Snow is pretty but.....

There's a lot of snow and it's pretty, but not so much when it slows progress on the house AND there's snow in the living room. We were last up there on Dec. 19 when we took the pictures. At that time there was about 8" of snow in the living room. Reports from my parents since then say they now have 3', no phone or power. Something to look forward to.

The picture to the left is looking down the gallery. You can see where the bookshelves will be on the left side. The picture on the right is taken from the living room looking back towards the kitchen. The bottom picture is taken from the driveway up to the house. Josey loved the snow but of course was packed with it and when we got back into the pickup we were all wet! We are very much looking forward to next year and Christmas in our new home.

Merry Christmas and the best in the New Year!

Trusses in Place

The trusses have arrived and are in place for the back half of the house and the garage. We're able to get a real feel of the rooms. We are thrilled with the design and how it's taking shape. Our contractors, Ron and Eric Amerson of Carlyle Construction are pictured, I'm sure enjoying the nice November..almost December weather. Here's hoping for a kind, mild winter!

The Architects Visit

These are pictures that Ian took when he and Bethany came out over the weekend. Ian also sent a new drawing so that those of you that haven't seen the plan can see where we are heading. The top picture is of the entry. It's not open into the living room but will have a wall, about where you see the chunk of OSP laying on the floor, to hang some defining art. Should make for a nice entry. I'm thinking maybe a set of elk horns, or perhaps a NASCAR car hood, think I will get away with it?????

The drawing is of the southeat corner of the house facing forward. The left side of the drawing shows the windows in the great room all the way back to the windows in the kitchen. The right hand shows the windows in the master bedroom with one of the patios in front of it.

It was great to have the architect and his accomplice pay a visit to see how it is transforming from paper to fact. We continue to be thrilled as we get to see in real life what was hard for us to imagine.

We hear by way of the grapevine that we will have trusses tomorrow on what is framed so far.

Well the rain is back. The north side gallery wall is partially complete. This is the highest point of the house with the gallery windows framed in. The area under the main beam will all be bookcases so that we can have some place to put all the stuff we have gathered around the world without taking up floor space.

There will be another high wall just in front of where I am standing. I'm glad that it's Ron & Eric who are doing this work. I hate heights and wrestling those beams would not be at all fun.

Peggy is standing in her quilt studio and can't wait for it to be finished. She has measured and re-measured every square foot to make sure all of her "stuff" will fit in just right for maximum efficiency.

The guest bath shower and tub are in so bring a bar of soap and take a VERY cold shower. It's raining hard enough.

Progress

Whew...I'm home for a few days. Ron's done a great job of updating the blog. I hadn't been at the house for two weeks so it was fun to see the progress. I think since Ron's last post the garage has been framed. The bottom picture shows Ron having lunch in the main room...sort of at the kitchen counter. That room is not completed as there have been discussions on windows between Ian, the architect and the contractor. I'm hoping that's resolved and we can move forward. The back or north side of the house is pretty much framed. It's sure nice to stand and look out my sewing room window. We spent a beautiful weekend there clearing, burning and planting trees. Oh I wish we were 15 years younger. Dad helped with the tractor putting stumps onto the fire. The house is coming along and we're very excited about it.

It continues to rain and the progress appears slow. However; some of the large beams on the northern wall of the gallery are in place and I'm sure they were a bear to get into place. The frustrations of getting a house built are mounting earlier than expected this time around and we are getting concerned about getting finished on time. There is only three and a half months left to go and the walls aren't up yet. It will be great when it's finished. Peg's teaching in the Seattle area so guess who's trying to post this.

Wet Walls II

Somehow I didn't attach the photos on the last post.

Well the weather has finally turned. We have experienced a wonderful fall with all the colors to match the Northeast. The drive to the house site has been more colorful each night.

The guys have gotten more walls up now. Most of the NE side of the house is now framed in and standing. The bedroom exterior walls are done. Eazy to see the windows that will take up most of the two outside walls. Also to see the door to the outside shower and what the view of the standing timber from the bedroom will be like.

The den now has three sides and you can see the windows there and the windows in the quilt studio. It is clearly beginning to take recognizable shape.

Everyone take care.

Walla! Walls

Walla! We have walls. Ron here for the first time. After over 2 years of dreaming about this place it is starting to look like we will have a house here someday.

