One more week on the Homestead Watch

Hayley didn't like hiking around as much when it's 100 outside.
Big news is that the inspections are done and the drywall is ready to go up. Next week should show major progress.

That's allot of sheet rock!


Ellie's favorite thing is picking up garbage; interesting garbage.

She loves going to see Gpa and Gma's new place.

The windows are back to their correct size. That's a long story, ask about it sometime if you're bored.

Ellie loves hangin' with Gpa.

This is Gpa calling for roadside assistance since the keys are at that moment locked in the truck. What you can't see is the sweat rolling off my arms. It was over 100 that day in Virginia.

Our neighbors are very quiet.

We're deciding where the football field goes.

Ellie now thinks running everywhere is the best, though maybe not the safest, way to get around.

The outhouse still makes Ellie say "poo".

More Homestead Progress

The guys on the roof are doing shingles; another step closer. The plan is for fill dirt to be brought in to about the level of the front porch.

The airguns were blasting away full speed.


Betsy had to get the view of her front porch.

Go hombres, go!

A view from the backside.

This is the view from the upper floor looking into the great room, the breakfast area, and the kitchen.

This is from the balcony looking at the fireplace in the greatroom.

This is looking from the greatroom into the breakfast and kitchen areas. The wiring, plumbing, and heating and cooling rough-ins are ready for inspection. It looks like they're going to drill the well this coming week as well. Stay tuned...

Hot Time in July

The house continues to make progress, mostly inside, but the porch is coming along as well.
Maybe grass will actually grow in this backyard.

Trying out the new stairs.


The electrical is coming along.

Testing out the facilities.

This gave Ellie the opportunity to use one of her favorite words: "poo".

(and no I didn't)

Hayley is about 3 or 4 weeks away from having the next handful; just in time, little Miss Independent is wanting to do things on her own anyway, (sort of).

Then, in spite of temps near 100, we went on a picnic to the Prince William Forest Park with Adam, Hayley, Ellie and the mutts.

Grandpa taught her that hitting a tree is cool fun.

It was stinking hot, as the dogs are clearly demonstrating at the park.

Ellie and Adam went exploring.

These knuckleheads did too.

"Hey everybody, I'm back!"

The Montclair fireworks were great.

Ellie was kind of scared of them but the freeze pop with Gpa was good.

...and learning to roll down a hill at the golf course wasn't bad either. She saw the other kids doing it and had to join in.

Yeehahhhhh!

If anyone is willing to go outside, Ellie is happy.

And then the water gets turned on.....

The dogs were happy and looney.

Dog heaven!

Ellie loves the water almost as much as the dogs. She can't resist water, clothes and all.