Mid-April

Mid- April started out with the drywall installed and the drywall finisher starting his grueling work.  A most tedious job for sure.  Regina and I have elected to go with a "smooth" finish as opposed to a textured or "old world" style finish popular today.  The smooth finish is more an old fashion, farmhouse style we are aiming for.  Finally made some more progress on the cedar shingle siding by renting some scaffolding.  Also, got the octagonal window installed and the mason contractor got stated on the veneer stone.  Remember this veneer stone is really Texas limestone cut thin to about 2 in. It is called Texas Blend and comes from this quarry in West Texas.  http://www.covenantstone.com/  Lastly, today the septic tank installation got started.  The only disappointment is the exterior painters have put us out a couple of weeks.

First is a picture of the wood I bought to build the porch railings that will really complete the outside look along with the shutters I hope to complete soon.  Stacked in the barn to dry.

Took me awhile to figure out how to do the bay window edges corners.

The octagonal window actually opens out

Finished stone wainscotting

Originally thought I could do this job myself...glad I hired a mason

I actually had to do some interior demolition.  The framers built the wall next to where the refrigerator too tall, so I had to redo it.  That's my 8 foot ladder

Used a sawzall

Added a little framing

Tada!

Some local flora ....... we don't have any bluebonnets, but maybe in the future.  These aree actually just considered weeds, but they are pretty..

We have a septic tank!  It is a 600 gal, 19,000 lb concrete tank with three compartments

Digging the hole, 8 feet deep

The fellow in this picture is the operator and is actually using a wireless remote control to unload the tank

Late March - Early April

Well, the drywall installers finished on March 23rd.  Took them 5 days and they told me it normally take 2-3 days, not sure why, buy we did use more drywall than estimated.  I went home for the Easter holiday and returned with my good friend Mike Tixier on April 3rd.  Some of his pictures are featured below.  Had a bit of raining weather this past week and i actually got my truck stuck in the front yard!  Hauled off the last of the major trash - drywall and shingle scraps.  Hope you enjoy the pics.

Starting to look like a house inside now, can't walk through the walls anymore....

Vaulted ceiling in kitchen

Living room

Front hallway

Master bedroom

Hallway to master bath

Installer on stilts :)

Den

Dining room

Kitchen, breakfast, keeping room, note dormer window which acts as a skylight

Hauling off the trash - trailer came in handy

Stuck - Mike pulled me out with his 4x4

A little relaxation

Checking out the neighbor's cows :)   Trees are looking good, everything is greening up nicely.

Mike pictures as we arrived.....

Found some petrified wood on the property!

Garage is filling up and Mike donated a few things to my collection!

Finally got the last window installed, a octagonal that is hinged to open out... I installed it :)  Time to finish the cedar shingles

Took Mike to Ben Wheeler for nightly entertainment.... we saw Billy Joe Shaver play on Friday night.

Been having a bit of a problem getting the stone masons out to put the cut limestone up on the chimney and around the base of the house hopefully will have up but next post.  Drywall finishers are working now and will take a couple of weeks to complete.  Reg came up this weekend and we met with the cabinet guy.  Hopefully those will be going in next.  Exterior painters are also supposed to be starting soon.  House will be painted in Cape Cod colors of gray siting, white trim and black shutters.