Our 2nd Christmas

So we're spending our second Christmas in the house this year. 2009 ended up being a bit of a bear, I went on assignment in the DC area from August '09 - February '10. We did watch the Saints become world champions from the media room, though, so that was very exciting!

I'm finally getting things organized and put away. The last room that hasn't really been tackled is my craftroom and I hope to get that done before the end of the year. We've had many gatherings at the house, parties with family, dinners for the Race and Gravy series and for our community at St. Albans, and this is just the beginning of our memories here.

So what about the energy savings? Save for a bill this past summer when our air conditioner malfunctioned (still under a fantastic warranty, thanks Maytag!), our highest electricity bill has been about $120. I did some comparison and had we stayed with DEMCO (we don't get a choice around here), our bill would have been lower than it was in our old, smaller house (seems Entergy's rates are higher for electricity).

And does the stuff really work? LED can lights. Check! Tankless water heaters. Check! (Although, I should mention unlimited hot water probably isn't the most environmentally friendly use of water resources when you're in the shower and it feels really good!) Concrete floors. Check! Extremely easy to maintain, though they do make you more tired when standing on them for long periods, so we're investing in a few gel mats for the kitchen.

I should also mention that in July 2009 we added a member to the Nelson clan. Little Chester is a Scottish Fold/British Shorthair cat who has jumped right into the family. He loves sitting in the big art glass windows in the game room and eating, well, just about anything.

As 2010 draws to an end, we pause to count our blessings. At a time when people don't have a lot or maybe less than they used to, we've been extremely blessed with this beautiful home and the great benefits of investing in energy efficiency and sustainability. I still wake up in the morning and think, "I love this house."

From our home to yours...have a blessed holiday season and a wonderful New Year!

Finally! New Pictures

I finally got the new pictures off the memory card and uploaded. Click on the newer pictures album at right and it will take to the Picasa page with all 82 new pictures on it.

Next post: Our electricity bills... energy efficiency earns its reputation.

Open House: Saturday, June 6

This Saturday, June 6, we will host our marathon open house from 12:00 Noon - 12:00 Midnight. All are welcomed to drop by during this casual event (kids too) as we hope it's a good chance to share our new home with our friends, family and neighbors.

New Pictures really are coming soon (I know, it's almost as bad as a sign saying Free Beer Tomorrow at a bar) and we hope to capture some great moments from the open house on Saturday to share.

For the details on the open house, go to our E-vite invitation by clicking HERE.

Hail Storm Doesn't Dampen Landscaping Joys

* NEW PICTURES COMING SOON *

On Sunday, May 3rd it hailed as we were visiting with Stone and Tony who were in for JazzFest in New Orleans. After our landscaping was just complete last week, we were a little concerned as pellets of ice began pouring out of the sky, but were relieved that they did little damage to the beds, bushes and young trees. The soaking rain also helped the grass and the rain meter installed on our watering system worked flawlessly as it did not turn on Monday morning after all the rain on Sunday.

First Night!

Tonight is our first night in the new house. We're sore from moving in, but still very excited. Susan's Mom is piloting her own TV show for HGTV called "My Daughter's Curtains, Aren't They Awesome" (kidding, but Mom has been awesome making curtains for the new house). The PODS got picked up today and all that's left to empty is the storage and our apartment.

And two paws up from the cats on the cat room... they love it. They've sniffed every inch of it.

My First Beer in the New House

A picture from last Friday. Something about completing a project/dream this huge that makes a beer taste so darn good!

Check the slideshows for more updated pictures. I'll take and post more tomorrow as we prepare for move-in on Saturday... well, it starts on Saturday, let's not get too ambitious. The PODS come on Monday. So while folks are chanting "Throw Me Something, Mister!" we'll be moving in.

I'll shoot some video tomorrow too.

And Let's Not Forget the Master Tub

I had a pretty bad day on Friday. It was a tough day at work, I was frustrated by the chaos in every facet of my life and the incredible lack of control I had over any of it. So, I rushed home from work, put on some "play clothes" (remember when we had play clothes) and went to the jobsite with a beer in my ice chest.

I climbed in the bathtub, fully clothed, shoes on, everything. Popped open my beer and sat back and sipped as the week just evaporated right there.

Imagine how good it'll be with water in it!

The Creme de la Creme: The Master Shower

In a tremendously efficient use of materials, our builder had this idea to cut the 16x16 tiles into rectangles and use the remaining pieces as the back splash and baseboards in the master bathroom. The final effect can't be done justice in pictures... it really is spectacular. And we virtually eliminated tile waste.

Lighting with Electricity

The lighting fixtures were installed over a mater of days by the electrical guys. The LED recessed can lights were a gamble that really paid off. Beautiful, dimmable light quality with a fraction of the energy used by CFLs and a micro-fraction of regular Edison bulbs.

Installation and Staining of the Front Gable

Believe it or not, these beautiful gable piece was built by our cabinet maker, Robert Shamburger. Catalin stained it to match the door and the interior wood. They make a great front façade that makes the house noticeable from Nicholson.

Pictures of Progress

After the countertops were installed, the stone was added for the backsplash. Flagstone was also installed after the driveways were poured. Painting went on concurrently while Susan changed her mind on colors.

God Bless Catalin for his patience.

Countertops Installed

The counterop installation was completed the week before last. Painting is well underway, though we're going to change up some things here and there, and tile work is underway right now as well.

With only two weeks left in our old house, we're getting very close to having the new house ready for us to move in, though in the transition we'll be staying at the Reserve at Cedar Lodge near the TownCenter on Corporate.

Interior Painting Underway

The ceiling and woodbeams are stained creating that great stained beam under the stonewall between the gameroom and the kitchen. Interior painting continues next week, though obviously not through Christmas.

The exterior soffit painting was redone this week, a clean up leftover from Hurricane Gustav. Caitlin also came up with the great idea of painting the door to the tool storage area to match the soffit color, it really looks great on the exterior of the house now.

Countertop install was pushed to Monday, but we're still moving along great with getting the house finished.

Driveway Poured

Since the weather in Baton Rouge has gone from freezing last week to mid-70s this week, we weren't sure that concrete pouring was going to be possible. But taking advantage of a small window the past couple of days where it didn't rain and the temperature settled in between the 50s and 60s, they were able to get everything poured. The stone pallets (off in the distance there) were delivered today and will be place on the edges of the driveway and on the walkways shortly.

Look out: countertops are scheduled to be installed on Friday!

SNEAUX DAY!!

You folks aren't going to believe this, but today, December 11, it snowed three inches in Baton Rouge. It was amazing and beautiful and since I was driving to New Orleans in it, I did not make it to the house to take pictures.

It also was too cold to paint. Yes, it's remarkable that the construction of our house could be impacted by a hurricane AND snowfall in the same four month period!

Finishing Begins

With about five weeks to go until the house is finished, the colors of the house are starting to come alive as Caitlin works his magic painting and staining.

The stone wall between the gameroom and kitchen was filled in today and will be grouted tomorrow. The kitchen and bathroom cabinets have been stained and others painted.

And the driveway forms are ready to be poured on Saturday. Check out the slideshow link for more pictures of the finishing.

Closets Built

The closets are built and paint priming has already begun. I'll take more pictures over the weekend and get them posted.

Almost all the cabinets are in, the baseboards are complete and primed and the wood beams in the Game Room have been installed. Also this week we ordered the garage door, all the electrical fixtures (well, almost all) and everything should be in for the plumbing and other installation after the counter tops are installed!

Oh, and we ordered the stools for the bar. It's getting very exciting folks!

Old House Goes Up for Sale

Our old house went up on www.fsbobr.com last night. If you know anyone who needs a house, check out this link: http://www.fsbobr.com/explore.cfm/area04/102053 to see pictures and information on the house. It's a great house, we're just more excited about moving into our new one that Rick hopes to have us in by Christmas.

Home for the holidays indeed. Thank goodness I bought LED Christmas lights after the holidays last year!

Exterior Finishing Almost Complete

From the outside, you'd never know it's a concrete house. A lot of people asked about using ICF and wondered if it would make the house look bulky or odd.

With beautiful architectural stone and a stucco finish, it looks just like a regular house, except on one of the most important pieces of paper, the energy bill.

Robert from R&S Superior Cabinets is also doing a great piece of millwork for that front gable, so stay tuned to see how it develops. On the inside the cabinets are almost done, the doors mostly hung and the trim started last week as well. The house is really coming together. Check out the slideshow for more pictures.

Dry Wall Complete, Cabinet Installation Starts

Robert Shamburger and his son Beau from RS Superior Cabinets were onsite Tuesday afternoon to install the cabinets throughout the house. These beautiful custom cabinets were designed in the craftsman style to complement the rest of the house design. Made of beech, they are a beautiful smooth wood that will take staining very well.

The dry wall is complete as is the exterior finishing, with the exception of the soffits that have to be redone from the damage the Tyvek did in Hurricane Gustav. Apparently heavy paper being wind-whipped at 91 miles an hour causes paint to flake off, I believe Tyvek-blasting is the technical term.

We were given a gift on the exterior finishing in that there was a slight bit of confusion over the color we chose and what was listed on the filing plan of the house from which we chose the color. The result is that on the original paint attempt we got a gray color instead of the green color we wanted. Well, we decided to use the gray color as an accent around the windows and on the boarder on the front. I saw it for the first time yesterday and it looks awesome. Pictures are coming soon, but I need to go take them in the morning as the afternoon sun (at least by the time I get there each day) detracts from the detail and finish.

Things are really rolling along. Cabinets will be finished this week, then doors get installed the house really starts to look finished. Check out the slideshow link for more pictures!