Sunday, May 22, 2011

Critters Everywhere :D

We welcome every opportunity to observe the natives.


Nightcrawler:


Doug spotted this fellow on this morning's walk just as I nearly stepped on him. We had some rain very early this morning and it brought these guys out in droves. This fellow is about 8" long.



Later this morning Doug found a baby Hognose in our driveway. He is probably about 10" long and no bigger around than my middle finger.  I used the macro setting on my point and shoot and took this from about 18".  I didn't want to get any closer as it was apparent he was frightened by my presence although he didn't flip over and play dead. 


Saturday, May 21, 2011

We Have Walls

The crew came back on Friday,May 20, removed the forms and painted that black substance on the "below the dirt" portion of lower walls to keep moisture out.   The house is in the background, garage is in foreground of this picture.



Seen on This Morning's Walk

Everyday and every walk brings something new. Today we saw a huge turkey - Doug guessed him to be about 35 pounds. I was hanging on to Molly who wanted only to chase so therefore did not get a picture but I did get a picture of his tracks (below).

A view from our 3 mile morning walk.

Turkey tracks in dry sand.

Same turkey but in wet sand.

Who made this hole and for what purpose?



Fascinating knot in an old Maple.

How long ago did this board become ingrown into this Maple?

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Footings Poured

The footings have been poured. In these pictures you can see the octagon shape of the house.





There was a lot going on outside the trailer with two huge cement trucks pouring at once. In the meantime our most curious kitty, Ayla, was working on trying to escape the confines of the tin can (Airstream).  I foiled her attempt - thank goodness. 



Officially Official

Building permits are now posted on the property. My name is strangely absent even though I am a 50% owner. ??????



Saturday, May 14, 2011

A Michigan Native

Hognose Snake, non-venomous.  The girls and I found this snake on our walk a few days ago. Molly actually stepped right on him.  These snakes flatten their heads just like a cobra and make a hissing sound not unlike that of a young rattlesnake.  The two large black spots are on top of the flattened portion of his head. His eyes are directly in front of these spots and cannot be seen in these pics. Their name comes from their upturned snout which they use to burrow for critters to eat. The upturn of the snout did not show up well in these pictures. When they feel very threatened (bottom picture) they roll over and play dead.





Wednesday, May 11, 2011

It's Now Official . . . :D

The porta-potty has arrived. Building in earnest has officially begun (providing it will stop raining).


Saturday, May 7, 2011

Let the Games Begin: Day 2.

The heavy machinery used for the actual digging was done on Friday, May 6, 2011.  Two additional men, two monster trucks, and two large pieces of "digging" machinery did the entire job of excavation in one day. Fortunately they were almost finished when it began to rain. The heavy equipment is now gone with the next step being the footings.


How to Build a Mountain




. . . unearthing the earth :D


The equipment is gone now.  Doug went into the hole for the lower level (bilevel house) and the girls followed. They (girls:) think this is one huge playground just for them.

Let the Games Begin

Groundbreaking began on the morning of Thursday, May 5, 2011 when Matt Kroll, our builder and neighbor, began leveling the surface.

Matt brought his small bull dozer Wednesday evening (May 4, 2011) in preparation to begin leveling and smoothing out the site Thursday morning.



Thusday, May 5, 2011. Matt began to grade the site.


Our well head to the center left of picture.


This monster arrived the afternoon of Thursday, May 5.  Doug's project, a 1946 Luscombe, is in the foreground.  I wish I had been able to get a picture of the critter kids faces (all 4 of them) when they saw this monster truck arrive.



This is called a "track" hoe and was used to dig the hole in the ground where the house will go.