The End is Near

After months and months of stress and labor, the end is finally approaching.

Matt and Scott Miller laid down the slate tile in the entry and laundry room last night. The ceramic tile in the bathrooms is laid, grouted, and sealed. All light fixtures sans the dining room pendant are installed and functioning. All painting is completed after I finally broke down and repainted the master bedroom. Cabinets are set and countertops installed with the exception of the master bathroom countertop - we aren't certain what material we are going to use yet....

We decided to hire some help for the trimwork and hopefully that will get started this week. We were hoping it was going to start last week, and then yesterday, and then this morning....but sometimes you have to stake contractors on a run line to get them to work. Of course, you can't stake them out unless they actually show up. We are optimistic that it will actually BEGIN this week.

The woodstove is nearly completed. It should have been done last week, but once again it would be aweful nice to have the manufacturer actually ship all the necessary parts rather than having Matt work the install only to realize a critical piece is missing. Once the stovepipe is completed and after we share a family picnic by the first laid fire, Matt will start the stonework around the stove. I am excited to see this completed - it is going to be awesome.

Matt has been working too hard and his back demanded a rest this past week. Thanks to sick leave and a Flexoral, he is well rested, loose and limber, and back to work. I am a bit jealous of all that resting, but I will be sunning myself on a Hawaiian beach in just a few short weeks.

Ahhhh, Hawaii. It was to be our reward for finishing, but we are behind schedule. It doesn't matter - it is warm - it is sunny - it has a beach - it has childcare (thanks Yvonne). I cannot wait.