Moving On!

Tuesday, March 10, 2015    

The painters are here today, and I finish refinishing the dresser for the master closet.                                             

Priming interior doors

Staining kitchen cabinet drawers

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Base cabinets for cherry wood tops

The cherry wood counter tops arrive

Thank heavens for the painters.  They have gone beyond the scope of their job description. Here they are carrying the 2 slabs of clear cherry that will be cut on site to fit over the base cabinets in the range kitchen. These tops came from Ohio.  I have used them in the past for the walnut counter top in the Frisco home. The tops are awesome!

Carefully packaged.

Needless to say the ground was very muddy. This was not easy work for these men.  But they did it with a smile....and then took 10 minutes to recover.  lol   They must be installed within 5 days of delivery so as not void the warranty.  They also need to be sealed on the underside with a polyurethane sealer before installing them. The trimmer has left his sawhorses behind so we put them in the Gathering Room and I get to seal them.  I wanted to do 2 coats, the dry time is 2 hours between coats.  But that isn't the real dry time with the high humidity from all this rain we have had.  After waiting 4 hours they still aren't dry enough to sand and re-coat.  So I'll return tomorrow to get after it. 

Our builder returns to the job site for the first time in 4 weeks!  We're glad to have him back, but he has a lot of jobs to catch up on, so he's only on site for a quick overlook, less than an hour. Maybe he intuitively knew that if he stayed longer I'd pull out my list.  lol

Thursday, March 12, 2015

The painters have to leave our job to work on another somewhere else for the next 2 days.  It's a perfect time for the cabinet maker to come in and finish up on his loose ends.  I also mentioned to the painters that I wanted to distress the breakfast room hutch before they applied the last of 4 coats of sealer.  Yes, they do sand between each coat.  The workmanship by these men is extraordinary.  So I have the whole house to myself today.  There is a mistake on the opening size for the microwave so the cabinet maker will be back tomorrow to make adjustments.

Friday, March 13, 2015

From Williamsburg VA

The trimmer returns to start working on the stairs.  He is going on vacation next week, so it's critical to get him to finish up on some things so it doesn't slow down the painters any more than it already has.  The cabinet maker will be cutting out the stair scrolls for the side of the stairs. An inspiration I received when I went to Williamsburg Virginia to share a week of vacation with my parents in 2013. Fortunately I took a picture of it and it will soon be installed in our new home. He will over extend the treads to

allow for the 3/4" thick scroll pieces. I'm headed to Dallas to find some trim that can be applied over the scroll and just under the treads.

I was able to get a second coat on the cherry counter tops, early in the morning. It still wasn't dry when the trimmer installed it, the last thing he did today. (Remember he's going on vacation). It had to be installed within the 5 days of delivery so it went on kinda "damp", let's just say. The next step is to put mineral oil on top of it, to keep it from drying out.  I plan to chop right on the cherry wood, so the mineral oil is food safe. I used almost an entire bottle.  Looks good!

Also here today, was one of the granite company's personnel. They had been in on Wednesday to measure using a typical tape measure.  But today they returned to recheck all the measurements using a high tech laser.  Today, I haven't decided on which granite fabricator to use for the scullery.  I've learned that if you can find a slab in the fabricator's yard, you pay for only what you need.  I have been spending months and several visits in Dallas looking at the larger granite slab yards like Daltile, Arizona Tile, Levantina, etc... I found something perfect at Daltile!  But since I have to purchase the whole slab and  pay the freight to get it to the fabricator, I will be leaving more than $700.00 in their back yard, not mine.  So....just how much do I like that whole slab....? I need to think about this. One thing that is great is that Daltile gives you a 30 day hold!!!! Great, I have time to figure this out!

Saturday - Sunday, March 14-15, 2015  No one working.....boo hooo 

Monday, March 16, 2015 Painters working. YAY!

Tuesday, March 17, 2015  Nobody there in the morning, but 2 painters arrive after lunch.  The tile man gets there later in the day to put in the backboard on the walls so that I can have a shower seat templated this coming Thursday.

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

The rain holds off till 11 AM.  Since no one has come to work today I decide I better get my shovel out of storage and start digging trenches on either side of the driveway.  When the rain hits, it comes down hard and I'm able to walk the property and see where it's all coming from. I stop walking and shoveling when the lightening starts.  I'm soaked by now, so I hang out on the front porch until it lightens up.  Then I go back out to check where I need to dig some more.  Can you tell I am earnest about getting a driveway in?

