tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-79526821881731494322024-03-08T00:38:50.398-08:00Frugal Farm RenovationJoin us as we add onto the Frugal Farmhouse to make room for our growing family. Watch us do the majority of the work ourselves. On a budget.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-63220479202910873712010-08-22T14:50:00.000-07:002010-08-22T15:28:01.738-07:00Big Progress WeekI didn't get a picture posted after we finished the grout of the backsplash tile. After it was dried and sealed, we installed the faucet. (you know that when I say "we", I mean Frugaldad, right?) We left the supply lines turned off since the drains weren't connected. Which was the right decision, because the first thing more than one child did when they noticed the faucet was turn it on!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4917201203/" title="grouted tile and new faucet by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4917201203_345ddff39b.jpg" alt="grouted tile and new faucet" height="281" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4917802972/" title="grouted tile by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4917802972_9cb7c7d8a1.jpg" alt="grouted tile" height="281" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Last weekend Frugaldad finished all the wood trim on corners of the island and the trim on the edges of the tile.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4917204531/" title="corner trim by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4917204531_59ebdf2cbe.jpg" alt="corner trim" height="500" width="281" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4917805836/" title="trim around tile by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4917805836_557222fd17.jpg" alt="trim around tile" height="281" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Look at all the layers in the island! We started with a 2x3 wall.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4917807374/" title="top of island by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4917807374_0bfbbcce9f.jpg" alt="top of island" height="281" width="500" /></a><br /><br />It looked like this at the beginning.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4366220520/" title="island framework by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2794/4366220520_c0f9b41a99.jpg" alt="island framework" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Then it got some drywall around the dishwasher bays and a cabinet in the middle. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4365270445/" title="new kitchen layout by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2690/4365270445_1fb699a2d1.jpg" alt="new kitchen layout" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Add some more cherry wood, the countertops and the sink. All that was left was the top of the wall.<br /><br />We always knew we wanted a substantial piece of wood to be the top of the back wall of the island, kind of like a mini-bar to belly up to. Frugaldad found a nice piece of 8/4 cherry at his hardwood supply place and spent several hours jointing and ripping and chopping and routing and hand-planing. And now we have this. (excuse the plugs that have not been trimmed off yet)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4917815860/" title="top of island by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4917815860_a0b09e4526.jpg" alt="top of island" height="281" width="500" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4917218415/" title="top of island by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4917218415_096797024b.jpg" alt="top of island" height="281" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Quite a transformation, wouldn't you say?<br /><br />In addition to finishing the island woodwork, he also finished all the electrical in the new kitchen. He ran a 220v wire for the stove and connected all the wires for the previously-run outlets and the dishwashers/disposal down at the panel in the basement. Look how neatly he has wired the panel.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4917814356/" title="inside of panel by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4917814356_6783c1b198.jpg" width="281" height="500" alt="inside of panel" /></a><br /><br />We finally decided not to buy a new garbage disposal for the new sink. The one we have works fine and we hardly ever use it. I don't put anything down the sink intentionally. All the food scraps and peelings go to compost or chickens. Only small crumbs and bits of food go down the drain and I only run the disposal when the drain starts getting a little slow. It takes about 3 seconds and things run fine again. I did put my foot down and demand a new rubber drain gasket thingy. (you know, the thing in the drain hole?) The one we had was dried out and yucky looking and for only a few dollars we replaced it. From the top, the disposal looks new. For a few dollars in pipes we re-plumbed the current sink without the disposal. When we start using the new kitchen and move the dishwasher over (and add the second one as well), we will just have to replace one tailpipe for another and both dishwashers will have a place to drain.<br /><br />What's next? We still haven't ordered the pot-filler faucet fixture for over the stove. When it comes, we'll install it and then finish the tile backsplash on the wall. Then the kitchen will be fully functional (we'll have to move the stove, dishwasher, and fridge from the old space) except for the lack of doors on the cabinets.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-86963239108012275632010-08-07T15:50:00.001-07:002010-08-07T15:52:35.866-07:00Island Backsplash<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4870209034/" title="glass tile backsplash by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/4870209034_5ea082bc11.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="glass tile backsplash" /></a><br /><br />This morning we installed a glass tile mosaic backsplash on the new kitchen island. It took me a long time to find the right tile, but I think I did well, don't you agree?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4870203768/" title="glass tile backsplash by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4870203768_a45158b0e8.jpg" width="281" height="500" alt="glass tile backsplash" /></a><br /><br />a close-up. it is glass tiles and natural stone. I haven't picked a grout color yet but the mortar still has to dry, anyway.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4870202816/" title="close-up of backsplash by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4870202816_c16ba80ced.