Move-in Date is Getting Closer

I talked to the contractor and it looks like they may finish up by Friday.  That is the target date so far.  The plumbers and electricians have some hook-up work to do.  The electrician has almost everything installed.  I just asked him to switch out the light fixture in the entryway and that will take some creative ladder work to get to the ceiling as the railings are up now.

The plumbers, on the other hand, have a lot to install.  1 toilet, 3 tubs, 4 vanities, one small wet bar, one dryer vent, a dishwasher, garbage disposal, and last but not least a geo-thermal water heater that runs off the heat pump.  Supposed to be economical.  Lord knows I need economical after the really large heat bills.  I am hoping that was resolved with the correct thermostats.  A $799 heat bill for one month almost gave me heart failure.  As my dear son points out, “Mom you are 60+.”  I thanked him very much and told him I would out-work him any day.  No argument from him.  Kids these days are soft.  Huh, Steven?

Well, I do have to say, I like having him help me.  So here is what I/we have done this weekend:

I will begin with easy first.  We unboxed the microwave and put it on a shelf. I told you I was beginning with the easy part.  Then, we unboxed the trash compactor and wiggled it until we got it in the cabinets.  Steven did the wiggling.  Then we unboxed and muscled the freezer into the utility room.  I was so ready for a new freezer as we are still using the one we bought 26 years ago.  I hope this one lasts that long.

Now on to the study as Steven had finished up the caulking and I finished with the primer and the final coat on the window ledges and baseboards.  That just makes 2 rooms that are actually (completely) done with the painting before the carpet goes in.  The rest of the house will have to be done later.  The outside will be finished up this summer.  Promise.

Now for the pictures.

Stairs are coming together. When the pieces are sanded, the staining will follow

Looking toward the one guest suite upstairs

My favorite part. The reading nook.

Another view of the stairs

The light that will be hanging over the pool table

Another beautiful view of the back pastures, through the bonus room. aka Lynn’s man-cave

This is the view from the reading nook

Where did December go?  I was supposed to rest in December!!  And you know, winter is my time to hibernate.  No hibernating and I really get cranky.  Just has Lynn.  If our marriage survives this last 7 months it can survive a lifetime.  I have totally lost my sense of humor, and I broke a mirror so that may be responsible.  I wonder if you have the mirror replaced, does that help take away some of the bad luck?

Can’t wait to show you pictures of the carpeting and the finished kitchen.

Annie, the unlucky 60+ Jack-of-all-trades.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Good Afternoon,

I know this is a little late for Christmas, but I still feel it in the air.  Been busy packing and working and painting and caulking… on and on.  Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas spending time with family and friends.  That makes for a beautiful Christmas’.  We didn’t really celebrate much this time as we are in the middle of finishing so many projects.  Hoping that we will be able to move into our new house sometime in February.

That progress at this time is:  Most of the trim is down and waiting on the counter tops and some flooring.  The counter-top will be installed on Tuesday the 30th.  The guys have been working on the stairs and they are going to look amazing.  All the appliances have to be installed and the 2 claw-foot tubs have to be installed.  The faucets and plumbing items are purchased and should be delivered by the 5th.

My son Steven will be coming to stay with us for awhile so he can get registered and, hopefully, accepted into the nursing program at WWCC.  It is his dream to be a nurse, and I want to do all I can to help him recognize his dream.  Bonus is, he will be a lot of help around here.  Never realized how limited we have become in this past year.  Everything seems harder and seems to take a long longer to accomplish.  Just need to set goals and keep working toward those goals.

I did get a rude awakening when I got my power bill this month.  It was $799+ for one month.  It went from $139 the previous month to $799.  To say that took my breath away, would be an under statement.  The power company along with the heating company will be coming out to see what is going on.  I knew the bills would be higher, but I was not prepared for that.  Needless to say that has put a tremendous damper on things around her.  Holy molly, cross you fingers and hope it is a malfunctioning meter.

Now for some photos:  We will start with the tile in the shower.

Another view of the shower

Vinyl combo with tile for the tub surround

Still now finished, but I am sure the flooring guy will be a fixture in January.

Then there is the staircase.  To say I am excited for the stairs is an understatement.  It will be the focus of the house.  Lots of natural light and something I can decorate next Christmas.  Oh, boy I can’t wait.

