We didn't get near accomplished this last week that I would have liked to have had. We did get the footings in and those needed to "cure". Monday Jess and Martin will start setting the 3 cinder blocks, pouring concrete in them to stabilize them and adding the hurricane strap. That should pretty much finalize that except for adding the metal for termite protection. A lot of waste of money. So far, this expenditure has run me about $3000 extra dollars that I, nor the contractors and the Windstorm Engineers thinks is necessary at all. Sighh..... but that's what the City of Beaumont wants. Total for replacing 44 footings (which this house never had) the cinder blocks, concrete and more concrete, rebar and other materials is going to run real close to $4500. Just think how far $4500 would have taken us on repairing and refurbishing the house!

Jess and Martin will also replace the outer rotten wood that will sit down on the cinder blocks. They can't get to any more of it until after the mover comes back and sits her down on her Laurels. (We are thinking Thursday or Friday but knowing his work pattern of the past, I will believe it all when I see it.)

I've called Jefferson County probation department and will be working with probationers needing community service hours - they will start scraping the house and preparing her for painting. That is going to be my next step - getting her painted.

I will start getting the little bit of plumbing and electrical done - yes, I learned to do this when I refurbished my historical home! And, I want to also start pricing sheetrock.

There was a study done that said it would take $40,000 to bring the house back to code. I do not think so and I am making real certain that it doesn't. I am shooting for $15-20,000 maximum. Yes, that is a lot of money - but - it's all going to be worth it in the long run. I want to prove to these people that they lied to the US Government about the costs of refurbishing this house and I want to prove to FEMA that they lied to get this lady a new house.

Had she taken care of the house in the first place, it wouldn't be in the situation that it is in.

Bottom line, I love the house. I think it adds charm and beauty to my "compound" as it is referred. And, I think when she is finished, the walk ways and gardens are put together, this ol' place of mine is going to be an exclamation of "OH MY!" I want many generations to come to enjoy these houses. And, hopefully, the City of Beaumont will realize how important keeping these and other historical buildings within our City is.

It's been a roller coaster and I've not kept up with the blog the way I should. Darlene Chodzinski with Beaumont Heritage Society was here on Thursday for the big move. YES - she is moved. Watching her come down the street - the wrong way- so massive and with dignity - was just awesome. To say that I was jubilant when she hit my soil, is just a real mild understatement!

Today we ordered the rebar, over the weekend we built the forms so we can make the piers, I arranged for a Windstorm Inspector to come and check us out on Thursday - so looks like we will be pouring on Thursday - at least the piers.

Wednesday Jess goes and picks up 200 cinder blocks. And, the only thing left for me to find are the "boot chairs" for inside the concrete. Walthall concrete will be here to assist us with the concrete. Jane Walthall is a woman owned business - and I just sort of like doing business with her! She's a friend. And, I like that.

Ted Harp will be doing our inspection. And, Raul will be building things and doing the concrete work. Pictures on Facebook will be posted.

Today I had sort of a little "scare" - I was under the house counting any seals that may need replacing as we put the piers under. I felt something wriggling in my shorts. I jumped out from under the house and stripped down in the back yard - thank GOD no one but me was around! Out fell a grass snake - but it was a SNAKE! I peed my pants right there and then.

We are moving along - slowly - a lot more slowly than I had wanted. Tomorrow I am calling probation to see if they have 5-10 folks who need to do community service - I will have them scraping paint! And, depending on what all we have going - may can use them later on as well. If they work well, I will write a letter to probation AND to the Judge in favor of them - if they don't - that will be their bad!

I'm loving seeing her sit out my back window. I'm just hoping for more and more jobs so that the work can progress while I'm not here.

Keep up with our journey on Facebook - Langham House Author - and I will try to keep things up here as well!