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="close-up of backsplash" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-53797871320316515022010-07-10T14:11:00.000-07:002010-07-13T13:50:48.465-07:00more kitchen progress<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4781063216/" title="island back panels by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4781063216_5108387933.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="island back panels" /></a><br /><br />Frugaldad finished the back of the island this week. Well, it's not actually <span style="font-style:italic;">finished</span>, it needs to be wiped down with a tack cloth and rubbed with oil like the rest of the woodwork in the kitchen. We'll put a coat of polyurethane on everything when it's all done. The very top of the back of the island is going to get some pretty piece of wavy cherry or fiddleback maple or something equally interesting. <br /><br />The drawer fronts are all done and one of these days I will go pick out hardware.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4780429081/" title="all drawer fronts done by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4780429081_891a5c5bfb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="all drawer fronts done" /></a><br /><br />I did finally find a glass tile mosaic that I liked for the backsplash. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4780432141/" title="tile for the backsplash by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4780432141_953d43495b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="tile for the backsplash" /></a><br /><br />like I always say....slowly but surely...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-75401136107611793222010-06-25T12:47:00.000-07:002010-06-25T13:24:16.115-07:00some kitchen progressEvery weekend Frugaldad makes some progress on the new kitchen. Some weekends are more productive than others. Today we crossed a major milestone. We had <a href="http://www.silestoneusa.com/index/index.cfm?CFID=5456726&CFTOKEN=32145397">Silestone</a> countertops installed. We had pretty much decided on one of the quartz products (Silestone, Zodiac, or the like) for the countertops. Quartz countertops have all of the advantages of natural stone counters like granite, but none of the disadvantage. They never need sealed, won't absorb stains, and are much less prone to chips. I had had my eye on a certain color of Silestone at Home Depot but had never brought home a sample. One day we were in the store and noticed that the color was on sale for about 20% off, which is a great deal. I brought home about 4 more samples of the various quartz products to make sure that color was the one, and had the template guys come and today we got our new counters. They look fabulous.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4733260561/" title="countertops by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1250/4733260561_5531a63078.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="countertops" /></a><br /><br />The installers were very impressed with the cabinet construction, and told me to tell Frugaldad so. Most of the cabinets on the market today are flimsy and the guy said it was a pleasure to work with nice cabinets. They were also impressed with the layout of the kitchen and how much work space I will have. They were also glad there were no seams or backsplash (I want a glass tile backsplash), because it was their last job today. (and they were done by noon!) They also liked the new sink, which we ordered online and got a great deal on. It is huge, commercial-grade stainless steel. I can't wait to wash dishes in that thing!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4733262797/" title="the new sink by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1110/4733262797_258a1284f8.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="the new sink" /></a><br /><br />Before we had the countertops installed, we had to get the lazy susans into the corner cabinet. We ordered maple lazy susans online to set on each shelf. It was cheaper and I think it looks better than the "spin around on a pole" lazy susans that you can order from the home centers. Plus, since our cabinet is a custom size, the sizes available in the home-center special-order books weren't quite right for us. This picture shows the lazy susans holding what they will hold in the kitchen when it is done--baking supplies.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4733882600/" title="lazy susan in corner cupboard by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1163/4733882600_ccdd4ea2c7.jpg" width="500" height="281" alt="lazy susan in corner cupboard" /></a><br /><br />One more drawer, drawer fronts, and doors are next on the to-do list. We haven't bought a microwave yet and the electrical work needs connected at the panel downstairs. But countertops are a huge step towards my new kitchen!<br /><br />(click on the pictures to be taken to flickr and see more shots!)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-18740261088535717472010-03-10T21:22:00.000-08:002010-03-10T21:25:44.186-08:00How we fixed the washing machineThis post has nothing to do with the addition to our house, but it is a story about how we fixed something ourselves. It is on my <a href="http://www.thefrugalfarm.com/node/290">regular blog</a> but I thought it was appropriate to post here as well. <br /><br /><br /><br />Back in <a href="http://www.thefrugalfarm.com/node/277">December</a> I <a href=http://www.thefrugalfarm.com/node/278">blogged</a> about how my washing machine was broken. I am putting this post up full of keywords and links in hopes that it can help someone, because I certainly never found anything that would have led me to the answers that I needed.