Wednesday 07.31.2013

A jam-packed day at Ramsay under partly cloudy skies.

On site today:

SY - the ususal

Richard - the ususal

Kevin - Studio deck

Masonry crew - walkways

Framing crew - at the garage

Paul V. & son Chris - plumbing work at the garage

Mowing crew

Patsy & crew - gardening and mulching

Pella window rep from Richmond re: Garage addition

The rehabilitation work on the garage is quite the "buzz" at 
Ramsay right now. We are adding the second floor, to return 
the structure to its original 2-story design.

The framing crew is lead by Bobby Curtis--a seasoned framer and carpenter

who I (SY) had worked with for over fifteen years in residential construction.

Adding new construction to an old building is always quite a challenge,

and Bobby and his crew are doing a great job.

A little Ramsay Farm tractor assistance

Sub-flooring is complete

First wall being laid out

Ready for rain!

Mon & Tues. 07.29,30.2013

Beautiful weather greeted us Monday morning and again today --

 and it's a good thing because we're 

RAISING the ROOF on the Garage!!

(1) T-i-m-b-e-r-!!! Monday

(2) About half way done...Monday

(3) The last board to go...Tuesday

(4) All gone !!  Tuesday

Ready to frame !

 And, the Studio deck is progressing nicely... 

(forgive the sideways image!!!?*#!*#)

On site M&T:

Sherry & SY - the ususal

Richard King - yard/handy man

Kevin Kennedy - Studio carpenter

Chuck Kennedy/electricians - garage

Paul Vencil/ plumber - garage

Zeke Galvin (Grelen) and Ben Parrott/TruGreen Lawn rep

Friday 07.26.2013

We have had a very productive week at Ramsay.

For the work week M-F, a cumulative total of 

56 people worked at the estate with well over

 300 man-hours of service and labor contributed.

We are all grateful for the work and the opportunity 

to contribute to the care, maintenance and improvementof this
 National Treasure called Ramsay.

On site today:

SY - the usual, with an extra dose of mediation thrown in for good measure--all part of the job!
Richard King - our part-time handy/yard man who we've mentioned for a couple of weeks.
We just got around to taking his picture this morning. Richard has lived in C'ville for a good while,
and is currently a part-time student at PVCC.

 

Richard now includes "painter" on his resume!

Kyle & the Masons - after some unintentional miscues
 between the "architect's plans" and the "desired outcome"
 we're back to "circle" one at the ellipse north of the Parterre
 garden. And all is well!

Kevin & Mike - making slow but steady progress with the

application of the Ipe deck  material--one of the strongest woods in

the world, harvested in South America.

Thursday 07.25.2013

One of our nicest summer days yet, this season!

Clouds meandering over our NW pasture

On site today:

Sherry

SY- the usual- 

including filing a building permit application with the County for our garage project.

Richard King - quickly acquiring "Jack of all trades" status!

Kevin and Mike at the Studio 

Jessica - tending the gardens

Kyle and the masons:

 

Foundation & borders done - ready for pavers!

Billy Frazier - mowing the pastures
Miss Utility Rep

Verizon technician--repairing and removing (Yay!) the telephone pedestal on the north lawn

Wednesday 07.24.2013

The humidity levels are appreciably lower this week,

offering some relief from the still, high temperatures.

Last evening the cloud patterns worked magic

around the area, and this cotton ball hovered

over the Main House for a good while.

On site today:

Sherry

SY

Richard King

Miss Utility reps re: upcoming fence work

C&G Paving Co. - dropping off some crushed brownstone

Blue Ridge Builders - delivering Studio deck materials

Kyle and masonry crew :

Ellipse receives final cap - ready for pavers!

David "A" & Saul Tolton - examining the Main House chimneys. SY made it to the

 top of the ladder--made a hasty analysis--and returned safely and quickly to the ground!:

        

 

Kevin & Mike & Richard at the Studio:

Tuesday 07.23.2013

A little in-house praise today for my wife, Susan.

What follows is a post I placed on Facebook today, 

acknowledging a service award she received yesterday 

from  the University of Virginia .

The University survives and thrives largely from the support and dedication of staff like my wife Susan Yowell [and my brother Kenny Lawless] who, day after day, week after week, and year after year, work diligently and tirelessly to serve the students and faculty who cross their paths. This week, Susan received an engraved Jefferson Cup from the University, honoring her 25 years of service. Congratulations!! and WahooWa!!

