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.