My family owns a construction business which is worked part-time along side my husband’s full time job at the shingle factory. These construction jobs have to be coordinated with his full time job in order to do them in his off time hours or days off. We have our three sons who help us if they are not working, at college, or have other plans. We also have a fourth son who lives 75 miles from us who is doing construction in his town such as we are.
Several of us on the crew have come to the conclusion that there are a couple of specialties that we just are not really fond of doing. They are also jobs that people cannot seem to find anyone else to do, so I guess we are just suckers. The first is painting. We did this a few months ago for two days when it was over 100 degrees. At certain times of the day, depending on which side of the house you were on, there was absolutely no shade you could get in to paint. To make matters worse, there was not even a breeze. More recent than that, we did the second thing we are not really fond of – shingling the roof. Not only is that really hard work, but it is so hot on the roof!
I honestly don’t know if it was hotter when painting or roofing, but the humidity just compounded the problem. The boys think it is pretty cool when they get hot on the job just to throw off their shirts and keep at it. I tell them that is totally not fair, and they just give me a big grin. I stand there with the sweat running in places it shouldn’t, so I walk over to the water jug and get a cup of cold water and pour it down the front and back of my shirt. It is amazing how that will cool you off, plus the wet shirt gives an air conditioned effect for quite some time.
We have had a very productive summer - with construction jobs still lined up that will take us well up into winter to complete. We were not at all upset to have had only one big painting and one big shingling job this year. I like helping with our family construction business, but when it is too hot or so cold you have to bundle up till you can hardly move, I would much rather be at home working my online business any day! I really appreciate my air conditioner and furnace at certain times of the year.
Author: Linda Dougherty
Specializes in working with people to show them how to market effectively to earn money online.
http://www.internettowealth.com/
Showing posts with label construction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label construction. Show all posts
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Construction Zone Ahead
With four little boys and all their toys, it didn’t take us long to realize that we had outgrown the house we had originally purchased shortly after we got married. The boys were doubled up in bunk beds, and there was no room under them for dust bunnies because that area was used for storage for all their "stuff." There was one closet in the whole house and it was totally full. When the boys were ages 2, 4, 6, and 8, we decided it was time to put on an addition to the house and remodel the original part of it, so we started drawing up house plans. We also knew there was no way we could afford to do what we had planned if we hired it done because of the cost of labor, so we knew it was up to us to make it happen with our own hands. We knew it would take time, as my husband had a full time job to work while doing it. We also did not want to go into debt, so to save money we advertised for used lumber. We ended up tearing down seven buildings on an old farmstead. We traveled about 34 miles round trip almost daily to accomplish the demolition project. We hauled the lumber all home and went through the grueling work of pulling nails out of the boards. Just before winter hit, we accomplished the feat of having it all sorted, stacked, and covered with tarps to protect it through the winter for the beginning of our huge project in the spring.
The hole for the basement was dug in March and then we got spring rains, which slowed down plans. Once we got momentum, we were able to get the 30’ x 40’ two-story addition up and enclosed before winter hit again. This also included getting a new roof put on the old part of the house and tying it in to the new roof over the addition. That was an experience in itself with a month’s work getting the old roof off, new rafters up, sheeting on, and shingled. Luckily, there was only one really bad rainstorm that came through in that month. My husband was in the attic area trying to hold tarps in a way to make a trough or funnel for the water to flow down to keep it out of the house during 50 mph winds. I was inside the house running around with butter dishes, cottage cheese cartons, and ice cream buckets, trying to catch any leaks that were making its way into our living quarters. What a nightmare!
Once the addition was on, we were able to work inside from then on out. We worked on the upper story first to complete it. That was followed by the lower story. Our boys now had their own bedrooms and closets for all their "stuff." We even had one room designated as a playroom where they could drag out their toys to play with and not have them strung throughout the house. Next on the list was remodeling the original structure of the house, which was close to 100 years old. We had to hang tarps or blankets for dust and dirt control at the openings into the addition. Taking down the old lath and plaster from the walls and ceilings was such a disgusting job. There was dirt that had remained from the "Dirty Thirty’s" dust storms in Kansas. We put drywall back up and painted as we worked our way through the house. The kitchen was the last room to be done, as it required the most work with installing new cabinets and countertops. Last on the list was putting down all the flooring in the house. We had not done any of that yet so we didn’t have any of that dirt tracked across it. Then at 3 ½ years from the time the hole was dug for the basement, to the final stroke of the varnish brush on some trim around the doors and the baseboard, we could officially say, "It’s DONE - all 3,760 square feet of it!!!!! We have a new house!"
What an experience it was to help build and remodel our home. Believe it or not, I actually learned to swing a pretty mean hammer with the rest of the crew – which was basically my husband and my father. I even finished shingling three roof slopes out of four by myself while my husband was at work. I did not want to have a "chase the rain" game again. Once of that was enough! I often compare that whole construction experience with that of my online business. Both require planning, setting a goal, lots of work, and continual maintenance. Just as a house will not build itself or be free of the need for personal attention, neither will an online business. It also takes team work in both cases to make it happen, and that is something my business offers with a great mentoring team to help people succeed.
