forgot to update

My mom reminded me that I had not posted any pictures from my last sortie. I mentioned that I had little to show for my last effort and explained the reasons. So she told me to write that down (I think she believes that if I practice I will get as good as she is at telling stories). OK so I gamble on the weather once again and head out in Feb. Everything was going fine....for three days. That is when it came time to unload the trailer load of wood we had wrecked out of the farmhouse donated by the Wylie's. I planned to use the backside of the wood because the other side had been painted. I took my time and spent a couple of hours at it so as not to pull anything out of whack right at the beginning of my stay. One week later I was able to walk around and start back to work. The picture of the closet is the only evidence of any work that was done on the house, although in my defense, that wall continues on for many more feet. I found myself drawn to my old weakness (not that!) Volkswagens! Got the brake parts out of Austin VW, thanks Johnny Davis. I spent a lot of time working on the Beetle I now call Eleanor (not to be confused another local by the same name). At some time after the back pain had subsided enough to work at least on cars I came to notice that my left elbow had that tennis problem. Anyway some work was done but I was not happy with the overall effort. We will get em next time. Oh yeah I took pictures of the planes spewing out the chemtrails. I had hoped that moving out to BB would get me away from all that here in E Texas. I have a camera full of that stuff, and one picture of the house. Karol was thrilled. and so it goes.........R

Just under the wire....again!

Well now then there, I just got around to the hardest part of this project, blogging about it. Not that I don't like talking about what I am doing out west, but typing is no fun for me. The title "just under the wire again" is in reference to the fact that for the second time I have barely accomplished the goal that I had set for myself at the beginning of the year. In this case it was getting the Rock house in the dry before the end of the year. Closing in the ends of the roof along with the area overlooking the lower roof, framing in new window sills, building and installing doors, and installing the windows. All along the way, bit by bit the work blocked off more and more of the wind that whipped through the place. Sadly, the Owls have had to find new residence. On a brighter note, just when I thought my good fortune of finding free building materials had played out , I recieved a call from a couple of very thoughtful (and quite attractive) women that live right here in Kilgore. Bobbie and Lisa Wylie . It seems that Lisa was perusing my blog , seeing that I was working with reclaimed materials, and thought that I might want to tear down and reuse their 100 year old family farmhouse not far from where we live! Of course I was very pleased and thankful for their generosity. Thank you so much Bobbie and Lisa! There will be pleanty of materials to finish my various projects. The wood is very nice, and straight! My good fortune held up around Thanksgiving. I was cordially invited to dine with the Foster family by Bennet, grandson to Eleanor. He, along with Mark Spurlock and Gene Foster did most all the cooking. And might I say, not as a cook, but as an expert eater, that it was absolutely delicious. Thank you, Foster family. I also had a couple of visitors right at the end of my sortie. John and Gem Hillier, from right here in Kilgore, were in Alpine to see friends and came out to see me. We had a great time playing cards, telling lies and having a few refreshing beverages. We all left for East Texas the next day. On a secondary note, I finally acted on an urge I have had for five years. I made an offer to my friend and neighbor Eleanor for her 75 VW beetle. After her counter offer a deal was struck and I am now the proud owner of yet another VW. I'm sure Karol will be thrilled. Well I don't know how much of what happens out there is going to interest any one but me. Or even how much of what happens out in Big Bend I can or will repeat. So for now I will bid y'all adieu.......R

This isn't Hell, but you can see it from here.

I had decided to return for the summer in June, but my good friend and neighbor, Eleanor Foster, called and warned me that I maybe should wait until things really warmed up. It had only been hitting 117 or so in late June and early July and August might be more enjoyable. I returned to the desert in late July to get my fair share of abuse. I consolidated all of my solar panels and batteries to try and power a small air conditioner to attempt to mitigate the temperatures inside the adobe. That effort proved futile and I finally went to Alpine and bought an evaporative cooler which worked fine.

The work on the rock house consisted of covering up the framed up walls with boards I had acquired from wrecking out a building in Winona and boards that were given to me by Mike Hamilton from a gazebo. I also was able to connect the 3 water storage tanks with a manifold to ensure that all 3 filled simultaneously.

The owls that are living in the house now continue to be perturbed by my presence. I see them flying out of the windows as I approach in my truck. One day, after I walked in and sat down to contemplate my next move, I heard a rustling behind me. I turned around to see a rather large great horned owl sitting on top of wall staring at me. We began a stare-down and I thought that the owl would be intimidated and fly away immediately. After 15 seconds, I realized that the owl might have something else in mind. After half a minute had elapsed, I started thinking, "Do owls attack people?" I began to get concerned and not wanting owl talons to be gripping my jugular or any other vulnerable area, I thought about shooing him away. That was all that was necessary because he turned and flew away right then.

