This week, on Slow Homes...

 The whole building/materials industry backlog is really a bummer.  Still waiting for the countertops.  Which means still no plumbing done.  And electric is backed up because of that.  And so on, and so forth.  But the builder has been keeping busy for days 108 through 112, putting shelves in the closets, more paint touch ups, staining the stairs (I'm not a fan, so no pictures), putting finishing touches on flooring, and this stuff...

Let's hear it for stairs!  Not only do they go up, they also go down!

He put a header on the back of the house for a deck, but thanks to all the delays that's pretty much a no-go at this point.  He's already started excavation on another house, so he wants to wrap this up soon.  I don't blame him!

I was also able to finagle a dishwasher from another appliance dealer.  Same make and model, but it's here NOW, not "sometime in June", like my refrigerator.

Snug as a bug, and yet to be unveiled.

Day 113 the builder put up my floating shelves.  Like a rube, I didn't pay attention to the fine print.  I thought I was getting natural wood shelves that could be painted or stained.  What I got were MDF shelves with poplar trim.  I was a little pissed, but then once they were up, I was happy again.

You can barely see the plain MDF bottoms, never mind the tops.  I really like them.  

I made another rookie move by purchasing the wrong hood vent.  Well, it wasn't so much wrong, it just won't work the way I wanted it to.  That's going back and I'll keep looking for something else.  The shelf I was going to put above the hood vent instead went into the bathroom, above the washer and dryer.

In garden news (because I know you're on the edge of your seat), my peas and radish are beginning to poke through the soil finally.  My onions have arrived, and I've planted one whole bed with white, yellow, and red onions, and half of a bed with shallots.  I spent the entire time prepping and planting that bed hollering "SHALLLLLOT!" a la Ozzy Osbourne hollering "SHARRRRONNN!".  I do amuse myself.  

Weekly Wrap Up

 Days 106 and 107 - you guessed it, more paint and touch ups!  But also, my other post was installed:

Love it!  Also, we saw them use similar beams on a fancy HGTV renovation show, so I'm totally hip.

And the builder installed the doorknobs I picked out for the interior doors.

I am loving these doors, and the hardware just makes them even better.  I'm one of those crazy people who wants my brand new house to look like it's one hundred years old.

Last weekend it snowed a bit, so we also managed to burn the remaining brush pile.  Thank goodness Mom enjoys that, because I sure don't.

The garden is starting to come to life, too.  My poor perennials have been in pots since October of 2018.  They are not very happy, and I've lost quite a few of them.  I was sure my Dutchman's Breeches had died out, but I was elated to discover not only did they survive the winter, they've flourished.  

After I had harvested all my vegetables last fall, I buried my perennials - pots and all - in the raised beds.  That was definitely a good idea, at least for a few of the plants.

My Queen of the Prairie is also peeking out of the ground.

The lettuce has survived a few cold snaps and snowfalls.

Last summer I bought two new strawberry plants; one has pink blossoms and one has red blossoms.  The pink ones are already blooming.

And the tulips and peonies I planted near the wall are coming in, along with all the existing daylilies mom had tossed over the bank for years.

I should be getting my onions by next week, and I've put in some sugar snap peas and radish already.  Can't wait to get all the beds planted up!

Risers and Treads

It's been pretty much just putty and paint and more little things here and there for days 103,104, and 105.  Well, except this.

Holy crap, my stairs are GORGEOUS.

I almost don't want to cover them up.  They will, however, get a coat or two of grey stain.  

...in which we catch up with construction doings.

 Days 96 through 102...we're back to little stuff that doesn't make you go WOW!  Things like patching drywall, putting up trim, painting trim, zzzzzzzzzzzzz...kinda boring.  I mean, the builder's doing a great job, it's just not the most exciting phase.  Unfortunately the countertops have been delayed, which in turn delayed the plumber, which set a bunch of stuff back a while.  Although the propane company was out today, which is a week earlier than expected.  They did a site survey and should be back with my tank soon, and I'll be ready for all my - as Hank Hill eloquently says - propane and propane accessories.  

But the antique barnboard has been put to use.

And the downstairs fire rated doors have been installed.

And my washing machine has arrived.

My range hood has also arrived.  My dryer and oven should be here within a week or so, but unfortunately my refrigerator delivery has been pushed back to June 8th.  It was supposed to be here this coming Tuesday, April 20th.  Bear in mind, I ordered it in February.  Covid delay?  Suez Canal blockage?  ALIENS?!?!?  

How frustrating.

Ode to a Mule

Happy 20th birthday to my giant baby, Fargo.  I couldn't imagine my life without your goofy...

      handsome...

 expressive...

 fashion forward...

 party animal self.

 You weren't the prettiest mule in the pasture...

 but with time, age, and the help of your friends...

you blossomed into a total bad ass.

People can say what they want; in my mind and in my heart, you are the mule of my dreams.  

Here's to 20 more, my little wingnut.

💗

Ladies and Gentlemen...the Doors

 Day 94 the builder worked on door trim upstairs.  I was surprised to find that even with the trim, the French doors still open flat against the inside walls when fully opened. Very cool!

My interior doors were delivered on day 95, and I'm absolutely in love with the style!  I'm so glad we were able to get them in a Shaker design rather than the traditional colonial style; I think the Shaker feels more cottage-y, which is the kind of vibe I'm going for.  

The closet doors are all hung, as well as the bathroom and bedroom doors.

bedroom closet - Shaker style in bypass doors, no less!

bedroom door

Even a super skinny door for the broom closet!

There are two fire doors in the same style for downstairs, as well.  The only door that hasn't shown up is the front door, which the builder ordered in pine.  I plan to stain the exterior face in a deep blue, and clear coat the interior face to leave it natural wood.  I can't wait to see them all with the final hardware, which should be black. 

The plumber showed up the other day and apparently it'll be next week before he comes back.  My floating shelves are on the way, as well as my washing machine.  Sooooo close!