October 2012 - Progress Continues

The last couple of weeks have just flown by.  Trees were trimmed, roof trusses delivered, the framing is complete, we have shingles and even a deck!  The retaining walls are 95% complete.  Still daily meetings with contractors and making big and small decisions.  Bought a garage door this week.  Got a couple quotes for furnace, A/C and ductwork.  And we were pleased to find a nice floor and splurged on the entire house in hardwood so it will all match.  At this rate I may be using a laundromat as there won’t be money left for appliances, but the floors will look amazing! 

 

 

 

Treehouse-like View from the Master Bedroom

 

 

 

 

Next we need to start getting serious about picking out a kitchen as it takes anywhere from 2 – 7 weeks lead time.  Even what should be little decisions are adding up and can sometimes be overwhelming – for example nice doors, then there’s still the handsets to choose.   What kind of railings for the deck – we need special hardware adaptations for the flat roof section over the garage.  And do we splurge now for the glass front deck panels or go with black pickets?  Also lighting – the electrician & I went through the house on Wednesday and figured out where all the switches and outlets would go.  Now just need to pick out and buy the fixtures – another big decision.  Just trying to prioritize and deal with it all as we need to, but knowing that a decision made today likely will impact something else down the road, so we’re trying to keep all our options open.  In a new subdivision they at least have things narrowed down into packages for you.  But here with everything on the table and up for grabs the choices can be overwhelming.

 

Jaime and his housemates had a great time in Florida!  We’re so thankful he had this opportunity.   Many thanks to the staff at Christian Horizons, and also our friends who contributed donations for the 2 fundraising garage sales we had this summer.

 

Ibby & I went on our annual couples golfing weekend to Niagara Falls.  The guys go golfing and the ladies go shopping – now that’s my kind of weekend!  We got back home in time Sunday to pack the cooler and head up to the cottage for our first drink in the Sangria Room!

 

 

Thursday our windows arrive!

 

 

September 2012 - Building Progress Report

 

We’ve come a long way in one short month!  While we were away, with the help of the surveyor siting the structure, the footings and foundation were poured.  We got back just in time to see the framing going up.  After getting home at midnight on a Sunday, bright and early Monday morning I was placing the window order.  Unfortunately that was just about ready to go, then I left in a rush.  Hope the delayed order doesn’t hold things back.  We also decided on siding colour in a board & batten style, and have been exploring deck options given that half of our deck is on top of the garage (a flat roof which means drainage issues).  We’ve initiated the process to get the hydro reconnected, the HVAC guys are now starting on designing the ductwork, and the plumber has been out several times already running preliminary lines and moving existing lines.

 

Thanks again to Bill, Trevor, Tyler and the entire Weisflock crew for keeping things moving along!

 

 

 

We’re also dealing with landscaping much earlier than I anticipated.  Thought we could wait until the spring, but the guys warned that once winter comes and then there is melting snow in the spring that would be bad.  Because we’re on such a slope, need to put in a few retaining walls now to protect against that.  A truckload of stone was just delivered yesterday, and they are placing most of it today.  We have very sandy soil which is bad for runoff but good as a stone bed.

 

At the site there have been little tweaks made along the way.  A window or wall moved this way or that but sometimes just a couple of inches will have a big impact on another area.  For example, recessing the fridge in lieu of having a 2^nd full depth coat closet provided an extra foot in the kitchen traffic lane.  Seems like every day I’m either meeting with someone at the site, driving out to a lumber store, or doing massive research on the web.  The guys give me lists written on blocks of wood.  We’re also trying to anticipate anything we can now.  For example, we had the plumber run 2 lines from the well to the house so we have a back-up.  Also roughing in plumbing for the basement now.

 

On the home front, Jaime and his housemates left on Tuesday for a week in Florida!  They are renting a house and going to Universal 2 days, Disney one day, and another evening at Disney for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.  Special parades, fireworks, and the boys get to trick-or-treat at the Magic Kingdom.  How cool is that!  Jaime will be celebrating this 19^th birthday down there, so Mickey’s party was our gift to him.  It was a little rushed getting him organized and packed once I got home, but the staff at his house had everything well in hand.  We’re so grateful Jaime has this awesome opportunity!

 

So as I’ve been typing this text, I’m sitting lakeside at the picnic table on a gorgeous fall day.  The leaves are turning colours, the geese are flying overhead, the site mascot dog Teak is chasing her ball, and I’m reminded of why we are moving here.   As if I needed a reminder!  The only thing needed to make the scene complete would be a soundtrack of Earth, Wind & Fire blasting out “September”.  We are very lucky indeed.

 

 

In Memorium

 

 

 

The following Friday, just 2 days after demolition, my Dad at home in Wisconsin took a bad fall. Taken unconscious to the ER, where it was discovered he had not only a broken eye socket and facial bones, but also bleeding on the brain and damage to both hemispheres. I left immediately Saturday morning and drove all day straight to the hospital. After about a week in ICU of testing and waiting, the difficult decision was made to transfer Dad to a hospice facility and provide comfort measures only. As many of you already know, my Dad also suffered from advanced stage Alzheimer’s, so he just didn’t have the recovery/therapy time that was required to bounce back from a fall so bad. After 8 days at the Hospice House, Dad passed away peacefully with myself and his family by his side. He was only barely 74.

Jaime's special buddy - filling the birdfeeders together 2008

 

Ibby & I stayed on the following week not only for the funeral and preparations required, but to also help my Mom get a little settled.  As luck would have it, my brother Tim had 2 extra tickets to the NFL Packers vs Bears game at Lambeau Field, so we were able to go with him, my cousin Mark & fiancée Monica, and a tailgate load of friends.  It was a release we all needed, and would have been what my Dad wanted.  I’m sure he was watching on the big screen in heaven.  Now if only someone can tell me why they don’t do the YMCA and Twist & Shout any more in the 4^th quarter…   Sacrilege at Lambeau!

 

 

 Me & cousin Mark - a Bears fan!  (The HORROR!)

 

We’ll be forever indebted to not only our friends and family for their support and kind words, but also to Bill and his crew who kept the building moving forward, coordinating with surveyors, plumbers and anyone else required.  And also to our neighbours here on the lane who took photos along the way and emailed progress reports.