tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17511111321845318662024-03-19T03:13:32.067-07:00Minerva's MusingsJen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-29618316428369634602009-10-08T14:28:00.000-07:002009-10-08T15:02:19.100-07:00Rewind, Fast Forward, How do I Pause?After several years of child abuse, our VCR broke. My kids are pretty hard on things, which is rather irritating, so I decided not to buy another one for a while and let the kids feel the effects of their mistreatment of the a/v equipment. That lasted about a week. I hadn't realized how often I use movies as a crowd control mechanism. So we bought another. None of the buttons were in the right places. We fast forwarded when we meant to rewind and rewound when we meant to pause. I was muttering about it when it hit me that my life has been just like that ever since we moved to Idaho. No wonder I'm so tired. Even though I've tried to plan things so they happen one at a time, they just spin forward or reel backwards willy nilly and I have absolutely no control over it. I guess I should be used to it by now, because somehow, everything always ends up happening at the same time. I'm still looking for the pause button.<br /><br />Anyhow, since I last posted, Trevor finished his Eagle Project, the kids started school, I edited a dissertation and passed my CNA exams. I started my Pathophysiology and Genetics classes and started working two days a week in BirthPlace at Pullman hospital (I love working there and now realize that I really want to be a nurse. I was able to help prep a patient and watch a c-section on my second day - it was so cool). My parents came for a visit and they were an amazing help while we did our landscaping. I can't wait for our little orchard to bear fruit. We have three cherry trees, two pears, two plums, an apple and a peach. We'll plant another apple and peach tree next spring along with a windbreak, two more maple trees, a bunch of firs and spruce. <br /><br />Trevor is loving his new driving freedom and is keeping his grades up so he keeps those privleges. He is also busy trying to raise funds for his band trip to Disney Land over spring break, so if anyone needs to renew any magazines, please let us know in the next few days. The fundraiser ends next Thursday. Lindsey is doing well in school and has suddenly discovered that when she brushes her hair and looks put together, the boys notice her. Jeff and I are not at all sure that this is a good thing because she is very pretty and a pro at manipulating boys (she's had lots of practice with her brothers). Jeff asked me if I wanted to home school her again. I just smiled and assured him that no, I'd rather not, and reminded him that keeping her home would not stop her from growing up. He's missing his sweet little princess who has been replaced by an imperious diva. I think we're in for a few painful years. The younger boys are all doing fine. Jared wants to go to school every day and gets really upset when he is left behind. Nathan loves kindergarten and doesn't like being picked up at lunch time either, unless I take him to the park or McDonald's. The kid has great bargaining skills. Tyler and Evan are enjoying scouts and Tyler still loves to draw. He also had a great time disassembling the broken VCR. He found a toy car, a penny, a dried up string cheese, lots of Legos, and a pencil inside. Hmmm...maybe that's why it broke? Sorry, no pics this time. I don't have time to download them to my laptop. I'll try to do so before my next post.Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-32211697630220247802009-08-17T09:41:00.001-07:002009-08-17T10:27:04.578-07:00At Last!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cS-AHabywGboshxLQDzoJji-39haDAdeH0-SD3nQKww783eEI7PNxMka67Jc1IfxyWkBUBfeFI0XHCDOJ4DbEwA4S5LBupghY_M7Nby7hGvedbHaeLyj6Hr528Rz6N-VSZb6QyYDP3k/s1600-h/August+2009+040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0cS-AHabywGboshxLQDzoJji-39haDAdeH0-SD3nQKww783eEI7PNxMka67Jc1IfxyWkBUBfeFI0XHCDOJ4DbEwA4S5LBupghY_M7Nby7hGvedbHaeLyj6Hr528Rz6N-VSZb6QyYDP3k/s400/August+2009+040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370980441038091586" border="0" /></a><br />YAY! We've finally moved in. The last month has been so insanely b<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsakeQbmFejJvfqUknA_Wm0fdyGJ3-_7I3vhx_0x8RSOD_eX2I5pv6_kaEgCmZIOoe2IkdMDyTzCn22clo8a833eoRNdtSyiD78kKc80qFeruBuez60AJ3EKj6p-I9qA60KQEZorFL2HI/s1600-h/August+2009+045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsakeQbmFejJvfqUknA_Wm0fdyGJ3-_7I3vhx_0x8RSOD_eX2I5pv6_kaEgCmZIOoe2IkdMDyTzCn22clo8a833eoRNdtSyiD78kKc80qFeruBuez60AJ3EKj6p-I9qA60KQEZorFL2HI/s400/August+2009+045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370983414262519010" border="0" /></a>usy that I probably would've had a nervous breakdown if my mom hadn't come to help out for a couple weeks. But saint that she is, she booked a flight and came to my aid. Of course, her house sold the week after she booked the flight and the ticket was non-refundable, so my relief was layered with a lot of guilt. But I think they'll get packed in time for their August 30th closing date.<br /><br />My 36-hour CNA clinicals were scheduled the same week that we were trying to finish the house, schedule bank and county inspections, and<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZAcrWWajUJyh1EQBa_WlX6SVG7-8w_dE9EQZn9qZaUFu1Bo22znatN35UB7H2UsC6pzxqmMTnggKMybvWIwRa2JGWwhN9BmNcyv2jqEZoBX1x-DrstwMIv6xCMRRbVymFejxrRllM_w/s1600-h/August+2009+041.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZAcrWWajUJyh1EQBa_WlX6SVG7-8w_dE9EQZn9qZaUFu1Bo22znatN35UB7H2UsC6pzxqmMTnggKMybvWIwRa2JGWwhN9BmNcyv2jqEZoBX1x-DrstwMIv6xCMRRbVymFejxrRllM_w/s400/August+2009+041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370981350761302450" border="0" /></a> pack. Needless to say, we dropped into bed dead tired every night and I'm sure I wasn't the best company. But my mom was a saving grace, as were the friends who watched Jared and Nathan so we could actually get something done on the days I wasn't working 12 hour shifts for free (a serious flaw in clinical education as far as I'm concerned, but then again, most of my classmates are eighteen and don't have anyone to worry about except themselves). I didn't make much progress on the packing front until August and even then, it was mostly throwing things in laundry baskets and re-using them in nonstop runs back and forth. The result of all of this stress is the stranger in the mirror whose drawn, shell-shocked expression would be alarming if I had the time to care. I suspect that with more sleep, she'll go away.<br /><br />Jeff started classes today an<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_8dwExwvgUm9CD3y5PaqN5JskVmF05FHvhvWkLz4ZYKfDReC1mVOasQ-hv6lsOWcSB8NAi7JW2e59YSw1EJq1l9YIwVmOno4WzNxYzZwJRttIH6yg59zigP219J-T8upmv-MHbBNDRY/s1600-h/August+2009+039.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_8dwExwvgUm9CD3y5PaqN5JskVmF05FHvhvWkLz4ZYKfDReC1mVOasQ-hv6lsOWcSB8NAi7JW2e59YSw1EJq1l9YIwVmOno4WzNxYzZwJRttIH6yg59zigP219J-T8upmv-MHbBNDRY/s400/August+2009+039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370981681780114802" border="0" /></a>d the two online classes I'm taking start next week. The kids don't start until September 2nd (happy birthday to Rachel). In between now and then, I'm hoping to finish unpacking and help Trevor get his Eagle project done. We'll see how it goes.<br /><br />All the work has paid off though. The house is gorgeous. The appraised value is about $100K more than our cost, so I suppose sweat equity isn't as mythical as I was beginning to suspect. However, I don't want to find out what the difference is between appraised value and market value. If I have to move again anytime in the next decade, I will be a seriously unhappy camper. Anyhow, enjoy the pics. Dreaming about a new house and planning to build one is much more fun and infinitely less work than actually building it. But like all difficult experiences, once the pain has passed, the memory fades and the intensity of the experience softens. So now, I'm going to enjoy it. The coolest part is that everything looks better in this house. Even my old junky furniture looks somewhat respectable. YAY.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9oTuOkt77-jbv2j9oXI5RC6vuk8LqqRc0gtOKYbhcO8CpZklAmPSh_pYxOPednBpsXSrTGlvqr4hhsFOg-I4KE907y3h31oG7hSE5UqZA2tebTcYy3T9p3H-cgRNpxWJiY7pvn5cAg8/s1600-h/August+2009+042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9oTuOkt77-jbv2j9oXI5RC6vuk8LqqRc0gtOKYbhcO8CpZklAmPSh_pYxOPednBpsXSrTGlvqr4hhsFOg-I4KE907y3h31oG7hSE5UqZA2tebTcYy3T9p3H-cgRNpxWJiY7pvn5cAg8/s400/August+2009+042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370982828713293730" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Now that we have a nice place to live, come visit anytime! Check out the view from the front porch.Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-65040763266024777592009-07-19T21:12:00.000-07:002009-07-19T22:31:16.371-07:00The Home Stretch<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHg0cIiPkthi_nw2nWaKA7oevt1cukXta1uSK-l6NDI9GOYFpi_VMlrRfsvy2cU41OMnKfPq8Wybtq8BqNdETwnvMMsz4H7Vmw69VQQt2F1EI89Tbr3SS2amuNgNdM-DKnLf0QUPuUPY/s1600-h/july+2009+107.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHg0cIiPkthi_nw2nWaKA7oevt1cukXta1uSK-l6NDI9GOYFpi_VMlrRfsvy2cU41OMnKfPq8Wybtq8BqNdETwnvMMsz4H7Vmw69VQQt2F1EI89Tbr3SS2amuNgNdM-DKnLf0QUPuUPY/s400/july+2009+107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360401025390011746" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />I never liked running much - the pounding in my poor knee joints and that stitch in my ribs just didn't do much for me. But the part I hated most was that I always had to run in circles around a track. I mean seriously, what was the point? If I have to go through a lot of pain, I'd at least like to arrive at a destination or see some concrete results.<br /><br />Since my last post, I've been running against the calendar to get this house done. All day, every day, I run from one thing to the next towards that end goal, and then fall into bed completely exhausted. The upside is that I've been running towards something and I have concrete results to show for it; and I mean that quite literally. