Anchored Down

Since I have no intention of moving my tiny house for the foreseeable future, I wanted to be sure to anchor it to the foundation. That way, when we have a high-wind storm, blizzard, or hurricane, I won't be worrying that the house will get knocked off its foundation. (You've all seen storm-aftermath photos with mobile homes tossed around like straws, correct?) The excavator guys thought this was completely unnecessary. They were impressed with how much more heavy and strong the JayBee's trailer is (and the home itself)--compared to what comes standard on a mobile home. These guys have a lot of experience with mobile homes and, apparently, it's common not to anchor them around here. To appease me, however, they kindly installed ten anchor points in the JayBee's slab foundation. (See the last photo on this page to see all the anchor points.)

When doing my research, I learned that a single-wide mobile home set up in Florida (hurricane central) would need to have four anchors installed on each end (8 total!) in order to meet code. I could only find a couple of places where I could secure an anchor strap to the JayBee's trailer--two near the tongue end, and two near the back end. Thus, my decision was made: I would go with four anchors--two on each end. Not one of my four trailer-anchor locations was near one of the ten anchor points installed in the foundation, however.

Plan B: Install four new anchor points in the foundation.

I felt incredibly intimidated taking on this project. I had never drilled into concrete before. I just kept reminding myself that this couldn't be as hard as removing the axles and springs, and I pulled that off so, surely, I could do this, too. I bought a masonry drill bit to use with my hammer-drill, and I used the air hose on my compressor to blow the cement dust out of the hole as I drilled. For each anchor point...

I drilled a 3" hole in the concrete, and hammered an expansion bolt into the hole. Then, I used my air impact wrench to tighten down on the nut--which makes the sleeve over the bolt expand and anchor itself in the hole. (I had no idea when I bought the air impact wrench to remove the axles that I would need to use it again so soon!)

I then attached the anchor point (the black piece in this next photo) to the bolt in the concrete. The anchor strap slides into a slit in the specially-made anchor bolt (not easily, I might add!) that fits securely into the anchor point...

...and everything gets tightened up.

It took me all day, but I got all four anchors installed. Peace of mind! (And maybe a break on my homeowner's insurance since I took this step.)

Patriots' Day

This is Patriots' Day. Boston Marathon day. (I hope the runners didn't freeze!) April 16--halfway through April. And it's snowing outside.

I complained a little while ago in this blog about spring not arriving quickly enough. It's over a month later, and not much has changed. This is definitely the winter that will not quit.

From a storm about ten days ago...

Mid way through today's storm...

The extreme chill keeps dampening my enthusiasm for working on the JayBee. I have managed to pick away at some minor projects--nothing too photo worthy. I put some primer paint on the east section of the clothes closet back when we had a semi-warm day. We haven't had another one of those for awhile. I have drawn some more of the storage cupboards for above the refrigerator and washer/dryer, and for under the bed. I purchased some more hardware for the interior. I also think I have made a decision about the interior door and window trim. I've been thinking about it forever--researching possibilities, wanting it to have a simple profile without looking clunky. Then, at a work retreat a few weeks ago, I saw this trim that is not too fancy. It has a simple bead along just the bottom edge of the top piece of trim.

Blah, blah, blah. Still waiting for spring to arrive for real.

More Clothes Closet

Not much sign of spring yet--except for the ducks and geese starting to return to the river. Brrr! It's been so cold! The river is mostly open, but sheets of ice and icebergs float by occasionally.

It is challenging getting much work done on the JayBee in this weather. It's cold, and navigating back and forth between the JayBee and the tarp garage to use the saws is not fun. Then, I track wet and mud into the JayBee--ugh. The days are longer, though, and I am determined, so I have made progress with the east section of the clothes closet.

Here is the east wall mostly done.

And the north wall...

The south wall underway...

...and done.

I cannot access my wood stores at the moment; the deep snow and ice are blocking the door. I found a few scraps in the JayBee--out of which I crafted some trim pieces. After adding the backing trim to the ironing-board cupboard, I joined the north and east walls.

Then I added the south wall.

The framing for the east side of the closet is pretty much done! I think I might paint it all now (before adding the hinge to attach it to the north wall of the JayBee), while I can flip it around and get to all its parts, but that can wait for a warmer day.

More snow is supposed to move in tomorrow night into Thursday. That's just the way we roll up here (along with the rest of the northeast, apparently)--endless winter.

Unending Snow!

Day 2 of this blizzard...and it's still snowing.

First thing I noticed this morning, for some reason...

...was the snow stacking up on the JayBee's vent stack.

I guess we have about 12 inches of snow from this storm so far.

I have managed not to get up on the roof to shovel so far this winter. Hmm...

Just When You Think Winter is on Its Way Out...

...it comes back!

For some reason, I have raging spring fever--and it's WAY too early in the year for that. Where I live, the entire month of March is still winter. It's no wonder, though, why I was teased into thinking that spring might be on its way. Just days before yesterday's blizzard, the JayBee was looking very snow free.

Enough ice had left the yard that I could leave the front door of the house without wearing crampons.

The river had gone from thinning ice...

...to broken up ice (with a little help from some Coast Guard cutters)...

...to open water...

...with ice chunks only left along the shore.

On one of my rambles, I found some nesting eagles.

Here is one of the parents--circling before a nest landing.

But, then, the blizzard started.

After one plowing, it was still going strong, and we had eight inches of snow.

A few hours before it ended, the snowfall was up to 12 inches.

After it was done, and another plow later...it looks like winter again.

The snowbank in front of the garage is huge again, too.

This snowfall was all heavy, wet snow. Perfect for building a snowman or an igloo, or for having a snowball fight. Shoveling it out of the yard? Not so fun. While I was shoveling, a sudden, thunderous sound had me instinctively diving into a duck-and-cover move. It turns out this chunk of snow had let loose off the JayBee's roof. Thankfully, I was not standing under this eave. Made me chuckle afterwards. What did I think--that the sky was falling?