Shop Walls

Shop Walls

After the footings were poured and dried, we began setting the forms for the walls out of plywood, 2 by 4's, snap ties and their brackets. The walls will be 4 foot high.

We had to put lots of re-bar in the walls before we placed the plywood, because it was hard for Daniel to slither down between the plywood to tie the re-bar in.

Hayden and Russell used their muscles to hammer and sandwich the 2 by 4's into place while the bracket got hammered into place.

The walls looked pretty unique with all the brackets and wood.

Hayden worked hard not too hit his thumb in the process of getting the brackets on.

The walls were not as straight as Russell wanted, so he went and purchased lots of angle iron to give the strength to the plywood to keep it straight. Good thinking, look how straight the wall is and how the plywood matches up.

We had to order a pumper truck because of the height of the walls. Boy, did it help in getting the concrete right where it was needed.

The guys are having a discussion to see how the work was going to be divided up, another words, who is really in charge?

As you can see, Russell is the man with the power, or should we say the King of the Concrete.

Daniel is using the re-bar to get out any unnecessary air pockets. Boy did he work up a sweat. I am just glad he did not fall off the forms.

The tops look smooth and know time to let it dry, the real truth will be when the forms come off and how we did.

Russell did put these boards to brace the walls with the weight of the concrete.

Time to start tearing off the forms to see how we did. As you can see with Dalton, you must look up so the bracket doesn't jump up and get you. He hurt his head pretty badly, at least there was not much blood. We did hire two boys from the ward to help tear off the forms. They were great help.

All the forms needed to be moved from the center of the shop so we did not have any accidents with someone falling. Daniel and JJ were great carriers.

Hayden stacked the boards in the trailer so we would not have to pick them up again. This was genius thinking!

Dalton and Braxton liked posing for all the pictures they could. At least in this picture they both had hammers in their hands so they looked busy.

The walls look better than expected. There is only one corner, the one where we started and ended, that doesn't look the best. Russell has got something that comes in a bucket that will make it look better.

How does it look? We thought not bad. The next project is to haul in fill to raise up the ground level about two feet. Then, the floor will get poured. Part of the shop package will get delivered tomorrow morning. Our goal is to have it enclosed by winter.

Husker Harvest Days

Husker Harvest Days
Trip to Grand Island, Nebraska

You would have thought that the boys had died and gone to heaven when we decided to pull them out of school and go to Husker Harvest Days at the beginning of September.. Russell and I picked them up early on Tuesday from school and we took the 6 hour drive toward Grand Island. All the way there they fought like cats and dogs. We finally got to the hotel, and was expecting to go for a swim, just to find out the AmericInn did not have a swimming pool. What nice hotel these days does not have a swimming pool, the AmericInn in Kearney, Nebraska. The next morning we got up early, and headed to the farm show. We had no idea there would be 80 acres of exhibitors. Not to mention the field demonstrations beyond that. It was interesting to me to see how interested all 3 boys were in the newest and greatest of combines, grain carts, swathers, rakes, and rippers. They could have watched them all day long. We had a great time. The one thing we were hoping for was to beat Newel and Blake Norman to a farm show, I guess this was not the one to beat them too. It was good to see them there. When we left on Wednesday late afternoon, the decision was made that we are going to stay 2 days next year. We began our way home hoping it would be more pleasant than the trip there. On the way home they were silent for the first hour and then, holy smokes, they could not stop talking about all the equipment and great farming things they saw. I would have to say it was a success for all that attended (that includes me!)

The New Spectacles

Dalton's Spectacles

Dalton has been having a little problem with reading lately. We decided to take him to the eye doctor in Scottsbluff. He sees 20/20 but needs just a little added help in closeup vision. He picked out a pair of black framed glasses with race car checkered flags inprinted on the side. In silver none the less. Boy is he cool, not that he wasn't before!

There's not even a fight to get him to do his homework now!!!!!!!

I know I'm his mom, but I think he DOES look smarter!

LABOR DAY FUN
5 September 2011

We traveled up to Chadron State Park, supposedly it is one of the states best kept secrets. There seems to be lots of them here. We are planning on going next summer to rent a cabin and stay a few day. They have lots of things to keep a family busy for a while. It was a beautiful day, not too hot and the boys had fun riding their bikes down the hills, Russell and I had fun riding in the truck down the hills. At least everyone had fun however they got down the hill.

We rented a paddle boat for the boys, they enjoyed that.

I think they enjoyed messing up the fishers on the other side by making lots of waves. I guess its an equal opportunity pond!

