New Year----------New Coach House !!!

Happy NEW YEAR Everybody !!!!!!

We are really enjoying our Coach House! We haven't had a "house" of any kind for over 10 years and this is just the right size........We never want a BIG house again, so this fits the bill perfectly. For someone that wasn't going to do anything to it this first year, except maybe put in some "wiring" and lights, we got a lot more done than we expected....

This is some pictures of the progress:

We had just completed the FIRST project, Framing out the Raised Ceiling, Oct. 24.

Back in the first part of Nov, we had the Framing done, Wireing done and was working on the Insulation.

This is the same corner TODAY!!!!

Recognize that Hide A Bed? Yep that's it! It came from our Teton. (the 5th wheel)

And the Coffee Table, and the End Tables, and the Rug!!

Now we have an "empty" spot in the end of our HOME...............Pat is already shopping! I have a feeling it will soon be filled........

We are GLAD it's done and quite happy with the way it turned out. Now I'll have to find something else to bore you with...................................

Somebody give me some suggestions,,,,what do you want to see pictures of in the area?

Soon it will be 2008, where did the time go? It flies by so fast, seems like we just celebrated New Year 2007 a couple months ago! In this day and age, we just celebrate surviving!!

It has been a GREAT year for us and now is the time to set back and recall all the memories, friends and good times we have had in this lifestyle that we both enjoy so MUCH!! I hope it can go on forever...........HAPPY NEW YEAR to EVERYONE!!!! Hope to see you down the road.

Drop in next week, I'll find something to talk about.....(with your help)

Regards

Mike

Its a GREAT day!!!!!!!!

DONE !!!! Hooray!!!!!

1-FRAMING-------------------DONE

2-ROUGH ELECTRIC----------DONE

3-ROUGH PLUMBING---------DONE

4-INSULATION----------------DONE

5-DRYWALL-------------------DONE

6-TAPE & MUD----------------DONE

7-CEILING PAINT-------------DONE

8-WALL PAINT----------------DONE

9-FLOORING------------------DONE

10-TRIM WORK--------------- DONE

11-FINAL PLUMBING--------- DONE

12-FINAL ELECTRIC DONE

Hip Hip Hooray !!!!!!

WOW, are we happy this week!!!! It's DONE!!!! We waited 3 days for the painters to show up and yesterday,,,,,,finally they came and finished touching up and second coating some of the trim.........Now its drying and I'll have to clean the tile floor a couple times and it will be DONE!!!!

Now Pat can move the Hide a Bed from the 5th wheel into the Coach House and start looking for a Love Seat to replace it. She has been waiting for that! We have a few other things like Towel Bars, Mirrors, etc. to do. Oh Ya, we have the Wet Bar to do yet, but the major stuff is done!!

It will be ready for you all to come down and spend a few nights with us now!!!!

Here are a few pictures of the final week...

(click on them to enlarge)

Shower installed,,,,,This was a TOUGH one!

Pedestal Sink in........

Stool in,,,,, (works too!) :-)

Hot Water Heater in and full of water....

The Door Knob for the bathroom still has to be installed as soon as the paint is dry, but the doors are all finished and painted (2 coats) Bathroom on left, Utility room on right.

We framed the Air Conditioner on the outside.

This was the bathroom when we first laid it out, Oct 25.

Remember this picture, I took it back on 10.21.2007? Jack Mayer and Pat were discussing what we were going to do....

Here it is NOW! Its interesting to note that it is EXACTLY 2 Months to the date.

Quite a lot accomplished......More than I expected. I'm glad its over. I DO NOT like that kind of work.........Never did, Never will!!!! Give me a truck or a car and a wrench, I enjoy that a LOT more....

As usual there are more pictures on my web albums if you care to venture over there:

http://picasaweb.google.com/wb4pdo/FinishingInsideOfCoachHouseOct2007

Your comments are appreciated.....keep them coming.

Joanne, thanks for using "shout box"!!!!

Here it is ONLY 2 days until Christmas........WOW, yesterday it was 77 deg and the day before it was 86. We haven't used any heat or AC for weeks!!! Wish you all could enjoy this great weather. Come see us !!!

Merry CHRISTMAS Everybody !!!!!!!

Its a GREAT DAY !!!!!!

Mike

SLOW going !!!

1-FRAMING-------------------DONE
2-ROUGH ELECTRIC----------DONE
3-ROUGH PLUMBING---------DONE
4-INSULATION----------------DONE
5-DRYWALL-------------------DONE
6-TAPE & MUD----------------DONE
7-CEILING PAINT-------------DONE
8-WALL PAINT----------------DONE
9-FLOORING------------------DONE
10-TRIM WORK---------------
11-FINAL PLUMBING---------
12-FINAL ELECTRIC


I'm real disappointed in the progress we made this week. This Bathroom Shower is taking forever. Most of the trim is done and I could "almost" mark it off, but not quite. Still painting it.


