It seems that it's every two weeks that I can actually get 'measurable' progress anymore. For many reasons this summer has been a bit slow on progress. There's been two siblings getting married, bachelor parties, helping mom get HER house ready for sale and then just the usual summer hectic schedules that are tough to keep in line all by themselves. SO I try to push as much as possible when I can and just deal with the rest. Many evenings now are spent running around looking for details and now getting used to the new position at Meredith in a different division. AND more time spent with Ellie - but more on that later.
Two Saturdays ago Ron and Kirby showed for the morning to do some work and wouldn't you know it - I had some for them! Ron went to town on some 'smaller' projects that i'm sure when described he was thinking 'oh I'll bang this out in 1-2 hours tops.' Well as I've found out MANY times in this project - that grew to be around 4-5. He assembled a faux wall anchor for the basement bathroom pedastal sink to rest against so the plumbing will look and function better (I now need to tile that to match the floor). Then he installed a board for the data rack to go on and finally pre-drilled the bar puck lights in the back bar.
Ron measures twice and cuts once
Making a wood box is tough/Buddy supervises
Kirby meanwhile installed the remaining switch covers on the first floor that didn't need to be trimmed due to them being too close to the molding. Then moved up to the second floor and installed can light trims to as many lights as I had trim kits.
Some of the switches were stuck WAY back there
I meanwhile installed the toilet flange, the supply lines for the shower and tub and sink drain pipe for the 2nd floor hall bath in preparation for a contractor from Meredith to start on the framing and dry wall in that room! I also picked out some very nice pulls for the bar drawers and cabinet doors.
I have no idea why the pipe is so long
It was a great day weather-wise and we all got to work outside some. These kind of work days really get me along the road to really being able to use the house and finish rooms. I can't state just how important thes days are, without them I will be mired in the painfully meticulous details of this house and I'll never get to spend weekends with Ellie.
Speaking of spending time with Ellie, I have tried very hard over the past few months to really add more time with her and just 'deal' with the lack of progress on the house in favor of not missing so many important moments. To be clear, the important moments are every moment of every day. It's the skinning of the knees while climbing things she shouldn't and the squeals of laughter as her tummy gets tickled or the soft tune her voice sings as she happily plays with her dolls or draws another masterpiece that gets hung on the refrigerator.
She is a lot of the reason I pushed forward, her future, the ability to tell her of her mom in the years to come, the stories that hopefully OTHERS tell her over the years ahead - all of this because they helped me to create a home of love for Ellie. A home that started out as a dream of two people and in many ways has grown to be a dream of sorts for over 200 people. It's humbling to think of that great blessing and that love that has been shared over the past 18 months. Thank you all for helping me, for praying for us and for sharing yourselves with us. That has been an amazing thing to experience and has changed who I am and who I raise Ellie to be. The time I now share with Ellie is cherished and still not always as much as I want, but the end is nearing and you are all responsible for helping to make that happen. Thank you. I hope to see you at the house sometime soon, or the grocery store, or at church, or at work - where ever it is the smile I wear is because I now get to spend more time with my little girl and you helped me get here.
That's right a REAL floor!