 

 On site today:

SY
Kyle and masons
Kevin and Mike
Curtis Heating rep fixing Main House AC

Monday 07.22.2013

Summer in Greenwood, Virginia

2:00 P.M. (Don't try this at home!"

10:00 A.M.

On site today:

Sherry 

SY 

Richard King - mastering the grounds

Kyle & the masons continuing the walkways

Kevin & Mike at the Studio

Now THAT'S how to prep a deck post footing!

Friday 07.19.2013

Today's report is almost identical to yesterday's.

(Scroll down for a refresher!)

The heat has been brutal this week, 

yet every crew has pressed on with business as usual 

and accomplished an amazing amount of work.

We are blessed and grateful here at Ramsay!

On site today:

SY

Richard King - "Yard Man of the Week!"

Kevin & Mike - carpenters at the Studio

Masons: Kyle, Nate, Don, Harrison, McCoy, Patrick, Adam, D.J., Kenny

Then...

Now!

and...

And, for the first time all season, the whole estate (that gets mowed) was mowed on Wednesday!

Thursday 07.18.2013

We were surrounded by clouds (and some storms) a good 

bit of the day, but it never rained here, nor did the cloud 

cover help with the oppressive temperatures --

 95 degrees today with a heat index of 103 degrees!!

Looking west over Ridgely

On site today:

SY - the usual

Guests (very quiet!) at the Cottage

Richard King - added a little gardening to his yard work today - under Patsy's supervision

Kyle & masons - pressing on with all the brick work, it's really looking great!

Kevin & Mike - Studio deck

Patsy & crew - weeding, pruning, mulching, and trimming the hedges:

Charles on this side - Lewis on the other!

Wednesday 07.17.2013

Another oppressive, hot & humid day, with sporadic

 lightning around lunch time that sent us all scurrying for cover.

After dinner, this thundercloud rose over Batesville!!

On site today:

Sherry & SY - the usual

Guests at the Cottage

Richard King - becoming very intimate with the weed eater and the compact tractor.

Billy Frazier - mowing the pastures

Kevin & Mike - continuing with the Studio deck framing:

Grelen Nursery crew - pruning the 'fire blight' out of the crab apple trees on the south lawn

Henry Smith - Central Virginia Builders re: 1st phase of main house exterior overhaul.

Tim Scarborough mowing crew

Kyle and large masonry crew - going at it full force on the walkways:

New walkway toward ellipse

New walkway entrance from north lawn

Ellipse continuing to take shape

Happy Birthday Stephen!!

Tuesday 07.16.2013

The local weather reports say the high today was 91 degrees,

but no one working at Ramsay today would believe that!!

We have a band of crews here who 'weather the storm'

no matter what the weather delivers!

The early morning was very comfortable, however,

and the early morning light cast beautiful shadows

over the southwest paddock.

On site today:

Sherry - returning from a week with her family at Hilton Head Island

SY- the usual

Richard King - our new yard & handyman 

Ron Bush finalizing irrigation system for Parterre garden

Rusty Lilly - checking on all things landscape

Zeke Galvin - Grelen Nursery Owner
Rob Mattson - Grelen Nursery

 Kevin & Mike - beginning to frame the Studio deck.     

Jeff Swanson - our nimble (and fearless) chimney sweep, replacing a flu cap

damaged in a recent storm

And, Kyle & crew - doing wonders with their masonry work!  

Kyle forms ellipse step

Ellipse takes shape!

The recycled old brick look terrific!

Monday 07.15.2013

The wettest summer on record for over a decade--

but the clouds gave way to blue skies --and HOT! temps today ~

Looking SW toward Wintergreen

On site today:

Guests at the Guest Cottage - here for the week -- from Bloomington, Illinois

SY - the usual

Richard King - new yard/handy man (pics to follow later!)
Ron Bush - continuing irrigation water lines to the Parterre garden

Kevin & Mike - prep work for new deck at the Studio!

Mike Deane prepared drawings for new deck

 Kyle & large crew of masons:

Replacing old brick in front walkway

       

Grelen nursery attacking the dead ivy on the south lawn...