The Outside is DONE!

Just a quick post this morning to show what has been done this week - the exterior is DONE!

Front porch shot

Me in the backyard!

Happy Friday!

The Inspiration

It occured to me that the architecture of our house deserves a little explaination. :)

As many of you already know (and the rest of you can probably see!), we have chosen to style our house after an old-fashioned barn.

When thinking about this major decision regarding our home, two things always seem to come to mind:

1. I can't believe we are going to be living in a barn ...

and

2. Nothing would feel more right. :)

Originally, we had hopes to build a log home, but the more we researched this, we realized it wasn't right for this area of the country and wasn't right for us.

Our second idea was to put a small apartment into a metal shop and build our "real" home sometime in the future. But as we researched metal structures, we kept coming back to the the old-fashioned red barn with gambrel roof and realized that this was what we wanted ... this should be our home.

Things that I love about our "barn-house":

It is one-of-a-kind

It pays homage to both of our rural roots.

It's uniquely "us"

As for progress made this week, things have been humming right along! With Gage out of school and on summer vacation (although "vacation" has taken on a whole new meaning this summer!), a lot has been accomplished.

On Tuesday, Gage and I began laying pex pipe for radiant heat flooring. We started around 2 pm and I wimped out at around 11 pm. When I got up the next morning at 6, he was just finishing up. He claims he slept for a bit in the hammock, but I have my doubts.

The plan was for him to work through the night and sleep the next day while I was at work. However, on Wednesday, he helped the concrete guys in the morning, helped get things set up for the water well drillers to get going again in the afternoon, and helped Ted put relief cuts in the concrete that evening. So much for sleep!

Sweat equity has taken on a whole new meaning. The fact that the muscles in my legs are still sore TODAY (Friday) makes me understand why you would pay someone so much to do a job like laying pipe. Hopefully there won't be many more projects that are so back-breaking ...

On Thursday, they finished up the concrete by pouring the slab for the front porch. Vance's crew came back to begin the siding and window and door installation.

It the weather holds off for a bit longer, the exterior will be done in no time and we can start inside!

Time off

Last night we look time off from this - digging trenches for our water and sewer lines - to tend to other chores ...

Like stocking the pond. :)

Have a happy weekend, everyone!

More progress ...

Vance's crew is amazing! It was been WET AND SOGGY, and yet the are at the build site everyday. (except on Wed. - it rained 2 1/2 inches ...)

As you can see, it is starting to take shape. When it dries out, we are ready for our plumber and concrete crew!

Here is our front porch - woohoo!

Backyard shot

Close-up

Ground Breaking!

It's begun! On Wednesday (our anniversary!), here is what we saw!

Just holes in the ground. But by the end of the day on day 2, they had the entire center section constructed! (top picture) When I drove out after work and saw what is going to be our house, I literally almost started crying. You've heard of tree huggers? - I'm I house hugger. That's right - I hugged my house. :)

It rained a half inch last night, but the crew was still out at 7 am this morning. They told Gage and entire frame should take about a week, if the weather cooperates. After that, our plumber will come in and rough in the plumbing, then our concrete crew will come in and pour the foundation. After that, Vance's crew will come back and put on the siding and roofing.

I almost can't believe it is finally happening! Here are some more pictures!

Here is the view from the back yard. :)

Another view from the back!

The view from the front - coming up the drive!