Author: Linda Dougherty
Specializes in working with people to show them how to market effectively to ean money online.
http://www.internettowealth.com/
The hole for the basement was dug in March and then we got spring rains, which slowed down plans. Once we got momentum, we were able to get the 30’ x 40’ two-story addition up and enclosed before winter hit again. This also included getting a new roof put on the old part of the house and tying it in to the new roof over the addition. That was an experience in itself with a month’s work getting the old roof off, new rafters up, sheeting on, and shingled. Luckily, there was only one really bad rainstorm that came through in that month. My husband was in the attic area trying to hold tarps in a way to make a trough or funnel for the water to flow down to keep it out of the house during 50 mph winds. I was inside the house running around with butter dishes, cottage cheese cartons, and ice cream buckets, trying to catch any leaks that were making its way into our living quarters. What a nightmare!
Once the addition was on, we were able to work inside from then on out. We worked on the upper story first to complete it. That was followed by the lower story. Our boys now had their own bedrooms and closets for all their "stuff." We even had one room designated as a playroom where they could drag out their toys to play with and not have them strung throughout the house. Next on the list was remodeling the original structure of the house, which was close to 100 years old. We had to hang tarps or blankets for dust and dirt control at the openings into the addition. Taking down the old lath and plaster from the walls and ceilings was such a disgusting job. There was dirt that had remained from the "Dirty Thirty’s" dust storms in Kansas. We put drywall back up and painted as we worked our way through the house. The kitchen was the last room to be done, as it required the most work with installing new cabinets and countertops. Last on the list was putting down all the flooring in the house. We had not done any of that yet so we didn’t have any of that dirt tracked across it. Then at 3 ½ years from the time the hole was dug for the basement, to the final stroke of the varnish brush on some trim around the doors and the baseboard, we could officially say, "It’s DONE - all 3,760 square feet of it!!!!! We have a new house!"
What an experience it was to help build and remodel our home. Believe it or not, I actually learned to swing a pretty mean hammer with the rest of the crew – which was basically my husband and my father. I even finished shingling three roof slopes out of four by myself while my husband was at work. I did not want to have a "chase the rain" game again. Once of that was enough! I often compare that whole construction experience with that of my online business. Both require planning, setting a goal, lots of work, and continual maintenance. Just as a house will not build itself or be free of the need for personal attention, neither will an online business. It also takes team work in both cases to make it happen, and that is something my business offers with a great mentoring team to help people succeed.
Author: Linda Dougherty
Specializes in working with people to show them how to market effectively to ean money online.
http://www.internettowealth.com/
Monday, April 7, 2008
25 Years Together!
On April 10, 2007, my husband and I celebrated our 25th anniversary together. Where did those years go that passed by so quickly? Just what had we done or accomplished in those years since saying "I do?" I started making a list and was rather amazed as I quickly came up with 12 things right off the top of my head.
1. We gave birth to four sons who are our pride and joy. Our early married life was spent having babies – to where we are today of being on the verge of experiencing the empty nest syndrome as our youngest prepares to graduate from high school this year. It’s been a great experience of rearing our children that we wouldn’t trade for anything. They are very polite and respectable young Christian men and we are so proud of them.
2. When our youngest was about two years old, we realized how we had outgrown our small house and started our quest to put on an addition and remodel the old part of it. It took us 3 ½ years to do it, but we did it ourselves working side by side with each other.
3. My husband has worked at the same job for over 25 years at a plant that manufactures shingles and other roofing products. We have survived those years with him working rotating shifts every week and experiencing many disappointments when he wasn’t able to attend something such as an event one of our sons was involved in or a family get-together. We even went through a horrible experience of him almost getting his hand cut off at work and several months of therapy.
4. We supported our sons through 3 ½ years of training to become 1st Degree Black Belts in Tae Kwon Do. We were very proud of them each and every time they attained a new belt rank.
5. We took our four boys and went on a major 10-day family vacation to the Black Hills of South Dakota after the oldest son’s graduation from high school. We knew that might be the last time to go on such an outing before the boys were all gone from home. We had a blast!
6. We have been foster parents for about nine years – taking in 40 some kids in that time. Some kids stayed for less than a week, but others had stayed for nearly two years. Yes, there have been challenges along the way with most of the kids we’ve taken in, but it is our hope that we gave them a good home and have been a positive impact on their lives.
7. Getting our kids through college has been in the process for the last six years. They all are or have attended the same technical college in the construction trades. The two that have graduated have good jobs as a result of their education. Two down – two to go!
8. We have been able to see one of our sons get married to date. It is our prayer that all four of our sons find a wife that makes them very happy and that they can have as many years together as my husband and I have.
