End of the month already

Yes, that is month 4 of construction completed (by month if not by date).

Unfortunately not all the exterior doors delivered this week were correct..but all windows now fitted.

Framers were busy again..and almost all framing changes have now been actioned. The master bathroom area looks SO much better!!

Yesterday I spent 4 3/4 hours with the electrical contractor and Rick (& Sam for the final hour and a bit), at the house, deciding on location of electrical outlets (sockets) and light switches. We just about completed the 2nd and 1st floors - basement will have to wait a while. I now have to review our decisions, and make changes where necessary this weekend, so that the electricians can begin installing wiring next week.

Today I have done more research on central vacs ( my thanks to Alan & Karen for the demo!) and began my electrical review. I also had a meeting with the landscape architect, engineer and Rick on the garden design. Ian's willow tree got a much needed drink too whilst I was at the house.. it is looking MUCH happier these days!!

Ian and Sam had a Skype meeting with a company who supply in house music systems. Estimates due Monday.

Lots of "stuff" to do over the weekend on the house..kind of scary how much really!!! Would be so much easier/ more fun if Ian were here. He will cetainly see a difference in the house when he is next home. Progress has been much slower of late but it is still amazing how the house is beginning to feel like home.

Photo Descriptions (bottom to top!:

Ian's reconfigured shower
East side of house - basement door now fitted
West side entrance .- from inside. Side door now fitted (Integral blind in door closed)
The front of the house - wndows now all fitted!

Doors, windows etc

Remaining exterior doors and windows were delivered today..only garage doors, fire door to garage, and front door outstanding now with respect to exterior doors.

Pippa, Rick & I met to discuss dining room reframing etc.

Pippa and I had fun (?) working on furniture and electrical outlet (aka socket) placement.

Attached photos of basement now that concrete floors are poured

The Blog is back (at last!)

Apologies for the rather stilted blog reporting of late. Only 4 reports in July and it is July 27th!! How pathetic is that? My excuses, lame though may they seem, were Ian was home 9th - 17th (which was wonderful as ever..and went by far too fast!)..and I have had house guests ever since, plus the amazing wedding of the daughter of one of my best friends here in the USA to attend last weekend..all been fab but has meant that I have been just too tired/ busy to get to the blog. Sadly Pippa goes tomorrow..and I am going to miss her company no end!! Having had adult company for the best part of 3 weeks makes me realise just how lonely life is here by myself!!

Anyway, enough of me & my excuses..the house! What progress? Well since July 7th all the stone has gone up on the house and that has been pointed; plumbing has continued to be installed, radiant heating has been installed in the basement and the concrete floors poured; I have been busy working with the lighting designer (Ian was able to come to one of those meetings which we both really enjoyed);the lot has been mown for the 2nd time; Ian & I went to choose some of the granite/ marble for the work surfaces in the kitchen and bathrooms; Sam & I went to finalise plumbing fixtures and meet with the company that will install the music systyem, central vac and security system; I had a meeting with a designer on the bathroom basement, the garden design is work in progress, Ian & I made some decisions / choices on basement ceiling, fireplace surround, stairs etc; Ian & I met with the HVAC engineer..and we have continued to have virtual and actual meetings with Rick , our builder. So despite visitors etc....we/I have not been idle. The house is probably a little behind schedule right now, but nothing to get too stressed about at this stage.

Lots happening this week ..so watch this space!!!

Photo details:

1. The lot mown - July 11th 2010
2. Ian at the house w/c July 12th
3. The radiant heating installed - just awaiting concrete being poured on top
(done July 23rd)
4. The finished stonework..as seen from the front porch roof(yes, I climbed out
there to take photos!!)

3 months and 1 day!

Yes, 3 months and 1 day since the build started in earnest! Progress to date has been amazing..and of course very visible! I have copied a Google Earth image of the lot as it was April 12th 2010. As you can see it looks a little different now! Google Earth was updated last weekend (thanks Jim for the tip off), with photos taken April 12th. Let's hope that they we don't have to wait another 7-8 years before the next update.

