Roof or Ruff/Rough?

I was born in California and moved to the great state of Washington before starting elementary school. Because I was born of non-native washingtonians I was not taught the local pronunciations. One of those being the pronunciation of the word roof. Native speakers pronounce this word quite differently (Rough or Ruff). No matter how you pronounce it the framers started assembling the different sections of the trusses to the roof today.

Framing & House Tour

We got to walk around our house today. Depending on how big the file is I will try to upload a video of the house tour. It is kind of hard to see it in the pictures but walking through is kind of fun to see what the house will look like.

When it rains it Pours (Foundation)

Foundation (footers and stem walls) were poured on the 12/16. After it cured they stripped the forms down and back-filled all the dirt. They put in the floor joists and will start the framing soon.

Delay

We were going to be pouring the foundation last week but due to the freezing weather it was delayed. The forms were put in about two weeks ago and so it has sat. That is fine we are not in any hurry. Roger called this morning and said that they should be pouring the foundation today. We shall see.

The Dug Out

They dug the pit where the foundation is going to go. We now have two mounds of dirt on either side of the where the house will be. This of course is a big attraction to the kids. Oh, a pool of dirt wouldn't it be grand. It's really starting to look like a construction sight.
We have been told there are three dear that particularly like our yard. Today we saw evidence that even the construction is not deterring them. There were hoof prints in the foundation hole and 'droppings' along the outside of the hole. We haven't yet met these four legged neighbors but hope to soon and that they won't be TOO mad at us when they have to jump a fence to get into their favorite back yard.

Timber

Today the HUGE tree along the north of the house was taken down. Yesterday they took out two blue spruce trees and a bunch of shrubs we didn't want. It's incredible to watch these little but BIG changes. The lot looked big before but now it looks even bigger. Roger met another neighbor today while watching the tree come down. It was the lady on the corner of 36th and Tahoma (can't remember what he said her name was). Everyone we have met is so nice and is excited about this process. The lady Roger met said we have created some excitment for the street. Next Monday the foundation will get started. Tomorrow is thanksgiving. Driving by the lot and checking progress has become a daily event.

Demolition Day

Today, November 23rd, was demolition day. I headed out the door, with Jacob Eliza and Charlotte in tow, and was at the house at 8am. I stood there and watched as they were going to begin. Paul Page our new neighbor across the street, his wife Sheri was Monique's OT from Tacoma Learning Center from birth to age three, came and dug up some bulbs of flowers along the side of the house. They will plant them in their yard and then give us some back when we are ready to do Landscape. We also pulled an old bench and planter table out that I want to use around the house when its done. I want to do this to leave a little of the history of the old house. I felt nervous this morning and as they took the first crunch into the house I honestly had to hold back a tear. I stood and watched and thought about Irene Morris who had lived in the house. I have never met this woman but this had been her home for so long. The place she loved. The place where she would sit and look at the rainbows made from the sun shining through the shattered front window that she wanted left and not replaced. Sheri told me that it was last November that she passed away. She had had and anurisum of some sort and spent some time in the ICU befor being transfered to a more comfort care room as she spent her last couple of days. She had been a fisty woman with a strong will. I like her already. I have loved learning a little bit about this woman and hope she would be happy with what we are doing to her old homestead. I know I am an emotional person but this was her home.
As for the demolition is was amazing to watch how quickly the house was destroyed. It was half gone by the time I left an hour later. The man running the machine had such skill. As he demo'ed he would take out metal and stuff that would be recycled and put in a seperate pile. I have no idea how he could see all that between all the wood and such. By this afternoon there will be nothing but a small pile of rubble and by tonight it should be gone. Strange to think people that live right next door left for work this morning with a house next door, this evening when they come home there will be nothing there.