<br /><br /><b>The background and the problem</b><br /><br />Let's start with the specs. I have a Whirlpool Duet front loading washer. I bought it in November 2003. I still have the receipt. Its model number is <a href="http://www.partstore.com/Model/Whirlpool/Whirlpool/GHW9100LW0.aspx">GHW9100LW</a>. For three weeks or so prior to the washer's sudden death, things were iffy. I have a pretty set laundry schedule and I am pretty good at keeping up with it out of necessity. On Mondays I wash bathroom towels. This is usually two loads, lights and darks. On Tuesdays I wash clothes. Since we are a large family and I am pretty picky about mixing colors, I usually do 5 or 6 standard-sized loads. Wednesdays I wash any sheets that need changed. I try to take Thursdays off. Fridays I wash clothes again, and since it has only been three days since I washed everything, there are usually four loads. I wash diapers about twice a week, squeezing them in when I need to, and I wash kitchen/cleaning towels whenever I get a full load. So I do a lot of laundry. We bought this washing machine because it used about 1/3 of the water of a regular top-loading washing machine at the time. We were trying to preserve both the life of our well and our septic system. Leading up to the demise, since it is my big day, every Tuesday at the end of the day on the last load of the day, the washing machine would stop in the middle of the load and give me a F 02 error. I keep the manual handy so I was able to look up the code. This is a drain error. My friend <a href="http://www.kindacrunchy.com/">Tami</a> has a similar washer and we both use cloth diapers. A few years ago in a discussion about washing diapers, she mentioned that she had burned the pump out twice on her washer because lint from very ragged diapers had clogged the holes down in the <a href="http://www.partstore.com/Part/Whirlpool/Whirlpool/280187/New.aspx?ModelMfgName=Whirlpool&ModelBrandName=Whirlpool&ModelNumber=GHW9100LW0">drain pump assembly</a> leading to the pump and drain hose. After the second pump had been replaced by a repairman (under warranty each time), the repairman showed her how to clean out the pump assembly so as to not burn out the pump. She told me how to do this, so a few times since that discussion, when I would get a load that wouldn't spin all the way dry, or I could see water sitting inside the gasket of the washer in front of the holes that drain the drum into the pump assembly, I would unscrew the front panel on the bottom of the washer. Then I would put towels down on the floor, unscrew the cover on the pump assembly, catch all the water as it drained out, and clean out the hard water deposits or dog hair or other gunk that had clogged up the holes leading right to the pump. For 6 years I had checked under the gasket of the washer door after each load to make sure that things were draining properly.<br /><br />When I starting getting this F 02 drain error every Tuesday night I knew that something else was up. Nothing was blocking the drain holes. I would usually end up just letting the last load sit in the washer overnight, then I would run it again in the morning and things would be fine. But sometimes after letting it sit, it would give me a SUDS error, which is when the washer thinks you have used too much or non-HE detergent and the insides of the washer and all its hoses are full of bubbles. Having actually has a true SUDS error when the washer was new and I used a little too much detergent, I knew that there were no excess suds anywhere. There were not bubbles in the pump assembly, in the washer drum, or in the drain holes inside the door. Something was making the washer think that there were suds in there.<br /><br /><b>Finding some answers</b><br />Finally, the washer had had enough of my antics. Despite sitting overnight, I was unable to get the washer to finish a cycle. It would give an F 02 error, then sit, then give me a SUDS error. I got online to google the problem. Every single site that I found had just copied from the Whirlpool repair manual, like this <a href="http://www.justanswer.com/questions/34n3s-my-whirlpool-washer-is-giving-me-the-error-code-f02-we-have">one:</a><br /><br /> Press PAUSE/CANCEL twice to clear the display.<br /><br /> * Check the drain hose and make sure it is not plugged or kinked.<br /><br /> * Check the electrical connections at the pump and make sure the pump is running.<br /><br /> * Check the drain pump filter for foreign objects.<br /><br /> * If the above does not correct the problem, replace the pump.<br /><br />And <a href=http://www.applianceaid.com/duet_washer.html#F02">some</a> had more explanation like this:<br /><br />"F02 is long drain.<br />Just because it came up doesn't mean there's a problem, it simply means there was a failure during the cycle, if it returns on a regular basis, you have a problem.<br /><br />F02 error could be caused by the over use of soap, you need to make sure your using 2 tablespoons of HE soap, 1/4 cap at the most.<br /><br />Over sudsing, could cause the water pump to run longer, the pump is designed for 15 min duty cycle which means, 15 minutes on to 45 minutes off. The computer may sense too much soap, and continue to pump. HE soap will cure that, along with SUD error, possible F09 (overflow condition), you may also notice the timing is wrong, HE soap works well in these machines and F/l washer go hand in hand<br /><br />if the F02 returns the remove the 3 torx screws from the bottom kick panel, and remove the kick panel, right there in the middle you will see a big round handle, turn it and then slide it out, have some towels ready, there will be some water in there, and check to see if you have any thing in there that will slow water flow, tooth picks and other "floating" items may jam the impeller"<br /><br /><b>DIY Syndrome--I have it, and I have it bad</b><br /><br />I set out to fix this problem. My first step was to make sure that nothing was clogging the drain hose. So I pulled the washer out from the wall, disconnected the drain hose, took it to the tub, and cleaned out the most disgusting slime you have ever seen. It was like charcoal colored jello, which I imagine comes from six years of using earth-friendly biodegradable detergents and a minimal amount of bleach. I put the drain hose back on, and my problem was still there. As far as I knew, everything was draining just fine to get out of the washer, but the washer still thought there was suds and/or water and wouldn't finish the drain cycle and move on to the spin cycle. After calling Tami to consult with her to find out if a burnt-out pump sounded like a healthy pump, and getting the green light from my husband (it is an expensive part!), I went ahead and found the cheapest place online and ordered a new <a href=http://www.partstore.com/Part/Whirlpool/Whirlpool/280187/New.aspx?ModelMfgName=Whirlpool&ModelBrandName=Whirlpool&ModelNumber=GHW9100LW0">pump</a> and paid for expedited shipping. This was Wednesday afternoon. I had found an appliance repair forum that said how easy it was to replace yourself. Then the next day I took all the laundry to the laundrymat because that last load of whites was still wet (and not clean since the load stopped mid-cycle) from two days before, and every single rag and towel I owned was wet from sopping up water every time I checked the pump assembly. I had also switched to disposable diapers the instant I realized the gravity of the situation, and needed to wash the cloth diapers that were dirty.