More material for the foundation!

This is what greeted me Saturday at around noon.  Since I was on a day-long 'annual flower trip' with dear friends on Friday, there was no checking on the lot progress until Saturday.

 The classy Williams Custom Art Builders sign - perched so nicely in front of the construction at the lot.  Again, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this company for a beautiful custom made home.

 Goofy me.  Those big pieces (some of which were laying on the mound in the last blog) are NOT made of concrete.  They just looked like it from afar because of the gravel dust.  They seem to be made of heavy metal.  Now there are big groups of them sitting all around on the foundation.  This is looking toward the bedrooms.

 This is toward the great room and then kitchen, etc., to the left.

 This is more of the kitchen area and to the far left the utility room and pantry areas.

I took this shot standing in the neighbor's driveway looking at the lot from the west towards the east.  The tree in the middle is the one that is so badly damaged and should come down.

 These fragrant lilacs were sitting on Knitting Daughter's kitchen table.   Aroma is heavenly.

 Another shot - I just so like the soup tureen these are sitting in on that handmade table!

 Each Thursday I have been trekking over to Knitting Daughter's home to do my weekly laundry - she has a GREAT CLOTHESLINE that I covet - nothing like sheets dried outside in the fresh air.  So sweet to lay my head down on the pillow cases smelling like outdoors.

I even enjoy watching and listening to them flapping in the breeze!

A big happy surprise!  Ohio daughter called this morning and said she was making a quick trip to Indiana.  'What are your plans today, MOM?'  We took a 'selfy' at the lot - what fun to see her.

Love,
Janet

Lunchtime on Thursday, May 8

Before I start showing today's photo shots and going on about the progress, I have to say that God's hand was surely with me when He guided me to this builder!  He is a gem - a real prince!  The company name is Williams Custom Art Builders.  The next time I am at the lot, I'll take a photo of their classy company sign that sits at the front of the lot.  I am working with Mark Williams, who is, as mentioned above, a real prince. He is in business with his father and his uncle and has learned the home building business from the ground up.  His parents have done a fantastic job raising this young man.  Polite, kind, thoughtful, wise, hard working, good communicator ..... and he makes beautiful, one-of-a-kind homes.  He is kind enough to meet me at the lot and cart me around with him as we make the rounds picking out appliances, cabinets, etc.  Or we will meet there at the lot and make design decisions on windows, etc.  He explains things in a way that even I can understand and grasp.  AND he is patient during the process.  Very thoughtful, fun to be around person!!!!  If anyone wants to build a new home, I highly recommend this company.

OK ... on with the progress of the day.  Stopped at the lot today right after my volunteer duties were finished at the hospital.   It was noon, hot, sunny, humid.  Parked, grabbed the camera and took photos of this:

As I parked the car and walked toward the 'house' I saw these long pieces that appeared to be made of concrete or some such material.

Walking up to them, this is what they look like.  I am fairly sure this is material for the part of the walls of the foundation.  I am such a dumb-dumb about some of this that I don't know quite what to call it.

Closer to the foundation on the other side of the mound of dirt, these long steel bars were lying on the ground.

I gingerly stepped closer to the edge of the foundation.  Big orange markings with numbers and various codes are written on the concrete footing parts of the floor.  This is really a fascinating process.  One of those concrete looking pieces is standing on end there too.  (Leaning against the nearest wall).

A closer look at the markings where the front entrance will be some day!  Incidentally, Monday evening when I met Mark there, he was remeasuring all the footings and foundation work to be sure it was exactly correct.  Sort of like what I do when I construct a quilt or a garment.  Measure and remeasure before going forward.  I at least realize that this foundation process is crucial for a good, well constructed, quality home.

Thought you might like to see what the landscaped area in the middle of the turn-around at the end of the cul-de-sac looks like.  This is almost in front of my driveway - a little to the west slightly.

Extremely warm today - going up to 85 degrees - in my opinion that is much too hot too soon for Indiana. However, it sure beats the winter weather or a freezing rain!!!!  Ripe for a good storm, though.

