Water Catchment System Flowing Along!

Butch and Morris, our contractor, have been like little boys playing with Legos on this water catchment project and I must say the design is impressive. Piece, by piece, by piece...Pipes, water pumps and filtration systems are being set in place and hooked up to the over all system. Tanks are full and soon we'll have water in the house. Amazing system! Butch has researched the needs for the system and designed it all from scratch. Who knew my honey was an engineer?!?!?

Dining Room, Kitchen and Front Views

Kitchen pendants and dining room light arrived with our dining set from NC late last week. Ryan got the lights us right away and we are pleased with their look. The picture make their angle look odd but they really aren't!

A peek of the dining room table...

So looking forward to entertaining larger groups again!

And Cassie, these photos are for you. I realized I could climb up the hill for some shots...trailers still somewhat in the way, but this should give you a better idea of what the front of the house is looking like now. After we move in and catch our breath financially from this we'll add shutters and minimal landscape.

We're Gettin' There, We're Gettin' There!

Truly on the end run now! Countertops are scheduled to go in sometime the week ov Nov. 28th. Backsplash tile will then be installed as well as the final plumbing - fixtures, toilets and making sure they work. Movers arrive December 7th come Hell or High Water. We've already taken delivery of our dining room furniture and bar stools so I guess we've started moving already. Gosh we'll be glad to be really "in"!

Some of the progress photos...

Our engineered wood floors went in beautifully and we are quite pleased with our selection...you never know really with samples how it will look...on the other hand...

...I'm not too sure about the guest bath tile. We are waiting on the glass tile trim to come in before we go further. The tile looks different under different lighting and I may have to play with bulbs to get the "mauvey" color out of the tile...we'll see.

Master Bath Steam Shower looks great and we are particularly please with the seat size and design. Being that most of the house is ADA compliant we needed to be able to swing a wheel chair around and not hit a leg on a seat corner. Our wonderful tiler, Michael, suggested the triangular form and it is going to work beautifully should the day come...

And the tub surround...

Fall Colors

Due to the extreme heat of summer no one expected Fall to be so colorful. Nature fooled us all!

Miscellaneous Shots...

Butch has been working on his garden adding hoops in hopes of extending growing season. Mother Earth's latest edition inspired his latest addition!

Butch and I had to compromise on porch screening...to screen or not to screen...We ended with part of the porch being screened with EZ Screen and our framers are currently working with those sections. We are very pleased with the product look and the boys are finding it a much easier product to install..another win-win.

Ryan installed the fans and the framers finished the side stairs before starting the screening on back porch section.

Lightin' Us Up!

Ryan, our capable and patient electrician, has been on site throughout the building making sure we have lighting everywhere we want it and need it. His willingness to "move this" and "add that" is greatly appreciated!

One of the front door lights...trying to capture nature at the door!

Tiles Going In

Most of the flooring in the house will be wood, however our builder wisely recommended tile floors for the master bathroom. Michael has been installing the tile as it has been arriving from the suppliers. The floor tile is porcelain and has a grainy texture...good for keeping old bodies upright! Note too, the shower seat...we had another "butt sizing" session to be sure it would be big enough!

Glass tile border on steam shower seat and close up of tile border...

Cabinets, Knobs and Pulls

James and his sidekick, Tristan have made our cabinets and once installed Leo and Mary got to work painting them. Now the boys are back setting the drawers and doors and moving us closer to a working kitchen.

Tom and Mona Jones and Butch send a salute to the boys for a job well done!

James made the perfect vanity for our half bath from a photo. Leo brought our vessel sink into the paint store to match the color perfectly! Hard to see in the photo now but once it is installed with the black granite top and vessel sink on top the color will become more obvious.

Pull and knob for the laundry room cabinets...white with corrugated tin back splashes and off-white tile counter tops...pale yellow walls.

Progress Report...

We're getting closer to a final product. Thought I'd post some of the steps our talented workers have taken in the past few weeks.

Gary, our mason, is a 70 year old wonder! He works out the "puzzle" of the stone pieces and the final picture...well, you'll see...

The final product exceeded our expectations and we are looking forward to many evenings in front of a roaring fire. Note the central "rock" below the hearth...it is a real rock from our property whereas the remainder is faux. The mantle and hearth stone are limestone from a quarry in Eureka Springs.