<br /><br /><b>The new pump arrives</b><br /><br />The expedited shipping that I paid for wasn't nearly as fast as I thought it would be, and it was Tuesday night before the pump arrived. Despite the fact that it was 5pm and time to fix dinner, I parked myself in front of the washer, switched out the old pump for the new one (it really was quite simple, just some screws and a plug for the wiring) and put a load in. The first load ran like a charm! I was on cloud nine, knowing that I had diagnosed and fixed the machine all by myself (with help from the Internet, of course). I put in a second load and things went south. I got the F 02 drain error and I was back to square one. Obviously the pump was not the problem. I ignored the problem for a while, fed my family and put the kids to bed. Around 11pm when I was back in front of the machine, my husband took pity on me. Up until this point, I hadn't bothered him about it because he was busy with work and his other projects. We worked together until about 2am trying to make sure we had covered all the bases. We took the back and top off the washer, removed the drain hose that is completely inside the washer and cleaned it out (it was full of slime just like the drain hose on the back of the washer). We removed the rubber boot on the bottom of the drum that leads to the drain hose and made sure it was clean (it had some fuzz in it but was generally clean). We thought that perhaps the float inside that boot wasn't telling the washer that the machine was empty of water. At 2am I was sent to bed and my wonderful husband dialed up the www (does anyone else remember when David Letterman used to say this when the internet was just getting popular? but I digress) and read the actual <a href="https://secured.whirlpool.com/Service/SrvTechAdm.nsf/2cd44500d572193285256a45004fd9d6/eab852a13fbc842085256aa200643dd6/$FILE/Duet%20Job%20Aid.pdf">repair manual</a> put out by Whirlpool for repair techs, plus a bunch of links online. I don't even know how he arrived at the solution, but he decided that the <a href="http://www.partstore.com/Part/Whirlpool/Whirlpool/GHW9100LW1/Whirlpool/Whirlpool/8181695/New.aspx">pressure sensor switch</a> was the culprit. (I asked him about this, and he doesn't remember. He thinks he found a blog post somewhere mentioning the pressure sensor switch, and had also read the manual. I read the paragraph in the manual as well, and it describes how the pressure sensor switch is what triggers the SUDS error. Since we had that error despite the lack of suds in the system, it was a natural progression...) He read that the small hose leading to the switch can become clogged with suds, causing it to malfunction and not be able to sense that the drain cycle had finished. A simple solution was to blow gently in the end of the tubing to reset the switch. He tried it out, and lo and behold, the washer finished a cycle. He rolled into bed and around 4am, told me the good news. The next day I ran another load and found that the switch needed to be reset during every cycle, however. So I took 8 loads to the laundrymat and continued to use disposable diapers. We needed some more diagnosis to fix the problem. Either the pressure sensor switch needed to be replaced (also not cheap, but half the cost of the pump). That night when he came home, we pulled the tubing off the pressure sensor switch and found that it was also clogged with slime. We cleaned it out, and the washer has run like a dream since then.<br /><br /><b>So what did I learn?</b> <br /><br />1. Since the cause of the problem was the blockage in the pressure sensor tubing, the machine worked when I put the new pump in because it had had a week to dry out. The machine malfunctioned on Tuesdays because I did so many loads that day and there was so much moisture in the system. It would work the next morning because it had dried out a bit.<br /><br />2. Maybe with my super-hard well water, biodegradable detergent isn't the best option. The drain hoses and pressure sensor tubing were full of slime. I am pretty sure that the lack of harsh detergents and bleach contributed to this problem. We also lack the chlorine in city-treated water. I have switched to plain old Tide for now. I might, as time goes on, experiment with other detergents, but for now, it's the caustic, environmentally unfriendly option for us. <br /><br />3. If you are going to attempt such troubleshooting and diagnostics yourself, make sure that you take precautions. Every time I took the washer apart, it was unplugged. Water and electricity don't mix. Also, make sure that you correctly reassemble everything that you take apart. I made sure that when I took off hose clamps and unplugged wires, they went back on securely and in the proper orientation.<br /><br />4. It really helps to have prior experience with electronics and circuits. My husband knows how to fix just about anything. He is probably the best troubleshooter on the planet. Because the <a href="https://secured.whirlpool.com/Service/SrvTechAdm.nsf/2cd44500d572193285256a45004fd9d6/eab852a13fbc842085256aa200643dd6/$FILE/Duet%20Job%20Aid.pdf">repair manual</a> was available, he was able to get out his volt meter and test the pressure switch to see if it was functioning properly. Had I not had him to help me, I would have had to pay a repairman to come at that point because electricity is not my thing. He, however, wired our entire addition and passed the <a href="http://frugalrenovation.blogspot.com/2008/06/we-passed.html">inspection</a> on the first try.<br /><br />5. As soon as we realized that the old pump was actually still good, we put it back in and packaged up the new one in the box it came in. We didn't send it back, though, just labeled it and put it on the shelf to be "in stock" should the current pump ever die. I am confident that had I paid a repairman to come and diagnose the problem from the beginning, he would have also had me replace the pump. When that didn't solve the problem, I bet he would have had me replace the Central Control Unit, which is about half the cost of a new washer. Add to that the cost a service call, and I would have been out literally hundreds of dollars and my washer would have still been broken. I called the local parts supply house and their cost on the pump and the pressure switch we significantly higher than I could find online, even including expedited shipping. To buy parts from a repairman would have been very expensive. Even though we spent around $100 on the new pump that we didn't need, we considered ourselves lucky. I also spent about $20 washing over a dozen loads at the laundrymat. I brought home the wet things and dried them in my own dryer.