Over the past week and a half Bonnie has been busy.  While I was crewing for a two man team doing RAAM she was working hard getting us closer to our goal of living in the addition by the time school starts in September.  Today we finished up the deck steps and bench seat.  The area in front of the wing wall is the seat that is hinged at the back so we can store deck stuff in it.  When totally finished it will have cushions on top.

 Another item on the list today was breaking down more of the existing exterior wall.  We pulled the windows and cut away as much of the wall as we could without having to move any utility.

The finished pantry was the work of Bonnie and neighbor Keith as a "Welcome Home" surprise.  One little finished corner (although without trim or flooring) was a really good feeling.

We had a big day today.  We passed our drywall inspection!  Now we can really start to make the addition part of the existing.  Over the past several weeks we've started breaking through on the main level.  It started with taking out a window.

 Then it progressed to pulling out the door and framing in the area that is the bookcase/handrail.

 Since this is the anniversary of President Regan's 'tear down that wall' speach, we decided to do just that.

The space feels much more open.  Bonnie made the comment that it's starting to become a grown ups house, I couldn't agree more.  Bonnie has already stared on the mud and tape.  I only have a couple more day to work and than it's off to crew the RAAM.

Over our Spring Break we got a bunch done on the house.  Just before break we passed our combo inspection which means we could insulate.  Within a week we insulated the entire addition and passed that inspection as well.  Next step drywall and knotty pine ceilings 

On the main level we got most of the drywall and pine up.  We asked a couple of carpenters who gave us a hand in the fall to help us out again with this next step in the process.

It wasn't all work.  Dave, Tom and I got out and did some snowshoeing one evening.  The snow was about 4 feet deep in most spots.

Upstairs we got a start on the drywall and a good part of the knotty pine up on the ceiling.   

It was great to make some serious progress on the house.  Once the weather stays consistently warm we are going to break through the wall of the existing house and make a doorway into the addition, we can't wait.  For the next two months this project is pretty much on hold as we are very busy with work.  Along with all of the other end of the year stuff we have two main-stage shows to produce before the end of the year.    

Bring on the insulation, WE PASSED INSPECTION!  Today we passed our big combo inspection for rough electrical, plumbing and framing.  With spring break looming we wanted to be ready to put in some full days on the house and make some real progress.  Dave was great, he came over a bunch to help us be sure we were ready.   

 Last week we had the second subpanel installed.  This is where all of the addition will be powered from.

 Last week Idyllwild Heating also came over and roughed in our new ducting.

 Through it all the girls made sure the view was still good.

Our hope is to get all of the insulation in by next Thursday for another inspection.  If we pass then we can start in on drywall and t&g pine.  Fingers crossed.

Winter finally camp to the hill this week.  Our new house got its fist real snow storm and it fared alright.  Today is also Lucy's last day of being the only dog in the house.  This morning, Finn and I got her out for a last solo romp in the fresh snow.

Because I'm back to training again work on the house is going slow.  We are hoping to be ready for the next inspection in about three weeks.  Then we can start to insulate.

Men in the Bedroom

Over the weekend we were able to get the interior of the master bedroom framed up.  Eric and Dave were both available to help so we broke through and built the transition from the existing loft to the new third floor.

Now the space really shapes up.  Tom came over and moved the kitchen vent which completed our rough plumbing.  All we need to do for combo inspection is run our rough electrical, and add some more hardware and strap to a few framing members.  We could be adding insulation and drywall by the time we get back from Chicago in Feb.

Mixed holiday

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to think about all that we are grateful for and appreciate in our lives.  We have been very lucky to have had many wonderful friends to help us during this crazy project.  Knock on wood, we have not had any major issues or accidents and while it has been a trying few months our successes have been great.

With all that we are grateful this holiday, we are also saddened by the loss of our sweet dog, Chance.  Bonnie and Finn returned from a quick trip to Wisconsin for the Wisconsin State High School Theatre Festival, only to find Chance unable to stand and greet them.  Todd quickly took her to the Vet and by Tuesday morning she was gone.  The vet is fairly confident it was some type of poison but we are unsure as to where and when it happened.  Luckily Lucy was quickly tested and her numbers were normal.  Chance had been with us since we bought this house in 2001 and in her 10 years with our family, she had been our companion through it all.  She was such a sweet and loving spirit for us that it will take awhile for us to adjust. 

Mid-process of deck removal

Only structure left on front deck

View from living room windows looking down to the road.  Todd is the speck in the middle of the road.

During the week of  Thanksgiving, Bonnie and Todd found some time to finish the rest of the front of the house and remove the remaining front deck.  With the last of the deck off, the lower level room gets lots of light and feels much different.  We'll be excited to change out the lower level windows, but that is a project for much further down the road.