Construction Progress:  Yes, we are really making progress!

It's not that I haven't wanted to share progress on the house, but I have become pretty hands-on and involved in the project, and that seems to be taking so much of my time that I have neglected to update here.

(Previous installment of this construction journey is here.)

First of all.... I left a photo out of the last progress report.  Now, we are Caterpillar people, all the way.... (my favorite tee shirt :))

One evening while checking things out we found this green thing hanging on the wall.  Definite contraband!  We won't be having any more of this nonsense!

Enough of that.... on to the house.  In my first post on actual construction, that you can read right here, I mention that we planned to use the bricks from the old house that was previously on our lot.  This is it, and it didn't go as far as we'd hoped, but most of the foundation is the old brick.

Here we move inside and the trim is going in.  Crown molding....

French doors leading into the study.  Ooops!  The opening was too big and some sheetrock patching had to be done on top.

Crown in the coffered ceiling in the great room.

and the built-ins either side of the fireplace.  I would have thought adding stuff to the room would make it look smaller, but the opposite was true, in this case.

Back outside. The day we went and the outside was painted, the columns in place and brick floor completed on the front porch was exciting.

Cabinets were installed, but the island is still in production (because of that custom color I ordered) and some of the hardware is missing.

This is a shot of the soon-to-be-screened porch after paint was on the house.

The shed also got paint and brick along the foundation.  At this point this place is a real mess.

The grading contractor delivered his equipment a couple of days early.

So, guess who decided to start cleaning the place up himself!  Yup, that's Buddy.  There were two pieces of equipment and I wanted to drive one too, but he didn't seem too excited about that idea.

Now, it's grading day and that is a genuine, bona fide, equipment operator you see now.

This is the left side of the house after they finished.  This is where the driveway will be.

A dump truck arrives with top soil.  Fun!

I'm standing in the back and the tractor bucket is on the right side.  I thought it looked funny!

On grading day I took a walk around the block and as I'm coming back up our little street a visitor crossed in front of me.  Can you see her on the left heading in the woods?

Back yard is graded and ready for landscaping!

This will be the grill station.  We've had natural gas run to this area.  Straight ahead will be the gas grill.  In the opening on the right will be the Big Green Egg.  It's going to have a concrete counter.

This is the outside of the grill station.  The counter will overhang, creating a bar and that top ledge you see will be a footrest.  Bar stools can sit on the bottom ledge.  Buddy needs moral support while he's manning the grills.

Forms are put in for the sidewalk and driveway and Ta-Dum!!!!! Concrete Truck Day #2 has arrived.

This is the new sidewalk from standing on the front porch.  The little footings to the side are for a brick border.

Inside the cabinets are covered and paint is underway and tile is being installed in the bathrooms.

Can you believe we are planning to move in two weeks from now?  It's taking a lot of serious coordinating of the remaining projects, but we are going to make it happen.

Still to be done:  Complete electrical, including hanging light fixtures.  Installing countertops and complete plumbing.  Finish hardwood floors and install appliances and carpet.  Complete the screened porch and a big one is the landscaping, which is to be started on Monday.  Kent Hamlin of Garden Enthusiasts is our man for that. Also going on Monday is the metal roof over the porches.

(To see what happened next click here.)

After we are settled the Home Tour begins here.

Wow, you found an old post! Did you know we're a food blog now?

If you love food, especially Southern food, you're going to love what we've done with the place! Check out some of our favorite recipes below.

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