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.

We have windows

January 1st, 2010
It has been an interesting week. We have windows, a construction door, heating and air conditioning. They have also put in my individual water controls that are very interesting. There is a tube for each water line in the house. It allows you to turn off one sink or tub and leave the water on in the rest of the house. I know I will love that.

The windows are beautiful. It makes such a difference already.






They were also putting on the shingles on the roof on Wednesday when we went over to check it out. It is so fun that it is progressing quickly. The one thing I can say is the water does stay longer in Buda than in Austin. I always seem to have water puddles and mud.

What can happen in Texas in 11 days! I have a roof!

December 19th
Believe it or not another surprise today Orson was in Buda helping some friends so we always drive by the property just for fun. Walls, even a second story and a roof being put on as we walked through the house. So much fun.

My shoes will never be the same and I thought the quicksand would suck me in but all for all it was exciting. It was still very muddy and after all it is a construction as you will notice complete with my beautiful hard hat. We spent a long time checking the site and making sure all the bathrooms and bedrooms were correct.


This is the view from Ed and Anna's room looking North 2nd floor.

This is Christopher's and Victoria's room. As the pecking order goes they got last choice. Their room is right over the Living room. Looking South


This would be the bonus room I have just decided when no one is in town this will be my master bedroom I love the views. Notice the center is a window also they just haven't cut it out yet. They put up the siding then cut out the window as they work. Wow I live way out in the country right? no I know I have neighbors my window just don't let me see them.


This is my bedroom. The bay windows are going to be great. They match the kitchen bays. My rocking, reading recliner will fit perfectly to enjoy the view and my back yard.


This is my silly picture to show you where my powder room use to be that has now been turned into my cupboard area across from my laundry room. perfect place for my tools and needed supplies and my purse catcher/bag catcher as I walk into the house from the garage. They call it the vallet. top and bottom cabinets and work area. Behind me in the under the stairs closet.


This is the view from my entry way looking up at chandiler (or where it will be) two story view at this point.


This is what Lisa is waiting for, my door. living room on the right grand kids room/guest room on the left. We do have a picture of the door on one of the first blogs when she picked it out.


Living room window from the dining room Matches the window in the grand children's room.


Had to show you a post that I have trained Lisa to supervise this build since she was 3. Notice the hat and the overalls so she was prepared. Did I really let her handle a hammer at 3? What was I thinking? I'll have to take this same picture with Savannah after the build is finished the kids can't come on site until it is finished.

We do have a few problems. Sorry, but there is no door to the Media room so you will all have to enter the theater through the bedroom then the bathroom. I guess you are to be sure to wash your hands before watching the movie. They promised us they would have that corrected my tonight once the roof is on. We also have some questions about the Family room windows but again that will all be fixed. For my work friends I felt right at home with the music I felt I was back in Maywood since the radio was blaring Mexican music.