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lAyALS_qiqSWn_gUwD3jwIpJMlXxH7DM3_33baLs0XMDc-A0IgwrEjExB9NOpsjVnphvz9fAgkQ0Lh7tRIQLS7L2J5W2uRuzZVoJaP44YeErmwn7hpv_JGvFAUPiVxjoAQtvreQZt-o/s1600-h/july+2009+109.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lAyALS_qiqSWn_gUwD3jwIpJMlXxH7DM3_33baLs0XMDc-A0IgwrEjExB9NOpsjVnphvz9fAgkQ0Lh7tRIQLS7L2J5W2uRuzZVoJaP44YeErmwn7hpv_JGvFAUPiVxjoAQtvreQZt-o/s400/july+2009+109.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360399330805194082" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We now have a concrete pad for our garage, back patio, and front porch. Yay. We also have the stone fireplace done, all the doors in (complete with doorknobs), the kitchen island finished, all the plumbing and electrical trimmed out, a balcon<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0Df5z0lbwj0sLvCZCqJbjO2xdWBqVn-EpjfYRcdHL6hSSZKqHXbsLUSntqWB0kdV08epyQ-JYweu1sYTqy8SwP36-qSHaVcD7zd0d-SftZpOsDnN_CAzCrSCD2LmJ0IQcM2wr9YlLN0/s1600-h/july+2009+105.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0Df5z0lbwj0sLvCZCqJbjO2xdWBqVn-EpjfYRcdHL6hSSZKqHXbsLUSntqWB0kdV08epyQ-JYweu1sYTqy8SwP36-qSHaVcD7zd0d-SftZpOsDnN_CAzCrSCD2LmJ0IQcM2wr9YlLN0/s400/july+2009+105.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360400604362165010" border="0" /></a>y railing which makes the upstairs hall SO much safer for the kids and all the baseboards installed. Jeff will start painting the exterior tomorrow while the carpet installer puts carpet in the one room that still needs flooring. After that, I have to put the last coat of polyurethane on the hardwood stairs and then we have to install the railing. Then we clean everything while the garage doors are being installed on Wednesday and put one more coat of polyurethane on the hardwood floors on Thursday. Once the exterior trim is painted, steps are built from the garage to the house, and shelving is installed in the front and master closets, we're done. Hallelujah.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YPzTQ-Xh2D1hS8y00dwg3-sKVwxxi3wRNWFwzPmcJ44t9qVW81yEiaGmiiYl3OqWldFx_6cxC9obKAmuFIBY8Yy6ERxvAd7VdlR1YLBlrzbrTJZIyZlVQ6TcnQwYqYuWGZXWq-kUUC0/s1600-h/july+2009+111.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YPzTQ-Xh2D1hS8y00dwg3-sKVwxxi3wRNWFwzPmcJ44t9qVW81yEiaGmiiYl3OqWldFx_6cxC9obKAmuFIBY8Yy6ERxvAd7VdlR1YLBlrzbrTJZIyZlVQ6TcnQwYqYuWGZXWq-kUUC0/s400/july+2009+111.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360401612830754802" border="0" /></a><br />We're hoping to get everything done this week so the appraiser can come a week from Monday and we can close on Friday. Here's hoping it works out that way. We just have to make it through this home stretch.<br /><br />We took a few minutes to memorialize our family on the edge of the front porch. Everyone pressed their hands into the wet cement by age. Jared <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5cWIHXQSoHsug1I0SFAau3264c9TdTSIIfOhuMcVX3GX9KJw1419nEF9TTEv7yY7H2aalGxH46YR6JpZgAZKAoMLx6pO9QyEPHQhr6dcKWxfroB6v4UGSv_W0BFAcl6blqGede_OxkY/s1600-h/july+2009+115.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5cWIHXQSoHsug1I0SFAau3264c9TdTSIIfOhuMcVX3GX9KJw1419nEF9TTEv7yY7H2aalGxH46YR6JpZgAZKAoMLx6pO9QyEPHQhr6dcKWxfroB6v4UGSv_W0BFAcl6blqGede_OxkY/s400/july+2009+115.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360403068838575490" border="0" /></a>gave me the weirdest look, like, 'you WANT me to get messy?' Then he freaked out as we pushed his hands into the cement. I guess we should've gone oldest to youngest so he'd know what to expect before his turn came.<br /><br />Then yesterday, I found another nail in the gravel driveway. Or rather, the tire did. After working ten hours on the house, I got a flat. Frustratingly enough, the jack was too short to actually lift the tire off the ground since it kept sinking into the gravel road. Of course, I forgot my cell phone<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGiZyCHjyGPB9iaGIuqBNNhHG4P_3ZFMcRxNPNB1kChrXz-vp6aI_SKz8CJYdDwoUHcoraVeJ9yOCfnOktRBCfKx5rITdov0y-3tFFne8fCfLrGgyqbmVIe7Xc1r6V_0lAGGuaVsmVX8/s1600-h/july+2009+116.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGiZyCHjyGPB9iaGIuqBNNhHG4P_3ZFMcRxNPNB1kChrXz-vp6aI_SKz8CJYdDwoUHcoraVeJ9yOCfnOktRBCfKx5rITdov0y-3tFFne8fCfLrGgyqbmVIe7Xc1r6V_0lAGGuaVsmVX8/s400/july+2009+116.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360404843169033282" border="0" /></a> too, so I had to walk back to the house to get Jeff and the truck. I think I passed that patience test, though. I didn't yell, scream, cry, curse, or kick the car. I only sighed. But as I walked back to the house, I noticed the wheat waving in the breeze, the swallows chirruping as they swooped above the field, and the clear, bright blue sky and was reminded how lucky I was to be able to live here. It is absolutely beautiful. Maybe the flat was worth it after all.Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-58575935499378575202009-06-01T01:33:00.000-07:002009-06-01T02:38:45.651-07:00Seeing the Light<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQPbRA5t3YDMDtXNLqZm41OVVwd-w3nVZj6EdWs5rejY_DxHrVlEzACVo_YAH9gR6Qw4b1AUHaD47SX-1aNBuH2dSKBAGzUy36FjP5BtqfKBCilAOzzYKVkJXFv5-zrD-ElgXGAAbqu4/s1600-h/april-may+pics+2009+021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZQPbRA5t3YDMDtXNLqZm41OVVwd-w3nVZj6EdWs5rejY_DxHrVlEzACVo_YAH9gR6Qw4b1AUHaD47SX-1aNBuH2dSKBAGzUy36FjP5BtqfKBCilAOzzYKVkJXFv5-zrD-ElgXGAAbqu4/s400/april-may+pics+2009+021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342288241281529282" border="0" /></a><br />Light at the end of the tunnel, light upon a hill, light in the darkness, light up my life - so many metaphors ran through my head as I stood in the chilly drizzle and watched the crew put in the power line to my house. A wide swath of smooth mud showed where the excavator tracks slid down the hill and nearly dumped the whole machine into the trench. It was tense. But as the crew drove away and I squelched my mud-caked boots into the garage, I could hardly wait to 'light it up.' Or not. I flipped the switch and...nothing. Did you know that there's a breaker before the breaker box? I didn't. But no<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDUuN_4COrGh60rrlb2mg8bGKvOMo9XqSOGoietedLEytU8_Ao8kvm_XTp9dDgTM3UxFQQ6vYZDudduXOLm74UYQF0-7ninBaj7EO0fbgXFtJfyeQgxag2yyRIe4KsHV2mfca9RajzTo/s1600-h/april-may+pics+2009+024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVDUuN_4COrGh60rrlb2mg8bGKvOMo9XqSOGoietedLEytU8_Ao8kvm_XTp9dDgTM3UxFQQ6vYZDudduXOLm74UYQF0-7ninBaj7EO0fbgXFtJfyeQgxag2yyRIe4KsHV2mfca9RajzTo/s400/april-may+pics+2009+024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342288534348151010" border="0" /></a>w I do. I also learned that even really good electricians sometimes mess up. So we have power everywhere except the upstairs because there's a little problem the electricians have to fix this week. After using a generator for power all winter long, it's amazing what a luxury it is to simply plug into an outlet. The same goes for water. After months of lugging water every day, we now have an operating well pump. And even though the plumber won't do the trim-out until June 8th, we can use the faucet in the yard to pull it, however reluctantly, out of the bedrock. I'm looking forward to having an operating toilet. Port-a-potty's stink.<br /><br />The tile is completely done too - floors, tub surround, shower surround and master bathroom countertop. Hallelujah. If I don't cut another tile for a decade, it will be too soon. The master bathroom does look amazing, though.<br /><br />We've set the cabinets and put on the concrete substrate for the stone face of the chimney. Jeff installed the shower doors and storm doors while I cleaned. Home construction offers a whole new definition of mess. We've hauled all the chimney stone to the front porch and most of the hardwood flooring is stacked and awaiting installation which begins tomorrow. Oh yeah, the pasture is now seeded in hay too. I'm going to bed. It's 2 a.m.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbg6j7CXouQY2kD1EgH97wQHSWwlChsq9XhN10AHs6GfTQkfGv7KHX9ZmK_iDwrDikkMGT9jw5ZpT1pvXXV2UwCTRKphe1ja0We7XjNGAZE4mRFJ8Rk_jI4B36NwdcAun3Tw1oBGg-thc/s1600-h/april-may+pics+2009+220.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbg6j7CXouQY2kD1EgH97wQHSWwlChsq9XhN10AHs6GfTQkfGv7KHX9ZmK_iDwrDikkMGT9jw5ZpT1pvXXV2UwCTRKphe1ja0We7XjNGAZE4mRFJ8Rk_jI4B36NwdcAun3Tw1oBGg-thc/s400/april-may+pics+2009+220.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342289994830349378" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VH48deO2N0v5j2pMWXkdiDR60sWECohXw8k7SGkJ3zUXjw-QOn5GF3rBUtDiBf4avrYaVdcHpJsDVl-lJaiqELShExdbHRFiCT-LRDRPbbwmQ2Tnzn2RMe2004ichPgq4msK7amHsdQ/s1600-h/april-may+pics+2009+219.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VH48deO2N0v5j2pMWXkdiDR60sWECohXw8k7SGkJ3zUXjw-QOn5GF3rBUtDiBf4avrYaVdcHpJsDVl-lJaiqELShExdbHRFiCT-LRDRPbbwmQ2Tnzn2RMe2004ichPgq4msK7amHsdQ/s400/april-may+pics+2009+219.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5342289689376318914" border="0" /></a>Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-60987492678308650862009-05-03T22:03:00.000-07:002009-05-03T22:35:15.366-07:00Holding Back the SpringOkay, you know how I complained all winter about the snow and yearned for a bit of spring? Well all that snow has given me a lot a spring right now - about a ten gallon-a-minute spring to be exact. Yep, we hit a freshwater spring on Saturday when Jeff was excavating the utility trench. The real kicker is that the gusher wasn't thirty feet from the spot where we tried to drill a well last fall and never hit water. I'm smiling....still smiling...if I stop smiling, I might cry. We need power at the house and the electric company won't put in the line if there is any standing water so we have a real problem. The trench is a three foot deep pond right now. Jeff always wanted a pond, I just never thought he'd get one. Surprise!<br /><br />Anyhow, I took a picture, but can't find my camera's transfer cable. Hmmm...maybe I'll organize my office. That is, if I can find the time. I have to get the tile laid in the kitchen and bathrooms this week so I can take delivery of the cabinets. I also have to finish packing the hardwood flooring into the house so the boards will dry out in time to install them. I'm just hoping that I'll still have skin on my fingertips by next weekend.Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-13093479408574880612009-04-12T22:59:00.000-07:002009-04-12T23:51:46.682-07:00Birthday Boy and SuperBunny<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuADbXrC2VkZ7A5oLSMqvksn_huTgs5obZX5e7GLnvjeho2G5STOOBtLMiIEgl5hEc518B-tXtaIS_r8zXSYoVlBNtTZiDADonsQ9uB55W3by8NvNFKtY6auI7qs2ooq7qecU4E3gcKM/s1600-h/april+12+09+107.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuuADbXrC2VkZ7A5oLSMqvksn_huTgs5obZX5e7GLnvjeho2G5STOOBtLMiIEgl5hEc518B-tXtaIS_r8zXSYoVlBNtTZiDADonsQ9uB55W3by8NvNFKtY6auI7qs2ooq7qecU4E3gcKM/s400/april+12+09+107.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324060537840330914" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm going to stop apologizing for not keeping up with everything and just realize that it's not going to happen in the near future. Oh well. I'm trying. The last month has been crazy - as always. My mom and a family friend, Dave, flew in on the same day at the end of March. Dave left a few days later, but my mom stayed to help me tile our bathrooms (they look beautiful) and then most of us got sick. Stomach flu, how fun. So Jeff spent his birthday hugging a trashcan and Jared puked nonstop and couldn't enjoy his birthday cake. They recovered, but then it was my turn, and let me tell you, I felt every aching joint in my body. I hope that wasn't a glimpse of what old age feels like, 'cause it wasn't much fun. Seriously, even though I know I'm not getting any younger, I HOPE that I'm spry until the very end. I want to be a globetrekking grandma. Yes, I still dream of traveling, but I need to get the house done first.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bM_gqKhkXqUYXIDj8PjNThwJzIyEBDTlHeDG8hnhg8AC7aCfElHOgLCSkp-LVtK9VgvIq6Bh56FiuNBuwrNaOFyRKwJ2i8nbtbRJV6oruTb3dDoFL0eQFwuau2Yhzc8Sic2ATd7H4-c/s1600-h/april+12+09+103.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bM_gqKhkXqUYXIDj8PjNThwJzIyEBDTlHeDG8hnhg8AC7aCfElHOgLCSkp-LVtK9VgvIq6Bh56FiuNBuwrNaOFyRKwJ2i8nbtbRJV6oruTb3dDoFL0eQFwuau2Yhzc8Sic2ATd7H4-c/s400/april+12+09+103.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324059350336491138" border="0" /></a><br />Jeff finished painting the interior of the house yesterday. It looks wonderful. So now on to flooring and setting the stone front of the fireplace. We're getting there, albeit a little slowly. Illnesses and bad weather haven't helped, but we're moving past both of those now.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSx3ENFop-xaDjaEidn0Jv92qimdHX0dqsbTA9PZAg7amgFdxI08xb01vK6iIUjVRe6x18ttALJzER0XLAuCPpM3JZGgV_FN3V6I055AoY1wTBbGEqJjcPFvv57DPQWs9eLvX_yf2Ki4Q/s1600-h/april+12+09+117.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSx3ENFop-xaDjaEidn0Jv92qimdHX0dqsbTA9PZAg7amgFdxI08xb01vK6iIUjVRe6x18ttALJzER0XLAuCPpM3JZGgV_FN3V6I055AoY1wTBbGEqJjcPFvv57DPQWs9eLvX_yf2Ki4Q/s400/april+12+09+117.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324063126470873618" border="0" /></a><br />This week Jeff's parents arrive for a visit and for Evan's baptism, I'll hand over the keys of our van to the couple who is buying it, and I'm hoping to finish up a grant that Jeff is trying to submit to NIH (I'm crossing my fingers on that one). The NIH grant process is a bureaucratic mess hidden in an unnavigable maze of forms and 100+ page procedure manuals. If I'm lucky, I'll get it all done and start on the floor tile, but we'll see.<br /><br />Today, howev<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhir7ZnC3oLfnmH2AY7GstgWXtPeky1PN3cXzD8Tf4dfKaaWcXNkqb0hC05uQ4K6BJIh76C0hfcZUNzyrgnB9nAbh-YRdndpXHP8Ozx3gsAaB4xNfRDe1xIHM9IZ0mw63KN8NQY9zPVde8/s1600-h/april+12+09+004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhir7ZnC3oLfnmH2AY7GstgWXtPeky1PN3cXzD8Tf4dfKaaWcXNkqb0hC05uQ4K6BJIh76C0hfcZUNzyrgnB9nAbh-YRdndpXHP8Ozx3gsAaB4xNfRDe1xIHM9IZ0mw63KN8NQY9zPVde8/s400/april+12+09+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324063892567287874" border="0" /></a>er, was fun. Nathan turned five and between Easter candy and birthday cake, Jared was flying high. Literally. He decided to be SuperBunny, who apparently, flies and plays the harmonica. Unfortunately, the harmonica happened to be one of Nathan's birthday gifts. No one got hurt (thank goodness) and when we finally convinced Jared to give back the harmonica and sit still, we enjoyed watching Tales of Desperaux as a <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAC17TnEBa3HROs8OJlcB-qErkKsJhj5XE3ZR7rdY3eUrGIPSUkPJKFQqtzECjt2OcIIH0oFL5TdeNVD9eJ2tk6yIXT6ASVBfjAUc9PDjY0s8wmijTbgwjZBxCEqcULhAK84sQwQFhUk0/s1600-h/april+12+09+064.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAC17TnEBa3HROs8OJlcB-qErkKsJhj5XE3ZR7rdY3eUrGIPSUkPJKFQqtzECjt2OcIIH0oFL5TdeNVD9eJ2tk6yIXT6ASVBfjAUc9PDjY0s8wmijTbgwjZBxCEqcULhAK84sQwQFhUk0/s400/april+12+09+064.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324064239757378994" border="0" /></a>family.Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-21067702566441308682009-03-16T19:14:00.000-07:002009-03-16T19:47:42.334-07:00Working Spring Break<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDpscvOYQY7vVuaaw2DZguWFCL0jYSsIMFzbxfEl7m6POIZU8Kg1KDrA7Xn7BI_i8T9Qdui6vvgaSN8T_EJavAi8UIOI3FsnbznonojwElhtTKo8vcgwS58AhUhyHgWij3e0EFUoh89k/s1600-h/house+3-09+077.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDpscvOYQY7vVuaaw2DZguWFCL0jYSsIMFzbxfEl7m6POIZU8Kg1KDrA7Xn7BI_i8T9Qdui6vvgaSN8T_EJavAi8UIOI3FsnbznonojwElhtTKo8vcgwS58AhUhyHgWij3e0EFUoh89k/s400/house+3-09+077.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313975570521711842" border="0" /></a><br />The house is taped and Trevor, Jeff and I spent the first day of Spring Break masking the windows and taping the electrical boxes. Trevor wasn't too happy. He got this bored 'yeah, figures' look when I asked him to work at the house, and he used the word 'whatever' a lot, but he worked mostly without complaint. <br /><br />The big upside is that we've gotten this far despite the six inches of snow that fell last week. But it's snowing again as I type this, so I can only hope that I can make it up the driveway tomorrow. I was driving the truck, but unfortunately, the transmission died. So now we get to tow the truc<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPq3YB_HbMNoXSw0lXjN1qu8kFOX34kOhrLwaRxDfSlXMU8lP6zu8tmf_dREOmZCVqi0hcZmdMhrHvhuUqit_2xa9SwuqRDlEYxfcZbxgao0K-8WVHWe5s3ayK8qTcNTLFmxJMWLbXEl8/s1600-h/house+3-09+080.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPq3YB_HbMNoXSw0lXjN1qu8kFOX34kOhrLwaRxDfSlXMU8lP6zu8tmf_dREOmZCVqi0hcZmdMhrHvhuUqit_2xa9SwuqRDlEYxfcZbxgao0K-8WVHWe5s3ayK8qTcNTLFmxJMWLbXEl8/s400/house+3-09+080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313975836281836322" border="0" /></a>k to a transmission shop and fork over as much as the truck is worth just so we can keep driving it. Ugh. <br /><br />Jeff primed the lid with the vapor barrier paint that we have to use for our rafter-type roof and then started to paint the walls. The paint sprayer jammed. He cleaned it and it jammed again. So, now we're a bit behind, but oh well, there isn't much we can do about it. Someone from the place we rented it from is coming to take a look at it tomorrow, so hopefully, we'll get the primer applied without too much delay. If not, I might be the one painting because Jeff is taking the Boy Scouts on a campout later this week. I'm just hoping for a week of dry weather sometime soon. It has rained or snowed nearly every day since December. I am SO ready for spring. The beautiful weather on my birthday was a big tease. It's been miserably cold and wet ever since. Having had a taste of what's to come, waiting is ever so much harder now. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIKutFUPDb71Jqe8tYjAVpVkMEgZVzFMwWAdZI5ahD3SC4UsqoCO7LZnctXMlVy_C397xVPN8AaTmOwg0U4HdrzzHA70_-xUBysLIiLVMc2E5t9KPhDX3IL2unXPZMvJriEKNgxNr6oM/s1600-h/house+3-09+084.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOIKutFUPDb71Jqe8tYjAVpVkMEgZVzFMwWAdZI5ahD3SC4UsqoCO7LZnctXMlVy_C397xVPN8AaTmOwg0U4HdrzzHA70_-xUBysLIiLVMc2E5t9KPhDX3IL2unXPZMvJriEKNgxNr6oM/s400/house+3-09+084.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313975243760684754" border="0" /></a>Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-37875105238134937282009-03-08T21:58:00.000-07:002009-03-08T22:27:58.863-07:00Happy Birthday to Me - and WillI really wasn't looking forward to this birthday. Maybe its because Trevor is driving now and I'm not really sure how the last decade flew by, maybe it's just a byproduct of stress, or maybe it's all those wrinkles that just appeared out of nowhere, but thirty-seven suddenly seemed very old. Evan informed me that we didn't have enough candles for my cake so I needed to buy a couple more boxes and with the miserably wet, cold weather, I wanted to curl up in bed and hide until Thursday.<br /><br />But then I woke up to a glorious sunshiny day complete with breakfast in bed and decided that it was going to be a good day after all. I mean, how often does a mom get Belgian waffles with strawberries and whipped cream served to her without getting out of bed, and on a Wednesday too? Not very. Yep, Jeff's a keeper. He also gave me the most amazing printer. I love it. It's so much easier to use than my recently broken-beyond-repair printer that's been slowing dying for a year. It also has some cool features like photo printing right from the memory card and wireless printing from my laptop - no more plugs to jockey. Yay!<br /><br />Then I spent the rest of the day catching up with friends, reading My Fair Godmother (a really cute book), eating my favorite foods, and ordering cabinets for my house. <br /><br />And then I got the call telling me that I had a new nephew. So Will and I share a birthday now - Happy Birthday to us! <br /><br />So thanks everybody. Your friendship and love made my day, and week, and month. Well, my whole life actually. It would be a lonely life indeed without such wonderful people to share it with.Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-29894222903834163062009-03-03T09:15:00.000-08:002009-03-03T09:17:28.542-08:00Excuses, excuses...