Time Marches On

I'm sorry I haven't updated you for a couple of weeks but we've been busy and I've been lame, sorry Devin . . .

Since I last wrote we've closed the deal on our refinance. We managed to land 5.25% fixed rate for 30 years. We set ourselves up with bi-weekly payments though and that will cut 8-9 years of the life of the loan. It was quite an ordeal getting the loan put together. It took about a month the close.

Also, we bought a car to drive while the GMC is broke down (wrecked). I have the pickup in the frame shop this week to get that bent frame rail straightened out. We replace the bent fender, hood, bumper and grille and then repaint the entire pickup. It was in need of a paint job anyway so now is a good time to do it. The car we bought is a black 1996 Mustang GT with 85,000 miles on it. The car is in premium condition so even with that many miles it should be a good car for many years. After all the '89 Mustang now has 250,000 miles on it and it's finally ready for an overhaul. I posted a photo of the '96 on flickr if you want to take a look at it.

This weekend I rented a tractor and did some work around the place. I leveled a spot to the west of the our existing horse shelter so we can add a couple more stalls on to it. Also I rototilled the round pen and got it into shape to use now that we are getting fewer days with rain and I rototilled the garden spot so Anna can plant her vegetables this spring. It will be nice to have small garden again. We even got some popcorn seeds! Devin and Tara you may remember the home grown popcorn from our gardens in Central Point. I love home grown popcorn, it's so much better than the corn you get from the store.

Today we played hooky from church and stayed home and worked around the place. It was stake conference this weekend and we can never get there in time to get a decent place to set. We're usually way in the back and have to watch the speakers on the monitor that doesn't really work that well. Anyway I managed to get the tall grass knocked down around here and it looks a lot better, not the mention it makes it safer around here. Also, we worked with Maverick, our rescue horse, and took several new photos of him. I posted some of them on flickr for you all to see. He is certainly making progress and is actually growing hair now. We think he is going to have some black hair mixed in with his sorrel color. He is starting to fill in, but he still has a long way to go to be in fit condition. Of course we a getting attached to him . . .

The EWP business is still very slow right now. We are going to take next week down which will make the second week in April with no production at the plant. The sales forecast has us taking another week down in May. So far we've been able to keep the maintenance crews working as we have an extensive list of work that needs to be done. In a way we are lucky to have the time with the machines down to get the work done. Eventually we will get caught up and then if we are still struggling with sales we'll have to take time off. We currently have four millwrights on lay-off but fortunately for them, they are all working. Three of them still with RFP and the other on a big construction job in Eastern Oregon.

I hope your week went well and I hope everyone is well and happy . . .