I scheduled a walk through with my builder and landscaper at 4PM today.  We didn't cancel it.  Of course the sun was shining by the time they arrived, but they could see, to some extent, the amount of water that comes through the property. Now we have to find a way to deal with it, BEFORE the driveway is poured.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

I have a 9AM appointment at the job site with another granite fabricator.  I found the stone for the island, wet bar, dry sink, guest bath shower seat with them. I'm still undecided on the scullery, and the coffee bar.  The other fabricator is going to be cutting and installing the master bath, master shower and laundry.  The builder's fabricator let the slab I had put on hold "expire" so it was available for another fabricator to reserve.  Arizona Tile only had 1 slab of what I wanted and I needed 1 slab.  This was stress!

The painters were back to work, we went over a few things together and then I was headed out to a showroom 1 1/2 hours away.  I need to pick out my handrails, balusters, and newel posts for the front porch.  Since I don't want the 2 x 4's that the trimmer was talking to me about. He told me, it's up to me to find a solution.  The builder's lumber yard does not carry outdoor treated products such as I have in the plans. Off to Quinlin Texas!

Friday, March 20, 2015

Wow! What a busy day!  After stopping in Quilin yesterday, I went straight into the design district in Dallas. Artistic Tile had called earlier in the week to say that my tile sample was in waiting for my sign off, before going into production.  They had a great tile that was fairly close to the paint color in the kitchen, Sherwin-Williams Toasted Pine Nut.  What I was not aware of, is that for the same price they would color match it to the paint!  I have a kiln, I work with glazes, this is not an easy undertaking. So what did I have to lose?  This is one of the benefits of making selections early.  You have time to allow the process to work in the time it really needs to take.  So many people wait until the last minute.  I've heard from many of my suppliers that it is really unusual to work with a client so early on. Usually it's a mad dash to the finish.  When, and if that happens, that's when the customer might get "ordinary", or "did I really pick that?"  I've spent months pulling everything together.  This doesn't mean my efforts will result in perfection.  But I will know what I selected and why I selected it, be it color, texture or to save money in the budget.  Allowances are just that.  This is the place where your builder tells you what he thinks it will take to select the items in the category. Either he was "reasonable" with his estimate, or he under shot it so much to make the overall project look good and "affordable".  I was pleased with my builder's "allowances".  In most cases, I've been able to stay under them, and some cases by a lot.  These "allowances" are the only place where I have control on the budget.  I'm trying my hardest to stay in budget!!!

So I head off to Walker Zanger, first thing in the morning, to pick up all the tile they have ready for pick up.  The floor supplier and myself have called to verify that it's in.  I drive to pick it up to save on shipping charges.  Only 2 boxes are in. Missing 4 walls of field tile and all the chair rail. Ooops! Someone saw the computer say "in". Yes, it's in, in California!  Moving on!

Next stop Daltile Slab yard.  I just have to see the slab I have on reserve, reserved back on 2/27 during a sleet and snow storm in Dallas.  I only have a 30 day hold on it and time is clicking away. Decisions have to be made.  At the front desk I give them my name and # of the reserve order.  I'm greeted with, "I'm sorry, that has been cleared". Cleared?? What do you mean "cleared".  "Blank" called and canceled the hold on that slab. "Blank" stands for the builder's fabricator.  What? Why? I selected it, and they cancelled it without my knowledge? Sent a text to the builder, "I'm stunned". Moving on!

Tip:

When selecting a slab in a slab yard with wide distribution, ask if you can reserve your slab on a "house account".  When I put the slab I loved on hold I gave the name of my builder's fabricator. Made sense to me.  His fabricator wanted to do the templating first, then I could look at slabs.  We found some remnants that were going to work.  But the larger pieces they didn't have so they suggested I find the slabs and ask to have them delivered to them for fabrication.  Well, I found my island slab somewhere else and with a savings of $600-$700.  I told them I would not be going with them on this one for the range kitchen. Now today, I learn they cancelled the scullery!!!   If you put the reserve in your name the only one that can cancel the reserve is yourself.  Learn this lesson from me, please!  Can you tell I'm still upset?  But I must take a deep breath, and know, as I do, that everything happens for a reason, so don't force it.  

