Getting Ready for Pouring Cement - Forty Yards of Cement will start arriving Wednesday morning Click title to see 1 more pictures We have spent several days preparing for the big pour of 40 yards of cement for the footings of the Earth Shelter House walls, the post footings and a much smaller footing for a decorative wall that will be built along the front of the property. Since it is just footings, we have decided not to employ a cement team to finish this pr

More Snow in North West Arkansas - This neither normal for the Ozarks nor is it RIGHT!! It has not stopped yet.  The warm weather gave us hop but we awoke this morning at our normal 6:00 AM to a dusting of show on the ground. Currently it is 10:00 AM and it is still falling.  KSPR Weather promises that is should stop soon, though!

WOW, What a week in Vancouver - At it is not even at the mid point!! Click title to see 1 more pictures I have followed the Olympics for years but this past few days have been the most exciting I can remember in a long time. Jennifer has always followed the figure skating religiously, but the competition between the USA and Russian Federation was incredible!  Even though Lysacek won the highly deserved Gold Medal, Pl

Arkansas Snow, January 28, 2010 - One foot of snow, no school, snow forts, good times! Click title to see 8 more pictures Thursday, January 28, 2010 was the one year anniversary of the great 2009 ice storm and we were once again in for a big'un'. Val, at the age of 14, drives himself and Adam to and from the bus stop every day.  It is only a mile and it is good level road.   After school as he drove

Video of the footings - It is slow and hard work Click title to see 1 more pictures Today we dug for a couple hours and did not get far.  We keep running in to veins of very hard rock.  This slows my progress a lot! I drive the back hoe, Val takes the removed dirt with Onslo, the smaller tractor.  To keep things cleaner, I dump the back hoe right into the front end loader on the other t

2009 Ice Storm hits North West Arkansas with a VENGENCE!! - We survived the big ice storm of 2009 with our brand new generator! Click title to see 14 more pictures This ice was up to 1 1/2 inches thick. 5 Trees fell on our cabin and countless others everywhere else! The Thaw started Friday with bright sun and a 37 degree high. Ahhhhh... This is one of the largest branches that fell on the cabin... really shook us up a bit. No damage to the roof, but a

PTO Generator installation complete - Now we can be off grid when the power goes down. Click title to see 3 more pictures In preparation for the inevitable power outage we will eventually have, we invested in a PTO generator for the property.  It is a generator that hooks to the back of the tractor.  When researching generators, we discovered that we could easily spend $10,000 on a generator big enough to keep us running if needed. With a little researc

Breaking ground on the Earth Shelter House - It is official.. there is a hole!! Click title to see 5 more pictures Well, we have finally broken ground on the earth shelter house.  The hole grows every time I go out there to dig. Ultimately, we are digging into the side of the hill and area that is 62 feet deep and 88 feet wide.  About 1/3 of that is actually lower than we are digging.  We will be leveling the whole area. Once level

More Pine from Ike Storm Damage! Sargent's Ranch is the property of one of our neighbors.. 1100 acres of beautiful country side. We went to get a large pine that probably has enough wood to finish the garage. The usable trunk is 54 feet long and 22 inches at the bottom. I cut it into three 18 foot lengths. These pieces were all too big for my tractor

Roller Skating in Eureka Springs Arkansas at the ESkate - Adam made his birthday request to go skating. Click title to see 2 more pictures A while back, Adam went with his school to The ESkate in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.  He enjoyed it so much, he asked that he could go back for his birthday.  Saturday, we went and rolled around for about 3 hours... after a couple hours of trying, Val pretty much got the hang of it.  Adam did good, too. As a youngster, I enjoyed skatin

Hurricane Ike Damage in Northwest Arkansas - 800 miles form the coast, Hurricane Ike left hundreds of trees down and thousands without power. Click title to see 4 more pictures it was an incredible site to return to our home where trees had been destroyed left and right.  I was asked to clear road 7 and 8 through the Madison County Wildlife Management area of some fallen trees.  I was excited to be a help! I loaded up the trailer and headed out on my Kubota L3400 tractor ready to work. In all

Log mill work on the Bailey Bear Ridge building project - Old world `fun` is really hard work. Click title to see 2 more pictures After a break of a few months on the log mill to finish the cabin, it was great to get back to the mill and cut at least a few more trees! The supply of logs to mill seems endless and takes quite a bit of work.  Everyone pitches in at one time or another.

