Starting to look like a house!

We sure like the new addition with the dormer over looking the west side of the house. This is the view from inside looking out the dormer windows, two of which are in the bathroom (on the left) and the other 3 are in the open middle area between the bedrooms.

I am standing in the back loft bedroom looking toward the front. Very hard to tell the layout without being there and looking through so many 2x4's and 2x6's. It's great though.

Decking the front section of the roof today. The front dormers have been framed in and you might be able to see them by enlarging the picture.

Ah, signs of Spring...

As I drove home from taking lunch to Joe and updating pictures of the completed work on the house, I just had to stop and capture the beauty of the vibrant colored flowers we are beginning to see everywhere.

Many, many pieces as the quilt process is under way...

The sheet ( a wonderful shortcut learned in a quilt class!) on the right has been sewn, one of 10. Next the cutting is done. Now, I haven't sewn anything together yet but after the cutting the ironing is a process too! But you can see something of the look and I love that part!

Look what's outside my window

As I was working, at the table this morning by the window, on Treyson's quilt I looked up and saw to my delight several birds searching for food in the grass and some were coming so close to the window I just had to try and get their picture. Take into consideration I am shooting through the glass pane and they were constantly moving - plus I had to go unnoticed as I manuvered the blinds out of the way on top on that! The coloring on his yellow chest is not nearly as brilliant as it is in person, they are beautiful!

19th, Lofty Views

This is sort of the view from the open area in the loft and the bathroom. Looking west over the driveway. The casement windows are 2x2 but there will be 5 of them in a row. They will crank out. I just took pictures looking out where the window will be in the loft looking over the backyard. Notice how HIGH we are, we are looking at the tree TOPS. I had turned the camera ever so slighty looking east toward the family room area in this photo.

See the boulder down in the yard? That's the one I stand on often to take pictures of the back of the house. I know I've even said - I was standing on a boulder - well that's the one. Doesn't look so big from up there!

Rafters in progress, 15th - 19th Feb

Looking out the hallway into the garage. The door coming into the house will be on the left of the stairway going into the loft on the right. The guys are standing about where the stairs come into the loft, just about center.

The opening in the rafters on the left of the picture is where the dormer is to be framed in.

The open space in the rafters over the living area is where the dormer will be. There is one overthe master bedroom also, but it isn't as well defined yet in the framing stage.

Piecing and sewing continue

Colors for Treyson's quilt as I begin to assemble after washing, ironing and the first cut. I put the pattern for the quilt for you to see the design...hope I chose the right one after your description over the phone. This for you to see the design on ???, well our anticipated arrival of Kennedi and Marley's new baby sister :)

I know it's a little hard to see by picture but it's better than nothing...right??

Happy Valentine's Day

More than a little surprised to find this box on our front porch containing.... These beautiful Valentine flowers! Day 2 of their arrival and now opening to expose the brillant colors.

Thanks for your thoughtfulness Cory and Jenna! Just out of the box, they have yet to open but every day they are even more beautiful than the day before.

Feb 9th - 14th

Back deck begins and we are going to LOVE it!! I'm shooting from the new extra room behind the garage looking towards the family room.

Hang on tight! Setting rafters.

Rafters going into place.

Can you say too HIGH????? Makes me too nervous to watch this portion going up...ugh! I am looking in from the garage and dad and U. Bo are over the laundry room and hallway.

Misty morning sunrise Thursday

Joe called me just after leaving for work to say the scenery would make for a great picture, so off I ran camera in hand to once again get a marvelous shot of a wonderful morning. It was risky with the fog to stop the car and get out so I tried to work fast...again. Still a pretty scene. I took this one first then jumped in the car and drove around the corner for the pasture shot - can't believe the difference a few minutes makes.

Wednesday progress....

Front porch posts are now set in place. Unless you have handled these pieces of lumber you just can't appreciate how incredibly HEAVY they are and just how much effort it takes to haul, cut and place them. Great job guys!! Best part is all the messing around and cutting up - they laugh all day long. (well, as long as nothing goes terribly wrong anyway :)

Changed the family room vault to raised ceiling.

Looking from the family room into the kitchen.

It appears we have chosen the brick for the house....finally. I have had a hard time finding one this go-round for some reason. This one has enough of the browns and tans to tie in with our colors of choice.

It rained....

Need I say more.........

Back yard treasures...

Found this COOL mushroom laying on the leaves. May have to give it another look tomorrow and shoot the underside, if it's possible. I love the moss that covers many of the rocks on the lot and right now the colors are vibrant as winter begins to break it's cold grip and new life seems to be expressing itself with new growth and incredible textures.

With the abundant rain we received yesterday the little streams that run through the property were running all day today. Sounded so wonderful. The frogs are loving it too - just can't seem to find any to capture on film. I'll keep trying.

We are lucky to have Pine Trees growing along the back of the property with even more new growth in areas lacking, I'm glad because I like the green color all year long.

Cozy - rainy day

A different perspective of the back yard. A stark contrast to the Sunday sunrise - wouldn't ya say? Water is all the way up to the front door. In between down pours I took the opportunity to get a few shots.

Sunday - another pretty sunrise

Dad was up early preparing to leave for his Sunday assignment over an hour away when he called my attention to the gorgeous morning sun and the lavender hue in the sky. So I grabbed the camera and shot a couple pretty scenes. This one is in the pasture in front of our place. There are often black angus in this pasture so if you enlarge this shot maybe you can see them in the distance. I didn't notice in my rush to hurry as I was out in my pj's and didn't wish to be caught! This was once again shot from the back yard across the field. There are homes being built so there may be some debris in the grass from the wind yesterday. Wish you could hear the frogs! They have come alive this past week and are getting louder every day already. LOVE that sound! They could be heard as I was running around outside this morning, so fun.

Saturday - framing begins

Floors were measured, laid out and chalked. Then lumber began to be cut and prepared for the building of the interior walls. The kitchen and bedroom wall are the first t0 go up.

Everyone is checking to make sure the wall is on the line and then the nails are shot in to hold it in place.

By the end of the day all the interior walls were standing and completed. We lost sunlight and put away tools with the aid of the street light out front. I am standing in the old laundry room, now the new 2nd bedroom looking through the hall into the bathroom and the master bedroom.

Now I am shooting from the family room down the hall into the master bedroom, showing the staircase which will now begin at the dining room wall. Uncle Bo is in the front entry finishing one of the front living room walls. You can see the daylight is nearly gone.

YAHOO!!! YIPPIE!!! Great progress!! Best part is no one got hurt in the process, sore certainly, after a long day of hard work but a good nights rest will help that.