May 12, 2008

We got up early and cleaned up inside and outside of the cabin. Our travel day home is always spent this way and we were on the road by 9:00. Shortly after leaving we get to see the barn is still standing – 10 days later! The trip ended up being a great accomplishment and our “To Do” list has been greatly minimized!!!

May 11, 2008

What a day! Another O’Wich continental breakfast, some Happy Mother’s Day festivities, including a phone call from Jackie and Alex and then it was back to work. Carlo and Rick removed a log from the kitchen ceiling / loft floor to shorten it and move it over a few inches in order for the loft stairs to fit between the logs. After cutting the log and replacing it – perfect fit I might add – there was lots of measuring and re-measuring; only to find that we ordered the wrong size stairs. So we boxed them back up! They got the futon and mattress into the loft and we all got ready to go. Rick and Katie packed up and met us at Portage Lumber to return the stairs. We went to Portage Family Restaurant before they headed back to Lockport.
We decided to retrieve our flower box that floated two properties away. It came right off the log and it is ready for its new home on the deck of the outhouse. Carlo decided to drive back through the easement. I’ll leave out everything I was thinking and saying but will tell you I didn’t like the idea. Now you see, the ground is still mushy, parts still have water and there are lots of mosquitoes. We barely make it to our property line and we are sinking and then we get stuck. Thank goodness we own a tow strap. Carlo wrapped it around a tree and although it was laborious and I feared the tree would fall – he was able to crank the truck a good 2 to 3 feet. He then put branches in front of and behind the tires in an effort for the tires to grab something – back and forth and yes deeper and deeper. Then as it would be, he was finally able to grab some dryer ground and get back further in the easement on a dryer patch of ground. The tire ruts were at least 10” deep. Once Carlo was able to get the truck going, he kept moving until he got to the cabin. The tires were caked with mud. What a day!

May 10, 2008

The morning started with the O’Wich continental breakfast and after Carlo got back from getting gas we hit the work list. At this point I should point out that Rick is trying to rename O’Wich to O’Work. Not too funny after the second time. But work it was…Carlo chain sawed the wood crib and while Rick motored back and forth with the wheel barrel, Katie carried wood to the fire pit. For every four of their trips, I think I made one. With the fire started and two huge piles to add to it, Carlo, Rick and Katie started the repair of the outhouse stairs and deck. I cleaned up the end of the front side of the cabin and used the leaf blower to spruce it up. They helped me re-line the edges with some logs. They also brought the exterior crawl space ramp back. After our lunch break – which Katie did an awesome job in preparing – we manned the fire, stabilized the outhouse rails and divided and conquered (again) to finish for the day. Rick and Katie attached foam insulation under the bedroom floor from the outside while Carlo and I made a new stair for the back deck. Now the last step of the deck won’t feel like a mini free-fall!
It was about 4:40 and it was time for a little R&R, showers and thoughts of dinner and a relaxing evening.
The evening was spent driving around – far from O’Wich – looking for a restaurant called Barrel House. Take 16 to 82 – turn right. Drive 2 or 3 miles. It’s on the right. No city name – it’s in the country. Never found it. (Once back at home I found we turned around about 1 mile too soon – maybe next time!) We settled on a place we passed three times. Dinner was actually pretty good and then we drove 40 minutes back to O’Wich. Another full day!

May 9, 2008

We got up just in time for the couch delivery. The drivers were here and gone by 9:05. We gift wrapped the old couch and put in on the deck – Tom wants it. Carlo ran to town for parts for the sliding patio door screen and to the lumber yard for wood to repair the outhouse stairs and deck. While he was gone, I cleaned, made the beds and organized. The rest of the day we did some small odd jobs – fixed the screen door lock, hung the rods and mirror in the bathroom, hung the quilt in the bedroom,
brought in firewood and got ready for visitors! Rick and Katie are coming for the weekend and yes…to help us with some chores! Can’t visit O’Wich without doing some work.
Rick and Katie arrived around 8:00 and we ordered from Tamarack. After dinner we played the Game of Life. Rick won. Katie went bankrupt and Carlo bought two yachts and made several donations to an orphanage – all the while his two pink peg kids were on the side of the road – due to stepping back 15 spaces - twice!

May 8, 2008

The sky was a beautiful shade of blue in the morning. We attempted a visit to the Farmers Market, but nothing was going on. So we went to the Levee Restaurant and found out the market starts in the afternoon – sometime between 2 and 4. We decided to find the furniture store and walked 2 blocks from where the market would be. Of course, we were “just looking!” We found a 78” brown sofa. It is being delivered on Friday! Good thing we were just looking! It’s shorter so we’ll gain some valuable floor space. Hopefully Paul and Betty still want a sofa bed; otherwise, into the fire it goes!
Once we were back, it was time for more work. Carlo trimmed out the bedroom door and I made an electrical box to hold the fixture for the bathroom.
We got finished, cleaned up, showed Paul the couch and went to Culvers. After we ate we hit Pierce’s for some weekend edibles and Wal-Mart for a couple of odds and ends.

