I would just about bet money that some of you thought I had quit  since it has been so long since I  posted a  blog? Well, life has a way of getting in the way of what we really want to get done. I had some time off for the holidays, and as usual something had to happen to keep me from working on the house,
and there is only one person to blame, and that would be me. I cut my thumb, and not just a little bit either, so, I was not able to use it very much, otherwise it would open back up because I used a butterfly to close it instead of going to the doctor and getting stitches. I am such a woos, I can't stand going to the doctor and getting shots! DUH

Anyway, yesterday I put the scaffold up where I wanted to work today. I have been cleaning my living room, and rearranging, in fact, that is why I cut my finger to begin with, I was going to pick up a piece of  ceramic tile that was broken and grabbed it just right, the rest is history. So, back to the house, as you can see I am learning to notch out the logs, and this is one of the ones I put up today.

I have been dreading going out there to try and put the logs on top of the posts,  I didn't think I would be able to do it by myself, well, I did, but in all honesty, I don't think I ever am truly doing this by myself, I am not smart enough to figure out how to get things done, so I honestly believe that the Almighty is helping me in one way or the other. Anyway, back to it, I stood the logs up and then lifted them up to the platform, then stood them up on the platform and put it up one end at a time. Easy, no problem. Thank you Father God! I must say though, I got the first one up and then couldn't quit laughing, and then thanked God for making me so different, because if I was normal, I wouldn't be out there doing all of this weird and crazy stuff, now would I? :-D

OH, and y'all can put this in one of your hill billy engineering emails if you want. I have to pull the scaffold because I don't have any wheels on it, and it doesn't work very well at all. So, you might be a hillbilly if? Laugh if you want, but it works a lot better than the metal posts of the scaffold digging into the ground. 

First log up, I need a lot more practice on my notching.

Pulled the scaffold to the next position.

Second log up, and this doesn't take very long, so, when I get back out there, I should be able to get them all up in one afternoon. Then I will put the rest of the posts in the ground that I need, or maybe I will do that Sunday. So, if the Almighty God is willing, I will have a good day out there Sunday, until then, may you have a blessed day. Ozarkmoma

Happy dirt day to you all. I didn't take any pictures of the work I did today, for the simple reason that you have seen the posts, and all I did was pour the concrete. Well, that sounds easier than it is, but, that is what I did. It is done, now I need to set about 7 more posts, that should be all that I need to put the roof on. Anyway, people ask me why I choose to live way out here in the sticks, so, I took a couple of pictures of why I like it. I thought I would share that with you today, instead of another picture of boring posts! Today I had a visit from a very nice young man interested in sustainable building. I was tickled to take him for a tour and talk with him about all that I have been doing out here for the last three years.  He lives in this area and does construction and electrical for a living, and is very excited about green building methods, so, maybe he will start a sustainable building company in this area! That would be awesome, especially since there aren't any that I know of. Anyway, I am pooped out and ready to rest. Until next week, may God bless you all. Ozarkmoma 

Hello everybody!

  I hope all is going well for you all. We have had some rain, so this blog is not about the house, but the pond that I dug back in early summer. I wanted to share a picture of the pond now. It is awesome, of course it isn't holding water, but, I pray it will someday when it is packed down real well. If worse comes to worse, I suppose I will have to add something that will seal it. Anyway. I haven't worked on the house this week so far, and I know I won't today because I have to make arrangements for my plants, it is supposed to cool down tonight, and chances are it will freeze. So far the plants have all fared well, but eventually they will have to have shelter, so I plan on working on getting one for them today. Have a blessed day. Ozarkmoma

 Well, it is a happy dirt day today, at least so far. God has blessed us with rain. Because of that I was able to till and replant my garden with some fall crops.

 I also pulled the weeds out of my new grass that my sister and I planted in the spring. Isn't it cute?

 Then last but not least, I made a batch of plaster. I made all the way to the curve with the rock in it.

I could not find my hole making tool, so I have to use the garden rake, which is not very good for making holes in plaster, it doesn't get into the curves and stuff very well, and it also pulls out the plaster too. Until next week, I hope you all have a blessed week. Ozarkmoma

Dirt Day 5-25-2010

Well, dip me in dirt!! Hope everyone is fine. I had a reasonably good day today, I managed to mix some plaster on top of some plastic with my feet, very interesting, but not as efficient as the mixer. I also mixed it too stiff and it was a lot like what I would assume cob is like and very hard to put it on because of that. I am uploading the pictures to Flickr right now, and they should be there soon, I made a video for Lou, but I am not real crazy about it, so I am not going to share. Anyway, I don't know if I will make it back down to work on the house this week or not, maybe Thursday for a little while. Time to break out the air conditioning too, Lou is going to stay here Saturday night and I don't want to make her suffer in my mobile mansion, but it has really been unusually hot here lately, so will probably end up running ac from here on out. I am so stingy, just hate to pay those big bills!!! Oh, I brought a fan outside to help cool me down while stomping mud, and ended up making a shaded area for Fat Boy and let him have the fan, what can I say.He is in the picture above. Well, till next time, hope God will bless you all. Ozarkmoma