Warren and Family have arrived!

It has been a fun week since Beth, Warren, Aurora and Erik arrived. Warren stayed for a week and we went to Sea World, trying to explore the Biscuit Brother's farm and explored Austin and San Antonio, swimming. Also they found their way around Buda.

Warren was able to be here for Seth's blessing and meet the chaos of thirteen cousins running around the house. Funny how the kids went upstairs and the men took over the WII for a sports event. The Movie room has had a work out with tiered seating.

The women took over the Visiting teaching room and Dining room and enjoyed a good visit.
It is so amazing when you have 10 year old, 9 year old, two 6 year olds, one 4 year old, four 1 going on 2, 3 year olds, three 1 going on 2 , three newborns how quiet the house can be that the parents can actually play games.

It is fun to be part of Lisa's extended in- law family. They know how to have fun when they get together. It is trains most nights and we even fit in a game of Trains before Warren had to go home.

Merridy and her family stayed until Wednesday. They wanted to leave earlier in the day but their was something about an exploded frog in a container in the car that required a three hour airing out of the car frogs explode in a car that has not been used for two days in the Texas heat.

I think the cousins frog catching days are over. Other than frog catching there was adventures in all type of water play, movie in the popcorn room, motorcycle, (Knotts style) Why with two motor cycles do all the kids want to ride the blue one. Now the Titanic pose on the handle bars is not an exciting thing. Especially since Seth's stitches have not yet healed from his last sky diving adventure. Aurora and Erik have become fearless in the pool. It is fun to have a house full. Erik is confused because all the cousins went home yesterday. He didn't think they had another home.

The Craig list item of the week was the $600 stroller for $150. Beth scored! We will keep looking we missed the perfect bookshelf and bench but we will keep looking.

We have all the bedrooms curtained and ready for guests. Looking forward to the big Octoberfest birthday bash starting October 1. All the kids should be in for the event. I don't know if Buda is ready but it should be fun!!

time flies

Here it is June and so much has happened and I haven't even posted at all. Victoria and Elisabeth stopped by on the way East and now they back home with a brief stop here.

Lisa and Orson have had their new son, Shawn Taylor. And he is growing so fast.

Edward Graduated from college so I made a quick trip to Independence, MO and visited all the old haunts. Looking forward to the reunion next April in Independence.

I guess that is all for now. The Bed and Breakfast is now open for visits. Put in you reservation.

Finally back on line and I have a working phone

It's been a fun two weeks but without the internet and a home phone it's been hard. None of the mobile phones don't work here.

I had a special weekend watching conference at home a visiting with various friends and family that shared the weekend with me.

Again loving my new home and enjoying moving things out of the pod. We have the center of the pod emptied and can see the back and sides. It is a slow process but I am trying to put things where they belong when we unpack things. Lisa is glad we found the recipe books. We had to do without rolls for Easter.

Littlefoot puppets came out last night along with the little dish cupboard. Also my sewing machine. Visit with you all soon be sure to make your reservations.

I'm in! The furniture fits. Yeah!

I signed papers on the 16th of March and had the pod delivered that day. The furniture started arriving the next day. I love my bedroom set! It fits just as I wanted it to. The curtains really set off the room but the view is so beautiful I am so tempted to just leave them open all the time. My rocker blends perfectly with it and it is complete. My closet (Seth's nap room) is coming along beautifully and the shower and bath is calling my name constantly. And again I love them.

Beth and Warren's room I complete except for their curtains. I have them but not up. Hopefully by the weekend.

Christopher and Ed's room traded places sort of since Christopher's bedding was King Size and it fit on the bed I bought so Christopher and Victoria do have the room with the view but they don't get a dresser but the room comes furnished with a port a crib already in the closet. Again thanks to Seth, he likes to sleep in the dark.

The play room is furnished I hadn't planned on buying it yet but I love it. It also fits perfectly so it is ready for late night gave nights. So mom can sleep.

The guest room is ready and will have a full house for the weekend again this weekend for conference.
5 extra adults and three kids.

We have had several pizza parties and the only thing I was missing was a sharp knife and a can opener. I had bought a can opener but I just discovered it with next year's family Christmas presents. Only Ed and Anna know what that is because theirs arrived early since last years was late.

I will keep you posted, reservations are filling up quickly so put in yours.

The end is in sight!

We have taken our major final walk through today! It was so fun to learn about all the exciting new toys I will have. it is 95 % finished. Grass landscaped etc. just a few fixes and touch ups to take care of.

I love the furniture, bedding, bathroom items we have chosen and will be furnished enough to enjoy the home before I even unpack the pod. Lisa and Orson will be delighted to have their garage back. Not to mention their extra bedroom.

We finished up the Red and Black bathroom today. Only one more theme to pick out and I'm going to wait on that one until I move in and live with what I have now and decide what I want in there. I say just make it the Tinkerbell bathroom but Lisa isn't going along wit that very well. I tend to agree with her howeve4r. . . I think she feels one kid themed bathroom is enough for one house. Monsters rule downstairs, right down to the monster feet rugs.

