It finally moves!

So it looks like my house is actually going to get moved this weekend. The phone company, power company, and, most importantly, the mover have all indicated that it is a go. I removed the necessary fences today with the help of Jeremiah and John, so the path is pretty much clear.




From its current location, the house will initial be backed up (with the truck hooked up at the back of the house), and then turned toward its actual route. It will have to pass between two big oaks, and then beside a big hickory. I am hopeful that none of those three trees will have to be cut down, but that we will just have to trim them. The house will then be moved about 100 yards to a knoll across from the office of the rock quarry it will have to pass. This should be done on Thursday or Friday, and will save a lot of time on Saturday if can be done ahead of the big move.

On Saturday, the house will travel down the road and around a curve, about a quarter mile, before crossing into my parents' fields. This will require the assistance of the power and phone companies as the width of the house would cause it to hit the lines where they are now.

Once in the fields, it will climb a small hill to the crest of the most treacherous part of the journey. There is a large hill with a couple options for the descent, but none of them are pretty. Some phone lines will have to be dropped, and power lines raised over the house. Prior the the descent, the rock quarry manager will use the bulldozer to cut smooth paths for the house to descend down the hill. The dozer will then hook on the uphill side of the house, and lower the house down the hill. This should prevent the house from pushing the truck down the hill, or from jack-knifing.

Once the major descent is done, there is another small hill to traverse, a road to cross, another short climb, and then the only other potentially treacherous descent. After traveling along the side of the stream for a short time, the house will then climb the ramp to the foundation.

The truck pulling the house will cross the foundation and then detach from the house. The house will then be rotated on the four dollies supporting it, so that it is centered over the foundation. Once centered, it will be jacked up to about 10 feet in the air, so that I can build the basement walls under it.

That's the plan at least!

I'll keep you posted on the progress over the next few days.

BBK

Science vs Math

For anyone who has ever wondered what the difference between math and science is, here is a comic which pretty much sums it up.


Source: http://xkcd.com/435/

Of course, applied mathematicians would be somewhere between physicists and pure mathematicians.

Frustration

I thought that things were going to get moving in May, and the house did get picked up a little bit more, but I am still waiting for several things to fall into place before I can actually move the house.

Right now I am waiting on further information from the phone company about what they will have to do before I can move the house. The electric company has been super cooperative, and is willing to work with me pretty much whenever I need it. The phone company, on the other hand, is talking about having to bury several hundred feet of wire before I can move the house since the house is too tall to pass under the current lines.

On a brighter note, My Morning Jacket has released their new album, available at many fine music outlets including my favorite online music retailer emusic.com. Check them out at this page featuring their new album "Evil Urges." Check out this video for information about the album and title track.


More information about the house will be forthcoming shortly. But for now I'll go back to waiting for something to happen.

Black Kids - "I'm not gonna teach your boyfriend how to dance with you"

Ok, this is a video I should have posted a couple months ago, but in case you haven't heard this song, you definitely should check it out. Its a really fun song and a cute video. Enjoy!

Kerli - Walking on Air

Here is the song that I have been digging the most in the past few days.
It's not actually a music video, but its the best I could do right now since the video for this song is not actually out right now.



This song reminds me a little bit of early Nelly Furtado, but with a healthy dose of Tim Burton thrown in for good measure. Kerli is an Estonian pop star who I think is set to take off in the US as well.

For a taste of her other stuff, follow this link to see the video for her song "Love is Dead."

Goat Sausage Recipe

For anyone who has ever eaten goat meat, you know that balancing the flavor of the goat with the spices can be difficult task. Depending on the strength of the flavor of the meat, the level of spice must vary.

This recipe works well for moderately strong meat.

Ingredients:
12 lbs meat, well trimmed and close to freezing temperature.
3 tbsp salt
2 tbsp coarse ground black pepper
3 tbsp crushed red pepper
2 tbsp crushed oregano
1 tbsp crushed thyme
2 tbsp crushed fennel seeds
1 tbsp crushed caraway seeds
1 tbsp coriander
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp cinnamon
15 cloves garlic - coarsely chopped
1 cup olive oil

Directions:
1. Blend dry spices together. I use whole seeds and leaves, and then grind them all together in a coffee grinder. This gives me fresh coarse ground spices that are well mixed. Set aside in bowl.

2. Cut meat into 1" cubes, removing all gristle and fat.

3. Mix all ingredients thoroughly in a large bowl.

4. Pass meat mixture slowly through meat grinder with coarse plate, making sure that spices and oil coat meat well.

5. This sausage can now be formed into patties and frozen, or can be ground more finely and packed into casings. I generally pass it through the coarse plate again and bulk package in packages of 2 lbs.

For a little less kick, use 1 1/2 tbsp red pepper.

Enjoy!

BBK

Back at it

What a long semester! Although I have mixed feelings after every semester, I am definitely glad to be done with school this semester. The house has sat nearly untouched since December, but I am hopeful that it will be moved in the next couple weeks.

The first priority is getting the hay up from the fields where the house will cross. This year the hay is in the best shape I have ever seen it, and we have already cut about half of all the hay we will cut this year. The baling will start today and will continue tomorrow.

I have a little more work to do to get the slab ready for the house to be placed on it. The ramp has to be smoothed out, and a couple poplars have to come down. I'll get some pictures up soon to illustrate the changes since I last posted.

I'll try to avoid these long absences in the future - as more gets done, I'll be excited to share, rather than depressed about having nothing to share and frustrated by the lack of progress!

-BBK