We haven’t run off to Timbuktu, it is just that progress is slower and we do not have as many interesting pictures to post.  But fear not, Bob continues to work everyday to get this house finished!  I was able to be in Truckee on November 2nd and 3rd.  It was so nice to see all the progress.

I was amazed to walk into the main floor and feel like the kitchen looked even larger with the cabinets and island in place.  I had expected it to feel much smaller with all the cabinets.  It should be a great party place! My daughter, Tricia, and I had been out shopping for flooring options.  Of course, you cannot choose until the samples are in the room-so I brought all the samples we liked and laid them out next to the cabinets.

On Saturday, 11/2, the replacement slab was poured.  Not as smooth as the first, but so far no cracks!

Bob had to wait until the Thursday, 11/7, to rebuild the wall between the workshop and storage room and put back all the insulation.  He also built a double wall in the storage room to moderate the extreme temperatures better.  Now, we are waiting for the sheet rockers to fit us into their schedule to finish up these rooms.

The following week Bob cut, stained and installed the wood trim on the new skylights.  I think they look great!

Our new dining room light arrived and Bob also installed it.  We need to get the table out of storage soon to stop accidentally backing into the light!

He also primed all the walls on the main floor and then painted everything off-white.  Since he had the scaffold up to paint, he also hung his sled and the old snow shoes.  He says every cabin needs these!

Painting also includes the stairwell from the first to third floor, the sleeping loft and the office loft at the front of the house.  Bob has taken off all the railings, sanded them, re-stained them and put them back up after primer and paint.  Notice the board against the brick wall.  He is also refinishing those trim pieces and installing them on each side of the bricks.  As I said, lots of work but not very interesting for pictures.

Bob and Stevo, the electrician, have been working on finish electric.  Connecting all the wires and making the new switches and outlets work.  I am really enjoying our new porch lights.

Bob came down to Hayward the weekend of 11/9 and picked up the flooring.  He started installing it on Friday, 11/15.  Tricia and Jim and I came up for the weekend.  Jim helped Bob to lay the rest of the floor on Saturday and Sunday and do more electrical work.  Tricia and I went to Reno to pick out tile samples for the entry way and then came back and did touch-up paint on all the metal fasteners on the deck and stairs.  Jim and Tricia have been a huge help with this remodel.

You can see the main entry way floor is not done.  We picked out tile for this floor, the 1st floor entry/laundry room and the garage entry during this weekend and Bob will pick it up tomorrow, 12/6, in Reno.  Then he will figure out the best way to install it himself (new skill for him).

The following week  Bob continued on various projects in the house and put up more of the deck railing timbers when the weather cooperated.  The other big event was the trim granite was being installed on the front of the house starting on 11/22.  We purchased our stone through Sierra Stone Supply and the installation was done by Johansen Masonry.

They sent 6 men out to work on the project.  First they dug down into the ground and poured a footing for the granite rocks.  Then they laid out the granite and hand stacked and mortared them into place.  They did a beautiful job.

 Bob asked them what they recommended for under the door.  They said they would find the thin pieces and cut to fit.  It came out beautiful!  They also had to find thin pieces to fit behind the gas meter.  Again, they did a wonderful job.

I cannot wait to get a picture of the front of the house with the granite finished and all the protective plastic and painters tape removed to post.

Bob came to Hayward and took a week off from Truckee during the Thanksgiving holiday.  I really enjoyed having him here and of course, the poor guy had more ‘honey do’s’ for things at my parents Hayward house.  But he says he did feel like he got a rest and is back at it in Truckee as I type.

On Thursday, 12/5, the microwave, stovetop, oven and refrigerator all arrived from three different delivery companies!

Happy Late Thanksgiving to all of you who check in on our progress.  We are thankful for our friends and family and look forward to spending more time with you!