<br /><br />6. I'm sure glad that I had my husband around to help me with this one. In fact, he is fairly confident that he can fix the <a href="http://thefrugalfarm.com/node/171">broken dishwasher.</a> (I guess I never updated, but after 5 months of a broken dishwasher, a couple months after the baby was born, we gave in and bought a new one. Too hard to wash dishes one-handed. Good thing, since that was 14 months ago and the new kitchen is still a couple months out.) He is so confident, in fact, that I approved a two-dishwasher plan in the new kitchen. <br /><br />So that is the story. If I remember any other details that I think may be helpful I will definitely add them.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-77435766571669966002010-02-19T10:05:00.001-08:002010-02-19T10:24:22.977-08:00slow and steady wins the raceCan you believe we started this project 31 months ago? What a transformation from this...<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/878464623/" title="Before by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1230/878464623_cba371bcac.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="Before" /></a><br /><br />to this<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/888286859/" title="Demolition by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1171/888286859_101dd6ccc3.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="Demolition" /></a><br /><br />then this<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/1644550764/" title="framed walls by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2276/1644550764_8feb00c255.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="framed walls" /></a><br /><br />this...(can you believe I've never taken a picture of the outside since we primed the siding and painted the soffits and gables?)<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugal<br />mom/2548850596/" title="Unfinished siding by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3268/2548850596_48ecc7ce60.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="Unfinished siding" /></a><br /><br />and inside<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3137286512/" title="north half by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3077/3137286512_0dcc2cb610.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="north half" /></a><br /><br />to this...<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4366007284/" title="island by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4366007284_2e652906a0.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="island" /></a><br /><br />While the project is certainly far from finished, there are really tangible results to enjoy already!<br /><br />as always, more pictures in the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/sets/72157600986497207/">addition set</a> at flickr!<br /><br />what are we still planning on? <br />finish the kitchen<br />rip out the old kitchen cabinets and faux brick walls, lay bamboo floor<br />remove old pantry to expand laundry room<br />convert play space into master bedroom and bath<br />finish basement into playspace/media room, storage room, 2 bedrooms and bathroom<br /><br />thanks for hanging in there with us!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-34092360408249918452010-01-28T15:45:00.001-08:002010-01-28T15:46:50.501-08:00businessI have enabled comment moderation on posts older than 14 days. I have been getting spam comments on old posts. Thanks!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-48920913305515976682010-01-08T11:25:00.000-08:002010-01-08T11:28:58.367-08:00kitchen cabinetsI love how you can tell by looking out the windows through out the series of photos, that they really were taken over the course of the day. Here's the morning, <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4257466370/" title="clamping on face frames by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4257466370_24c0bc9962.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="clamping on face frames" /></a><br /><br />late afternoon...<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4257469710/" title="clamping on face frames by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2781/4257469710_b52b76cf19.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="clamping on face frames" /></a><br /><br />night.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4257472144/" title="new kitchen cabinets sans island by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4257472144_ea41574ec9.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="new kitchen cabinets sans island" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-74055340004242696812010-01-01T21:24:00.000-08:002010-01-01T21:53:26.610-08:00it's beginning to look like a kitchen<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4235614767/" title="IMG_0061 by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4034/4235614767_2e395e9f5a.jpg" alt="IMG_0061" width="500" height="375" /></a><br /><br />There are 45 screws holding this corner cabinet carcass together. Go to my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/sets/72157600986497207/">flickr set</a> to see all the progress pictures. (I arrange them in date order, so the end is the most current).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4236395258/" title="IMG_0065 by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2717/4236395258_dd8a71a135.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_0065" /></a><br /><br />I should be canning in the new kitchen this summer! I am really getting excited!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-40541409336491364172009-12-22T15:07:00.000-08:002009-12-22T15:13:16.821-08:00building cabinetsFrugaldad "gets" to take 2 weeks of vacation over the holidays. What better thing to do than build a new kitchen? He's been building cabinets.<br />Photos that come before today's progress are at the end of the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/sets/72157600986497207/">Addition set at flickr.</a><br />here's a little preview (look at the fog!)<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/4206682615/" title="HPIM4151 by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2705/4206682615_e6afedd2da.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="HPIM4151" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-44640684838043505452009-05-31T20:18:00.000-07:002009-05-31T20:40:00.920-07:00CARPET!!!!!!!!!!!!I never showed you a picture of the trim board on the edge of the bamboo floor.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3583448133/" title="trim board on the bamboo right before the carpet was installed by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3640/3583448133_7d87697195.