Easter Sunday

While the sunrise service at the Riekers lacked actual sunshine, it turned out to be a warm spring day.  Then, late afternoon, there was a brief rainstorm.  We decided to go up to the Crossing to see how much rain was able to get in the house, since only a few windows have been installed so far.  The house was in good shape, so we sat out on the terrace to wait for the sunset....

A couple of good cigars and a bottle of red....

 

the green of spring is everywhere evident...

 



shadows are lengthening....and then.....

River Cliff Place
The Crossing
     on Hearts Ledge


It's official.  Thanks to all the participants, we couldn't have done it without you, because without you it just wouldn't have much meaning.

Scenes from the naming contest party March 16, 2013:

 

On the tour, Christine, Matt, Cory, Patti, Wendy and Don



Must have sugar.......

All you Scallorns on the left, and you Wells boys on the right.

Sitting next to the fireplace with a little Coopers barbecue, Harry, Cory, Elissa, Cerise and Meredith

This is what happened to the furniture budget

I don't know Matt, with a little butter and garlic......

Martha and Richard at the game table, with ace framer Billy Birt on the Porch

Sandy, Patti, Rick and Wendy with Ginger, officially the first dog

Harry and Meredith go fly a kite

....more sugar.....

the big picture

yet another nice one

cruisin the terrace, Cerise, Elissa and Martha

 

All we need is a door!

Fossil hunters Harry and Meredith

 

 

 

March 13

another glass of red at sunset

view toward the breakfast notch and door to the garden

another west side story

east side showing the roof gutter

from the street at the entry drive

from the northwest corner

 

Mr. Birt walks the plank

looking back toward the kitchen

our canine friend Shadow standing by

the roof comes together

the first cigar....ahhh

men at work

top to bottom, Billy, Tim, Walter

 

Final Four stone selections-the ones in the shade don't show well, but they were too heavy to move..

 

Mr. Birt and his band of craftsmen are getting it all together.  By this Saturday, we expect to see the yard straightened up, all the roof deck on and a clean project for our announcement party on Saturday!

March 6, 2013. 
Progress was made today, the wind was light and the temperature pleasant.  Mr. Birt had a full crew today and they did some heavy lifting.

Standing at the island looking toward the bunkhouse.

 The overview

 The big picture

 On the terrace at the screen porch

 Sandy's office will have a roof too!

 The rain trough appears

 Halfway down the rear stair looking back

 

The west side story

 Patience is a virtue....

 See what I mean?

This week's Red Letter Day was Thursday, February 28, 2013.  Little Noah Anthony Verrett was born in Houston, Texas.  The newest quail in the covey!  Congratulations to Laura, Daniel and big brother Jacob!

Meanwhile, back at the ranch:

 ...from the bottom of the property.

 the framers are almost finished with the east wing, with the roof joists down on the north half, and the plywood sheathing almost complete. They will probably finish the south half of the roof on Monday, and then they will tackle the living areas where everything comes together.

 You can see the garage door openings far right.

 ...the viewpoint of the neighbor to the west.

 

 

...the Guadalupe Shimmer.  Beats the heck out of the Harlem Shake.



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!

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. 

 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.....

 

 

 

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....