Let It Snow!

Well, the weather outside's been frightful, but the radiant floor heat and pellet stove have been delightful. We've had more snow, sleet, cold and downright crappy weather in the last month than usual... last year, it didn't even snow until after christmas. Thankfully, we're in our beautifully warm and spacious new home and don't even care. Happy Holidays!

Our 9' tree is dwarfed by the size of the great room

The foyer's winter diorama

The front porch, mid snowstorm

The porch, between squalls

Ice, Ice, Baby

The pond is frozen over with a very thin layer of ice. (12/8)
The ice to the right had been there for 2 days; the ice on the left had melted the previous day and reformed over night. The water inlet is to the left of this image.

The front of the barn on 12/15.
The dumpster is finally gone now.

These 3 pictures were taken this morning (12/20),
following yesterday's snow/ice storm.

Gobble, Gobble

Our first holiday in the barn was a success and the gas range performed magnificently.

On the construction front, our closets are in, along with a kitchen spice rack, our cabinet hardware and the bathroom mirrors. The drywall down below is done and the HVAC system is being finished today with a fresh air exchanger.

Other than that, its all about tying up loose ends, sorting boxes and nestling in.

Our Thanksgiving feast included a rainbow of colors and a host of delectable flavors


This cabinet sure spices up the pantry

The kitchen cabinets have knobs!


The kitchen is all together but for a backsplash

Finn, the daredevil cat, practices in her bid to make the Romanian gymnastics team

The closet under the stairs gets some shelving. Next stop, paint!

Well, We're Home!

We moved in on November 1st and haven't stopped unpacking since. The internet is now working, as is the phone and satellite, and the in-floor heat is working great. Oh yeah, and the roof is even on!

The kitchen, complete with working Blue Star gas stove

We got an early snow on the deck and newly fenced dog area

Finn gets used to her new habitat

The robopets stake their claim

Over the next few weeks, we're going to document the house room by room and do a then-and-now sort of thing which should be both informative and inspirational.

Waltzing Matilda - Goodbye to a Family Member

We had to put our Australian Cattle Dog, Kiwi, to sleep yesterday afternoon after a long cancer battle. The vet was nice enough to do it in our backyard on our soft, fleece blanket while we held and comforted her.

She was an amazingly intelligent dog who travelled across the country with us many times and was a root part of our family. She started her life in California, but spent her last years in rural Pennsylvania, where she got to scratch her back in the sun, eat voles, trounce through the snow and frolic in the brisk autumn wind. She was loyal and obedient, but with attitude, and could always be counted on.

She was loved. She will be missed. She can never be replaced.

Kiwi

January, 1997 - October 22, 2008

Kiwi on the farm

Scratching her back in the sun with Newt


Kiwi and her sisters, yesterday

They broke the mold with Kiwi

Here's a Kiwi cartoon I made a few years ago that seems appropriate

The Push

The walnuts are falling, the leaves are changing color and the barn is nearing completion.

The last fortnight has been all about finishing things up. Painting, filling in drywall holes, getting cabinets in, finishing electric work, adding a stone driveway and a myriad of little things.

Next week we'll get the roof, our plumbing fixtures and even get our radiant floor heat operational. We have the movers booked for October 27th and 28th.

The driveway area is crushed stone, while we added topsoil and grass seed to the rest

Laurie's shower tile is finally all in


The wainscotting is up in Kattrina and Brian's bathroom and looks great


The leaves, they are a'changing


Scott gets his cherry bookshelves


Laurie's office begins to come together


The long-suffering kitchen lights at last find their home

Our new robotic guard dog from Honda

I'll take what's behind door #1

The front door has been installed.

Close up of front door hardware. The remaining details will be added soon.

Interior view of front door. The stain is absolutely beautiful in person.

Kitchen loft flooring is completely installed. View toward bedroom areas.

View toward deck. The future chimney for the cooking stove is framed out.

View of the great room from the kitchen loft.

Scott's vanity installed. Still waiting for countertop and some electrical work.

Laurie's room gets trim. We'll definitely be painting next weekend too.

Another view of Laurie's trim.

Lofty Expectations

There was a torrent of activity at the barn yesterday. Mike and Mario laid the subfloor for the kitchen loft and even got down about half of the cherry on top of it, all in a single day. Not bad.

Oscar was upstairs doing wonderful things with trim and Pablo was on float, helping whoever needed it. Duane was back and installing bathroom vanities while Noel was hard at the tile.

Overwhelmed by the warrior spirit, we spent the whole weekend at the barn painting doors and trim.

Mike calls for another cherry board in the kitchen loft


Scott's octopus finally gets its grouted border

Kattrina and Brian's quarter-sawn vanity is in


Scott's pocket door, one of the many painted this weekend

Shoe moulding goes up in the loft

The low window height gives the trim a nice look

The moulding continues down the 2nd floor hallway

The dishwasher sits proudy in its designated spot