We had a crew of Navy guys show up again today, which was a shame because most of the day's activities were going to center around painting the interior. We had a good half ton of muscle around and no load for them to lift. Figures.

"The walls. They're not all white. Make them white." Well if anybody knows how to paint stuff, the military guys do. ("If it moves, salute it. If it doesn't move, paint it. If it doesn't move and you can't paint it, throw it away.")

Let's mix us some paint.

Painting is hard work too, at least that's what I'm telling these guys. Seriously, nobody gets off easy on the worksite, even me. These guys had done a ton of work and well deserved their lunch break. ALL of us do. I say it in jest many times, but in reality there are NO slackers on the worksite. It makes sense. It's a volunteer organization...why would you come here if you didn't want to work?

The corner of the house near the circuit breaker box hadn't even been drywalled yet, because (by code) it needed to be constructed of all fire-resistant materials. Mike set myself and the other young man (okay I caught his name this time but forgot it) on the task. This is the section where we'll have to install concrete-based backer board rather than plain old drywall.

Installation of fire-resistant materials isn't much different from regular materials, except the materials are tougher and harder to work with. Drywall is made of gypsum; it's like dried but unfired clay, and can be easily cut with any knife; fire-resistant drywall is actually made of concrete and can only be cut with a specially hardened blade.

The bathroom vent had just arrived, and was installed but not connected to the ductwork yet. Mike sent me into the attic to take care of that. If the vent fan doesn't exhaust outside, there's no point in installing a fan at all. We're trying to get all that damaging moisture OUT of the house, after all.

While I was up in the attic, I took the opportunity to take a picture of the recently installed furnace. There is some room on the platform for an air conditioning unit, which Rosemarie will have to install at her own expense later.

I can't think of a better way to wrap this all up than this picture. Scott is sanding the wall down so the paint will go on smoothly. I hope you take the opportunity that we all have to find out just how rewarding this all can be!

"From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life." -- Arthur Ashe

September 22, 2004: A frame rises from the rubble

September 28, 2004: Finishing the roof framing

October 5, 2004: Roof sheathing goes on

October 6, 2004: More finish framing

October 12, 2004: Framing the back porch

October 26, 2004: A slow, wet day

November 2, 2004: Bricks on the roof?

November 30, 2004: The walls get sticky

December 7, 2004: Plumbing and wiring the pump house

December 14, 2004: Paint goes on