Next stop to Daltile tile showroom to pick up another tile order of 20 boxes of 12" x 12" tiles. Once inside, I'm told that they are just a showroom and I have to drive 30 minutes to the outside of Dallas to pick up at their warehouse.  Well, that turns out to be on the way home back to my apartment, so I'll do that on Monday.  Moving on!

Next stop Cassity Jones in Farmer's Branch.  They have a larger showroom for mill work trim pieces so I am hoping to find what I need here for the stairs and keep it with the lumber company that builder likes dealing with.  But they don't have anything that works, except one piece that is the right thickness and height, but the salesperson doesn't know who manufactures it.  She tells me I can take the sample with me, But I'm not too sure how that it helpful because she said if I like it, she wouldn't know where to get it, or how much it cost.  This was a piece hanging on their display case.  Does this sound confusing to anyone, or just me?  Moving on!

Next stop to Davis-Hawn Lumber Co. on the OTHER side of town, near the Dallas zoo. Traffic galore.  What a day.....please let me find something.  Their millwork manager, Michael shows me a huge notebook of profiles and we find one similar to the Williamsburg trim.  But it is not a stock item, but can be made by them using their knives in 5-7 business days.  This is hopeful, but I need to check it on site up against the treads.  Details, details, details.......Moving on!

Saturday, March 21, 2015

I need a change of pace.  It's time to see my grandchildren and give my son and his wife a break too. So armed with Lincoln logs, and barrel of monkeys off I go to care for the 5,2, and 4 month old.( I think I got that right).  Cracks me up to write this.  The irony of me wanting to take a break from building our home and I bring the children Lincoln logs!  For 2 + hours I help them build a house!!! HaHaHa.....and on the side a barrel of monkeys........you can't make this stuff up!

Sunday, March 22, 2015

Just had to check out the newly opened Nebraska Furniture Mart of Texas.....4 hours of walking and a surround system later, we decided our weekend had to slow down and prepare for the week ahead. I can see hotels and food services springing up around this place to satisfy demand. There is just no way you can take this all in, in just one day.  They have 18 designers on staff!

Monday, March 23, 2015

Off to pick up the Daltile at the warehouse, then to the job-site to see who, if anyone is working. When I arrive at the house there are no cars, but as I walk in I can hear the radio going.  I have one painter working.  He tells me one more will be joining him later.  This is moving along slowly...don't you think?  But when they are here, even I have to admit they do take their time and the quality is wonderful.  

With the new knowledge that I've lost my granite slab that I reserved, I'm off to two larger fabricators to see what they have in their yards that will work.  I am so glad that I had them BOTH measure the scullery, just "in case".  If I had not, it would have meant another trip for one or both of them. I'll also have to replace all the other areas that had been chosen with the builder's fabricator, since I'm not going to use them now.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

The painters are here today! YAY! I also have my first real walk through with my builder since 2/12! He's back from surgery and back in the saddle, armed with paper and pen, and I have my list.

In the afternoon I work in my garage rental and "try" to pull apart the mahogany top for the guest bathroom so the fabricator can use it as a template.  I started at 4:30 PM, 2 visits to Lowe's for tools, and still struggling.  So much so, that the maintenance man living near my apartment volunteers to find "other" tools.  The "other tools" are a paint scraper, wood chisel, and a crowbar!  He finally gets the top off at 9 PM!! Time for dinner!  Moving on!

Praise God for good neighbors!

I was able to remove all the screws in the front, but could not remove the 4 screws in the back.  I had socket wrenches with 1/4 drill adapters, etc. etc. Yes, I did think about removing the back panel.  But the panel had over 60 "screws" that looked more like upholstery tacks, this furniture was made at the turn of the century, the last century.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Remind me, if I EVER complain about the mess my husband makes in the master bedroom, just show me this picture. Yes, this is our master bedroom, and yes they are mixing mortar on the floor where the stain grade baseboards have yet to be stained.  I intervened and moved leftover backboard to protect the baseboards.  The painters we climbing the walls in opposition.  Hopefully, I got them protected in time.  And no, my husband is not messy at all, I am the one. My mother will attest to that! Right mom?











