Making Headway

Summer means that we’ve been able to push ahead in spite of lots of very high temps. We came to appreciate that the pour that we did around the pool was done on a very windy day and followed by extreme hot and as a result it caused cracks to appear and widen as the summer temps continued to climb. So we are now in the process of pulling it out and re-pouring. We’ve found a date that is likely to be cooler and with no wind. Keeping fingers crossed that this will resolve the cracking issues.

Pella windows delivered and are now ready to be installed. We chose black exterior and white interior to match the woodwork inside. Trusses delivered and now define the very tall roof line. For me, the roof was the hardest part to imagine on the blueprints. I’m blow away by how tall it is and perhaps the pictures will give you an indication on how high we rise above the ground. Certainly the decision to make the master bedroom suite on the 2nd floor to take advantage of the views was the right one. As this is the house we intend to age in place with, we made the stairs extra wide so we can perhaps add a lift chair since we jettisoned the elevator in deference to reducing the budget. Now that we can walk the rooms as they are framed out, you begin to see things that didn’t jump out on paper.

Favorite space for all who visit the job site (including workers) is the large veranda. Even on the hottest days, it’s temperate and quite relaxing to sit on it even though it’s sans flooring (which is going to be polished concrete).

I’ve been busy identifying and buying tile. Found the standing tub after much research and ordered from one of those east coast firms that I found online and even with shipping, the pricing was better than what I found locally. I had to make the decision on cast iron (too heavy and too expensive), acrylic (which had a strange sheen to it and I was advised it was hard to clean up), or a composite stone that seemed to hold the heat of hot water be of medium sheen and weight. So while I loved some of the Victoria & Albert versions, the pricing was just too high. I also found a version of tubs from a company in Georgia, but the best pricing and style ended up being the Perlato Ravenna Eco-Lapistone Soaker Tub. I’ll update you once it is installed and we try it out. I happened on great pricing for a Lefroy Brooks bath filler with just the right look for what I wanted. I didn’t opt for the freestanding version, but figured out how to have it mount on the wall under the big tub picture window.

Great room trusses push skyward.

Concrete is being re-
moved around the
pool. View from the
master suite will be
fabulous once the
pool deck is complete.

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The view from the tub window is southwest and over the persimmon tree.

The only goat we will ever have in the garden is metal. Summer means sunflowers among the lettuces.

Pulling figs for sale at the local restaurant, Girl & the Fig.  David says we are monetizing our fig tree!

Basil in the foreground. 14 tomato plants are about to make us very busy with canning.