Our Build Life

Dump Date

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It doesn’t get much better then this! Seriously though when the Carpenter asked me recently if I wanted to accompany him to dump a trailer of construction debris for a project we just completed… I thought hmmmm. Sure.

I’ve only been to one dump in my life and it was up in New Hampshire years ago. The only dumps I’ve seen since are on the Discovery Channel show’s Alaska Bush People and Alaska the Last Frontier. I thought this could be fun.. who knows what I’ll find?

Well we pulled up to Twin City Refuse & Recycling and I exclaimed.. “where is the dump?” This is not a landfill dump! No huge mountains of trash. No rusted cars or refrigerators scattered around. It is a small privately owned business located on the edge of downtown St Paul, and is at the base of a stone cliff. While waiting in a short line (that was lucky) I saw the scariest thing (this is why the Carpenter asked me). The cliff had a cave opening (at truck level) in it, and there were items in the door of the cave. Scary items- a wicked stuffed bobcat, a stuffed fox, and someone’s large plush black bear toy laying in the leaves- looking very dead.

Back to the waiting in line…. after the dump owner looked over our debris, and decided he didn’t want any of it (he looked at everything people hauled in and kept what he personally wanted… ) he then directed us to a big concrete wall against the cliff. The Carpenter backed up and we got out and started tossing the construction debris against the wall. A big scooper continually scooped up to the wall and then dumped the trash into a waiting tracker trailer to go to a real landfill.

It would have made a good Halloween date! All anyone would have needed to do is yell “boo” at me or run through the cliff trees in a clown outfit… or better yet.. peer out of the cave opening at me. I shudder just thinking about it. I never did like Halloween.


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Hello...

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the Artist

The Carpenter on a current project. Family room addition built onto the back of a rambler in White Bear Lake.

The Carpenter on a current project. Family room addition built onto the back of a rambler in White Bear Lake.

I’ve been experiencing a creative dry spell. I commented to the Carpenter the other day, that I didn’t know what to write about. I think I have 2020 fatigue.

How has your summer gone? It’s been kind of crazy in many ways hasn’t it? What we hoped was a couple months blip in our lives.. has turned into one long ragged line. The virus, riots, the coming election drama and now hurricanes. We’ve all been touched one way or another.

Early during the pandemic most of our spring scheduled projects canceled. We had to lay off our crew. Then our crew chose not to return.

And then project contacts started rolling in… and in. What?! Home office renovations, basement remodels, bathrooms, decks, siding and window replacements. We came to realize that homeowners “under quarantine” seem to be focusing on what repairs and renovations their homes needed.

So the Carpenter has kept pulling his rig out onto the road every day to keep things moving along. He has jumped back in… “bags on”. Along with good help from subs, we are making it happen. We continue to look for carpenters, lead carpenters and subcontractors to join our team.

We are confident this time will pass. The virus will pass, the storms will blow themselves out and the election.. well we’ll see.

And we can keep on “helping you love where you live”!

PS The term “bags on” refers to the tool bag carpenter’s use while on the job.

Take out?

the Artist

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A lot has happened since my last post. That’s an understatement. We’ve been riding the rough seas of the current small business climate. Along the ride we’ve experienced the best and worst of human nature. It has been eye opening. It really does take (in this case) a pandemic to find out who are friends and who are aren’t.

I’ve thought about writing off and on over the past few months. I strive for transparency… what it’s like to own a small business, who we are, that’s the reason behind this blog. Sharing the happy and successful is easy. We want to always project prosperity and positivity. But I can not share the hard very well. And of course there has been hard, for Applewood and for everyone right now. So I have been torn.

The good is we are fortunate to be considered essential. We have been able to keep working… not at full capacity but working none the less.

Small businesses resonate with me. I have felt really bad for my hair salon, the little gift shop that opened in our town right on the cusp of the virus, my dental hygienist, our local restaurants. I miss eating out the little bit we did. I miss meeting the Carpenter for coffee or stealing away for a good breakfast. I drive around our town and see the empty streets, the dark store fronts and it makes me sad.

I do think it’s wonderful our local restaurants have been able to reinvent themselves with “Take Out”. I’ve been racking my brain about how we can adapt and improvise too. Could there be such a thing as “Take Out” Carpentry? Curbside pick-up. Specials on “Additions in a Box” or “Decks to Go?” Kidding. But seriously.

Looks like this pandemic isn’t going away any time soon. So we continue to be open for business. We have had some chilly homeowner meetings on outside patios, and heated garages.. keeping our social distance. We’ve made it work.

We are scheduling projects for late spring, summer into fall. If you give us a call… we can meet wherever you are comfortable. At least it is warming up for outside meetings! We are hanging in there and hope you are too.

Be well and we look forward to speaking with you.

Photo by Hello Lightbulb on Unsplash

Look for signs...

the Artist

Of hope. Of light. Of spring.

I’ve been outside every day with the Applewood furry crew. Of late I’ve noticed some things that made me feel kind of happy. Gave me hope that life will go on post this virus.

The earth is renewing itself. Winter has let go even as far north as Minnesota. I discovered a pussy willow tree growing in my abandoned garden! I couldn’t believe it. Just seeing it amidst the winter debris and shambles of this garden made me smile. New life!

I sit on a back rock wall some days watching the dogs. I never paid much attention to a calcified bag of concrete the Carpenter left against the wall years ago. The face of it is now full of lush green moss! Life born out of concrete. Somehow where it sits in the shade, the concrete is somehow still absorbent enough to nourish the moss. Even though the concrete bag has long ago turned rock like.

My father lives in a small memory care home in PA. Every week he conducts a bible study for his fellow residents. He gives some sort of devotional thought and then he leads them in singing songs. Old songs he is remembering from his childhood and Sunday School years. He is being a light where he is. He suffers from memory loss and has physical limitations.. yet he is still able to spread light to those around him.

A dear friend decided this would be a good time to rescue a dog. Today she brought home 7 year old Dudley– a Skye Terrier. This little guy is getting a good home, she will have a new pup for her grandchildren to take on walks around the yard, and she will have snuggly company while self-isolating at home. More light and a rescue during this hard time.

Of course there are so many “lights” and signs of hope out in our world right now. I think for those that are able to be home… it’s a good time to stop and look at the small things. The things you rush by on a normal day. And that is a good thing to come out of this dark time.

Be a light today. Wherever you are. Do something small. Give grace. Pray. Look to God. Rescue.



I've been noticing...

the Artist

It all started this week. I was standing at my kitchen sink doing yet another load of dirty dishes. We live on a busy road that is a bypass between two main roads. I always see a variety of traffic. In the summer lots of boats, snow mobiles in the winter. School buses and work trucks.

There are no school buses on our road. There is no school. There are no boats- the ice is still covering the lakes. There are no snowmobiles- our snow is almost gone this year. There are less commuters.

Today I saw an ambulance and said a prayer for the responder and the patient.

I have surprisingly been seeing bicyclists- seniors out together, today a family with the little ones pulled behind in their covered wagons. The weather has been in the 30’s and 40’s! People walking their dogs, tossing balls around in the yard. It makes me smile that in spite of these dark scary days.. we are very adaptable as humans and able to enjoy the little things. The things we normally don’t take the time to do… at least not during the week.

But here is what I noticed. I am seeing a steady flow of work trucks. Plumbers, electricians, contractors, security services to name a few. Flat beds with equipment going by.

I am thankful for all the trades people that are working still. Taking care of our homes so we can be safe and secure inside. But I’m also thankful for the first responders, the medical community, the guy who collects my trash, the mailman, and the people that check me out at Aldi.

The Carpenter is out every day keeping his projects going. He has to work. As a small business.. we don’t have the resources to stop until we have to stop working. We are keeping our crew going which has been their choice and our homeowners too.

This post is from our perspective. We feel for everyone out there that can’t work, wants to work, their business has been shut down. This is a devastating time. Tomorrow could and will probably be very different. Until then we carry on.

Taking care of your homes along with all the other subs and tradesmen.

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Back to business.

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by the Artist

We just returned from two weeks away from the business. It was wonderful. But not so wonderful getting ready. Very hard for us to detach from our life for two weeks. Exhausting really with all the details to take care of.

We camped. I packed and prepared the camper and food. The Carpenter took care of the camper mechanicals. Doesn’t sound too bad. But it was. I’m sure the work involved is why many don’t consider camping a vacation. And honestly there are moments when I would agree.

We had our share of heat, bugs and two serious storms that hit right at dinner time. The second storm hit the night before we headed home.. was spectacularly scary. The Carpenter ended up monitoring the food tent (which was tied down with rope to the heavy wood tables). Well a single gust almost sent the Carpenter and the tent into the air. A wood table actually took flight, the Carpenter was lifted off his legs and the whole tent moved sideways.

On the positive side we enjoyed pontoon rides, morning walks with the snack manager, floating in lake, kayaking, some good meals and family the second week. I wish I was there right now.

While we were gone our crew worked hard on a project.. updating a 1990 home’s exterior. New siding, craftsman details, front door etc are being added. It was fun to see the transformation when I drove up today.. with just the siding wrap and new front door!

Oh and if you see a picnic table and food tent go flying by… give a wave to the Carpenter!



Catching up!

