PB&J Twisp

We've had nice fall weather so far since October 20 when the shift from summer to autumn happened abruptly. This morning there is pitter-patter on the roof for the first time in a couple of months. Thoughts of rapping up our project until spring are pervasive as we continue the siding scramble.  We finished the front of the house under the porch yesterday and started on the south house gable.   Will came by Thursday after a quick trip to Spokane to do some maintenance on their house which they have rented out since their new life at a pharmaceutical manufacturing company in Redmond, WA. He helped us get started on the front of the house siding Saturday then headed back to Redmond in the afternoon. Win brought me back from Anacortes Friday after I delivered the Prius home to reduce the number of vehicles we have here. She left early Saturday morning.

 It took the best part of 4 days to complete the siding on the north gable wall.  Since it is the most challenging side of the house, we're hopeful that the rest of the house will go more quickly.  We'll do the front of the house next.  Bill took the laser home prematurely which we'll need to accurately locate the ledger board for the decks, so I will be heading to Anacortes tomorrow (Thursday) to get it and to bring back Win so that she can take the car back on Friday, relieving us of trying to get three vehicles home in a couple of weeks.   Mornings have been chilly in the 30s off and on. Snow is showing up in the mountains, so it won't be long before Hiway 20 closure will be announced.  It was around November 12 last year. We're hoping it won't be any sooner this year.  We may have to get the RV home, then return and stay in a motel a few days to finish the siding.   It's been a very gratifying and productive year here.  Looking ...

 Warm clothes on today as we worked on siding the north side.  Earlier we mounted the whole-house air circulation system. Only in the 50s outside but brrrrr, when we're used to 80+ days. Whole-house air circulation system in ceiling of hallway Cruising along with the siding

 As we plod to the end of our time here this year, we're hoping the weather won't turn terribly so we can get the siding done.  Yesterday I got the drip edge over the doors and windows while Bill worked on the fireplace install.  We were going to have it done by a contractor but as it turns out Bill was able to sort it out, saving us a bit of do-re-mi. Today we'll get started on the siding. fireplace looking good! drip edge over windows

 The weather made a decided shift today as the skies were overcast for the first time in many days and though temperatures were moderate it felt like snow. Sunshine and 60 degree temps broke out in the afternoon just as we were setting up to do the soffits on the north gable.  And now ALL the soffits are done. It's such a relief to check that task off our list.  The siding arrived yesterday, and though we've been eager for its arrival, we have one last task to do before we get to it: drip edge over the doors and windows.  That should happen tomorrow with the weekend open for siding.  Next week's forecast here is rain/rain/snow/snow/rain so our days here are numbered but we don't know how many at this point. As we have been doing soffits, I have also done caulking before we move the ladders to the next section. So at this point all our eaves are ready for winter. Touch up painting will happen next spring, probably, unless I need something to do while Bill finishe...

 We've been working at height again, this time putting soffits on the gable ends. With the shop done, we've now completed 75% of the shop and 12% of the house gables. A bit of gymnastics was required to do the 12% house gable soffit as that is where the mechanical/laundry room roof peak comes within less than a foot of the house roof making for tight quarters for nailing.  After I struggled with the nail gun to get one aspect done, Bill pulled out the palm nailer where clearance was less than a foot.  (The palm nail is as named, a hydraulic nailing tool that fits in the palm of the hand and is fed one nail at a time.) Good news at the end of the day though: our siding will be delivered tomorrow.  So fingers-crossed we'll be able to get all buildings sided before we have to beat the snow out of here. My first view of the vents Bill put in a couple of weeks ago. Red arrow indicates soffit in place with a gap towards Bill yet to do.

 Back to Anacortes for a couple of days to start off-loading tools that we'll need over the winter for cabinet building. Then to Portland to take care of internment of Bill's brother Al with his mother in Sandy, Oregon.  Back to Anacortes then back to Twisp where insulation installers showed up this week.  Insulation going in!

 Yesterday we passed the county building departments plumbing inspection, YAY! But the inspector hadn't seen our doors and windows installed so he called us out on the windows in the two guest bedrooms. They not only lacked the required egress (5.7 square feet of opening with dimension of at least 20" x 3' 5"), but they also were at a sill height over the maximum of 44"; ours were at 46". So much for getting marked down windows at Home Depot when our plans specifically identify what the egress requirement is. After the inspector left, we immediately dropped our other tasks and went to HD in Wenatchee, snagged the appropriate windows, and today got them installed. He will be back tomorrow to verify the correction. Wrong windows coming out Correct windows going in Ahhh... better!

Yesterday while Bill continued working on electrical and plumbing, I trimmed out the windows and doors on the house. Last Thursday while Win and I took the dogs to Omak for teeth cleaning, the L&I electrical inspector came and gave us a thumbs up with just a few corrections: all the 20 amp breakers needed to be GFCI, and the outside outlets needed to be within 6 feet of the door. Bill made a trip to Wenatchee upon our return to get the needed breakers. Win had arrived Wednesday afternoon and we enjoyed her company (with Archie and diabetic cat Fiona) until Sunday. Friday night she and I were happily amused by the local (Twisp) theater's production of A One-Act Play Gone Wrong and were impressed by a cast of seasoned performers (most likely transplanted here from larger populations, like ourselves) who stayed in character while mis-cues, prat falls and other nonsense befell them.   The next day we took in the busy Saturday Farmers' Market in Twisp, an elephant ear her only ...