Thursday, September 6, 2012

Tile Choices

My house is going up so fast. It took a long time making a granite choice and then it took a while to get a piece of the granite so I could take it with me to make backsplash choices.

Last weekend I finally had the granite piece that I could use to match colors. Nancy and I had decided I needed a very "quiet" backsplash because the granite was so colorful and busy. We thought the backsplash tile should be monochromatic; it should be nondescript and fade away so it wouldn't compete with the granite.

So we began our search. We started at Lowes. I figured we would just narrow down some color choices but probably not find "the" backsplash.

Nancy thought maybe a stainless backsplash would work. We found some but I wasn't feeling it. It was just such a cold combination.

We continued to try different tiles against the granite. We came up with some maybes but nothing thrilled us. One of the Lowes employees came to see if he could help us. We told him what we were doing and showed him the granite. He oohed and aahed over the granite; he said it was so unique. And then he said he knew what we needed. He said he had the perfect tile. He went down the aisle and came back with "the perfect tile". He placed it against the granite and we all exclaimed how wonderful it was.

It was so different from what we were looking for. It has every color of the granite and together they are perfect. We would have probably missed it if he hadn't stopped to help us.  I can't imagine anything better. And, I can hardly wait to see it installed.  Soon . . ,


Wednesday, September 5, 2012

A Blessed House

I have so much to be thankful for.  But high on my list these days is my new house.  It's important to me that I give thanks to all that have helped this happen.  But mostly I thank My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  He has been so good to me.  He watches over me.  He leads me.  He protects me.  He gives abundantly!  And I want to honor Him in all I do and say.

It is important to me that my new home have a good foundation - physically and spiritually.  So I asked my friends and family to bless my house by writing a scripture somewhere in the house.  I want to be sure I have a blessed home! Thank you to all that were able to do this for me.  Here are some of the blessings I received:

Over my hearth



Over the headboard in my Master Bedroom


By the front door as you are leaving


Where my piano will be


In my Master Bathroom


In my office


In my kitchen


And another one in my kitchen


And then there are two particularly special blessings - from my sweet Noel (5) and Isaac (3)

Thank you again for all the many blessings.  And thank you, Lord.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Almost a House

I closed escrow on my lot on July 18. Today, August 16, the house is fully framed, waiting for the roof and everything inside. But I can walk through my house and see it in 3-D, no longer just lines on a drawing. It's better than I imagined! So unique; so my style.

Electrician and plumber are due tomorrow. Drywall in a week to ten days!

I'm in awe of this process and so incredibly pleased at what I get to see every day. It's hard to believe that I can be living here in a few months.

This looks from my living room into the kitchen and the courtyard outside the kitchen.


Here's how it looks today (the garage is on the left; the tree is in front of my front door).


This looks into the master bedroom. 


This is from the dining room, looking into the living room and the French doors out to the covered patio.  (My master bedroom is behind the wall of the living room.) And the last picture is looking from the garage down the hallway to the kitchen at the end.


Monday, August 13, 2012

Good to See You, Crocodile

See you later, Alligator. After while, Crocodile.

I'm sure everyone's heard this catchy little exchange when you're telling someone goodby. I started saying this to Noel when he was 2-ish but he'd just look at me like I'm a little strange (which I admit I am sometimes). So I moved on and have been working on Isaac. At least he seemed to enjoy this phrase but he's never responded (I say, See you later, Alligator.  He's supposed to say, After while, Crocodile).

The other day we were saying our goodbyes - I hadn't even said the alligator phrase.  Isaac looked at me and said (in his sweet little 3-year old voice), "Good to see you, Crocodile." And then grinned that huge, dimpled smile.  Boy did my heart melt!

So, what in the world does all this have to do with my house building?  Well, a lot in a round about way.

Nancy and I went to Monroe today to look for granite for my kitchen. We've looked here in Shreveport but just haven't found the right granite. I am attracted to unusual granite. For me I don't like the speckled granite.  I'm drawn to granites that have movement in them - river-like patterns of colors.  And I want a green/black/gray color.  I didn't find anything in Shreveport that was affordable so we went to Louisiana Stone in Monroe.

The granite selection was a bit mind-boggling. Who knew there were so many varieties of granite and marble.  So we walked up and down the aisles.  "I like this one." "This one might do."  And then we found it!  I was immediately drawn to it but we continued up and down the aisles (and it was hot inside that warehouse).  But nothing grabbed me like the one we'd seen on that other aisle. So we went back and I knew it was the one. It's not for everyone but I love it. Charcoals, dark greens, ashy-creams and wine colors. And it's called Crocodile!


Good to see you, Crocodile.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

By the Light of the Moon

It began at 5:30 am on Friday, August 3, 2012.  The first cement truck arrived just as the pumper was set up.  The first of 10 trucks unloaded the cement onto my lot.  By the light of the moon . . .


