Sorry about the long breaks in between entries, but I've been so focused on getting the 1st phase (excavating exisiting soil then refilling with compressible sand) before I had to have surgery.

Pam and I had to hand dig away the dirt from around the last root ball and then we set it ablaze. I started backfilling till the whole floor area was covered to about a foot. I filled the front in loader bucket with sand and proceeded to drive back and forth,compessing the sand. I repeated this procedure till the area was fully up to grade.

We did have several days of rain that slowed the excavation, but I took my little sump pump each time and drained the area. During the down days I recontacted Mason Allen of Wenco Corp (a local window & door manufacturer) and he's calculating the cost of all the windows and most of the doors. The north south and east entry doors have been ordered thru Home Depot. These doors have side lites that open and are screened.

Rusty Lilljedhal ( the concrete contractor) came by to see the progress. He said he'd have the pier driller out here next Monday the 30th.

Joe Munos (our electrcian) has approved the electrcal layout and is blocking in the indvual circuits on the plan.

James Montgomery (the cosmic plumber) and I layed out the col, hot, sewer and grat water lines. He will also run the propane gas lines that supply the cooktop, on-demand water heater, and th heater side of the A/C unit. Pam and i dfecided to run gas to the clothes dryer area just in case we want to switch over to propane later.

That's about it for now. Will post pier drilling next week if all goes according to plans.