How to build a Home

As many of you know Marty and I have been building a home. From the ground up! Yes we have has assistance, we did have a crew come in and put in the footing and the shell, but have done the rest ourselves. We hope that when the house is completed we will owe nothing on it. It may take us a few months, okay a few Years to complete, but we will have no mortgage.

This has been a learning experience for both of us. I have learned more than I ever wanted to learn about electrical wiring and insulation. Marty has learned that I swing a mean hammer, and that I really dislike painting. There have been times of great frustration for both of us, but those times have been few and the good times working together far outshine the frustration. Now if I can just get Marty to paint a wall white I will be happy.

In July we had the pleasure of hosting a construction weekend. Sarah, Damon, Kyle, Carol, Allen and Bronson came to visit and assisted us greatly in getting the attic access installed and the ceilings done in most of the house. For added security and insulation we are putting plywood on the ceilings followed by ceiling tiles. This will give us better insulating plus give a more secure attic insulation area. It was difficult for the two of us to hold the 4’ x 8’ panels up and staple them. Allen, Damon, Carol and Kyle did a WONDERFUL job for us. While they were working on the panels Sarah and I were putting in the channels above the eaves for circulation. Kyle was a great help keeping everyone supplied with water and Gatorade and fetching needed items. Marty was a great motivator, he threaten us with his crutches and made faces behind Sarah’s back when she would tell him to SIT DOWN and PUT YOUR FOOT UP!

Of course it was not all work, we did have some fun on the 4-wheeler and with the Wii and ate BBQ ribs and venison chili!! I must also shout a Thank You to Van for the use of his shower facility at the barn. With only one bathroom in the old house, we sure needed the extra facilities to get cleaned up. July in Mississippi can get humid and hot and mix in a little sawdust and you have need of a shower.

Marty and I cannot thank these guys enough for their help.
Help like this means the difference between House construction and Home construction.