Christmas 2008

The weather is beautiful, 72 degrees, so we're taking our traditional Christmas walk in the woods around our house.

Gretchen likes to explore outdoors too.

Both Antennas Are Ready To Go (double click any photo to enlarge)

N0TW towers and beams

4el SteppIR at 120 feet


Tower jockey coming down

SteppIR going up the tram wire

W4USA (Dave) ground support crew

Feb. 9, 2008 The First Antenna Is Up

40 Meter Beam part of the way up the tram wire

Antenna is pulled up using gin pole at top of the tower - rope passes thru the gin pole pulley, down the tower to another pulley, over to a third pulley anchored to hitch on back of my truck, and finally connected to the tractor. All the lifting is done by the tractor

Cushcraft beam in place on top of 110 ft Rohn 25 tower

View of the new beam from Fulford Road in front of our house

Two fox come to visit

Terry spotted 2 fox playing in our back meadow.

The weather is beautiful, most of the work is done,

and we're enjoying hiking and birdwatching in our woods.

November 20, 2007 From the Top

Monticello, FL is 7 miles to the south

just at the horizon. Tower is 50 ft above

the surrounding trees.

DOUBLE CLICK ANY PHOTO FOR ENLARGEMENT

Looking "down" on the 110 ft tower

The Elevated Guy Post (that has been shown in an earlier post)
is at the bottom of these guy wires!

November 19, 2007 Tower Day has Arrived

Crane set to lift 110 ft tower

at the 75 ft point

110 ft Rohn 25 - Going UP!

Got it Vertical - Now Swing Into Position

Upper Upper Guys Attached - Remove the Lifting Slings

120 ft Rohn 45 Tower is Vertical

View of 110 ft Tower from 75 ft elevation on 120 ft Tower

November 18, 2007 Tower Prep

120 ft Rohn 45 and 110 ft Rohn 25

ON THE GROUND

Hole for Rohn 45 Tower

Dead Man Anchor Hole

Deadman Anchor Rod

Photo taken before adding concrete

2 ft x 2 ft x 6 ft long (about 2 tons of concrete!) - buried 2 ft underground

12 ft long 6" diameter Elevated Guy Anchor Post

That's tar on the bottom to protect from rusting.

Elevated Post at Rear of Hamshack

Two sets of guywires from the two towers attach to this post

30" diameter x 5 ft deep hole for Elevated Anchor

(dug by hand!)

September 15, 2007 We've moved in!

Hope you all come see us.

Sept. 1, 2007 Less Than 6 Months

All finished except for the landscaping

Master bath garden tub and tile

August 25, 2007 The County Helped Us Out

Lots of progress in the yard this past week.

Terry persuaded the county road dept to bring their bulldozer and clean up their drainage easement. That really improved the side and back part of our property.

Can you see the car where we always park it in this photo and the next?

I'm standing on the driveway right over the culvert in the same spot to take both of these photos.
Before shot 3/12/07 in this one and after shot 8/25/07 in the one above.

Scenic wooded ravine lot after county cleanup.

Clogged drainage ditch before.

The kitchen is operable.

We have a very open floorplan with the living area and sunroom to the left.

To the right is the hall to the master bedroom, utility room and garage.

The guest room is ready for you.

Terry deserves a rest.

He's really worked hard physically and he's run ragged keeping everything going smoothly.

We have a wonderful contractor whom he's helped or who's helped him.

August 18 Nothings finished yet

Sidewalks, but no grass.

Moving in a month and lots left to do.

Garage apron, but no driveway.

Bought drapes, but no window sill.

Every room still needs to have some detail finished. Maybe next week.

August 3. 2007 Moving date set for 9/15

Gretchen says I could go right out through the sunroom into the back yard.

Marilyn says My orchids and violets will be great here on the shelves in the sunroom.

Terry says What's in the frig?