Day 172 - FAMILY, 4TH, AND FLOATING SHEETROCK

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!!!

The flag cake was part of our family celebration for the Fourth of July.  We've been having a great time visiting with our clan and enjoying all being together here in Texas.  Of course, no visit to Texas is complete without a visit to the Alamo.  The photo below is missing four of the visiting family members who were not available for the shot.

Front row L-R; Maddy, Ellie, Pat, Jacob, Peyton, Nancy
Back row L-R; Steve, Dana, Sydney, Bruce, Jeff, Melissa

Back at the ranch, the sheetrock guys were finishing up their work - including taping and floating the sheetrock.  And the masons have almost completed their work on the outdoor fireplace.

Wood niches on bottom; mantel still needs a little work

The masons and the sheetrock guys weren't the only ones working.  Bruce and son Kevin loaded up firewood to use in a smoker to start the fire for some divine smoked BBQ pork ribs cooked by Kevin and Bruce's son Jeff.

Bruce and Kevin with Shawna in background

Meanwhile, the sheetrock guys were working on stilts to reach the really high places.  It was totally amazing to watch them walking around on stilts like they were in running shoes.

Amazing stiltwalker in kitchen

Working overhead - I got dizzy looking at him!

He ducked through the door like it was no big deal!!!

Doing sheetrock work is a messy job because of the materials that are used and the crew was careful to protect  the windows.

The job requires lots of joint compound

Joint compound is messy stuff

Taping over windows for protection

 Then the next crew came in to do to the really high work.  It was quite a job to tape and float the 18 ft walls and the ceiling in the great room.  They erected tall scaffolding to do the work around the clerestory windows.  And the work on the staircase was kinda tricky as well.

18 feet in the air!!!

Don't think I'd like to be on this scaffold.....

And this ladder looks a little scary!!!

Even scarier view of ladder

The crews installed these clever curved devices to provide a rounded edge on the corners of walls.

Curve inset for corner

More corner "rounders"

I hope you had a great Fourth of July.  I'll leave you with a shot of a grandson......with no name for his protection and mine........enjoying a little snooze after loads of holiday goodies!!!!  Hope you had plenty of goodies, too!!!

A happy holiday reveler!!