People Pleasing Pics

I just love the feedback I get from our friends and family who read the blog!  It is heartwarming to know that we have got so many followers who are as passionate about our progress as we are.  So....to honor some recent requests I will post lots of photos today.

Joel's split rail fence, started and finished in just one day!

outdoor eating area decorative trim is almost complete

view from dining room into kitchen

just a little bit more green siding to go

Rustic Room Rock

more decorative trim

Work starts on the Garage!

The beautiful fall weather continues so Steve began to dig holes for the support posts yesterday.  He rented an auger and got 6 or 7 beams into the ground...each 4 feet deep.  Very exciting!  

Just as exciting was the delivery of our Kraftmaid kitchen cupboards!  Unfortunately I missed the actual drop off, but I saw the huge truck driving down Turin Road as I was racing up to meet them.  They were early, and I was obviously late!  Because we are not quite ready for them, Larry and his friend stored them in the Felice van for the time being.

Matt and his team are almost done with the sheet rock installation!  They are finishing up the dining room and kitchen then will move to the final area....the Rustic Room.  He says he still has a good 2 or so weeks left of work, though, the taping and skimming.  It feels so good to wander around both upstairs and down and really see how the rooms lay out.

This is a view from the front Library room into the hallway and main staircase.  The next photo is of the kitchen.  You can see the cubby that my refrigerator will tuck into and the area to the right which will be my sink overlooking the Rustic Room below.

Many other odds and ends are getting done at a rapid rate.  Steve and Larry placed the second eyebrow window into it's attic home, and Dennis is cutting and installing pieces of molding all around the house.  There is just one bit of siding to finish and some trim to paint and then the outside will be ready for it's second winter!

Now we are rockin!

Joel and I were away at a conference for almost a week during which time the spray foam guys finished their job and Steve and Larry and Mark tidied up all the loose ends (electrical and carpentry) inside in preparation for the sheet rocking team.  Steve sent me these photos of the sheet rock being delivered on Thursday, all 18,000 square feet of it!

Matt, the foreman of the sheet rock team, had already laid out a plan of how many sheets were to be delivered to each room, and the most obvious way to get them to the upper level was through an open window!

I took photos of all the boards in all the rooms, but I do not want you to be bored  (haha) with all of them so here is a sample shot:)

And finally...today, Saturday, the guys came and started hanging the wall boards.  They worked from early morning till dusk and got almost the entire second floor done.  We couldn't be more pleased!!

Men in Suits

Joel and I are away for a few days at a conference, but work continues at the house at a fast and furious pace.  Steve sent me some photos of the spray foam team insulating every nook and cranny of the ceilings and exterior walls.  They are completely covered to protect themselves and look like spacemen!  They started upstairs, lakeside and are working their way streetside then downstairs.  It looks like an ice castle inside.

Because it is such a big job, they brought 2 foam trucks yesterday to speed things up.  Rusty sent one of his crewmembers to scrub and clean the sidewalks in preparation for the sealant, and Steve completed the Durock on all 3 of our shower stalls including the little cubby bump outs for shampoos etc. that I requested.  Go teams!

Joel should beome a Landscape Arctitect!

This gorgeous autumn weather has inspired Joel to beautify our outdoor living space before the snow flies.  After Rusty and the crew finished the walkways and patio, Joel got several loads of medium size creek bed stones and created rock gardens on both sides of the house.  We may or may not put in small trees or bulbs in the coming weeks.  Another option is to place pots with annuals on the stones in the spring.  He also got a load of dirt which he used to back-fill up to the new concrete and then he planted grass.  He had to chase the dogs off of the mound when it was time to spread, though!  Two decorative trees now adorn either side of the lakefront sliding glass door.

A lot is going to be happening up at the house this week.  The spray foam insulation guys will be there today and Matt, our sheet rock specialist, has been up several times to measure for his job.  He and his team plan to get started on Saturday!!  In preparation for these 2 somewhat messy jobs, Steve rented a van to sit in the yard for a month or so and had Larry and Brian load it up with all of our bathroom fixtures and any superfluous "stuff" that was lying around.  This way we protect our valuables and create a clear path for the next phase.

In the meantime, the trusses and posts have been delivered for the garage which Steve staked out a few days ago.  SO EXCITING!