More Cabin Progress Photos - Officially it is done, but there are still little things that need to get worked on here and there... Click title to see 3 more pictures Here are more photos of the cabinets I designed.  Much of the wood is milled here on property.  I am getting the hang of using the Timber King log mill we purchased this past summer. Here you can see the boys shelves that they use as a dresser, the cabinet that Jen and I use in the bathroom for storage and laundry and the overhead ca

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Barnes and Noble; Harry Potter NEW Release party July 20 and 21, 2007 Click title to see 9 more pictures The final book of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released at midnight, the night of July 20, 2007.  Barnes and Nobles around the country held a party to celebrate this release. The festivities began at 8:00 in Corpus Christi, Texas with people in costume, contests, face painting and more. There were over a thous

Adam Becomes a Paleoantologist - With a little help from Disney With his own money, Adam purchased a project during our visit to Animal Kingdom.  In the gift store, he found this hunk of rock.  Along with it comes a hammer and chisel designed for clearing the rock away to reveal the dinosaur hidden in the middle. He patiently carried the rock from Florida all the way to Barcel

The Arkansas Cabin has framed walls and running water! Click title to see 1 more pictures On July 3, the boys and I went to our Arkansas property to work on the plumbing.  We met the people that put in the well pump the previous Friday. They installed a 2 horsepower pump 600 feet down our 972 foot well. The first bit of water tasted like PVC, but before we left, it started to get better.  It is good water a

Even George loved the place Our Cocker Spaniel George loved the place.  It was his first trip longer than 3 hours.  This is, of course, 12 hours. Once he got out of the car, he did not stop going for 2 1/2 days.  His little nub of a tail wagged as fast as it could and he sniffed every tree and leaf he could find. On

Finally a picture of the inside Long awaited is this photo of the inside of the cabin.  Here you can see the ceiling, the beams and even a bit of the walls and floor. This is a composite of several individual shots.  That is why it is in such an odd shape.  I did not get all the images to fill in the whole area, but you get the idea.

The roof is UP!! - Few more days of work decks the rest of the roof Click title to see 11 more pictures I went up just after Thanksgiving and finished the roof decking. I put up scaffolding to stand on then framed and decked the rest of the roof. West Kistler helped out a couple days and did the high climbing that I did not feel comfortable with.

Eleven Days of Building - 4 of 4 Click title to see 1 more pictures All in all, we were able to get the cabin dried in.  Although the metal roof is there, it is not installed.  Tarpaper and Plastic top it all off. I am VERY pleased with the look of the refters, though.

Eleven Days of Building - 1 of 4 Click title to see 7 more pictures We went up to Arkansas for 11 days to build the cabin... Well at least dry it in. Dan, Donna and Family came and helped for the first two days.  We got the rest of the outside walls framed!! Among other things: - Jennifer, Donna and kids picked up more wood - Dan, Tim and I chopped down

Eleven Days of Building - 2 of 4 Click title to see 1 more pictures After a day on my own, Wayn and Judy, Jennifers parents, came up and helped.  Wayne, a far better builder than I, wore me out. In one day, he had all the outside plywood up and helped me decided what to do for rafters and siding for now. We determined that the 2 x 6 rafters from Grandma Kendricks house would

Eleven Days of Building - 3 of 4 Click title to see 13 more pictures After all the help, I slowed down and paced myself for the long haul. Dan made a comment that the first day was fund and the second was like work. Well, the next nine days bordered on torture. Jennifer helped by assembling the rafters and helping to lift them into place. Keep in mind that

Three walls are up!! After the post went up, the boys and I put up three of the eight outside walls.   This is really getting exciting!!

