New roof

We have a roof! I tried to get pictures of the work on the roof in progress, but my camera battery was dead the last few days and I couldn't find the charger. They worked so quickly that now it's done. I think it looks great! Unfortunately, I can't avoid the giant portable toilet in the way of any wide angle picture I take of the house and I can't stand very far back because of the huge security fence, but here it is anyway. Stucco work will start soon...........

And here is the fireplace that was delivered Monday:

And yes, I did decide on the appliances (except for the hood and the dishwasher, but those can wait for now.) More to come soon!

More progress

More progress to report on the home front. First, here is a picture of the front bay window. I thought it turned out really nice. The plans had it as a bow window, but I decided I wanted this instead. The inspector made the contractor go down to the city and revise the plan so they would have this design on record.

Last week most of the electrical work was done. It will be finished in the next few days. The venting, ducting, etc. was completed and so were the gutters.

We went and looked at appliances on Wednesday and got some price quotes (HEART ATTACK!). We have to tell our contractor tomorrow morning what our choices are so they can finish up the electrical work. I have been pulling my hair out trying to decide on the oven(s) and I think I have finally come to the conclusion that I might as well get what I want and be poor than regret the decision for the next 30 years. Still a very hard decision. Dumb things to lose sleep over, nonetheless I can't help it! In the morning we will start discussing kitchen cabinets, too, and we are getting DANGEROUSLY close to interior paint decisions!!!!!!!!!

An "Emily-ism"

This is the conversation Emily and I had last night when I was putting her to bed:

Emily: Mommy, do I look like an Emily?

Janet: Yes

Emily: Do I look like a Zemily?

Janet: No

Emily: Do I look like a Kemily?

Janet: No

Laughter..............etc., etc.

And here is a picture of her about an hour later. What a stinkin' cutie.

Houston, We Have Plumbing!

Lots more progress has been made on the house, including some plumbing in the laundry room and kitchen. Here's a peek at that:

We took these pictures this morning when we went over to meet with the contractor, Jim. The first thing he tells us is that the windows we saved from our house to re-use that are only a few years old somehow warped over the last few months and no longer really fit in the openings that have been made to re-use them. He tried to tell us that he would do us a favor and let us replace the windows through "his guy" at cost, but Ruel wasn't buying it. Ruel told him that if they warped from the heat, it was their fault because of the way they stored them on the uneven lawn the last few months. So, finally Jim agreed and he will be paying for the replacement windows out of his pocket. Good thing, because one of them is HUGE and cost a fortune. So now I have to go pick out some new windows tomorrow, in addition to a garage door, deciding on the framing and materials for around the fireplace, the shape and color of the gutters, the roof, etc., etc., etc....... UGH! And the worst part is I have to pick the interior paint colors soon! Somebody help! Anyway, here are a few more pictures. Of course I have to include this one of the garage that I love so much. Can you make out the little nook in the back on the right? Can you say "food storage"?????

Okay, so maybe it doesn't look like much to you, but I am very excited about all the potential storage space.............. and parking TWO CARS in there! WOW! What a concept!

Here is one of my favorite features that I must say was MY idea! (Okay, I used my sister's house for some inspiration.) There are three arches between the kitchen and great room. Here is a picture of them from the great room looking towards the kitchen:

The sink and dishwasher will be just on the other side of the big arch. Here is another view looking from the kitchen into the great room:

It's great to see the progress! Electrical work should start this week and the fireplace area will be framed this week as well. Stay tuned!!