Stewart Marsh of SJM Construction is no longer my contractor to finish the project (which should have been finished December 1, 2009).  There is a whole tale of woe here that I don’t feel like rehashing. 

But now the project is moving on and I’ve become my own general contractor. Dan, job captain from the first summer, is my right hand construction person.  So far Jimmy and Jeremy (plus Jeremy’s brother Robbie for his ditch digging expertise) have been crew, making things happen.  They have the propane line dug across the driveway (no small thing through the compacted 4″ minus gravel), breezeway decked, one set of breezeway stairs installed, countertops in the kitchen set, the gas line line the propane stove installed (this was way more complicated than it would have been if I hadn’t first planned on a wood cookstove); the wood cookstove sent from the garage to its new home in Idaho; the little back deck and its ADA ramp for Ann-access made; beaucoup garbage shuffled in the environment and in the garage and the propane line and tank (scored a good used tank – $300 vs $990 new — are in, awaiting inspections. Oh and Craig Mayea delivered a load of 3/4″ minus gravel to make the bedroom access happen.  That particular front (small porch access for gimps) looks great — crisp, clean and iniviting.  When the wrap around deck is finished it will be a welcome way into the house.  All this happened in a week and a half.

The crew is working hard and showing pride in turning back at the end of the day to know what is accomplished. No free loaders this summer.

A welcome addition to the crew is a subcontractor,  Greg Vitzelberger from Oregon Log, who on a day-to-day basis makes wonderful log furniture and hand rails and stair cases.  He has agreed to make the needed railings (to keep people from failling from the upstairs into the down stairs) from more of the Welches timbers.  That 200 year old wood is certainly finding new life. Not to mention crew has moved them more times than they want to count.  Heavy.

Back on the mountain on Saturday because Mikey and Johnny have the time to start painting the upstairs (which means electrical fixture can then happen and carpet can be laid next upstairs) and Dan and his family want to enjoy the space.  And it is Dan’s birthday and that’s where he wants to be.

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Many of you will know that Stewart Marsh of SJM Construction was less than honest with his draws from my construction loan and is no longer my contractor to finish the project (which should have been finished December 1, 2009).  There is a whole tale of woe here that I don’t feel like rehashing.  But now the project is moving on — on the cheap, but still maintaining quality.

I’ve become my own general contractor.  But completing this project is a full time job with a 3 hour a day commute.

Here is what is happening.  Dan Laney, framer and job captain from the first summer is my right hand construction person.  So far Jimmy and Jeremy Packard (plus Jeremy’s brother Robbie for his ditch digging expertise) have been crew, making things happen.  They have the propane line dug across the driveway (no small thing through the compacted 4″ minus gravel), breezeway decked, one set of breezeway stairs installed, countertops in the kitchen set, the gas line line the propane stove installed (this was way more complicated than it would have been if I hadn’t first planned on a wood cookstove); the wood cookstove sent from the garage to its new home in Idaho; the little back deck and its ADA ramp for Ann-access made; beaucoup garbage shuffled in the environment and in the garage and the propane line and tank (scored a good used tank – $300 vs $990 new — are in, awaiting inspections. Oh and Craig Mayea delivered a load of 3/4″ minus gravel to make the bedroom access happen.  That particular front (small porch access for gimps) looks great — crisp, clean and iniviting.  When the wrap around deck is finished it will be a welcome way into the house.  All this happened in a week and a half.

The crew is working hard and showing pride in turning back at the end of the day to know what is accomplished. No free loaders this summer.
A welcome addition to the crew is a subcontractor,  Greg Vitzelberger  from Oregon Log, who on a day-to-day basis makes wonderful log furniture and hand rails and stair cases.  He has agreed to make the needed railings (to keep people from failling from the upstairs into the down stairs) from more of the Welches timbers.  Tom and Burt, you may have laughed at me for coveting those timbers (as you moved them for me – thanks again) but that 200 year old wood is certainly finding new life. Not to mention crew has moved them more times than they want to count.  Heavy.
Back on the mountain on Saturday because Mikey and Johnny have the time to start painting the upstairs (which means electrical fixture can then happen and carpet can be laid next upstairs) and Dan and his family want to enjoy the space.  And it is Dan’s birthday and that’ s where he wants to be.

Sooo here are a few pictures from the week and then I want to eat my dinner. OK, the pictures are loading well and I’m hungry.

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When my brother and only sibling, Read Richardson, passed away we all felt a gaping hole in our lives. He owned a piece of property near Government Camp (.41 acres) that he affectionately called his “ranch,” hence Hank’s Ranch. The house on that property is a tribute to him and a place for the living to enjoy the company of family and friends.

Hank Richardson, Thanksgiving 2004

The Oregonian obituary:
Read Richardson , Welches, Oregon

On September 23rd we lost a good friend, son, brother, step-father from complications of two strokes.