I read in another Terlingua blog that there are no posers out here, only survivors. I didn't know what to think of that statement at the time, but now I know precisely what they were talking about. Returning to East Texas and the air conditioning, I felt a tinge of guilt leaving my friends behind. But I will return soon and continue with my plan to have the rock house in the dry by the end of the year. (Not that it isn't dry enough already!)

Rock house

Went out April 15th. Resumed work on window sills, framed up walls and set some tanks. My family was helping me near the end of this sortie so we got gutters up also. I do not know what I would do without my wife Karol and daughters Ayrton and Bailey, who show up right in the nick of time like the cavalry and boost the project ahead. And least I forget best friend Heidi who has been here at least twice and is a fantastic help also. Pretty, funny,hard working, and smart. That would only begin to describe all these women. I am indeed fortunate. I drilled the wall studs and pulled wire and cut boards that came from Winona and Houston to cover the walls. Am planning a return soon so I can get my fair share of abuse this summer. Come on Rain! Hea ya ho ya hea ya ho ya hea ya........thats my rain dance................R

Putting on the tin

I waited , watching John Wells blog, until the temps rose above artic levels. Then gambled once again on good weather. Good gamble. Great weather for roof work. I was able to frame in for some windows that had been installed in the adobe. I did not like their look in the adobe and removed them. Not wanting to waste the money that was spent on the windows, of course, we bought the rock house project and found a place for them! Next time I will think that through a little better. Got the tar paper on. Two layers per Dean's advice. And screwed down some metal roofing. Karol rode out with me and helped for 10 days. I took her to the train station so she could get back to East Tejas in time to keep her job in Kilgore! Picked up the tin in Alpine and was able to get it down before it blew away. I'm already looking forward to getting back and finishing the doors and windows to "dry it in". The picture of the ratrod we built for Ayrton has nothing to do with the Big Bend project, but I wanted some of the guys out there to see it. I hope to have the windows ,doors and walls up by the end of the year. Adios.......R

putting in the ribs and skin

I was able to return after two weeks back home. The backbone was in place so all I had to do was put in the ribs. I realize that four foot centers is not the norm, but the original build was done that way. With the addition of another beam to support the new roof, the area I was spanning only amounted to nine or ten feet on either side. After cross bracing, and the fact that I am using 10 " floor joists as rafters, I think I can keep this roof on. The references to Frankenstein is only because I am taking a dead house , adding parts from other dead buildings to create a new living breathing entity. I am hoping for a mild winter so I can return and finish putting her in the dry. I also hope to have her habitable by the end of next year. Not too much to tell from this trip. Enjoyed Regina's B-day party. Got to visit with Casey and Sara and saw the new additions to their place. Visited Arick for awhile along with Eva, Jerry, John, Dave, Jo, Larry, Don, Curtis, Dennis, Debbie at one time or another. I went by Jerry and Jane's place and met Morgan, their son. Went to Beechies to deliver an old state judge plate from Judge John Jackson's car for his collection. Saw David and Greg and the progress the are making is amazing. Hope to get the Baja Bug going while I am home. The adobe was working quite well and was comfortable the whole time. Sealed up some air leaks around the windows and doors and with the help from Eleanor's wood burner I was snug as a bug. Jan Jackson and her husband John came by to see me and left a ton of food. There was so much I was able to share with others. Eleanor and I ate togeather twice. I had Jo and Larry up to eat along with the girls. Jo invited me, along with Johnny & Sandy (friends that were visiting) to their Thanksgiving dinner. She and Melissa, her friend from Houston prepared the most wonderful dinner I have had in a very long time. I am very fortunate to know such people. Thank you so much. Seeya.......Rusty

started on rock house

Armed with materials aquired from David Barber, Mike Hamilton and a demolition in WinonaTx. I decided to tackle the little problem of fixing the roof on the Rock house. I finaly figured out a good design and think it is time to start. I ripped out the old windows and added some rock work so the wood I had would work out. With the help of Jan Jackson and my lovely wife, we installed another support beam to help hold up the roof. I am planning on returning soon to put in the rafters and decking. all of the wood is used so it is more difficult to work with, but the price is right. The owl is one of two that had taken up residence in the last year or so. I have also seen a fox in the house resting up on the wall.