Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Sunday, June 24, 2007
The house build - 24 June
Exactly two months before our scheduled closing date and everything's still on track :)
Not much else is going on here, other than lots of work on both our parts, so we're just going to have to bore you with more house pictures. At least there are new things to be seen...
A tired and over-worked Adam walks up the driveway.
Checking out the new garage door and the rough tape finish on the sheet rock.
Inside things look much the same except for the splodges of white everywhere. This is the next step on from rough taping. More coverings will be applied and everything sanded down to get the walls nice and smooth before painting.
Not much has changed out the back but we hear the landscaping will be underway this week.
Adam waits patiently (ish) for Jayne to finish tramping about in the dirt.
Oooh, I almost forgot to tell you...
HDI (the developers) held a bit of a cocktail party on Thursday evening so the current and future residents of Heatherfield could all get to know each other a bit. Nice idea we thought...
So, we went along for a little while and met one of our next door neighbours and his lady friend. They have the other mid-unit in our block. Terribly, we can't remember either of their names (well, we did meet a lot of folk) but he's in his 60's apparently and works for some big supply company in the area. We've no idea about her as she didn't say a word the whole time... smiled a lot tho, which is something!
We also met Celine who will be living on the right end house in our block. She seems very nice and has a son who will be going to uni in the fall... no mention of a hubby (oooh, we're going to become such curtain-twitchers!). Anyway, we saw her again today at the build site with a very nice chap she introduced to us as Tim - he wasn't at the party so we're not sure if he's hubby, partner or summat else... they were very much a 'we' and 'us' tho. We had a good chat about the few minor issues we'd had with the build so far and we left them heading back into their house with a tape measure to check on a few things we'd mentioned.
Jim and Lisa were there too - they'll be living up the road from us and we've seen them a couple of times before... they have a French bulldog who Safi is very keen to get to know. Sounds like their kids have all flown the nest so they're moving out of their family home which they built 15 years ago.
Also met Juanita and her husband who were both very nice, not very foreign looking or sounding despite the name, and both strangely petite!
Others include Nancy who I'd say was maybe in her late 50's (we've seen her a few times out power walking with her iPod strapped to her arm), retired grandparents who brought along granddaughter Maddie in her pearls, tho we can't remember their names, new parents with a little boy who we never got to talk with, a very young couple who arrived just as we left and a bunch of others we can't remember the names of.
Long story short, it seems there's a good mix of very nice people of all ages and occupations in the neighbourhood. Hope they're thinking the same thing about us!
The exciting thing that occurred to me [J] was the number of folk they had in the model home and how much room there still was! PARTY TIME at the Locks is going to be great! ;)
Not much else is going on here, other than lots of work on both our parts, so we're just going to have to bore you with more house pictures. At least there are new things to be seen...
This is our block. We all have nice new driveways now and the footpath is in along the front. Oh and we have the obligatory bit of white picket fence too!
A tired and over-worked Adam walks up the driveway.
Checking out the new garage door and the rough tape finish on the sheet rock.
Inside things look much the same except for the splodges of white everywhere. This is the next step on from rough taping. More coverings will be applied and everything sanded down to get the walls nice and smooth before painting.
Not much has changed out the back but we hear the landscaping will be underway this week.
Adam waits patiently (ish) for Jayne to finish tramping about in the dirt. [It wasn't as dry or as compacted as it looked so yes, it did all go over the top of me flip-flops and get in between me toes... no worms tho thank goodness - J]
Oooh, I almost forgot to tell you...
HDI (the developers) held a bit of a cocktail party on Thursday evening so the current and future residents of Heatherfield could all get to know each other a bit. Nice idea we thought...
So, we went along for a little while and met one of our next door neighbours and his lady friend. They have the other mid-unit in our block. Terribly, we can't remember either of their names (well, we did meet a lot of folk) but he's in his 60's apparently and works for some big supply company in the area. We've no idea about her as she didn't say a word the whole time... smiled a lot tho, which is something!
We also met Celine who will be living on the right end house in our block. She seems very nice and has a son who will be going to uni in the fall... no mention of a hubby (oooh, we're going to become such curtain-twitchers!). Anyway, we saw her again today at the build site with a very nice chap she introduced to us as Tim - he wasn't at the party so we're not sure if he's hubby, partner or summat else... they were very much a 'we' and 'us' tho. We had a good chat about the few minor issues we'd had with the build so far and we left them heading back into their house with a tape measure to check on a few things we'd mentioned.