It was fascinating watching truck after truck arrive, hook up to the pump, unload its contents, watch the cement being directed to the proper formed spots in my foundation - all efficiently and expeditiously!  By about 9:30 the cement pouring was done; the concrete finishers still hard at it!




Curtis had surgery Monday on his right foot.  But he was there to oversee this critical stage of my home build.  At one point he was alerted to a problem with the forms around my courtyard.  He confirmed the problem, directed the correction and had it fixed before the cement set in that area.


Pouring concrete is like a dance.  All the participants have their individual roles but they must all perform their part well for the performance as a whole to be successful.  They did and it was.  Bravo!

So, concrete has been poured and finished.  My tiles have been inserted (see previous post) and we're ready for framing to begin Monday!






Saturday, August 4, 2012

Who is Building My House?


When I knew I was going to build my house I also knew I would write in my slab when it was poured. I had watched Nancy write a verse in her slab while Randy held her belt from behind to prevent her from falling into the cement. I knew that even if I had Randy's help again, I couldn't easily write in the actual cement.  So I decided to write my verses on a tile and have the tiles put into the cement before it set.

I watched the pouring of the slab and waited for the right moment to set my tiles.  The cement finisher was working in the area I had picked for the tile in the picture at the top of this entry. We gathered around, several of the cement workers, Curtis (my contractor), and Curtis' helpers.  I handed my tile to the finisher on the slab. He roughed up a spot, placed the tile and pushed it into the cement with his hands.

In a split second I saw the crew boss pick up a stake and pound it into the tile.  The tile split.  He looked mortified, the finisher looked stunned and Curtis, without even missing a beat, got on his cell phone to get another tile to replace the broken one. I hadn't even really looked at the tile yet but everyone was apologizing.  I went and looked at the tile; saw the crack centered in the word "God" and saw the cross the crack created.

I went over to Curtis and told him I didn't want the tile replaced. He asked if I was sure  I said it was perfect just as it was. Man is flawed and even though we build houses they and we aren't perfect.  But God is the perfect builder of everything. And the tile in my cement is my constant reminder.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Rough Plumbing

I've often marveled at how people can build things from a sheet of paper into a completed structure. I never thought I would actually watch the process from start to finish on my own home.

I'm in awe of the skill and craftsmanship of builders and construction workers. Case in point - today the plumbing for my house was rough set. I've been learning my house for months now by studying my plans. But I cannot relate what I think I know with the physical state of my lot.

I know where the kitchen should be but the pipe in the middle of the house seems so wrong! I know it's all correct because Curtis tells me it is.

The laundry room and guest bathroom look tiny, tiny. I know they're not but I can no longer see my house as it looks like on the plans I know so well.

But I'm not worried. I'm intrigued and ready to see my house develop before my eyes.

Slab on Friday. Hooray.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Trees Be Gone

I closed on my lot yesterday and work started today. Thanks to my builder, Curtis Loftin, he had everything ready to start as soon as he could. Good job, Curtis.

I've written about the wonderful pecan tree on my lot that my plans allow to stay. Well, there were two other trees that had to go. I'm not having trees growing in the middle of my house.

I got home this evening to find the trees almost gone. The work has begun! Soon a house will be where the trees were. I'm excited and I'm ready!

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Out With the Old; In With the New

Today I left my house for the last 13+ years for the last time. I was surprised about how unemotional I was about this "ending". I expected that after such a long time in this house I might be a bit nostalgic. But I wasn't.

I enjoyed my house but I don't know that I ever "loved" it. It was comfortable. It was a place I enjoyed being and inviting people to. But in all honesty it was a bit burdensome. It was big. It had a huge yard (and a wickedly steep ditch in the front yard that I used to be able to mow by myself).

But my knees aren't what they used to be and the house didn't "fit" anymore. I don't think I would have realized this if I didn't have this new house opportunity. I would have continued to enjoy the house and try to hire people to maintain the yard and flower beds.

But would I love to be there? No. I'm ready for a change. I'm ready to create a house that reflects me at this age. And it will be wonderful to downsize my outdoors/yard maintenance requirements.

So, today all my belongings are packed and moved into storage, the old house is awaiting its new owners (escrow closes Thursday) and I happily leave for the last time.

The "weight" of the old house is gone; the new house begins soon. Goodbye Amblewood Lane.

Saturday, June 30, 2012

House Raising

This last week has been spent packing and tossing and wrapping and fretting. To get to my new house I have to move all my belongings into storage and close escrow on my old house. Everything is going well but it just takes time and lots of energy (and has anyone priced boxes recently?!).

The inspection on my house revealed that my master bedroom slab had sunk. It's been so hot that my dry clay soil just sucked my bedroom foundation down into the ground. An unexpected and unwelcome expense. But a problem that has to be resolved before the closing.

Yesterday the work was done to raise my slab. I was at work so my brother-in-law Randy attended the "house raising". It was a strenuous process of digging deep at several locations, hydraulically jacking the house up, adding new cement under the foundation and then filling the holes back up with dirt. But the hoped for outcome of a level slab under my bedroom was accomplished.


