Countdown: January 16th

The countdown has begun. We expect to have a Certificate of Occupancy by January 25th. In order to reach that goal, however, a great many things have to go on at once as this construction project winds down. We will post daily now so that you can see for yourself what a whirlwind time this is! Keep your fingers crossed that everything goes as planned...

The electricians were here all day, installing fans and fixtures everywhere. They will be back tomorrow and the day after tomorrow, and more days after that until the job is done.

Fans were installed all over the house.

A sample of one type of lighting fixture.

Finishing carpentry also continued at an escalated pace, with everyone required to work Saturday and long days between now and the 25th. As one carpenter remarked today, their TO DO list seems endless! (But do-able, Dr. Ellen says).

The kitchen cabinet installations continued today, although they still aren't done...but they will be! Do you see the piece of cardboard covering the left side of the 12 ft kitchen island...?

...this is why we do that...with so many workers bending over or climbing ladders wearing belts like these, the cabinetry is at great risk especially in the rush of things.

They started installing the oak stair treads today, too...a several day process that everyone else now has to work around. They have to be sanded and stained at some point, too, can you imagine??! Probably tomorrow we will be back to ladders to get from level 2 to 3!

Some important decisions were also made about how to accommodate the log railings while screening the porch in. This particular railing hasn't been stained yet because of the sudden drop in temperature - it has to be 50-degrees or warmer for staining. Oh, well!

Some of the outside fixtures were also installed despite the cold weather.

Nice, huh?

Exterior cleanup and grading is now at full tilt. Gravel is a being brought in, and fill dirt. Debris is being hauled away.

Here you can see five of the 14 or so vehicles that were parked at the property. Workers had to jocky for parking spots around the CAT and other trade-specific vehicles that were constantly pulling in and out of the driveway today.

And THIS was the view today! – the typical 'blue' hue that is so characteristic of the Smokies. Snow is predicted at the higher elevations tonight. Brrr-rrrrrrrrr! - one wonders what will tomorrow bring?!

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