7th Week a Very Good Week

Given the damage and disruption to so many lives by Hurricane Harvey, I must first apologize for thinking that any progress made to our new home is important enough to share.  While so many are suffering, I'm bragging.  Somehow that just doesn't seem right.

But I committed to keeping a weekly log of the progress on our final home.  I would be remiss by not following my goal to record and report what the workers have done,  often under very wet and sometimes even dangerous conditions.  

I think this week was the first time our house actually began to develop a 'personality.'  Yes, to us, our 'house' is a 'home' being built from the ground up.  Anyone and everyone who contributes positively to its becoming a part of our lives deserves to be recognized and thanked for their efforts.  And although we may never see them again, each speck of concrete or board or nail or pipe or wire or window or roofing tile and so on they installed is like them leaving their personal and professional mark.  And so far, they have earned our respect and thanks for a job well done.

This week they started off by finishing installing the concrete ridge tiles on the roof.  I think that was the 'touch' that actually gave it personality.  After that there a lot of things going on including electrical, plumbing, A/C and Heating, natural gas, lighting, and ending up with insulation.

Meanwhile, the drywall was delivered and readied for installation.  And the bricks were delivered, hopefully to be installed this coming week.

Also, I drew up a proposed outdoor kitchen design and details as to its construction, either by the builder if the price is right, or me if I can't afford them.  I still have some snap left in me although I may need help with some of the heavy beams and roof.  I submitted the design to the Home Owners Association review committee and it was approved unanimously.

The outdoor kitchen, (temporarily referred to as the New Coop) is designed to reflect the same roof lines of the house.  I really like the French roof lines.  It just seemed the right thing to do.  The interior will be designed to accommodate only two Big Green Eggs, a 36" gas griddle, and maybe later on a wood fired brick pizza/bread oven.  Of course there will be a sink and refrigerator and under-counter cabinets.  It will also have a very large, industrial ceiling fan in the ceiling.  The plumbing and wiring for the New Coop is ready to be tapped into when it is built.

Anyway, here are a few photos that should reflect the progress of this week.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday 

Thursday

Friday 

Needles to say, we're excited about the upcoming week. 

Thanks for looking.

Sixth Week Very Progressive

The rain continued off and on during the week but the workers went on with their work.  And they did a lot, including the rough-in electrical, lighting, plumbing, guest tub and natural gas.  Also, the roofing shingles were finished and some ridge tiles. The attic ventilation turban was also installed. And even the A/C is installed, vented to each room and ready to hooked up to the outside condensing unit.

The bricklayers may be there this coming week.

Here are some photos.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Sunday

They are moving right along and every day it feels more and more like a house.  Meanwhile, we drove to New Orleans to confirm our choice for granite countertops.  We also picked out the wine chiller we want to install in the Beverage Center.  And we finalized the design of our new outdoor kitchen.  Yes, it was after we saw the roof line with the popular French Cottage look.  It just seemed natural to use the same roof line for the outdoor kitchen.  

I had planned to build it myself but we decided to see how much it would cost to have them build the structure itself and leave the cabinets for me to build.  We want it done right and with them building the structure it will greatly speed things up.

Sunday when we thought nothing would be happening became a surprise when Joyce and Allen called to say they were there sweeping up construction debris.  So we quickly joined them and about an hour later the place was looking half way good.  There's still some mud stuck to the floor but it will come up easily.  It felt good to walk around without so much debris about.  Thanks Joyce and Allen.

And it looks like I will be getting an EGO Battery Powered blower to go with my EGO Battery Powered Lawn Mower and String Trimmer and Edger I still have to purchase..  Yeah!  I know I said I wasn't going to be doing 'lawn-care' duties, but it seems that the HOA guy's large equipment does not do well for a 'manicured lawn' look.  What's another $1,000 when you just blew through lots of Thousands?  I just hope Bill Collectors can't get to me in Heaven.  That would be Heaven.

The upcoming 7th week is going to be exciting.  Especially if the builder has a good price on building our outdoor kitchen.  That would really make my day/week.

Fifth Week A Slow Week, Mostly Due To Rain

The builder had a rough time keeping a good schedule this week.  It rain A Lot here, and naturally, some work just doesn't get done.  We fully understand it so we're not complaining.

But a few things did get done and best of all they started on the plumbing.  And as of this morning, this is what we saw when we arrived at New House.

At least the plumbers have something to install Monday when the new week starts.

Meanwhile, we have to drive over to New Orleans to pick out granite.  We had already picked some out but it was sold before they even started our house.  This new shipment looks close to what we had picked, but we have to see it up close and touch it before we commit to it.

Meanwhile, I've drawn up another plan for our outdoor kitchen.  I really liked the first design, but when we could see the shape of our roof, I realized I needed to think twice about how my first design would fit.  So it now appears that Plan B is going to be the choice.  Plan B should be a little easier for me to build.

We're still doing fine at Temporary House.  In fact, we even had an overnight guest.  An Egghead friend from Virginia was returning home  after dropping his daughter off at LSU in Baton Rouge.  So we offered him the 'Bed & Grub' special.  It was good seeing him again.

We also attended the Happy Retirement party for Bother-in-Law, Allen.  It was held in their new home in Terra Bella just across town.  It was a really nice party and we met some nice people.  Among the people we met were the previous residents of Temporary House.    Yes, small world.  They stayed here about 9 months while their house in Terra Bella was being built.  

Next week promises rain again, so we'll see what happens.

Fourth Week and Progressing Right Along

In spite of the rain, the crews always remained on site and immediately picked up where they left off as soon as the rain stopped.  This pattern was repeated many times during the week.  And again today as the roofing crew was finishing up applying the tar paper.

Here are a few photos showing the progress this week.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

It started raining pretty hard and very wet three minutes after the last photo above was taken.  They will wait it out and finish up today so the roofing shingle crew can start Monday or Tuesday.  

Meanwhile, the tar paper will keep the rain out of the house.  That's a good thing.

Tomorrow should be equally interesting, if nothing was done except clean up the site.  It's very muddy. and construction debris is everywhere, inside and out.

So far, we are very impressed with all of the contractor crews.  They know what they are doing and they do it well.  Thanks guys...

A Double-Productive Day

The framing crew has been very busy this week.  I call it "Sticks in the Air."  But they did the initial floor plates on Monday, giving us for the first time a visual of what the room's boundaries will be.  It sure made everything look smaller than we first thought.

Tuesday, they actually had 'sticks in the air' clearly defining the rooms.

And by today, Wednesday, they were installing ceiling joists and other parts necessary to be in place for (Hopefully) Friday's rafters, and maybe even some roofing.  But there's a very good chance of rain both days.

As of Wednesday night, here's what it looks like:

Meanwhile, we finally went through the process of getting our Louisiana driver's licenses and registering the car.  We registered the truck a few weeks back.  We even registered to vote. It took a lot of frustrating patience and WTH's but we got it done.  We're no longer illegal aliens.

We also stopped by the cabinet company and advised them that we decided to convert one of the two food pantry's into a beverage center.  'No problem.'  A bit (LOT) expensive, but we think its needed.

Also this week, I met my new ophahalmologist and like him very much.  I've already got my next appointment scheduled in four months.

And Monday, August 7th, I'll meet my new primary care doctor. 

Our house is well on its way, our licenses are in our pockets, our cars have Louisiana plates, and we're getting used to Temporary House.  I think we'll survive this adventure.