My sprinkler system is great it even knows when not to water because of the rain and over rides my previous instructions. I will have to study up on it to make sure I understand what it really does.

I'm excited to know they did put the grass in the back yard also. I thought we had only done the front. I was worrying about when I would get the back yard planted. Instead it is already in.

Coordinating the deliveries should be interesting. My bed is coming from one company the others are coming from another one and all the matresses with the second. I may be sleeping on an air matress in my bed the first night if the deliveries get crossed.

Deanne is flying in on the 5th, the day I am suppose to close so it will be an exciting day. We really didn't plan it that way but she needed to be in town for a luncheon on Sataurday. Good timing.

Serious shopping

Today we decided we had better be ready to party so we picked up two Punch servers at Bed Bath and Beyond. Lisa is a good shopper. I was going to get one and whith shipping it was way too much so she googled it and we got two for less than the price for one. Retirement gift cards paid for it so we were started. Always start with party items first.

Tonight Orson was up for furniture shopping so we got the furniture for the family room downstairs and the guest bedroom. So Victoria will have a place to sleep when they come out in April. First two rooms completed.

Lisa and I had fallen in love with the dresser for the guest room last October but we knew if we waited we could get a great deal on the room at Rooms to go so I have baskets of my my clothes while with her instead of us buying it then. Good choice.

We think we know the comforter for that room so we will will check that out tomorrow and see if we like it as much as we think we do. It will go with the curtains from my bedroom in California I believe so we will see.

The family room is Denim keeping with our red, white, and blue theme. And the electric recliner is what I need since I never can get them to recline or return upright. Oak and wrought iron end tables, coffee table and entertainment center. We just need to check out all the measurements to be sure that is what will fit. The recliner is a perfect fit for me and I can spend many enjoyable hours reading,watching TV or sleeping in it.

It was fun shopping tonight because we had pre-shopped and chosen what we wanted and it was just a mater of going and picking it up. Now I will have a bed to sleep in and a couch to relax in. We already have tables and chairs if I don't find exactly what I want for the dining room and kitchen. so the downstairs will be livable.

We have pre-shopped the Fridge, (shaved ice) washer and dryer also. So as soon as I can get a close of Escrow date we will pin those down. I haven't decided red or white on the washer and dryer any ideas.

Wow are they fast!

We have so many new items finished. The driveway is ready to pour, all framed including the walk way to the front door.

The cupboards are in and the counters are on order. The house is painted and the stucco has been added. All the doors and the trim are in.

The arch with the rock and brick is great. Of course right now it has a wood support while the bricks set. But I love the mixture of the brick and stone.


Next week the lightening fixtures. IT IS GOING TO FAST I GUESS I HAD BETTER GET SERIOUS ABOUT THE FURNITURE AND STOP LOOKING. I can almost give them a delivery date.

Lisa will post our newest pictures when she has a chance.

Texture and Closure

So we went by the house to take some pictures of the front of the house with the brick and stone, since I overlooked that the other day due to the weather. They had accomplished alot more on the masonry, and I'm sure by noon tomorrow it will all be done

The front of the house...notice anything new??? The garage door has been installed. Though it does need to be painted to match the trim, I guess they will do that later.

The kitchen/dining room side of the house, not too much more to do.

The garage/master bedroom side of the house...pretty much done except for the outside units that will go there.

A Close-up of the brick and stone, so that you can see the color.

It has been interesting to be able to see al the steps of building as house as it goes. This guy was coing back and working on the grout in the brick. He would scrape a little out and the sweep away the dust for every grout line. Guess he'll be busy for a while!

As I went into the house something looked different, but it took me a minute to realize what it was...They had sprayed the whole interior of the house with texture, so it all looked kinda funny, and really drab.

Here's a close-up of the texturing.

As I was walking the downstairs, I went into the garage, and man does it look a bit dark in there with the garage door up and no lights. And, it was packed. They have gotten all of my interior doors, molding, trims, and privacy fence for the yard, and it's all staked up in there.

Here's another pic of the house...this is mom's favorite view she says.

Oh yeah, I went and took a pic of mom's bedding. What do you think? I think it screams KAREN all the way! I'm glad that she found what she wanted.

Okay so really...I am DONE with the pics for a while. It was kinda funny, I stopped by the sales office today for a minute and Martha said that she would be calling us with an update on the house tomorrow after she talked to Kenny ( our contractor). Then she added, "not that you don't know what's going on...you are up here every day." Thanks for noticing Martha....what can we say...we are excited.

P.S. Y'all better start leaving some comments on here or I might think you don't read it and stop updating it. Give a momma some love.

More Random Pics

So since I was posting pics I thought I would include more. These were taken over the last week or so. JUST A WARNING THOUGH...there are a million pics, or, at least it seemed that way when I was uploading them.

Closer look at the manabloc. We can turn off each faucet individually.

Savannah is already playing in the back yard.

My fireplace framed and ready to go.

The tub in the front guest bathroom.

Here is Logan in the garage that has been sheet rocked, taped and floated.

Mom's front door/entryway.

I found it funny that there was that much space between the brick/stone and the wall. Orson says it's for more insulation.

