Our new foundation wall was completed. We are also thinking about getting Earthquake Retrofitting Services to make it sturdier and more resistant to seismic activities. But for now, here is what the new north wall looks like from the inside. The plan is to install shelving units where the two lights are shown.

Here is the view from the outside. In addition to new blocks on the north wall the west wall was parged and new drainage was installed. The downspout from the gutters was run into the drainage lines.

Afterwards fill was replaced and the foundation plants were replaced.

We also had to re-plant the peonies that got dug up. We now have a 72′ row of peonies between the driveway and fence line.

Then we begin picking stone and hand raking the fill. And there is a lot of fill – this is the view from our driveway showing the new driveway leading to the location where the attached garage would sit.

The fill forms a ‘mow-able slope’ that extends across the old driveway and nearly to the honey locust tree.

Here is the view from the south.

We at about 3/4 done picking stone and raking with plans to re-seed grass this weekend.

The north wall is removed and tarped off. We got a little wind and rain on Monday night. The sound of the tarps flapping in the breeze was reminiscent of camping.

The concrete blocks and sand are piled up outside for the construction.

Our foundation plants have taken a beating in this process and may not recover. We will see.

Skip and Bob helped me move Kathryn’s desk downstairs where I set it up in the computer room.  I moved my computer rack, re-adjusted the height of the shelves and set up my old Dell computer running Ubuntu.

• Top: Router & N AS
• Photo printer and scanner
• Dell Monitor for Ubuntu machine and Network printer
• Dell running Vista (yuck) and empty space
• Shredder and Ubuntu Dell

After the BHA Hunter Show Trevor came home to play with Eric.  They found some Spiderman tattoos and applied them to their arms and faces.  Note to self….in the future discourage the face tattoos as it took a lot of scrubbing to get the tattoos removed.

Barb and Joe left our house early Friday morning after attending Billie Jo’s graduation and staying overnight. Kathryn spent the morning in Kindergarten. I hoed the garden and met with the County Highway workers who came to inspect our proposed U shaped driveway (not looking good). I mowed all the lawn including paths to the ponds and around all the evergreen transplants.

Friday evening we attended Trevor’s “family” birthday party and then went to see Fiddler on the Roof, the Community Education play (which we only stayed to intermission).

Saturday I coached my 2nd soccer game (a 0-2 loss, gosh those kids looked big) then Eric went back to Trevor’s house for another birthday party – this time for his classmates.

Sunday we left early for Rochester. My stomach feeling “off” and when we got there I got cold sweats and felt queasy. We packed the truck and headed home. No sooner got on the Thruway than we had to pull over and I vomited several times; quite a sight for passing motorists. Needless to say it was a miserable trip home. Through it all, Eric was very good though. We got home about 3 and I went straight to bed with chills and stomach ache but did not throw up again. By then Kathryn was feeling queasy/achy and had a low grade headache. Eric had to pretty much fend for himself, although we managed to feed him.

Monday I felt good enough to go to work for half a day and I was home when Eric got off the school bus. Here comes the bus.

Eric disembarks.

You can see the energy, but you can’t hear the WAHOO! A happy 6 year old headed for some playtime.

Thursday night we celebrated Billie Jo’s graduation from Utica School of Commerce at Heart’s Hill Inn. We couldn’t be prouder. It took a long sustained effort working at school, working a job, and raising Dakota simultaneously. Billie Jo graduated as the President of the Student Association, with High Honors (> 3.75 gpa) and listed as a member of Who’s Who of Junior Colleges. Below Billie Jo, I and Kathryn sit on the bench given as a gift to the college by the student association. (Honestly I was happier than I appear)

Billie Jo in her cap & gown.

Billie Jo and her buddy Maureen.

Billie Jo giving her President of the Student Association speech. Unfortunately I missed this part as we had no electric since 3pm. We didn’t want to leave our baby sitter Erin in the position of putting Eric to bed with no lights or power, so I went home. By the time Eric and I took Erin home the power came back on. I did, however, see a short movie clip of the speech and it was great, of course…..

Billie Jo is working Nackley Insurance Company.

Eric had a soccer game on Saturday morning that was notable for three reasons.

1. A helicopter landed at the adjoining Stittville Firemen’s Practice Facility. This mesmerized the kids, or at least our team who had their backs to helicopter. They had to turn around, look and point with the expected results….. the opponent scored a goal that looped over everyone’s heads. I am not even sure if anyone saw it. The team ended up losing 3-2 against a top tier team.

2. Jen came to watch. In the hierarchy of Eric’s family I am pretty sure his Mom is #1. I would never want to ask where I stand relative to Jen. Below Eric ‘cools’ off Jen with a fan operated water bottle during his break time. Mike keeps an eye out that Eric doesn’t make off with his fiancee.

3. The soccer team had picture day. Here Cole, Joseph, Jaden, Eric, Kristoff and Josh are grouped together prior to their team photo.

Below Joseph, Jaden, Eric, Josh, Kristoff, Josh and Cole all show off their smiles with Coach Cori in the background.

Eric’s Kindergarten Class took “Dress Casual” to a whole new level on Friday and declared Pajama Day.  All the kids and teachers wore pajamas to school.  Below Eric poses with his Nintendo DS and his Spiderman pajamas.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t a direct path to school as 1st he had a dentist appointment where Kathryn snapped this picture with her cell phone.  It isn’t fun having a mouth full of dental appliances.

Kathryn went to Rochester yesterday and stayed overnight.  She and her brothers are starting to sort through the paperwork and house items.  Fran did a reverse mortgage and they have 90 days to sell the house.  There is a lot to go through as they have been in the same house forever.

Kathryn got me an adjustable height basketball standard for my birthday.  Of course I had to pick it up, pay for it and set it up – but it was on the list.  You know you are in for a job when the instructions say “This should take two adults about 90 minutes”.  Eric and I spent 2 hours setting it up and then got to play a little basketball.  When it is set at the 8’ height and he uses his smaller basketball he can make shots.  And that was the whole idea.

Too small, too tall, and just right!

Both of Eric’s top front teeth came out this week.  The one was hanging on by a thread and came out when he coughed at night (Tuesday).  The other came out on Thursday night.  He was in the hot tub with a beach ball, pushed it underwater,  it popped up and bopped him in the chin and the tooth was knocked out!  So he has made a trip to the bank with his tooth fairy money and the Easter money that he got.

Eric had Fifth’s disease which is common in kids between the ages of 5 and 15.  Fifth disease begins with a low-grade fever, headache, and mild cold-like symptoms (a stuffy or runny nose). These symptoms pass, and the illness seems to be gone until a rash appears a few days later. It produces a distinctive red rash on the face that makes the child appear to have a “slapped cheek.”  Several days later, the rash spreads and red blotches (usually lighter in color) extend down to the trunk, arms, and legs.  Fifth disease is actually just a viral illness that most kids recover from quickly and without complications.

Billie Jo and Dakota came to the house for my birthday.  Kathryn grilled steaks, made mashed potatoes, green beans and tomato soup cake.  Yummy.  It was sunny and warm all afternoon.  Great for playing and sitting outside.