A little more progress

Last week was an awfully tough week. It was way too cold to work outside and everything inside was waiting on the concrete man. He did some clean up of the floor one day, but didn't start grinding on it until this week. The grinding exposes the suspended aggragate. This picture gives an idea of what it looks like after the rough grinding is done. I understand that the plan is to use progressively finer grit "sand paper" to bring it to a shine. The outside pictures show the cedar applied to the front, lower level. This wood is finished with bleaching oil and should become better looking with age. Right now I think it might look a little unfinished, but the other siding needs to be painted and the roof has to go on and I'm going to be patient.

Jeff was traveling again this week and on Monday I told Abby that I didn't know where he was. On Tuesday we talked again and she asked if we shouldn't know where he is. I said, "oh he's in Kansas City-I just forgot". Some people think that is wierd, especially my sister Kris who likes to quiz me just for fun. I, on the other hand, know when he is coming home and that is good enough for me. Yesterday, Wednesday, Kris and I went to Burnsville to have our haircut. Our Mom and Dad think that that is hysterical (or ridiculous) to go to Burnsville for a haircut. I would only be guessing, but Kris has used the same stylist for say 15 years and didn't want to change when she moved out here to the northwest boonies. I moved to town and my stylist of 15 years or so was out of the question at approximately 200 miles away. So we do this sisterly bonding thing and I go to Burnsville with her. I found the haircut noteworthy because it is "the haircut" before Jeff and I head to Mexico. I have a new swimsuit, am starting to get a little tan, and my bag is almost packed. Sunshine here we come!

Kevin claims that our cabinets should be delivered while we are gone and the hardwood floor upstairs done. Un Be Damn Lievable, I say:)

Abby sleeps over

Jeff is traveling all week so Abby has come to keep me company. A little shopping, out for pizza and some videos. Normally I would still be sleeping, but manning her alarm clock is quite a demanding job. Her uncle Scott is quite relieved not to have to wake her up this week. He says that normally he is calling her cell phone as he drives down the road in the morning to make sure that she is out of bed. Even Barney knew last night that the fight for blanket and space wasn't worthwhile and waited until we got up to get in the bed.

Paint hit the walls--this is exciting.

Cabinet Pulls

Our Bedroom

Abby's Room

Aaron's Room

Kitchen/Dining

Well, if I do say so myself, I think Lola and I did a fine job with paint colors. And in the end cabinet pull locations were chosen and finish product for the cedar on the house. All in all a very fine day. I also read a little more from my novel which is written by a Swedish author in the early 60's. An example of some of the first crime fiction. It was well received every where except Sweden, according to Aaron, as they weren't ready to believe that there were such social problems at the time. He continues to provide me with interesting reading and I continue to tease whether he is learning anything important in school. What's wrong with physics, calculus and physical chemistry? Truth is that I probably would have flunked out, taking the classes that he is.

Snowball dance, stain choices, and cabinet pulls

Happy Valentines Day!

I am off today and I have done dishes, vacuumed and mended Jeff's pants (it is Valentines day, I figured). I also am looking at samples of stain for the cedar part of our house and diagrams of where I can choose to put my cabinet pulls. I really want to finish my novel, but I don't think I can concentrate now. I decided instead to post some pictures of Abby and her friends from the weekend.

Video Segment - Blueprint for Green - Channel 11

Here is the video segment that was on today at Noon on Channel 11 (KSTP) here in Minneapolis with host Randy Meier. If you are unsuccessful with the clip below, you can always go the Blueprint fro Green website that is on the blog and view Episode 21 - clip #4. Enjoy.

Another One Bites The Dust

I know this is not a nice title, however, they are the first words I said to Aaron when we were leaving home to pick Jeff up at the airport and I saw this scene. Not a nice way for the drywallers to end their day. While Aaron was home during Christmas break he drove my 4 runner off the driveway and it slipped all the way down to the wire fence. That was about halfway between where this truck is and the end of our driveway. Jeff teased Aaron mercilessly following with taunts like, "Aaron I tried to recreate the scene by closing my eyes, driving real fast, then slow, close to the edge and I even stopped at the garbage can to throw away my Caribou coffee cup but I couldn't go off the driveway." That was after we paid to tow the truck out and everyone's mood improved a little.