Thursday, March 26, 2015
Today is a cloudy day, perfect skies to go back and check out a possible slab for the scullery.  I found it truly hard to decide on some of the slabs because it was too bright outside, and most of the other days it was raining.  I did go to slab yards and walked in the yards in the rain too.  Found it!  Nikki Fontana had shown it to me yesterday, but she encouraged me to come back "tomorrow" when it was cloudy. Finally, ALL the counter tops have been selected.  It feels like forever, and since I started my search back in the fall, it just about is.

Friday, March 27, 2015

Septic line

Today the painters are there, the trimmer, the electrician, and the septic lines are going in.  We have to use an aerobic septic system as a condition of our deed restrictions.  After walking this property and dealing with the clay and sand subsoil and I can see that makes good sense.  Lateral lines that I was accustomed to in New Jersey would not work well in this dirt.  It was key to be present for the install so that I could let them know just how much water we get on this property so that the lines could go in where they needed to be, AND not be in the way of future contouring anticipated with the final grade.  They had to get their lines in BEFORE the driveway is poured, whenever that happens.

28 feet of 183 feet of retaining walls

The good news is that we've had dry weather all week.  My masons were able to re-dig all the footings for the retaining walls. (The first dig was done on February 27, exactly one month ago!) We had planned to pour on Wednesday, then Thursday, but it wasn't until Thursday after lunch that we got a solid scheduled time in with the concrete truck.  There has been so much rain, that everyone is behind.  My builder has been waiting to pour 3 more pads, but has been delayed because of the rain.  So Monday morning at 7:45 AM we should be seeing a concrete truck roll down the driveway. The next rain is scheduled to come in just hours after our pour, sometime afternoon.

Say a prayer every one!  Thank you.
Let's keep this moving on!

The Princess In Her Castle, Protected by Her Moat

 Monday March 9, 2015

How about a water collage? Anyone? What just one day of rain can bring. It's no wonder no one wants to come to work out here.  Thank you painters! You're my heroes!

Front yard

South side yard

Southwest corner

Southwest corner closeup

West back yard

Back driveway, northwest corner

The trench I dug, still functioning . YAY!
North side

Breaking through future driveway
retaining wall.

Future front retaining walls, breaking
down with all this rain.  Redo!

The other day the mason called me, and because I have caller ID, I answered, "Hello, this is the Princess, in her castle, surrounded by her moat." That's before this heavy rain arrived!  Now I really am surrounded by a moat!  Shucks!  That's what I get for fooling around!  The mason laughed heartily, but I'm not too sure if I am any more. Bummer.

Is it just me, or does anyone else think that we might have some drainage issues?  As I was leaving the property today, I called the mason building the retaining walls and the landscaper to say, "Houston....we have a problem.  Don't know what it will take, but we need to put this rainfall runoff in a place that is on our terms.  Stay tuned...

The painters were working today, and they called me out to the job site to review the stain colors in the kitchen and breakfast room.  I really am glad that I did, because I got to see, first hand, all this water.  I took lots of pictures and even a video to record the flow volume so that we can address it from the very beginning.  I stayed at the job site for 5-6 hours, recording, digging, installing gutter material that was purchased by our builder before he needed to go into surgery, and just laying at the side of the house.  I dug trenches too. But the one thing that I did, that is really the most fun for me was stripping a piece of furniture that I purchased back at Frisco Mercantile for $100.  Sad commentary, is that when I went to pick it up someone had taken 3 pieces of hardware off of it.  I am so disappointed because the hardware was original to the piece. Don't think I'll be able to match it....but I push forward any way.  Again, "where there is a will there is a way". I sure do have a strong will, so there just has to be a way. 

The painters pointed to a space that I could use, so as not to get in their way. The temperature in the house is a bit more comfortable so it was a pleasant day, but I'm really looking for some sunshine.  I'll be back at it tomorrow.  I also ordered all the hardware today.  Some of the pieces need to be stained to match the cabinets.  So it would have been nice to have them already, but one can only tackle so much each and every day.  We'll get there.  The painters are doing a beautiful job.  What makes it even nicer, is that the painters like what they are painting and the colors they are using. Tonight the carrier called to set up curbside delivery of the wood counter tops.  You are laughing with me right? Curbside delivery to Mudsville.  I've put in a text message to our builder requesting all hands on deck to accept the delivery.  I know he can't lift anything yet, but he'll have to find me some that can. I've pushed the delivery off until Wednesday. Come on sunshine, burn bright!   All in all, it was a very good day, albeit rainy...........   