Mom's closet...opps.. I mean, this is the arched cutout in her dining room.

This is in the family room, looking into the valet and garage. The front hallway is on the right.

A Corner in mom's room, the bay window is there on the left side.

Putting up sheet rock in the garage.

Mom's shower stall with tile...I love it on the 45!

Downstairs guest bathroom.

Savannah showing off the upstairs full bath.

The shower in the Jack and Jill bathroom by the media room.

The closet under the stairs. Peek-a-boo!!!

Lisa and Savannah in the media room. The three holes near the ceiling are for speakers the two little ones are for outlets and cords.

The game room....Savannah thought it was fun to play with the water pipes (well they aren't really pipes...they are more like tubes...totally flexible...really neat.)

The speakers in the game room/loft upstairs. Remember that we have a sound system that will play music throughout the house...including the patio out back.

The back view of the house from the greenbelt behind mom's house.

The west side of the house with siding and some brick.

Mom saying Hi....it was pretty wet that day, she wasn't about to brave the sludge.

Okay, so you should all be caught up now. Maybe we will be able to kept all the pics up to date from now on. Our journey really is coming closer and closer to and end. It is really exciting.

Shopping and loving it.

January 13 and 14th

Lisa and I found my comforter for my room. It's denim paisley. We are using white eyelet curtains. They are exactly what I was looking for . Most of you know how much Warren and I are both attached to our comforters and it matches. Now two out of 6 rooms so that is keeping us within our timeline.



Christopher and Victoria are doing theirs when they are here. So that leaves Ed and Anna to look around and see what bedding represents them. I'm thinking a red white and blue theme unless they find anything they like better. Their room is getting my grandmother's dresser so the room will follow that theme somewhat.



We also got the laundry baskets for each room so those will be in place for the bed and breakfast. It is so fun to be in the final month and looking forward to moving in. The next meeting we will have is the semi-final two hour tour of all the appliances and functions of the house. I'll never figure out the audio/visual box.


We also found dishes and kitchen items that I need to replace. I love outlet malls.

We are working on the bed and breakfast rules. Any suggestions?? Each one of you can personalize your rooms with some added comments. But I can override any rules that are over the top.


Help me think about what I need to add to the rooms. I've decided we are not putting TV's in any bedrooms so you have to socialize while you are visiting.

Orson is suggesting one rule but you will have to ask it what it is. I'm sure most of you will comply with his rule, but then Lisa and Orson don't have an assigned room so it may not be posted.

Thursday I went by the house and saw that two sides of the brick and stone are completed. The front and the south. It looks great!

1st walk through with Electrical

January 6th, 2010
What a difference a year makes. It is so nice to be here in Austin, retired, and not in the hospital as I was last year at this time because of our car accident. We had a great day running around in circles as usual but at least we did accomplish what we needed to do.



It is also Lisa's nephew, Tanner's, 1st birthday so from now on this date will have good memories.



We had our house walk through before dry wall today. It is the first time since we started the build that I didn't sink into the mud walking to and from the house and "Lake Karen" in the front of the house has been filled in.

Here is the Manabloc....it controls the water outlets individually. Really Neat!!!

This is mom's kitchen bar.

Our kitchen window has been corrected. The other one was beautiful 72 by 72 but the desk would not fit under it so they put in the 72 by 48 so now I can sit and stare at nature while I use the computer and look out over the nature walk. We extended the cupboards ( you can never have enough right??) and end with a desk on that side of the Kitchen Breakfast room.



They have all the bells and whistles installed. My tubs all hold water and so do my shower pans. exciting. No leaks.

Mom's Jacuzzi tub

Mom's shower stall, notice the 4 spickets and the showerhead.

Today they were blowing in the insulation and filling in every crack where the exterior was pierced for any wires. It's amazing to see how they do it.

We went over every outlet. I am sure I will never again have to worry where to find a wall switch or a computer or phone outlet. Orson did have concern about the control panel wiring for the controls for the media room but I'm sure they will have it all worked out with Brinks by the time it is complete. It is located in a closet with complete access so it should be great. It will be fun to have a media room. Or maybe it would be called a man cave if it wasn't in my home and going to be used by all.

The bricks have been delivered so they are ready to start on that also now that the electrical wires, gas hubs and water are in.


They also do a mean type of termite treatment of the world and there are wires for easy after build treatment. I have never seen such a set up. It's as complecated as the wires that run through the foundation to make it adjustable and secure. Even wind braces in place. Not that that means anything to me but I do read a mean blueprint with the best of them. I even surprise Orson sometimes when there is a question on them that I can understand them.

It's been fun for Orson and Lisa to oversee this build. I know what I want and they make sure I get it.

We will be taking reservations in starting in June. Victoria and Elizabeth should be my first house guests ans they drive back East. Then they will come back through hopefully with Chris and pick out their bedroom furniture. We just figured that out today. I had no ideas for their room so that will hopefully work out. I did think of doing it in Monsters or Dinosaurs but I don't think that will work. Maybe it still will we will see.

I think that is all of the updates for now. More pictures will follow I hope.