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...

Now what do we do...

Grout sealed... and 1 POD emptied... well, except for the washer/dryer that aren't coming back.

The second POD started, but NICOLE (tropical depression) is far more annoying than hurricane EARL - it won't stop raining!! Kept the furniture where is is... David will put a hurtin' on it tomorrow and with luck, he and I will finish it tomorrow... stay tuned - may not need help on Saturday after all (or we'll get the truck reservation moved).

Banisters will wait until Sunday - inspection Monday...

Almost there...

Worst day since yesterday...

Nothing moved in today - poured all day. Speakers in, drawers cleaned up, access panel cut - yes, did seal in the tub without plugging it in... oops.

Tomorrow, seal grout, maybe the shower door guys will show, fix the doors, start moving if the rain lets up. Will skip the banister until the large items are moved in, so inspection is off until Monday.

If you're available for helping to move on Saturday, please come by around 10am; will have a truck to take to pick up the stuff at Aunt Becky's.

It's quiet, too quiet...

Carpeting is done. The squeaks, footsteps, and echoes are all gone... It's nice... Two of the bedroom (Abby's Guest) colors may need to be adjusted, someday... looks really good in hall, master - happy with it overall.

Speakers arrived and are too big - went to Best Buy and bought ones that fit. One volume control in; downstairs bath trimmed out, shoe moulding installed in kitchen, built-in drawers got coat of paint, security system re-activated, found the mystery moulding for the newel posts - having trouble ordering it - but will overcome...

Expectation is that we will accomplish speakers, volume dial, drawers, and maybe access panel tomorrow - move in some large items before banister is in; doors, grout sealant, shower door, banister on Thursday, and inspection on Friday - begin moving in Friday, Saturday.

Counting down:

- Speakers (dining, master)
- Volume controls
- Painting/caulking the built-in drawers
- Doors to the built-ins (ordered)
- Access door to tub in master bath (plug in tub)
- Seal grout, master bath
- Banister
- Door knobs on exterior doors
- Improve door clearance (NEW)
- Install shower door in master (hired-out; Thursday)