Yet another view of the stairs. They will be stained after they are installed.

The railing is going up in the reading nook

Stairs are going in

The guys also installed the French pocket doors in the upstairs bonus room (aka man-cave).  Also, I found an entertainment cabinet that I am going to use as a wet-bar sink.  Our little wet-bar is only about 3X4 and I had to get creative.  Excited about how it is going to turn out.  Not much of a drinker, but it could be a coffee bar.  I love coffee.

Interior French pocket doors

A media center will be our new wet-bar

While working all the time, leaves little time for anything else, I did take a moment to snap a few photos of our really muddy April.  She is our little yard ornament and can’t figure out what the fuss is about.  Looking forward to spring when everything greens up and we have warmer days.  Then we can look out our front windows or sit on the front porch and watch her play.

Dirty April

April wanting to know where the carrot is hidden

April looking for Papa.. He’s her favorite

She has a stable mate, Buckwheat the llama, but he wasn’t having anything to do with the photo shoot.

More photos and more blog through-out January.  Hoping our move-in date will be real soon 🙂

Annie, the ever-patient DIY’er

 

Boring weekend, just working on the porch posts but excited about the future.

I have spent about 8 hours on Saturday and 8 hours on Sunday just working on the posts.  It is boring and tedious work sanding, filling with Bondo, sanding some more, filling some more……  ugh.  Working on two this past week, and there is just no way of speeding along the process.  I broke the palm sander.  I know, I know if I get near anything mechanical it breaks.  On this, the rubber pad came off so I had Lynn check to see if he could order a new one, but they are discontinued.  Only had it 20 years, what’s with things nowadays?  I can make it work for now, just have to treat it gently.

On a lighter note, I got a new big-wheel trimmer.  Sears had them on sale as it is the end of the season so I had to have it.  It was $80 off, so, hopefully, if I can ever get done with the posts, I will trim up some of this weedy mess around the place.  I am truly embarrassed at the way things look around her.  Even with Lynn being sick in the past, he has always been able to keep the pastures mowed so it at least looked inhabited, instead of abandoned.  Can’t stand it, as it is driving me crazy.  I’ll take a picture next week (of the weed wacker).  It sure is purty.

Update on the house.  We have a few plumbing changes that we need done.  Smith Insulation is  installing insulation with a vapor barrier.  The ceiling and attics and under the house are left to do.  Sheet-rock will be delivered tomorrow.  It is going fast and I am starting to picture it actually getting done.  S & K Construction has been awesome along with their subcontractors Grassi Refrigeration & HVAC; Hays Electric;  Alden Plumbing;  and Smith Insulation.  I couldn’t be more impressed.  They are very professional and are getting it done.  Those are the ones that have been onsite and working on the house so far.

O’Conner’s Mr. Carpet out of College Place will be doing the floors and installation.  I took pictures of the samples and will show some of the on this post.  Probuild will be doing the doors and trim and stairs.  They will instal a spindle rail stair system with fluted and rosette window and door trim.  Oh, I can’t wait.  I am clapping my hands together.  Just imagine a kid on Christmas morning and you will know how I feel.  There will definitely be pictures as it progresses.  As for now, here are some photos of the flooring samples:

 

This is the laminate flooring. It is various size rough-hewn boards, distressed to mimic real wood floors

This will be in the in the entry, dining, breakfast nook, kitchen and family room.

This is the carpet that will be in the rest of the house. It looks brown in this photo, but is actually an olive green color

The one in the corner.  It will be in the entire upstairs except the baths and it will be in the study and master bedroom.

This is laminate vinyl for the baths where there is the chance of more water

I really like this vinyl planking.  It has such a beautiful wood look to it without all the maintenance.

Living room and stair runner carpet. This is in the classic Victorian style. It will only be in this one room.

This a focus carpet that will be in the living room and as a runner up the staircase.  It’s busy, but will look wonderful in the Victorian house.

So tell me what do you think?  Can’t wait to show it all to you done,  and actually live in it.  I don’t know what the finish date it, but I’m hoping before Thanksgiving as Lynn’s daughter is coming from California.  She will be our first guest.  How exciting.  I forgot to ask if she can paint?  Just kidding Diana.  🙂

Annie, Posting away, but happy