Rocks, Paper, Scissor, Shoot!

Where did we leave off...it's so many days ago.

Monday February 9, 2015

The work begins on the screen porch fireplace.  I started working with the stone supplier, selecting the stone in September.  In January I sent photos from Houzz.com to my builder so he could see what I was envisioning for the space. However, after getting an "over budget" bill back in November/December, I became really concerned that my choices in stone, might be expensive. You see, I've since learned that my builder really doesn't tell you what the charges are until AFTER, the product is on the job site and installed.  I'm just not comfortable with that. So, in this case, I requested that he look at the photos, and select a stone that would work within the budget AND deliver the look I was aiming for.  The fireplace took 2 days to build, with 2 men "working" the stone, and one laborer bringing in the mortar.

Tuesday February 10, 2015

Backer board visible

No overhang, like opposite side

They finished.  It was after the sun went down. Unfortunately, issues that needed to be corrected when the builder showed up at 5 PM to review the work, needed to be corrected and they had already started to pack up for the day. In the morning it was easier to see the end results. The Pennsylvania Blue stone had not been installed in slabs anywhere on the counter tops, or hearth. Instead the masons had broken up the large slabs into flagstone pieces. The mortar is visible throughout, despite the more "hidden joint" look desired and although the mortar was ordered "white", it had all dried to a yellow buff color. The Granbury stone was not "worked" as a puzzle, but more like a brick layers work. There are other issues, but right now, the builder has agreed to have a meeting with all 3 of us to figure out how to fix the problems. 

The wood box, has an excess of mortar, wrong color, blue stone not cut as a slab so large joints show on the counter, and the non removal of backer board, prevented the masons from using larger stones.  The fact that this room is slated to have very dark green interior walls, really fights with this mortar color.  Looking forward to the problem resolution for this part of the home construction project.

Wednesday February 11, 2015

It's a good day to go on a field trip.  I need to walk away from this project for awhile.  I need to find some brick for ALL the retaining walls that have started adding up on this new home construction.  So I drive to Malakoff, where brick is made right here in east Texas.  It's a beautiful day, a bit over an hour drive.  The road sides are rural, and scattered with small, and minimally populated towns.  Thanks to my GPS, I just keep driving until "Sally In The Box" tells me I have arrived.  There is only one traffic light in the town on Malakoff, and I need to turn left.  One is sure that this must be a wrong turn, it looks like I'm driving into an abandoned residential neighborhood.  Then "Sally" tells me to turn right.  Again, a residential road with homes built in the early 50's (I think). Then the gate, an open yard.  I'm sure I have arrived onto a prison yard, similar to what I may have seen in "Unbroken" at the big cinema, and then I go under a metal structure and I see yards and yards, and yards of bricks towering into the sky!  I've never seen anything like it!  It was amazing.  Why, you might ask did I go on this field trip?  Because here at the plant they do test runs of the lines that they carry nationally.  If the test run is not to the standards they need to sell to the masses, they mark the run with a code. These test runs are available for purchase at reduced costs, and quantities.  

(Left) At the bottom of the picture you can see papers marking the test run number of each batch.  There are so many to choose from that it is equivalent to all four sides of a football field lined up with test run choices.  (Right) The plant shows the first run choices that are sold to the masses and have passed their test run. 

Thursday February 12, 2015

I brought back 4 test runs and put them up against the "Old Chicago Antiques" to see how they would work.  The Old Chicago Antiques will be used for the 56 lineal feet of retaining walls in the front of the house (east).  But I needed to find something more "affordable" to do the south, west and north retaining walls. Shipping brick to east Texas from east Texas, makes a whole lot more sense than shipping brick from Chicago. Sorry Chicago, I did my part to help your economics for the main house, but now, a girl's got to do what a girl's gotta do.

 P.S. Happy Birthday David!!!!!!

