It Won't Be Long Now!!

Crickett leveling the area for the concrete pad at the garage.

Greybeard, aka, Paul, in the dump truck.

Our circular driveway.

Michael, our electrician, who has done a marvelous job.

Kitchen

Crickett, doing what he is such a master at...grading.

Prep island in kitchen, sans faucets

Part of front porch before grading was completed

I can't believe that it's been two months since I've updated my blog. Since the last update, Paul & I have painted the entire inside of the house. It goes without saying that I should have my head examined for taking on such a daunting task! I thought it would take approximately four to five weeks to complete the project, but it ended up taking nine and a half weeks, plus there is still some touch up work to be done once the electrician & plumber complete their jobs. But, the good news is that the bulk of the painting is completed, 99% of the decisions and purchases have been made, so we are on the downhill run. The hardwood floors will be finished next week, the power will be run to the house, and then the last details will be completed; i.e., the appliances in the kitchen installed, towel bars, plantation shutters, window treatments, etc. Most of the grading around the house is completed and the yards (front, back & sides) seeded, limed and fertilized, thanks to the effort of our good friends, Crickett, Ryan, and my husband, Paul. Paul & I will do most of the landscaping, a project we are looking forward to doing.

We are excited about finishing the house, but we're not pushing for any particular date for it to be completed. If we're in by Thanksgiving, fine, if not, that will be o.k. also. One good thing about getting older, you realize things get done in due time. So it is with moving.

Speaking of moving, we've noticed that family and friends already have things planned to do when we move although they don't know the date yet....how can that be???

Thanks for your interest in our new home & please check in again as we finalize everything!

BJ Painting the kitchen

Still in the kitchen!

Paul painting the den

Paul painting the hall

It's getting there!

The infamous yellow kitchen that was once poka dotted with every shade of yellow/gold!

Our terra cotta colored dining room

Dining room..looks dark in this photo

Wheatgrass colored den

Another photo of the kitchen

I'm too tired tonight from painting for much commentary so I'll just post my pictures and say good night all. Hope everyone has a great week!

Stone is Going Up

The first stone wall being constructed.

Pretty in Pink

The Lodge at Buchanan Shoals Hunting Preserve is where all the hunters stay while at the Preserve and so, naturally, it is decorated in a masculine motif; that was until my sister, Betty Tant, put her touch on it and decorated it for a baby shower.

The Lodge before we started decorating

Every little girl needs to have a tea party

The Lodge after we finished decorating

B. J. Kiker and Betty (Ann) Tant

Co-Host Betty Ratliff & her daughter-in-law, Laura, in the

kitchen putting together one of Mrs. Ratliff's delicious meals.

Co-Host Teresa Ray

Co-Host Julie Altman

I have already posted these pictures on Facebook, but for those of you who do not subscribe to FB, I thought I would share them with you. These pictures are from a shower given for our son & daughter-in-law who are expecting their first baby (our first grandchild) this month. The event was hosted by my sister and her husband, Betty and David Tant, friends, Julie & Barry Altman, Jack and Betty Ratliff, and Teresa and Rodney Ray. They hosted a couples' cookout which was a fun, fun event. The Lodge was decorated in a beautiful "littl girl" motif. Betty (Ann) Tant had the vision, brought all the decorations, and then Julie and I helped her decorate. Betty should have been a party planner! Betty and Jack Ratliff cooked one of their delicious dinners which was enjoyed by all.

Steps and Sheetrock Are Going Up

A quick picture update since my blogging time is limited this morning. I have a busy day ahead!

Our bedroom

The Den

Our Kitchen

Todd, Tim and helper building our back steps.

Thanx for checking in!

"Our walls are now "Carolina Blue" on the inside. They were out of NCSU red.

The guy in the blue shirt is our builder, Eddie Broome, who we caught totally by surprise today when this picture was taken. Eddie, Joe, Michael were boxing our roof overhang today along the back of the house.

The insulators began spraying the "foam insulation" in our basement yesterday, July 23rd, and on the main level of our home today. Tomorrow they will spray the attic and then hanging sheetrock begins next week. This was really neat to watch.

This N That

Trench for the footing for the retaining wall and steps...I'm trying to convince Paul that we should make this a little deeper, a little wider, fill it up with concrete & have a swimming pool. Don't you agree this is a grand idea??

One side and the back of the house are completely bricked. Only two more sides to go!

Since my last post the brick masons have returned, the porches and garage have been sealed with a special sealant to ensure there is no moisture in my craft room (and elsewhere), Ed and his men continue to work as if possessed, and tomorrow the insulation crew will start sealing her up! The sheetrock should start going up this week as well...we'll feel as if we are really making progress once the sheetrock goes up. I hope to have everything chosen (light fixtures, colors, etc) by the time the sheetrocking is finished. Any bets for if I will or will not...my bet would be there will STILL be something for me to choose!! Picking out "stuff" seems to take on a life of its own. My vehicle resembles something a pack of gypsies would drive...I have everything from fabric to floor samples in it.

As always, I appreciate your interest. Please stop in again soon!!

Workers are Everywhere!

There are still two more layers to go before the garage floor is completed.

Concrete guys pouring the floor for the garage

Yesterday, my sister, Betty (Ann), and I went shopping for material for a window treatment in the kitchen. Since I plan to use plantation shutters, I won't need many window treatments, but I want to use a special treatment in the kitchen that I saw in a decorating book. I found the perfect material for the kitchen window, but the cloth shop didn't have enough material for the lining I want to use. This morning I looked on the internet and was lucky enough to find the lining material online & was able to order it. I am so excited about finding the material & lining I really love, because from this I can pull colors for the walls, accent pillows, etc.

Busy, busy times at the housesite! I've never seen so many men working everywhere...we have the concrete man pouring the porches; the electrician is running wires everywhere; the heating/air guys are running huge silver "snakes" here and there; the plumber is running his pipes where they need to go; and last but not least, Ed and his carpenter guys continue to work so that the insulation guys, the "boxing" guys, and the sheetrock guys will be able to do their thing. We're one day closer than we were to completion!

Sunflowers Galore

Thought today I would share some pictures of Paul's beautiful sunflower field on our "farm." They are totally beautiful, and if we could get just a little more rain hundreds more would show their little faces.