HOW 'BOUT THEM DOORS!

These were taken 0n 4/28 and 4/30. Lots of sheet rocking and mudding. We found the furnace on when we arrived on 4/28 in the late afternoon-drying the mud.

The front porch area has been graded and is ready for the front porch to be built (pile of wood will transform into the porch)

This one is too light, blurry and spotty, but it shows Mama in the walk-in closet

After all the snow and rain, the back yard had to be graded and is now looking lots better

The peninsula has been rocked, taped and mudded

Fireplace and TV alcove

Kitchen ceiling with lots of light cans

How about them garage doors-insulated and top of the line

This one is out of place, but what the heck

ROCKING AND ROLLING

2 days since the pictures on the last blog and the siding is almost done. We can now see the heavy wood timber trim, which is a signature feature of this builder. Sheet rocking or "rocking" is now going full blast.

Front elevation is starting to look like the original drawings

Siding is done in this southwest corner (garage to the left, Master bedroom on the right), as well as in the back (south) and the northeast side.

Blown-in foam insulation detail between floor joists

Rocking the ceiling, both flat and cathedral

Front entrance and porch taking on its "personality"

PICKING UP SPEED

Building progress is very evident now that the builder is not at the mercy of this crazy spring weather. Siding, insulation and sheet rocking are full speed ahead at about -60 days and counting. These pictures were taken on 4/20/09

R-19 insulation isolates the cathedral ceiling of the great room from the non-cathedral attics on both sides of the great room

Neatly packed and channeled wiring through the basement ceiling, something not typically done by most builders

Detail of wall insulation covered with plastic

Picking the color of siding from a tiny sample is one of the most challenging choices when building a home. This time we are very pleased with our choice, which looks like a perfect match with the trim, roof, and the setting of the house.

A WALK IN THE WOODS

We think spring is here; one can only hope. Once cabin fever has reached life-threatening levels, the only cure is a walk in the woods. We found Pactola Lake about 15 miles from Rapid City, tucked away among the Black Hills. The Centenial Trail borders the eastern side of the lake and we stumbled into after going for a walk down an old road leading to the lake. It was a wonderful 3 mile walk, a miniscule stretch of the 111 mile length of the trail. Sometimes a small dose is all it takes to kill that awful fever.

Old rusty sign, probably along what once was a horse trail

Strong Ponderosa roots split slate rock in order to survive

A walk in the woods as the treatment for cabin fever: effective. Walking in the woods with this gorgeous lady: priceless

Mama's beautiful shot of the boat docks

Cool couple!

My two cents...

I thought I'd share some of the pictures I took at the house. I have to laugh as I have almost the exact same ones as J, but I also took a few more I'll add.

The top picture is Jorge in front of the fireplace, followed by a view of the basement bedroom (there will be three up, and eventually this one downstairs).

Jorge in the sewing room, taking pictures of the wall that he and I will have to finish on our own...

Looking at the kitchen from one side of the living room (the garage is right past the kitchen)..

Then looking across the living room from the other side of the house. That is the two guest bedrooms and a bath on that side..

In the kitchen looking out the back, and then the mud and muck that is out there now from all the snow and two days of rain...

The house from the front.