Sadly, I fear one more tree is going to have to come down.  See that tall skinny tree a slight bit to the right of center?  It is dead from about half way up all the way to the top, with only a few scraggly limbs below that showing leaves.  It is also badly scarred toward the bottom, looks tenuous at best - and has some holes on the west side of the trunk.  My 'guts' tell me if we don't remove it now, we will have to later - or it may even topple over on the house.  Don't want that!!! I wouldn't be surprised if the roots were horribly damaged from the foundation work also.  When Mark and I were examining it, he thought it looked like an Ash.  Neither one of us wants to demolish a tree of all things - but in this case, I do believe it would be the wisest thing.  Mark confided that one of the things he dislikes about construction, is removal of trees.  He said rather sadly, "Some of these trees have been here on earth longer than I have." (See what I mean about what a good, conscientious person he is????)

I have come to realize that I am a person who really enjoys big projects!  That was always a joy at work, and I have really had a good time at the Bear Cub house planning landscaping, adding gardens, doing projects for that home. People have warned me that building a home is just a terribly stressful difficult thing and they advised against my doing it..... and I know it can have the stresses, but the whole planning and 'big project' aspect of it is very rewarding to me!!!!

Stay tuned for more progress in the days ahead!!!

Love,
Janet

Progress is being made each day

The lot is on one of my 'errand stops' each day, camera in hand!  After the great 'dig' there were wood pieces placed to indicate where to pour concrete for some type of footing (I believe).  As you can tell, building expertise is not my gift!!!!  You can see the concrete that was poured between the wood in some of the photos - most notably the one just below.

 This is the garage area which is at right angles to the house.  There will be a door from inside the garage that leads to a hallway.  To one side of the hall will be the utility room and next to that will be a walk-in pantry.  To the right of the hall will be an entrance to the kitchen.

This is looking to the area that meets up with the garage. The rectangle to the far left is the utility room/walk-in pantry and hallway that I mentioned above..   The big space is for the kitchen at the back and dining room at the front. As you can see, the concrete has been covered with gravel.

This shot is looking straight down at the front entrance.  As you can see, the 'footings' had been poured and drain pipes placed all around the perimeter.  Then a kind of fine pea gravel was placed all over it.

This shot is from the back of the house looking toward the street and slightly to the right.  The closest footings (with dirt inside and not 'dug out') is the area where the screened-in porch will be.  It happens to be among trees as you possibly can tell by the shaded area.

This is what met me the following day.  Additional drain pipe tubes were put around the perimeter.  It has been explained to me that this is what takes the moisture and allows it to be pumped with the sump pump out of the basement and out from around the foundation.

 A long loose, possibly left over or additional piece of drain tube.

This is standing at the front and looking to the right where the three bedrooms, closets, bathrooms and a hallway will be located (also walk-in closet with the master bedroom).  The over-sized sump pit thing-a-ma-jig is sitting there on top of the gravel.  A temporary sump pump will be installed during this building process to pump out rain water and moisture that collects.  We are expecting thunder storms later this week.  It is, after all, spring in Indiana!  I believe additional pea gravel has been added to it also, or at least smoothed out.
The men digging the foundation commented that this was a nice, easy foundation, with good solid dirt.  They sometimes have to dig where it is squishy and muddy - messy.  Thankfully, this was an easy, clean one to do.

 There have been posted photos of one of my 'grand dogs' .... and here are some photos of my one and only 'grand cat'.  She is very petite, very gentle, very sweet.  Ripley is her name - and she graciously allowed me to take some shots of her.

Isn't she a sweetie?

More construction news coming - stay tuned!

Love,

Janet

The big hole - new house

The excavation job ------ 

Well, I stopped by late on Thursday afternoon, and the hole for the basement appears to be finished!!!!   This is what greeted me as I drove up - first of all, the 'makeshift' driveway.  Big junks of rock for the trucks and 'digger' to use.  This is most likely where the 'real' driveway will be located.

