February 25
Okay folks, here is the link to the google doc which has the names...remember, we don't know who submitted what-so be careful about discussing anything that we can see because we still don't want to know who submitted what.
Names for 245 River Cliff Place
The wind was blowing a gale out there today, so the crew went home early. They did deliver the long lumber we need for the roof, so we are hoping for calmer weather!
Monday, February 25, 2013
Sunday, February 24, 2013
February 24 (another Red Letter Day)
Today the team of advisors met to guide the process of reviewing the entries in the naming contest. Jim and Paula gathered with Sandy and Mike on the Screened Porch, with Richard and Martha joining by speaker phone. We reviewed the names, and the meaning and rationale behind the names, ultimately and thoughtfully reaching a consensus in about an hour or so. The list, as it came off the google doc, was to be included in tonight's post. However, Blogger has some problems with imported images, and the print was too small to be legible. I googled for help on how to make it larger, and then it became too blurry, and still illegible. So I will send it by email. The announcement will still be made on March 16, on site. You need not be present to win, but it is highly recommended!!
I'm not sure what is more satisfying to us-the mostly thoughtful, sometimes humorous names and their related intent for the spirit of this place, or the way the contest has engaged you all in this project and what we are trying to create. I guess that pretty well defines a "Win-Win" situation for us. It means a lot to us to see the thought and the effort put forth. We are very excited to reveal the winner, and we believe you all will like it as much as we do.
Also included tonight are some more progress photos. The framing is coming along very nicely. Tomorrow we expect the rafters to be delivered which will signal the start of the roof framing. The crew is working from the ends toward the middle, which is the most complex part of the entire project.
We have ordered our windows, but we are still looking for the right doors. We have been planning a pivoting front door (as opposed to a hinged door), but we are suffering a bit of sticker shock and haven't confirmed that selection yet.
That's it for now....
Today the team of advisors met to guide the process of reviewing the entries in the naming contest. Jim and Paula gathered with Sandy and Mike on the Screened Porch, with Richard and Martha joining by speaker phone. We reviewed the names, and the meaning and rationale behind the names, ultimately and thoughtfully reaching a consensus in about an hour or so. The list, as it came off the google doc, was to be included in tonight's post. However, Blogger has some problems with imported images, and the print was too small to be legible. I googled for help on how to make it larger, and then it became too blurry, and still illegible. So I will send it by email. The announcement will still be made on March 16, on site. You need not be present to win, but it is highly recommended!!
I'm not sure what is more satisfying to us-the mostly thoughtful, sometimes humorous names and their related intent for the spirit of this place, or the way the contest has engaged you all in this project and what we are trying to create. I guess that pretty well defines a "Win-Win" situation for us. It means a lot to us to see the thought and the effort put forth. We are very excited to reveal the winner, and we believe you all will like it as much as we do.
Also included tonight are some more progress photos. The framing is coming along very nicely. Tomorrow we expect the rafters to be delivered which will signal the start of the roof framing. The crew is working from the ends toward the middle, which is the most complex part of the entire project.
View out the bunkhouse window (not to mention the view through the wall!)
These are the foundations for the stone columns that support the trellis over the entry walk. We will add fill dirt to this area until the final grade is about at the top of the column foundations. The Cloister is beyond, and the entry door is just around the corner to the left.
The pipes in the middle are for the island in the kitchen. On the far wall, left, is the pantry, and the range is right in the middle.
This view is standing in the Crossing looking toward the bedrooms. The recessed area is the Screened Porch, and Sandy's Office is beyond connected by a door and a step to the porch.
On site deliberators (l-r) Jim and Paula.
This view is of the Master BR corner.
This is the West wall
Looking back toward the Terrace. Watch that last step.....
That's it for now....
Thursday, February 21, 2013
February 21st
The sun is out, the forms are coming off, and there is the smell of fresh lumber on the foundation. Led by ace framer Billy Birt, the crew is laying out the partitions, and the first wall is about to go up.
