Today began day one for construction and near the end the garage, crawlspace, driveway, and part of the basement were dug. There is a lot of nice topsoil with some clay mix beneath ... just a tiny little bit of shale type rock that was eventually dug up. Next week they should pour the cement forms.

We have liftoff! A for sure real green light to start building ... the actual building permit ... issued by the county ... just yesterday! Amen ... and THANK YOU LORD! When my builder called me yesterday afternoon and said he had been in the county building permit office for over two hours waiting for them to issue the permit ... well, lets just say I almost fainted! My dh had all but stopped asking me when he'd call to check on the family how the progress was coming along ... quit asking about the permit all together. Earlier this week, with the hope of the permit, the builder had made arrangements with his excavation crew to be ready next week to start "grubbing" out the land, digging the basement hole, and grading the area for the driveway. Oh, I must remember to go up there today and pick the huckleberries before they're disturbed ... don't worry, we have lots that won't get plowed under. We should have to only take down one tree and a snag (dead lopped off tree); which makes us happy to keep the beautiful existing trees. Oh, happy day!
Photo of property

The end of yet another week and still no construction. This "productive" week found me checking with the county on my permit ... they yet have issued the PAPER to begin building. Seems there was a question about a beam in the foundation or basement area ... of course, that meant another trip to my favorite engineers ... whom happened to be on vacation. Such efficiency! So I busied myself with selecting windows, interior doors and knobs, trim molding for doorways, baseboards, and windows. I also checked out some nice freestanding gas (wood type) stoves that can be used as supplemental heat in the winter. After watching my pop buy/haul/cut and stack wood for their heat the past twenty years, I'll be happy with the gas version. Yes, I know the wood is the real deal ... but not in my golden years, pleeeze! Here's one of the stoves I'm considering ... along with the windows selected.

End of week update on This New House: Have we gotten any closer to starting? Perhaps a little. The county should have the permit ready today (I hope) ... Yesterday the builder gave me a call and asked if I could meet him at a warehouse sale not far from here. There was a company that had gone out of business and the property owner needed to clear out the warehouse ... There were some beautiful hemlock unfinished wooden front doors, stair rail parts and even a set of beautiful (to be stained) interior french doors that we picked up for about 1/2 off wholesale. The stair rail parts were 25 cents a piece and were the style I had in mind ... so I picked up what I needed for $8. Both front and french doors for $275. I just love to find good quality stuff at a bargain price. The front door even has some leaded glass panels at the top. (Peeking through the windows is the frenchdoor.)