Farewell to the James Gang

Well, not really. Not Jesse and Frank anyway. But they are the gang that built the house. The framer and his crew. They've been around since August. A lot those first few months, and here and there the last few. Certainly around longer than anyone else. I think I said it once before: They came to a hole in the ground and left me with a house.

(This isn't all of them by the way.)

Here are some of the things they finished up this week:

They finished the columns around the back porch.

They built the screened porch doorways and deck posts.

 They also replaced the front door frame

since the lumber yard originally sent out the wrong one.

They may be around a few more times but I just want to be sure and say:

Thanks for building my house, guys!

You did an awesome job.

Some other things getting done this week include:

The concrete guys poured the slab in front of the garage

 and the patio outside the basement door.

This is Rebekah's handprint in the concrete

AND the insulation guys blew in insulation into the attic.

Everything looks amazing and I am ready to move in!

I even started packing this week :)

But we still have a ways to go.

HAPPY 2012! -- Day 175 -- January 3

Things seem to slow down with colder weather and the holidays. But some things are getting done.

The retaining walls have been built.

 And we had them put in a firepit.

The electricians have been working.

 The heating and cooler guys have been here.

These are valves for the heating system.

The central vac system is in.

 The gas lines are in. (propane)

The framer built this arch for me.

I'm really excited about how this arch will look when the cabinets are in.

They are also working on putting up the carsiding on the porch ceiling.

And the plumber has been working on the septic system.

We are talking to insulation contractors and drywall contractors.

We have spent a good deal of time cleaning up inside and out and Bryan has been smoothing and grading the whole area.

Love this October Weather!

A view up the stairs.

I can't get enough of this great weather. I know it won't last so I try to spend as much time as possible out here soaking it up. I went for a walk today and took some pictures from the back and the south.

No one was working out there today because they were forecasting rain, but it never did rain.

OCTOBER IS HERE & So are the roof trusses!

I love being out here. The weather has been so beautiful and we have been so fortunate to not have rain. I like sitting here in the house. It smells like fresh cut lumber and I can see all the way through every room in the house from where I sit. I can see clear up through the part of the roof and see the sky. I sat here a year ago in the grass and enjoyed the view and the quiet and today it is so different yet so the same. Beautiful weather, beautiful views. This year the sound of the wind in the trees is mixed with the sound of Tyvek rippling in the wind :)

October 3, Day 83: The roof trusses arrive!

October 4, Day 84: We continue to paint every day! Sometimes even by headlight!

Oct 5, Day 85: As the roof goes on, the house begins to change

October 7, Day 87: They had to bring in a crane to get the highest trusses up. It was a rather windy day so it was pretty eventful to watch.

A Quick Catch Up Once Again

END OF SEPTEMBER:

There was a bit of a slow down as waited for the second floor trusses to arrive. This gave me some time to go to a family reunion and visit with my sisters and still not miss anything! The trusses arrived on the job site on September 26 and went up on the 27th.

Then the second floor walls could begin to go up . . . . .

The views are great from upstairs. . . .

The house looks a little boxy at this point. Getting the roof on will help.

And in the meantime, I am still painting and painting and painting.

September 20 & 21 -- Days 70 & 71

Tuesday, the 20th, the framers worked on the interior walls. It is great to see the rooms become reality and get a sense of the space and the flow.

Looking towards the stairs with the library and the fireplace to the right.

To the left is the laundry room.

Looking toward the kitchen and front door

The stairs can now be used!

Then on Wednesday, the steel beams for the second floor were brought in and placed.

And since the second floor trusses aren't here yet, they began working on the porch.

This is the screened porch.

This is a small porch off of the laundry room.

I also met with the plumber who told me that I cannot have a clawfoot tub :(

The rough-in isn't right for it and since it is in the concrete (the only tub is in the basement), I can't change it now. Some things you just have to figure out early in the process! I wasn't on top of that one.

R standing in the pantry. Wow! Look at all that space!

Now I'm off to research other bathtub options.