A lot has happened since I was there on Tuesday.  The front pillars were put on, which we love.  Stone will be surrounding the bottom and the top will be painted.  The stairs in the garage were done nicely.  And the biggest surprise was the deck.  WE LOVE THE DECK!!  It felt so good to be out there, unlike here were we can wave to neighbors on either side.  Everyone is pretty far away.  Unfortunately, most people don't take pride in their work and they put two screws through the skirting but missed it and came out the front.  So, they will be replacing that.  They also put the wrong color railing, but Joe and I like this color too.  And something with a red handle got dropped on my beautiful tub!!!  We will see how all of that is resolved.

 

 

Going there is always a mix of emotion, both excitement with all that has been done, but frustration with the workers and the little things they can't seem to quite get things right the first time around.

 

 

Last Sunday, I finally submitted the paint colors, stain color and enamel color.  It was a bit torturous for sure, but I did hit the lottery as my aunt and uncle were in town.  She is one of my many talented aunts.  So, with her help we got everything figured out including the colors for the kitchen table that we ordered.  Yes, my Grandma and Grandpa's kitchen table that we use is going to be retired to the basement for Mary's crafts, along with the folding chairs that we had.  We will now actually have room for a huge Thanksgiving feast and I will be able to invite anyone sitting alone on that day.  Joe said "We are running out of room," a couple years ago.  Not anymore.  Bring it on!

We were thrilled to see that the four concrete issues were all handled last time we went.  We are down to a window that won't stay up and an incorrect window.  The window above the front door should have grids.  So, not too much so far.

Our last venture is picking out about 30 lights, 29 to be exact, for the house.  We went to Menards last night and Home Depot tonight to simply look and figure.  Then we have to purchase them all and deliver them.

They moved the big pile of dirt around the house and it all looks so perfect.  We really can't believe we will actually be living there.  They are just finishing up the sanding and spraying for all of the walls.  The fireplace insert in in.

After the lights are done, I will need to switch my attention to this house!!!

Sept. 19th

 

 

Insulation, tubs and shower installed!

Last night while Joe was putting in a comfort height toilet at my dad's house, the girls and I went up to get a peak at the house.  It was dark when we got there, so I just went through the house with only a flashlight as the girls waited in the car.  It was actually kind of fun, although "creepy" was the word that the girls used to describe the outside view of me going through the house.  But I got so excited that I ran out and got the girls, and we crept through the house again because the tub was in!  I had to show them the tub!  That is one of the things I am most excited about, a tub that my 6' frame can fit in!!!  So, here are the pictures.  Not that exciting to most, but I want this as a progression of the house for me to have for the future, so forgive any boring posts and pictures.  Just want to have it documented. 

All of the insulation was also done, disaster pan put in the laundry room.  The house was still pretty clean.  Did I already post that Joe and I and the kids spent 6 hours at the house on Saturday CLEANING it?  Yep, outside and inside, completely swept.  We must have collected hundreds of nails and garbage, about 5 large black bags full of stuff.  We figure better to pick up now then have a lonely nail get stuck under our future floor and squeak for the rest of our lives.  You all know us well enough to know that in our eyes, cleaning our house while it is being constructed is completely normal!  Joe even considered renting a generator and bringing up a vacuum.  I kid you not.

Paint colors are awaiting, so I must go.  Pictures soon.

Windows Installed

Joe and I went out for the electrical walkthrough at 7:30am this morning.  We got everything figured out.  The house was bustling with activity.  We couldn't believe that the roofers came over the weekend and did the shingles.  And today the electrical, heating and plumbing people were all hard at work.  We went back tonight to check it out.  And to Joe's great relief everything looked really good.  From what we could tell they are doing a great job.  Joe isn't grabbing onto the ebb and flow of building yet.  He gets all worked up with his blood pressure through the roof I am sure and then is all calm as soon as he sees the work is good or had a chance to discuss the matter with someone. 

I am especially grateful to have a builder that we can actually talk to.  When we went for the framing walk through last weekend, they had taken care of all of the issues that I was concerned with.  I spent one night looking at reviews for the bigger builders in our area and was so grateful for ours.  There were so many people that constantly got directed to "customer care" and never were attended to.  We can email our builder and get a response the next day (and I can track him down if need be ;-).  We were taking that for granted.  Found out that in his "free" time, he is a farmer of 150 angus cows.  Lonesome Dove is the name of the company which is hilarious because he looks just like the guy from Lonesome Dove, Robert Duvall.  I guess that is probably the reason they named it that.  My mom and I loved that book/movie.  Any other fans out there?  Anyway, now I know where to get grass fed beef, just need some good eggs.

The view out of the windows upstairs is spectacular.  It really still seems like a fairy tale when we look at it and realize that it really is ours.  When we go there next, I will get some pics of the view to share.  The need to make choices is slowly winding down.  We should be sitting pretty good after we go out and actually purchase the 20 some odd lights that we need to get and deliver to the house.  You will all be able to see very good at our house and have good air circulation with all of the lights and fans.   I am still very curious to see how they get the tubs in and the shower insert.

Guess what the Silva kids are doing for schooling this Saturday?  A complete and thorough lesson on electricity, plumbing and heating a house.  It will be way too cool for them to be able to see how this all works.  And they better be excited about it too!!!  Guessing they will be wishing for a few runs across the hay bails or walking in the mud in their mud boots.

September 1st - Framing Complete