This is all I have to offer for the week, as I tend to stay out of the way while they are working. It's been since Sunday night that I was in the house. First thing tomorrow morning, Jeff (he's sleeping now-claims traveling is exhausting) will beckon me to come and look and take lots of pictures and post them. I have been watching anxiously for painting to begin. I watch Abby's window waiting to see the lovely shade of pink we compromised on. Her Daddy got to make the final decision (lest I be allowed too much power). I got to buy her green curtains and curtain rod with green polka dotted balls on the end. I haven't lost any sleep yet, but I am a tinsy bit anxious to see it all. Aaron only grunted when he was shown the color red that will be on the wall behind his bed. I'm really not sure if we were primed today or if that is yet to come. At any rate I should see paint next week.

Aaron is home for ANOTHER week

The garage suddenly feels so small. How much guitar hero should I have to listen to after 12 plus hours at work????

Lola helps pick out paint colors

Just sync'd my phone and found some important pictures. There really are a tremendous amount of decisions to be made. Last week Lola spent an evening with me picking out paint colors.

Tigger

Tigger favors Aaron's bunk, as the dogs can't get him there. You can see he is quite comfy.

Barred Owl

This is the second time this week we've seen this Barred Owl. It eats mammals, birds, fish,reptiles and amphibians and is often seen hunting during the day. Boy am I glad we never got the Yorkshire Terrier, I thought I wanted. I think Lola is a little too big!

Ground Hogs Day - February 2, 2008

Today marks Ground Hogs Day which tells us how much longer winter is and this depends on whether or not he sees his shadow. If there was a ground hog at our property here in Minnesota, he would not have seen his shadow as it has been very overcast/cloudy, snowy, but warmer than earlier in the week. Not seeing his shadow means that spring is on its way! Seeing that we were formerly from Wisconsin and Jimmy lives in the Ground Hog Capital of the World, so I turned to his website to see what Jimmy predicts:

Jimmy's Time to Shine!
GROUNDHOG DAY 2008
Groundhog Day Prognostication Saturday, February 2nd, 2008
Happy Groundhog Day! Jimmy arrived by firetruck to see a HUGE crowd waiting for him. He was sporting a full tuxedo -- but soon shed it as he's not a fancy kind of fellow! The big news is the Jimmy did NOT see his shadow and we will have an early spring!!!

Anyhow, it was a great day to finally get out and take some pictures on the progress of the house project as I've neglected to update for almost 2 weeks. As you'll notice, there has been some great progress both on the exterior and on the interior. Over the course of the past 2 weeks, the majority of the exterior Hardy Plank was completed, the galvanized metal roof began installation on the barn and on the interior insulation was completed, sheetrock hung and taping started.

Other items accomplished over the past several weeks have included finalizing all the wood cabinetry, lighting fixtures, cabinetry handles, paint colors for each of the rooms. Abby even was able to pick out accessories from PB Teen for her new bedroom to match her room color. So, things are coming together and at this point I believe all the major decisions have been completed.



Lastly, our house will be featured as part of the Channel 11 - Blueprint for Green with Randy Meier next Saturday, February 9th at Noon. They did a photo shoot at the house on Tuesday, January 22nd with Marc Sloot from SALA Architects and our house will be have about a 3 minute feature (P.S. no mention of the builders, owners or architect this time around).

If you're not able to watch on TV, then check out the website after the show at http://www.blueprintforgreen.com/


Enjoy the updated pictures.

Week of January 21st saw the insulation being installed - started with the lid/ceiling in the kitchen, dining and living area along with poly/plastic upstairs and following this they did the spray foam - closed cell - insulation throughout the house. It is now very warm in the house - what a difference from the old house.



Close-up picture of the spray foam filling a wall cavity:

This past week, January 28th primarily focused on hanging the sheetrock with taping starting on Friday, February 1st. Pictures below start-off in the kitchen, living room and dining room areas and then a walk back to our bedroom, bathroom and closet.

Master Bedroom:

Let's head to the upstairs:

Sitting Area at the top of the stairs.





Open walkway from sitting area to bedrooms and bathroom:





Aaron's Bedroom:

Bathroom:

Abby's Bedroom: