Well the first snow came early this year–inside our house.  That’s what it looks like to me anyway. I think I mentioned that the spray foam insulation was going to encapsulate the house including sealing off the crawl space and attic, so it looks like snow in reverse fell to all the non dependent crevices of our house. 

We have done a lot of planning this month. There are so many considerations before the walls go up: placement of outlets, switches, lights, appliances, mirrors, cabinets, plumbing, venting, oh my!  Things can change, but after this point it will be very inconvenient. For example, Hayes had to drill holes in the exterior brick for the lights outside, so we only want to do this once. I never before considered all of the measurements that go into light placement and the craftsmanship required to ensure that all the fixtures are level.

We have been simultaneously working on the exterior. More copper flashing and gutters will continue to go up throughout the project.  The exterior trim is up, so now we’re onto the trim painting phase.

We have also done lots of yard work. After consulting with a trusted advisor, we decided the best course of action for all of the shrubs at the entrance to our home was to clear them out and start fresh with planting of indigenous plants in the winter and spring. It turns out that having a wooded, large lot also translates to endless leaf raking in the fall and endless joy for toddlers.

Now that we’ve finished all the interior wall considerations and met the requirements of our inspectors, we can turn the heat on and start on the walls and floors.  We have already started on the showers and will likely have major changes over the course of the month! 

We are thankful to the endless number of people who have helped us, are helping us and will help us make this house our home.  Happy Thanksgiving!