9. In our years together, we were saddened by the loss of both of my husband’s parents – we miss them a lot. On the other hand, we were able to help my parents celebrate 50 years together with an anniversary party in February 2007. Not many couples get to reach that milestone and we are so happy for them.
10. A great joy that has happened in the last couple of years we’ve been together is that of becoming grandparents. First of all came a grandson through our son’s adoption of a little boy that belonged to our daughter-in-law. Less than a year later, we experienced the joy of the birth of our granddaughter. It’s great being a grandparent! A recent song of "Small Town Southern Man" by Alan Jackson says it best in the chorus with, "The greatest contribution is the ones you leave behind."
11. My husband has been able to start a part-time job with his own construction business. After his hand accident on his full-time job, we were afraid he may not be able to pursue that dream of his. But with many months of therapy and 80% usage back, his business is growing with people wanting him to do jobs for them. What makes it even more special is that our sons have been able to step in and help on the projects since they have been to college to learn the construction trades.
12. I have been able to be a stay-at-home mom while all of our kids have been in school. It’s allowed me to help some with the construction business. I also have a cake decorating business and have been in several retail sales businesses. But the best has been starting my online businesses, which has allowed me to earn money online while being at home.
This list is just some of the highlights of our lives. There have been many other events that compile the make up of the 25 years my husband and I have had together. But what holds them all together like glue is the love we have for each other. Just as Faith Hill has sung "I am so blessed" in one of her popular songs, God has blessed us richly!
Author: Linda Dougherty
Specializes in working with people to show them how to market effectively to earn money online.
http://www.internettowealth/
1. We gave birth to four sons who are our pride and joy. Our early married life was spent having babies – to where we are today of being on the verge of experiencing the empty nest syndrome as our youngest prepares to graduate from high school this year. It’s been a great experience of rearing our children that we wouldn’t trade for anything. They are very polite and respectable young Christian men and we are so proud of them.
2. When our youngest was about two years old, we realized how we had outgrown our small house and started our quest to put on an addition and remodel the old part of it. It took us 3 ½ years to do it, but we did it ourselves working side by side with each other.
3. My husband has worked at the same job for over 25 years at a plant that manufactures shingles and other roofing products. We have survived those years with him working rotating shifts every week and experiencing many disappointments when he wasn’t able to attend something such as an event one of our sons was involved in or a family get-together. We even went through a horrible experience of him almost getting his hand cut off at work and several months of therapy.
4. We supported our sons through 3 ½ years of training to become 1st Degree Black Belts in Tae Kwon Do. We were very proud of them each and every time they attained a new belt rank.
5. We took our four boys and went on a major 10-day family vacation to the Black Hills of South Dakota after the oldest son’s graduation from high school. We knew that might be the last time to go on such an outing before the boys were all gone from home. We had a blast!
6. We have been foster parents for about nine years – taking in 40 some kids in that time. Some kids stayed for less than a week, but others had stayed for nearly two years. Yes, there have been challenges along the way with most of the kids we’ve taken in, but it is our hope that we gave them a good home and have been a positive impact on their lives.
7. Getting our kids through college has been in the process for the last six years. They all are or have attended the same technical college in the construction trades. The two that have graduated have good jobs as a result of their education. Two down – two to go!
8. We have been able to see one of our sons get married to date. It is our prayer that all four of our sons find a wife that makes them very happy and that they can have as many years together as my husband and I have.
9. In our years together, we were saddened by the loss of both of my husband’s parents – we miss them a lot. On the other hand, we were able to help my parents celebrate 50 years together with an anniversary party in February 2007. Not many couples get to reach that milestone and we are so happy for them.
10. A great joy that has happened in the last couple of years we’ve been together is that of becoming grandparents. First of all came a grandson through our son’s adoption of a little boy that belonged to our daughter-in-law. Less than a year later, we experienced the joy of the birth of our granddaughter. It’s great being a grandparent! A recent song of "Small Town Southern Man" by Alan Jackson says it best in the chorus with, "The greatest contribution is the ones you leave behind."
11. My husband has been able to start a part-time job with his own construction business. After his hand accident on his full-time job, we were afraid he may not be able to pursue that dream of his. But with many months of therapy and 80% usage back, his business is growing with people wanting him to do jobs for them. What makes it even more special is that our sons have been able to step in and help on the projects since they have been to college to learn the construction trades.
12. I have been able to be a stay-at-home mom while all of our kids have been in school. It’s allowed me to help some with the construction business. I also have a cake decorating business and have been in several retail sales businesses. But the best has been starting my online businesses, which has allowed me to earn money online while being at home.
This list is just some of the highlights of our lives. There have been many other events that compile the make up of the 25 years my husband and I have had together. But what holds them all together like glue is the love we have for each other. Just as Faith Hill has sung "I am so blessed" in one of her popular songs, God has blessed us richly!
Author: Linda Dougherty
Specializes in working with people to show them how to market effectively to earn money online.
http://www.internettowealth/
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