The Fourth Wall

 Day 22 - the front wall is up!

The original design for this wall called for 2 giant double windows, but after many conversations with Mom about greenhouses, I thought that maybe someday I'd like to have a small attached greenhouse.  I've wanted one for a long time and because this wall is south-facing, it's perfect; I could use it for starting vegetable plants in the spring, houseplants year 'round, and some passive solar heating is definitely a bonus.  My "someday" wishing led to me opting for a set of French doors that will eventually lead out to it in place of windows.  The contractor was planning to keep one set of double windows and set the French doors off to the side, but that would have looked strange.  We settled on 2 single windows and the doors in the center, which is more balanced.

They also started prepping the side of Mom's house by peeling off the old cedar shingles.  Lo and behold, the siding underneath is Dutchlap - the same siding I chose for my side!  

 

I have to say, the old wood lap is much more attractive, but I don't want to have to paint a house in my lifetime so I went with vinyl.  Mom's house will eventually need a facelift, and we've found the perfect vinyl siding that looks so much like cedar shakes, it's crazy.  Since that style is so expensive, we'll probably only do the front with that, and the rest will be the same Dutchlap siding as my side.  

The word from the builder is that the trusses will be here next week, so it should have a roof soon.