Shopping day

We spent the day shoping for various items. At Lowe's we picked up a 5' folding table to use as a sewing table until I have the place and time to make a sewing table with a recess for the sewing machine. We also bought 6 mini blinds for the 2 guest bedrooms among other things.

Our next stop was Modern Design where we purchased 2 stressless chairs. Next was Wal Mart and Home Depot. We bought 12' of shelving for the garage and some 16" braces for the installation and balusters to make a gate for the deck.

We back tracked to Camp Johnson to meet with the Family Assistance Center folks. We had a nice visit there and gathered some more information.

Finally we made a stop at Hannaford to fill the lauder.

We also ordered a kitchen table and chairs from Tempo Home Furnishings in Essex. There is about a 12 week delivery time so the order will be held until the end of December. We'll pick it up when we return from FL.

I installed more shelves as well as added additional wall 'C' straps to the shelves I installed earlier.

We're in

We moved into the house yesterday, Wedbesday, when they installed the solid surface counter tops. The one with the sink was estimated to weigh over 700 pounds.

Today the plumber installed the sink fixtures and hooked up the dishwasher.

We, Suzette really, unloaded boxes and got things orginized. I put up some curtain rods and mini blinds. I also remo0unted the cell phone amplifier antenna to get a more reliable signal so we can have this internet access as well as better cell access.

Tomorrow we have the final inspection by the bank and on Monday the gas cooktop will be installed.

More unpacking

Today we installed shelving in the basement storage room and an additional shelf in a spare bedroom. Suzette continued to unpack and organize the dining room as well as her knitting supplies.

I also installed some room darkening shades in the master bedroom.

First night in our new house

Last nite was t he first nite we stayed in our new house. The master bedroom is mostly together. There is one dresser that I am working on fixing the finish. The shellac had bubbled due to sun exposure and I am using denatured alcohol and 000 steel wool to restore the surface.

Suzette has been working on the dining room and living room.

Today we did some shopping for curtain rods and closet maid shelving for the storage room.

Wednesday is the big day, the counter top should be installed.

Tomorrow we will continue with the shelving and getting the rooms together.

No new pictures today.

We've got a lot to talk about....

Well there is a lot to talk about but I don't have the notes I need to fill in all the blanks since the last post. We thought the counter top would be installed this week but it will be next week, we hope.

Siding has been completed. Yes they had to deliver yet another load to complete the job. This time we received a new lot number that did not have the color problems of the 2 previous deliveries. A few days of siding work over a 3 week period.

On Monday the 2nd we took a water sample to a lab to be analyzed and yeah good water.

On Saturday the 7th we winterized the camper and moved it off the lot so it was out of the way for final grading. We moved in with friends in Morrissville that evening. As we were working on the camper and doing laundry the septic alarm went off. Oh shit. Calls were made and the tank folks showed up and found that the pump had failed. So now we have a new septic pump.

Sunday Dick and I drove to Virginia to retrieve our stuff from the storage units. I had rented a 26' Peneske truck and with the help of Lindsay we had the truck loaded by the end of Monday. I also had to rent a 12x6' U-Haul trailer to get the last of the tables and chairs, which we loaded on Tuesday morning. As soon as the trailer was loaded and the storage units were swept out we hit the road for Vermont. We made an overnight stop in Oneonta NY and were at our house by 1 PM on Wednesday. By dark the truck was unloaded. Dick and Tom helped with that. We returned the truck on Thursday and when we got back to the house the Dish guy, M.R. Satalite, was there to do his install.

Today we returned the trailer and the final grading was completed.

Now counter top! That should be Wednesday 11/18. We will be using the next several days to get a house inorder.

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Getting ready to move

The camper that is. We will move the trailer off the lot on Saturday so the grading can be done starting Monday.

Yes that means that we are almost done. All the flooring is down and the siding is being put on. The only inside jobs are the kitchen counter and the related plumbing.

We'll get some pictures on our web album soon.

Get'er Done

We have done more flooring. Getting closer to the end.

Switch and outlet plates have been installed as well as the exterior fixtures. The microwave, washer and dryer were installed. Well there is still the dryer vent to be completed.

