The Book of Dave

2009-01-17T11:37:00.001-07:00

New electric. Everything in this house is old!!

2009-01-17T11:30:00.009-07:00

The kitchen came out last weekend. This house has no insulation in the walls. It is cinderblocks with brick on the outside. I was talking with my neighbor at church last Sunday and mentioned that was the case. She said her house is the same. I said, "It makes it kind of.." She said,"breezy." I chuckled. Breezy is a good way to describe it. Next project is to frame in where the kitchen used to be and insulate. I will run new electric into that wall for disposal, etc.

New can lights in the entry this week.

2009-01-17T11:16:00.009-07:00

My brother John came up and helped Chad and I put in this glulam beam. As you can see it is 16" tall and 3 1/8" wide and 18 feet long. It rests on the cinder block frame on the west side of the house and 3 2x4's on the east end. It allows this room to be wide open. The ceiling will be flat. We restitched the roof to the ceiling rafters, cut out the old support and then restitched the ceiling rafters to the new glulam beam. Quite a project!. Many thanks to John!

Stiched ceiling rafters to glulam.

5 supports from the roof to the rafters rather than the 4 before but the 4 are also stiched into the glulam. 9 total supports on each side for the roof now. Chad's great idea.

Used to look like this with the bearing wall support extending below the ceiling about 1 1/2"
Now there will be nothing but ceiling. Nice!

2009-01-08T16:30:00.005-07:00

Days off

2008-09-13T19:46:00.003-06:00

Today I went down to Provo to the BYU - UCLA game. What a game. It was remarkable in that we expected so much from that game and UCLA forgot they were supposed to show up and play. Long flight home for them!
Today though, I was most impressed, as I have been over and over again, how fortunate are I and my family. We all seem unusally close. I have said this before, as have each of my siblings. Today, however, I felt fortunate to have the brothers-in-law that I have. They are remarkable men and wonderful husbands and fathers. I don't know how or why my sisters fished the best out of the pond but that they did and they, as well as the rest of us, reap the rewards. I have said before that anyone who says always or never is a liar. However in this case, I am always better in the end having spent time around them. My Book of Dave quote for today.

2008-09-11T13:34:00.000-06:00

2008-09-10T20:05:00.008-06:00

Today is my son Gibson's birthday. I remember each child's birthday with a story of their birth. As my age goes, so does my memory but let's try.
I'm not certain, give me time to embelish later, the exact circumstances that brought us there but...
My mother was in town taking care of the rest of the kids. Gib was a total surprise as we thought we were done. I called my mom and said, "Bring the kids over, it looks like its time." She did. She stays around for a while with nothing happening. She is ready to leave; small room room, no toys yada yada... Finally, as I walk out and out trying to be certain that my boy will be here soon (small waiting room), mom decides to leave. As she is going, the time comes closer. I run outside. The birthing room is next to the waiting room, "Wait! We are really close." I run back inside. I'm participating as father's do...
Nothing
Gib is born
He cries
My son is here. My son.
Moments later I go into the waiting room. My mother is crying; "I haven't been this close to a birth in so long."
All of my children heard their brother's first sound. First sound. Cool.
My mother fondly recalls I took each child into the room to introduce them to their brother. It was magical.
Happy birthday Gibson. You were everything we all wanted. Certainly, you were everything your brother ever wanted after hanging around all those girls. He used to ask me all thetime, "Can I have a brother?" The highlight of our lives and so truly welcome.
Happy birthday son. I want for you what I want for all my kids. That you love the Lord, that you know He loves you, that you serve honorably and honor your name.

New

2008-09-10T19:15:00.003-06:00

I spent some time today reading my sister, AMR and my Bro-in-law's posts on their blogs. I like each. AMR says it takes a time committment and I agree but I like Bryce's style of posting thoughts. This is supposed to be just a place to place thoughts I have and meaningful missives so I'll encompass both.

2008-09-08T07:01:00.001-06:00

Another weekend of not house stuff...

2008-09-07T14:27:00.008-06:00

I went down to Zion's to hike Subway with some guys from my new Elder's Quorum. It was great opportunity to get to know some of that quorum better. A most enjoyable and beautiful trip. At one point I thought, "Where was I yesterday? Not here. Where will I be tomorrow? Not here." A great time to stop, reflect and enjoy the moment. As I have heard before, it never comes again in its exact form.

A day with kids and grandkids..

2008-08-24T08:37:00.029-06:00

Our trip to the zoo....

I got a kick out of this one. Hanging in front of the monkeys who were hanging.... De-evolution?

We are done here.
All of us are done!!!

A bit of time off...

2008-08-23T08:29:00.004-06:00

More progress...

2008-08-16T13:33:00.002-06:00

Gib and I took a day.....

2008-08-15T17:51:00.004-06:00

Some days are more dramatic than others, today...

2008-08-14T20:52:00.004-06:00

Again, Gib was great help today. We saw some progress. Some days are caulking; some days reveal floors. Nice.

House progress....

2008-08-14T08:40:00.001-06:00

Hard to show the drama of freshly caulked windows, doors and moldings. Ceiling painting in the living room is done other than touch up and windows and doors next. Gib and I are cleaning up in preparations for Danna and her brood. We are excited to have them stay!

New additions.

2008-08-14T08:37:00.004-06:00

Terra had her baby a couple days ago. Here is a picture of Gibson and "Generic". Also, Gib has put up a blog site as well. http://thegibsonchronicles.webs.com

More updates. Busy and accomplishing yesterday...

