Lots of Activity

Things are really moving along. This week we had gutters put in, this probably means that we'll hit a dry spell and not have rain for awhile.

The electricians started on their final work Thursday.  The landscapers are almost done, just a few small pieces remain.  The painting is done everywhere, but the garage.  Mike and I moved trash to a dumpster (our 4th dumpster) all day today.  Ivan worked on the railings most of the day.   He finished up building the railing and moved on to the priming it when we headed out this afternoon.  He plans to be back tomorrow (yes Saturday) to work on the deck.  Some of the interior and closet doors were also hung today.

So here are a few landscape pictures.  They put in the sprinklers, edging, rocks and grass sprayed in this week. 

Mike and I are now out looking at plants.  It's a good time to buy the perennials, shrubs and trees, as our favorite stores (Home Depot, Lowes & Menards) are having great sales.  I found some plants for $1.  YEAH!!!

This is a Nine Bark tree in the front corner of the house.

 Here are a few Dapple Willow shrubs that we got in the "sad plant" area for a $1.  We think they'll make it back with some food and water.

These are a plant called Tamarisk.  It is light and airy looking with some purple tips all over.  It is very soft. 

We got some very small plants that should grow quickly so maybe next year they'll look bigger.

I think these three are my favorite plants so far.  They are pink Hydrangeas that continually flower all summer.  I can't wait till they adjust and start flowering more.

Ok, this is a bare spot.  We need to find some very low plants so it doesn't interfere with the view from the bedroom, block the light into the bedroom or keep the windows from opening.  I hope to find some sale shrubs or ground cover over the next few weeks.  Anybody have any good suggestions??????

In here I put some hostas that I had taken out of the old house and planted at the road last fall.  They made it through the winter and I just moved them behind the garage yesterday.  I just hope the deer don't take a liking to them.

We need to get a tree or grasses for the area to the left of the door.  Any suggestions????

Now onto some inside pictures.  The electricians worked on the first floor getting in fixtures.  This is the family entry, we used the same light in the front entry.  

This is the half bath light

And here is the half bath vanity.  I didn't want a pedestal sink, but the room is tiny.  I was thrilled to find this compact vanity.  It fit perfectly.  

Here is the master bath with the lights installed.  They look great, now I just need to find some mirrors.  I was thinking about buying the basic mirrors from Ikea and then adding some of the door trim around them.  They'll match and be reasonable.

Here are the shower doors.  They look great, I can hardly wait to take a shower.  Of course, we'll need the water turned on first.  The plumber doesn't come till Monday.  Won't be long now.

Here's the kitchen.  The lights got installed this week, along with the oven.  The fridge is just sitting there waiting for the plumber to hook up the water for ice.  The cooktop is in place, but waiting for the electricians to come back and finish up on Monday.

 
Just another pic of the oven.

This is the railing that Ivan is making for the stairs.  When done, it will be painted white and have a hickory railing on the top.  He's had a few challenges, but comes up with options for each.  So it is taking a  bit longer than he planned. But it is looking great.  Can't wait until it is done.

Here are the gutter guys we used.  They were great. They came about 8am, had all the tools and tons of ladders.  They were very efficient and I loved that they came with their own trash can and picked up all their trash.  So if you need gutters call Rice's Continuous Gutters from Kalamazoo.

Here is the sunroom.  The cieling fan is causing me grief.  I don't like the shape of the blades or the color.  The color is reddish and the other side of the blades is dark brown.  So I'm thinking of having the electricians change it out to a brushed nickel fan with light blades.  All the lights in the kitchen are the bronze color, but the appliances are all stainless.   So I think the fan will look good in the nickel.  Have to decide by Monday when the electrician is back.





  



Doug thinks we'll be done by Friday.  I'm not so sure.  The electricians will be back on Monday to finish the electric.  The plumber will be here on Monday to finish the plumbing. The furnace guy will be here Monday to finish the furnace.  Ivan is working on the deck tomorrow, finishing the railing on Monday and then spend the rest of the week on touch up painting, hang the rest of the doors, adjust the cabinet doors, add end panels and skins to the cabinets and start the punch list items.  I think that the rest of the guys will be working on trimming and painting the garage interior.  And of course lots of clean up.

We hope to have the electrical, plumbing, mechanical and occupancy inspections next week.

I'm seeing a move in our future.  It will be great to get our stuff out of Patti's garage and basement, as well as our storage unit still in Dearborn.  I'm sure Patti will be thrilled to get our stuff out too, then she can use her garage for a novel thing, like parking her car.