It really is coming together

The house is really coming together now, but it has not been without a few glitches.  After the septic tank was buried and awaiting the inspector, the rains began.  It rained enough to raise the lake level more than a foot, which we needed disparately, but which also saturated the ground around the house.

The first rain-related incident occurred when the tire on Brenda's car sank up to the axle in the front yard and it had to be towed out by Steven.  The next thing that went wrong was our septic tank "floated" out of its level position.  The tank had to be removed and the bottom of the hole scraped level again.  Gravel was added and leveled to alleviate the problem of the mud sticking to everything.  Also, the mud prevented the completion of the driveway and sidewalks.  Hopefully, tomorrow they can complete the forms, tying steel, and pouring concrete for those elements.

The wooden floors have been completed and the carpet begun.  The downstairs bedrooms are finished with the exception of one threshold that needs a piece of T-molding.  The carpet in the Exercise Room and Master Closet has been installed.






The jetted tub in the Master Bath was installed and the tile surrounding it looks great.  The glass wall separating the tub from the shower was also installed.






The vanity mirrors have been hung in each of the bathrooms.  Also, the metal fixtures (towel bars, toilet paper holders, etc.) have been installed on the walls.

Art glass in Dining Room

Today the electrician returned to hang the pendant lights over the Kitchen island.  They are an industrial style fixture made of raw nickel.  I was a little nervous when he was cutting holes in our pristine ceiling, hoping they would hang in the proper place.  It was needless worrying.

Island lights (Art Glass windows in view)

We found a diode which when attached to the doorbell button allowed it to function properly.  We love the whimsical music.


This week Brenda and I took a break from working on the house.  She dropped me off at the airport on Wednesday and headed to the Walker's house to help keep the children while Ashley worked on Thursday and Friday.  Then mid-day Friday she caught up with me for the last day of my trip.  We traveled together to Washington, DC to spend Friday evening and most of the day Saturday.

The weather was very nice with clear skies and cool temperatures.  The arrival that night took us directly over our previous home in Accokeek, Maryland as I flew up the Potomac River.  The lights of the city made the arrival spectacular.   Then after parking the aircraft and waiting outside for the hotel van, I realized we had just arrived at the same terminal where we had received Todd just over 20 years ago.  In fact, the next day while waiting for our aircraft to arrive we were at the exact same gate where we first laid eyes on him.

At Washington National Airport's old terminal

On Saturday morning we caught the Metro subway train into the city to visit the sights. We began at the National Archives hoping to view the Declaration of Independence or Preamble of the Constitution.  Unfortunately the line was long and slow moving.  The woman behind us was trying to impress her companion and asked about an art gallery.  I just tried to be helpful and was throughly rebuffed with her comment, "You're no expert", which was true but still hurt my feelings.  So we left.

We strolled through the National Sculpture Garden on our way to the National Museum of Natural History.  Boston and Cade had suggested we visit the International Spy Museum, but it was a little too far to walk.  Besides, dinosaurs and geodes are much better than tiny radios and cameras.

 

The Trailer Problem exhibit caught my eye

We also visited the National Museum of American History before spending the rest of our time strolling along the Mall.

And finally, I just found out about "selfies" from Brenda (who learned about it from one of her favorite shows "The Mindy Project").  I never thought I'd lose my inhibition but obviously I've gotten past it.