Drywall

Started drywall on Mon. and it is almost done. The family was working when we stopped by at 5:30 and were probably going to stay until it was done. Lots of the floors already have red paper down, so I imagine next week, they will finish it.

Meanwhile, the siding continues. They are half way done with the third side, after 2 weeks. Most everything else seems to be going so fast. The main thing I notice is how dusty, dirty everything is. Windows, fireplace, everything will have to be cleaned when the drywall is done.

Last Sun. we were invited to a neighborhood picnic. That was nice. Got to meet most everyone and everyone was friendly. The kids knew more people than they realized. And I knew a fair amount of people too.

Sorry there haven't been more photos. I'm waiting for the siding to be done. And white drywall just doesn't photograph well. All I'd be showing you would be empty white walls. By Oct. there should be lots of photos as the kitchen and flooring go in.

I' m on vacation next week. Trying to get things completed around the current house, but I'm coming to realize that there is no way I can get this house on the market before we move. And I'm not sure how well it will sell over the winter. Perhaps best to put it on the market in March any way. And then I can always move more plants in the spring. This week will help me decide what I will be doing.

M.F.H.

Fireplace

It's been rainy and damp all week and we didn't notice anything going on at the house. Stopped by this morning and the garage door is on, the fireplace is installed, siding is piled in the garage. They've done a lot of interior insulating - E's bedroom ceiling, around all the air vents. By the end of August, the house should really start looking like a house.

Still can't believe we're going to be living there. I've been accomplishing things bit by bit around the current house. New bathroom floor, toilet and vent. My neighbor installed new quarter round - which the bathroom hasn't had in 17 years. Still a few more things to do, but none of it very expensive. Mostly what we have to do is clean and declutter.

M.F.H.

Plumbing, electricity and vents

Plumbing is done. Shower/baths in. Plumbing is done with pex plastic pipe. I haven't gotten to talk to electrician yet and need to do that. Floors vents are going in. Still no doors or siding yet. It has been incredibly hot and muggy for weeks. Really miserable to work outside.

Returned some lighting I bought and found 1 more fan. Am having a hard time finding something for the dining table and entry. But still have a bit of time to look.

M.F.H.

Roof, shingles and windows

Shingles are on - Estate Gray. Pella vinyl windows and sliding door is in. Village green siding is on order and so is front door. Also other exterior doors, I assume. Talked with plumber Wed. night and picked out faucets and shower fittings and kitchen sink and only went about $160 over my plumbing budget. Then met with plumber and wife (they work as a team) and chose where to place exterior faucets - decided on 3, rather than 2 - that was $60 of my over budget.

The plumbing is pex tubing, so there are red and blue tubes running through the structure. I'm curious to see where they all merge in the basement.

Now wish the doors would arrive, so that the house could be enclosed. The new windows are nice! Quite happy with them and that the panes are only on the top half.

Spent over an hour with A. at the flooring store. We'd already picked out carpet and the Durastone for the entry/laundry/bath (American Slate Arizona Rust). Will likely go ahead and get Wilsonart laminate in Black Cherry for the downstairs - just exactly what I have in the kitchen now. I like it, so why not use it again, or something very similar. Also picked out a white marble with some light gray streaks in it (American Slate White Cool White) Durastone for the 2 upstairs baths. The whole main floor will be either laminate or Durastone. I'd considered carpet in the family room, but I think all hard floors on the main floor is the best choice. I'd do them throughout the whole house if I could afford it. SO MUCH EASIER to clean.

What remains is countertops and island top - which I think I will do with solid surface. I like one called Mega-something. Meganite? They have tons of lovely granite looks and a gorgeous translucent blue which isn't on their website.

Yes, I'm splurging on the kitchen and flooring and exterior lighting, but buying poor quality or buying something other than what I want just doesn't make sense. There's no way I'm going to have a kitchen that is less nice than the one I currently have. And I've learned that I'll never to satisfied if I settle for what's available. I may as well wait for what I really like.

M.F.H.

Finally photos

Here's the house when it's one story.

Here's the 2nd floor added.

E & L posing in the upper window. You can see how big the windows are. L decided she didn't want the front bedroom. Windows too big. By taking the back bedroom, she'll gain more wall space and a bigger closet and a nicer view. M was willing to trade.

Here's the rear of the house. Joe was right. The kitchen window is smaller than the bedroom one above it. The wooden box on the right is the fireplace. You can get an idea how high the deck would be off the ground.

This is the east side. They haven't cut the opening for the kitchen window above the cabinets. You can see how big the basement window is: 6 ft. But it is the only window in the basement.

Second story

The second story was added last week. This week the roof trusses are laying in the yard, but may not go up until next week. The crew has another house they are working on and CK is on vacation.

Some of our friends have stopped out to have a look and they are all enthusiastic.

It is exciting to walk through the rooms and get an idea of their size. Like walking through a floor plan that has become 3-D. The windows are huge.

I've been buying light fixtures. Some at Lowe's. Was at Home Depot last Sat. and left my wallet there. Just realized it last night, so drove up today and picked it up. Took off work. Kids went swimming with babysitter. Pool closed early because of ballet tonight so good thing I could pick them up early.

Found things I liked at both stores. Also lots of ideas for pocket doors. I think I will order the outdoor lights at Target. I haven't seen anything I like locally.

Now am working at chosing siding and shingles. Everyone has a different opinion. Will probably go with gray, as no one but me seems to like green and the larger green sample that arrived today seems very light.

Will post photos when I can find the time.

M.F.H.

Rain, rain, rain

As soon as they finished the floor and exterior walls, it started raining. Huge downpour on Wed, with another hard rain overnight. Then rain again on Thurs and Fri and it's been cloudy and cool all day today, Sat.

CK says he's tried all kinds of things to keep the rain off the flooring, etc. and he says nothing really works well, so they just let it rain and let things dry out.
2nd floor lumber is supposed to arrive Mon., so we'll see how soon they can get the house enclosed and how much it continues to rain. Why did I know this was going to happen?

We have not been out to the site since Tues and on Thurs I knew it was too muddy to
even easily get to the house. So I don't know what things look like or how much water
is in the basement - probably not much as it would have to go in the one basement window or through the cutout for the stairs. We'll take a look at it this weekend.

Went over the lighting diagram again with CK and made a list of what fixtures I need to purchase, so A, if you can go shopping the week of July 4th sometime, we can take a look and see what's available and what will work. We can also look at towel racks and discuss faucets.

M.F.H.