Check out this video. Note ace framer Billy Birt, second from left in the camo jacket, and his ace helper in the light red shirt, 3rd from left, as the first wall goes up!
The sun is out, the forms are coming off, and there is the smell of fresh lumber on the foundation. Led by ace framer Billy Birt, the crew is laying out the partitions, and the first wall is about to go up.
Check out this video. Note ace framer Billy Birt, second from left in the camo jacket, and his ace helper in the light red shirt, 3rd from left, as the first wall goes up!
At the end of the day, a toast to the prospect of our first sunset on the Terrace!
And, minutes later, voila, how glorious is this!
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
FEBRUARY 19, 2013
TODAY WAS A RED LETTER DAY!
We started well before dawn. When I got there a little after 6, there were already 4 concrete trucks on site.
By about 3:30 they were pouring the back terrace, using the pump truck to push the mud all the way to the back of the house.
22 1/2 concrete trucks later, we are contemplating the future from our new foundation. Can't wait for everyone to see it. Tomorrow they will actually start framing the walls. It will probably take about 3 weeks to get the walls and the roof framed.
TODAY WAS A RED LETTER DAY!
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Valentine's Day
Happy Valentine's Day everyone. Today was a bit bittersweet. Last week we were quite confident that by today, we would have our foundation in place. Didn't happen. We're told that our house is 'unusual', more complicated than the Tuscan treasures they are accustomed to out here. Oh well, hope springs eternal, and with renewed confidence we are expecting many concrete trucks to be queing up Tuesday morning, February 19, 2013. Today the workers are finishing the reinforcing steel, shoring up the forms, especially on the downhill side, and completing the in-slab utilities like plumbing.
Sandy and I went to town to look at some granite that we had seen months before, but had been unable to secure a slab for our kitchen because the slab we saw was already sold. It's called "Antique Brown", it's a very rich coffee-chocolate brown, with some somewhat rare (hence hard to find) blue mica which is a brilliant hue when it catches the light just right. The photo below does not do it justice. Look for this rock in the coffee bar in the kitchen. The main counters in the kitchen are all a quartzite material, also from Brazil, called "Supernova". The photo below is a close up, but the slab has a very bold, diagonal pattern. The island in the kitchen is sized to use one entire slab of supernova, and the other counters around the island will use a second slab.
We hope that we can arrange for any family members who show up for the pour to be able to put handprints in the slab.
Also in today's blog is a photo of a nice little rainbow that happened during a brief shower earlier last week, another reason while we still don't have a slab, but we know that rain is a blessing, right Nats? Oh, and by the way, if you look a little closer, care to guess where this one came to earth???
Midnight tonight is also the deadline for everyone to submit their suggestions for the "Name That Place" contest. And that is really the pot of gold at the end of this rainbow!
Sandy and I went to town to look at some granite that we had seen months before, but had been unable to secure a slab for our kitchen because the slab we saw was already sold. It's called "Antique Brown", it's a very rich coffee-chocolate brown, with some somewhat rare (hence hard to find) blue mica which is a brilliant hue when it catches the light just right. The photo below does not do it justice. Look for this rock in the coffee bar in the kitchen. The main counters in the kitchen are all a quartzite material, also from Brazil, called "Supernova". The photo below is a close up, but the slab has a very bold, diagonal pattern. The island in the kitchen is sized to use one entire slab of supernova, and the other counters around the island will use a second slab.
We hope that we can arrange for any family members who show up for the pour to be able to put handprints in the slab.
Midnight tonight is also the deadline for everyone to submit their suggestions for the "Name That Place" contest. And that is really the pot of gold at the end of this rainbow!
Sunday, February 10, 2013
February 10
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| view from the breakfast room |
 |
| the inspector general in the trenches |
found the snake hole-snake was out for the day
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| yet another sunset |
view from the back yard
the future mantle
the concrete will be here soon....
Sandy checking out the view from her office
view from the game table
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