Our Fabulous New Porch

I have been waiting for our new porch to come together for months. It is finally taking shape and we could not be happier. Our old house had a saltbox style and no porch. Here in Oregon Bad Idea! Nothing like having your guests huddled against the house in the rain until you can get to the door. I have always  dreamed of having a large front porch with a place to have a bench and a place to put wet umbrellas etc... and I think I got it.

City Hicks

I took Jake down to OSU on Tuesday. On the way down I said " I am kind of embarassed to be dropping you off at college in such a filthy truck." Our vehicles are constantly dirty here from all the construction debris and dirt blowing around. We gave up trying to keep them clean weeks ago. Jakes says thats ok Mom because we are "City Hicks". I was like right on, that is exactly what we are, very fitting. The blog is now "City Hicks".
That is Jake and his old friend and new roomie Jake ready to rock at Wilson Hall. It has been three days since I dropped him off. Man we miss that boy!

Clean Water Services Work on our Creek

Clean Water Services has brought in the Big Rigs this week to put in a new manhole and run new line next to the creek. They start rolling in at 7am and don't leave until 7pm! They say they will be done by the end of this week and then they send a crew in to replant and clean up. Hope So!  

New Addition, Framed & Roofed

 

 

Our new addition which will have our Master Bedroom, Bath and a Laundry Room is framed and roofed. We are very happy with our choice of using a 50 year shingle on the house. The thicker shingle gives a great depth to the roof. For just $1,000 more than using 30 year shingles getting 20 more years of roof life and a better look was well worth it. The steel framing for our deck off the Master Bedroom was expensive but required by code since there is a garage underneath. One the upside that deck is never going anywhere. I think you could park a car on it! I also love the roof gables the Architect Steve Nyes designed. Its just little different and adds some character to the house.
On the downside we are still waiting for Northwest Natural Gas to come and move the meter on the front of the house. Waiting and waiting..... it is really holding things up. Oh and Clean Water Services showed up to start their new sewer project behind our house. Oh you can't imagine the big equipment that is in our backyard. Better they get it done now while everything is already a mess.

Summer Garden Feast

Our friend Chris came by last night with dinner. She is a fabulous cook and it was a real treat to have a real meal!

Back from a week at the Beach and ....

Progess! We have a second story on our addition. Yahoo! It as great to walk through and get a sense of the rooms. The boys rooms in the basement are framed in as well.
The giant pile of dirt from excavating is gone from our backyard. Another good thing.
We had been hoping that our front porch addition would be framed. We are still waiting for the Gas Company to come and move the meter. Please come soon?