Visitors, roofing, and important safety tips

Quite a few friends and family members have visited recently and even more are planning to stop by in the coming weeks. Erin and Jeff came up for an overnight visit the first weekend in May.

Jamie surprised Ashley by coming down after church to spend Mother's Day with her mom.  Cullen and Todd also drove all the way down to spend time with family.

It is always a treat to watch the grandchildren interact with their uncles.  

This weekend Mike and Nelwyn Walker joined us for church in the Corsicana Branch and then spent the rest of Sunday and Memorial Day with us.

We loved the conversation, the wonderful spring weather, and making plans to attend each of the four temples in Texas.  We also appreciate their help cleaning up around the house.  It is hard to tell from this photo, given the size of the scrap wood pile, but we four made quite a dent in the mess.  We removed all the plastic, Hardie boards, and metal from among the lumber waste and stacked some of the reusable boards for later use.

The day after the painters finished staining the cedar trim and painting the Hardie shingles and facia boards, the roofers began installing the metal roof.  The roofing panels had been sitting in unopened crates on the property for several weeks.  They will install it in phases working around the stone masons and bricklayers.

We were surprised to find the roofing contractor's crew working on Sunday and again today on a federal holiday.  We would rather they spend time with their families instead of working so hard on our house.  But they said they work whenever they can because the weather is likely to become wet or hot at any time.

This photo shows how well the roof and painted trim match.  Shortly after taking the photo I noticed they were both very close to the color of my Jeep roof.  I didn't plan to coordinate my house with my automobile, but I suppose when you find a color that suits you, you stick with it.

The white (grey) metal trim along the edges of the gables will eventually be covered with a piece of charcoal trim which will match the roof.  

And finally, I'd like to pass along a safety tip.  I have been installing some of the low voltage wiring in our house which will be used to transmit internet and television signal throughout the house.  Occasionally I've been able to use some of my power tools.  Oh, how I love using power tools.

Sawing down a tree with a chainsaw, or drilling through a wall header (in this case), is thrilling.  It really is.  There is such a sense of accomplishment when someone like me who is so far outside his element can complete a task with his own hands.

As I was selecting photos for this blog post I ran across this one Brenda snapped of me stand atop a six foot tall step ladder in order to drill a hole through a board which was about ten feet up a twelve foot tall wall.  I don't remember doing this, but the photo is undeniable.  Please, please do not try this at home.  Leave this dangerous feat to the trained professionals.