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!