The Year Behind Us, and the Year Ahead

It has been a big year for us and 2011 went by VERY fast. 

I took my last ARE exam in January and became a registered architect in February. The following month BVH promoted me to Associate of the Firm, so we had a celebratory party with many friends and coworkers. 

Really, just an excuse for a late winter party. 

In April David and I joined Jim and Marcia and their friends (now our friends too) Barbara Jean and Donna in Puerto Vallarta.

 

I went back to the Island on June 1 as my parents were moving into the house. I met with the contractors, had a nice evening with Carter. More about the house later. 

In July, David attended a conference in Savannah, and while there, got reacquainted with his step-mother and half brother and family in Beaufort, South Carolina.

In September we finally bit the bullet and painted our dining room, a task we had put off for far too long. Look at the picture holes in the walls that David filled!

Then in October, Tom, Jennifer, Emily and Bridget came here for Canadian Thanksgiving. It was wonderful to see them (see posting from October 14th). 

 

We had our first (and just about last, so far) snow storm on December 3rd. I'm including these because I've been asked to show a little more of our house here in Lincoln.  These outside photos are the view form our front and back porches.

NOW, back to the house. It seems a never-ending project, and it will take at least a couple of years and probably longer before all of the details are complete, but it has come a very long way since January 1 2011. Here is a recap:

January 12: Basement slab was new, and the additions were being framed

January 19: Roof was shingled

February 5: Windows installed

February 7: Stripping the old cedar shingles

March 11: Framing the Kitchen

March 22: New cedar shingles

April 13: Mechanical installation

April 28: Electrical installation

May 6: Insulation, drywall and pine

 

May 21: Plumbing fixtures

June 1: I got there. Mom and Dad moved in the previous weekend

June 4: Family gathering

June 5: apaintin and afixin while the drywall was being mudded

June 6: We visited the cabinet maker to inspect the Kitchen cabinets. Lois and Sandy came by

June 22: Mom and Dad were well into painting the interior

June 26: Appliances arrived

July 19: Lots more painting

 

August 7: Got a shed

August 16: Hardwood floors

August 23: Lights

September 20: Kitchen cabinets installed

November 9: Foundation was parged

December 10: The Machum's visited

That's 2011 for ya.

Lots to do in 2012 but the hard stuff is over. There is still trim to be added, the basement bathroom needs to be finished, and the second floor doesn't even have drywall yet, but it's getting there. My parents deserve a lot of credit for everything that they have done and continue to do. They have made it a home. Hopefully a place they can start to enjoy.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE

stay tuned...