Have moved in but digital camera not working. 13 December 2009

Family, friends and followers (who would a thunk it?): my Kodak digital camera is not working properly - probably too much dirt inside it. I have some othe rphotos I will post as soon as I transfer them to a cd and upload them.

Huricane Ida past us by, but not before leaving a sizable rainfall and further delaying the driveway and house grading. After another week of drying out we got some grading done.

Our builder, Joe worked with the St Tammany Engineering department to get us the coveted Certificate of Occupancy. Once that was in hand Ellen and I were able to start moving in some boxes, etc. All progress was getting compressed into the final 2 weeks of November, but another rainstorm dumped more rain. I told Joe to get some recycled concrete at least so that the driveway would be functional.

Another hiccup kept us on pins and needles - I had booked a trip to the UK over Thanksgiving using frequent flyer miles. The final arrangements had to be done over the phone, documents required by the Bank for the conversion to a permanent mortgage had to be emailed overseas, etc. We drove 6 hours to Houston, TX on Friday, November 20th and took our flight to London.
Our 3 cats were looked after in the old home by ourformer neighbor Marta Walters.

We returned on Friday, November 27th and with the help of a couple of energy drinks made it back home to Slidell by midnight. Saturday, November 28th we moved some more boxes while I met with Joe to sign a couple Lien Waiver documents at a Notary Public. Sunday, November 28th my friend Bryan Vieages, my former neighbor (and new neighbor in Magnolia Forest) John Walters, and another couple Sue & Sergio Derada helped us move all the remaining furniture etc on a flat bed trailer, cars and pick-up trucks. Luckily the weather stayed dry. All was complete by 2 pm and then Ellen and I spent the rest of the day cleaning up our rental home.

Monday November, 30th was our scheduled closing at 4:30 pm. However at 4:25pm as I was exiting off I-10 onto Gause Blvd I drove into a white Toyota Tundra truck that I thought had cleared the exit before I made my move! Luckily I had a cell phone because I was the duty officer that day. I was able to call ahead and after a speedy State trooper ticket and paperwork I was at the closing by 5:00pm. The house was ours and this would be bour first night.

Now a couple of weeks later (one weekend was a Navy drill weekend) we have finally unpacked all our boxes but still need to tidy up and put things away. The cats have settled down. A new telephone number will be in place Friday December 18th. The DirectTv was installed Saturday Dec 12th so we were able to watch the Saints on Sunday. We still need the DSl line installed. Charter Communications said it would cost over $1000 to have cable, etc hooked up.

As we get back to normal and photos return I will be glad to answer more questions on how this project came through.

Thanks,
John

Mailbox in, final grading starts - but Hurricane Ida threatens! 08 November 2009

Our builder and his crew put in the mailbox and Ellen and I put on the address numbers. I was worried about the placement of the mailbox since it was further away from the driveway then I had originally wanted. For one reason it could be considered to be encroaching on our neighbor's land. Luckily on Friday morning the JV Burkes Survey crew were there when I happened to be there as well and I asked them about the mailbox. They said it was no big deal and it was considered to be on the Parish road right-of way and that survey crews don't worry about mailboxes.

Taking advantage of the week long dry spell, the final grading got started but couldn't be completed this weekend. That's not so good because Hurricane Ida has survived crossing Nicaragua and is now a definite threat to southeastern Louisiana. I don't expect the winds to be a problem; it is the rain that I am worried about! Oh my nerves are becoming very frayed.

When will we be able to move in? There is not much time between now and when Ellen and I are supposed to go to the UK for my father's 80th birthday.

Inspections complete; cooking vent fixed - 05 November 2009

The weather has clear and dry so the driveway is starting to recover. The deep-clean lady is still sick so Ellen and I decided to do some of our own cleaning. We brought our vacuum cleaner and a couple of brooms, etc and got busy sweeping and vacuuming. Joe say our electrical and plumbing inspections are now complete. Just waiting on the drainage, solar electrical, and final inspection. Now that Daylight Savings has ended we don't have much light left for photos. I am trying out the digital camera in low light conditions and seeing how the house looks with all the lights on.

