One Year Since my First Blog Entry!
Tue, Nov 25 2008 03:05
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Wow! I was looking at my photos and saw the the blog entry photo group had 52 photos in it. I write the blog weekly, so the math added up to a year, but I actually had to go back to my first entry and check the date to believe that a year has passed since I first starting sharing this journey with you.
Good company certainly does make time fly. (Not to mention building a home in the wilderness while working full time). I offer my heartfelt thanks to all my friends and family that have been reading along, and especially to those that call or comment with words of encouragement.
I hope you all have a peaceful and family-filled Thanksgiving, and I hope to see you soon on the hill!
Comments (1)
Autumn Ablaze
Mon, Nov 24 2008 12:13
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Wow, fall is at its peak up on Big Hill, and I don't remember seeing one any prettier than this. The Spanish oaks and Scrub oaks are red and orange and yellow, and the flaming sumac is a rainbow of autumn hues.
The cabinets are fully installed, and most have been stained. They are very well made- Dad will most certainly approve the craftsmanship when he comes to inspect, er, visit. I chose colonial maple for the kitchen, pantry, wash room and library, and I absolutely love the results. Tonya is the one who pointed me to an orange-ish tone, and after seeing them them told me I need to varnish them with a gloss, to really differentiate them from the more earthy and matte finishes of the stone.
The sky deck is almost complete. Mike and Tim will start on the stair steps Monday. I climbed up the 30-foot ladder last week after everyone left so I could get a feel for how high it will seem. It is aptly named.
I am extremely frustrated by my lack of stone work. I actually have a mason on stand by, ready to go if Johnny can't get started next Monday. He is still working on a job that has taken much longer than he expected. This is really throwing Mike's schedule off. And mine! I'd like to move in!
We had a multi-church community Thanksgiving service tonight. It was quaint and funny and all in all a great reminder of what a wonderful place Glen Rose is to live. I am thankful to be here.
The cabinets are fully installed, and most have been stained. They are very well made- Dad will most certainly approve the craftsmanship when he comes to inspect, er, visit. I chose colonial maple for the kitchen, pantry, wash room and library, and I absolutely love the results. Tonya is the one who pointed me to an orange-ish tone, and after seeing them them told me I need to varnish them with a gloss, to really differentiate them from the more earthy and matte finishes of the stone.
The sky deck is almost complete. Mike and Tim will start on the stair steps Monday. I climbed up the 30-foot ladder last week after everyone left so I could get a feel for how high it will seem. It is aptly named.
I am extremely frustrated by my lack of stone work. I actually have a mason on stand by, ready to go if Johnny can't get started next Monday. He is still working on a job that has taken much longer than he expected. This is really throwing Mike's schedule off. And mine! I'd like to move in!
We had a multi-church community Thanksgiving service tonight. It was quaint and funny and all in all a great reminder of what a wonderful place Glen Rose is to live. I am thankful to be here.
Cabinets in, Rocks Not
Sun, Nov 16 2008 09:19
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Drexel started delivering and installing the multitude of cabinets this week. They really are nicely built. We compromised on the moulding- he wanted true crown molding, and I let him do a simpler version, more in keeping with the simple lines theme of the home.
I did meet with Johnny, the mason, but don't expect him out there until Tuesday at best. He is still finishing up his last job. In the meantime, the piles of rocks still adorn the would be front yard.
Happily, I still like the paint colors. I am looking forward to seeing the wall colors with the stained cabinets and tiles, flooring, ceiling. Guess that will have to wait until the house is done.
The correct windows for the back wall are in, as are all the sliding doors. Still waiting on the corner glass, the front and the garage doors. Then the house will be dried in completely.
I found the lights for "the Seven Sisters" over my kitchen island. I searched and searched, and when I found lights that look like my "dancing ladies", the inner part of a conch shell, sanded down by the sand and waves, I knew I had the right lights. And they were on the low end of pricing. Yes! Now for "the Five Brothers", "Mom and Dad", "Tim"....
There was a full moon this week that rose just after sunset, over the horizon and the lights from town. I tried taking photos but just could not do it justice. Breathtaking.
All in all a good week. I look forward to seeing what next week holds.
I did meet with Johnny, the mason, but don't expect him out there until Tuesday at best. He is still finishing up his last job. In the meantime, the piles of rocks still adorn the would be front yard.
Happily, I still like the paint colors. I am looking forward to seeing the wall colors with the stained cabinets and tiles, flooring, ceiling. Guess that will have to wait until the house is done.
The correct windows for the back wall are in, as are all the sliding doors. Still waiting on the corner glass, the front and the garage doors. Then the house will be dried in completely.
