We took a break from the action August 6-10, 2008. Sean, Madeleine and I visited Ontario Canada to continue our vacation tradition of renting a house on the water. This time we found a wonderful cottage in Amhurstburg along the Detriot River, where all we could hear was the movement of the water and the whisper of the willow tree -- needless to say, it was a welcomed change from the jackhammering and bulldozing!

When we arrived at dusk at home, I didn't notice any changes. Sean continued to point out that the huge piles of excavated earth had been backfilled back in and the landscape around the foundation was somewhat level. The ducts have all been laid in the new living spaces and the vents are installed and capped where they will lay.

This week they are getting bids for drilling a new well. Originally, the architect felt the existing well may be able to stay, but the health department wants it moved. So.....that is the first part of the project that is an "additional item", per say - not a part of the original plan. Ok, so we are hoping that everything else stays on track and that we don't rack up a bunch of additional items cuz you know they don't come free ;)

It is fun to watch Madeleine's reaction each time she visits, about every other weekend, because something is always missing or added and makes for great conversations when she is in town. She even likes to look at the plans!

Lots of earth moved during the last week of July 2008. Huge piles of excavated material formed at the front and the rear of the yard. We thought about harvesting the stones that were revealed, but Sean's Dad pointed out that they were frail and not suitable to last even in landscape design or interior effect.

The top pic is very dark, but if you look closely to the right of the washing machine you can see a guy with his shirt off who is digging a trench at the back of the garage. He spent most of the morning digging the trenches - just when we thought they were done with that part, they dug them even deeper.

The week of July 28, 2008 included the full demolition of the shed slab floor and the completion of digging the trenches in the garage to prepare for installation of the ductwork so the HVAC professionals can begin their work.

Also this week, the doors and windows were ordered and well-drillers are sought out to install a new well. The existing well is too close to the new structures, so a new one will be installed. They are going to include a hook up that will lay dormant JUST IN CASE we are ever offered to hook up to public water -- though free water is just fine for now!

Yes, this was a Saturday morning about 9am. Hum.... yeah, so I guess it is good that the work is getting done, right? No matter what day of the week. Work for Sean and I has been extremely busy, but there is "no rest for the wicked" (a quote from one of my clients this week). Because there were no footers at the shed slab where the new office will be located, they have to remove the concrete to make way for footers and new floor.

In the garage they are working on digging trenches around the perimeter so that they can lay the new ductwork through the new media room and office and also through the new family room addition. It took them about a week to jackhammer all of the concrete away, and then they started digging through the gravel and fill to make the trenches deep enough.

End of Week Two

Prep, coordination and behind the scenes work was done the week of 7/14, which is also the week we cleaned out the garage and shed and prepared the storage unit to receive even more boxes once we have to pack the kitchen prior to that part of the project that will occur last on the list. These are the photos from today, the end of week two of construction, or deconstruction in some instances. The wall to the garage from the laundry room has been stripped and the entire area has been cut and prepped for the HVAC to be run to the garage/new family room and out to the shed/new office space. They removed the roof and deconstructed the shed area in preparation for the new roof line and trusses to shape the new garage that will come off the office area at an angle.

The cement truck was on site today to pour the footers for the foundation walls. That was pretty exciting to see the beginnings of structures starting to form. It has not rained one day the workers have been at the property and we really hope this streak continues over the summer months and once the roof is on and they are working inside, it can rain all it wants to then! Don't think anyone will be here over the weekend. .

Ancient Tree Carvings

I couldn't resist the urge to take some random photos of the job site/war zone at 3105 Polley Road. The changes are amazing and it is so much fun to come home at the end of a day to see the progress. We walk the site each night and take in all of the changes and often times the neighbors stop by to check out the construction. Everyone is so excited for us and they don't seem to mind all of the dirt and noise that has been created thus far. We are very lucky to be surrounded by such supportive neighbors and friends.