DAY 6

WELL THE FOOTINGS ARE POURED. WHAT A MESS. TO SAVE MONEY, WE DID NOT RENT A CONCRETE PUMP, AND GOT TWO WHEELBARROWS WORKING TO RUN THE "MUD" ACROSS TO THE OTHER END AND DUMP IT IN THE FORMS. NOTHING LIKE CONCRETE SPLASHING IN YOUR FACE AND MOUTH, IN 100 DEGREE WEATHER.

DAY 5

THESE ARE THE FORMS FOR THE FOOTINGS. THEY ARE 10 INCHES TALL AND 24 INCHES WIDE. OUR WALLS WILL SIT ON TOP OF THEM.

DAY 4

IT MAY NOT LOOK LIKE MUCH, BUT IT TOOK 6 LONG HOURS TO JACK HAMMER THE STAIRS DOWN AND INTO SMALL ENOUGH PIECES TO BE TAKEN OUT

DAY 3

WELL THE HOLE IS DUG. AND WE NOW HAVE OUR VERY OWN MOUNTAIN IN OUR BACK YARD. WE LOST TWO TREES IN THE PROCESS. THE PEACH TREE GOT RAN OVER, AND THE APRICOT GOT BARRI ED. I NEVER IMAGINED WE WOULD HAVE SO MUCH DIRT! THANKFULLY THERE WAS A LOT OF SAND TOWARDS THE BOTTOM, I THINK I HAVE HAD ALL THE SHOVELING I CAN TAKE.

THE HOUSE DAY 2

WELL, IT IS NOW A MESS! DIRT DIRT DIRT.....THE ONLY ONE THAT THINKS IT IS COOL, IS ANSON! WE HAVE HAD A FEW CLOSE CALLS, ALMOST LOST OUR POWER LINE MANY TIMES, AND WE NOW HAVE A NICE BIG HOLE IN OUR OUTSIDE BRICK WALL. AND NO, WE DIDN'T WANT IT THERE, IT'S CALLED A BACKHOE! AT DAY TWO (OF WORK BEING DONE ON THE HOUSE) 1/2 THE HOLE HAS BEEN DUG. (NOTE, NO MORE PRITTY GREEN GRASS, LOTS OF DIRT!) DOES ANYONE NEED SOME DIRT?

THE HOUSE DAY 1

WELL IT HAS STARTED! I HOPE TO POST PICTURES OFTEN, SO LOOK FOR IT. THIS IS HOW OUR HAPPY LITTLE HOME LOOKED THE DAY BEFORE...(NOTE THE GREEN GRASS, AND LACK OF DIRT!)

TROUBLE

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

NEED I SAY ANYTHING MORE?

Our Fire Place

Well we did something major with our living room. We were offered a wood burning insert for our open fire place. We had originally went shopping for an insert a few years ago, but never got one because they are so expensive!

This one had a price tag that could not be turned down....Free! It took dome doing, thankfully we had Anson right in the middle of everything to help us out, and we got it in.

I had a cop buddy that does rock for fire places, and he gave me a good deal on the rock. And is for the most part done. I still have a little work to do with the mantle, but it turned out great.


Our November/December bill was cut in 1/2 from 2005! So in 1 month it saved us $90.

Good finds part 1

Ok so I have taken up a new "HOBBY". I got a little extra money for Christmas, and I bought myself a Metal Detector. Do you remember the TV commercials for the "Whites" metal detector? Well I got one. It is a mid-range detector, the Prizm III.

Kay has always made fun of the people on that commercial because they she found out that I had bought one, she just rolled her eyes. So, I am going to post everything I find, along with when and where, just to show how fun it is.


I started off easy. The back yard! I found an old metal washer the size of a quarter, a folded up piece of soda can, and this, a bullet shell. It's not all that old, and I don't think I would even get 1/2 a cent for it down at the metal recycling plant, but hey, it's my first find.

On the butt end of it, it says, "SUPER-X 300 SAV." not sure what it means, but there you go. I spent about 1/2 an hour in the back yard to get it.

THE TREE 06

Well this year we decided to start our own TRADITION! Here in Utah you can buy a tree tag for $5. This will allow you to go to one of the local National Forests, and cut down your own Christmas tree!

We found our tree up Spanish Fork Canyon. There is a rest stop about a 1/2 hour into the canyon called "Tucker." although you would never know it was called "Tucker" because there are no signs to be seen stating that it is. Anyway, there is an inlet to the National Forest at this rest stop, about 15 minutes behind it. Due to the snow, he "HAD" to bring the 4 wheeler.


The first picture is of our tree out in it's own element. It was a boyz trip, Grandpa Starley, Dad, and Anson. As most of you know, Anson LOVES the outdoors, and this was no exception! From wanting to cut down the tree himself, to running the 4 wheeler, this was his thing!

At first he was a little confused that we would be cutting down a tree, and really confused when we brought it in the house.


But when we told him he could help put things on the tree, it was all over. Now if we could only keep him from taking the things off, and trying to see if certain things can float in the water reserve, or trying to light up the water reserve, I think we would be a little better off.

Merry Christmas!