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjDPfNyZZuVVUqsnqzi-Zr3bWdDHlGEHZY67vGd1Uxx1NExCTQjdkwgNux-FpVcZ8mPbyWc70pHC_mBJiVikvOtD8IOvU5tY-c7cJqK0ksw1tGMgNpP6uooyGIEvLN81mUPmz5uUZMYc/s1600-h/031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjDPfNyZZuVVUqsnqzi-Zr3bWdDHlGEHZY67vGd1Uxx1NExCTQjdkwgNux-FpVcZ8mPbyWc70pHC_mBJiVikvOtD8IOvU5tY-c7cJqK0ksw1tGMgNpP6uooyGIEvLN81mUPmz5uUZMYc/s400/031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309011741844829298" border="0" /></a><br />Will I ever catch up with everything so I can stop making excuses when I let something slip? I hope so. So I won't say how busy it's been or how I've chosen sleep over blogging. I won't mention that my family has been extra needy lately or that simplifying has meant cutting out a lot of things I usually take in stride. I won't make excuses for being lame and not keeping in touch. I'll just apologize. Sorry.<br /><br /><br />But here's what I have been doing:<br />1. The insulation is done.<br />2. The siding is done.<br />3. I personally fixed the leaky back doors.<br />4. I ordered and scheduled delivery of the drywall and hired contractors to put it up because Jeff doesn't have time.<br />5. I filed our federal and state taxes (so I can pay the drywall contractors).<br />6. I selected and ordered cabinets.<br />7. I wrote and mailed a writing grant for myself.<br />8. I caught up on laundry, but of course, I'm un-caught up again.<br />9. I shoveled an entire truck load of gravel by myself to keep our driveway passable until we get around to fixing it properly (I am so sore).<br />10. I registered for the Praxis.<br />11. I detailed our van to try and sell it.<br />12. I paid bills.<br />13. I packed and helped Jeff, Tyler, and Evan get on the road to attend Grandma Seegmiller's funeral.<br />14. I helped Trevor get ready for his band trip to Canada.<br />15. I helped Lindsey complete her make up homework and her GPA has nearly doubled.<br />16. I survived being driven home by Trevor who shouldn't drive the truck again until he gets a lot more experience; it was terrifying.<br />17. I let Lindsey help me highlight my hair. It's now orange. I laughed, I cried, and I'm dying it brown later today.<br />18. I fed everybody, said prayers with them, and gave them lots of hugs and kisses.<br />19. I finally remembered to re-charge my camera batteries.<br />20. I noticed the earthy smell in the air and felt a surge of hope. Spring is almost here.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJu5EH_Td8f-MV_wLto4RnWzVZALx7wZ_2AlpzbG9xyij-oBrAThvXm9hAt5MznajiHVwZ5W87r4czSKtxywtfVVXoc01VLo36cxb-nz27I2krTjqRzrc2TvPyAVlD2NyuG8uplOO6go/s1600-h/024.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJu5EH_Td8f-MV_wLto4RnWzVZALx7wZ_2AlpzbG9xyij-oBrAThvXm9hAt5MznajiHVwZ5W87r4czSKtxywtfVVXoc01VLo36cxb-nz27I2krTjqRzrc2TvPyAVlD2NyuG8uplOO6go/s320/024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309007729886417906" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwfOjorq2i6hbVEQOGxJPVPrB8BHOJeMtYpkepErD5ZM9YymMliuJ5J3D9DAIUCq4OdY_PwGxjS34g9dgLk9lMEhmBWW8nZWkJ8jEkxEXEB5nx2Cu2yjrdq2wEa8DBiKnJU6-FizvK3o/s1600-h/027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwfOjorq2i6hbVEQOGxJPVPrB8BHOJeMtYpkepErD5ZM9YymMliuJ5J3D9DAIUCq4OdY_PwGxjS34g9dgLk9lMEhmBWW8nZWkJ8jEkxEXEB5nx2Cu2yjrdq2wEa8DBiKnJU6-FizvK3o/s320/027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309008298667612370" border="0" /></a>Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-20584978641098430862009-02-17T20:33:00.000-08:002009-02-17T21:12:18.704-08:00Warm fuzzies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEubR_qQcputZum9WAVCdbRXf6r51n2EZ_0o-J-TuImwpRphLQvFTUzZxXzCMny33VvqlEnFgj3FkP8cUc4h7WNzXGgoqVFA8PlflgmGR0uMY8dCIKr3vmyY-7W51HE_9Lmmvt3d0yIoE/s1600-h/house+2-09+048.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEubR_qQcputZum9WAVCdbRXf6r51n2EZ_0o-J-TuImwpRphLQvFTUzZxXzCMny33VvqlEnFgj3FkP8cUc4h7WNzXGgoqVFA8PlflgmGR0uMY8dCIKr3vmyY-7W51HE_9Lmmvt3d0yIoE/s400/house+2-09+048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303991409045504914" border="0" /></a>Here's one of the stacks of insulation delivered to our house yesterday. As the installers sealed the windows and filled the cracks, I just smiled. I think I drove the crew crazy pointing out places they missed with the expanding foam, but hey, it's my house and my dime, so it had better be done right. Right? After a winter of freezing in this old uninsulated farm house, I am so ready to move into one that will be warm. I felt warm and fuzzy today just seeing those lovely R-38 batts go into the ceiling.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdR-Ep29g-N7iWPhObJeokiObwHrbd7p7F5ceJ_b2MkPMF6xDHuLDW_DXlA0NGWVsVNmAOue-lggoR_v1-AOeFZ6D99_9lj4rXHLvKIIE9SgeIEo9P8YaytcfHDqBW7HsQF93OUNzH-SM/s1600-h/house+2-17-09+004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdR-Ep29g-N7iWPhObJeokiObwHrbd7p7F5ceJ_b2MkPMF6xDHuLDW_DXlA0NGWVsVNmAOue-lggoR_v1-AOeFZ6D99_9lj4rXHLvKIIE9SgeIEo9P8YaytcfHDqBW7HsQF93OUNzH-SM/s400/house+2-17-09+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303997561194642674" border="0" /></a><br />The drywall will be delivered on Thursday and the siding contractor tells me he will be done on Friday, so we're moving along. The biggest problem is that we still don't have power to the house because the power company can't put it in until all the snow is melted and the mud has dried out. So if everyone could pray for an unusually warm dry spell early in March, I'd appreciate it. I still haven't figured out how to control the weather;) But maybe the Lord will bless us with a cooperative forecast.<br /><br /><br />I learned something new about garages last week. Standard eight foot garage door openings don't work for large pick up trucks (like Jeff's) or large SUV's like the Sequoia we're hoping to trade our van in for.<br /><br />Surprise!<br /><br />I had someone come out and give me bid to install our garage doors and after seeing me bounce up the gravel drive in Jeff's truck, he told me it wouldn't fit in the garage. So I measured, and yep, sure enough, Jeff's truck measured 7'11" from mirror to mirror and the garage door opening was 8'. So Saturday and Monday Jeff and I had the dubious pleasure of removing the hea<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yGKHByIobjF-tBzRnL2nrqOQrHW89yTK_1TTsAwW_nOXerOR8lLBc9qupMCseKO-_loM4SX6b5LtHrwPgX_kuYUdJTki47Wnng1xrRpikf-uuCccPM07vQCd4Lme8v2GAQJN_I29cFE/s1600-h/house+2-17-09+001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yGKHByIobjF-tBzRnL2nrqOQrHW89yTK_1TTsAwW_nOXerOR8lLBc9qupMCseKO-_loM4SX6b5LtHrwPgX_kuYUdJTki47Wnng1xrRpikf-uuCccPM07vQCd4Lme8v2GAQJN_I29cFE/s400/house+2-17-09+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303994023944594994" border="0" /></a>der, cutting the foundation and enlarging the garage door openings. It was an absolute pain, but I figure in the long run, it will be worth it. Otherwise, we (okay, probably me) would've smashed a lot of side mirrors. But at least we found out before the siding was finished. It would've been worse to fix later.Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-70377183671230050522009-02-08T15:32:00.001-08:002009-02-08T16:12:45.659-08:00Hoofing the Roof<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2NYoljK6Qt8wUugkKcbnz1Z7pXwOWVtHjnJUkqa_EM_kVuQIzgEkNvG417516AIaZqJ3PKP9X9G33MJNSfmrm8kb7zabCd84wQaqr-3THkxK8qTdMiJB6XGPXP6W0Fc5ZbmNwy83EwUY/s1600-h/early+feb+pics+031.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2NYoljK6Qt8wUugkKcbnz1Z7pXwOWVtHjnJUkqa_EM_kVuQIzgEkNvG417516AIaZqJ3PKP9X9G33MJNSfmrm8kb7zabCd84wQaqr-3THkxK8qTdMiJB6XGPXP6W0Fc5ZbmNwy83EwUY/s400/early+feb+pics+031.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300573702761241426" border="0" /></a><br />Here's a shot Lindsey took of me standing on the roof while I spoke with our roofing contractor. As you can see, I wasn't wearing the most practical footwear. I was wearing a skirt too so it was really interesting climbing out of the window and back in again. But despite further snow delays, the roof is completely done. YAY!<br /><br />Below the finished roof, you can see the scaffolding that was used to install the siding. The installer has moved to the south side of the house now and I hope the weather will cooperate so it can be completed soon. The insulators will come sometime between the 16th and 20th. After the insulation is inspected, we'll start the sheetrock. And when I say we, I mean that quite literally. We will hire some additional help for the vaulted ceilings, but for the most part, Jeff and Trevor will be hanging it and Jeff and I will be taping. Sounds fun huh?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YgUKX5eNqXL2zWuVQ410WQSGuB09w-pvsz1F0bgxWuiFaosIFDLiE0GMB1T8vefOOt0ic-hR1jwETus44gKFLrRWv_3q2Xx4aBtDRuDIlDIZBxxvrN6rcXy3D0pUeDzKTRfnbdUBTB4/s1600-h/early+feb+pics+127.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5YgUKX5eNqXL2zWuVQ410WQSGuB09w-pvsz1F0bgxWuiFaosIFDLiE0GMB1T8vefOOt0ic-hR1jwETus44gKFLrRWv_3q2Xx4aBtDRuDIlDIZBxxvrN6rcXy3D0pUeDzKTRfnbdUBTB4/s400/early+feb+pics+127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300574437830281250" border="0" /></a><br />Because there is so little work in the construction sector, I get calls all the time from people wondering if I'm hiring. Unfortunately, labor costs have not dropped and may have actually risen since people are trying to make ends meet. I understand that problem. Really I do. But why anyone thinks we're any different is beyond me. It's only in the government and business sectors where people can write themselves huge raises, and even then, usually only the upper echelons. Well, I'd like a raise. I think it's high time that the government recognized the contribution that stay-at-home mothers give to society and offer some compensation. I mean, moms who work outside their homes get to deduct day care expenses. Why not offer a set allowance, say $6,000, for every child four and younger and then families can choose whether to offset their household expenses or pay that money to a day care provider? Ah yes, that's right, the government is too busy handing out money to greedy bank executives who don't know how they'll manage without their million dollar bonus this year.