Putting up the Tree in Arkansas - Block and tackle marvel! Click title to see 10 more pictures Raising the center post for the cabin is an event that has weighed heavy on my mind for many months.  I put a lot of thought into the process and this is what I cam up with.  Two Block and tackles lifted the post into place.  The only probem is that I should have tied a rope to the end to keep it from going too far.&nb

How to put a Round Log in a Square Hole - With a chainsaw!!! Click title to see 4 more pictures David and West went out to the property and used chainsaws to cut the bottom 37 inches of the big center log to fit down into the hole in the middle of the floor.  The resulting square peg is 7 1/2 inches square. We used leveled 2 x 4s as a guide for the chain saw.  It did not have to be perfect, just enough to ho

The floor is framed and decked!! Click title to see 3 more pictures Two days of work and helo from Jen, then boys and West, we managed to get the floor completely framed and half decked (could not afford to finish it) and covered with plastic.?? I also managed to pull the HUGE log up on top of the framing and inder the plastic to dry it in the next several months. By-the-way, the photo

The Hub for the Floor Framing - Solid hunk-a-wood!! Click title to see 1 more pictures I designed this 'hub' to be the center of the spokes that are used in the framing for the floor.��This will sit on top of the center footing. This is what the tree/center post of the cabin will sit on top of.��The weight will rest on this with a square 'peg' that will hold it in place down the center of the floor and footing.

Putting in the Footings and Foundations - 2 days of VERY HARD WORK!! Click title to see 4 more pictures On Saturday, I began to install the foundation of the cabin.��Befor I could start, I had to move the huge log that would one day become the central support of the whole cabin.��I used the Explorer and a Block and Tackle to get it across the property. I set the footings and prepared to get the bricks in place.��After dark,

THE BIG ONE!! - The center footing Click title to see 8 more pictures Originally, I designed the center preformed footing at a weight of nearly 500 pounds!!��That was way too much if I was planning to place it by hand, even with the help of several friends and neighbors that certainly are not willing to throw out their backs. I had an epiphany!! Make the footing with honeycombs that

Arkansas Cabin Ground Breaking - The first days of REAL work - Part 1 of 3 Click title to see 6 more pictures On October 9, 2004, we officially broke ground on the new cabin in Arkansas.��This is a moment we have been looking forward to! We started by getting a rough idea of where the structure would sit.��I taught the boys what little I know about placement (30 seconds) of a structure, then we used a rope with measured knots in it t

Arkansas Cabin Ground Breaking - The first days of REAL work - Part 2 of 3 Click title to see 3 more pictures From that point we measured and dug holes where all the footings would need to be placed. The ground is high in shone, so I had to break the ground up with a pick to dig anywhere. The cabin is an 8 sided structure.��My main goal was to determine where each footing was to be set and if my measurements were acurate and straight acc

Arkansas Cabin Ground Breaking - The first days of REAL work - Part 3 of 3 Click title to see 3 more pictures Here the boys are standing next to the "Back Door Tree".��It is aboud the same size as the tree that we cut for the first cabin.��It is called this because it stands at the precise location of the back door of the berm house that I would like to build here next. You can see the p

8 Small 120 Pound Cabin Footings - One by one Click title to see 2 more pictures The process of making footings is done at our home in Port A.��I made a wood box that we installed rebar and poured cement.��After it hardened, it is removed and we do it again. The top of the block is large enough to hold a 8x16 cement block. The cement is left for 24 hours then removed to make room for the next one.

Cub Scout Space Derby - An exciting evening for all!! Click title to see 4 more pictures We attended the Cub Scout Space Derby in Port Aransas. David Build the track and the boys raced their rockets. Adam did well and Val WON the Fastest of the Fastest!!! David Says, 'I would do that again any day!!'

Going to Sea - Newly Constructed Oil Rig from the McDermott Yard Click title to see 1 more pictures We have been watching this rig being built outside Port Aransas for a long time.  Today, it launched.

Val Plays Soccer - Home and Away Games Click title to see 8 more pictures Val displays excellent foot work and puts his all into every game.  He frequently plays key locations on the field and you always know he will be near the ball, no matter where it is on the field.

Cub Scouts - Pack Meeting Click title to see 9 more pictures Val and his Bears hosted the second meeting of the whole Pack.   They demonstrated the correct way to fold the flag.   There were plenty of awards, then Val closed the meeting with a prayer.

Six days Later - After the Cold Front Click title to see 2 more pictures Wee Had more storms that caused flooding.  It was much like October of 2002, but the water was not as high. I did get smart this year and put the front wheels of my car up on blocks before the water got into the engine again. Our neighbor also took out the kayak instead of the car to go to work...  That

One Hurricane... - Two Tropical storms... Click title to see 8 more pictures and the seasons first cold fron takes us out. On September 12 at 4:12 AM we experienced strait line winds in excess of 86 miles per hour... that is fast and a serious Category One hurricane if it had come the right direction, but NNooooooo, it had to come from the north.   We watched the winds destroy parts of

Cub Scouts - First Pack Meeting Click title to see 6 more pictures Adam and Val both are in Scouts.  It is a big event in Port Aransas.   Jennifer is the leader for the Tigger Cubs, Adams Den.

Building a beach - Port Aransas maintenance The Beaches in Port aransas are a combination of cleaning, scraping and building back up.  Between the tourists, the storms and every other influence on our beaches, we try very hard to keep the treasure we have.  Not only that, we are the FIRST line of defense against tidal surge in case of a big Tropical Storm.

Flying over Port Aransas - The birth of the Port A Photo Gallery Click title to see 2 more pictures I had the oportunity to photo the city from the air.  It was great.  I shot photos from Jim Atkins Bi-plane.  It was Great.  See more photos from his plane and buy some of them. Buy Aerial Photos around Port Aransas

A Storm is Brewing - In our front yard This storm cloud was brewing above our house.  Looking accross the water, we often see striking cloud bank before a hard storm.

Hurricane Claudette - Near Miss, but Prepared Click title to see 11 more pictures On July 15th, Hurricane Claudette was predicted to hit directly over Port Aransas.  The path was later altered to pass north of us, and it did.   However, much of the town was prepared for the storm and we did loose our beaches for the day it passed a mere 60 miles from us.   Ultimately, the only thing that happened he

Cub Scouts - Val's Award Ceremony Click title to see 1 more pictures Val received the most awards the night he became a Wolf Cub.  He has workd hard this year with Jennifer's help, achieving more than ever.

Christmas - Home Decor Click title to see 20 more pictures Jennifer loves to decorate for Christmas.  She tries to do something to every room in the house. This year she bribed me to put lights on the roof of the house by buying a nice extension ladder.  It took me three tries to get to the top, but I managed to get all the lights up. Of course, Adam and Va

Christmas - Chamber of Commerce The local Chamber of Commerce asked several businesses to create a Christmas ornament to hang on the Chamber tree. This one was created with a circuit board and had a boat, tree and sled mounted on it. The chips are painted like gifts.

Christmas - Gift to ourselves We received a large gift of cash for Christmas and bought ourselves this new refrigerator. It is one with the drawer in the bottom that is the freezer. We both strongly recommend that you consider one of these for your next refrigerator

Flooding in Port Aransas - A wet day in town... and David's office Click title to see 3 more pictures In October of 2002, Port Aransas received more rain in six weeks than we do in most years. Two memorable weeks left us under more water than I had ever seen in Port A. During the deluge, my garage office went under water twice. I was forced to move into a small office in the bedroom behind the kitchen until we can create a new space

Race car - Hobby Click title to see 1 more pictures One of my customers gave me this remote control fuel powered car in payment for services one day. It didn't work. I spent all night cleaning the engine. I got it running and after 3 days of playing with it, the clutch shattered into a thousand pieces.

Public Speaking - CAUG David was invited to speak to the Coastal Area Users Group about Windows XP.

