Inspection Passed!

Been a while - hit a new milestone - we passed inspection!

Was not too eventful - I had not caulked the kitchen counter, and that was an issue, but small enough to be overlooked (and now corrected anyway), so I can take down the permits - all done by the book.

If you're interested in coming to the Open House next Saturday, you're welcome to; if you don't have my contact info, just drop me a line or leave a message and I'll follow up with more specifics. Panera catered for lunch, chicken for dinner - fun in-between.

Moving, moving, unpacking, moving

More unpacking.

The computer is now back on a floor I'm living on... back in the guest room... I can start catching up on my receipt processing... tomorrow.

Nothing else to say today...

Finally, a shower door!

The shower door finally made an appearance...

Decided I will take out and replace the lag screw in the newel post; the gap is driving me nuts. Once that is done, I have to (still) install one outlet in the kitchen island (about 10 seconds), touch up some paint in Abby's room, and then construction is done-done. Pushing off inspection again mostly because of actual work schedule - present plan is for Monday, will take day off and unpack without kids underfoot.

Today moved some bookcases around - one left the guest room and into Will's room. Another moved to another wall in the guest room. They're very heavy, and too tall to go through the door... quite the challenge. Some heavy duty vacuuming tonight too - fixed a door (master bath hanging wrong), installed the first picture on the wall - my closet - the rest will wait for, well, uncluttered floors.

Banister Done... mostly...

OK, been a while. So where am I...

Saturday, mostly a wash - some grand unpacking, Jennifer returned from Michigan at 5pm; Abby and I caught up; I cooked dinner - noteworthy, since I hadn't done so for the family in about 6 months (take-out doesn't count).

Sunday, more productive. Ran some errands, then I installed the newel post - which was hard - and Jennifer replaced all of the exterior door knobs and deadbolts. Some more unpacking. The post is very sturdy.

Today, I installed the rest of the banister. While installing a 9/16" lag screw between the newel post and the handrail, I sheared off the head. Not really a problem except for the 1/4" gap between the handrail and post that I now cannot close. Not sure what I'm going to do... so calling it a night. No more power tools this late anyway. Still have to polyurethane the newel post, and set a handful of nail heads in the balusters.

I have a new hardest job as well... no not the banister (though it's up there)... it's the job you're trying to do with a 2 and 4 year old under-foot. Maybe I needed one more weekend...

As for packing situation - kitchen, family room are messy, but no more boxes. The second floor is generally in good shape - 2 boxes of office stuff in the guest room, but that's all. No pictures on the walls though. The living and dining room are another story...

As for other major construction - not much remains. One outlet in island, the cable jack in Abby's needs sanding, paint, reset. And the banister... guh... the shower door is planned for Wednesday AM. Would be nice to get inspection knocked out then too... we'll see...

Handrails

I must really have aged... going up (or down) stairs that have handrails is SO much easier!! Anyway, the handrails are in, Jen's closet has blinds, kids bath has upgraded shower head, some furniture moved, laundry done...

wait, that last part doesn't count... still pluggin away. Worked invitations tonight - will go in mail tomorrow, hopefully. Regardless, if you're reading this, you're invited, don't stress over invitations... Oct 30 - Open House, noon - late... let's celebrate!!

Settling in, but not done

Abby and I unpacked her room today - finished the butterfly shelves (profile looks like butterfly wings - I made them) and put back her music boxes and fairies... still can't find her Beatrix Potter... so there's one box missing.

Also finished some electrical work, met the shower door installer - they broke the glass door, and misplaced the dimensions, so had to come over again to re-measure... I've had some interesting vendor experiences in this ordeal.

For those keeping score, only item remaining from the list last week are the banisters - bought the new spindles and bit I need to install, will try for tomorrow - Abby is staying by Mimi to free me up some time (Jen and Will are in Ohio/Michigan - UofM event, go Blue).

I'll probably be blogging less frequently going forward, but I'm probably not done until the party - certainly not until final inspection...

One last noteworth item to mention... the greatest Chinese Drywall Remediator in the country left today - my brother, David - close the book (we think) at 1,056.1 hours over 114 days, 18 tasks (all of 'em). That's 9.25 hours per day, or a 64.75 hour work week for, basically, 16 weeks. We'd never have made it without him.

In!

Jen, the kids, and all our stuff is home. Everything is physically in the house, the house is a disaster area.

No banister, no inspection yet; close... need to unpack.

Great CD Day!

Both PODs are totally empty - no need to help move tomorrow!

Banister this weekend sometime, unpacking all weekend, inspection Monday and done!!!

For those keeping score, also need shower door - next Thursday, 10/7.

Also great news from the IRS - allowing casualty loss deduction on remediation costs - so I won't get killed by the mortgage forbearance next year like I thought I would...