All of the above

Hey everyone!

I’ve come to realize building a home from scratch is insane. I have been a part of  the building of a new home but, never to this extent.  There are so many decisions!!!!  It’s fun, exhilarating, exhausting, frustrating and crazy all at the same time!  The beginning went frustratingly slow!  Now, it’s moving so fast I can hardly keep up and feel panicked about having to complete so much stuff before move in date.  But, I think I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.   The HVAC guy is installing this week. Some of the interior walls have gone up which is great!  I can actually see how big a room or a space will be once completed.  It’s so hard to envision a room with no walls.  At least it is for me.   I have decorated and redecorated rooms in my head and I know once we are there it will all probably change again.  <insert eye roll>  A portion of the deck and porch are up and the roof should arrive next week. So, it’s definitely moving!  Al and I have picked out the cabinets, flooring, faucets and sinks and so many other things.  I believe we only have the interior lighting left.  That is a huge weight off our of shoulders!

One thing that we were not expecting was having this extra space above the loft.  Normally it is used for HVAC only but, the foreman thought it might also make a nice office space provided that the HVAC dude can be creative in laying the duct work.  I think they have come up with a way so, I am hoping to have my office up there.  The view is amazing and oh the possibilities in decorating it!!! This will also allow Al to have a much bigger office space in the basement as well.

There is some grading that needs to get done before our outbuilding (garage) can be poured and built.  This needs to get done ASAP.  Once it’s completed then we can start moving boxes up there. We have been living around boxes for the past couple of months and  I am so tired of it!    All of our storage items (Christmas decos and such) can be brought up and will be stored in there as well.

We spent the first couple of days out and about.  We had to visit the tag office on Friday to pick up my prestige tag.  Maxx has finally got his name plate once again!

We ventured out on Saturday instead of Sunday (our anniversary date) since it was raining.  Stopped at a bunch of antique stores and visited Cumberland Gap, as well as, the small town of Rogersville.  Lots of Fall Festivals were happening and it was fun to be a part of all that.  I just love the feel of a small town!  People are so down home genuine, sincere and just nice.

Sunday Al and I spent a good part of the day inside the cabin measuring closets, the pantry and other random areas.  We talked about the fenced in yard location and several other bigger projects to come. Al spent the rest of the day grading in his new excavator. Meet Mary Ann.                He will be working on the huge piles of dirt in front of the cabin and also leveling off the pad for our outbuilding.

The dogs are doing great!  They were so happy to see us, as always. 

It appears the neighbors have vacated their house again this winter leaving the dogs and cats to fend for themselves. Yes, they are farm animals and can hunt to eat and they do but, we provide them food as well.  I think we are up to about 6 cats in the barn now.  I worry more so for Bun really.  She needs humans around her.  I truly believe that her purpose is to follow and stay by her humans and keep them safe.  Without anyone around I think she loses her purpose.  She truly mourns when she is alone.  The builders have been great with them.  I’m glad they are there to give them company.  We asked if they would feed them by the RV while we are gone and they said yes.  So, we left their food vault out.  So, they have food there and at the barn now.  Plus, we plan on coming up every weekend now until we move.  So much happening and changing so, Al will come up every weekend and I will come up every other.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that we are there by Thanksgiving. It’s been sad to not be able to decorate for Fall and possibly Thanksgiving but, Christmas without decorating, I just can’t!

I will do my best to keep up with the posts as things start moving in a more rapid pace!