The Big Reveal: Exterior Paint Color

So now you get to see the colors we chose for the house.  Here they are!
We are quite happy with their combination. 

 

This is the back porch.  The painting was not quite finished in this picture but you get to see the idea of the porch.  We are so looking forward to eating many meals here.

 

And the drywallers have been busy on the inside while the painting was happening on the outside.  They have not started mudding but I think the hanging is complete.

 We have a couple places where these corbels brace a detail.  They are made of cedar so we sealed them instead of painting.  We love the way they look.

Rock Collecting

We need some rocks to build a small retaining wall.  So ever in search of a good deal, I heard that if you call the rock quarry in Milton Freewater, they will let you come on Fridays at 1:30 and hand pick your rocks for $26.00/ton.  So off Dakota and I went.  He took the pictures while I loaded .75 tons of rock.    Needless to say that my back was tired after .75 tons and it sure looked like a lot in the back of the truck.  But when I unloaded it...I assessed that I will need at least 2 more loads that size.  I think I will take Stuart with me next time.


He also got to watch a hydrolic hammer break apart rocks and a big rock loader putting big rocks into a big truck. 

Dakota always gets the most interesting perspectives of the world. 

 Here you can see me loading rocks in the mirror.

And here is the treasured big tractors working.

"Best Day Ever!"

After the first day of school.  I asked Dakota how he liked it.  "Best Day Ever!" So we went to get an ice cream!

First Day of Kindergarten

You know your child is ready for Kindergarten when on the first day of school he jumps out of bed, gets dressed, reads a chapter in Magic Tree house, eats a good breakfast, gets his shoes on, goes and gets his sweater, asks where his backpack is so that he can get it ready and is waiting at the door to head to school.   And all this without a single episode of whining.   Here is our wonderful boy ready for the world.

Dakota will travel to school with Stuart each morning on the Tag-a-long until we move over to our property on Statesman where he can ride his own bike.  Right now there are too many busy streets to cross between here and his school.  

Insulation

So all the wiring and plumbing is finished.  And then comes the insulation.  We are using a blow-in-blanket method.  Just before the insulation we made sure that all the possible air penetrations were sealed with either caulking or spray foam. 

Here I am finishing up the caulking. Photo credit: Dakota.

And here is the blow in blanket.  The put a spider web mesh over all the walls and then use a blower to fill it all up.  The house went from being loud to being quiet.