Trying to secure the house for winter

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IMG_1151After working 11 straight days on the house, I went back to work last week and it seemed like a vacation. I was thoroughly exhausted.

 

After struggling like crazy to get the tarp over the roof, we faced utter devastation just two days later when the wind ripped the zip ties from the tarp and it went flying from the center out. Luckily, the tarp was boarded at each end and that held. My parents were at the house when it ripped and my Mom told me that she cried. If you didn’t read the previous blog about the tarp, it was a miracle that it was on the roof in the first place. My Dad was able to pull it back over the roof and nail boards all along it and thus far it has held.

 

Although the pace has slowed a bit, there is still progress being made daily. I don’t know how to show gratitude to my parents who get up and go work on the house daily. The big progress has been that both ends are nearly boarded in. The windows on each end have been framed. There is just a bit above the front windows that still needs to be framed.

 

My initial hope was to be in the house by the end of the year. Since I am struggling to sell my condo, I am thinking about just getting the house closed up for winter and waiting until I am able to sell my house to continue. I am starting to get very discouraged with my condo. It is a beautiful place which I love. I’d love to still be able to live there, however, commuting two hours each day is just not practical.

 

Our next big task is going to be getting the roof finished. The underlayment still needs to be put on as does the metal. I have decided to go with a brown roof, as I have narrowed my house colors to either a greenish or brown. The brown will match either of those.

 

After that, we just need to finish framing the windows and get them in. Once this happens, we will be ready for the snow to fly. My aunt and uncle are renovating their house so they gave me two doors to put in the house to at least keep snow and animals out at this point. I have my front door chosen. It just seems like everything is currently on hold until I can sell. After working so hard all summer to try to get in, it’s pretty discouraging, but I guess it is all part of the process. On the flip side, I can’t be too down as my Cubs are in the World Series for the first time in 71 years!

Laura Reed

About Laura Reed

After 15 years in college athletics, the last seven as an assistant athletics director, I was burned out with 70-hour work weeks and extensive travel. I resigned my position and accepted a position in marketing at a small, vibrant college in my hometown of Unity, Maine. In the process I wanted to go back to my childhood where we raised polled Herefords, had a Christmas Tree Farm and spent many hours outside. I decided I wanted to build my own home on beautiful farmland that my family owns. With help from my Dad, the most talented person I’ve ever met, we are building my home together. I have decided to blog my experience – the ups and downs, the joys and frustrations. What was once an open field will one day be my home! The dream in my head is becoming reality. I can just see the lambs frolicking in the field, chickens in the barnyard and going running with my Alaskan Malamute!