Another day

Today the cabinet maker, Charles Tinker, arrived along with the counter top guy to make the template. Next week, counter top. We also had painters continuing to work on trim and the electrician finishing the inside fixtures.

We worked on the floor and Suzette did a lot of cleaning.

The oven was installed today also.

Click here to see pictures.

Nearing completion

Stupid me, mistaken made a change so a new date.

We have had a lot of activity since I last posted.
Much of the trip work has been done and the kitchen and living room flooring has been laid. On Friday and Saturday the electrician was here and installed the last of the breakers in the panel, installed the switches, outlets, basement lights, kitchen lights and laundry room ceiling fixture.

Today the kitchen cabinets arrived and were installed. They are well built and very nice. No skimping on materials.

As we were leaving on our shopping trip the siding folks arrived and installed some siding on the South facing gable end.

We purchased our vanity mirrors and some additional trim molding, not included in estimate.

Click here for picture albums.

Another step closer

The rep from the Credit Union came to look things over and create a completion report so we can get the next draw. Casey and team finished our front porch steps and then returned to working on inside finish projects now that the vinyl has been installed.

Bamboo floor

Today we picked up our Bamboo flooring at Taylors Color World. Jerry helped deliver the 42 or so bundles of flooring. We need to let it acclimatize for 3 days. We opened all the bundles and spread several around. Jerry, Casey and I went over the flooring layout and checked dimensions.

Jerry's installer was here today putting down underlayment in preparation for the vinyl in the baths and laundry room.

The shutters also arrived but we hadn't looked at them yet. Something for tomorrow.

Casey and Ben worked in the basement putting drywall in the utility and storage room.

We also got a call that our couch and chair would be delivered on Thursday. Now where do we put them while we install the bamboo?

Click here for today's pictures.

And so it goes

Time to bring this blog a little more up to date. Although a lot has been done it only looks like a little has been done. The drywall was finished, window jam extensions were made and installed. Interior doors have been installed. Two coats of paint on the walls. Basic white. The garage doors and openers have been installed. All the outside trim boxes for the vinyl siding have been installed so the siding can be installed this week.

Other plans for this week include our picking up the bamboo flooring, installation of luan plywood for the vinyl, electrician should install the outlets, fixtures, and switches.

Look at pictures here and here.

Some pictures of play time with James are here.

Kinda like Christmas

Yesterday I noticed that the well was not producing very much water and the pressure was 0 when a faucet was opened. I told our builder this morning and they checked the static level in the well and found that we had about 330' water column. They called the well drilling company and they sent a technician. He arrived about the same time the interior doors and molding arrived. While the supplies were being unloaded the well was being checked to insure the power was proper and that the pressure switch was working properly. It was determined that the well pump was defective. So 300' or so feet of well pump pipe was pulled. The tech checked and found that the pump was attempting to run on the start winding. So it was a warranty replacement.

While the well was being addressed Casey and crew were working on the deck. A little before noon Total Home arrived with our appliances. They were unloaded into our garage and checked for shipping damage. All good.

Tim was putting the final touches on the drywall taping and will be back tomorrow to do the sanding.

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Rain again

We have got the camper pretty well setup behind the house. Yesterday was more taping of the drywall, preparation of the wood for the jamb extensions and the plumber arrived to finish the foil foam insulation of the radiant heat.

Today was more drywall work and the insulator arrived to finish off the insulation of the basement. We did a little shopping but mostly just hung around and watched the weather.

Late this afternoon a truck arrived with the lighting we had ordered through Efficiency Vermont. So it was like Christmas opening the boxes to see if the items looked like the internet pictures. Good we didn't have to return anything.

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The Last Few Day's

Saturday we did the laundry and started to get the camper ready to take to Ehler's RV to have the state inspection done on the camper as well as pack the wheel bearings and do a warranty service on the fridge. We got a call from Ann and Wally so we went to meet them at the house. All the sheetrock had been hung and some taping has begun and the celuose had been blown in to the house area. There were still a lot of bales in the garage. After they left we had lunch and then returned to Apple Island.

On Sunday we had gotten most of the outside stuff taken care of for our trip on Monday. We got a call from Donna and Jerry and they wanted to take a ride and see the house. So off we went. We found that the remaining insulation has been installed but other than that there was no change from Saturday. Donna and Jerry asked us to join them for dinner so off to Morrisville we went. We had a nice dinner and visit with them and returned to the camper about 11 PM.

