Week 9

It's always fun to come home at the end of the day to see what has been going on at the house while we're away.  Monday, we got the new electrical main installed, soooo sorry to crank your neck, I tried and tried to rotate it - obviously didn't work!  Never thought I'd be excited over an electrical main, but I am!

Tuesday brought the insulators out - the walls and basement ceiling were spray foamed

Wednesday Jason (the builder) started installing the sofit over the garage - I like it.

 

Thursday Jason started wrapping our little overhang with the hardy board - AND the roofing was finally completed (our company did the roofing - we got it dried in and started in a timely manner - then left  to work on a few otherprojects.  Jason was NOT happy with us taking so long to complete it! He expects the very best from his subcontractors and we were not up to par!)

Our company is also going to install a standing seam metal roof to complete the overhang when this area is finished with the stone/hardy board.  That is, if Jason doesn't fire us first (it IS however - dried in and the flashing is installed).

The insulators came back and completed the batting insulation for the walls and garage ceiling.  Now, all ready for sheet rock

garage insulation

the wall sheeting installed for the fancy new rock wall we will have - INSIDE the family room

holes for all the wires have been filled

 The new and improved air conditioner has been installed (have to wait until next year to try it out!) 

Friday Jason (the builder) completed installing the hardy board on the front of the family room pop out and our little overhang -

Closeup of the overhang detail, Jason has wrapped each and every bit of it with the hardy board.  He is really, really something.

 Just another view, it looks so fabulous to me I can't stop taking pictures from every angle!

Saturday morning @ 7:00 a.m. sharp (barely light) the crew came to wrap the house where the stone will be installed -- and stayed ALL day and into the evening (actually, it was dark) to get it all ready for the inspectors on Monday morning.  We like it too!

 

 Oh, and my new mailbox - 

 The ever popular overall view

 Odds and ends --- this is a sample of the capstone over the top of the concrete retaining walls

and Curt has finally finished installing the 5 ceiling speakers in preparation for his complete surround sound system.  He's worked hard on getting them all finished before the sheet rock starts (this week).  You can see the ceiling insulation depth gauges have also been installed through out the attic

What I don't have pictures of -- I finished puttying, priming and painting all those window frames/sills I was dreading last week.  I also got the curtains in the living room cleaned and back up. Curt decided since he had to move most everything out of his office in preparation for the new windows he would take the opportunity to paint, carpet and install a ceiling fan.  Whew! It's been a lot of work for us to let alone clean that room out!  However, I am more than pleased to let you know not only has it been cleaned out - it's already been painted with it's new color and is ready for the carpet, which is coming this week (no pictures, they turned out too dark). 

 

I mentioned all the treasures we have been finding since we've been going through so much (or is it really just called...cleaning?) well, here's one that Curt begged me not to post, he says it's embarrassing but I have to LAUGH right out loud and question....WHY did we keep these things?  or even better yet WHAT were we thinking in the first place?

 

These are boxes of cereal in mint collectors condition. We didn't buy them for human consumption, but rather supposing (or hoping) they may have collector value in the future.  Well, it's the future - and I doubt they are worth anything.  So anyone remember the special run of X and O Cheerios (1994) or the Original Dream Team Corn Flakes (1992 Olympics - John & Karl are on the front)?

Oh...how about when Grant Hill graced the Frosted Mini-Wheats box (1996) as "NBA Rookie of the Year?" or Michael Johnson for Wheaties (1996 Olympics)

FYI -- we're putting these on eBay to sell, if you are dying to have these for your very own - check them out there (hehehe)!!

 

This truly has been such an interesting adventure!  As always, we are looking forward to the events of the upcoming week!

Week 8 - Half Way There!

This week brought  - as usual - a lot more work.  This is the west wall of our dinning room, the sheet rock has been removed and the "cut-out" framed in.  When he's ready, Jason (the builder) will cut through the sheet rock and we will then have a 1/2 wall - from the front door you'll be able to look right into our dining room (a 1/2 open concept!)

The plumbing for the sink/dishwasher in the island was installed, as well as new subfloor through out

 The electrical started in earnest

Another colored concrete slab poured

And, the windows were installed.  This is the back of the new addition, a sliding glass door will be installed between these 2 plate glass windows - lots of light!

