May 17 - First Flooring Estimate Appointment

Okay, I know it's a little early to be picking out my flooring - but I really want to get the estimate to see how low under my budget I can come in.  That way I know how many extras I can get later!  :)  Who knew that flooring and countertops would be such an ordeal?  I have a color pallet that I really like, that was the first step, then finding colors and materials I liked that looked good together.  Unfortunately, I tend to gravitate towards the more expensive items - go figure.  I really love the materials we picked out today.  I dragged all the big samples home to show the girls and half way through showing Sierra she told me she didn't like them.  UGH!  I guess lucky for her she only has to live in the house for two more years!  :)  I need to go back in on Thursday to give them some more information and then will get my estimate shortly.  I will be trying to get at least a total of three estimates.  I was hoping to do everything local but it looks like a trip to Vancouver or Portland may be in order.  I can't believe I still have to meet with the cabinet and plumbing people.  I hate making decisions by myself.  (I have to apologize for the quality of the pictures - someone spilled a pop on my camera so I was using my phone.)

May 12 - Pump and Chlorinator Put In

So the great guys with the drilling company were up today installing the pump and chlorinator.  They are coming back Friday morning to get a water sample to be tested!  We are one step closer to getting our building permit!  I am getting really excited - it's starting to feel like this is really going to happen!

May 10 - We Hit Water!

Just a quick blog today.  I got a call about 3:30 pm that we hit 12 gallons per minute at 240' on our second well.  That is great news.  The crew will be out Thursday to put the pump in and finish some stuff up.  Hopefully, the water test will come back quick and we can get started on the building permit!

May 9 - More Well Drilling

First, I just want to say those well drillers are quick.  They had the new permit and were moving to the new location first thing Monday morning.  So as of tonight we are at 200' with a little water.  Now I don't know much about well drilling but these guys are schooling me!  Your ideal rate is 12 gallons per minute - we are at about 4.5 - 5 gallons per minute.  Which means the water pressure in the house will be just fine but if you want to wash your car, water the lawn or fill up a kids pool - it's going to take a while!  Also, a bank will not fund your loan if you are not at 5 gallons per minute.  So it looks like we will be drilling a little more today.  I'm not sure how we are between two houses that have wells at 145' and 160' and we are at 200+'.  This is the wettest place I've ever been and it has rained so much in the last two years you would think there would be water right under the surface!  :)  I let the guys know I probably wouldn't be up today because I think I'm bad luck!  Hopefully, I will get a call this morning saying they hit 12 gallons per minute at 220' or even 240'.  Fingers crossed everyone!

May 4 - The Water Witcher

So I decided earlier this week to call a water witcher before we start drilling in a new spot.  Frank was so great to come out this afternoon.  He found the spot, at least we hope.  We now have to wait to get a new permit to drill a new well and then a lot of work needs to be done to abandon the first well that was drilled. Maybe by the end of next week we will have our well in.  I just found out today that you can't even get your building permit until the well is in and has been checked out.  So I am crossing my fingers that next week goes "well."  Hehehe.   I can't wait until the Port-A-Potty shows up!  That is when I will know some serious building will be started!  :)  I never would have thought that I would be excited to see a Port-A-Potty!

April 30 - Well Drilling

So this morning I arrive at the site with a dozen donuts, all ready to begin the well drilling.  I was met by two gentlemen and I asked where the rest of the crew was.  Silly me, I didn't realize it only takes one or two guys to drill a well - who knew.  Those guys worked hard all day long!  They drilled down to 200' and no water.  So much for hoping to hit it at 60'.  The best part was I was totally freaking out each time they added 20'.  Someone at sometime told me it was about $100 a foot to drill a well.  With each 20' I was thinking, okay I guess I don't need granite countertops, okay I guess I don't really need a balcony outside my bedroom and I probably don't need a breakfast bar in my room.  Luckily, the guys told me it was only $23 a foot.  I felt so much better and was ready to start drilling again.  After talking it over, the guys decided to call it a day and said they would go look at some maps of the placement of wells in the area and come back to start it all over.  So my well drilling blog will be continued...................