<br /><br />Okay, I'm off my soapbox.<br /><br />Yesterday we took the kids ice fishing at a local reservoir. The Idaho Dept of Fish and Game hosted an ice fishing tournament. We left with three fish, two ice fishing rods the kids won at raffle prizes and a bluebird box. It was fun, but I have to admit I was REALLY nervous walking out on that ice. I could see huge cracks running in the ice and the top was slushy. Then as I watched Jeff auger through a solid foot of ice, I realized that the cracks must have happened months ago and then frozen in place. The ice didn't even groan yesterday, despite a hundred kids thundering across it's surface as they ran around enjoying the sunshine, not to mention the perforations every fifteen feet or so from hopeful anglers. However, I have new appreciation for the courage it must have taken those pioneers to step onto the ice and walk across the Mississipi river without a sure knowledge of how thick the ice in that middle section might or might not be.<br /><br />Trevor didn't join us yesterday because of his wrestling tournament. He injured his shoulder and needs at least a week to heal. He can't be out of commission too long because he has sheetrock to hang. However, Jeff says its just a Grade II strain so it should only take a week to heal.Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-16679210304201405852009-01-28T23:37:00.001-08:002009-01-29T00:07:26.545-08:00Happy Birthday Tyler!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALzZcrSTKVty2O0G1fNRe3erC1BpvQxkvbAs3N5nDzSIRWFqLrwEy2cvh7avmkKOwMEg2TLvhd6Am2JsZgenZIUpWlTvKSg_sV_bKTSIzftNtuG21KcSFlR9yhj-4g9bpZPujJ5cHjcA/s1600-h/Tyler's+10th+Birthday+006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhALzZcrSTKVty2O0G1fNRe3erC1BpvQxkvbAs3N5nDzSIRWFqLrwEy2cvh7avmkKOwMEg2TLvhd6Am2JsZgenZIUpWlTvKSg_sV_bKTSIzftNtuG21KcSFlR9yhj-4g9bpZPujJ5cHjcA/s400/Tyler's+10th+Birthday+006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296618635109375778" border="0" /></a><br />Tyler invented a new favorite cake. His instructions were, "Mom, I want a cake that tastes like a maple bar." So that's what I made. Here is the pic of his artery-clogging, incredibly rich, maple cake with chocolate trimmings. I think I gained three pounds just making it. It was a low-key birthday. He wanted a party, but mid-week birthdays are tough and we're already booked this weekend, so we'll have an unbirthday party for him some time in February.<br /><br />I am finally feeling better. Whatever virus caught me, did not want to let go. Trevor has it now, and Evan is just getting over it. Now that the arctic air has blown eastward to freeze my friends in the midwest (sorry about that), I'm hoping some sun and warmer temps will aid our recovery. I know the balmy 40 degree weather predicted for the rest of this week will lift my spirits in a way that -2 just didn't. Here's hoping the gopher predicts an early spring. Sixty and seventy degree weather sounds much more appealing.<br /><br />Our siding contractor recovered from pneumonia and has started on the house. Here's a pic I snapped this morning of the walk-out basement area. He already finished the front dormer windows, but I forgot to take a picture of them. So I'll do that tomorrow when I drop off a door.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBO94pz8DxB4E4A4vTgUO82o1R1GflylnrI-pZurEgg_IZIzfU8SgVWtggtU7GzjDZhngxicqLOWaBn3sy40Yr-NZ2RFBoBAFmS_ZvHfC9fxb9N-Rnk2fAlc09Xt3GZUYyRJw43Ivg0ZI/s1600-h/Tyler's+10th+Birthday+011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBO94pz8DxB4E4A4vTgUO82o1R1GflylnrI-pZurEgg_IZIzfU8SgVWtggtU7GzjDZhngxicqLOWaBn3sy40Yr-NZ2RFBoBAFmS_ZvHfC9fxb9N-Rnk2fAlc09Xt3GZUYyRJw43Ivg0ZI/s400/Tyler's+10th+Birthday+011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296621377053277538" border="0" /></a>The University is still in crisis mode, but for now, it appears that Jeff still has a job. Whew! That is a huge relief. Thanks for keeping us in your prayers.Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-76132723470253497962009-01-18T15:13:00.000-08:002009-01-18T15:45:49.788-08:00One step at a time<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnAU7sDK6aWmFG056sDgwk0H2tcQEt5FFqrg7D3eJEu0hXmOHBkI5eQ8ZQk-QA91OqgHu0IoilglYTKI6paVFhBiDzweNqQfWSlMAPV19GPXv3XsZqmx0R1__BHbrSgNIGcNikHBqL5g/s1600-h/jan+pics+006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnAU7sDK6aWmFG056sDgwk0H2tcQEt5FFqrg7D3eJEu0hXmOHBkI5eQ8ZQk-QA91OqgHu0IoilglYTKI6paVFhBiDzweNqQfWSlMAPV19GPXv3XsZqmx0R1__BHbrSgNIGcNikHBqL5g/s320/jan+pics+006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292776407082595778" border="0" /></a><br />These are the doors we installed yesterday. Aren't they pretty? It was kind of tricky, because open the door and there's eleven feet of air. Watch that first step! Trevor climbed a ladder and helped from the outside while Jeff and I maneuvered the doors through the rough openings and set them in position.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAgKUuMgPNZuctYCXm0lFtXCvDUrP-55KRRtpgL-5O-vH900tHe-RrZCovnl9ZVuZgzlKWqH8gQPzAsS9srv3n72skOqCaap5GQxIHZC9M3V9Dqns_2WbXVjKhACg4yzSXOh18agojtM/s1600-h/jan+pics+017.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipAgKUuMgPNZuctYCXm0lFtXCvDUrP-55KRRtpgL-5O-vH900tHe-RrZCovnl9ZVuZgzlKWqH8gQPzAsS9srv3n72skOqCaap5GQxIHZC9M3V9Dqns_2WbXVjKhACg4yzSXOh18agojtM/s320/jan+pics+017.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292779781038595490" border="0" /></a><br />A lot has happened on the house lately. The HVAC installers, electricians, and roofer are almost done and all should be complete this week. My siding contractor has pneumonia, though, so I haven't any idea when he will be well enough to start working again. If it takes too long, I'll have to find someone else so he doe<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8v3F4OzqhGZ8K8kfyVW_wiU7l7_okUXBGG7FSByusM0rDMdJFkb1XLJU32Hmhfjxa3fXDEYT5n1VGHoXFM7JM5obhG_m1yF3uuf-LbZsro2a_wDjj6U1zcLcYVJNJoGYPNEm0MKU_NaU/s1600-h/jan+pics+018.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8v3F4OzqhGZ8K8kfyVW_wiU7l7_okUXBGG7FSByusM0rDMdJFkb1XLJU32Hmhfjxa3fXDEYT5n1VGHoXFM7JM5obhG_m1yF3uuf-LbZsro2a_wDjj6U1zcLcYVJNJoGYPNEm0MKU_NaU/s320/jan+pics+018.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292778048182224386" border="0" /></a>sn't hold up the whole project.<br /><br />It will just be so wonderful to live in a house that is WARM. We've been freezing in the drafty old barn. It helps that the weather has been milder lately.<br /><br /><br />On the home front, things have been interesting - as always. Trevor will soon have his driving permit, so maybe I should take out extra life insurance. Lindsey is still struggling with so many different teachers with different expectations, but she's learning to handle it better. The younger boys are all doing well, but I can't wait for Spring when I can send them outside to play. Their raw energy is sometimes a bit much in confined spaces.<br /><br />Prayers on Jeff's behalf would be appreciated though. The University is responding to the current economy by freaking out and slashing programs. Jeff's teaching position spans two departments. The one department is secure, with no cuts in the immediate future, but the athletic training program is on the chopping block. Nothing would happen right away, but if the program is cut, he could only have a job here for another two years while they teach out the recently admitted students. This is the worst-case scenario. The more likely case is that he would keep his job and just be re-assigned to teach different classes in lieu of athletic training. However, uncertainty does not make for restful sleep or easy days, and he is stressed. Of course, being in the middle of building a house doesn't help either. But we have faith that, somehow, it will all work out. We just have to take it one step at a time - but not out the back doors.Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-16457261146772543312009-01-11T21:54:00.000-08:002009-01-11T22:29:46.831-08:00Sweet DreamsYes, I'm a complete sap. I heard the song <span style="font-style: italic;">Godspeed, Sweet Dreams</span> by the Dixie Chicks and started tearing up. I love it. It captures a little of what I feel when I tuck my boys in every night. I've posted a link below. Don't look at Natalie Maynes' weird punk-rocker get up, just listen to her amazing voice singing this prayer.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QWaqB3Hy908&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QWaqB3Hy908&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWaqB3Hy908<br /><br />Anyhow, the snow is melting and we're supposed to have sunny skies this week. YAY! That means our roof might get finished. The electricians show up tomorrow and my new HVAC installer started last Thursday. So by the end of the week, our house should be roughed in. I'll post pics as soon as I replace my camera's batteries and keep you posted.Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-46912540128183297172009-01-04T18:20:00.000-08:002009-01-04T21:26:37.234-08:00Happy New YearA very belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I've been off the blogosphere and focused on my family over the holidays. It's been very low-key and restful - exactly what we needed. Of course, that's partly because we've been snowed in, but we're pretending that we meant it to be that way. <br /><br />The kids alternated between playing in the snow and playing with their new toys. Nathan and Jared have enjoyed their Rescue Heroes and Power Rangers. Lindsey, Tyler and Evan have done pretty well sharing the Nintendo DS. I was feeling really bad that we couldn't buy one for each of them, but then I changed my mind. I think this will be an extremely effective way for them to learn to share. They don't want me to take it away, so they are learning to work out their differences instead of running to me every three minutes. As far as I'm concerned, this is the true gift. Wouldn't our world be a better place if everyone learned how to work out their differences with words instead of lawsuits and weapons?