Farm Journal - 2025

[Hopalong]

My lord, what a cacophony of catastrophes.
Or, near-catastrophes.

I'm so sorry Amber. Just as the heat lifts a little, everybody has meltdowns.

Can't imagine the stress you've recently been through. Invasion x10.

I hope peace returns soon to the mountaintop and I'm very sorry Hol's lack of perception brought that feckless contractor into your orbit.

Shee-itttt!

hugs and comfort,
Hops

[sKePTiKal]

Oh that all happened in the worst of the heat. You might be on to something about perception, but truthfully we both got taken in. It's just that I kept a little distance & suspicion about something not being quite "as advertised'. And in truth, it's probably worse than i suspect.

We won't be the first to attempt to reconnect. Wish him luck & all... but I for one am done.

[Hopalong]

I'd be damn well done with him too. Ugh.

Have you seen those slim elevators that don't require major construction? They're like a glass box. They're not hidden in the wall but have a very small footprint. So if there's a corner or non-vital spot, they're just placed there and plugged in. Clever, and apparently a lot less expensive.

hugs
Hops

[sKePTiKal]

Yes, Stiltz is the elevator you're describing. That's the one I'm choosing. BUT my house is small enough that there is no good spot for it, without being in the way.

Putting an addition on the dining room side - down to back door/garage walkin - will give us a little extra room and flexibility. The ground floor is mostly utility and garage; technically there is bedroom and an awkward bath. I use that bedroom for the "office". Planning on air lock/mudroom around the elevator downstairs. Upstairs, will utilize the french door opening in the dining room for access. There will be about 4/5 feet around the elevator; so I will have another wall to put my china cabinet on... and more storage. That's also the corner of the house that takes the brunt of the wind, most of the time - an addition will help with that.

I know it sounds like overkill, an unnecessary excuse to add square footage, but there is truly one other spot where there is a) enough space for the elevator footprint and b) doesn't require restructuring the beams or posts supporting the house. And that location interferes with the stairs to the third floor, the front door and downstairs access to/from the garage. The whole project is going to be very expensive; just the elevator is about $50k. We'll need concrete foundation, and will have to re-engineer roof for where addition joins, to keep drainage functioning well. So, I'll probably have the deck (currently uncovered) redesigned and replaced at the same time. Will screen in & roof bedroom/office side for an extra layer of protection on the west - most exposed - side of the house.

Can't wait to find out what that does to my RE taxes...  <rolleyes>

[Hopalong]

Whee! (Not the taxes part....)
Had fun looking at this:
https://www.elevators.com/residential-elevators/

[lighter]

I'm sure you've considered using closet space and, perhaps, an actual stairwell for elevator space, Amber.

A friend was considering an elevator, for her mother, then broke her own foot.....had to crawl up 3 levels of stairs, while recovering.

The stairwell was the best place, but would not work when power goes out.  She killed the project.

You likely have a generator to solve that problem....if the stairwell lines up?

Sorry you're having so much going sideways, at once, Amber. 

I hope the pooch and Hol recover soon, as well as they can.

Lighter

[lighter]

Amber, my daughters phone me when they're overwhelmed with a bloated tick in the pug's ear.....squealing and requiring emotional support, like younger beings.

I never, really, felt that way about crisis in my life.  Never thought "Call Mom/Dad!"  I did call my father, for directions, before cell phones and GPS.

I wouldn't, likely have, called mom, if it did occur to me.

Did you call your mother, or think of calling her, during moments of crisis in your life?  I suspect her betrayal of you, when you were very young, had an impact?

Lighter

[sKePTiKal]

Yeah, I considered the stairwell. Had the consultant look at it too, as a backup option - and he agreed the addition would be a better solution. The footprint required for elevator is bigger than 3x4 ft.and would impact use of the front door and steps. It's even more awkward downstairs.

LOL... nope; my mom would've been the worst person to call in any kind of crisis. She would literally fall apart & not be able to think, or act - just freeze up. Holly tried to call me, coz she was terrified; knew what was happening and knew she had to act fast. Just needed validation of her choice/judgement. I tend to get right down to "what I KNOW beyond a reasonable doubt"- which was, I was driving when she called; I wouldn't make it back in time to drive her - and I have confidence in her driving ability when under extreme stress. Yeah, it's still a big risk - and I couldn't judge how severe her reaction was or how quickly it would escalate - even if she calmed down over the phone.

That experience, following so close to Knuckles' issues has gotten thru her constant pushing to constantly "get things done" motivation. She's just a bit more "zen" and laid back and has found it easier to "let things go". She admits it was a huge "hint" from the universe about making some changes. We'll see how long it moderates her
X-games level approach to everything.

[Hopalong]

Yeesh. I'm so sorry about Hol's wakeup call, except for the potential positives you've pointed out. Whew.

Made me think of two things:
1) Neighbors. Maybe tearing up a driveway with "Please drive me to the ER" was worth a try? I don't know how close she came but what a horrible scare.

2) What's happening to rural hospitals. https://petebuttigieg.substack.com/p/meet-a-rural-doctor-already-seeing

And poor Knuckles. My D has no functioning adrenal glands due to Addison't disease, and take oral steroids, big doses, to stay alive. Is this true for dogs too?

hugs despite horrors,
Hops

PS Are you at all concerned about the stress of addition-adding? Thought of an outside elevator? Or does it all feel like an engaging, interesting project? I worry...but must consider that for me, there's adrenalin over tidying up.

[sKePTiKal]

Nope - the neighbors wouldn't be much help. Either incapable themselves (oldsters or handicapped or not home). We have a rural hospital in the same network as the one "over the mountain". But that requires a turnaround to head the opposite direction and one can wait 15 mins for traffic to clear on the highway. I'm not kidding about "boonies".

Predisone daily for the Knucks. And he's now tested monthly, for the exact dosage of a hormone shot needed. He's definitely feeling better.

I don't see building as stressful. I enjoy projects; seeing a visualization come to life; figuring out how I'll use it. This addition has more than one purpose - it will also provide an airlock/mudroom downstairs and block one of the places the wind seeps in from a drafty corner (despite tube(s) of caulking inside & out) especially in the winter. Working with a contractor doesn't HAVE to be stressful... and so far, I've only tried two - the original one, that we pretty saw eye to eye on things... and someone new - that I will have to ride herd on.

Stress for me, usually involves other people and their emotional quandarys. Gotta go make Knucks breakfast bowl.