2008-08-10T09:49:00.005-06:00

This is the hallway heading downstairs. Not sure if it is just really old oil based paint or what but it was disgusting. Here are some before and afters... Thanks Dad.

Another update. Progress was made a couple of months ago. Needs showcased just the same.

2008-08-10T09:12:00.008-06:00

While the bedroom changes have been done since early June, I thought it might be nice to see those changes as well and give credit. Thanks to SS and Kate. Hard work and lots of laughs.

This room is the master bedroom. Needless to say, there was not a bed in the bedroom.

After 3 years in the Army, the color is very close to OD Green but I really like it! Imagine.

The color sets the floors off well.
Our first color choice, Baby poopoo yellowish, as we looked at it and contemplated our choice, Kate showed up. "That color is ICK!" I think we may have eventually got to the same conclusion, she just pushed a little quicker.
Baseboards coming soon.

The floors are really nice but the pad has been down so long the residue is like concrete to get off. Again, the help has been great. Many hands and all that....

Quick note

2008-08-10T08:42:00.005-06:00

I must say I was grateful for Gibson yesterday. He worked pretty hard getting these tree sprouts out of the yard. At one point, so many people in the house bumping into each other was inefficient so I asked he go outside and get some things done out there. I thought better of it as one on one time with Grandma and Grandpa is important. Besides, it was getting very warm outside. I told him to come in as it was funner inside. First he said, "More fun, Dad. The term is more fun." Like I didn't already know that. I was TRYING to communicate in teenager, for crying out loud. This generation of kids. Sheez. Besides, where does he get that thought that grammar is important? Anyway, he said, "I'm almost done out here then I will come in." and he kept at it. I was pleased.

The Painters made it and we banged out a couple walls.

2008-08-09T13:52:00.012-06:00

This was their idea of a dining room.

Another dining room view.
Note the fireplace and the mirror above in the living room.
More living room views.
You can see my idea only has vision at this point.
Now we are making some progress.

Mirror is gone; fireplace is there, mantel is gone.

Thanks to Mom & Dad and Gibson without whose help I would never be even this far. Carpet comes out today and silly as I am, ceiling painted another day. The mess is driving me nuts.

Post Script. Danna talked me into waiting so Gib and I banged out the ceiling too. I think we'll sleep well tonight.

Textruring done. Mostly ready for painters....

2008-08-07T23:02:00.005-06:00

This is where the mirror used to be. The pink stuff is odd. Its just mud but it goes on pink and dries white. Hard to see. Kind of hard to get the texture right with it but I got better as I was working with it.

Oh, Gib was good help tonight. Sanded rough edges and asked, actually asked, if the lawn needed mowed. Almost did some huge weed things. It was nice.

Texturing. Painters are coming soon.

2008-07-28T18:47:00.008-06:00

Tired today. Office has kept me busy lately.
This much done. I only paused to respond. That, I felt, was important.

Mold-B-Gone. A little before and after view.

2008-07-24T12:07:00.008-06:00

Disclaimer. All the before pictures are before I moved in. Those are not my cigarette butts. A very nice vanity and sink. I thought about keeping it!

Now that is a nice toilet.

Before, remember? He was actually using this shower. Cool!

The loan appraisers thought there was mold here. Right.

Vanity and toilet are gone.

Bath tub is next.

There really was mold on the back of the wall board. Ick.

We are getting there. We have deadlines!

2008-07-21T20:56:00.002-06:00

Time out for a very fun weekend with Kate. Showing progess.....

Kitchen Option 2

2008-07-21T19:07:00.004-06:00

This is what you would see when you walk into the front door. You are looking at where the kitchen window and sink would be.

Kitchen Option 1

2008-07-21T19:04:00.006-06:00

This is a first pass. Couple things are missing as it is just a place to start. Missing: microwave, stove top (the oven you see is an oven only), stove top in the bar. SS idea. Thanks.
This is what you see as you walk into the front door. The small window is the kitchen window and should/will have a sink rendering next version.
I'm also considering making this a standard 30" countertop and "floating" a raised bar off of it.

New Neighbors

2008-07-10T18:36:00.003-06:00

I am very lucky. Today a neighbor brought over cookies. This is a very nice neighborhood and ward. Living again where I have neighbors has been very nice.

2008-07-08T08:42:00.000-06:00

I was reminded today how important it is to have clearly stated goals and to write them down.

Next!

2008-07-07T18:32:00.001-06:00

2008-07-07T15:08:00.003-06:00

Hot today. Took off early to fill SLC dumpsters with limbs and junk from a new house and an old yard. The neighborhood beat me here.

Gibson

2008-07-07T06:41:00.001-06:00

Terra's family

2008-07-07T06:39:00.001-06:00

Here is a picture of Bill, Terra and Ramsey.

Some pictures of Danna and Family

2008-07-06T23:10:00.001-06:00

Danna and Brooklyn

2008-07-06T23:08:00.002-06:00

Luke

Before pictures

2008-07-06T22:54:00.002-06:00

The east/west wall seen here is gone.

Latest changes to the house

2008-07-06T22:48:00.000-06:00

Here are some changes to the house as I am working on it. The wall between the living room and the kitchen is gone. Messy bugger.

New Construction Pictures

2008-07-06T22:44:00.002-06:00