(It's going to be another hot, dry summer. So, friends, get those soaker hoses going around your house foundations!)

Now let's get this house closed. The storage unit is rented, the boxes are packed, the movers are scheduled and the house is scheduled to close next week; let's get it done. I'm weary from everything involved in moving after living in this house for 13+ years (how does one person accumulate so much stuff? A topic for another time.) But I'm ready for and excited about the next chapter in my life.

Monday, June 25, 2012

String Foundation

Today was exciting. It was hotter than h___! But I stood on my new lot under the cooling shade of the magnificent pecan tree and saw the footprint of my new home staked out before me. Oh . . . there's my front door. Welcome to my new home!



Its going to be a hot summer.  But the coolness today under the pecan tree was wonderful and will be life giving through this summer of building. The tree is so large that at high noon today the shade covered almost the entire staked house - and it had to be at least 15 degrees cooler than standing in the sun (and the breeze certainly helped).  I don't know how old the tree is but it already has had a long life.  I'm thrilled that I have been able to find a lot that has been sustenance to this tree for a long, long time and that I can now build a home that honors this grand tree; it will shade me and protect me through the summer while I watch my home grow.  And the tree will continue to grow because when I chose this lot I knew I had to choose a plan that kept the tree.  It is integral to my house plans and already providing me a cool refuge while I watch things progress.  This tree will stand guard over me and my home; it will majestically welcome my guests.  Let the building begin!


Sunday, June 24, 2012

The Adventure Begins

I think it was a Saturday in March when my sister Nancy called me to come over to her house; she had something she wanted to talk to me about. I'm immediately curious and head over. In a measured and logical manner she walked me through a scenario that ended up with the plan to see if it might be possible for me to build a new house. Those that know me well know that I'm a home body and the thought of moving triggers a high stress response. Yet here I was thinking this idea of not only moving but building a new house was something I might like to do and I was cautiously optimistic.  There were several things to do before I could definitely make that decision.

Well - over the next several weeks (which with the benefit of hindsight seem to be only a few days) I determined I could sell my house for enough to buy a new lot and build a house and my lender said it was doable. I remember, upon learning that the numbers all looked good, feeling excited and anxious and ready to go.   And in a bit of disbelief.  I never imagined I could ever build my own home.  I'd dreamed about it but that was all it was - a dream.  Now it might actually be happening!

Nancy and her husband just built a new house. Nancy LOVED the process of researching and making decisions and making changes and in October of last year they moved into their new house. So I agreed to go down the same path with Nancy as my Project Manager.  She's going to do all the hard work; I'm going to make all the final decisions (and pay the bills)!

I'm going to build my house literally across the street from their house (across the street and over the levee). In Les Maisons Sur La Rouge, on Barataria Boulevard.

So the preparations began. I did some needed home improvements, listed my house and I now have a contract on the house. It's scheduled to close escrow on July 6. (An unexpected foundation issue has to be resolved next week.)  And I'm packing (and throwing away 13 years' of accumulated stuff)!  I'll be living with Nancy and Randy while I'm "homeless". (Turn about's fair play; they lived with me for a few months while their house was being built.)

So - the preparatory work and initial required steps are almost finished. Now on to the really fun part. I decided to chronicle this journey through this blog and with pictures. Here's the rendering of the house I've chosen and the floor plan (it will be reversed on my lot to accommodate the design of the lot and most importantly a beautiful, mature pecan tree on the corner of my lot).



I have lots of ideas, have poured over the plans long enough to be able to start seeing how it will look when it's finished and I'm ready to get started.  So - my current house closes July 6 and ground breaking will probably be 2-3 weeks after that.  I'll keep you posted! 


Sunday, March 4, 2012

Seconds in Flight

I love taking pictures.  I have a passion for capturing moments in time.  I love looking at others' photographs and strive to perfect my skills to produce beautiful images.  

I've always been fascinated by wildlife - but animals (birds) in the wild don't pose.  You have to be at the right spot at the right time.  Added elements to capture skilled images are getting the right light, having the right lens, picking the proper exposure, using the correct aperture setting, selecting the proper white balance, etc.  But then there's the kicker - panning a bird in flight.  Birds never fly straight, they never fly close enough, they never fly slow enough - but sometimes you can get lucky.  

And on this day I got lucky.  I was watching this Great White Egret flying along the river.  I was practicing following him with the camera as he flew.  I was trying to focus and click images to practice getting a clear image and not just a blur.  Then, to my delight the egret dove at the river, caught a fish and flew away.  And - I captured those images.  Not expertly.  Not totally clear.  Certainly not close enough (I covet a powerful telephoto lens - way out of my budget at this time).  But good enough to be excited when I saw the results.

So - this was my first attempt.  I'll keep at it.  And hopefully I'll get that "perfect" capture - someday.  But for this moment - this matter of a few seconds - I'm happy.