Another Door Opens...

Driving up to the house tonight and Shine was bursting with excitement... "we've got doors!!!!!" Aren't they beautiful? I just don't think there is anything like an authentic wood door.

Shingling is complete on the house and garage, and trimwork has begun on the screen porch. Great ending to another week on the site...

Shimmer was a big help to Daddy while we swept up tonight, too.

Heating Up

Met with our HVAC contractor today while more shingling continued on the exterior. We originally wanted to heat our home using a geo-thermal system; but, unfortunately it is too cost prohibitive. Would love to do radiant heat instead, and hope we don't regret not doing it, but that would require a second system for a/c (which also adds considerable cost). We've decided to go the forced air route. Warmth in the house is all that really matters to me in the end... and I plan to find some decorative register returns to add some charm.

Frog Hunters

As if roofing wasn't enough excitement, we found out today that some little frogs have made their home in the ditch in front of our lot. Our GC told Shine about them and he couldn't be more excited. Apparently, they hitched a ride on a load of river rock that was used to backfill and found their way to the water in the ditch.

Shine got Shimmer to help him try to catch one tonight. The frogs are fast! And, the kids were a little timid so they'll have to work on their frog-catching skills again the next time we come over.

Up on the Roof

The roofing crew was on site today and shingling started on the mudroom addition and the garage. By days' end the entire mudroom connector was shingled. Only one problem... our plans called for some sort of standing seam metal roofing on the front porch. We'd hoped to "break" things up and make the house look like it had been added to over time.

Worse things could happen though... and we weren't yet sure what the added cost would've been to do the metal roofing, so we're moving ahead. Suggestion was made to think about doing metal on the screen porch instead, but if we do it at all, I want it to be on the mudroom. Maybe a few years down the road, we'll revisit the idea and do that entire section of the house (front & back), which would probably look better than the small portion over the porch we had planned anyway.

Go Sit on the Step...

Trimwork being done on the mudroom addition today when we stopped over. The electrician was also hard at work installing the meter box. Tonight when we came back over with Daddy, Shimmer and Shine got themselves in some trouble by being a little too wild in the house. Their punishment... sent to the step for the first time under this roof. Basement steps were installed today and they serve more than one purpose just fine ;)

The Windows to My Soul

We took delivery of our exterior trim package this morning from Connor Homes and by day's end all windows in the house were installed. "Nail by nail and board by board" this is quickly beginning to feel like home. I drove Shimmer and Shine over again at the end of the day and we found shelter from a passing storm inside our home and watched the raindrops through our new windows.

We're proud to be using windows made in the USA in Rutland, VT by Green Mountain Window Co. They combine the "traditional/historic detail distinct to the Northeast with the energy performance demanded by its unique climate".

Nail by Nail, Board by Board...

Daddy's giving life to Mama's dream...

A year ago I was filled with mixed emotions about moving... excited about the town we were moving to and being so close to Daddy's job, but racked with heartache to leave the first home we built together and started our family in. Now tonight is the eve of our second delivery from Connor Homes, and this brokenness inside me has started healing.

There is peace in following the voice of God. I was led to leave my job and be home with Shimmer and Shine, and while I had no idea what this last year would bring, I've been blessed beyond measure and am grateful for the support of family, love of friends (old and new), and the promise to all of us found in Jeremiah 29:11.