57 Days and Counting!

Yikes! Assuming I don't want the fight and expense of obtaining a second loan extension (and I don't!) then we have 57 days left to get the house in shape for a real live appraisal. 4.75% sure looks better on paper than the current 8.75%, and the sooner we finish construction, the sooner that happens. Texas Lending has tentatively extended that amount- assuming we don't wait too long and miss the current rates.

This week the masons were up on scaffolding working on the dry stack wall openings- one and a half to go, then a long smooth line to get to the top of the ceiling. And then....two columns at the front entry. And then....the floors. And then....at some point....the foundation veneer, the front walk way, and far, far away, a fire pit on the edge of the ridge below the hot tub. Right now I will settle for dry stack and floors.

The rest of the mesquite doors are FINALLY on site. They have been at the door place in Fort Wort wanting for us to be ready for them. After setting them all in the doorways, David gave Mike's guys a lesson on lining up the seams on door trims and set them to work. They are about half way done and have some of them stained as well.

The sun room siding is completed, stained and sealed. The metal for the remaining roof is on site and waiting for Mike.

58 days and counting. When I look at the six page TO DO list on my refrigerator I don't see any way possible for a timely completion. Then I remember it WILL get completed. In God's time. Just like everything else.

Rain! Progress!

We had a couple of rains this week, totaling almost an inch. Still need more to get the burn ban lifted. I have lost my zest for cutting and making piles, because there are so many already. There are little signs of spring here and there, so I am hoping once we get just a little more rain I can start making a dent in my burning chores.

Pretty good progress on the construction this week. Mike's guys completed putting down the metal roofing over the sun room and repaired and started the metal on the roof over the deck. I expect it to be completed this week.

Lalo has started painting the bedroom walls. It has been so long since I chose the colors, I forgot how much I liked the blue hues of the guest bedroom- very soothing. The three whitish walls in the art studio are painted, as is the high little loft area, though it is in the same darker blue tone of the guest room. The other wall in the art studio will be a light green.

He has also painted the ceiling in the hall, utility room, and guest bathroom.

Not sure when the kitchen cabinets will be re sealed, but it didn't happen this week. Lots of rock work, though. The rocks are above the L-Beam on both sides. They try to keep progress even all the way across so they can move the scaffolding up all at once. The ammonite fossil has found its permanent home in the wall, and I decided to use the rest of the petrified wood as well. The columns and wall are taking on quite a bit more presence than I expected- I didn't take into account the added 6 inches all the way around. The room has a LOT of rock work in it, giving it an overall substantial feel.

David finished framing the sun room walls and is working on the siding. I am going to use corrugated metal for a sort of wainscoting under the level of the windows- and possibly for the ceiling too.

April 21 will be here before I know it. I have a Big Hill To Do list tacked on my fridge, and am marking through it as fast as I progress allows. Tick-tock...

74 Days and Counting

74 days until my loan extension ends! Johnny and team were off site all week; they are back and in forward motion today. I am ready to see the fossil in the wall!

David completed the corner window, and Lalo has it stained. Looks very nice from what I can see. The windows are covered with tarp, so I can't get the full picture.

The back roof over the deck is what is falling apart; the felt paper and the Styrofoam radiant blocking are getting torn out in big chunks every time we have wind. The metal for it should be ready this week, and then Mike can get it covered and protected from any additional damge (good Lord willing!)

The kitchen cabinet finish is proving to be problematic. The gloss is either orange peel in appearance or running when Lalo tries to put a heavier coat on. They have tried three times and keep having problems. Mike is consulting a professional painter about it. The satin finishes are beautiful, but we really wanted this finish in the kitchen. Keeping my fingers crossed we can get it to work.

I think I am just ready for it to be DONE! It has been fairly consuming now for almost 16 months, and I am a bit worn down. And blessed. And grateful. Don't get me wrong.

Ice Storm Number Two

Not much to report this week- other than the weather. We had an ice storm, our second of the winter. Needless to say, that didn't translate to a lot of work done on the hill. And it didn't give us much in the way of precipitation either. Everything in town melted within 24 hours, but there was still ice on 2012 after 48 hours- and on the ground in front of the house after 72 hours. Guess I'd better make sure the pantry is stocked in the winter once I move in!

There was zero rock work done this week. First because of the ice and then because Johnny took his guys to complete a small project elsewhere. He said maybe it would give Mike's guys time to get out of his way...I spoke with him yesterday, and he went on about how nice it was to work withAustin Stone. No dry stack, very easy cutting and chopping, not having to choose from six different kinds of stone. But even he admitted he won't be more proud of anything he has done than the dry stack on Big Hill. I think his dry stack price just went up.

Lalo and team completed the kitchen cabinets with the glossy finish, then promptly covered them up to protect them from the ever present dust. He is now on to completing the last seal on all the dark wood. There still seem to be a lot of drawer front and cabinet doors stacked up here and there.

David completed the fake beam over the front entryway and did a little more ceiling trim. I understand this week he will frame out the corner window. We are using sanded rough cypress and staining it dark to match the beams and to differentiate it from the remaining window trim.

Mike didn't finish the roof this weekend. Just a few more feet on the main roof to do, but he thinks he will have to order more metal for the back. Hope that doesn't take as long as it did last time.

Also hope I have more visible progress to report next week.