 Then, the basement appears!  It had rained the night before, so there were a few puddles in the corners.  Being a sump pump freak, it concerned me that the basement might be perpetually wet.  Assurances were given me that it was simply puddles from the rain, not a constant stream of water.  The sump pump in my former house ran almost constantly, planting in my brain that the house was constructed over an underground stream of some size!!!!  Aquifer - always running - constant sump pump activity - nice for the well status, terrible for the sump pump.  This new basement, I trust, will not be over an aquifer.

 Lots of dirt to the right of the 'driveway' that remains.  Believe it will be used to back fill some areas, but being a novice at this and not construction site savvy, I am not totally sure.

Stopped by my niece's Friday morning to drop off a wide picture hat complete with netting and flowers - so my precious niece can wear it to a Derby Party!  Of course, I had to take some photos of her little one-year-old.  He has my heart wrapped up already.  I guess he is my grand nephew - if I have the terms correct .... what a charmer.

He is clued in that when my camera takes over my face, he smiles.  What a cutie he is.  He has a wonderful little Mama too - that niece is a doll, very sweet, thoughtful, great cook and baker - and just one of the nicest people I know.

More construction to come.

Love,
Janet

Tree removal and excavation

The slightly painful sight of trees being chopped down and removed to make room for the new house was a bit sad to witness.  We knew which ones had to come down (most were small scrubby ones - but a few were big). One of the larger trees was dangerously listing toward the area where the house will be .... and another was right at the edge of the foundation and would probably have died anyway.

The buzz saws were whirring.  Note the leaning tree that needed to go!!!!  See the nice view I have out my back window - the barn and horses!

 It is truly sad to see these trees coming down - but I know it is necessary.

The 'grove' of trees from the man in his hard hat all the way back to the fence line and all the way to the left STAY as is.  Will probably leave a large portion at the very back in its natural state for the wildlife.  When construction is completed, the screened porch will be located in the trees!  And.... the kitchen and family room windows look out to the horses.

An area being left wild.... and we took a chance and transplanted some of the perennials and bulbs from Bear Cub into this wooded area.

 Not sure what I was running through my brain at the time, but I thought if I stood and pointed where some of the transplants were located, I would be sure to find them next fall!

Knitting daughter is doing her 'point and find' for more of the chosen perennials!  

Beekeeping daughter picked out a small Dogwood at the Arbor Day events on Saturday and transplanted with me.  Being the thoughtful little lady she is, Beekeeping daughter also tagged the sapling with a red marker!  When we were there together placing the little Dogwood into the ground, Beekeeping daughter and I were able to locate all the woodland hyacinths, columbine, geraniums, etc., with no trouble at all.

Got a call (actually two calls) this morning alerting me to the fact that the excavation was beginning on the lot. At 3:00 this afternoon, this is what appears!

As I snapped the pictures and tiptoed in the wooded area and the driveway next door, I felt a little like I had the potential to impede the progress, so I did not stay too long.  This crew was extremely efficient.  As one dump truck was loaded with dirt, another one appeared in line ready to be filled. Off they would go (not sure WHERE) and then the trucks would reappear one after another to be filled and to cart away more dirt.  No waiting - just an efficient fill it, leave, load the next truck, come back - over and over.  The 'digger' kept going.  Amazing.  My darling niece's little one-year-old boy is enthralled with 'diggers' and will probably spend some hours with his Mom sitting in the car nearby to observe this amazing process.  Aren't little boys precious?

Very exciting day, I would say.

Love,

Janet

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Moving Day

Yes, the big truck arrived on Thursday.  Floor coverings were taped in place, dollies rolled in, three kind, hard working men started logging items, placing stickers on furniture and boxes, padding and shrink wrapping my life.  Then rolling it aboard the double doors of the truck.

 Sandy found a new sleeping spot for his day-long naps!!!!  Soon to be removed - uh oh!

Puff puff ..... what a team!!!!!

 Books are all carted away!!!!

 Great room is so empty - seems naked in there!

 Dining room - looks like we could have a dance on the floor!!!

 Karen, this is what 'your room' looks like now!!!!

 Chris, this is where you like to sleep!!!!

The empty sewing room.  

Stay tuned for more photos of the new lot - and the wild brush and trees before some of them are cleared.

Enjoy!

Love,

Janet