Getting Ready for Push Week

The snow moved in this morning and by the time we headed out at 12N we had about 3 inches of snow. Lucky for us everything going on this weekend was inside.

This was our last opportunity to get things ready before the final work starts tomorrow. We had to have everything the plumbers, electricians and trim carpenters would need on site and ready.

I concentrated on the handrail and electrical items, Marlys sealed glulams and the bookcase door.

Oh yah we had a couple of beers at the end of the day on Saturday. We tried out some chairs to see if this is the direction we want to go with the decorating. I don't think these are going to make the cut.

We also had to go through and place the electrical fixtures in their locations and draw out the closet layouts on the floors for Jessee.

The kitchen is looking real nice.

Except for the three holes drilled in the granite for the sink faucet fixture.

Why is that a problem you ask...we only needed one.

The hood over the stove went in on Saturday with minimal scratching, on my part, in fitting it.

You can see the difference in the two greens we are using upstairs in this picture in the rear corner. This is by far better then the original mustard yellow and lipstick red. Our first paint color mistake.

The built-in ironing board also went in the laundry room on Sunday.

This and the hood had to be put in so that Scott and Norma could wire them the end of the week.

We also have a slight problem with the mirrors in the master bath. Looks like we will need to put in oval mirrors to clear the switch box.

I can't wait for the plumbing to be completed as we have an active septic tank, in that we have been using it for a number of year with the trailer, and the smell is coming back up the stub piping put in during the rough-in. It is especially bad in the lower bath.

The hand rail (your picture Maureen) is turning out real nice. I would have finished it except the plans called for a 5" separation between the balusters and I ordered the needed number accordingly.

I later switched the separation to 4", to be in IRC compliance, and ended up two short.

I had planned on cutting the balusters on Saturday using an angle grinder with a cutting wheel. I say I was planning on it, but as with all plans it hit the wall once reality intervened. I had 4 cutting wheels and went through one cutting three balusters. I needed to cut 62. I was going to come up 50 short.

I called Mike, one of our neighbors and asked if I could borrow a metal cutting bandsaw. When I got to his shop, and explained what I was doing, he recommended a chopsaw (isn't experience amazing). He even put a new blade on it. What was going to be a all day ordeal with the angle grinder turned into a 90 minute job. The chopsaw was the ticket. Thanks Mike!

The railing will be capped in Maple or Cherry, so it will be darker then the Cedar. The middle post has been sealed, so that is pretty close to the final color.

BTW the shoes for the top of the balusters have not been seated and locked in place, that is why they are sitting just above the twists.

Well the place was pretty clean by the time we left today.

I will probably go up on Wednesday to check the progress this week.

Its looking like Turkey Day may happen in the new place...keep your fingers crossed.