Anticipation.....

This week we made two trips to SC: Thursday and again today. Both times we hauled a truckload of boxes and miscellany from the storage unit to the basement. We estimate that two more truckloads will empty out the rental space - and we hope to have that completed by this time next week, if the weather cooperates.


The upstairs at the house is essentially done... just a few minor touch-ups remaining. Here is one of the guest bedrooms, complete with paint, carpet, light fixtures, closet rails, and door knobs...





And the upstairs (guest) bathroom:





The floor work began on Friday, right on schedule. Today, everything was coated with dust from sanding. This is the same spot we've photographed from many times before, but now it's painted and you can see the floor:




On the exterior, there is just one small area left to be sided (see the ladder where the work was left off). The railing materials are still stacked in the basement, but they should be working on that this week, since nothing can be done inside while the floors are being finished - plus it's supposed to be warmer this week than it has been recently, so more amenable to ouside work. On Monday, the painters are scheduled to begin outside and the concrete garage floors are to be poured. The other good news is that I think I am done making decisions! I gave the final paint selections to the contractor on Thursday and delivered the tile for the kitchen backsplash today. My new target, hopeful date is Feb 15th -- but remember I'm "Pollyanna"!

SNOW!

This will be an unusual posting for me – no pictures. I always compose witty and insightful entries while I’m walking the dogs or some such, but then it’s too much effort to actually “type” it in. But since this week’s trip to SC will be postponed due to weather, there is no possibility of photos. Thursday’s storm delivered about 3” of snow to the Table Rock vicinity…. And the forecast is a 90% probability of another 2-4” of snow tomorrow. We know that at our elevation, we’ll be at the high end of the forecast. It is halfway through January and we do not have a move-in date yet, although there has been progress. It is frustrating and mood-dampening to be continuing along in this state of limbo, no matter how much I repeat the mantra of “in a few months it’s not going to matter” and “quality construction is more important than the complete date”. I understand it, but I’m just not feeling it!!

It occurred to me that it might help if I composed of a list of the remaining “to do’s”, so I can keep my finger on the pulse of the progress. So, here goes:

INSIDE:
Interior painting: Should be complete by 1/25
Finish hardwood floors: Scheduled to begin 1/25
Install plumbing fixtures: Scott promises that he is on the plumber’s case
Install light fixtures: Soon as interior painting finished
Install carpet upstairs: Dependent on plumber, see above
Install kitchen backsplash
Install kitchen appliances

OUTSIDE:
Complete trim work: ALMOST done
Install porch railings: Materials in; Scott to begin next week
Install gutter, downspouts
Exterior painting: To begin 1/28
Bury propane tank: After stack of lumber gone, see trim work
Pour concrete: This will be almost last...
Install garage doors: After concrete
Grade, seed, hay yard: After the mud dries………

Looking at this list, I’m thinking it will be February, not January. SIGH! Stay tuned.

Happy New Year ... getting closer

I recently had lunch with a friend and mentioned that there is no cell phone coverage at our new home - and she asked if we really lived in "the sticks". Perhaps this answers the question: driving back from our house on Saturday, we encountered a stray cow out on the road. John couldn't get her to turn around and smile for the camera, but here she is - -

Progress is still being made on our house, although it sometimes seems that the closer we get to completion, the slower it goes. We do love the tilework, however - here is a close up of the tile in our walk-in shower:

The painters have held up work inside by taking a previously unannounced two week vacation. Upstairs is painted, however, and they have started downstairs, including staining some of the cabinets and stairs. Here is John behind the kitchen island (the countertops are still covered with paper):

And here in the dining area is the cabinet that is to resemble a piece of furniture:

Scott has cleaned out an area in the basement for us, and we brought the first small load of things from the storage unit - moved for the final time! This improved both of our frames of mind, just to feel like we were actually DOING something (even if just moving some garden tools):

So - - no move-in date yet.... stay tuned!!