A peek at the siding

I had hoped to use the siding from the barn we took down in a past life, but there wasn't enough of it for the entire house, so we chose siding like we put on the apartment. It looks good and is easy to install with a little help.

We painted it before it was put up. This has saved a lot of time. A touch up covers the nails after it is up.

Whatcha  doing?

Here's the first clerestory window with its siding and trim in place. The view is from the front of where the greenhouse will be.

Another climber

Though not as helpful as Lucas, I spotted another local resident who apparently likes to climb. On my walk from the apartment to the house one morning, as I got to the rain garden Sandy created, I noticed something unusual at the top of a three-foot-tall lobelia and stopped to check it out. Here's what I found.

This little guy was about 10 inches long and wrapped three times around the very top of the plant. Each of the next two mornings it was still there, but was gone by the afternoon of the third day.

If anyone can identify it, please post a comment and I'll update this entry.

Finally catching up

Once again there has been a big pause in posting activity, but the work has gone on. Here's a partial rundown of where we are on various parts of the project.

All three bedrooms' walls are finished - drywalled, taped, mudded, primed and finish painted. After the floors are stained the trim will be added.

The second bedroom's loft frame is in place and ready for its floor.

The hallway, living area, "office" and kitchen areas are also finished and ready for the kitchen cabinets and pantry. They, too, will have stained floors, and after that, the door and widow trim.

All electric wok is done except for wiring and hanging lights, most of which are now purchased.

Other than the plumbing and electrical stub-ins, the bathroom and half bath are yet to be finished. Floor tile, glass block, tub, sink and vanity have all been purchased and are awaiting installation after the tile is laid.

About 80% of the outside wall is now covered and painted - two coats.

Window and door trim has been cut, painted and installed for all windows where the siding is up.

The bead board for the eaves across the front has all been painted and is ready to go up when the lookout rafters are installed.

The greenhouse area has a very temporary roof on the north half of it and the old barn siding has been cut and installed on the inside of its north half.

Lots of work has been done on the hillside in front of the house, including about half of a stone stairway that climbs the hill to the house. A stone walkway has been started leading from the front door toward the parking area.

Sandy and my sister Judy (who came out from Delaware to help for more than two full weeks) have worked relentlessly to paint and help put up the siding among other things. Each spent at least a week in a row doing almost nothing except painting, either while hunched over 4 X 8 sheets of siding and bead board before it was installed or up and down a ladder painting drywall after it was up.

I'll post a bunch of pictures next that cover much of what is listed and some other topics.