 New windows all around -

 The wood floor brought inside to acclimate

 The driveway poured (2 separate pours)

 A look at the house - it's actually starting to take real shape - we're SO very pleased

A view from inside the living room out through our new curtainless windows, which - by the way - all had to be reframed (due to the style of the original windows) and which I will now have the priviledge and honor of puttying, sanding, priming and then painting.  Each.and.every.window!  It will be worth it (I keep telling myself this over and over and over).

 

We said good-bye to a few things this week as well - our 3 year old a/c (not large enough to cool the house with the new addition - ouch!!)

Due to a crack that developed in the original porch - Jason (the builder) had the concrete guys come jack hammer it out 

 and repour it - with NO cracks!  He is absolutely the BEST!  Where do I nominate him for Contractor of the CENTURY?

Speaking of the best, I called in the big guy to come help me tear out my beloved boxwood bushes.  They had to go so the siding can be installed, plus I'm not sure they'll go with the new landscaping plan!  These monsters were 1 gallon bushes when originally planted.  Now, they're resting peacefully in the DUMP!

 Gone - a lone and barron waste land -

all that remains is the headless turtle -

One thing I haven't recorded, or documented is how much we have packed boxes, moved crates, stacked and restacked - and sorted through lots and lots of things that 30 years accumulate.  We have found numerous treasures, bringing back lots of memories, one I thought I'd share is a simple note from little Marisa - missing her brother as he was off....who knows where. Brings a smile to my heart!

Onward and upward!

Week 7

Another week, more great progress.  Monday and Tuesday finished off the framing and sheathing of the new family room and our new porch overhang.  Along with that brought the dry-in and shingle delivery as well.

Wednesday - I got the heck out of NSL and flew to Denver so I could watch our little cutie pies while their mother, aka Wonder Woman, joined 11 other women to RUN from San Francisco to Napa Valley.  She is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. - this is something that Wonder Women do and I am super proud of her (this is NOT, by the way, her first Ragnar!) Gooooo Jamie -

It was my Birthday, and the family treated me to dinner - the house was decorated for me and I had gifts!  Flowers, gift card and cakes from "Nothing Bundt Cakes".  I thought I'd died and gone to heaven!

 Some of the things we did included making apple filled pancakes (delish) -

 A 3-D art project

 I just have to "hand" it to my talented little ones

On Saturday after Brandon finished work we headed over to Lifetime Fitness so the kids could show me their rock climing skills

 Ez climbing the wall like a lizard

Belynn too  

So, while I was away, things continued to progress at break neck speed with Jason (the Builder) in charge!  The trench was dug for our new electrical main (we decided since things were torn up we would replace both the electrial and water main - hopefully the new will last as long/well as the old one!)

 The new heating/cooling duct work was installed

The new columns for the stairway (these will receive dry stack stone)

A look from the sidewalk UP, up, up to the front door.  There are 24 stairs, if any of you want to use our stairs instead of investing in a stair stepper, come on over!

Our new stairs into the basement from the garage are built - they are nice, sturdy stairs but there are only 6 of them so you won't get quite the workout!)

The supports for the....what ever it is, I thought it was just going to be a trellis with just the beams exposed, but Jason (the Builder) has installed plywood sheathing over the top, so I'm not quite sure WHAT it will be, but rest assured ---- it will be something!

A full view 

That's it for the outside.  Here we go inside.  This is the view I have from our hall, looking into the construction area, kinda feel like we're quarantined! But, it's just Jason (the Builder) looking to keep things as clean as possible for the rest of the house (yep, not only is he clean, he's thoughtful and considerate as well!)

This is the view from the other side of that visqueen.  A nice, open (clean) space.  This area will be the new kitchen looking into the new family room addition.

 A view of the new family room addition

This is the view of the east wall, all boarded up (for security).  A sliding glass door with windows on each side to let in as much light as possible will be installed here - when they are delivered

Thank you Jason, we are excited for the next week!

 

P.S.  For our family...while at the Jr's I was so pleased to see displayed in promanent view for all others to see, this priceless family picture.  You should recognize it - the Olson's also have it hanging in their living room for all to see, and I'm sure that others of you do to.  I love that they love it too!