Day 14

 Nothing today except a hole full of snow.

The kids hopped in the hole to check it out.

Dirt Sample Results

Chuck stopped by tonight to let us know the results from the dirt sample. Unfortunately, not the best news ever. The soil is a sort of ash-like material. Our plan of action is to dig down a foot deeper around the footings than planned. Then we will fill and level it out with road base material to prevent any settling or shifting. They also will dig out a little further all around- I don't remember exactly why. ;)
The Dirt Sample test will cost about $1400 extra. Ouch! Then we will have to pay the materials and time to do the extra work. Chuck estimates that it will come in right around $5000. I'm so sad! But we do want a solid home that will last. We knew we wouldn't make it through this project without some unexpected variables but it still is hard to swallow.

Day 13: Snow and Waiting

More Snow. More Waiting. (The workers in the picture are working on the Across-the-Street-Neighbors power)

Day 12: Waiting for Dirt Sample

Waiting for the Dirt Sample results.

Here's the hole from the front left corner of the house:

Cabinets and Countertops- Check!

About a month ago (sometime in late December), after we got the basic idea of what shape and size the kitchen would be, I drew up a plan for what I wanted the cabinets in the kitchen and the laundry room to look like. I used graph paper so it could be somewhat accurately proportionate. (Cuz that makes me happy! LOL) I really should go back to school for a degree in something like this. I love this stuff!

On January 18th- I met with Chuck and Gaye Akerman from Power Townsend to see what she'd come up with based on my ideas. It was pretty close- just needed a little tweaking- (cuz I always tweak things. :) I went home and drew up a slight variation for the kitchen to make it look more proportionate since we ended up with extra space on one end. Did I mention how much I like drawing these things up? 

I still am having issues making the laundry room work Grrrr! But I've been looking up lots of ideas on the internet. Somethings gotta work, right?

In the past week, I've been back twice to meet with Gaye and I think today, we finally got it. I'm so excited!!!! Except for the fact that the price came back in higher than we have an allowance for. The cream paint and brown glaze costs more. However, I told Chuck that I wanted this specific kind from day one so- we're in the process of seeing what we can do to make it work. He said that the well cost might come in lower. Also, I found one cabinet that is discounted. I took back-splash out of the kitchen. And gave up some counter space I wanted in the laundry room. Plus I'm trying to see if I can cut the price of a few other things to make up for the difference. Hopefully we can make it work.
Here's the Cabinet plans we came up with [Happy day for me!]:

Kitchen

Kitchen bar- it will seat 4 on the back side and we are thinking of doing bead board on the back. Darling!

Laundry Room- Cross your fingers it works once we frame that room
I'm also going to add a bar from the cupboard to the wall to hang things to dry

Master Bathroom- All the other baths have cabinets that look like one side of this one

And here's what the actual cabinets [made from Mastercraft] will look like- except we will add oil-rubbed bronze handles which will make the glaze pop! We will have crown molding around the top of all the upper cupboards. So pretty. I love them!

We also picked out flooring and this amazing granite looking counter-top called Winter Carnival from Wilsonart. It ties all my cabinets, floor, and appliances together. I'm in love! Thanks to Gaye for helping design my dream cabinets. You are amazing!

Day 11: Rest of the Hole

Lots of things are going on on Faith Lane today. There were so many workers, I couldn't even drive down the street. I had to park and walk in.

They almost have the basement dug out. We still have to wait for the dirt sample results to come back in a couple days before we can move onto the next step. Chuck called us yesterday to tell us about his concerns of the sandy looking dirt we are running into. He wants it analysed to make sure our foundation will be solid. Worst case scenario-- it will cost up to $5000 more to get it tested, dig deeper and wider and then fill it with materials to make it better for the foundation. Ahhhhh! Not in the plan, people! Oh well- we'll see what the test says.

Also- there is a crew from NorthWestern Energy over there today- running power to the neighbors across the street. They have a huge ditch across the street and lots of wires and tubes in the ground.

Day 10: Dirt Sample

Today was Early Release day at school so we stopped by to check out the Progress. It looks like someone marked a bunch of flags around the Power box.

 The Excavation Crew was out there. We got to talk to them for a bit.

We could tell that the hole is larger than yesterday so that means they did some digging earlier.
But they are waiting for a dirt sample to get tested before they do anymore. If it's too sandy, they will have to dig the basement floor deeper and backfill with a different kind of dirt to make it solid enough to pour the foundation (and not have it settle unevenly). That was not what we were worried about with excavating. We kept getting warnings about land around here and the fact that when they hit rocks and solid ground- they have to do blasting. But-- guess that's par for course in our lives. Nothing usually goes as we expected. LOL We'll see what they say tomorrow.

Day 9: Snow & Wind

Stopped by after Church. It snowed this morning. Our Baby was concerned that our hole would be full of snow.

With all the open space, the wind is pretty free to whip around fiercely. Brrrr! Thank heavens we positioned the garage towards the West to block some of it. 

Day 8: Family in the Hole

It doesn't look like they dug much more since yesterday but the family loved checking out the hole.

Here's the kids in the basement hole:

We also took pictures of each person in their room (or where their room will eventually be- We are SO excited!)
The Parents:

The Tween:

The Boy:

The Girl and the Baby:

Garden Tractor- Check!

With a 2 acre lot, something a little bigger than our old push mower was in order. After extensive research and a killer-deal find, Brett is now the proud owner of this honkin' thing- The Craftsman 54" 26 hp Turn Tight™ Garden Tractor. We are set for towing, plowing, mowing, tilling, hauling, you name it. Oh..... I mean when we buy all the attachments with the money we don't have! LOL

Thanks to our friends for storing it in their garage for us until we have a place to put it! You are the best!

Day 7: Lot from the Corners

I took pictures today from each corner of the lot looking in both directions. Our view is amazing! We LOVE this lot!
North East Corner looking South (Left Front Corner)

 North East Corner looking East

North West Corner looking East (Right Front Corner)

 North West Corner looking South

South West Corner looking East (Back right Corner- standing down the hill in the gully)

South West Corner looking North

South East Corner looking North (Back left corner)

 South East Corner looking West

Day 7: Digging a Hole

With the corners marked, Chuck met with the Excavation Crew today. They spray painted the outside lines of the house and started digging a hole. Mom took the kids out after school to check it out. They thought it was way cool and scary!

Here's the crew working there today:

House Plans- Check!

Chuck delivered us a tube with the final plans back for our house today. I think it's pretty close to perfect. :) [for us at least]

Thanks to the Architect for putting up with us for so long and doing such a great job on our plans. You're a miracle worker!

Jerry Hallford

Design & Drafting Services Llc in Helena, Montana

128 Fall Rd Helena, Montana 59602-7973 United States

(406) 458-5193

Day 6: Placement & Beautiful Sunset

Chuck and his men were out today measuring and marking the corners of the house. Dad & Mom went out to Faith Lane to give our final ok. We decided to keep it back about 70 feet from the road but move it 25 feet to the left. It's ends up being a HUGE front yard which the Momma is not ecstatic about but it will work. ;) It's not like we don't have 150 feet for the backyard left! LOL

 This was the sunset as we left. This will be the view from our back deck. Oh. My. Gorgeous!!!!