Fireplace and bookcases with primer coat of paint

Saturday - hot and humid - humidity level at 93% with temps in upper 80's climbing to 90.  Dog days of August for sure.  Just want to lie down in an air conditioned room and drink water all day!!!!  Anyway, I drove down to the new house to see the primer paint that was applied to the fireplace and bookcases.

The work this talented trim carpenter does makes me extremely pleased.  Very good work - and exactly like the drawings we gave him to use for the designs.  Lovely.  This house is a dream come true.

Now for a closing photo.  I know it is DOG DAYS when the weather turns so hot and humid .... but this fat cat is just sleeping the hours away too!

Stay cool.  Enjoy the week end!

Blessings,

Janet

Trim Carpenters at Work

The trim carpenters have arrived and are busily sawing, hammering, measuring, leveling, and installing.  Take a peek!

Strolling through the rooms ....... progress is evident.

 The tub area in the master bathroom.

 The closet in the guest bedroom.

The shelves in the walk-in pantry.

 The beginnings of the bookshelves and storage in the study.  These lower storage areas will house games and large picture albums, etc.  They will have hinged doors. Above them bookshelves will be located.  Between the bookcases will be a window seat with storage within - accessed by hinged lids.  Good place for blankets and quilts.

A quick view showing the great room window gazing out toward the barn and trees in back, with the kitchen eating area to the left.

As soon as the baseboards, closets, crown molding, all doors in place, etc., are completed, the bookcases and fireplace mantel will be on the agenda .... as well as some large steps from the garage into the house - big enough to put down grocery bags, etc., while I grope for the house keys and let myself into the back hall by the kitchen. The carpenters will also fashion the shutters for outside.

It is certainly beginning to shape up - and their work is a delight to observe.

Blessings - stay cool in this humid hot end of summer!  Dog days for sure!

Janet

August trip to Shipshewana

Gail and Dave Hodges have our favorite B&B up for sale, so we planned a trip to visit The Big House in the Little Woods near Shipshewana, Indiana, to say farewell.  Quiet, peaceful, tranquil, wholesome.

Members of the sewing group gathered treasured friends, daughters, sisters and made a one-day trip to enjoy a day of shopping and an evening of quiet delight, ending with a nourishing and filling breakfast before heading home.  We were able to leave early Friday morning, arriving near the noon hour for a hot pretzel from Jo-Jo's .... and some browsing through local shops, herb garden, and the cheese factory.  We squeezed in a leisurely evening walk through the country roads near the B&B before retiring for the night.

Fell asleep to the clip-clopping of hooves pulling Amish buggies.  Awoke to the song of a rooster nearby.

Simple Amish school .... small pony for the children to enjoy, fresh countryside, restful day!

We loaded the car with bags of oatmeal, containers of spices and dried fruit, fresh cheese and baked goods .... some surprise Christmas gifts from a special shop, a new cookbook, and lasting memories.

Enjoy.

Janet

Drywall on the house!

When the dry wall starts going up, the house really starts to look like 'home' to me.  Very exciting times.
Entering through the garage, this is what greeted me first - installers placing the ceiling on!

Then the inside is started to look like the photo below!!!!!

 That is looking to the back of the house from the dining room into the kitchen.  The pipes sticking up are where the sink and dishwasher will be located.

Today I stopped by (a couple of days after the above photos were taken).  The dry walling experts have added plaster type gook to seams, etc., and have smoothed it down.  Yesterday they were clumping around on stilt-like contraptions and platforms adding the plaster and smoothing it like frosting.  We joked and said they could get a second job in a bakery!

Now today a crew is adding the texture to the ceilings.  I had to dart and dash and duck myself around ... and quickly decided to take two photos and get out of there before I caused a calamity!  Someone was rolling the wet material on the ceiling and then others were using a long-handled tool to sort of punch the wet plaster and make it into a texture like star bursts.

Amazing process.

Tomorrow they sand all the walls to make them smooth as silk .... and I was gently advised to stay away tomorrow or I would become enveloped in a dust cloud!  Then the trim carpenter in a few days after that, I believe ..... and then some painting.  Pictures will be forthcoming as we get to those stages!

Fun!  I do wonder what Grandpa Holton would think of all this modern construction!  Certainly more detailed and sophisticated than his cottages on the lake.

Blessings.

Janet