<br /><br />Trevor plays flight simulator whenever he isn't chopping wood, straining his muscles at wrestling practice, or driving with his driver's ed teacher. His driver's ed teacher has some serious guts. He takes them out driving in the most miserable weather. Trevor said one of the girls in his group ran over a garbage can, hit a mail box, and slid off the road into a ditch - all in one day. Trevor hasn't done any of those things yet, so I'm hoping that means he'll be a good driver. <br /><br />We've learned that living out in the country has its drawbacks. Especially when we don't own a snowplow or tractor. Even if the roads are clear, it's doubtful our driveway will be. And our new house? Forget it. There's a solid two feet of snow covering all nine hundred feet of driveway. We've been hiking up and sledding down when we need to do something up there. After tonight's and tomorrow's storms, we'll hire someone to plow it out. But since it'll be at least another foot of snow, it will have to be plowed out with a caterpillar bulldozer. <br /><br />So basically, nothing has happened on the house lately. I fired the HVAC installers who kept giving me excuses and then told me it would be $2,000 more than what they bid. The new installers will start this week - after the driveway is cleared. <br /><br />Jeff's classes start tomorrow and he is a bundle of nerves. Any prayers on his behalf are appreciated. His performance this semester will weigh heavily in his application for tenure. So that's what we've been doing. I didn't send out Christmas cards this year because I just had too much on my plate. I'll try to get my act together for next Christmas. Or maybe I'll send letters out mid-year instead. We hope you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday and hope your New Year is off to a good start.Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-86797896167625778472008-12-16T23:01:00.000-08:002008-12-16T23:30:18.713-08:00C-C-C-C-Cold<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0APWAcC-iexuB8vGnr9aFd3aTrc4XVPLj5qUO6QTX0eRSTU0kcv28zfg7R69lvMJKRlwyOJGahzAXJU1rkEqWhc2o-BAq9WFpacvvM_5jEaUziY1L2n3F1EAfDp9NgjWjEJDUqgCXTo/s1600-h/12-15-08+020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0APWAcC-iexuB8vGnr9aFd3aTrc4XVPLj5qUO6QTX0eRSTU0kcv28zfg7R69lvMJKRlwyOJGahzAXJU1rkEqWhc2o-BAq9WFpacvvM_5jEaUziY1L2n3F1EAfDp9NgjWjEJDUqgCXTo/s320/12-15-08+020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280655634095238178" border="0" /></a><br />It's like Siberia outside. At -12 with the windchill, we aren't venturing out much. We have ice on the INSIDES of the windows in the house we're living in and there's a pretty stiff breeze blowing through the frames too (the seals, if they ever existed, are bad). I'm dreading my electric bill.<br /><br />On the up side, the windows of our new house are excellent, and there's no breeze blowing through them even without siding, sheetrock, or insulation. Now if I can just get the HVAC installer to get moving with the ductwork, the electrician will come in right after. The power company tied our line into the grid today in balmy eleven degree weather. I felt so bad for them having to be <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh230dybFdgrwHLB78Rtw24kaaJqsEumGwI3RYyVNLqaNaIAHq8c12yELPzeLnSoK3H3oYopWI6Mp2t_LS3EjjOXyMIBLKajvA_15lem09qS3QwCowEPHS1aXieWh88bUXWh8uav_j-oqk/s1600-h/12-15-08+021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh230dybFdgrwHLB78Rtw24kaaJqsEumGwI3RYyVNLqaNaIAHq8c12yELPzeLnSoK3H3oYopWI6Mp2t_LS3EjjOXyMIBLKajvA_15lem09qS3QwCowEPHS1aXieWh88bUXWh8uav_j-oqk/s320/12-15-08+021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280655869840786690" border="0" /></a>out in the cold, but then I remembered that they're charging me $5,000 to do it, and suddenly felt much less sympathetic.<br /><br />The HVAC installers were supposed to be there too, but they didn't show. I've learned a lot about how good communication mak<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHIOhEiMsSE0oMHAgGh9UUSipveftGixEs2i9Fs-bRzZ8URTPU7qSlyYlucWiNowvWoxzk1zmgI-whVYXvaDPloDdbdFB4uw9-60eW9-_qMv9ZITRd6mOcvUotpP3z9Fz9c0Dz-ebnVw/s1600-h/12-15-08+009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTHIOhEiMsSE0oMHAgGh9UUSipveftGixEs2i9Fs-bRzZ8URTPU7qSlyYlucWiNowvWoxzk1zmgI-whVYXvaDPloDdbdFB4uw9-60eW9-_qMv9ZITRd6mOcvUotpP3z9Fz9c0Dz-ebnVw/s320/12-15-08+009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280656185718740290" border="0" /></a>es everything go smoother during construction, unfortunately, my HVAC installers haven't learned this yet. They'd better call me back tomorrow, or I'll hunt them down and it won't be pretty.<br /><br />Anyhow, Trevor turned the big 1-5 yesterday. We just had a quiet family celebration with clam chowder, rolls, grapes and German chocolate <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxc6qJ4uV2w7FpYeZcml4FSvQJWN_1KOEt_Ixw6bLlB9guA7H8XVlstV2uOpFjQfoQs_R7ykvruG-_Xd-imUd0hpTpg3UMDIT0NHy4vN1x-m462juUZ4UNw3ENsLG8S6ffueNglfN7h4/s1600-h/trevor's+b-day.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 238px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxc6qJ4uV2w7FpYeZcml4FSvQJWN_1KOEt_Ixw6bLlB9guA7H8XVlstV2uOpFjQfoQs_R7ykvruG-_Xd-imUd0hpTpg3UMDIT0NHy4vN1x-m462juUZ4UNw3ENsLG8S6ffueNglfN7h4/s320/trevor's+b-day.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280657937823738402" border="0" /></a>cake. Jeff took Trevor out driving. Six months and he gets his license, yikes!Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-36486583359705982662008-12-14T22:37:00.000-08:002008-12-14T23:13:54.969-08:00A dish of humble pie<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFZhx-denkXgDYLCclXVorXkjzLVssRn0pdZbWx211k5KVgS8C4AK8Q0wlSDbQWQUuYY-pQRzZ7pVmTTLuKIOQJ-fnhPUOxgLtLPjk4Wlmm6EdL8C2gkYuMFZpyvP5PYMy-XzFK2KmiI/s1600-h/house+12-1-08+014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFZhx-denkXgDYLCclXVorXkjzLVssRn0pdZbWx211k5KVgS8C4AK8Q0wlSDbQWQUuYY-pQRzZ7pVmTTLuKIOQJ-fnhPUOxgLtLPjk4Wlmm6EdL8C2gkYuMFZpyvP5PYMy-XzFK2KmiI/s320/house+12-1-08+014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279904066825997186" border="0" /></a><br />The house is further along than this picture, but I forgot my camera all week and then when I remembered it, the batteries were dead. And that's just about how the last two weeks have gone. I've been trying SO HARD to make everything work, but Murphy's Law keeps interfering. Anyhow, the good news is that the last window was installed just as the flakes started falling on Friday and we are more or less dried in. Now if the Tyvek will just stay on. Jeff spent all day Saturday securing the part that blew off during the storm Friday night. 3000 staples later, it better not budge. However, I'm not sure if it's waterproof anymore either. The plumber finished his rough plumbing on Thursday and the electrician arrives tomorrow - if he can make it up the hill through the snow drifts.<br /><br />Jared reached a new record for destruction this week. He climbed a shelf and grabbed Trevor's hunting knife. He then proceeded to attack the LCD screen of our TV. He's still alive. Okay, that's an exaggeration, I didn't hurt him, I didn't even spank. I felt like it though. It was all I could do to quietly take the knife and walk away until I calmed down. But between him and issues with our house-building project, I nearly went over the edge. Thankfully, Jeff pulled me back and I'm more or less dealing with things in a positive way again. However, if any of you want a toddler for a week, or a month (heck, we could even try two), give me a call. And please, tell him in a decade or so that he needs to buy us a new TV. But in the mean time, no more sword-fighting shows for that kid.<br /><br />I really appreciate the calls, prayers, and support from those of you who helped me through the challenges of the last two weeks. I thought I could manage everything on my own, and each day was a new helping of humble pie. I'm sure it was good for me - like liver, and bananas - but I don't like them either. Ah well, what doesn' t kill me will make me stronger, right? I'll post more pics tomorrow. Trevor turns 15.Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-59605347752840627852008-11-30T16:47:00.000-08:002008-11-30T17:32:13.922-08:00SLOW GOING<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsb5unQe-OcwO2pcdV1SVQ6X6TmAP-uH2LjXnpXE3Ua_RhZdvnjvjyA2e6pyuUTDbYIZqJCxEiqPHkf_TclFEikJLTKmGq2TkYvd33W4Gdj7imgFqzPCnR8KT-07ykVN4J3I8in6LQo-s/s1600-h/Nov+house+pics+004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsb5unQe-OcwO2pcdV1SVQ6X6TmAP-uH2LjXnpXE3Ua_RhZdvnjvjyA2e6pyuUTDbYIZqJCxEiqPHkf_TclFEikJLTKmGq2TkYvd33W4Gdj7imgFqzPCnR8KT-07ykVN4J3I8in6LQo-s/s320/Nov+house+pics+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274623454254978914" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Rain, rain, go AWAY! Ugh! Our construction site is a bog. The mud is three feet deep in some areas with more rain forecasted. I wish our roof was on. Right now it's about half-way done. If we can get the house completely sheathed, then maybe I won't have to keep vacuuming out the pond that keeps forming in our basement. The windows arrive tomorrow, so I'm hoping the roof and wall sheathing will get done and wrapped so the windows can be installed this week. But we'll see. <br /><br />Here's where the house was at on Tuesday. More of the back roof sheathing has been done since this shot was taken as well as the interior stairs from the main level to the upper level. I'<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ggQQpXlEVK3hlf5Z8pNdVMi5-OtWrFkAGiyAKqt6PH1whCOBnhtVO3ky_7Aen5EQ7XyYqI7Q1R94FXAaLFGsdQ5YiB-eak-4fHQARFUlttWqx8xpBHZl9Ihc62NrEblSaq_5NQgI5lo/s1600-h/Nov+house+pics+002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ggQQpXlEVK3hlf5Z8pNdVMi5-OtWrFkAGiyAKqt6PH1whCOBnhtVO3ky_7Aen5EQ7XyYqI7Q1R94FXAaLFGsdQ5YiB-eak-4fHQARFUlttWqx8xpBHZl9Ihc62NrEblSaq_5NQgI5lo/s320/Nov+house+pics+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274624985615637394" border="0" /></a>m constantly surprised at how much things cost. When did everything get so ridiculously expensive? See this large piece of equipment? It's called a Grade-All and rents for $360 per day. Isn't that crazy? I'm just really hoping we won't need it again.