Monday February 16, 2015

Today marks the day, we start working on the job site without our builder.  He is scheduled for surgery today, and it's unclear when he'll be back to the job site. But one thing that is constant and you can expect it.....Rain!  The builder had started to form the driveway the first week of February, but then when he decided to add a retaining wall at the back of the driveway, everything came to a holt. It will now be up to me to get the retaining walls built before the driveway can come in.  The result of moving the dirt to form the driveway and then STOP!, has resulted in even MORE mud on the property.  If that is even possible....yes, I think it is.  

Tuesday February 17, 2015

Today, there isn't really too much of anything going on.  The painters are here and I do order my wood counter tops from my Ohio contact. They should be here in 4 weeks! I use some of my painter's tape to start marking the walls where the trades have damaged up the walls since the drywall company was in.  Because this home is not laid out with so many "open" spaces, it has apparently been harder for the trades to navigate the materials and their tools through the spaces.  It happens, but so sad, because the dry wall company did an AMAZING job on the sheet rock the first time through.

Wednesday February 18, 2015

Even the cabinet drawer insert
 details on cabinets to be
painted

Caulking just about every joint

Today is a really good day. The painters are inside caulking and filling all the nail punches left behind from the nail guns installing cabinets and mill work trim.  It's actually colder in the house today, than it is on the outside.

It's a bit on the cool side, but the sun is shining and I hired a work crew to move the dirt, install drainage,  sidewalks in the backyard around the pool.  My builder advised me that they can't put a concrete truck on my concrete driveway without cracking it. So, I needed to get someone in to do the concrete work for the sidewalks.  Since he is unable to be on the work site after the surgery, I'm contracting this one.  It is far easier for the drainage to be installed in this area before the concrete is poured so I am approving that work to be done by this contractor as well, since I don't have a proposal from my builder's sub contractor yet. Gotta work when the sun shines!  Speaking of which.....

Work boots were made for this sort of thing!

My new trench

Fortunately the back yard has dried out for the crew I hired to work.. But the driveway is a total mess, and unable to dry out because of the way the water now just "sits" in the recently contoured driveway in the far back.  So while everyone is working at their jobs, I pick up a shovel and start digging a trench on the newly contoured soil.  You can go back and look at the photos I took on February 16th, to see that in 2 days that water was still sitting there.  With the temperature hovering in the 30-40's it won't evaporate, that's for sure.

I'm in the process of interviewing contractors for building the retaining walls, and if this water doesn't get out of here, I don't know how anyone can work to get that part of the job done.  

Thank heavens for some left over planks to walk on,
every once in awhile.

Thursday February 19, 2015

Okay, I can't believe it! The sun is shining and we are going to be able to get this done and pour the concrete today!!!!!!!! You have no idea how rare, wonderful and special this is. Who knew I could be so happy pouring concrete.  Just to make sure, they bring in a larger crew to make it happen. The driveway is still a mess and in-passable. But where there is a will there is a way. I like these guys,  they make things happen.  They decided to have the concrete truck arrive and just barely pull into the driveway.  They then load the fresh concrete into a little bob cat land mover and drive that around to the back to load it into multiple wheelbarrows to it's final destination.  A lot of effort, a lot of man power, but with just a 48 hour window, it just has to happen.  The forecast for tomorrow is........drum roll......Rain!

Today, I also spend some time measuring for shutters.  The builder does have a line item for these in the budget.  But the hardware costs are off the charts!  So I'm looking at sourcing the shutters and hardware from the same company. Founded back in Doylestown PA, where I use to work at Carl N Rist.  Go figure! Small world.

Today the painters are still hard at work, and my builder's, preferred stone counter top fabricator, arrives to template for the counter tops, now that all the cabinets are installed.

Friday February 20, 2015

The threat of rain is still on the horizon, but it has lightened up a bit for a crew of 2 to finish up the work today.  I have asked them to install some road base fill to lay between the sidewalks for the synthetic turf we plan to use in this area.  It doesn't seem practical to lay natural grass inside the pool area. In addition, ever since I moved to Texas, I've missed those days when I could put a picnic blanket out on the lawn and read story books to my children.  Now that I have a growing family of grandchildren, I'd like to be able to read them stories out on the lawn, without the fire ants eating me alive.  But I will require some assistance getting up.  Please adult children of mine, please be on stand by.

Not to worry, the pool will be white and clean
at move in.