May 7, 2008

Day of Rest! Or is it?
Carlo installed the bedroom ceiling fan before we left for the day. It looks incredible! I can’t believe I forgot to take of photo of it, but it’s the same fan as we hung in the living room. We went to the Thrift Shop. Nothing for us, but I wanted to check it out. We met Garry and Bernie and had pizza at the Redneck Saloon. Looks like they’re up for the plumbing job! We drove to the Dells to exchange the towel bar for a shorter one. Didn’t do much else except to keep an on the tractor, the birds, the water and the ducks that were swimming at the easement and of course took it easy!

May 6, 2008

We set up our work station for working on the ceiling. By noon it was done and we were having lunch. The river was rising and since the weather was so nice, we could only assume that the dam was opened. There is more water in the center of the property than there was on Friday when we got here. Carlo waded through a$$ deep water to tether the tractor to a tree – just in case! We drove down to the neighbors cabin and found that his property is very low and about 25 feet of his shore was under water, which is why it was coming back toward us. We did get excited to find our flower box – tree trunk and butterfly! How they managed to float through the trees and all stay together is remarkable. Now we need to keep an eye on the water in case we need to evacuate. We parked the truck at the edge of the drive, picked up some floatable things and went back to finish working on the wall. Some cuts were a bit off but that’s why they invented trim! All in all it was a good day. By 7:30 we were on our way to dinner. Now we’re just hoping the tractor doesn’t float away.

May 5, 2008

The day started off with lots of birds chirping, cool air and sunshine! We went to the dump. 750# and $21.09 later it was great to be rid of more junk. We found lots of stuff to dispose of since the flood washed away some of the land. Things we couldn’t budge in the past were easily picked up and moved – and I’m talking about concrete! We ate breakfast at the Levee Restaurant on the way back. It’s a local place, not much on atmosphere (although they did spruce it up some since we were there last year) but 110% on personality. Everyone is friendly and you feel right at home and the food is delicious!
Carlo sealed some cracks in the cinder blocks when we got back and I hung the patio door valance that I made. Looks great with the new vanes and it matches the other valances that still need to be re-hung. Since it’s Monday, General Hospital is on and at 2:00 I found time to watch it as Carlo tooled around on the tractor. He drove around until the mower died – and in true Chris Farley satire – it was “down by the river”. It will be spending the night there! Carlo came back and although there were more glitches, he was able to install the light over the sink. It matches the light over the table and looks great. It replaces the white, ugly spotlights! Hopefully, his taping the wires that were up there will keep the electric from shorting out! We ate a little dinner, watched some TV and called it a night.

May 4, 2008

Once we got moving, Carlo set off to get gravel for the mud ruts that have formed in the driveway. I entered – the place I hate – the crawl space! Although it took over five hours, we are pretty much done working ~ outside ~ for the day. We poured 30 bags of gravel in the drive; barely made a dent but the deep ruts are filled in. The tree bench and many other burnables were set on fire and while Carlo managed the fire, I cleaned up under the cabin. We also cleared a lot of branches from the yard to add to the fire. We moved about 20+ cinder blocks that were in the crawl space. With all that finished we will be visiting the dump tomorrow morning. Carlo has to fix the lawn mower and all we have left for today is the window treatment project. Here’s where I thought the black cloud was lurking but was pleasantly surprised that is was a great day. We worked for 12 hours – we divided and conquered. Under the cabin is clean, stuff is ready for the dump, the big stuff was burned, the tractor is fixed. We cleaned up the front of the cabin. The blinds were hung; the valances and window shelves were hung (and, of course, there were a few glitches which we overcame). Exactly 12 hours after Carlo left for the gravel, we were showered and heading off to Tamarack for dinner. We were starved. Killed off an appetizer and a pizza and we were back home at 9:30 - pain pills consumed and asleep by 10:00!

May 3, 2008

The Curse of the Cabin!
Seems a black cloud is hovering. The valances I made at home turned out great, but there’s a chance they may not fit without becoming a “retro-install”. The knobs for the bathroom vanity need washers because the screws are too long and one of them is stripped. The mirror should be okay, but looks like there may be a problem with the fixture. Not really the fixture, but the wall. There is no place to insert the electrical box because behind the drywall is the inside of the logs. Time to invent another “retro something or other”. Carlo got zapped taking down the light fixture over the kitchen sink – although the power was off. Of course the new light won’t fit and once again, we need a “retro- fit”! We measured for blinds – hopefully this will not become a challenge. The water seems to be getting closer to the house from the easement. I hope this is an optical illusion.
We took a trip to Papa Bear Mama Moose in a search for new rods for the living room. No luck. But we did buy a towel ring and towel bar for the bathroom. We also went to Menards. We bought new patio door vanes, the blinds for the bedroom and a shelf for over the toilet. On the way back we drove into Portage to visit Rodgers. It’s a rustic décor store. I bought a robe hook for the bathroom and an outhouse door sign. The sign is 4” x 9” and I hung it on the outside of the bathroom door. As the curse continues, we attempt to hang the little shelf over the toilet. We measured and marked and measured again, just to be sure. Carlo drills the pilot hole to see if anchors are needed. Nope – don’t need ‘em. The drill hit the duct for the loft…can’t use the shelf!
While Carlo is pondering the electrical issues, I, for the first time, am not happy to be at O’Wich. Nothing has gone right and now I have to spend Monday under the house, cleaning the crawl space. I hate being under there!