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="trim board on the bamboo right before the carpet was installed" /></a><br /><br />Then the carpet guys came!<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3584256642/" title="carpet is installed! by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3360/3584256642_c48a469741.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="carpet is installed!" /></a><br /><br />Then we started moving toys into what will be a really big playroom until we finish the basement and turn it into a really big playroom, and the upstairs becomes a master suite.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3584260082/" title="new space to play by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3644/3584260082_c8d6387c2b.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="new space to play" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3584261148/" title="new space to play by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3364/3584261148_3501cb765d.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="new space to play" /></a><br /><br />What amazes me is that I <span style="font-style:italic;">know </span>that we have so many fewer toys that a lot of families. Yet there are still so many!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-90709539342482451812009-05-28T21:29:00.000-07:002009-05-28T21:37:32.758-07:00counting the minutes....until the CARPET gets installed in the morning! Only upstairs, but you'd better believe we're moving stuff in there as soon as we can!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3567002965/" title="cleaned up by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3553/3567002965_922fd5ef68.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="cleaned up" /></a><br /><br />(I realized it isn't actually finished in the picture, the trim piece at the edge wasn't installed so you will get another picture later)<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3547619704/" title="bamboo from the west by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3663/3547619704_1c2e9d526b.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="bamboo from the west" /></a><br /><br />we are far from finished, but this is a big step! We'll put trim in the windows soon so we can hang blinds. That evening sun from the west is blinding! And we'll install baseboards before moving large furniture. <br /><br />Two years is a long time to cram everything into one living area!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-23933698813633892832009-05-14T17:51:00.000-07:002009-05-14T18:05:36.064-07:003.78125You might call it dumb luck, but we like to refer to it as careful planning.<br /><br />The stairs are on the south edge of the room, and the factory-manufactured stair nosing had a groove in it. So the floor had to be installed starting at the north edge of the room, because you nail into the tongues of the flooring. But how, pray tell, do you make sure that the flooring meets up with the stair nosing in the right place? If it was off, we would have to rip down an entire course of floor the length of the entire room. <br /><br />So we measured. And measured. And did some math. And measured and did math again. We laid out a few boards and figured that each joint added 1/32" to the boards themselves, which are 3.75". So we multiplied 3.78125 by the number of courses of floor (it wasn't actually that simple), and then snapped a chalk line where the first course should be nailed. And then we hoped for the best.<br /><br />This is the line that we have to meet up with, see it a few inches from the edge of the stairs? <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3532478770/" title="approaching the stairs by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2463/3532478770_9abf4651e3.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="approaching the stairs" /></a><br /><br />It is where the factory stair nosing ends.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3532477662/" title="stair nosing by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2353/3532477662_10ca4f952e.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="stair nosing" /></a><br /><br />So we got 3 courses away from the stairs, and stuck in some scraps, and it is going to be <span style="font-style:italic;">perfect.</span> ...to the 32nd of an inch....perfect.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3531661509/" title="perfect fit by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2440/3531661509_119d08c7b0.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="perfect fit" /></a><br /><br /><br />and that, my friends, is what happens when an engineer builds his own house.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-964859802646056972009-05-13T19:30:00.000-07:002009-05-13T19:39:33.719-07:00floor progressSo we've been working on installing the bamboo flooring. Er, well, Frugaldad has been doing all the installing. I am really good at holding the other end of a tape measure, though. Here is the room before. Just in case you forgot, this is going to be our dining area for a while, and then we're going to put our kitchen here and turn our old kitchen into a really big dining room.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3529304615/" title="Before the floor by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2067/3529304615_025e2bb268.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="Before the floor" /></a><br /><br />Here it is after a couple courses were nailed down.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3529305115/" title="the first couple courses by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2393/3529305115_b09356887f.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="the first couple courses" /></a><br /><br />and a few more courses<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3530118454/" title="the first few courses by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2070/3530118454_09241be2bb.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="the first few courses" /></a><br /><br />after the first day<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3530122286/" title="after the first day by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2446/3530122286_01a0e40aca.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="after the first day" /></a><br /><br />the Frugalbaby has learned to speed army crawl...<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3529308715/" title="chasing his brother by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2212/3529308715_2aedc7fdd5.