We took a day off from our westward migration today to see a bit of Little Rock, which in the past we always whizzed by on the Interstate.
In the morning we headed for Central High School, scene of one of the seminal confrontations of the civil rights era. Our route took us along the Wilbur Mills Freeway. I was hoping for a Fanne Foxx exit but no such luck. (If you don’t get that, look it up.) Continue reading
Headboard and bedside tables in the front guest room, courtesy of Robin’s brother, Mark.
Last week we drove down to Eugene to bring back furniture that Robin’s brother, Mark, made for us. He makes beautiful pieces out of reclaimed wood.
We transported two headboards for our guest rooms, two bedside tables, and a bench for the first-floor hall. We had already brought up four other tables and a cart for the pantry. Continue reading
We’ve been living in the house for three weeks now, and it feels more and more like home every day. We’ve done a lot of unpacking and setting up, and the workers continue to finish off items that move the house closer to completion. Continue reading
The move is complete. Boxes everywhere, but we’ll sleep here tonight.
The house isn’t complete, but it’s done enough for us to move in this week, so we are madly packing.
Here are a few photos of recent updates.
The living room fan light
Lots is happening on the house as it moves toward completion. The window and door trim is done, and counters, plumbing fixtures, and railings are going in. Work is also progressing on the driveway.
We had hoped to move in by the end of July, but now it looks like it will be mid-August.
Living-room windows with all the trim in place. They’ll look better when the scaffolding is removed.
Interior painting is complete, and the installation of cabinets, tile, and wood trim is under way. Seeing cabinets in place gives a much better idea of what the house will be like.
Meanwhile, Island County, in its wisdom, has thrown us a curve ball. They say that some of the wetlands mitigation (removing some bushes and planting others) must be done in order to get final approval of the house. We had planned to wait until the house was done, so that the landscapers wouldn’t have to work around the builders.
Last week the landscapers took out the blackberries in front of the house, which does open up the front a lot. Next they’ll plant enough bushes to make the county happy.
Kitchen cabinets, viewed from the dining room
At the house, the in-floor heat is now in place, and the concrete floors have been poured. We also have lights in the garage and garage doors. Up next: painting.
Robin checking out the wires for in-floor heat in our bedroom
Sailboats at anchor in Fisherman Bay
Last week we made a three-day visit to Lopez Island, where we saw our friends George and Kay Keeler.
Lopez is the third largest of the San Juans (after San Juan and Orcas). It’s about a half-hour ferry ride from Anacortes. Total travel time for us is about two-and-a-half hours, including waiting for the ferry. Besides the ferry, you can also get to Lopez via a float plane from Seattle. Continue reading
All the siding is now on the house, and the drywall finishing is complete. Robin has chosen paint colors for both interior and exterior. Exterior painting will begin when the weather clears up; interior painting, after the concrete floors go in.
The well is in, though not hooked up yet. The weathervane, made for us by a local artisan, is now atop the cupola on the garage. Cement wall board has been added in the master-bath and loft showers. And the first delivery of cabinets is sitting in the garage.
Next up: after some clean-up, the in-floor heat. Then the concrete floors.
All the siding is on. Once the weather improves, painting will begin.
See Más America 