new (old) pictures

AJ here. Long time, no post! Those pictures that were once lost have now been found, and even though they're almost two months old, they're just too cute not to post. And you can see how much we've enjoyed our warm weather picnics at the house. It's amazing how much you can enjoy a house when it's not even livable yet! We've picnicked on the screen porch, and you can see our view, and the spot under the porch that Dad has talked about filling with dirt (behind the concrete wall), and has been one of Collin's favorite places to play. This is during Mimi and Pop's visit, when he pulverized his thumb. Millie is my dog, and is now, along with her brother Boss (Jeff's dog), the first inhabitant of Ton Tenga (Dad built them a pen by the barn). Enjoy!

new (old) pictures 2

Inspection hurdles finished

Today we finished the plumbing, electrical and HVAC inspections --- finally!

The security system should be installed in the next couple days and insulation will go in early next week.

The underground LP gas tank was delivered today, so we will have to rent a track hoe to bury the tank sometime next week. Once the sheetrock is delivered, we will pour the slab for the garage and front porch.

The backfill dirt around the 12' foundation wall has settled during the rain last week, so I will have to get the skid steer (Bobcat) again and haul more dirt (probably Saturday if the rain holds off).

Here's some pics from Thanksgiving at Mimi and Pop's.

Not much evidence of progress

One of the workers were supposed to install the tile on the porch while we were in NC this past week, but he was ill. He only did the hardie board under that goes on the treated wood and under the tile. This shot and the next one show a bit of the beautiful colors around our house.

Looking down toward the barn.

Work is proceeding on the HVAC.

Cows

Here are some photos of my cows.

some evidence of work

Here's a couple shots of some work going on. We have passed the electrical inspection, and we will have the plumbing inspection this week. Hopefully insulation will begin by the end of this week and sheetrock before Thanksgiving.

Contrasting fall colors

Hey, thanks JH for the contrasting fall colors! One of the things that I missed the most about living in West Africa those years was the change of seasons -- especially fall. You have to be into earth tones to really enjoy the same desert colors all year long!

Here's the way the house looks now. There is not much physical evidence of progress right now. I will make another post to give a couple shots.


Mom insisted that I post a photo of me on the blog. This is my best side. The GA fall colors are the highlight of this shot. You can see our road coming up to the house. I am pointing the a tree that is dying in the top. We lost five trees in front of the house from the drought and stress from the septic system excavation. It is not too bad, though because they blocked part of the beautiful view.

Fall Colors

We hear that some people like to visit North Carolina in the fall to see the leaves, but we don't need to go that far for autumn beauty. Check out the striking colors on the scrub brush, notice how the brown of the sand really highlights the brownish-green color of the leaves.

for AJ

AJ, here's a shot of the grass that is coming up in front of the house, and a shot that I took in the fire pit. Thought you might enjoy these.

Fall colors

Some of our friends from here in Rome are going into North Carolina to look at leaves, but it is already very pretty here with colors appearing daily in the woods. I tried out the new little Sony camera today and here's some fall color shots.

Exterior painting completed

The painters finished the exterior painting this afternoon.


The waterline was run from the well to the house. The photo shows the water holding tank hooked up by the well. When the sheetrock arrives we will start the garage and the tank will eventually go in the garage.

Little pumpkin

East End

Sorry about the dark photos. We have been in Pine Mountain for a couple days and we just returned to Rome at dusk. Exterior painting should be completed tomorrow except for the doors and columns (have not installed yet). You can see the remaining area to be painted on the east end of the house. I have not taken many photos of the east end -- that's our bedroom on the main floor.

Staining the deck still needs to be done.

Inside: more water line work and putting in vent hoses for bath exhaust fans.

Tomorrow I am taking off work and helping to dig trenches and install waterlines.