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="chasing his brother" /></a><br /><br /><br />Frugaldad took a day off work and worked on the floor some more and got to here:<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3530122750/" title="after two days worth of work by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2034/3530122750_43e6bde88c.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="after two days worth of work" /></a><br /><br />We think we are really going to love this floor. And have already decided that with kids and pets, we're not going to stress when it gets dinged and scratched.<br /><br />Every single hardwood and laminate floor brochure I've ever seen has a dog in it. So we had to take this one.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3529308253/" title="the "dog on the hardwood floor" picture you see in all the brochures... by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2252/3529308253_c7b47e1efd.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="the "dog on the hardwood floor" picture you see in all the brochures..." /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-35271506372946737782009-04-28T18:16:00.000-07:002009-04-28T18:21:38.999-07:00Status report<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3484159275/" title="The final certificate by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3611/3484159275_444773f6b8.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="The final certificate" /></a><br /><br />We passed our final inspection!<br /><br />While the certificate says complete, it doesn't mean the project is finished! We have bamboo flooring sitting in the house acclimating. We're pretty sure we've picked out the carpet. We need to install window and door trim and baseboards.<br /><br />Then begins phase two, in which we move our kitchen into the addition and start remodeling the old house.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-76309162819009487122009-04-10T12:59:00.000-07:002009-04-10T13:01:06.998-07:00Twenty-one months and counting....We have passed our final plumbing and electrical inspections. We've picked out carpet and other flooring. The final inspection ought to be done in a week or so once we get things wrapped up.<br /><br />We've been busy little bees!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-55452107310641671912009-02-25T12:51:00.000-08:002009-02-25T14:12:37.757-08:00Got color?We've been painting, and wanted to put some color on one wall in what will be our family room. We thought we had a great one, but now that it's on the wall, it's a little bright and we think we'll paint over it. I picked a really calming blue for the other room, and another greener blue for the bathroom.<br /><br /><br />I realized that the far wall is still only primed in this picture (click to see the whole thing). We did the back wall of the plant shelf as well, the theory is great behind tying the two rooms together with the same color but that color is just too much.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3310001502/" title="wall and plant shelf by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3561/3310001502_c5cc4d1ecd.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="wall and plant shelf" /></a><br />painted<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3309417273/" title="shockingly green by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3352/3309417273_5e0ee85fda.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="shockingly green" /></a><br /><br />The blue on the left is more purple that the bathroom and is in the south room. The lighter green is the tinted primer and the bright green dropped in it is the actual paint. Flourescent, huh?<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3310002202/" title="got color? by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3561/3310002202_4159a10b36.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="got color?" /></a><br /><br />the bathroom<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3256345034/" title="painted bathroom by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3113/3256345034_36d42e8f9f.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="painted bathroom" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-63162888812233530122009-02-04T10:43:00.000-08:002009-02-04T10:49:54.307-08:00More dealsWe've really been blessed with good deals lately! In addition to the toilets...<br /><br />12x12 marble tiles, regular price $4.87, bought for $1 each (these will be backsplash around the tub and maybe a bathroom countertop)<br />bathroom vanity/cabinet, regular price $79, bought for $39<br />outdoor light fixtures, regular price $10, bought for $2.50<br /><br />and I never did mention the Trex decking, but we really wanted to use Trex on the decks outside of each exterior door but the cost is so much higher than wood. Frugaldad was in Home Depot one day last fall and found a discontinued color marked down more than 60%. So he bought enough for both decks.<br /><br />He also found some PVC trim marked down 90% to trim the basement windows on the exterior.<br /><br />When you are doing a project the way we're doing it (long and slow), you can often postpone purchases until you find a sale or a clearance special. As long as you know what you're looking for, and what you need, you can buy and save a ton of money. Just don't buy something just because it's cheap, buy it only if you love it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-22082279029063721802009-01-21T08:05:00.000-08:002009-01-21T08:09:50.063-08:00potty talkWe're getting close to the end, and that means fixtures. We've been shopping for the prefect toilet (who knew there were so many options?) and had decided on the brand and model. One day Frugaldad was walking through Home Depot and came across some toilet bowls, almost the exact model we had already decided on, with one of the features missing (if you're really curious, we were going for the "right height" model and this one wasn't) and it was marked down on clearance from over $80 to $13.80. It seems they are changing only the model name, nothing about the toilet bowl itself. So he bought two, one for the addition and one to replace one of the old toilets in the original house.<br /><br />Now <span style="font-style:italic;">that's</span> what I call frugal renovation.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-78373629586887842842008-12-25T20:07:00.000-08:002008-12-25T20:16:23.197-08:00My Christmas gift to youan update!<br /><br />We decided to hire out the tape and mud portion of the drywall. <br /><br />Wait, did I even tell you we were already to drywall?