MERRY CHRISTMAS - 2012!!!

We enjoyed a wonderful Christmas day with good friends.  Pictured are Dottie Anderson, Nita Barnes, me & Andy, Ken Barnes and Lew Anderson.  It is great to have such good friends.





Looking a little more like Christmas.....

Our stockings are hung - no fireplace this year, but next year we will have one!!!!



We have a large tree - all of 4 feet!  Sorry I can't figure out how to rotate it.

We have Santa and a smaller tree - this is the tree we travel with when we would be on the road this time of the year.

That's about all I plan on doing this year.  Maybe next year I will be more organized and get more stuff out and displayed ... or maybe not.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!!!



The Ramada - Final Inspection.....

Passed final inspection with flying colors!!!!  This is the end of this phase of construction.  Time to concentrate on Christmas.  We will pick back up with the remaining projects in February - time for a rest anyway!

Construction Project - Phase 3 Part 6 - The Ramada Electrical

Our "never ending" Construction Project continues.......

In an attempt to save a few dollars, we dug the trench for the Electrical Conduit ourselves - not sure it was worth what we saved...... digging is hard work even if it is in the sand!

The conduit runs from the NorthWest corner of the Ramada under the concrete at the front of the Coach and then down this trench to the main pedistal.

This wonderful Father/Son team of Electricians insisted on doing a work of art with the metal conduit in the Ramada.  Here the Son is cutting a length of the metal conduit.

Each piece of conduit had to be bent meticulously so that the finished installation would be perfect.  I think they have both done this a few times!

Here the Father is installing one of the more "curvy" pieces of conduit.  It goes up and around the corner of the post to connect with conduit running across the front of the Ramada.

Time to pull the wires thru the conduit on the Ramada.  There will be two ceiling fans and 4 electrical outlets plus two switches - one for the lights and one to activate the fan blades.

Feeding the wires down into the conduit to the main pedistal.

The wires coming up to the main pedistal.  This was a little tricker than they expected, but really no problem.  There was 4 - 90 degree turns and 2 - 45 degree turns underground! 

The fans being installed and at the same time the outlets being wired.

Since the code for underground electrical requires that the conduit be at least 12 inches below ground or under at least 2 inches of concrete - and we have one area where it was impossible to be deep enough underground, our contractor is mixing cement to cover the offending area.

After some ad-libbing at creating a frame for the concrete...



..... the concrete is dumped into the form.

Notice the fancy tools used to finish off the concrete!  It will be buried after all - and this guy is not a concrete contractor.  At least we are legal!  Now all we have to do is wait for the inspector to come out - hopefully we will pass the first time cause it would be a mess to have to re-do something at this point.

It's beginning to look a little like Christmas!

Since we have passed the final inspection on the Ramada - it is time to get some Christmas lights up!

The gates are lit up....takes a little bit of planning to be able to still open the gates with all the lights hooked up .... they both work!!!

We are in the Holiday spirit - still working on it all ... it's only November, but we are getting there!



Construction Project Phase Three Part Five - the Ramada

Finally, we passed the nailing and framing inspection - now it is time to apply the roofing material.

First step is to make sure the roof is free of all dirt, dust and foreign debris.

Second step is applying the felt underlayment.

Third step is attaching the metal flashing all around the edge of the roof.

The position of each rafter is marked, so that no nails will be seen from below.

Lastly, the rolled asphalt material is applied - both glued and nailed.  Hopefully it will stay stuck for a long time!

The glue is some kind of super sticky stuff.

The other edge of the roll is nailed.

Phase Three of our Construction is done.  We passed final inspection and now are in the planning stages for Phase Four!

Oh yes.... The walk-in gate has finally been completed!  Still waiting for the brick to be put back as it was, but we are happy that at least the gate is fixed.... guess these companies are so busy this time of the year it is "hurry up and wait"!!!!!



Construction Project Phase Three - Part Four - The Ramada

Even though we have not yet passed the framing and nailing inspection, today we are getting the semi-transparant stain applied.  First step is to cover anything close enough that might get overspray!



They covered most all of the concrete also.

Very carefully covered up!  These guys are professionals to be sure.

Some surfaces are rolled....

and some surfaces are sprayed....

Can't believe this guy is the professional!  We couldn't even stay outside because of all the paint spray in the air - and he doesn't even have a mask on!  Sure hope he has good health insurance.....





Welcome to part two of Keeping up with the Clarkson's!

After several years of writing the first part of Keeping up with the Clarkson's Blog - I have run out of space for any new photos!

So, I have created this Blog and hopefully can continue to document our life and times