Surprise! --- Crunch Time

It's Wednesday, January 29. Everyone said that they were coming this week. Brian and Ray, from Ray's Plumbing came on Tuesday and ran almost all the water lines, set up the shower, and placed the mat in the bottom of the shower so we can pour concrete for the base. No one today so it'll be busy Thursday and Friday with electrical and heating to finish . Andy, our cabinet maker said that the cabinets are done. Next week Elite Builders return to tape all the joints and insulate the area where the walls and ceiling come together. I called the building inspector for the mechanical inspection. If everything is OK we'll be ready to hang the drywall and insulate the sill areas. In addition to everything else the siding is supposed to be here next Thursday. Picked up the last window for the lower bathroom today. 12:30 p.m. I'm heading North to check on the old house and see if the new renter has arrived.

Foaming the windows and everything else

In the crawlspace

Connecting the kitchen heat run

Tin Man

Cutoffs

Return of GPS Heating

GPS officially started the furnace at 12:00 p.m. Friday January 16th. Heat was coming from all the right places and it took only a couple minutes to heat the place up. It was a good thing too since the tempurature last night got down to -19F, and the gas fireplace decided to go out. Even so the temperature in the house this morning was only down to about 30. Electricity is just about done and if Ray comes back early next week we can get the inspection done and begin drywall.

The Siding

The siding and shakes order went in today. Josh from Kiel Building says it will be here fast! This whole process has taken quite awhile, so I hope our order can be processed quickly and we will have all the necessary product.

Read more about our siding decisions here: http://rhoadeshouse.blogspot.com/2008/11/winner-is-basil-by-sherwin-williams.html

Dean's Crew

Dean's Electricians!

When I arrived after school on Monday the house was looking great! There are wires and electic boxes, etc. everywhere. Dean Sixel's crew got lots of work done! Thank you! I think they will have the work they can do right now completed today. I can't wait to see it. It is really getting exciting. Jerry called from Marinette last night, and he is coming Wednesday to continue with the heating work. Andy called last night as well and said he was almost done with the cabinetry-the kitchen, pantry, bathroom, and living room cupboards!

Plumbing

Ray's Plumbing from Menominee, Michigan came on Monday to install some plumbing. It is nice to see some progress since Christmas! It looks like I may have won Ray over on my wish to have a tankless water heater. I sure hope he is convinced that it is not only energy efficient, but it just makes good sense when there will only be two of us in the house most of the time.

We are looking forward to electric work and heating next week.

Chocolate Pie at Altitude

Doesn't work like it does at sea-level.

Merry Christmas

Nine below zero at noon-wind chill -25

We live in Wisconsin, what can we say?

Cold and Snowy Day

Thank goodness it was our only 40 degree day!

Ta Da!

Jerry and Peter at work

The fireplace heats the place up!

GPS Heating in Marinette

http://gpsheatingandcooling.com/
Jerry drove down from Marinette to install the fireplace.

The metal chimney

The chimney opening

December Update

We have some heat! We have our gas fireplace installed. Thanks Jerry! Ceiling is ready over our closets and bathroom. Cabinets are being built. The chimney is up and the cap is finished on the roof! Yeah!! Everything is ready for the electrician, plumber, and heat to go in. The drywall can go up when all is done. I can't wait!

Just a word about cutting the stringers. GO AHEAD, BUY THE NEW SAW BLADE. I KNOW IT'LL COST YOU ABOUT TEN BUCKS BUT IT'S MONEY WELL SPENT.

Front steps

Pouring concrete steps tomorrow

Whew! Peter formed up the front steps today. He will be pouring them tomorrow morning. It is good that he has a huge concrete blanket to cover it. We should have high 30's or 40 tomorrow so all will be well. Oh, by the way we have a nice doe hanging in the garage too, that Peter shot on Saturday.

Chimney and Fireplace work

Peter caulked everything this week. The plastic is off the windows as well. The fireplace framework is in place and things are looking like a real house. We are hoping to get the gas fireplace in soon so we can get some heat in the house. It has stayed above 45 on its own.
We finalized the kitchen cabinets, pantry, living room built in cupboard and shelves and the bathroom sink stand, mirror, and cupboard. We are still waiting for the color sample from Smart Siding. I wish we had just gone ahead and ordered it. The siding would be here by now! We did a walk through with the electrician to decide where everything will be. What next?

The shingles are all on!

Mom and Jana

Jana in Wisconsin for Elisa's wedding

Peter and Jana inside

Jana arrived from Coast Guard Cutter Cypress

Hope this is it!

It was sunny and not windy most of the day today. I am hoping Peter got the roof almost finished. Yesterday was very hard-windy and cold. At least today is wasn't windy and the sun was out until 2:00. A gutter guy from Home Depot did an estimate yesterday for gutters. It was for 1.700 dollars-a bit much we thought. Are we being unrealistic? If the roof is done I will take some pictures. I have to get over there before dark and I am walking. More later, hopefully.

Lago Vista, TX - Home for Sale

Virtual Tour

This Custom Built home received the 1980 Honor Award of Excellence according to Iowa Architect. The house was built to capture the views of Lake Travis and Golf Course. Architect, Tom Clause designed the house to capture the views. The glass block in the living and wall of windows, high ceilings and architecural details are modern and elegant.

Maureen Raymond
Coldwell Banker UNITED, REALTORS 13376 Research Blvd., Suite 120 Austin, TX 78750
Phone: 512-619-8121 Cell: 512-619-8121 Fax: 512-828-7096
Email: Maureen@AustinLakeTravisProperties.com
Web: MaureenRaymond.actris.mlxchange.com

Last valley

Almost done with the roof

Roofing to do on the right

Front steps are next

Some terracing required

Future steps to the patio area

The backyard

No more big piles