We All Live in a Yellow Yum Yum Farm, Yellow Yum Yum Farm....

The Yum Yum Farm house is bundled up for the cold weather, which has paid an unusually early visit to our area (global warming? What global warming?). The ample space between our rafters has allowed a nice thick layer of insulation to retain warmth during those chilly Iowa winters. 2x6 framing not only strengthens the house, but allows for more insulation in the walls, which should help to reduce the amount of energy necessary to heat our house in the winter, and to maintain comfortable temperatures in the warm weather. Next up, drywall (or sheetrock, or gypsum wallboard), and the rest of the interior details.

Variation on an insulation theme: This is a view of the insulation in the basement mechanical room. The plastic covering over the insulation is present throughout the lower level, and though we've not specifically asked why, we imagine this has something to do with keeping moisture away from the wallboard that will cover these walls. If we're wrong, feel free to post a comment saying so. But do so nicely--we're sensitive that way!
This is, perhaps, the most important insulation in the house. At least as far as our feet are concerned. This is the underside of the dining porch, which will allow this room to be a four season room, rather than a three season room. And with Joanna's amazing cooking, it will be a well-seasoned four season room! Concealed behind the yellow fiberglass bat insulation that you see here are four heat ducts that will carry warm air into this room. These ducts are also individually insulated, so heat loss will be minimal as the air travels to the heat registers in this room. Additionally, this room will experience substantial solar gain during the winter months, as it is oriented to take advantage of the sun's low trajectory across the southern sky at that time of year.