May 2, 2008

We drove up in downpours. At times you couldn’t see! There were few minutes that were without rain. My barn is still standing – but the silo is gone. Maybe the barn isn’t as crooked as it looks – yeah, right! As we approached our exit there was a lot of water damage around us. The worse being a barn that was under water. All you could see was the top part with the window. Wish I had taken a picture of that. The first view of the river was the highest we’ve ever seen. We cross the river twice, with the way it and the road curves – so we were anxious to cross again. It was high, but not nearly as bad as we thought.
We got to the sandy road and were surprised to see it not as bad as the time when the clumps of ice melted. We gingerly made our way down, not knowing how deep some of the massive puddles were. We had a huge mud slick at the mouth of our driveway but Carlo got us through. Then it was time to inventory the flood damage; water receded – however it looks like we have a pond at the easement – low ground. We cleared the stairs. Our neighbors had picked up things they thought would float away. The trees are dark at the base – maybe 2 feet of water came through. Carlo opened up the crawl space doors – “Oh, my gosh!” Nearly everything was moved. The shop-vac was on its side, full of water…along with buckets and stools. Boxes were soaked, bags had water in them and the ramp floated off to the side! Yep! We flooded! Not sure if the water came through the walls, up from the ground or through the door; probably all points of entry were affected. The water was gone, but the mess was left behind. Cleaning the space has been added to the “To Do” list. Now wait just one minute – we have a ramp on the inside AND the outside of the crawl space….where’s the one that goes outside???? Oh, there it is…down the driveway and across the road, along with our bedding timbers and most of the landscape logs along with wood from the wood crib. Glad we weren’t here for the flood, but I would’ve loved to have seen these things floating around.
So now is the time I get the bright idea for us to walk down to the river and see what’s going on down there. The ground is saturated with water, muddy and sandy…so sinking as you walk is a certainty. We get about half way there – to the easement – and have to cross water that is pretty deep...it appears to be a “pond” or “moat” or “ravine” or “tributary” (call it what you like) – but there is a lot of water! I attempt to cross but am missing something (or someone) to hold on to and as most people know, I was fired from the carnival due to lack of agility! Carlo tight roped across on a fallen timber – impressive! Before he crossed, he made me promise to cross as well. I made the promise. Crunching, bouncing tree limbs and branches are under my feet. I decide that I really can’t. He reminds me of the promise…I try again…more crunching and bouncing limbs and oh yeah, lots of screaming and shaking knees. But guess what? I made it!!! The ground is still soft and mushy and I am sinking with every step. Finally…firmer ground and we are almost to the river. Our park is in total disarray. The benches are turned at angles, however still tethered (although barely) to the weed cloth, the fallen tree to which we put our flower box on is gone – the flower box is gone and the butterfly that was attached to the limb is gone too. Most of the solar lights are gone and the ones that are there are broken and filled with water and the river is barely two feet below the ground is moving quite fast. I am so glad our benches were still there! Time to walk back. Now we’re realizing why there is so much debris amidst the trees. It must be from previous floods. We make it back to the (insert your choice of water definitions here) ________ and Carlo adds another fallen limb to make the cross over easier. The problem is the trees are soaked full of water and there are very pliable. But once again, he makes is over. No promises needed from me this time…I have no choice – I start screaming and crossing and my feet are getting a little wet. I make it over and here’s where the story ends with two different versions.
Version 1: Once I was over, I high stepped it (as walking on deep snow) and BAM! Down I went! Carlo helped me up.
Version 2: Once I was almost over, boots full of water, I got tangled in the wet branches on the soft ground and Carlo let me fall! Carlo helped me up.
I was soaked up to my right thigh, luckily only that leg got wet and both feet and there was 6 or 8 inches of water. Of course there were lots of tears and laughter. One of us laughed right away – the other laughed a bit later.
“I can’t believe you let me fall!”
We continued walking back, noting that the contents of the fire pit were on the outside of the pit and that our garbage can was missing. I walked down the road and grabbed the landscape timbers and put them back around the flower beds.
Once inside, we found that part of the electricity wasn’t working – again! Carlo took apart the circuit breaker panel and hopes it’s just a faulty breaker. Add this to the “To Do” list! We unloaded the truck, put the newly half-way refinished three drawer chest in the bathroom, changed our “pond” soaked clothes and headed out to dinner and grocery shopping. Stopped at Portage Lumber to pick up the electrical stuff. Carlo cancelled our fireplace stone excursion with Jerry and this finished up our first day of vacation!