More Memorial Day progress photos

Photo Descriptions (top to bottom):

1. The back of the house from half way up the back garden, which is currently meadow with grass about 4' tall. (Having had Lyme's Disease I worry about the ticks when wading through the grass to take these photos,......plus lots of poison ivy!! The things I do for you Ian!!!)
2. The back porch - roof framed and external supports in place. All roof joists on the house now in place - last section above the guest suite completed today.
3. Careful measurement of where the porch roof will go on the front of the house.
4. The new 'No Trespass' signs.
   

Memorial Day Holiday

Well it might have been a public holiday here today but since the Amish do not observe this holiday, and the framing crew are Amish, work continued at 3086 Merlin Road.

I was up there at 2.45 p.m. and these photos were taken then. I suspect that by the end of the day thay had the front porch and it's roof almost, if not completely, framed. These guys work so hard! It was facinating to sit on a pile of wood and watch them at work taking the front beam of the front porch up on the Pettibone and hold it level there whilst they fixed the beam to the end posts. Another of the carpenters was raised up on to the roof on the Pettibone to fix panels..not a hard hat in sight!! So almost all under roof (minus shingles of course!) by the end of today! Fast work!!

Photo Descriptions (top to bottom)

1. View of the house from the front garden, by Ian's Weeping Willow (branches of which are in the foreground)
2. Pettibone ride to the roof
3. Fixing the front main beam of the main porch
4. The experts at work
   

The Master returns to his estate!!

Yes..Ian came home for the weekend..how cool is that? He was last home about 6 weeks ago and although keeps up to date with progress via the Blog was able to walk in to our new home for the first time yesterday afternoon. Alan, our neighbour bought across a beer so the front porch was duly christened! Wonderful for us to walk through the house together for the first time and imagine the happy hours we hope to spend enjoying it together with family & friends

Photo Descriptions (top to bottom)

1. Ian in the front entrance
2. William's room - almost framed!
3. Garage with William's room above..now with dormer windows
4. The house from the driveway
   

Today!!!

Never going to get behind on the blog again, if I can avoid it, it takes too much time to catch up!! Lots of progress this week....roof framed, dormer windows frames, front and back porches built and concrete poured, cabinetry company been out to check meaurements and that all being ordered tomorrow..plus a few changes to the plan, including enlarging the pantry and changing the closet configuration in the master bedroom .

Photo Descriptions (all photos taken today!):

1. Will's room taking shape..he now has roof and windows framed!
2. The West Wing!!
3. Concrete being poured in to back porch
4. The house now has the roof framed and dormer windows framed
   

Family Visit

On Friday May 21st we did a family visit (sadly without Ian) to the house. The first time Sam had been as he has been at uni since the end of January..also a first visit for future son in law, Stephen

Photo description:

1. Front porch under construction (May 24th)
2. View down the driveway (May 24th)
   
3. View up the driveway (May 24th)
   
4. First Family portrait at the house - Rebecca, Stephen, Sam & William at the front door (May 21st)
   

Way behind!

I am talking about my blog posts not the house build..that is on schedule and after a slower week last week seems to be going a pace! I am going to quickly bring the photo gallery up to date and will put a date by the photo showing when it was taken

Photo Description:

1. William's bedroom (May 25th)
2. View across front of house from Will's bathroom (May 21st)
3. Sam's room (May 21st)
4. Rebecca's room (May 21st)
   

Update attempt! More photos (2) - Attic

Well here goes..an attempt to FINALLY get remaining photos uploaded and descriptions written. Thankfully (for the Blogs' sake) was not a mega busy week on the build last week, but expecting the pace to ratchet up again from tomorrow, so I am going to do my utmost to get up to date before I go to bed tonight (and I don't want another late night!!) Hre s the fusrt batch....of out now..will upload some more later!

Photo descriptions (top to bottom)

1. View from attic - towards west
2. View from attic- to frnt of house
3. William - in the attic
4. Wiliam - in the attic - looking down in to the master bedroom
   

More photos (1) - Master ensuite

Photo Descriptions (top to bottom)

1. View from the master bathroom (the one I will enjoy as I soak in the whirlpool tub.....champage in hand of course!!)
2. View in to the bathrrom from the dressing area..showing bay where the whirlpool tub will be located
3. Ian's vanity unit will be in the alcove area (it is wider than it looks!) Part of his huge shower is seen on the right.

P.S Sorry ...camera battery just died (possibly because upload been interspersed with helping William with homework and Rebecca & Stephen bringing their little dog, Ollie, over for a sleepover with Libby & Rubi (our 2 big dogs), amongst other things. I.will continue uploading rest of photos tomrrow when battery recharged!! These things are never straightforward!!

Photos

Photo descriptions (top to bottom)

1. View from the front side window in the master bedroom
2. My closet - very important room in the house (of course Ian's is so big I could not get it in to one photo frame!!) !
3. View from the doorway in to the master ensuite closet /dressing area
4. Master bedroom from the south (back) end of the room
5. Master bedroom from the front external corner.
   

Here are the photos from Monday. I have grouped them in a few blogs as it seems possible only to upload 5 photos per blog.

I know that many of them are very boring to those not intimately involved in the house build, but this is the means by which Ian gets to see what is going on. Suggest those of you who are bored skip the boring ones..much as you do when politely shown someones' holiday/wedding/baby photos!!!


