A big hand for Big Stephen, and of course for Miked

Nephew Big Stephen came down during Christmas break to help with the house. It works out well for everyone. He gets some cash for college; we get that ridiculous hard work that only young family members can give. One day he got up before I did, and was still working when I went to bed. Yeesh, kids!

I realize my posts are not coming super-often -- although be honest, it is still more frequent than Emily. I think the reason is that the hard work Miked has been doing lately is not boring but not super stunningly photogenic. I see one wire or pipe, I've seen them all, you know.

I assumed others thought like that, too. Apparently not. The guy who just hooked up the geothermal system -- it is 70 degrees in the house tonight -- was awed by Miked's work. He called our geothermal tubing the "Cadillac" of systems.

Go Miked!

Also, I can't really make obnoxious jokes about things if I don't know what they are doing and I don't know pipes and wires. Anyway ...

Vacation is for wusses. On the day after Christmas Miked and Barry were back hard at work doing something crucial.

Barry got to wield the drill this time, on a ladder no less, not bad for an old man.

I finally got back into the house. It was then that we learned that the shower stall as designed was going to be a little tight. Miked and one of the sub-contractors had a good solution using barn doors. Really. It'll be cool.

This is the thermostat in my room, and I swear to you: It will never again be this low.

Workers have been putting subfloor with notching for the radiant heat tubes. See the loops.

The other issue with blogging about the inside of the house: Not sure what anything is. I think this is radiant heat tubing. Hey Matt, you may ask, if the heat is in the floor and has not been done yet, how is the geothermal system running and raising the house temp to 70? That would be a valid question. I believe we also have forced air heat, smart guy! would be my answer.

Just a water tank, you yawn. Whoa there, pardner. It looks like any old water tank, albeit a bitchin' one, but it is more: You should see the house the little goofballs made out of the box.

These are meters, bitchin' ones of course.

Bad-ass pipes ...

... and more fly pipes

I think Miked is making the cuts in the subfloor for the tubes. Stephen has the tubes as the ready.

Stephen has been a big help, even if he did cut through a wire. Just one and only once. Miked is worse than that, I am told. and they are putting in the radiant tubing; that is way cool.

And finally, NOT FOR LITTLE CHILDREN. GO PLAY RED REMOVER OR USE YOUR ELECTRIC WHOOPIE CUSHION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, they're gone. Well, one of the neighbors put up a crazy big fence. I mean they can do what they want but it is big. The DTs are not one to be outdone, so here is the material I propose for our 7-foot fence: