December 9th update

My apologies for not posting for a few weeks. I had a health challenge which kept me out of commission;  Surgery on November 30 and pneumonia-like symptoms for a week.  As of today, I am back on the road to recovery.  I am so very thankful and have been reminded to take joy from the smallest, most of the time insignificant things we do everyday. 

I am hoping to make it up to the site this weekend.  Jack went last weekend in my stead.

The outside of the house is now completely wrapped in cement fiber board on the lakeside and vinyl on the other 3 sides. 

On the inside, the tile work has begun.  When Jack and I visited our son, Patrick while he did a semester of college in Spain, we toured Spain and Portugal and fell in love with the hand painted tiles from the different regions.  I decided early on that I would like to incorporate some of those tiles in our new home.  I searched for just the right tile and chose Ruan from Portugal. Jack always says, I have expensive tastes,  one 6 x6 Ruan hand painted tile cost almost $20.00. As with much of this house, a grand idea was whittled down to more manageable (affordable) plans.  The original design had a huge Conservatory where the kitchen and  2nd bedroom are now.  There was only going to be the Master Bedroom on the main living floor.The floor and halfway up the walls  in the Conservatory would be done in Portuguese hand painted tile. The fireplace surround and the entryway would follow with the same tile.   It was going to be awesome!  So was the cost of the tile and the corresponding cost of the house with the Conservatory. The Conservatory was nixed along with its square footage and the Ruan will be surrounding the fireplace.  Joel Harner's Project Manager, Tom Bickel did a great job designing a spectacular surround which will be the focal point of the great room.

The tile was delivered a couple weeks ago and the 6 boxes containing the tile are lined-up in the entry way waiting for their turn to be added to our home.

Hope you enjoy the new pictures.