Rain and cooking vent causing problems - Happy Halloween! 31 October 2009

Frustration is building as a cold front has swept through and dumped another inch or so of rain. The driveway is in real bad shape. October registered 8 inches of rain which is above normal for this time of year. We really need some dry weather so we can get the land graded. The forecast is looking good and if all goes well maybe we can get a certificate of occupancy by 10 November and start moving in on Veteran's Day, 11 November.

Inside the house the countertop hole for the cooking vent has been cut. But now we face another challenge the blower motor is on the side facing the gas range and there may not be enough space! Complicating matters is the additional floor height from the tiles beneath the stove which has raised the height of the cooking surfaces and stove height. Our builder Joe was able to work out a solution with the countertop cutters to create a raised lip around the stove opening. Meanwhile the deep-clean lady has come down with the flu so the house is still very messy.

We had time enough to inspect the house and get home for the few kids we expect for Halloween. I am giving out Louisiana satsumas (mandarin oranges) instead of candy.

EarthWeave wool carpets installed - 24 October 2009

Sure enough remnants of Hurricane Rick brought about an inch of rain early Thursday morning and that has caused our hoped-for move in date to slide into November. The otherwise good weather has been a welcome relief. With the delivery of the kitchen and laundry appliances, the bank inspector was able to record a substantial bit of progress and so we have the funds to pay sub-contractors and suppliers.

One of those suppliers, Floorworks of Slidell, now was able to get to work again installing the last of the floor coverings - the wool carpets in the two bedrooms. These are pure wool Earth Weave carpets that are low/no VOC, but actually they have a bit of sheep smell!

Kitchen appliances get delivered (finally) - 20 October 2009

The moment we have all been waiting for - getting the kitchen and laundry appliances delivered. Gulf Outlet guys made a big effort to get our appliances into the home before the bank inspector was scheduled to arrive. Of course, as luck would have it President Obama made a visit to New Orleans which tied up traffic and the truck with our appliances. Ellen and I met the truck at the Gulf Outlet store in Slidell and led them to the house. By the time we got there it was already dark. Thanks to the our newly installed out door lighting we could work through the evening.

After the delivery was made, Ellen and I did some additional cleaning to tidy up a very messy house.

New Orleans Auctions on Julia Street happened to have an auction the weekend of 17/18 October. We saw two sets of outdoor/foyer lamps being offered and decided to bid on those. Ellen won the bid on the first set, so we brought those over to the house to be installed as well.

This week the Fall weather has arrived, but forecasters say Hurricane Rick in the Eastern Pacific will cross over Mexico into Texas and Louisiana delaying the much needed drying of the driveway and the final grading required for the last inspection.

Septic Guys dig and cut the CLECO line - 16 October 2009

Still having rain and warm temperatures; everyone is waiting for the cooler Fall weather.

I had another day off because I worked the weekend. A good time to coordinate with my builder and his sub-contractors, and our suppliers. Today the Septic Tank guys came despite the wet weather and muddy conditions. Luckily, the septic tank area is located on relatively dry ground and so they no problems. Unluckily, the septic tank guys did not know where the underground electric cable from the telephone pole to the house was located and promptly severed it! This caused the transformer on the telephone to blow. safety switches in the circuit breakers kept the mishap from hurting any house or solar panel electrical components. CLECO, the local electric company responded immediately with a crew so the site was quite busy with heavy trucks tearing up the driveway. Power was restored by late afternoon.

The electrician installed the outdoor lighting, but I need to get more bulbs.