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by the Artist

Summer is taking its time to arrive here in Minnesota this year. Old man winter is needing a good “kick in the….” to vacate the area. Everything is behind.. lilacs are just blooming, trees are sporting immature leaves. We get one or two days of seasonal temps and sunny skies… then plunge right back into gray and wet. And more gray and wet. We are all so ready for steady warm temps and sunny skies!

The bright spot of this winter here at Applewood was the arrival of our Carpenter Adam’s first child.. Raegan Marie. She is as cute as can be and looks like her momma.

The crew has kept busy post the Bald Eagle Barn https://www.applewoodremodelers.com/baldeagle-barn project with a downtown White Bear Lake bath remodel, a kitchen renovation with Fluidesign Studio https://www.fluidesignstudio.com/. We worked with them on the Lecuyer Project. Both projects they designed, we built. https://www.applewoodremodelers.com/the-lecuyer-project.

The Carpenter continues to fill his time picking up materials for the crew, meeting with potential customers, and project managing. You can catch him running around the area in his well used Dodge Ram truck.

We’ve got a couple of new employees starting the end of this month which we are very happy about. Just in time for the busy summer!

Mother’s Day weekend we took a trip to my friend’s farm in Baldwin Wisconsin to see all the new baby calves - 13 to be exact! The Carpenter loves all animals and thoroughly enjoyed the visit.

More to come as the “build” season progresses! Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday!

by the Artist

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To the most steadfast, loyal, hardworking and talented carpenter in White Bear Lake! Your integrity and perseverance in pursuing your vision and goal for the highest quality construction work stands alone. Am I bragging? Am I not able to be totally objective? Maybe. But I’m the only one who has been by your side for the past almost 39 years and I have witnessed all the ups and downs and in betweens. You truly are a craftsman and most of all a good man in a sea of mediocrity.

Happy Birthday Mr Carpenter. For all your hard work and years in a very tough competitive industry… you deserve the best. And maybe a vacation!

I love you.

A journey.

the Artist

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I just got home from a family trip to Pennsylvania.

It wasn’t a vacation. My purpose was to see my Father at his new Memory Care “home.” Also help my sister with the work it involves to keep his “life” going outside of the walls of his new “home,” as well as make decisions about his current care. I had not seen him since he fell last December.. and the effects of that fall and his current decline. It has been a horribly long arduous road. Any one who has experienced this knows.

And here I am 1200 miles away trying to be as supportive as I can. My sister sits on the “frontlines”. She has been the first responder. Now the Memory Care staff is and that is a wonderful thing.

It was a week of mixed painful emotions. Part way through the week I thought… he can’t stay here! He is the highest cognitive functioning resident. I sat with him at his table of guys and no one could carry on a conversation… or if they did.. it didn’t make much sense.

I spoke to my sister about bringing him home to live out his days in the home he worked so hard for. He could watch his deer, the squirrels and the giant turkeys.. (you wouldn’t believe how big the turkeys are in PA!). We could remodel the downstairs bath, widen hallways for his wheel chair. Isn’t this a better idea?

But based on the meeting with his nurse… by the time we got the house remodeled, and came up with the extra funds to bring him home (the most expensive option for senior care in his case), it would be too late. (he will continually decline) So with new plans to up his activities and physical therapies we move on.

So we’ve made the best decision we can make for today with tomorrow in mind. This is a hard time that most of us go through… where to have our parents live when they can’t live alone anymore. It isn’t about us, it’s about what is best for them. And for now that is the best decision.

Sharing our life with you.

High five!

by the Artist

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The Carpenter and I recently went out for dinner at one of our favorite spots. It was a hot humid night but that didn’t stop us from enjoying the St Croix River action on the deck. We both noticed an attentive “busboy” as he gathered dirty plates, brought water, and carried stacked clean glasses. Now I know it seems odd to notice a busboy at a busy restaurant (as certainly the scenery around us was beautiful). We noticed because he had this aura of energy and pride in what he was doing.

We’ve been in the hiring mode for the past 5 years. We have seen and experienced it all. I do not exaggerate. It has been truly the most difficult part of running our business. The Carpenter can now most of the time spot quality and integrity pretty quickly. But he has had surprises… really some shocking surprises. Guys quitting the morning of their first day, their first week, their first month. Not even showing up. Exaggerated experience. What is going on out there?

On the way into the restaurant there was a “Help Wanted” sign on the door… and even a sign on the table! I’ve seen banners outside businesses, and billboards. It isn’t just the construction industry but that isn’t always so comforting.

At the end of our meal the Carpenter made a point of speaking to the busboy. He complimented him on how he does his job. Then on the way out the door he spoke with the manager. And the manager said that the busboy was a “gem” and was going to be promoted!

Way to go Harrison. No doubt in a world slowly losing the value of a job well done… you will go far!