And you can't forget about the nap Russell had in the shaded grass, he must have been really tired.....or something.

In Alliance, Nebraska the boys wanted to see the Carhenge. I'm not too sure it would be worth going to see if you weren't going by anyway. We stopped at Dairy Queen for blizzards before heading home.

Footings Poured

Pouring the Footings of Our New Shop
2 September 2011

The main decision: Who is actually in charge?

Dalton is really mad, because nobody will let him do the important job, whatever that is. But, he did have a shovel that he didn't want to use.

Hayden worked real hard getting the concrete filled into the forms we all made, that only took a week once we began. Thank goodness for the other truck that showed up, it gave us an extra body to direct the mud into the forms.

There was Russell, Hayden, Daniel, Dalton and our neighbor Brother Chisholm working the cement. Many hands makes the work light.

Russell is smoothing out the excess concrete so Daniel can trowel the top as smooth as glass.

Forms off the next morning, and now time to prepare the stem wall. That will take a little longer, hopefully an update on this in a couple of weeks.

Third Crop Hay

THIRD CROP HAY

Cut, Raked, Baled & in a Stack
WITH NO RAIN

Hayden is moving the hay into the stack. He really enjoys Saturdays so he can work.

Sample sent to Pennsylvania, hoping it tests well. I guess in a year like this it doesn't really matter if it tests well, it's still worth lots of money. Russell is grateful when the hay looks good in a bale.

Now, all we need is a truck to haul the hay to New Mexico.

We have been truly blessed this year with the weather cooperating. There was a storm that came through and split just before the hay field, some South and some went North. Luckily we were able to get the South half of the field up in good condition. Next Wednesday, the North half will be cut.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Dalton is now in 4th grade and has Ms. Musfelt. He is excited to learn about Nebraska State History and teach the rest of us all about the state we now live in.

Daniel is in 7th grade and enjoys being in the Jr/Sr High School.
He was elected the 7th grade class vice-president.

Hayden is now a freshman. Where has the time gone?
He has a fun woodworking class where he will get to make some cool projects.

Watch out Mitchell, here they come!

Happy Birthday Dalton

Dalton just wanted a quick lunch of bbq hot dogs and corn on the cob. Cupcakes were the choice also, white none the less, but orange frosting was a must. He had a few friends over to have lunch and an afternoon of slip and sliding. They all seemed to have a good time.

The biggest hit of the party was the nerf guns. Thanks for all the fun gifts for the birthday boy.
In the picture from left to right:
Caden Spencer, Dalton, Josh Taylor,
John Thomas and Braxton Blomstedt

Produce from the Garden

It is so wonderful to finally have fresh produce from our garden - especially since everyone told me the grasshoppers and gophers would get it before we do!!

Birthday Time for Hayden

Hayden turned the big 14. We traveled back to Nebraska, from a wonderful Sunday in Denver. All he said that he wanted for his birthday was to cut wheat, so he was able the cut the neighbors wheat field. HE WAS IN SEVENTH HEAVEN! He got a new bike for his birthday. You would have thought it couldn't get any better, cutting wheat and a new bike. Happy Birthday Kiddo!!!

Pivot Finally Done!

After 3 months of on and off work and finally some decent weather, the pivot works. Russell turned the motor on and the used pivot walked clear around the 1/2 circle. Way to go Russ and boys, you did it and saved us lots of money by doing it yourselves.

Summer Fun

When we returned to Nebraska, the weather was much different then when we left. The sun had finally decided that it was time to come out. The warm/hot has been wonderful. Not so much to work in the yard, but a wonderful temperature for water fun. the boys made their own slip and slide out of some plastic poly tubing that we had left over from last growing season. They spent several hours posing and seeing who could make the biggest splash at the bottom of the run.

Hard Working Boys

The Young Women and Young Men in our ward had their service auction and breakfast for money for their summer camps. Hayden and Daniel worked hard on two shelves. They each made one and they were sold for $85 and $80 each. They did a great job putting them together, painting them, staining them and selling them. They also donated 2 hours of service together (4 man hours). The neighbor got that for $30. Not bad for just moving here. And we can't thank dad enough for helping cut out each project. Hayden and Daniel will be heading to camp on the 10th of June.

One Good Looking Kid

Time to catch up on some bloggin'. So I'll begin with a great picture of an eight year old waiting for everyone to get ready for church. We still think he must have come to the wrong family. There are no cowboy genes from his father or me, what happened. But, we both can say he is one good looking kid.