Solar panels go up; wood floors are stained and varnished - 12 October 2009

Finally a day off - thank-you Columbus! Luckily I got a hardship excuse from a first degree murder trial jury duty on Friday 09 October. That could have been two weeks sequestered in a hotel somewhere; not the best situation when one is in the final stages of building a house. A weekend of work is over and now for a time for a federal holiday. Ellen and I checked in with Gulf Outlet to find out the status of the appliance delivery and found out the items will be shipped from Tennessee tomorrow. At the job site we find that the AC guys had isolated the leak to a missing cap to the condenser unit in the attic. So no holes will need to be cut in the exterior wall after all. The AC was working and the wood floor guys had already stained and varnished the floor over the weekend. Ellen and I think they did a very good job. Another coat of varnish still to go. Because of the wood floors the electrician will come after the second varnish coat. The plumber won't be coming back until the appliances have been delivered. The trim carpenter, Ken hamilton is back and working on the kitchen bar. We are using some old reclaimed wood that our builder Joe Hodge bought.

On Saturday there was an auction at New Orleans Auctions on Julia Street, right y where we go to church at Old St Patrick's on Camp Street. Ellen successfully bid on two old hanging lamps that we will use for the entryway/foyer and somewhere else or sell. We delivered the lamps to the site this morning.

South Coast solar guys came in force to install the panels. Two panels still need to be installed after not passing the seventh out of seven quality control checks.

AC guys work to find a leak; Inverter for solar panels installed - 08 October 2009

The weather still is giving us problems - the driveway is once again a muddy mess. We are still waiting for the kitchen and laundry appliances hopefully they will come soon. Even the appliance store's distributor is having cash flow problems! But other work continues. The weather was able to hold off long enough so that the AC guys can build a platform and install the compressor. I would have liked it have it in the originally planned mechanical space outside the main bathroom but then the AC lines would have been too long. Unfortunately the AC guys have to find out why the vacuum is not holding. They suspect a nail may have pinched a line in the wall. Troubleshooting is ongoing.

At the same time the South Coast solar guys were able to install the panel racks on the roof and now they are installing the inverter. The plumber was able to to install the propane gas hot water heater.

Plumber's son helps his sick dad - 01 October 2009

The plumber's son, John Meeker, got to work installing the sinks and faucets while his father recovers from a heart attack. Meanwhile, we are waiting on the delivery of the kitchen and laundry appliances. The bank's inspection showed a completion percentage of 90% so only ~$17000 was advanced - this is still makes for a tough cash situation. Until the appliances are delivered and the electrician and plumber install the remaining lighting and plumbing fixtures the paying of bills has to be carefully sequenced.

We are still hoping for an end of October move in deadline!

Evening visit to bring checks, locks, and knobs. 30 September 2009

Another late evening shuttling back and forth between Lowes and the house as we bring checks for South Coast Solar, locks and door handles for the trim carpenter, and knobs/pulls for the kitchen cabinets. Northlake glass has installed the kitchen cabinet glass (seeded and plain) as well as the shower door.

We get word that the plumber had a heart attack and so his son and brother are working on the plumbing. Even the electrician was out a couple of days with the swine flu! Hopefully the bank inspector will see enough progress to advance more money.

Work begins on screen porch; electrician is back in action. 28 September 2009

We are hoping for lots of progress so that the bank can advance more money. Charges to credit cards are helping bridge the time lag between ordering materials and services and reimbursement from the bank. The credit crunch is starting to pinch.

The trim carpenter, Ken Hamilton, and others are starting to work on the screen porch. The electrician is starting to install lighting, fans, and wall outlets, etc. The lighting supply store though did not send long enough down rods for the fans for the main bedroom or the great room. Hopefully the exterior lighting will arrive soon.

Cardell cabinets repaints; all entryway tile has been laid. 23 September 2009

As promised the Cardell Cabinet company made good on their promise to repaint all the cabinets to ensure a common color. The result is very good indeed. Also Floorworks of Slidell finished the tile laying for the entryway. All that's left is for the grout. Continuous rainy weather in September has made the driveway and the front porch area looking quite soggy.