The sidewalks while finished, are not quite "finished".  I've retained the services of another team of masons to  do a beautiful combination of blue slate and old Chicagos over the concrete pour.  This work, is not so critical for completion. Pouring the concrete was.....we really don't want to delay our driveway pour any longer.

(Left) The concrete step up is for the air conditioners. However, I made it just wide enough that the step down can handle my red cedar potting bench that I built for our Frisco home.  It will also serve as a barrier to hide the AC units from the pool deck view.

Monday February 23, 2015 - Icy Mix (No work today)

Tuesday February 24, 2015

Painters are at work today, God Bless them! At least while they are working the job feels like it's still plugging along. The painters have a listing of paint colors by room and by color, but they asked me earlier today, if I can post the color selections on 8" x 11" sheets (just like I did for the drywall contractors).  So tonight I work in my apartment painting up sample pages using all those "Color To Go" containers that I have acquired from Sherwin Williams these last several months.....and still I have more containers than I will actually be using on the finished job.

Tip:

This actually turned out to be an excellent exercise. After I painted all the squares with the selected colors, I found 2 ceiling choices that did not go together very well with the wall and trim selections as much as I  had thought.  I was trying to make it easier on the painters, by keeping the ceiling paint uniform through most of the home. But that decision didn't work very well for those 2 rooms. Glad it was caught in time.

Wednesday February 25, 2015 - Snow AM(No work today)

Thursday February 26, 2015 - Cold/Sunny (No work today)

Friday February 27, 2015 

Another field trip day.  It didn't look like any work would be done today so I went to pick up the thin brick in Dallas for the wet bar walls, and visit Datile's Slab yard to see if I could find a counter top material for the scullery. The builder's fabricator had limited inventory when I visited earlier in the week, and I need to find something quickly.  Unfortunately, his fabricator would not show me their stock until AFTER the templating was done.  So I've lost a week on this one.

To my surprise, I get a phone call from the mason that I contracted for the retaining walls. They are at the site, starting the footings....while I'm in Dallas!  They assure me, I have nothing to worry about and they know what to do.  It will be Monday before I can get back.  I am now snow and iced in at Dallas for the weekend.

Monday March 2, 2015 

They spoke the honest truth!  They did just what I asked for, and they hand dug ALL the retaining walls, because the site is just too wet to bring in any equipment!  Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

The painters are there too, and want me to do a walk through with them.  I finish up and head out to yet another slab yard in search of that elusive island counter top....and still waiting to here back from my builder's fabricator on pricing.

Tuesday March 3, 2015 

I had hoped to meet with my builder today, but he still isn't cleared by his doctor to get back on the job.  It's still a busy day.  I go to my builder's granite fabricator asking for pricing...person that does it is "out of town". I drive to the job site to meet with the trimmer to go over the stair parts. He complies a list of materials, and it's my job to go to the lumber yard and place the order.  Later, I go back to a competitor's granite yard, where I think I've found something I can fall in love with, AND they give you pricing on the spot!  I like that!

Wednesday March 4, 2015  

Heavy rains all day!!!!! It's been cold at the job site and I'm tired at the end of the day, so today I treat myself to cleaning up the apartment, vacuuming WOW! and working on the landscape plans so that I have something for the irrigation contractors to work off of.  I also have an appointment with a landscape contractor tomorrow, so I need to come prepared. Soup for dinner!

Thursday March 5, 2015  

Meetings, meetings, meetings, lots of meetings.

Blue printers first thing, followed by mirror sample pick up in town, followed by builder's fabricator( yay they emailed pricing,  but with errors), meeting with builder at his office (he hopes to start swinging by job sites next week), off to the job site to meet with landscaper, drywall contractor, and the mason building the retaining walls to go over selections of brick material.  Hubby is in town to make dinner, while he waits for me to roll in after 7 PM, pack our bags and head out to Baton Rouge LA for our grandchildren's birthday party.....

Friday March 6, 2015  
On the way out of town, stopped by the granite yard to show the hubby the granite choices that I've been thinking about...... 

Came home 
Sunday March 8, 2015   to rain, forecast for 
Monday March 9, 2015 , rain.........

So this has been a month about rocks, paper (paint sample tear sheets), cutting the cord with some fabricators, and shooting from the hip without a builder available to man the ship.  You just wait! Once we move in, the forecast will be drought!

Keep warm and safe everyone!!! Til next time.