I found the lights for "the Seven Sisters" over my kitchen island. I searched and searched, and when I found lights that look like my "dancing ladies", the inner part of a conch shell, sanded down by the sand and waves, I knew I had the right lights. And they were on the low end of pricing. Yes! Now for "the Five Brothers", "Mom and Dad", "Tim"....
There was a full moon this week that rose just after sunset, over the horizon and the lights from town. I tried taking photos but just could not do it justice. Breathtaking.
All in all a good week. I look forward to seeing what next week holds.
Tim is Back!
Tue, Nov 11 2008 08:52
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Mike's head guy, Tim, has been on another job for three weeks and came back Monday. I have a whole other level of confidence in the work when he is there- it enables Mike to be able to come and go more freely.
They put the sun room windows in Monday. It would be a great room to hang out in if not for the piles of nails and insulation and wiring- it's my own little construction junk room! We wanted to put old, sandblasted barn siding on the walls there, but it will have to wait until a later time- I can't justify the cost right now.
Johnny, the mason, has built most of the inner chimney, but can I say how much I look forward to seeing some of that stone on the walls? Mike can't finish putting the metal roof up until the front walls and the chimney are completed, so he is equally anxious to see some dry stack.
The walls are textured and primed, and the first coat of paint is up. Tonya and I chose colors in about 2o minutes flat. I figure there are so many nice colors out there, you can't really go wrong if you're in the right range. And all my friends and family won't be surprised to know that the shades are all in the foamy colors of the sea....
We didn't get to hang out much on the hill this weekend. Saturday we went to College Station and Sunday I took Christmas photos for some friends, so we only got a quick walk-through. I did take Friday off, though, and spent several hours on Big Hill picking up trash and visiting with the guys. I am actually really looking forward to living out there. That's a good thing.
They put the sun room windows in Monday. It would be a great room to hang out in if not for the piles of nails and insulation and wiring- it's my own little construction junk room! We wanted to put old, sandblasted barn siding on the walls there, but it will have to wait until a later time- I can't justify the cost right now.
Johnny, the mason, has built most of the inner chimney, but can I say how much I look forward to seeing some of that stone on the walls? Mike can't finish putting the metal roof up until the front walls and the chimney are completed, so he is equally anxious to see some dry stack.
The walls are textured and primed, and the first coat of paint is up. Tonya and I chose colors in about 2o minutes flat. I figure there are so many nice colors out there, you can't really go wrong if you're in the right range. And all my friends and family won't be surprised to know that the shades are all in the foamy colors of the sea....
We didn't get to hang out much on the hill this weekend. Saturday we went to College Station and Sunday I took Christmas photos for some friends, so we only got a quick walk-through. I did take Friday off, though, and spent several hours on Big Hill picking up trash and visiting with the guys. I am actually really looking forward to living out there. That's a good thing.
Stone, Stone, Everywhere, and not a Mason in Sight!
Tue, Nov 4 2008 10:33
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I have literally tons of stone in front of the house and no mason to be found. Mike, the 0riginal, too-busy mason Johnny, and I all called him. Johnny finally heard from him that he was too busy and would not be able to do my stone work after all. So now we are back to using Johnny, who will hopefully start this week. Hopefully.
The walls have been taped, bedded and textured. I have to choose paint colors pronto. I have it narrowed down, but don't know which walls to use accent colors on yet. Tonya says she will meet me out there this week to help with that.
The roof panels that have already been placed look good, I like the style and the color, except several will have to be replaced, as they were too short- the soffit was not accounted for when they were ordered, since it hadn't been completed at that time. Just another small road bump.
I had about 30 trick-or-treaters on Friday. Tracy and Ashley came down, and we went to Big Hill to watch the stars. They were out by the millions and we spotted 8 meteors.
Sunday the Sehnerts came down, and we all went to Big Hill to watch the Cowboys get stomped on. Ava and I had a delightful time together.
The walls have been taped, bedded and textured. I have to choose paint colors pronto. I have it narrowed down, but don't know which walls to use accent colors on yet. Tonya says she will meet me out there this week to help with that.
The roof panels that have already been placed look good, I like the style and the color, except several will have to be replaced, as they were too short- the soffit was not accounted for when they were ordered, since it hadn't been completed at that time. Just another small road bump.
I had about 30 trick-or-treaters on Friday. Tracy and Ashley came down, and we went to Big Hill to watch the stars. They were out by the millions and we spotted 8 meteors.
Sunday the Sehnerts came down, and we all went to Big Hill to watch the Cowboys get stomped on. Ava and I had a delightful time together.
