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.

Breaking through

We had a busy weekend.  We wanted to get the big bank of windows changed out before the cooler, wetter season started to settle in.  Amazingly Trevor, Eric, Pat and Dave were all available to help us knock it out.  It was fun having everybody back again working like we did this summer.  Friday we started with this:

Saturday morning we started the demolition.

By lunch time we had a big opening as the front of our house.  Open the backdoor and we had a real wind tunnel.

By Saturday night we had all 6 of the smaller windows replaced with 4 of the larger more efficient up-to-date windows.  Finn got to get a close look at our handy work.  I think we passed inspection.

Don't worry- he is only about 4 feet off the ground...  Perfectly safe.

Sunday the guys and I worked on getting the exterior of the front of the house trimmed and painted.  My hope was to get the old deck pulled down as well but with finish work you want to make sure it is done right, not just fast.  I guess we can pull the deck another time.  Bonnie and Dave got the new windows put in the room where Finn sleeps.

 They also managed to break through upstairs which was pretty exciting.  Now we have a good idea as to how the transition from old to new is going to happen.

Today Grandma come to town to take care of us.  Our first show of the season techs this weekend so Bonnie and I will be very busy at school.  Needless to say work on the house will stop for a few weeks.  But I'll be happy to bask in the glow of this weekend's accomplishments.

p.s. GO PACKERS!



In 116 days we went from this:

To This:

 Monday the roof was finished and Tuesday we passed our next inspection.  That means we are all enclosed, and not a moment too soon.  The past few days it's been cold and raining.  We couldn't have done it without a bunch of help.  It took a village to get this project to the point it's at today.  Many thanks go out to many friends.  Just as the girls and I were out in the street taking in our accomplishment this little guy comes out to join us.

 First tarantula I've seen at this high altitude.  It was about the same diameter as a softball.  Next step on the house is pulling electrical lines throughout the house and getting the rough plumbing in.  In a couple of weeks we are looking to replace the big bank of windows on the existing house.  Once they are installed we can pull the rest of the old deck out.