Winner of Frank Schaeffer Book Announced!

I used the random number generator to pick a number from among the thirty comments. Comment number 16 was the winner and that person is Leslie! Leslie, if you could please send your mailing address to mysistersfarmhouse@live.com, I will send you an autographed copy of Crazy for God. I hope you enjoy it! Thanks to everyone who entered! Tweet

Downton Abbey? – Hmmmmm…

Along with what seems like the rest of the country, I too have been watching Masterpiece Theater’s Downton Abbey. I really liked the first season and was anxious for the second season to begin. Strangely, I have found the second season to be weirdly melodramatic, sometimes very silly, absurdly repetitive and filled with overwrought acting. To me, Downton Abbey seems to be an American mini-series disguised as a British mini-series. There are moments, especially when Maggie Smith is delivering a [...]

My Parents Hosted a Wedding

A little over a year ago, my parents moved to be closer to their kids and grandkids. Before they moved, they sold almost all of their old furniture. Then they moved into a small rental house in their new city and began the process of looking for a house to buy. When they found that house, they spent about six months remodeling the kitchen and the bathrooms and the living spaces. Their new house turned out beautifully and now they [...]

Seventeen!!

My eldest is seventeen now. He’s really tall and has great cheek bones. I don’t know if you are supposed to note your son’s cheek bones, but I can’t help it. He’s taller than his dad… and of course his mom. But I still outweigh him! He’s a great kid. I’ve got him for another year and a half. And then he will fly. There are so many things he needs to know before he goes! I better start making [...]

Review of Lee Strobel’s “The Case for Christ”, with Boffo Giveaway Included

With mincing alacrity, Dear Charles takes on Lee Strobel’s “The Case for Christ” and startling questions arise!!!

Construction Terms I Have Learnt

March 3rd, 2008

Ridge Beam – The one at the very very top

Header – The wide board above the doors and the windows.

Purlins – The horizontal wood pieces on the trusses.

Joist – The heavy duty wood boards that support the floor

Riser – The “up” part of the stair

Tread – The “step” part of the stair

Gypsum – Also known as sheet rock – but saying gypsum makes you sound smart.

Friese Board – The trim piece that outlines the gable

Rafter – Old school roof construction. Like they made back in pioneer times. They built the roof on our house this way cause it was so dad blamed steep.

Truss – Factory made roof parts ordered and delivered to the site. The barn roof is constructed of trusses. We designed half of the trusses in a traditional manner and half we designed to house a loft, up under that there barn roof.