<br /><br />Thanksgiving was delicious, but relatively quiet. I think we needed a quiet day. Thank you Diane for sending the recipe for your fantastic artichoke dip. It was delicious. We were humbled to reflect on the bounteous blessings the Lord has given us. We are grateful to have such wonderful friends and family who so greatly enrich our lives.Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-8258729411869216742008-11-23T16:14:00.000-08:002008-11-23T17:37:53.929-08:00Mud, guts, and more<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRD_U93AXZQnaxZ-QziFmEO4WEA5QnNI1-2WIQVQ9laJY4qS9eQgIG3ke6rmvXB1xjIpvJW-HS7W1Ug-bVILgQlv5bVb6mmy8uZOm1L65JkVbdn8rBPsjOKhzpHqh1uYki12g7L47C8Q/s1600-h/November+23+2008+021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZRD_U93AXZQnaxZ-QziFmEO4WEA5QnNI1-2WIQVQ9laJY4qS9eQgIG3ke6rmvXB1xjIpvJW-HS7W1Ug-bVILgQlv5bVb6mmy8uZOm1L65JkVbdn8rBPsjOKhzpHqh1uYki12g7L47C8Q/s320/November+23+2008+021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272011806882215458" border="0" /></a>Here's where the house was as of Friday. It was really muddy (yes, we had more rain) so sorry about the bad camera angle. Cute port-a-potty, huh? We had to brace it because the wind kept knocking it over. Anyhow, the roof should be sheathed before Thanksgiving and once the Tyvek and roof felt are on, the plumber, HVAC installers, woodburning stove, and electrician can all come in. The roofer will start on Friday if the weather holds. So far, we've been blessed with fairly good fall weather and I'm still hoping to get dried in before the snow flies. Here's a shot of the back of the house taken on Tuesday before the garage trusses arrived. Life has been busy - like always - and filled with unexpected complications. Like that fact that our septic outlet line was accidentally crushed and now has to be replaced and we've been taking turns being sick. My turn came yesterday and today. I haven't gotten enough sleep lately, so I guess it was inevitable, but I'm anxious to get my energy back and for my headache to go away.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5QGrOoVTh0wC0f73sXUaDCgcKdErGIVOR1RerLlHyR45FhooDpkjLQ5QubsVB-Cd4R5KS1XlTMVGL8KpQ6785YQZ8cW9ZN8ySCEo-cUPQ9L758zUgnTpM5iSXg53uWwCs47yaNq-Tmc/s1600-h/November+pics+from+Jeff%27s+camera+044.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5QGrOoVTh0wC0f73sXUaDCgcKdErGIVOR1RerLlHyR45FhooDpkjLQ5QubsVB-Cd4R5KS1XlTMVGL8KpQ6785YQZ8cW9ZN8ySCEo-cUPQ9L758zUgnTpM5iSXg53uWwCs47yaNq-Tmc/s320/November+pics+from+Jeff%27s+camera+044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272016733262778066" border="0" /></a>Jeff and Trevor went hunting last week and the friend they went with shot a buck. Jeff and Trevor are going back to try for one of their own. It's too bad they didn't buy an elk tag. We discovered a large swath of hoofprints not 200 yards from our new house. Jeff waited around yesterday to find out what animal made them and found himself being stared down by about twenty elk. They were all female, but the males can't be that far away.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NdMfmEoLr3PEvMM5UGsR1qQO-8KDxam7cbEn66kD281Z2_iUF1lXoiNZVDetVUZ86RVAUEzYAotJfqhz8xLjKTAZEzLo9ecb9d4F0j_GU86joI4DA02ybz-MWvkZzzsyx7c1rwagZfY/s1600-h/November+pics+from+Jeff%27s+camera+055.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0NdMfmEoLr3PEvMM5UGsR1qQO-8KDxam7cbEn66kD281Z2_iUF1lXoiNZVDetVUZ86RVAUEzYAotJfqhz8xLjKTAZEzLo9ecb9d4F0j_GU86joI4DA02ybz-MWvkZzzsyx7c1rwagZfY/s320/November+pics+from+Jeff%27s+camera+055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272021573368953042" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Lindsey and I saw Twilight on Friday. She didn't like it nearly as much as the book. I thought the book was better, but liked the movie too. The casting was excellent. I just wish they had cut some of the cheesy dialog.Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-74993394175414500452008-11-09T15:04:00.000-08:002008-11-09T15:32:11.090-08:00Vader and Yoda (aka Jasper and Edward)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6MdkklgHb9ElAe7cbZ_cYaRr5f9BCBURiYu3LsYQM0cOaljAh8q4A4fqFVMRdsMD6NO0Kkqb6Gggy2p2D-DZ0FcuGUWObqHDh62_PfOo-ACp3bgc8zU-3gEOKsMHVOFj_xIR0t8AUkU/s1600-h/pics+11-08+711.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha6MdkklgHb9ElAe7cbZ_cYaRr5f9BCBURiYu3LsYQM0cOaljAh8q4A4fqFVMRdsMD6NO0Kkqb6Gggy2p2D-DZ0FcuGUWObqHDh62_PfOo-ACp3bgc8zU-3gEOKsMHVOFj_xIR0t8AUkU/s320/pics+11-08+711.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266802590566603458" border="0" /></a><br />Meet the newest members of our family. Yes, they're adorable and so funny. They wrestle and chase each other and generally act like the boys that they are. What to call them though. Hmmm. That's been an issue. You see, Lindsey is all Twilight crazed and counting down to the movie release. So to her, the black one is Jasper and the tabby is Edward (I suggested Emmett, but no one agreed with me). However, since we live in a testosterone saturated house and are outnumbered three to one, Lindsey and I lost the name vote. So the black cat is Vader and the tabby is Yoda, but Lindsey and I never call them by those names. The really weird thing is that Jeff and Trevor actually like them (although they won't admit it). The kittens were cuddled in Jeff's lap when I snapped the pic.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iovlGHQIIT0H4Fj7pgBm15XFrdduTYrjjyvOvbaKfJpOrAF4eGsgyvnr23TT1uKlPoz6uyZd65kmH0xuAmqeZO8In9gGZM2TLbQz3Cxl34IM7h3Ovj1SS1SMh-bqwHC_HpYxk9IgFEo/s1600-h/pics+11-08+705.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2iovlGHQIIT0H4Fj7pgBm15XFrdduTYrjjyvOvbaKfJpOrAF4eGsgyvnr23TT1uKlPoz6uyZd65kmH0xuAmqeZO8In9gGZM2TLbQz3Cxl34IM7h3Ovj1SS1SMh-bqwHC_HpYxk9IgFEo/s200/pics+11-08+705.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266803554815028930" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Construction is going slow, but it is going. If only it would STOP RAINING! Ugh. Two solid weeks of the wet stuff with temperatures hovering within ten degrees above freezing. I think I need to give our framers a Christmas bonus. The joists should be up this week and the roof arrives on Friday. Of course, plans may change if the mud slick that is our construction site becomes a swamp.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHe44nwKlgrSMiI6VTAOpQwkeanEK4JR0QwENowiD0tpmHUgr85KRsRF_ptjKrzYexTIMfdgJ9IzgPI3X8PAP8kHjUwN1vcwuSXez_szTIrlN-POFTo_Y6EAnfNCFySKJpCfSeMTT_Rk/s1600-h/pics+11-08+706.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWHe44nwKlgrSMiI6VTAOpQwkeanEK4JR0QwENowiD0tpmHUgr85KRsRF_ptjKrzYexTIMfdgJ9IzgPI3X8PAP8kHjUwN1vcwuSXez_szTIrlN-POFTo_Y6EAnfNCFySKJpCfSeMTT_Rk/s320/pics+11-08+706.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266803902788488674" border="0" /></a>Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-79769076609152474132008-11-01T14:30:00.000-07:002008-11-01T15:16:51.063-07:00October Run<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqE1B6rRIiQif2StIceiGudKr0kmSFskmZjUIjL9sNAHQRgSn42uCQnZiL17ciIp4QyzIc4iYciVnL8NEVhRvEOW6KdCyU_KCY8GS8GLYPVlE4kBbd68c3ReL-cx3dXlDQfhXbRAO3kr4/s1600-h/construction+docs+10-08+002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqE1B6rRIiQif2StIceiGudKr0kmSFskmZjUIjL9sNAHQRgSn42uCQnZiL17ciIp4QyzIc4iYciVnL8NEVhRvEOW6KdCyU_KCY8GS8GLYPVlE4kBbd68c3ReL-cx3dXlDQfhXbRAO3kr4/s200/construction+docs+10-08+002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263813774960741490" border="0" /></a><br />I can hardly believe it's November already - where did the days go? I guess that's what happens when I'm running to keep up with everything, and not quite making it (Run Jen, run!). Things like dates and calendars and a sense of balance fly out the window. Unbalanced though my life may be right now, it is never boring. And I am keeping up, albeit, but the tips of my fingernails.<br /><br />Home construction is coming along without any major blips except the rain toda<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4-pyUrlap3T1pdQLDXGYGbyegY4XPDycnRZWf_w6i1PJW0u6wAcbZ5Qfxsmfn6ZlTBvcREnENcUVeImNf0oUM8hJoV_u5MiNRZr7cWwxY12hhoSA5o7k-xFoLpNCP5BVo2iUEdlGB2Q/s1600-h/construction+docs+10-08+008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4-pyUrlap3T1pdQLDXGYGbyegY4XPDycnRZWf_w6i1PJW0u6wAcbZ5Qfxsmfn6ZlTBvcREnENcUVeImNf0oUM8hJoV_u5MiNRZr7cWwxY12hhoSA5o7k-xFoLpNCP5BVo2iUEdlGB2Q/s200/construction+docs+10-08+008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263814069413316338" border="0" /></a>y. So we slogged through the mud to 'clean up' our construction site, tracking great clods of goo as we went. We collected and sorted cans, cardboard, stray nails and a variety of other things into piles and put the cases of unopened nails, caulk, and lumber under tarps. Now, even if it rains all weekend long, nothing should get damaged. I'm just hoping the wind doesn't kick up, or we could be tracking those tarps all the way to Montana. We also have a huge pile of stubby little pieces of lumber that we'll burn for a bonfire as soon as it dries out again. We don't have much light pollution here and at night, it's an amazing fresh air planetarium. I think it will be a lot of fun to roast marshmallows around a bonfire and get the kids excited about living there and then bank the fir<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZXn_QBoABg0IaXQZKEER2azLCiCQ_GRp89HWqvUWY0-8aTpILeEllwpaJwiuF_5g0A99YtsPfcntQoHJMVAm_rCstd0tPAQjEHWQT0fHqM6g_pSAlDCpKoEow1B6W2o8g0dr12DmFYk/s1600-h/construction+docs+10-08+054.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZXn_QBoABg0IaXQZKEER2azLCiCQ_GRp89HWqvUWY0-8aTpILeEllwpaJwiuF_5g0A99YtsPfcntQoHJMVAm_rCstd0tPAQjEHWQT0fHqM6g_pSAlDCpKoEow1B6W2o8g0dr12DmFYk/s200/construction+docs+10-08+054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263814531537032354" border="0" /></a>e and watch for meteorites. Right now, they just complain about the work (although not too loudly). But honestly, all in all, everything is going rather well. All the sub-contractors I've hired so far have been excellent. Our framers did a fantastic job on the basement and took extra pains to level the walls since the concrete slab wasn't. The next level should go up much more quickly.