Prepping for weekend two

We got back to the land on Wednesday afternoon, and decided to head to Rumors in Yarnell for dinner. On the way, two gray foxes darted across the road.

We started work Thursday morning. We needed to move the porch planks we had sprayed from the barn up to the house, and Gerald needed to do some brick work.

While we were loading the planks, the APS inspector and project manager dropped by. Gerald had a rather heated discussion about some of their requirements, including the requirement that we use certain contractors who, their own list said were not recommended only that they had the right equipment.

While we were loading planks, it became obvious that there was a mouse in residence. When we had removed maybe three-quarters of the planks, the mouse made an appearance, playing peekaboo with us from underneath the planks.

When we were done, we had uncovered his house. It was a fascinating assemblage of bits of wood, teased string from a mop we had left behind and chewed prickly pear cactus. Unfortunately, we also found the mouse, which had gotten unintentionally squished.


Once the planks were up at the building site, Gerald cut one end of each plank at a 45-degree angle.












Later in the afternoon, we got another delivery of materials. This time, roof sheeting.

It was cold that night. The thermometer read 59 degrees, but the wind made it feel colder. We were surprised by the temperature and didn't come prepared to brave the cold--or should I say I didn't. Gerald thought it was "pleasant"-- so we called it an early night.