Elm, A little farther away

Exciting changes

The basil siding is complete and the cedar shakes are almost all done. I think there will be enough left to do the wall in the screen porch with the doors going into the house. That will look very cool. Good idea Brandon. It is starting to look like a real house. Brandon's crew was able to dodge the raindrops after a breakfast break at South Town here in New Holstein. They will be back next week to do the front porch. Thanks so much you all!

Ray the plumber will be here tomorrow and we will have sinks and perhaps a stool. What a luxury! We look forward to that. The shower area that Peter created looks great.

Peter talked with Andy the cabinet maker about the small door next to the pantry and making the window seat for the living room. He does wonderful work. I love all the cabinetry he has done for us.

Close up of the shakes around the front door

I am really glad we decided to put the shakes around the doorway. Thanks brother Tom for the good idea.

Another view of the front

Cedar shakes on the front

Brandon said they went on very nicely with little waste. They went on even easier than the smart siding. They missed you Jason.

The first shakes are in place

Cedar shake panels on the drying rack and all over

How the siding got dry

Waterproofing the cedar shake panels-54 pieces

Glass block from Grandmother's house in the shower

Mixing cement for the shower blocks downstairs

Painting the smart board after we needed more

Framing out the front porch

Starting on the front

The back side completed

Framing out the screen porch

Our bedroom with carpet

Wool carpet up close

Front bedroom carpet

Sunday morning breakfast

Elite Builders from Green Bay on the job

They are great guys and do awesome work! We highly recommend them.

Let the siding begin

Truck from Schmidt Lumber in Shawano

Cedar for porch

Pine prefinished ceiling and maple flooring arrive

The next step

Monday, Monday!

Brandon and the Elite Builders crew had some excitement today. One of the guys had a mishap with a razor knife and ended up at the hospital in Green Bay. We hope his hand heals quickly.
The rest of the crew continued to put up the siding and should be done with the basil siding today. The shakes are arriving tomorrow. The front porch is next.

Dave Pethan got the carpeting done in the two upstairs bedrooms today. It looks great. He will most likely be doing the hardwood flooring as well in a couple weeks.

Peter has started on the downstairs shower area in preparation for Ray the plumber coming this Thursday or Friday. I am going over to take some pictures now and will add them later tonight.

Bathroom floor idea

Have you thought about something dark? I think the backsplash tile sort of reminds me of the picture of the sink basin...?

Yesterday Brandon and crew got three fourths of the ceiling done. They do outstanding work. Peter is overjoyed with their work! No fishing today for the guys, they are back at it this morning. I cleaned for a couple hours last night so they could walk and work today.

The electricians were there yesterday as well and had a productive day. It looks like a real house when there are not wires hanging out all over.

Peter got some paint to get some siding pieces ready to put up on Monday. I hope the shakes are here soon. I am anxious to see them on the house.

Carpet Monday too.

Hallway lighting

Bedroom sconce

More switch plates-exciting

Where they will start today

Another view of bedroom side

Bedroom sconces up

All cleaned up and ready for a new day

Bedroom side ceiling finished

We have real electricity

Electrical work today

Dean Sixel's guys were here this afternoon to finish up the wiring. Elite Builders continues to do the siding. We needed to make decisions about the screen porch and the shake siding on the front of the house around the front porch. Peter is trying to do cement work in Marinette and keep his sanity as all the work happens here. I don't know how he does it. I just have to teach and drop in to clean up and see all the progress that is being made. It is exciting!

Where's the grass for mowing?

We do have some grass that did not get destroyed during construction, so we had to mow today! 70 degrees and a beautiful day! This picture shows the basil color the best.

Basil - Sherwin Williams

This is where the steps will go up the hill

Patio view

Taken with flash at night

The siding is darker than it appears here. I think the flash makes it look lighter. My first impression was, "It's darker than I imagined, but I like it." The color is Sherwin Williams Basil on Smartboard siding. It is applied at the factory.

A view from the back

One side done

The house is looking smaller, but nice.

Siding going on

Brandon and his guys from Elite Builders in Green Bay, came back to put the siding on the house. Whew! It looks really good. I was very nervous because picking the color had been difficult, ordering the Smartboard was tricky, and the weather had not been cooperating!
Peter has the front porch first step ready to poor-busy week!

Progress

Since Peter has returned from Texas, we are getting back on track at our house. We have the electricians, plumbers, Elite builders for the siding, and flooring ready to go. Peter and I have been insulating the basement and drywalling. The basement walls all have to be covered for code restrictions. We have decided to go ahead and do the flooring and finish the ceiling after we move in. It is very hard to move furniture until we do the hardwood, tile, and carpet. So, that will be next.
Dean, the electrician will come and finish the job, including putting up the light fixtures. That will be very exciting. Peter will be doing concrete this week, getting ready for the siding and the front porch. It smells terrific in our house with the cedar wood in the house which will be used for the front porch. Lots happening.

Back from Texas

We spent Spring Break in Lago Vista, Texas. My mother is in the process of getting her home ready to sell. Peter and I spent more than a week there enjoying the warm weather and working hard on the lawn, pool, cleaning, painting, and constructing. Now, back to work on our house.

Ah! A little spring on a gloomy Wisconsin day!

Thanks Emily! My classroom smells sweeeet!

Beautiful tulips

Thanks Jana! A nice April Fool Birthday treat!

Work supplies

More moving day mess-downstairs bedroom

Closet?

Cool vinyl for laundry area and downstairs bath

Downstairs bedroom

Basement stairs with no railing

Hallway