December 23, 2004
OK, finally some pictures! The cambria installers finished the countertops late last night, although the breakfast bar pieces are still being refitted. There was a rumor they'd be bringing them this evening, but I'm not holding my breath. Things look great already. The little brown tile above the dishwasher is what I'll use on the backsplash.
island

Dec. 23

Merry Christmas to me! Actually this was my birthday present from Janis and Kook and company. The ornaments are all pictures of the family including everybody's dogs! We're getting pictures up on the walls and everything.

xmas tree

Dec. 23...
Another shot of the countertops. Today we can start putting things away in the kitchen. A great way to spend the day when its way below zero outside!

countertops

Countertops!

The Cambria installers left less than 20 minutes ago...what a long day for those guys. But the counters look great! Their brush with fame, the house they did before mine today was Corey Koskie.
I did find the camera, but is after my bedtime, so pictures on Thursday before I have my first Mountain Dew.
And thanks to Lynn for helping with picture arranging tonight.

ITS MOVING DAY!

December 18, 2004

Today was moving day! The builders and I were here until 9:30 last night doing the final cleaning and touch ups. Moving began at 5:30 this morning. And now, I'm sitting on the basement couch with Reggie and Lizzy next to me. We're watching a dvd with the surround sound working and surfing the internet with the new service and wireless router. It doesn't get much better than this.

A huge thank you to my moving crew: Wayne and Jack, Queb, Kirsten, Joe, Carl and Lizard, and Erica and Brian. You guys are awesome!

I promise pictures tomorrow...if I can find my camera that is!

December 16, 2004

One day shy of four months and the first OH SHIT happened. Cambria didn't show up and said I won't be installed until 12/27. It was time to call in the favors...hopefully we've moved it up to 12/24. I guess I can wash dishes in the bathtub if need be! A little soap and turn on the jets?

Otherwise things are on track. The moving help is lined up for Saturday. Wish me luck!

December 15, 2004

Oh my gosh, it really looks like a HOUSE! Only a few things left to do: Cambria is installed tomorrow, so does the bathtub, garage door openers, some more grout, and more. I really wish I didn't have to work tomorrow, I'd love to just hang out.

I got all the closet and storage room shelves put up today. Bought some towel bars that I really don't like...gotta think some more about them before I install 'em.

A night on the couch starts in 3, 2, 1.....bye

December 14, 2004

ENOUGH SAID!

main bath

December 13, 2004

OH CRAP, no toilets yet! I was so looking forward to actually having functioning baths today. Only one plumber was working. He got shower controls, water shut offs, and I'm not really sure what all done in the basement. I hope the army shows up tomorrow to finish.

This is the master bath.

master bath

Indeed a great room! With Cambria tile around the fireplace it looks modern and classic all in one. All the tools and "stuff" were moved into the great room today in preparation for the carpet. They'll all find their way into the garage in the morning. I have a pile of extra electrical stuff to return to menards!

The electrician in 99% done. All the lights are up, he just needs to finish the fireplace once the plumbers are done. The inspector comes tomorrow.

fireplace

The finishing touches, chandeliers and pendant lights over the breakfast bar. The carpet guys will finish up tomorrow. They've actually spent two days already installing pad and tackless. Its much less echo-ey now!

dining room

December 11, 2004

Things seem to be winding down! They are working off a checklist now and many things are checked off each day. The basement stairway got a railing, tile has been placed around the fireplace and on the island, the master shower is tiled, the bathtub is no longer sitting in the bedroom, and I have outside lights (just have to buy more bulbs!).

One week from now I plan to be laying on my couch in the basement watching a DVD on the big screen with the surround sound playing. I doubt there will be artwork on the walls yet...but that can wait a day or so.

My trips to the house will be limited for the next few days. Gene is going to Iowa pheasant hunting and I'm managing the kennel until Wednesday morning. I guess I can stop out after 5pm to see the progress.

And...Happy Birthday (tomorrow) to my favorite brother-in-law!

December 8, 2004

Looks like a kitchen, doesn't it! Since we totally forgot the island when Cambria measured, the island will have Cambria tile on the top. "It was by design to tie the kitchen in with the fireplace in the greatroom," that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.

kitchen

...well its not quite the bathtub, but it is where it belongs. It is just waiting for the plumbers to install the tub. Yes, I am seriously considering a covering on that window!

bathtub

December 8, 2004
Its getting easier to picture the finished product. The hardwood is in the kitchen, dining room, along the breakfast bar and front entry. I'm so glad the builders care enough to cover the flooring to prevent scratching. They really are careful! Several pix today...

flooring

December 6, 2004

Would you believe they completed the hardwood flooring with 2 pieces to spare? That's cutting things pretty close and using a lot of scrap for hidden places (under the fridge, etc). It still looks great. They also placed the island in the kitchen.