Peggy is going to be gone for a few days and we anticipate that a significant amount of visual change will take place while she is gone. Therefore I am being trained to try and update this when possible.

The walls that are up in the photos are of the master bedroom on the left, the entry between and the den to the right. The area next to the den will be the quilt studio. The area where the lumber is setting obviously is the garage.

Let us know your thoughts on how you see the progress. Always fun to hear from all of you.

Horizontal Walls

The walls are taking shape if only in a horizontal position at this point. It's a start. Ron is standing in his den, pretty sure they started on his walls first! The other pictures is the view from the kitchen window in the fall....very cool. I don't mind doing dishes with this view.

Waiting for Walls

Yesterday was a beautiful day. Not much visable change in the house but a good day to dig in the dirt. We planted trees, shrubs and bulbs. Some of you have heard about our rock issue. Well the picture says it all. The house is setting to the left of this "rock" bank. Need any landscaping rock or maybe a fountain rock? We hadn't planned on having a fountain but I think it is now in our future. Ron has planted about 15 trees with more to go. The lines for the septic tank and well are done and the trenches are filled. The framing is scheduled to start this week. We have our fingers crossed.

Decking

As you can see, as winter approaches the pictures will get a little darker and this is with brightening them. The decking is almost complete. Ron is standing in his den. There are big trenches out from the house for the septic tank and well....in opposite directions! Ron and I are busy talking to cabinet people and plumbing people. So many decisions. But we're excited about having the house under construction. Hopefully walls next week!

Slow Visual Progress

It doesn't look too different than before but the plumbing is roughed in and the plastic is covering furnace vents. My Dad has worked hard to backfill the house so the piles of dirt are gone and it is starting to look more like a house site. To the right of where Ron is standing is a pile of wafer wood for the decking.

The second picture of taken looking back up the driveway. It's hard to see but Ron planted 12 Crimson Red Maple trees along the upper bank of the driveway. There are at least 15 trees to plant along with numerous bushes we aquired last spring. I'm also thinking it's time to get some daffodils.

We're excited at maybe seeing actual framing this week.

Thanks for looking.

Rainy Days

There's not a lot of visual progress to see but forward momentum is good. The floor beams are in with some internal plumbing happening. Ron spent the day yesterday burning some of the brush we cleared during the summer. With the rain starting it's allowed him to safely burning. There is forest surrounding us.

Framing has started!

Ron and I spent a good part of the afternoon and early evening working around the house. Ron compacting the first layer of backfill in the flatwork area. I was ahead of him raking up rocks and sticks and smoothing it out. Hopefully we're burning calories!! The framing has started in the floors. Can't wait to see walls. Thanks for looking!!

Progress!

A real foundation at last. Word is framing will start happening on Monday. With the mornings being a little nippy, we're really hoping for a nice fall so the house can get weathered in before real fall andwinter start. Ron Amerson and son, Eric of Carlyle Construction are building our home. I grew up with Ron and his brother Terry is married to Ron's sister Jan. It's sort of all in the family!

A Foundation at Last

Today the cement trucks came to feed the pumper truck to fill the foundation forms. I was told the forms will be removed tomorrow and lumber will be delivered with framing to start next week. Ron and I are still pinching ourselves.

A little background.....the 15 acres my parent's advanced us is part of my great-great-grandparents homestead. The paperwork Ron and I and my parents started 2 years ago was to divide the land and allow us to build. The property in that area is zoned to only allow building on parcels, 40 acres and more. This Measure 37/49 in Oregon has allowed landowners who've owned their property for many years, and had the zoning changed, to divide their property into smaller buildable parcels. Long story and process but it's done and we're moving ahead.

In the second picture the guys are working in the guest room....give us a little time to get it finished and groceries in the cupboard and we'd love to have you come visit!

We've made it!

Two years and three months since we started this process we've finally made it. It has been a long road but we can actually see the house. First of all thank yous to several people. My parents for generously advancing me a portion of my inheritance and my Dad for his time and equipment, helping us develop the property. My Uncle Cecil, Uncle Lee, Uncle Don and cousin John who helped in dealing with an excess amount of rock. To our son, Ian with the valuable input from his wife Bethany, for designing us a beautiful home that we can't wait to walk into! The setting is beautiful and we are so anxious to live there. Scheduled completion is March 1st.