<br /><br />Trevor threw his first official party last night. He has a really sharp group of friends and they came and hung out in the basement for five hours playing games and watching Nacho Libre and Monty Python and <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7S7a6evRR4dEjUWT3pGVwOBds6ciuEBmZu7j6Eziw3bWfPpnwxVOHb5FVC842f_vDBfdOLEDzFEHJWo1W1t7zdFSjXn2TyOgVOjRvgGgdM8X9eNRqTkPg5xljvxcFL_fNc0p0wEHUuU/s1600-h/construction+docs+10-08+055.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7S7a6evRR4dEjUWT3pGVwOBds6ciuEBmZu7j6Eziw3bWfPpnwxVOHb5FVC842f_vDBfdOLEDzFEHJWo1W1t7zdFSjXn2TyOgVOjRvgGgdM8X9eNRqTkPg5xljvxcFL_fNc0p0wEHUuU/s200/construction+docs+10-08+055.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263815331603614530" border="0" /></a>the Holy Grail. They apparently find these movies hilarious, but I think they're beyond stupid. Maybe the combined effects of exhaustion and sugar alter teenage boy brains.<br /><br />The other kids thought Halloween was a bit lame, but mostly because of the rain. They carved pumpkins and we put lightsticks in them so they glowed in different colors. Lindsey's owl pumpkin turned our really well. They all dressed up and we wen't to church for a one hour trunk or treat. It was cold. It was wet. Thank goodness it was short. Then those of us not incl<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dprRlF8Tn_oBbntuRBU59NjJ5adbt9fd8u3JDgsvctnYjyYerExAnJQL-HcGb8nTMLmuAR-0m0CGJ584343HgFVEoJ5dBjgZUI2a66KIH5QkgI3jF8TKZ4lB5lmFAbp3SgusqSbQZLY/s1600-h/construction+docs+10-08+045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dprRlF8Tn_oBbntuRBU59NjJ5adbt9fd8u3JDgsvctnYjyYerExAnJQL-HcGb8nTMLmuAR-0m0CGJ584343HgFVEoJ5dBjgZUI2a66KIH5QkgI3jF8TKZ4lB5lmFAbp3SgusqSbQZLY/s200/construction+docs+10-08+045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263815015573233410" border="0" /></a>uded in the teenage boy party cave, sat in the living room and watched Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Monster House scared Nathan too much). I thought the light sticks were a wonderful idea, no flame, no fire risk, cool colors. But they have a downside too. Nathan bit one and suffered chemical burns in his mouth. So I'm thinking my wonderful idea will have to wait until my kids stop taste testing every brightly colored thing thinking it's candy.Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-19459049036136820332008-10-19T21:16:00.000-07:002008-10-19T21:31:16.022-07:00Family Picture<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7I0NkcU0Pg3QW0fPdOsJlRDg77cAFBFuThv__ssgq0cq9n2AQGqOHtBpZ6f8Os-MNzTddckE4jCt9Hu8zJ5O8atqEBU9QbKkWW3yz4_aA8dw8qQq06ecGHeur7XA7eF8w635MSS8-6FE/s1600-h/family+pictures+10-08+127.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7I0NkcU0Pg3QW0fPdOsJlRDg77cAFBFuThv__ssgq0cq9n2AQGqOHtBpZ6f8Os-MNzTddckE4jCt9Hu8zJ5O8atqEBU9QbKkWW3yz4_aA8dw8qQq06ecGHeur7XA7eF8w635MSS8-6FE/s400/family+pictures+10-08+127.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259088903858899826" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We FINALLY took a new family picture. The one on our wall is two years old, but Jared did sit still for that one. Today he just wanted to run, run, run. Not that I blame him. It was a glorious autumn day here. An hour after the photo session, however, we were in the emergency room. He split open his chin. The doctor used durabond instead of stitches and we came home. Within an hour, it was split and bleeding again. Instead of blowing another $100 in the emergency room, Jeff steri-stripped it and we tucked him into bed. We hope he'll leave it on, but if not, you can tell him the scar is his own fault if he ever complains about it.Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-60986096963885412542008-10-17T13:47:00.000-07:002008-10-17T14:11:04.427-07:00Boy in a bucket<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycNauNxnx1dFz1RXhTqO43Sx6D1hni689IZUGdT7ddqRBebdDHFqm4DtTeG8fThrcUKdzCC2pih26l9OpfhowvkMloxlsX-a2C0EAorBGlwSnd2hTHzernQB4fJiViWguLzR7EHnAWUA/s1600-h/HOUSE+10-08+001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjycNauNxnx1dFz1RXhTqO43Sx6D1hni689IZUGdT7ddqRBebdDHFqm4DtTeG8fThrcUKdzCC2pih26l9OpfhowvkMloxlsX-a2C0EAorBGlwSnd2hTHzernQB4fJiViWguLzR7EHnAWUA/s200/HOUSE+10-08+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258228106720991922" border="0" /></a>Here's what our house looks like as of three hours ago. The excavator is working on grading the dirt piles and will begin installing the septic system next week. The plumber arrives Monday, the inspector on Tuesday, the slab will be poured Wednesday, the lumber will be delivered on Thursd<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQSE5RWZZDgXsukmZ6AuXNE9tTIHztIqVnGanPR5Iz9qmwRCi1Eqs4fVnd1JTsZgFVFlUI6qBrbXucHsFs_1IC0ZbYTEqYAaqs98D1XtS6QPK6J2-NOq8QQV_zkDO-3u00ZjA8CqLieA/s1600-h/HOUSE+10-08+006.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQSE5RWZZDgXsukmZ6AuXNE9tTIHztIqVnGanPR5Iz9qmwRCi1Eqs4fVnd1JTsZgFVFlUI6qBrbXucHsFs_1IC0ZbYTEqYAaqs98D1XtS6QPK6J2-NOq8QQV_zkDO-3u00ZjA8CqLieA/s200/HOUSE+10-08+006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258229501876631154" border="0" /></a>ay and then the framers will get started. Let the fun begin!<br /><br />Jared was lots of help throwing rocks and dirt clods into the foundation. He also likes the nails lying around everywhere. Now if I can just keep him from puncturing his ear drum with them. A hike around the foundation and a game of hide and seek was fun. He has the cutest giggle. His favorite hiding place was in the spare backhoe bucket.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MvwgabxnAKzHLCgSroNfoc58uGUXC_AM2vYMh2BLTYYG2GYRSHlLfeQFLZh7cJ9zPyaW4-Q3HWrG8ZkIcK7qt5ZXFe5qQd90-I9AYD5tOmoNaDPEvepkmOd2YuN1hHVzUP4tv2vu_ac/s1600-h/HOUSE+10-08+026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 157px; height: 210px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MvwgabxnAKzHLCgSroNfoc58uGUXC_AM2vYMh2BLTYYG2GYRSHlLfeQFLZh7cJ9zPyaW4-Q3HWrG8ZkIcK7qt5ZXFe5qQd90-I9AYD5tOmoNaDPEvepkmOd2YuN1hHVzUP4tv2vu_ac/s200/HOUSE+10-08+026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258230661382997970" border="0" /></a><br />We enjoyed mom and dad Seegmiller's company two weeks ago when the children had three days off of school. It was so much fun and nobody was ready to get back into routine. But we did and things have been crazy ever since. I'm not even sure what I've done over the past two weeks - coordinate our house I suppose. But I blinked, and now it's the end of the month. I hope my whole adult life doesn't go by that quickly or I will be hard pressed to get everything done that I'd like to.Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-51676364266015823662008-10-05T12:38:00.000-07:002008-10-05T18:22:16.861-07:00A Hole in a Hill<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgYPoSEhyphenhyphenBO6DdKfiYmzj33zx9YpJ2M6ZKp_GJ-aUQ6B9n4UmJhJPWNKLBqFv3FHM3Y2XNN37zJxRv569p6PTVsJ09jWMCBt1LaCrteGF6P4GlAvhDaEpV3iuOHVn-Ro2TqXYhl1TM-8/s1600-h/pictures+from+Jeff%27s+camera+10-08+087.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQgYPoSEhyphenhyphenBO6DdKfiYmzj33zx9YpJ2M6ZKp_GJ-aUQ6B9n4UmJhJPWNKLBqFv3FHM3Y2XNN37zJxRv569p6PTVsJ09jWMCBt1LaCrteGF6P4GlAvhDaEpV3iuOHVn-Ro2TqXYhl1TM-8/s200/pictures+from+Jeff%27s+camera+10-08+087.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253763231668076866" border="0" /></a><br />Construction has started! The basement has been excavated and the footings poured. The forms for the basement walls are going up and should be poured next week. Oh, and my chicken coop slab is almost done. That's right, chicken coop. Now for all of you laughing just at the thought of me raising chickens, I understand. Really, I do. Laugh away. My sister said that she always thought of me as the urban type and couldn't picture me in the country. Honestly, that was the same thought I had fo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3wLTXgczNUOlWis6Km1pxzCNyQSJ9J_kmUzjthRKuh9QLxq2lNCHaNm3D8hsmQTcTA5EYdK_zyj3s7nussT0b8u6CbkMn4ZeVZLimZTCs3Og8p-2oRR7mVIDPzJvww5cN2QcLzHlnTY/s1600-h/pictures+from+Jeff%27s+camera+10-08+088.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR3wLTXgczNUOlWis6Km1pxzCNyQSJ9J_kmUzjthRKuh9QLxq2lNCHaNm3D8hsmQTcTA5EYdK_zyj3s7nussT0b8u6CbkMn4ZeVZLimZTCs3Og8p-2oRR7mVIDPzJvww5cN2QcLzHlnTY/s200/pictures+from+Jeff%27s+camera+10-08+088.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253766400991474114" border="0" /></a>r myself for a long time. Perhaps time has changed me, or maybe I've just come to appreciate different approaches to living. Cities are exciting with lots to do, but country life also has its charms. Having lived in both large cities and rural communities, I now find myself avoiding city noise and traffic in favor of hearing the cry of hawks and wind in the trees. Besides, I much prefer a five minute commute where the only traffic backups are caused by farm equipment over the Beltway rat race my parents contend with every day. I think our community is the best kept secret in the country and as I look at the hole we've dug at the top of th<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0rtwl_Wxay-bUXjIvcHL3yvRG3Q6ZNgaUARcYOveVfas84FYJX5cS_8gsbRmG_N8mhrl4JWNVpXS3qa81f1tUCrfZNpeE2HbkxA-RqJSpXsIS2pnZvMSeVDTuR_sSDBlHxaTcgY774s/s1600-h/pictures+from+Jeff%27s+camera+10-08+067.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0rtwl_Wxay-bUXjIvcHL3yvRG3Q6ZNgaUARcYOveVfas84FYJX5cS_8gsbRmG_N8mhrl4JWNVpXS3qa81f1tUCrfZNpeE2HbkxA-RqJSpXsIS2pnZvMSeVDTuR_sSDBlHxaTcgY774s/s200/pictures+from+Jeff%27s+camera+10-08+067.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253767984090483538" border="0" /></a>e hill, I can hardly wait to live there.Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1751111132184531866.post-59565096248643797322008-09-24T07:14:00.000-07:002008-09-24T18:53:14.057-07:00We hit water!YES! After digging 125 feet and finding nothing but slop, our well driller asked us if we wanted to pull up and try somewhere else. After much deliberation and careful study of geologic maps and detailed drilling reports (with steel casing depths, not liner and pump depth), we told him yes. Our second attempt yielded water at 50 feet with more available as he drilled lower. We now have 22 gallons per minute at a depth of 125 feet. Whoohooo! I can't tell you what a relief this is.Jen Seegmillerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18253425523466960266noreply@blogger.com0