The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-11-01

Real work on our bungalow,
based on revised plans and speci-
fications, began March 20. 1t was
a proud day, though cold.
The workmen during. the day
had thrown a quantity of clay
mud and stone out of the young
excavation that indicated where a
real basement would be some day.
A small tool shed had been
erected close by. A few bricks
and building tile had arrived. The
mud was ankle deep all around.
Water stood in the newly dug
hole in the ground.
A pretty tough spectacle, on
the whole, say you? Perhaps 1t
would have seemed so under other
circumstances, but not that day.
The next burning problem to
inspire us was this: How soop
can the place be finished, ready
to live in? A date suggested it
self easily. The middle of June
would find us in need of new
quarters, as other folks were al
ready figuring on occupying our
habitation after that time.
We suggested the date to Car
ter, the building superintendent.
Did he think he could make it?
He allowed that he'd try, but he
wouldn't promise.
We told him we MUST have our
house by then; it was a case of
SIMPLY GOT TO have it.
That may all be true" he said
with forbearance. 81 built house
for a lady once. ! respected her
very highly. When she asked me
to promise her the house by a
certain day, promised. The house
wasn't finished on time for rea-
sons | couldn't help. 1 never
promise any more"
One day my wife called me on
the phone, her tones weighted
with accents of alarm.
They're leaving wide cracks
between the roof boards, instead
of putting them on tight togeth-
eT, sue informed me.
That afternoon l went out on
the car to see. What she said was
true. There were cracks between
the boards. / carried the matter
at once to the superintendent.
Don't you worry" he assured
me. your roof is to be shingled
Only when prepared roofing IL
used do we put on tight roo
boards. We have to separate the
boards under shingles so they
won't rot from dampness."
That seemed quite reasonable
I subsidized.
Watching the growth of the
stone chimney was engrossinf
work, especially as it lasted quite
a while.
will you have your mortar
black or natural?" Carter asked
us. I was for black mortar.
thought it would look snappy. NJ!
wife was for white mortar, a.
she wasn't accustomed to black.
We submitted the question I,
arbitration, and black won. w,
were both glad afterward.
The chimney was built by /;
scotchman with a fine eye for ar
and a good bit of deliberation il
his makeup. He'd never lay 1
stone without thinking the matte
over seriously first. He took owe
a week to the job, but 1t looked
like a perfectly good job when b,
finished.
My wife took car ride out Il
the house one day when the car
penters were preparing to star
shingling. A couple of men wer,
dipping the redwood shingles on,
by one in barrel of brown stair
and throwing them on a pile t,
dry.
MORE ALARM; HOW
ABOUT PALE SHINGLES?
She eyed the shingles suspi
ciously. They looked rather pale
and she informed me over tn
phone she didn't care a cent abou
a pallid-looking bungalow.
When she went back to take an
other look, she found the single
had turned darker right away
They were all right.
1t beats all how many sugges
lions you can pick up from friend
when you are building. No mat
ter how we'll you may think O.
you plans, you'll find it's by M
means unanimous.
PLASTER your basement cell
ing" advised one.
We had 1t done; cost $26.
"Why are your windows SC
high?"
We didn't change the windows
AREN'T you sorry you haven
MI7IKdaIliI3