Jim and Lisa were there too - they'll be living up the road from us and we've seen them a couple of times before... they have a French bulldog who Safi is very keen to get to know. Sounds like their kids have all flown the nest so they're moving out of their family home which they built 15 years ago.
Also met Juanita and her husband who were both very nice, not very foreign looking or sounding despite the name, and both strangely petite!
Others include Nancy who I'd say was maybe in her late 50's (we've seen her a few times out power walking with her iPod strapped to her arm), retired grandparents who brought along granddaughter Maddie in her pearls, tho we can't remember their names, new parents with a little boy who we never got to talk with, a very young couple who arrived just as we left and a bunch of others we can't remember the names of.
Long story short, it seems there's a good mix of very nice people of all ages and occupations in the neighbourhood. Hope they're thinking the same thing about us!
The exciting thing that occurred to me [J] was the number of folk they had in the model home and how much room there still was! PARTY TIME at the Locks is going to be great! ;)
Friday, June 22, 2007
It's Friday...
... and it's raining :(
Only 69F today and not much over 70F predicted for the whole weekend. Thunderstorms will be rumbling round too - Safi will be thrilled.
At least that shapes up for a good w/e of work...
If you get a spare minute or two and don't know what else to do with them why not sneak a peek at our friends' blog http://www.foreignwaters.blogspot.com/. Cheryl and Simon are still on their incredible kayaking adventure across the States and the photos are amazing... personally I think they're both a little mad (either that or TOTALLY KER-AAAAY-ZEEEE!).
Only 69F today and not much over 70F predicted for the whole weekend. Thunderstorms will be rumbling round too - Safi will be thrilled.
At least that shapes up for a good w/e of work...
If you get a spare minute or two and don't know what else to do with them why not sneak a peek at our friends' blog http://www.foreignwaters.blogspot.com/. Cheryl and Simon are still on their incredible kayaking adventure across the States and the photos are amazing... personally I think they're both a little mad (either that or TOTALLY KER-AAAAY-ZEEEE!).
Sunday, June 17, 2007
The house build - June 16
So, there's only a small section of siding left to go up but, you guessed it, all the sheet rock has gone in now. Lucky for you we have lots more exciting pictures of unfinished empty rooms below for your viewing pleasure. Sorry :/
If you think you can take the thrill of it all why not join us on a virtual walking tour of 190 Hummingbird Lane...
We're walking up the rough finished drive... note the addition of that little round whatsit above the master bedroom windows (it's just for looks I guess).
We're coming to the almost finished garage and will be heading through the door to the mudroom.
We turned right through the door and headed through the mudroom to the kitchen... we're now standing in the pantry... come on, squeeze in (and no trumping please!). From here we can see where the sink will be (straight ahead) with a bar on the other side. Cabinets, countertops and cooker will run all down the right hand side and along the sticky out bit. The dining area will be set up just beyond the bar. The fridge/freezer and more cabinets will be on our left as we stand in the pantry.
Standing at the sink [where else would I be - J] we can see the beginnings of our living room around the fire, and also the door that will lead out onto the patio and our backyard area when they're done.
From the bay window we can see the arch that leads through to the hallway, downstairs loo, office and front door. The stairs go up from the left of the arch.
To the right of the stairs we can see through the mudroom to the door that leads back into the garage (where we came in and turned right at the start of the tour).
OK, so now we've all crammed into the downstairs loo we can see through the hallway, mudroom and into the back of the kitchen and pantry. Still got your bearings? The living room is back to the left, the office and front door to the right.
Next door to the loo is the office at the front of the house, to the left of the front door as you look at the house from outside.
Let's head out of the office and go upstairs...
Yes... it's the stairs.
Top of the stairs to the left are the two spare rooms as well as the laundry 'closet' even further to the left (which you can't see).
Top of the stairs to the right is the masterbed (straight ahead, we're going in here next) and bathroom, linen closet (seen on the left here), guest bath and storage room (to the right, tho you can't see them).
Standing in our bedroom you can see the door into our bathroom (left) and the door back onto the landing (right). Our lovely walk-in closet is in the corner to my right (you cannae see it from here).
Our bathroom - a shower, two sinks, separate loo through a door on the right. And no, it won't be staying this colour...
Back out onto the landing you can see through the guest bathroom into the storage room. The weird swirly light on the floor comes from a pretty cool shiny metal pipe that reflects all the sunshine directly from the roof, through the gloomy loft space and right into our bathroom. It looks a bit like a porthole fixed into the ceiling.
The storage room. Wooo!
Looking back through the bathroom to the landing and linen closet. Do you see our porthole to the sun? Double wooo!