The Final Electric is also "almost" done, but not quite.


So close, but yet so far. Should have been done a couple weeks ago.


Here are a few more pictures. (Click on them to enlarge)




Air Conditioner is installed... Its real quiet and does a good job...







Here is how it looked on the outside. We will frame around it with trim.








This is the corner in the bathroom where the shower goes. Here is where the problem came in. The drain was not in the proper place to fit the shower base, so it had to be moved. No big deal right? WRONG!!!! Its supposed to be in dirt,,,it wasn't. They had poured SOLID concrete around it and DEEP!!! We had to rent an Electric Hammer and remove about 6" of it. It was HARD concrete!!!! Now that we are ready to install the base, the floor is so unlevel that we have to build a concrete base for it..........All while they are trying to install and paint the trim. We were getting in each other's way.......




This is the utility room opening where we are installing the Bi-Fold doors. Sorry the picture is so dark. The flash went out on my Nikon,,,right when I need it most. Factory says its probably a Bulb blown. Gotta send it in.......bummer..




This is the shelf we built in the utility room for the Water Heater. It will soon be painted and a ROD installed in the front for support.


That's it for last week. Kind of a "problem" week. Hopefully I will have more progress to show you next week.....

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to leave a note up above in the shout box....

Take care,

Mike

Floor Done !!

One more item completed and crossed off the list.

1-FRAMING-------------------DONE
2-ROUGH ELECTRIC----------DONE
3-ROUGH PLUMBING---------DONE
4-INSULATION----------------DONE
5-DRYWALL-------------------DONE
6-TAPE & MUD----------------DONE
7-CEILING PAINT-------------DONE
8-WALL PAINT----------------DONE
9-FLOORING------------------DONE
10-TRIM WORK---------------
11-FINAL PLUMBING---------
12-FINAL ELECTRIC

THREE more to go!!!! It will be interesting to see how much we can get done next week. Maybe we'll get all 3 done, hope so!!!


Pat is anxious to move the sofa from the Teton out to the Coach House. That will be the first piece of furniture to go in it. She will then start shopping for a new love seat for inside the Teton.



Here is the new floor....................






The Living Room Area






The Bathroom. The plumbing on the left outside the bathroom is for a ''wet bar".






I did get the "Can Lights" up in the ceiling. (7 of them)




And the Ceiling Fan/light....(It works!!)






Last but not least,,,,,,the Bathroom Fan/Light. That's a start on #12 the Final Electrical....



That's our progress for this week. Its starting to shape up and shouldn't be long now. I can hardly wait!

Come back next week for a progress report. I'll keep you posted. Christmas is right around the corner and I see more decorations going up all around us.

This might be a good time to wish all our friends a HAPPY HOLIDAY SEASON!!!!!

Until next time, take care!!!! BE SAFE!

It's a GREAT DAY!!!!!!!!

Mike

One Month makes a difference !!

(click on picture to enlarge)
These two pictures were taken exactly one month apart. The photo on top was taken the day after we arrived in Retama Village and parked on our new lot. Pat is discussing with our friend Jack Mayer some of the different options on finishing the Coach House. Everyone is doing theirs a little different and there are lots of decisions to be made. Our plans were to just get the electrial work done this year. First thing I knew we were making trip after trip to Home Depot, Lowes, the Tile place, the Paint place and every which place. It was a lot of WORK! Work that I do not like, never did like, still don't like and never will like!

However, it does surprise me when I stop to realize the progress we made in a month.

This was our list when we started,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and what has been done:

1-FRAMING-------------------DONE
2-ROUGH ELECTRIC----------DONE
3-ROUGH PLUMBING---------DONE
4-INSULATION----------------DONE
5-DRYWALL-------------------DONE
6-TAPE & MUD----------------DONE
7-CEILING PAINT-------------DONE
8-WALL PAINT----------------DONE
9-FLOORING------------------
10-TRIM WORK---------------
11-FINAL PLUMBING---------
12-FINAL ELECTRIC

8 projects completed and 4 to go.......... Not bad for a Month. We'll keep you posted as we continue. Stay tuned.

Over 100 pictures on my Web Album here:
More pictures here

Scroll down to the bottom to see the latest pictures........

Projects are going a little slower right now and the holidays are upon us. Thanks for stopping by and drop in next week.

Its a GREAT DAY!!!!!

