Real life Green Acres, or am I still dreaming...

Kyle_in_Tex · Feb 22, 2006

TxDon,
I know that you two can't possibly ever eat junk food as slim and trim as you both are but......

Elm Creek Cafe has great greasy food. Love their fried pickles, onion rings and burgers. We go usually once every week or so. (It shows) I take the back roads. They just might be the closest restaurant to you. Also, here in Giddings, I highly recommend Monzi's for an upscale eatery with good prices.

I know the way very well over to Bastrop for all the above mentioned stores. Watch out for Home Depot, it'll two to five hunerd dollar you to death!!! I'll bet I've spent fortyeleven thousand dollars in there myself. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Have you pretty much decided what you want to build? I remember you talking about some alternative building techniques. Are you still thinking this way?

sneaky_pete · Feb 25, 2006

Congratulations Don, I hope you get to enjoy for a long long time.

txdon · Feb 25, 2006

Thanks Sneaky Pete.

Kyle, we are on the Sonoma Diet (I lost 21 pounds the last 6 weeks and recommend the book) and I know that fried pickles are not on it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif You are still young and burn calories quickly so enjoy. It is hard to resist good onion rings.

We are still planning on building with gridwall blocks.
We will spend some time fixing up the cabin and making a few out buildings (carport/storage and garden house) and taking a few vacations before we start to build. The cabin is comfortable enough, for now, for the two of us. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

MF1455v · Feb 26, 2006

Don, if you've lost 21 pounds it's time for another get-together. I found it and need to return it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

James

EddieWalker · Feb 26, 2006

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Don, if you've lost 21 pounds it's time for another get-together. I found it and need to return it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

James
)</font>

James,

That's funny!!!!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Eddie

texbaylea · Feb 26, 2006

Don

Re: using ICFs, can you get a concrete pumper out to where you are? I have looked extensively at ICFs and found that they were labor intensive compared to SIPs.

I am currently designing an addition to our present house using SIPs and have found that a lot of little details need to be determined first however. If I pull this off I will invite the bunch to a house raising.

Vernon

txdon · Feb 26, 2006

James, Good come back. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif However, you may resort to the rule "Finders Keepers" as it relates to my fat. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Vernon, let me know when you have every thing in place. I'll give you a hand so I can compare the ICF with the SIP materials and building process. I am not at a place of no return on the ICFs. You are right about the pumping truck and it's ability to climb the sand hill. I do Like the properties of the gridwall blocks. Sometimes I think that a front cement mixer on the tractor's quick attach could eliminate the pump truck. We could fill the blocks 6" cavity slowly as we build up, but as you said labor intense.

mikim · Feb 26, 2006

Well -- it was wet & cold /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif.. but we managed to sink 30+ cedar posts (bark skinned off with draw knife) along 1245' of property line, where there has never been a fence, and finished on Wed ... naturally the weather cleared Thurs ... /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif At least with the moisture the clay was easier on the PHD. Only had 120 lbs tied on for downforce. And it tamped really well. We'll go back in a couple of weeks to do the t-posts and hang wire. Got a contract with a well driller on Fri. Had to drive into N-Houston on Fri a.m. to pick up a new toy --- will talk about that later ... Yesterday was a lay back and veg out day --- tomorrow it's back to the office ....and yer still sittin' in da woods ...!@#%% wish it wuz me! Hated coming back.

texbaylea · Feb 27, 2006

TxDon

Here I am getting ready to write the check for the last payment on this place and I am looking for a Home Equity Line of Credit to help pay for the additions we want. I hope to have some answers this week about a loan and then I can get into high gear on this project.

We had a Home and Garden show here in Brazos county this past weekend, interesting but the most useful thing I found was about a SIP manufacturer in Conroe. www.precisionpanel.com I plan to get in touch with them and find out the details about their services. I will let you know what I find out.

I do agree that ICFs are the preferred building method but do not think that they are practical for the owner builder.

Vernon

texbaylea · Feb 27, 2006

TxDon

I forgot to mention that there was a vendor at the show called Owner Built Custom Homes www.obchinc.com touting ICFs. Thought I would pass it on, might be something there to help you.

Vernon