Port A ISD - Val's Award Ceremony Click title to see 1 more pictures Val was consistantly on the A-B honor roll every semester. He was also the first student to win a special nurses award for completely remembering to get his medicine EVERY SINGLE DAY WITHOUT EVER BEING REMINDED. He does so well about remembering to do his daily routine.

Adams Graduation - Graduation from Pre-K Click title to see 1 more pictures Adam graduated from Pre-Kindergarten today. He was so excited to wear the graduation gown and everything. They had a formal ceremony. His teacher, Mrs Brennan will be his teacher next year also because she will be moving up a level also.

Val's Luau - End of 1rst grade Click title to see 4 more pictures Val's first grade class celebrated the end of the school year with a luau. His teacher, Mrs Large, was a fun teacher. She is the one here in the coconuts. Val does very well in school and loves going. B. was with us then and joined in the limbo dance. Also pictured here are two of Vals good friends Set

Cub Scouts - Vals first Camp out Val went on a camp out at a local camp site. It was hosted by the boy scouts. David went along also.

Val's Birthday - Party at Grandma and Grandpa's Click title to see 1 more pictures Val celebrated his 7th birthday this month. He had a party at Fun Trackers with all his friends. During the week he had another party at Jen's parents.

Easter 2002 - Adam and Val Click title to see 2 more pictures We celebrated Easter at Grandma and Grandpa's home. The boys got 2 easter baskets and grandpa put on an easter egg hunt in the back yard. That's Val in the blue shirt and Adam his younger brother.

Val's Friends - Sleep over Click title to see 2 more pictures Val invited several of his friends over for an overnight party in the Spring of 2002. We watched the new Spiderman movie and played games and with every toy in the house. There was also plenty of computer time to be had.

Kayaking - West Kistler took us all out on the water Click title to see 3 more pictures West and Toni Kistler used to own the Sea and Sand Cottages here in Port Aransas and have since moved to Arkansas. They now own Kings River Retreat. Before they moved, West took David, Val, Adam and B. on a kayak trip in the channel behind the island. Brittany did very well as Vals kayak mate. Adam rode (or rowed) wi

Easter - Adam and Val Click title to see 2 more pictures Adam and Val Celebrate Easter at Grandma and Grandpa's home.  They got two easter baskets.  Way too much candy.

Christmas - Home Decore Click title to see 3 more pictures Jennifer loves to decorate for Christmas.  We didn't get as much up as we would like, but our collection will have to grow over the next several years.  For now, we will make do with what we have. Regardless of the amount, Jennifer has always decorated the house beautifully.  As much as I belly ache about the work, the holidays are j

Rocket Launch - Des Moines Click title to see 1 more pictures The day after Thanksgiving, several of us went out and launched a rocket that Tim had made. I shot the action picture here with a Kodak DC215.  Captureing the take-off in mid launch was purely by accident.

Holloween - T-rex and Batman Click title to see 2 more pictures Our home was visited by a vicious t-rex and batman this holloween. Grandma let them choose their costumes and ordered them especially for them.

Hurricane Evac - Brett Cometh Click title to see 4 more pictures On September 22, 1999 we evacuated from Mustang Island to get out of the possible path of Brett.   We went to San Antonio.  It took 12 hours to go 130 miles. We spent one night and returned as Brett landed on the King Ranch in South Texas.

Wedding Bells - Jennifer and David get Married in Bloomington, Illinois Click title to see 3 more pictures We were married in Bloomington, Illinois by my father who was a minister. We rented a room in this turn of the century ball room.  It over-looks a pond and the rest of the park that we also got engaged in. I asked Jennifer to marry me in the monument at the bottom of this page.

The Price of Gas - It cost an Arm and a Leg In response to the rising prices of Gas a Maryland Gas Station Posted some interesting Prices. This was broadcas on KRIS TV, Channel 6 in Corpus Christi, Texas March 22, 2005. Click on one of the links below to see the 25 second video clip: Windows Media Player (High Qu

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