Read was born in Portland, Oregon on May 21, 1944. He graduated from West Sylvan Grade School, 1958, Lincoln High School 1961, Portland State College (now Portland State University) in 1965 with two degrees in Business Administration and Psychology.
He served 1965-1968 United States Air Force (Viet Nam era), receiving an honorable discharge.

Work career: Omark Industries, (human resources), independent commercial fisherman out of Newport, Securities Travelers RVs in Boise; Community Action Center in Vancouver, Washington; a fly-by-night employment agency (he turned state’s evidence because they were corrupt — the company no longer exists), Zeidell, Schnitzer Steel – and other non-ferrous agencies for over 25 years. Read, most recently, was working for Metro Metals NW and Pacific Coast Shredding.

He had a passion for gun collecting, hunting & fishing, books, local history (particularly Mt Hood history); Oregon Public Broadcasting; jokes & puns; his friends and family; wilderness places.

Those he leaves behind includes his mother and stepfather Jane and Dave Whittlesey, a sister Ann Richardson; two nieces Brook and Aileen Jeffries; step-sister Holly Nelson and six other step-siblings, three step children: Sara Proctor, Jesse and Bob Culver, dear companion Jeanette Bock; and so many wonderful friends, coworkers and extended family. Read was predeceased by his father, Ken Richardson.

“Hank” was his nickname and he will be long remembered for his unflinching honesty, his loyalty to those who believed in him and in whom he believed and his simply phenomenal sense of humor.

Send-off get-together will be held on October 5th at 1:00 PM at the Lions Club in Welches (24730 E Woodsy Way, just off Hwy 26)

In lieu of flowers, donations could be made to the Hoodland Fire District #74, Welches, Oregon

Ann’s eulogy from the Memorial Service:
Omens. Messages from Mother Earth or the gods. I believe in them.

On August 19th when my brother didn’t show up at the memorial service of our dear friend Randy Proctor, I was concerned. Hank always showed up.

If he said he was going to be there, he was – sometimes a little early and always eager to share a good meal with lots of laughter. When I couldn’t find him after the service, I became very worried and my Saturn and I took off speedily, going up the mountain to his home.

As I pulled up to his house, his beloved Mitsubishi Montero was in the driveway with a bright yellow leaf on the front window. The leaf told me that something was very wrong and I needed to act: NOW.

That moment was followed by more than a month and a half of roller-coaster rides. And then, before dawn on a Saturday, his body finally said “enough.”

Step-sister Holly showed up on the following Sunday at the funeral home to be with me as I signed the paperwork to dispose of his earthly remains. Thanks for showing up, Holly. We went out for brunch and then I headed off to see Mother and Dave.

I try to stop by every Sunday. I pulled over on SW First Avenue, under some gloriously yellow beech trees, to call and say I would be in Newberg shortly. Just before I pulled back on the street, Sara Proctor, Hank’s step-daughter, phoned me, just to check in. She has been so good about touching base. As we chatted, a single bright yellow leaf floated in my window and landed on my lap. It seemed to me that Hank was thanking me for dealing with his shell, saying: “Brugli Other to Sisti Ugler, I know that wasn’t great, but I appreciate it.”

Leaves were turning color everywhere and falling on my deck, in my hair, on the 4×4 as Dennis Taylor and I tried to find gun clips and get Hank’s vehicles running. “Just checking in and saying thanks,” he said.

There are so many people to thank. I won’t name you, as for certain I’ll forget someone really important. But I do want to thank all of you who came to visit my brother over those 6 weeks—those who called and who responded to emails.

I want to thank his coworkers and Metro Metals NW who visited and kept his paychecks coming. I want to thank my coworkers who stocked my frig with deli frozen dinners and all of the Wu crew who covered my back during my frequent absences. And my boss who came to support us today. Most importantly, I would like to thank you all for showing up. Look at you all!

In the days, weeks, months, years ahead, the leaves will continue to fall. When you find them on your doorstep, on your rig, on your lawn chairs – do smile and say: “Thanks for showing up”

We must not be sad, but we should raise a glass to the cause. Be kind and celebrate the good times…oh yes, and recycle!

The slide show to follow was made with the expertise of Aileen and Kes and the help of all the photos in my home, on the computer, and those that arrived on my doorstep. I know there are many wonderful ones that could have been included, but as our Ca’jun friends would say: Laissez les bon temps roulez —let the good times roll.

And the slide show:
www.shizwah.com/hank_richardson

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Richard Schwartz and Bill Crawford, cabinetmakers par excellente, did manage to get in with the cabinets as the snow fell.  I arrived about a half hour after they did and had very little time to chat.  The crew unloaded the cabinets and drawers admidst ohhs and awwws and acolades. They are truly works of art.