Today's progress has been more stone and plumbing. The weather is expected to be hot again next week....but thankfully not as scorchingly hot as the last few days here, as the stonemasons will not have the luxury of working underneath the porch next week. They will have to be on top of it (literally!) applying the stone to the upper level.

The plumber has been starting the pipework for the guest bathroom.

As always lots of work being done behind the scenes. Progress this week has included an initial meeting with a lighting designer, and a trip out with the landscape architect to look at ways to deal with the slopes in the back garden (both of which were fun).

Today's photos taken at 8.30 p.m. (whilst on a "Save The Willow" mission trip!) so apologies if they are not as clear as they might otherwise have been.


Photo descriptions (bottom to top..for a change!!)

1. Google Earth Image of the lot - April 12th 2010
2. View of the front of the house from the driveway
3. Stone creeping up the walls!!
4. Plumbing for the vanity unit in the guest bathroom

Up and down

The stone continues to go up..the plumbing pipes will soon be going down. All holes drilled and pipes delivered and in the house ready for installation.

The weather remained hot. A slight drop to 100 degrees F today.. but temperatures dropping slightly tomorrow with an expected high of mere 92 degrees.

Photo descriptions (top to botom)

1. Stone work - front of house
2 Stone work - western elevation
3. Sam & William's shower with drain cap!

Slowly getting stoned!!

..that would be the house, not me!!

Despite the bliteringly hot weather (102 degrees F today..still 93 at 9.30 this evening!) the stone masons are makng steady progress on applying the stone to the house. It is a very exact science using a plum line..something I had not really appreciated. Really nice guys doing the stomework. Thankfully they are working on the north side of the house so escape the sun for much of the day..and in fact today have been working under the porch. Sensible chaps!

Other than stonework, the concrete floor in the unfinished end of the basement has been poured. I met the plumber today as he was there drilling holes in the floors of the bathrooms, kitchen and laundry room for the pipes to go through. We have had to relocate a couple of the toilets slghtly as where we had them marked to be was drectly above a joist. neither f the moves were a major issue.

Ian's willow tree is looking very stressed by the hot weather (of course it did not get watered whilst I was in Beijing and we have not had rain for over 3 weeks, which has not helped..and only a slight chance of some in the next week. I am therefore tending the tree in hopes of it surviving.....and have very scratched legs as proof of me wading through the wilderess, that will one day, when tamed, be lawn, to reach the sapling! Today I built a small dam (in 100 degree F. temps!! Ugh!) to contain the water..and have been up twice to water. I will be so upset if it dies!!

Photos show stonework as of 4p.m. today (July 6th 2010) ..across the front of the house and the east side, a photo showing the plum line and the other is of the poured concrete floor in the basement

Stone

Application of the stonework on the front of the house continued today. It will take approxmately 3 weeks to complete the whole job.

I, with the help of Rick (our contractor) and Paul (stonemason), chose a suitable stone from the pile delivered from the quarry to the house that will be sent to have "2010" engraved on. This will serve as a commemorative stone marking the year the house was built. The stone, once engraved will be laid on tne front left hand corner of the porch that runs across the front of the house.

The stone that we are using is local Pennsylvania stone called Oley Valley Fieldstone. So with chimney pots from England, a chest sink from China and stone from Pennsylvania our house will have little bits representing our family..just need something from the UAE now, and each of the countries where our family originates/ was born will be represented (Ian born in England..English bulldog through & through, but a US permanent resident since 1997; Jane born in England, but paternal grandfather from China. Also US permanent resident since 1997; Rebecca born in U.A.E..a permanent US resident since 1997 but in a years time will become a US citizen once she and Stephen are married; Sam born in England...not quite the English bulldog his father is, as he like Rebecca and Will are 1/8th Chinese, but a US Permanant resident since 1997 and is now eligible to apply for citizenship; William born in Pennylvania,USA, dual British/ American citizenship).