Mike
(keep those comments coming)

NOW its taking SHAPE !!!

Here is where we started back in May and on through where we are right now.

(click on pictures to enlarge)

This is how it was when we departed the area last spring and headed up to Custer,SD. for the summer.

Now we are back in Oct. and discussing how we should do the Coach House.

A few days later....

Quite a few days later....

5 days later,,,,,,,

The next day!!!! Ceiling is an off white and the walls are Camel.......

Still a lot to do but we're gaining. Should have it looking good by the time we get ready to head West to Arizona in Jan....

Most of our help took a little Holiday vacation, which slows us down a bit. Doubtful we will get much done next week, but stay tuned.

Of course there are more pictures on the Web Album:

http://picasaweb.google.com/wb4pdo/FinishingInsideOfCoachHouseOct2007

Go completely to the bottom of the album to see the most recent pictures.

See ya NEXT TIME!!!

Its a GREAT DAY !!!!!!

Mike

More Progress

This is the Dry Wall we started with....................






We put some up !!



Put some more up!!





A little more!!!




FINALLY,,,,,,,,it's all gone!!!!!!








Doing the bathroom,,,it was last.




Now the MUD,,,,seams all taped & rounded corners installed. This young fellow did almost all of it himself. He could not speak ONE word of English!! He did a GREAT job and all in ONE day!!








That's the Bathroom on the left and the Utility Room on the right. You can see how the raised ceiling looks. It makes the room look a LOT larger!






This is looking out the French Doors onto the Patio...




You know what they say,,,,,,,"stop and smell the Roses". I just had to stop and take a picture of these Texas Roses that are in bloom right now(Nov.18) out by the side of our lot. Real pretty!!


Well, we got quite a bit done this week. Its drying now and will soon be ready to paint. Pat is picking out colors now. Maybe next week we'll have that done. Stop by and take a look!!

Click on the pictures to enlarge them

Take Care!!!

Its a GREAT DAY!!!!!!

Mike

Work on our Coach House

Here another week has gone by and we continue to work on the inside of our Coach House. That's what they call the little 12x20' building on our lot here in Retama Village in Mission, TX.


Really its just a "shed", but we decided to make it so we could easily have our friends and kids come to visit and have a comfortable place to stay. Now, I had NO idea how much that would involve. But I do now!!!! WOW,,,,,,,work and MONEY. We must have made 50 trips to every building supply store within 20 miles!!! We've had lumber, dry wall and fixtures delivered to us and hauled 2 or 3 truck loads of "stuff" ourselves.





Right now I'm wondering if we shouldn't have just left it as a "shed" for storage. Sure would have been a lot simpler and of course CHEAPER!!!! However it will be GREAT when we get it finished and it is finally starting to take shape. I'll show you a few pictures as we started and the progress we have made. There are more pictures on my web albums, but these will give you a quick tour.....









OK, here we go!!! First thing is to cut out the ceiling joists!!! Yep, we decided on a "raised" ceiling. It will make the place look much larger. Here we remove the FIRST one.






Now the BOX for the raised ceiling is framed.






We thought we might need some POWER!!! This little guy and his helper are "pulling" wires from the pedestal. It will be 100amp service.









They delivered the Shower, the Stool and the bathroom sink










That's the bathroom on the left and the Utility room on the right. We're framing them now.





Lots of wires had to be strung. 600 ft of wire to all the switches and plugs, etc.






Now the Insulation is here and has to be installed. See what I mean, Work, Work, Work. I had no idea!!!! Now I know why I wasn't a carpenter!!!!






But with a lot of Blood, Sweat and tears, it went up. Did I tell you this ain't easy!!!









Doggone, now they deliver the Dry Wall.........and they tell me it shouldn't be left sitting outdoors. Its got to go right up!!!! ugh! Alright, how do we do this? Lets get it done!!!!






MAN,,,,,we got the Ceiling up in the Box!!! What a JOB!!!! I just "thought" I was retired.:)



Anyway, that brings you up to date on where we are. I'll show you more next week. Get ready Folks and Kids, it will soon be ready for you to come and stay in......Pats already shopping for a Ceiling fan and PAINT!!!!! I'm beginning to wonder if it will ever get over!!!

Can't wait to stand back and say "OK there she is, done"!!! That will be NEAT!!!





If you just CAN'T WAIT, you can go to our web albums and see ALL the pictures, but I warn you there is a bunch!!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/wb4pdo/FinishingInsideOfCoachHouseOct2007





Thanks for dropping by!



Its a GREAT DAY!!!!

Try the new SHOUTBOX on the right hand side at the top of the page!!! Leave us a Msg.



Mike