Guest bed #1.
Guest bed #2.
Back down the stairs.
Back out through the garage.
If you think you can take the thrill of it all why not join us on a virtual walking tour of 190 Hummingbird Lane...
We're walking up the rough finished drive... note the addition of that little round whatsit above the master bedroom windows (it's just for looks I guess).
We're coming to the almost finished garage and will be heading through the door to the mudroom.
We turned right through the door and headed through the mudroom to the kitchen... we're now standing in the pantry... come on, squeeze in (and no trumping please!). From here we can see where the sink will be (straight ahead) with a bar on the other side. Cabinets, countertops and cooker will run all down the right hand side and along the sticky out bit. The dining area will be set up just beyond the bar. The fridge/freezer and more cabinets will be on our left as we stand in the pantry.
Standing at the sink [where else would I be - J] we can see the beginnings of our living room around the fire, and also the door that will lead out onto the patio and our backyard area when they're done.
From the bay window we can see the arch that leads through to the hallway, downstairs loo, office and front door. The stairs go up from the left of the arch.
To the right of the stairs we can see through the mudroom to the door that leads back into the garage (where we came in and turned right at the start of the tour).Errm, so this is quite possibly the smallest and most dull room in the house so far... the downstairs loo.
OK, so now we've all crammed into the downstairs loo we can see through the hallway, mudroom and into the back of the kitchen and pantry. Still got your bearings? The living room is back to the left, the office and front door to the right.
Next door to the loo is the office at the front of the house, to the left of the front door as you look at the house from outside.Let's head out of the office and go upstairs...
Yes... it's the stairs.
Top of the stairs to the left are the two spare rooms as well as the laundry 'closet' even further to the left (which you can't see).
Top of the stairs to the right is the masterbed (straight ahead, we're going in here next) and bathroom, linen closet (seen on the left here), guest bath and storage room (to the right, tho you can't see them).
Standing in our bedroom you can see the door into our bathroom (left) and the door back onto the landing (right). Our lovely walk-in closet is in the corner to my right (you cannae see it from here).
Our bathroom - a shower, two sinks, separate loo through a door on the right. And no, it won't be staying this colour...
Back out onto the landing you can see through the guest bathroom into the storage room. The weird swirly light on the floor comes from a pretty cool shiny metal pipe that reflects all the sunshine directly from the roof, through the gloomy loft space and right into our bathroom. It looks a bit like a porthole fixed into the ceiling.
The storage room. Wooo!
Looking back through the bathroom to the landing and linen closet. Do you see our porthole to the sun? Double wooo!
Guest bed #1.
Guest bed #2.
Back down the stairs.Back out through the garage.Well, that's all for now folks. The house is really taking shape now that all the rooms are divided, and we're looking forward to seeing the walls properly finished, and all the flooring etc going in over the next few weeks. We hope to see you on another Lock Tour some time soon!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Non-house news (yes, other things do happen here on occasion)
Adam has just returned from a fleeting visit back to UK where he was speaking at a British Dairy Council conference in London. He was very pleased to be able to meet up with a bunch of friends while he was there - Andy at the conference, as well as going out in the big smoke for dinner with Dave and his brother, and Kirstie. [It was really great to see you all -A]
Adam then headed in a south-westerly direction to spend a whole day and a half with his folks in Devon. Over two years since he was back in his home village of Dolton :( Auntie Mary was kind enough to pick him up from the train station in Exeter and deposit him at Cleave Farm just before his Mum and Dad arrived back from their jollies in France (we hear they're all stocked up on their wine once more!). Sante!
Kelly and Marcus managed to get over to the farm for dinner with the Locks so Adam had another well-deserved treat catching up with them too [Yes, I'm a little envious of all this socialising with friends and family back home, and also of Adam's taunts of Hockings ice cream and proper roast pork with crackling ;) - J]
So, while Adam has indeed just returned from UK, getting home at 1.30am Monday morning, he left Tuesday morning for another conference in Iowa. The poor love is working too hard. Worse still, his luggage only got there today, thankfully before he has to give his talk tomorrow! Still, once he's back on Thursday there's not much travel on the cards until July when we both go to San Antonio, Texas for the ASAS meetings. Yeeeehaaaaaw!
Adam then headed in a south-westerly direction to spend a whole day and a half with his folks in Devon. Over two years since he was back in his home village of Dolton :( Auntie Mary was kind enough to pick him up from the train station in Exeter and deposit him at Cleave Farm just before his Mum and Dad arrived back from their jollies in France (we hear they're all stocked up on their wine once more!). Sante!