I'm now wired for internet use. Clearwave is a wireless (well wireless up to the house) service. When I move in my friend Wayne will make it wireless inside too with a router. If this makes no sense to you, you're in good company. He wrote down exactly what I need to buy, hopefully I won't mess it up. Thank God for techie friends!

Cabinet hardware is complete with the exception of the island. I can't start that until they finish attaching it to the floor.

December 5, 2004

Are you tired of looking at the fence yet? Sorry! "Amazing Grace Fence Builders"-do we want to start doing this vinyl stuff? The back yard is REALLY, REALLY muddy. I can't believe I'm saying this...but I want it to freeze hard!

I spent the day installing cabinet hardware in the bathrooms and kitchen drawers, and cleaning. After vacuuming out the upper cabinets, I placed the shelves too. Now they just need to be wiped out with some soap and then they can get filled. Unfortunately nothing can go in the lowers until the countertops are installed on the 16th. (nothing like waiting til the last second!!)
back yard

just tooting my own horn...today I installed the bracing for the closet shelves in two bedrooms and in the storage room in the basement. You've gotta like those laser level things!

closet

Dec. 3 again
As the old Nilsen family saying goes...this is the "piece of the resistance." The flooring for the kitchen, dining room and front entry is stunning. When I get the proper spelling of the manufacturer I'll post it. The flooring contractor said he put it in his house...so it should be good enough for me! It kinda tilt-locks together. But the amazing thing is you really can't see or feel any seams in it. The red oak is an exact match with the cabinets too...now just how did I get that right?
Karelia Flooring http://www.kareliawoodflooring-uk.com/
flooring

December 3, 2004
Oh my gosh, its December. But at least the ground isn't covered in two feet of that white icky stuff...yet. This picture is another one for my mom, a shot of the fence on the north side of the yard. It doesn't show too well but there are gaps along the bottom of the "steps." Tomorrow those gaps will get filled with plastic lattice temporarily. In the spring the contractor will remedy the situation. But in the mean time, Reggie and Lizzy need security.

fence steps

November 30, 2004

My mom will be so excited, the fence will be completed TODAY. It was fun to watch the building process, it was like adult sized Tinker Toys. The gates are pre-assembled so its just a matter of attaching them to the posts and then leveling a couple rails. On the north side, there are some large gaps along the bottom as the fence steps down. For the winter I'll be affixing lattice to keep Reggie and Lizzy confined. After the frost is out in the spring, they'll attach tongue-in-groove pieces on the bottom. With as muddy as it is back there its hard to believe the frost is already 4" deep.

The house didn't sit still either. All the basement trim will be done before they head home tonight. The joints in the subfloor were sanded smooth for the wood floor that's being laid on Friday.

The major oops of the day (week)...we forgot about the kitchen island when Cambria came to measure. I picked out the 12x12 tile from cambria for around the fireplace. They will use that for the island top also. That ought to tie things together...almost like it was planned that way!

Time to watch Ken lose on Jeopardy!

fence

November 29, 2004

You've seen the view to the west with the beautiful sunset. Now here is the view to the north. Three deer were lazily grazing on my next door neighbor's lawn! The flooring contractor had just finished unloading the hardwood from his truck. He asked, "Do you ever see any deer out here?" Not 5 second later he looked out the big arch-topped window and said, "Well, I guess you do!" Fortunately they waited until I grabbed the camera. The fence contractors were about 150 feet away from the deer...the posts you see are for my fence. It wasn't until they started pounding a post in with a sledge hammer that the deer trotted away.

deer

November 28, 2004

Not much of a holiday weekend for the electricians. They spent three days getting the fans, ceiling cans, smoke detectors, and many other items installed. Pat now has everything wired into the electrical panel too. What a great feeling to plug something into an outlet and have it work, and having lights...well what can I say!

Kirsten and Lizard came up on Sunday. After the appropriate number of ooh's and aah's, we headed to Mankato to shop til we dropped. I dropped first!
mbr

November 24, 2004

By some fluke of nature I was out at the house at 7:15 this morning with freshly baked (last night) muffins. And still somehow I never got the camera out of the case. I arrived early to meet with the fence contractor before they got started. They were able to get the north side posts in today. It was quite labor intensive because of the slope in the yard.

Corey and Brad hung all the regular interior doors. The only doors left are the bifolds for three closets. Paul stained and stained and stained (you get the idea) trim. It is all beautiful!

My sympathies go to the Rabbe family on the death of Grandma Maude. Mom, Dad and I drove to St James for the funeral today. It was a wonderful service for a wonderful 97 year old lady.

Another picture from today. This is the main floor bath, not to be confused with the master bath. You can see a bit of the vanity top, but don't get to attached to it...it looks awful with the oak so its getting replaced.
Cambria http://www.cambriausa.com measured the kitchen and master bath today. Tomorrow I get the costs and determine how much I can afford (backsplashes, etc).
Mike, one of my friends from work, came down today to check out the house...and to pay off on a lunch debt he's owed for about 3 years. The food at Hermie's Bait, Bar and Grill is pretty good.

bathroom

November 23, 2004
Woodwork galore, the garage is full of doors and frames all waiting to get installed. They've been stained and varnished, tomorrow they find homes inside.
staining

November 20, 2004

I have cabinets! The kitchen cabs are in. The island will be placed after the flooring is installed. They are oak with a "natural stain," so it brings out the grain. Over the desk is a pigeon hole organizer...basically another place to stash things and forget they are there. They also completed the first floor bathroom tile and the master shower base tile. Because of the floorplan, they could only lay half of the laundry room floor or else we couldn't have entered the house over the weekend. Once the front door is operational, they can complete the rest.

Final grading of the back yard is done Friday. With SNOW in the forecast for Tuesday, I was so worried, but now the fence contractor can get started anytime. Yes, it will be a muddy, muddy mess come spring! We're spreading grass seed before the winter in hopes of at least a little bit of spring germination.

Pat and Denise, the electricians, spent the day Saturday wiring the garage, switches and outlets throughout the house. They sent me home with a shopping list for next weekend. By the way, they are Grandparents for the second time, CONGRATS.

kitchen

November 18, 2004

Lets start with the Happy Birthdays...to Amy today and to Dad tomorrow. A lot of cabinets found homes on the walls today. The kitchen is done (except the island) and two of the bathrooms are too. Paul stained until his fingers bled...actually he cut himself on something...but there WAS blood. The folks came down to inspect and were quite impressed. But neither one was really excited about the open staircase, they hope the railing gets up soon. I actually MADE BROWNIES for the guys. They were kind enough to actually eat them!

Last night the painters finished the basement walls. Its a little hard to judge the color since there are no lights downstairs yet and it was overcast all day. The electrician came out this afternoon and started with the garage lights.

Work tomorrow so no pictures until Saturday.

November 17, 2004

I LOVE TREES, they can be made into such nice things...like cabinets and doors and trim. Corey and Brad started installing the kitchen cabinets today. They encountered a couple of "engineering marvels" with the angle in the room. In the mean time, Paul was busy in the garage staining the oak doors and frames. He didn't seem too happy when the lumber yard delivered another load of trim and the stair ballisters. Mom and Dad are visiting tomorrow...I cleaned!

Yesterday the cement landing outside the rear garage foot door was poured. That's on top of the retaining wall and will be Reggie and Lizzy's doggy door entry. With a concrete pad maybe they'll clean their feet off before entering. A ton of little things completed in preparation for the ceramic tile, too.
cabinets

November 15, 2004

Did I ever mention the view to the west??

sunset

Corey and Brad spent the day preparing to tile the bathrooms and floor in the mudroom. They had to build the base for the shower and construct the platform for the whirlpool tub in the master. "Backerboard" was installed in the mudroom and the master bath. They plan to start tiling the master tomorrow.

If you're so inclined, say a little prayer that the kitchen cabinets and the doors and trim will show up soon.

tub

The builders have a (somewhat) self-imposed deadline in mind., DECEMBER 17th! Because of that date, it was a beehive of activity today. The excavator came and started on final grading. Half of the back is graded, tomorrow he'll finish and spread the black dirt. The fence contractor called asking how soon they can start...my guess is the end of the week.

graded yard

...and "weathered sandstone."

The entire first floor is painted as is the basement ceiling. The basement walls will be a different color so the painters will come back Monday to finish. Its actually difficult to determine the real color, there is still plastic covering all the windows. Another Monday project.

It is way too nice a day to sit inside and compute! More later.

Paint