Applestone Cottage

7/5/10

The House that Dan and his students built!

Hi everyone. I hope you all had a lovely 4th of July weekend. We spent yesterday at my brother Matt's home. Lot's of food and family, it was lovely!
Today I want to share with you the house that hubby and his students built. This is the 10th year and home that his construction I and II classes have built. Mind you, these are high school students.

They start in September shortly after school begins. Each class works approximately 1.5 hours a day.
They have block scheduling and the home they build needs to be located within 3 miles of the high school.

The students are generally juniors and seniors although a few have been younger. There are prerequisites to entering the class and each student is assigned projects to complete each day. Dan assigns a foreman to each group, usually an advanced student with good work habits.

As you can see he has his hands full. With students working on the roof...

And the fact that there are numerous power tools that they handle daily. Hubby always spends the first week of school doing safety courses which they have to pass before they begin work.

Autumn moves into winter and they continue working away.

Garage work in the snow.

Things are taking shape but it's a cold one out there.
Often they have to shovel snow at the beginning of class.

Oh brr.

And there's the work going on inside as well

And even some gals who take the course.

Things have warmed up and were moving into the final stages.

Building the deck.

It's June and time for the open house.

Kitchen cabinets and appliances are in.

A four season sun room with a gorgeous view that leads out to the wrap-around deck.

There are two large bedrooms and 2 baths. The basement is ready to be finished off at a later time.

The students frame, roof, insulate, sheet rock, install windows, doors, build the garage and drywall.

They also install the siding, build the deck, lay flooring, and do trim work and hang cupboards inside.

The homeowners contract out for the plumbing, foundation and electrical work.

Altogether, the homeowners are able to save $50,000 plus in labor.

Thanks for taking the tour and letting me show you around.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Cindy

I am joining Susan @ Between Naps on the Porch for Met. Monday.

6/30/10

Thrifty Thursday and some Great Give-away Wins!

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Hi all.

I want to share with you today some of my great give-away wins from recent months and a few cool thrifty treasures. (Well to me anyway)

I was the lucky winner of a $25 gift certificate to T.J. Maxx from Tracy @ Ms. Bake-it.

It took me forever to decide, probably because it was a freebie.

I had planned on getting an outdoor item but everything I had previously wanted was gone.

But then, I saw this cute little cottage. I just love it and it has a place for a little tea candle inside.

And.......since I had money left over.........................

I bought this cute little black summer top. I love it! Thanks Tracy!

You helped my summer wardrobe and it needed help!

Today, this cute little metal tray with the rooster motif was in my mail.

Dawn @ Cottage State of Mind had a give-away. And here's the kicker! When the give-away was over, she announced that she was sending everyone who entered a gift! Now how cool and how generous is that!

Thanks Dawn!

The little tray is just so charming.

And on to a give-away I won way back in February. It just has taken me a long time to figure out how I wanted to do it. You see, I won a Blog Book from Lori @ Family Trees May contain Nuts.

I had it kind of worked out and then I had my emergency gall bladder surgery and recovery.

So recently, I went back to the site and reworked it.

And here are a few pages to give you an idea to how it looks.

It's pretty darn cool! Thanks Lori!

And now to a few thrifty treasures!

This old chair was only a buck at an auction. I spray painted it apple green and I love the look! And if it sits outside and gets more weathered who cares, it was only a buck!