<br /><br />During September Frugaldad hung the drywall on the ceiling with his friend <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Troy-Drywall-Panel-Hoist-Lifter/dp/B000ZIEOHW/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1230264583&sr=8-2">Jack</a>. <br /><br />In October we hung the drywall on the walls together. I put the first two screws in most of the sheets while he held them up. Also in October we moved, widened, and heightened the opening from the main house into the addition.<br /><br />Then we had a baby! He built decks outside each door and started on the stair railing. We decided that it was worth it to hire out the tape and mud and texture, so the crew started work this past Monday and will finish up next week. We spent the weekend cleaning up tools and drywall scraps getting everything clean for them.<br /><br />A peek at the progress. More pictures in my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/sets/72157600986497207/">Flickr Addition Set</a>.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/3137289790/" title="north half looking west by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3227/3137289790_40dd528d0b.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="north half looking west" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-76599025288750146592008-09-05T10:08:00.000-07:002008-09-05T10:23:33.325-07:00From sill plates to sheetrock--a year of constructionWe have a posterboard on our kitchen wall on which we write down the major milestones in the construction of the addition. For my own curiosity, on Monday, which was September 1, I looked back a year to see what we'd been working on. On September 1, 2007, we installed the sill plates. (yes, we're cheap. look who we hire for labor)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/1392984273/" title="Daddy's helpers by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1032/1392984273_7e4983eab2.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="Daddy's helpers" /></a><br /><br />And on September 1, 2008, Frugaldad finished putting drywall up on the ceilings and started on the walls.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/2831187348/" title="hpim3093 by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3072/2831187348_e7e40bb885.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="hpim3093" /></a><br /><br />(this is the last piece of ceiling to get sheetrock. Tune in soon for the explanation of how one man and a very pregnant lady got drywall on the ceiling of a stairwell all by themselves without too much work.<br /><br />Getting pregnant and breaking my ankle at the same time really derailed me from regular updates on this blog. Sorry. Baby is due in 6 weeks so I will try and get the rest of the photos in Flickr at least.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-76983052590671690202008-06-30T22:51:00.000-07:002008-06-30T22:55:34.536-07:00We PASSED!Our electrical inspection, that is. On the first try! Think of it like this--the electrical code is a huge college textbook that is updated every three years and you walk in and pass the final without ever going to class or meeting the professor, who can change or enforce the details of the code at will. Go Frugaldad!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://thefrugalfarm.com/files/images/electricalpass.preview.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px;" src="http://thefrugalfarm.com/files/images/electricalpass.preview.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />And what a pretty, neatly wired sub-panel!<br /><br /><br />We also passed our structural (framing) inspection on the first try as well!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-91289688466620490662008-06-18T14:12:00.000-07:002008-06-18T14:20:25.431-07:00Ahhhhhh.......You might remember that we <a href="http://frugalrenovation.blogspot.com/2007/07/d-day.html">broke</a> <a href="http://frugalrenovation.blogspot.com/2007/07/digging-basement-or-digging-to-tune-of.html">ground</a> for the addition back in July 2007. That was almost 11 months ago! Since the old air conditioning unit was in the path of destruction, we bought a little window a/c unit. Combining the little window unit with about 5 strategically placed fans, we were able to bear the summer heat until the weather cooled.<br /><br />We've been lucky enough so far this year that until the 2nd week of June, the temperatures stayed below 70. Not so good for my garden, but great when you don't have any air conditioning. Until now. We're now the proud owners of a shiny new heat pump and air handler and I don't even feel <span style="font-style:italic;">that</span> guilty when I turn the thermostat down to 75 so the kids can get some sleep without sweating.<br /><br />There's still a lot of work to be done, but every little thing is one step closer to completion!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-37079415290140234242008-06-03T09:55:00.000-07:002008-06-03T10:32:05.060-07:00SidingAfter we did the blue foam insulation on the outside of the building, we hired someone we know to come put the siding up. I just realized I don't have any finished pictures, so this one will have to do! It is currently raining or else I'd go snap some.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/2548850596/" title="Unfinished siding by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3268/2548850596_48ecc7ce60.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="Unfinished siding" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7952682188173149432.post-79142648246952485892008-05-02T10:45:00.000-07:002008-05-02T10:48:25.200-07:00In the trenchesWhile we were in the midst of all this addition craziness, we decided it would be fun to add another element. Since we ran new plumbing and connected it to the existing sewer, it was the perfect time to run an extra water line out to the pasture for a future barn. We'll also put an electrical line in the trench so there is power out there, too. We rented a trenching machine and dug a bunch of trench.<br /><br />Teach them young...<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/2459959284/" title="Playing with the big boy toys by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2020/2459959284_db15bf2862.jpg" width="374" height="500" alt="Playing with the big boy toys" /></a><br /><br />The trenches<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/frugalmom/2459125159/" title="In the trenches by frugalmom, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3160/2459125159_1951e20fd0.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="In the trenches" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0