Yes, it’s been a while since I updated you on the project – a month! It often seems like either everything is going on at the same time, or we are waiting and nothing is happening , and November 2021 was such a month.
Lots of external and internal issues happened. I had Historicon, surgery, Thanksgiving, and weather to deal with, plus a broken dishwasher and some old school Vikings minis to paint that I just posted about. So, where are we? Like I wrote, some days it was like crazy-town with activity, and others like crickets as we waited for inspections or materials. We are further along but winter is coming – so I’ll give you the progress time line in pictures.
As a reminder – as of November 6th – the project looked like this:
Week 17 – November 7th to 13th
November 9
November 10
Then, a minor supply-chain-related crisis. Evandro (our masonry guy) found out that the paving stones that we wanted were not available. We would need to scramble. I told Evandro that for this project I was function (what works), and my wife Lynn was form (i.e. she picks colors and similar choices – what looks good). At the time Lynn was at work, and Evandro had a book of stone examples but no physical samples. As it’s a major decision, we asked to see some, and Evandro came back later in the evening (after dark) with probably a dozen full-size paving stones as samples (each weighing maybe 30 pounds). We thought the samples would be, well, small! Anyways, by flashlight we were able to make a choice so Evandro could keep going. The choices are less bluish, but still a nice mixed gray hue.
The next day I was off to Historicon, returning Sunday the 14th.
Week 18 – November 14th to 20th
November 14
When the sun came up, this was the progress while I was away. You can see progress on the patio and the doors and windows.
However, Evandro was still at work that Sunday trying to take advantage of the good weather.
The other progress was nice as well on doors and windows.
While I was away, our dishwasher decided to shed its mortal coil – or at least to begin to leak. This was not part of the project, but needed attention as we also discovered that we needed new valves under the kitchen sink. Luckily we got a plumber to replace the valves and found a dishwasher model locally for delivery later in the week.
November 15
November 16
November 17
November 18
The weather warmed up significantly on the 18th, which made it an ideal day to replace our front door. It had been previously ordered to be installed in the summer, but the retailer screwed up and sent a door with no stain on it. That was sent back, and finally the new one arrived.
The door width was 1/8″ wider in the middle than at the top! So, it sticks, and will need to be redone – unfortunately – but as it’s a manufacturing defect we should be ok with a replacement. Timing in November is not good, and it only gets colder. At least the old one is gone now.
And on the same day, the dishwasher was delivered for installation – so yeah, busy.
November 19
November 20
On Saturday, Evandro’s crew kept going – this time attacking the overburden pile of dirt they had previously excavated for the patio and gas line by hand. This was needed as we expected to get the driveway paved with a base course of asphalt within a week.
Week 19 – November 21st to 27th
November 22
On the 22nd, I was scheduled for minor surgery at noon – and I checked out the project. Siding work continued.
The surgery went ok, but I was pretty much out the rest of the day! Anesthesia and I do not work well together…
November 23
This was a part of the construction project that I really wanted to see close up – Bill Keyes Asphalt doing the paving! However, I was in no shape physically to do much more than poke my head out of the door or through a window to take pictures.
November 24
The next day, the siders came back and installed the shutters and repaired the siding by the house deck that had to be replaced as a result of the new deck.
November 25
This was Thanksgiving – so no work happened of course. But the project looked like this below – and its getting colder.
November 26
This date was our wedding anniversary – normally a day to hit the casino and have fun – but I was still recovering in the house. Of course, this being New England, we got snow anyways.
It did not last but it’s still been pretty cold.
Week 20 – November 28th to December 4th
With all the cold and needed inspections, and the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, the progress slowed to a halt. We did pass all of our inspections, and did get a dumpster dropped off to help with all of the rubbish and construction debris that had piled up – especially from the siding.
Hopefully, the upcoming week will show gutter installation, insulation, and more. As of now, it looks like this as of Saturday, December 4th.
Hope you enjoyed the long update!
Mark A. Morin 