Padraic and Henry in front of the fire engine:
Henry trying on a firefighter helmet:
Henry tipping over because the helmet was too heavy for him:
Congratulations, Dad, on 37 great years of helping the people of the city of Philadelphia! We have some suggestions on ways to keep busy if you get bored in your retirement!
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