Yesterday it poured with rain for much of the day, so no further progress to report. Today, although been fine weather wise, I have not had time to go to the lot. Will do so tomorrow and update progress then.

No " Indian in The Cupboard" but was a Boy (& his Mother!) in the Attic

Yes, today William and I not only went upstairs and toured the bedrooms etc on the 2nd floor but we were also able to access the attic. As advised by Rick the views are truly to "die for", but bearing in mind my mother in laws dislike of this phrase William & I were very careful, and sucessfully ascended and descended without incident! I don't thnk you would have made the ascent Ian, given your fear of heights.

The footings for the back porch were poured today. Driveway also now shingled all the way to the top.

Heavy rain predicted for tomorrow, so not expecting any work to be done on the lot. ( Good news for the weeping willow anyway!! ) Framers gone away until next Monday apparently, but other works planned (chimney, initial plumbing work etc).

I had a 3 1/2 hour meeting with the cabinet makers this morning (3 1/4 hours travelling time - 45 mins longer than should have been because I got lost!!!) and then just over an hour with Rick this afternoon ( to be continued tomorrow a.m.)

I did take photos today, but too tired to download them now..will do so tomorrow. Sorry!

Blog Catch Up (May 15th ) Page 3 of 3

Finally, for today, ....to back track a little, Rebecca, Sam & William bought Ian an 8 - 9ft weeping willow tree for his birthday (May 11th). Ian had on a no. of occasions said that he wanted a weeping willow in the new garden, so, since we were directed he did not want any more "stuff" in Geneva (!), I decided that a tree might be a good gift. I managed to find a suitable tree, and had it delivered and planted before my trip to Europe. Photo duly taken on day of planting (May 3rd) and photo framed so that Ian had a small parcel to open on his b'day. I paid the cost of the protective fencing (so the tree does not become deer fodder!) and to have the tree properly staked. It will be a while before we can sit under the canopy of the tree and sip our G & T's....but in the meantime we can do our sipping on the front porch and admire the tree from there, imagining, perhaps, giggling grandchlden running amongst it's weeping branches in the future (no rush kids for the grandchildren....plenty years of growing for the tree to do before the sound of little feet need to appear!)

Whilst at the house today William & I checked that Ians' tree was settling in well in its' new home. It seemed fine! I have not taken up Prince Charles' habit of talking to the plants so did not ask it how it was!! I think I will need to take it some more water on Monday (until the well is drilled we have no water available on the lot) as it has been warm with a gentle breeze.(supposed to have been a tornado warning last evening but thankfully nothing came of that! However, a tornado would have been a true test of the quality of the house construction!!!)

Blog Catch Up 2 (May 15th) - Page 2 of 3

Photo descriptions (starting top left)

• Photo 1 - The eastern side of the house. Base of chimney and, beyond that (half hidden), entrance in to basement, can be seen bottom right.
• Photo 2 - Rear elevation
• Photo 3 - taken from back of mud room (study to left) looking down toward the pantry, kitchen etc
• Photo 4 - side entryway and hallway. Photo taken from mudroom.
• Photo 5 - Breakfast/ morning room fom the main entrance foyer
  

Rick told us of some good fortune....due to an error by the lumber supplier we now have 9ft ceilings upstairs as well as down....a $25,000 upgrade... gratis!! Yeah! However ....I guess that that will mean more siding, stone, longer downpipes etc..so in fact not a totally free upgrade. Must ask Rick about this!!!

Blog Catch Up 2 (May 15th) - Page 1 of 3

Photo descriptions (starting top left)

• Photo 1 - Rear bay of the lounge (living room)
• Photo 2 - eastern wall of the lounge - windows will be either side of the fireplace
• Photo 3 - William , looking as though he is immitating John Cleese (!), walking through the kitchen
• Photo 4 - the garage (west wing!!)
• Photo 5 - what the house looks like from the front today
  

William & I were up on the lot at our earliest opportunity today..both of us keen to see how the house had progressed in my absence (although William, his friend Steven, and Rebecca did go on May 7th) Wow! So exciting to see how much progress has been made. We were able to walk through the ground (1st) floor and really get a feel for the rooms. Only real concern was the size of the pantry....might have to review this. No way to get up on to the 2nd floor today.....will do so on Monday when ladders will be available. Apparently the views from up there are to die for!
As you can see the majority of the framing is complete, and some of the house is already Tyvek wrapped.

Lots of photos today, so have kept them small!!

Blog Catch Up (May 15th ) - No. 1

Photo descriptions (working from top left)

• Photo 1 - rear of house from south west. Bay window is the rear window of ground (1st) floor) guest suite.
• Photo 2 - Garages (bedroom to go above)
• Photo 3 - Back of house
• Photos 4 - View from the west
• Photo 5 - Front of house, from near the bottom of the driveway, showing the start of 2nd floor framing

Thanks to the kindness of one of our new neighbours (thanks Alan!) I am able to post photos of progess between May 6th and May 10th ( 3 working days)..even though I was away at that time.

As you will see framing continues at quite a pace..and as the clear blue skies indicate, the weather has been co-operating (Did you know that the average person spends 6 months of their life talking but the weather??!)