Monday we finished getting hooked up and went off to Ehler's and then the house. We talked to Casey, Terri, and Ben to get an idea of when to have the Bamboo flooring arrive and decided to put it off for a week. So that makes it 10/15 that we will get the floor. We should be able to begin installation the following Sunday.

We watched Tim, the taper, do his magic with some special tools that he has. Some really neat stuff that does an excellent job quickly.

While we were at the house we decided that we could bring the camper and put it in the back yard. With that decision made we went for lunch and headed back to Apple Island to pick up the stuff we had left and get the car. As we were leaving Apple Island I got a call that the camper was nearly done. We were headed that way so Suzette went on to get some groceries while I went to wait for the camper. Well it was done when I got there so I paid the bill and went to wait for Suzette.

I got the camper hooked up just as Suzette was leaving the grocery so we headed to the house. Tim was still taping so we reviewed how we would get the camper where we wanted. When Tim left we pulled to the back and jockeyed the camper into position. I took us over an hour to get things where we wanted, level, and power hooked up.

No pictures today. Watch this spot tomorrow.

House

We went to the house and met with Wally and Ann. We had a good visit while we talked house stuff.

Much of the insulation has been blown in the main area. The garage attic will be insulated also.

Click here to see pictures.

House

We went to the house today and they were still hanging drywall, all the small stuff. There was a fellow there taping and cleaning up. 160 bales of cellulose had delivered before we arrived, maybe yesterday afternoon. Casey and team were continuing to get the garage closed in and the windows installed.

The insulator person arrived and put insulation around the can lights before he blows in insulation tomorrow. We went to the basement and wow was it warm.

We took a ride to the Notch and stopped for a visit with Jayne D. Steve had injured his shoulder and will have surgery next week.

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Drywall

When we arrived at the house today to await the representative from Efficiency Vermont to do the thermal bypass inspection. What we found was that the front door was installed and the drywall installers were busy putting up the rock.

Hummmmm. I didn't think that was supposed to happen until Thursday. The thermal bypass inspection was to happen before the drywall was installed. As it was it worked out quite well. Lindsay from Efficiency Vermont and proceeded to look things over. She took a lot of notes and said that everything on the main floor were ok. However when we got to the basement and told here that we were not going to finish it now she said that to get our energy star rating and our rebates we needed to put sheetrock on the exterior walls. So we now have a task for next year. The project will be kept open and when we get the walkout basement perimeter walls sheetrocked we can get the final inspection and incentives next year.

All in all I think the inspection went quite well.

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Tuesday Shopping and unShopping

We didn't go to the site today. Instead we went to the storage unit and picked up some lighting fixtures we had bought at Lowe's. They were not qualified fixtures from an Efficiency Vermont viewpoint. Our next stop was for groceries.

We next went to Lowe's and had not problem returning the fixtures. We bought a Porta Cable pancake compressor. I had sold the one we had in Virginia and wanted one so I could use a finish nailer at the house as well as keep the tires on the truck and camper at proper pressure.

When we returned to the camper we ordered several qualified fixtures from the Efficiency Vermont online catalog. We bought 3 ceiling fans, vanity lights and a chandelier for the kitchen.

Insulation, doors and windows

Today the rest of the windows were installed and the insulation installer arrived a day early. That threw a little curve to Casey but he adjusted well. Two of the doors he wanted to install had damage so they will be going back. Casey closed the openings with plastic to keep the weather out. Yep rain again tonight.

I did get the coax run for the satellite antennas. My only contribution for today.

We called Taylors Color World to let them know that the Luan where the vinyl will be installed is wet and not to install on Tuesday. He also told us that the vinyl we had selected had been discontinued and he did not have enough in stock to do our job. So off to Morrisville to look at alternates. We also discussed the bamboo flooring and changed the delivery date by a week. That should give time for the sheetrock to be installed and painted.

We are back looking at our lighting plan. It looks like we will take some non energy star fixtures back and buy energy star. Efficiency Vermont will give a rebate of $800 if we install 10 qualifying fixtures and will also give rebates for some non qualifying fixtures where we are using CFL.

Pictures here.