I tried taking pictures of both of them and got a blurry one of Richard but Bill turned his head just as I snapped the shutter, so I got a picture of the back of his head.

Back of Bill Crawford and Todd with cabinets all around

The crew had stayed up until 9:30 PM last night working.  The tile in the Great Room is down.  It is better than I had imagined it would be. I love the margins where the floor tile marries up with the stone of the fireplace.

Where tile meets stone. I love the textures and colors

James was upstairs painting on primer.  Mikey was making baseboards upstairs.  Jack wandered around looking for some one to play with him.

Jack with toy rubber hedgehog in his mouth seeking a playmate

Johnny was clearcoating doors and lightly sanding between layers.  He could hardly contain himself from wanting to clearcoat drawer fronts. There is a before and after photo.

Johnny clearcoating a drawer. Try comparing the one that has just been covered with the naked one next to it.

For maybe 20 minutes the sun came out and I said: Here comes the sun.  The crew spontaneously broke out with a chorus of “Here come the sun, little darling.  It’s been a long cold, lonely winter.  Here comes the sun.  It feels like years since you’ve been here.

Mikey and I had a conversation about letting the house freeze in the winter, which I plan on letting it do. Or at least prepare as if it will freeze. It is a topic that has caused me much to ponder about in the middle of the night. The big thing we need to avoid is mold and getting a damp smell permeating everything.  I think I finally concluded that I will leave two or three wall heaters (very energy efficient) going at about 45 degrees, all three ceiling fans working and a dehumidifier in action – if we can figure out a way to get the water from the condensed moisture to drain outside in such a way that the out-take pipe doesn’t freeze. I’ll be curious to see what the electric bill will be. Mikey is now reassured.  He loves this Project. 

Todd and Bobby promptly started installing cabinets.  I sat about mostly in awe of the cabinets. I’ll pick out drawer pulls this weekend.

Ann in awe of the cabinets

About noon Parr Lumber delivered the stringers and more concrete for the deck and left immediately. It started with a rain/snow mix and quickly became very earnst about snowing. 

Deck stringers and concrete arrive. Parr delivery man promptly burns rubber to get off the mountain and the snow falls.

I pulled out about 12:30, taking the Trillium Lake road out.  By the time I reached the summit snow was sticking on the asphalt and I went down the mountain at about 40 mph.  No one passed me until I got to Rhodedendron. I paused for lunch at Calamity Jane’s and drove the rest of the way home in the rain. 

We’ll have to wait and see if we can get back in on Monday.

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Did a drive-by lunch fish sandwich from Burgerville and polished off a Joe’s Donut maple bar from Sandy on the way up the mountain. The view of Mt. Hood on the way was exquisit — crystal clear, nearly leaping out of the skyline. 

Stewart was on the site, moving stuff around.  The “snake” reject duct-work was gone, much to my delight.  Todd, Stewart and I talked about the raillings for the second floor.  Originally we hoped to have all brass railings, but there wasn’t enough brass, so the three railings (one of either side of the fireplace and one near the top of the stairs) and all will be wood/brass combos. 

Pencil drawing on Hardbacker board shows design of the second floor railings

Todd and Bobby turned the corner on the Great Room tilework, moving at last from the hallway into the Great Room itself.  The tricky part is laying tile around the fireplace.  Bobby (another very patient person) tried about ten times to get a pesky tile to fit and became victorious. 

The tile that is on the lower left is the one that was particularly troublesome to fit.

The routine is: vacuum floor; measure for tile; Bobby cuts the tile on the breezeway; cut tile returns to its spot where either Todd or Boddy lays down cement; tile is placed with red U-shaped spacers taking the guesswork out of spacing; repeat

Yesterday the decking crew had boxed in the deck.  A picture shows where the Dennis and Mary firepit will go in a corner. 

This will be the corner of the large back deck where the firepit will go.

One picture is in black and white because it came out an odd blue.  It is of the lower front deck where one of the wheelchair ramps will go.

More great tile work in the downstairs bathroom in the form of the backsplash for the sink. The plan had been to also incorporate 2″X2″ brown tiles into it as well, but Todd decided it looked dumb and nixed it.  Glad crew is willing to make such decisions without my input. 

Backsplash for the downstairs bathroom sink

Johnny was spending his time today and his time yesterday caulking and clearcoating interior windows and doors.  Something like four coats on inside the front door now.  It glows. We made a choice to buy that terrific front door with the agreement the other interior doors would be inexpensive.  Johnny has coated the downstairs doors with two or three coats, sanding between each one.  Very smooth now and warm. The closet doors await his touch.

If any of you want to make a visit before the gates close, now would be a good time.  Allen has heard predictions of 2 to 3 feet of snow at Timberline in the near future.

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