This was projected to be the week of major progress on the house. And we certainly saw a lot achieved. But there was a definite step backward, too, with ungood consequences. Lisa had been cooking dinner on Friday evening, and the duck breast was doing very nicely in the oven. She carefully took the pan out of the oven and put it onto the oven top and removed the duck. Now the piece de resistance – mixing a few special ingredients into the juices to make an awesome (oops, I am becoming too American with that word!) sauce. Finally pick up the pan to pour the sauce over the duck. But disaster, she had forgotten how hot the pan was. The pan hit the floor (inevitably, upside down) and Lisa sprang back. Hurting her ankle. She was in pain and pretty immobile all weekend and will have to get attention from her doctor on Monday. So Saturday was Robin goes shopping day, to replenish the larder with easier cook items as Lisa was certainly not going to be on her feet to cook for a while.
I also went out to the build site on Saturday to transport all the door furniture from our DIY Builders Merchant store in the sitting room. Yes, we are making real progress and are moving all sorts of components for our new home onto site. As I drove there down Porter Springs Road, the heavens opened and a total deluge cascaded down. Visibility was reduced to a point where I could only go at about 10mph. The drive down the windy road to the house was a real challenge, and then I sat waiting for about 20 minutes before it had cleared enough to ferry the cargo into the house. Local weather reports say we had an inch and a half of rain in 30 minutes. But, typical of these sudden pop-up storms, there wasn’t a drop of rain five miles away at the rental house or in Dahlonega when I went down to the shops.
On the Build Site – PROGRESS
Suddenly, it happens. After the weeks and weeks of minimal progress as the painters painted and sprayed, they have moved out of the house so that things can really start to happen. The problem becomes now one of scheduling all the competing demands for elbow room. But people have worked together, the different parts of the house are occupied by different crews, and things really happened.
So, what has actually been achieved?
- The painting has been completed inside and out. The house outside has been transformed from a sludgy yellow finish to something which is compatible with out forest surrounding. There is a lot of touching up outstanding, but that will wait until we are closer to the final final final finish.
- The front door is in place complete with its stained glass inset window echoing the mountains around us.
- The elevator now has a cabin to go up and down, and it works. But the electrics need permanently coupled up to the mains – a bit of a turf war here between the elevator installers and Jonathan the electrician.
- Counter tops have been installed upstairs and downstairs to complete the fitted furniture = they look good.
- Granite worksurfaces have also been installed for the kitchen and bathrooms. Lisa-s impressive high tech sink is in place – but still needs connecting up.
- Lots of light as Jonathan and his helpers have been wiring up the house. And they have installed a huge number of ceiling fans, including the very impressive monster two-blade fan in the lodge room – it looks like it has escaped from a steampunk film!
- Air conditioning is mostly working, though there are a few wrinkles to be ironed out and the high-tech NEST thermostats are still to be installed.
- Security and data wiring was reviewed with the specialist supplier – we now await his plan and quote.
- Trimming the house with moulding, picture rails, and coving is being completed by Tom, WC and Taylor.
Outside, we had a detailed planning session with TJ to establish exactly where more dirt needs to be pushed about to ensure that the land does not get washed away or that the house floods in a rainstorm. We also met with the gutter specialist to arrange where rainwater will go from the roof (a big debate here on downspots vs rainchains). The screens and shutters man came to review what needs to be done. The upper floor porch with doors onto our bedroom and the dining room will have fine mesh screens to keep the bugs out – that will be our prime sitting out space.
Next week should be a continuing scramble. Lisa has named the current phase of the build as the Crazy Place, where so many things happen simultaneously it is like a circus trying to schedule everything. After all the progress last week, will the pace continue? We do have hopes of the elevator being completed, Brock getting most (if not all) the plumbing installed, a proper staircase in place and my library fitted furniture being installed. Outside, we hope for gutters and the screened (insect resistant) porch in place. And we are really hoping that there isn’t too much damage done to the work so far by everyone doing their own things. Our fingers are resolutely crossed.
Robin’s Thoughts on America
After a year in America, I have been thinking about all the experiences I have had, the good and ungood things I have encountered, and the subtle differences that reinforce my opinions. I have pulled togther an index of the 29 commentaries I have included in my blog. So that gives you an insight you can find the index by following this link. Or you can select the Blog tab at the top of the webpage and follow the menu. And maybe find a few thoughts that you had missed first time around.
So, after all the false starts, will this be week of the great leap forward inside the house? We certainly hope so. Assuming that the painters will finish on the inside and move their efforts to the exterior of the building. That will be the trigger (we hope) to a frenzy of final fit work on the inside of the building. The much delayed air conditioning, completion of the installation of cabinets, the elevator, countertops of both granite and laminate, and Brock making all the plumbing happen. There is also lots of trim work to complete, and Tom will also be able to put his mind to replacing the temporary staircase with the final version.
It would be wonderful to be able to say at the end of the week that it has all rolled on like clockwork. But hard experience has told us to expect something unexpected to happens – it seems that it usually does!