Kelly and Marcus managed to get over to the farm for dinner with the Locks so Adam had another well-deserved treat catching up with them too [Yes, I'm a little envious of all this socialising with friends and family back home, and also of Adam's taunts of Hockings ice cream and proper roast pork with crackling ;) - J]
So, while Adam has indeed just returned from UK, getting home at 1.30am Monday morning, he left Tuesday morning for another conference in Iowa. The poor love is working too hard. Worse still, his luggage only got there today, thankfully before he has to give his talk tomorrow! Still, once he's back on Thursday there's not much travel on the cards until July when we both go to San Antonio, Texas for the ASAS meetings. Yeeeehaaaaaw!
The house build - June 10
OK, so here's a challenge for you... What's different this time?
Need a clue? Scroll down a bit...
Ahhh yes, the front path is in now. Does a bit of 'spot the difference' make it any more entertaining for you? No? Oh well, we tried ;)
Other things since last time:
The garage is all insulated and the sheet rock is ready to go up
All insulated downstairs, with vapour barrier up and sheet rock ready to go. You can see all the water pipes and electrics too
All insulated and vapour barriered upstairs too - this pic is from the landing looking across to the guest bedrooms at the back of the house
The top stair where Jayne sat for very nearly an hour talking with her friend Kirstie on the phone - first call in the new house! :)) [Hey Kirstie - it was lovely chatting and my bum has just about recovered now, tho it's well padded so I didn't have too much trouble really ;) - J]
The riveting view from said top stair [I took this while we were gassing Kirstie, just in case you were wondering - J]
The side elevation of our block - the siding is almost done now
The house build - the bits we missed
Yes, you'll find it hard to believe that, after painfully trawling through the zillion or so build pics we've put on our blog, there were parts we missed out on 'cos we bought after they were done.
We thought about sparing you the extra detail but... ohhh no-o-o-o... we're far too meticulous in keeping a full record of it all to do that. Sorry.
So, here are a couple of pics we snapped of the next phase of development that's just started up the lane from where we'll be.
We thought about sparing you the extra detail but... ohhh no-o-o-o... we're far too meticulous in keeping a full record of it all to do that. Sorry.
So, here are a couple of pics we snapped of the next phase of development that's just started up the lane from where we'll be.
June 1: Adam peers into the foundations... don't get too near the edge!!! (well, they were quite a lot deeper than they look here)
June 10: Foundations all filled in with hard core
There, now aren't you glad we shared that with you? If we see anything else to thrill and wow you with you can be sure we'll post it right here ;)
Now, just contain yourselves...
The house build - June 1
Looking beyond the rubble and half-built homes, our visit to the build site on June 1 gave us a great view of the evening sky filled with hot air balloons as part of the annual festival that takes place near here.
Nasty thunderstorms were predicted -tail end of Hurricane Barry or summat- but thankfully for the ballooners (or is that balloonists??) they held off until the next day, and man was that one loud and flashy storm when it finally got here.
Anyway, more exciting (!?) progress to report with the house...
The front path's been roughed in
The siding's starting to go up at the back
A make-do banister has appeared, and you might make out the insulation starting to go in upstairs
Nothing remarkable about this pic, except maybe for the 'greened up' view from the master bedroom (compare it with earlier ones... nice, and the birdsong we can hear all around is very lovely too)
Actually, that has become one of Adam's favourite sayings. He can be heard uttering, "Wow, that's really greened up" (and other variations on the theme) at any given time in any place where shrubbery has all of a sudden burst into vibrant life. We joke, but it is remarkable just how quickly the trees have gone from having bare branches to being heavy with new leaves and blossom. I'nt Mother Nature brilliant?
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Shiver me timbers
I have yet to see the third POTC film but I confess to already being sufficiently obsessed with the delicious Captain Jack Sparrow to merit the new addition seen hitherto to the right of this here blog. >>>
This is Jayne by the way, should ye be wondrin' bout the writer's tendencies. I reckons Adam much prefereth Miss Elizabeth...
Well, if ye too likes Wicked Jack, likes pirate films or just likes the humorous out-takes from such things ye should enjoyeth this 'ere clip for starters... Savvy?
This is Jayne by the way, should ye be wondrin' bout the writer's tendencies. I reckons Adam much prefereth Miss Elizabeth...
Well, if ye too likes Wicked Jack, likes pirate films or just likes the humorous out-takes from such things ye should enjoyeth this 'ere clip for starters... Savvy?
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