Happy Halloween!

Trick or Treat - we have lots of treats today in the form of photos!

"I've just been shingling for so long....I've become a shingle.....I don't know what to write." - Dave E. Well, I guess I will have to take it from here... yesterday Dave said, "Ridge Road Gym Club now open for membership...how do you like haulin that insulation to the third floor Meg??"..."Heavy! Much heavier than it looks!"... "Yeah, well, welcome to my world..." as we both laughed. Dave's busting his BUTT and thanks to some HUGE help from brother Peter we are cruising along (not a mock speed, but a comfortable speed). Peter is responsible for putting in most of the insulation, Dave has been shingling and made a few trips to Maine Green Building Supply to refuel on the insulation. We ordered our stove this week, and our doors should be in soon.

Don Chase III also helped us reclaim a beam from friend Kevin and Nelle Killouries house on Carter Notch Road that they tore down. We are using the old log as a support beam as seen by the chimney. Visits from Gino and Debi Simone and my old college friend from Montana Mary Antonelli two weekends ago - other than that it's been quite and Dave is cruising right along.



None the less, Dave plans to start finishing the interior next week - Team Sheetrock (Meg, Pete, and Dave) will be working hard all this Saturday, so bring Beer if you plan to stop by! Not for me, for the boys, I'll take a Steamed Chi please! Just kidding. No beer until After 5 - rule # 093 of Ridge Road Job Site.

Solar Decathlon & Davis, CA Village Homes

PETER from Port City Studios was seen in the background on NEWSHOUR with Jim Lehrer, the other night at the Solar Decathlon in DC - read their blog entry to find out more about this contagious event that has been increasing in attendance each time by the hundreds of thousands of visitors! Thankfully that means the word is getting out Port City Solar Decathlon

Friend Stefan Karnopp recently shared that he spent a few years of his childhood growing up at Village Homes in Davis, CA. what appears to be a fascinating place rich in eco friendly history. I hope something like that can take place here in the White Mountains, as it has already on Martha's Vineyard at Island CoHousing

Thank you Ned Sullivan & Badger Realty!

Before.... and after.... what a DAY! WHAT A DAY! Words can NOT describe how amazing the colors were from the air. I will post more fall photos soon.
As the crow flies, Maine is right over the ridge – you can see Kimball Pond and Kezar Lake. We were coming around the North ridge of Kearsarge Mt (the one with the fire tower seen from North Conway). We have a slight view of Kearsarge from the house. Note Doublehead and Mt. Washington in the distance in other photos.

Nearing the Summit

Dave contemplates a frieze board detail where the shingles meet the trim, while he nears the summit of the south face! I finished insulating around the windows today. I'm only able to help for about 2 hours a day :( but need to step it up a notch if we are going to get this done around T-day. Dave is doing an amazing job and everyday I'm floored by his talents! He takes a step back each evening to look at his work...all in a days work I guess.

Energyworks Finishes Solar Install

We got the call and Geoff and John from Energyworks, Portland, ME came over in their batmobile (I don't have a photo, but take my word)...next thing you know I was getting a lesson in the science of Glycol and how to understand the Stiebel Eltron Hot Water Heater. The collectors on the roof are Apricus evacuated tube collectors which offer much higher efficiencies than flat-plate collectors. These collectors are insulated so they don’t suffer any heat loss and perform much better in cold winters to attain higher temperatures than flat plate collectors.

Officially this was the easiest install they ever had because of our 4/12 pitch dormers that sit back to back, so they could work off one to install on the other. These guys were awesome! They answered all our questions and explained how parts of the system worked in great detail. We highly recommend Energyworks to anyone looking to broaden their solar horizons. Thank you Fortunat, Geoff, John, and Jen :)

Dave said he ended the day talking with our neighbor and electrician JT (Jonathan Taylor Electrical) about running power to the summit of Mt. Washington - I say, why not get a solar electric system up there??? Hummmm..

Fast Facts:
Electrician - JT, lives on our road
Chimney Mason - Mason our Mason lives on our road
Logger - Greg Tsoules, lives on our road
Excavacation/Site Work - FF&J, Jay Henry lives on our road
Builder - Dave, can't wait to live on the road.

Two of the 5 above own a Flobee Hair Cutting Device....which two??

Holy Shingles Batman!

Pete and Pete helped Dave this weekend shingle the house - WOW! It's looking sharp! I believe I deleted images I took of Pete O, so I apologize for not getting him on here this time around. Thankfully Dave snaps photos with his little camera, because I can't be up there :(

Finally the Fryeburg Fair Video Clip: Suspects changed over the course of the day, but some familiar faces will be Steve Swenson father of Giant Pumpkin Agnes, Dave, Don Chase III, Jim Corey (featured in the giant doughnut section), Kevin & Nelle Killourie, Ellen, Julie Rivers (skillet toss), a brief Steve Johnson (Moat Mountain) sighting, and others :) Music By Bela Fleck

Too many Smores! Can't sleep!

Oh no! We had our first camp fire of the year tonight and after eating 5 smores for DINNER I can't sleep. So a quick pictoral recap of the week, I will come back and edit more detail later. Quenten added radient tubing to the SHOWER! A heated shower!!! Energyworks came over and started the Solar Hot Water Install. Geoff worked on the boiler and John worked on the piping. JT continued to wire the house and Dave worked on the FLARE also pointing out the first ladybug of the year to land on the house. I forgot to mention Monday, Woodsmans Day at the fair where yours truly took 5th in the Skillet Toss. More VIDEO to follow.

Meg's First Pneumatic Tool!

Sunday was an impressive day to say the least. I got a hold of my first Pneumatic tool, the staple gun, and was able to finally step it up a notch and really get into helping around the house. I put in all the rafter vents, "TuffVENT" a Environmantally Friendly 100% recycled natural fiber venting system. Dave worked the insulation and finished the stairs (rough stairs, final to come later) so we can get up and down fast and easy!