Monday, April 14, 2014

Feeling Frustrated

"That's construction, dear", my patient husband reminds me as I sit steaming with frustration over two weeks of no workers showing up at the lake house. The weather is beautiful! Why isn't our project important enough to put someone else off for? Didn't we contract early enough? Didn't our contractor get on vendor schedules early enough? I don't know. All I know, is that the finish carpenters won't be here until Thursday. Nothing happened all last week, except what Larry is doing in the laundry room. The tile guy is back to do some fine-tuning, finish work today, but that's it!

I am not patient. That's it. I just am not! So, I emailed the GC last Friday. Of course, I have received no reply. I expect he'll avoid me and talk directly with Larry. I reminded him once again that airplane tickets have been purchased for guest arrivals for a party planned on May 24th! I told him I'd need two weeks to move back in. I could accomplish this in a week, but I need to put pressure on. I asked if this was going to be a problem. I need a functioning house by mid-May. That's it! There is no room for two weeks with nothing happening. I hate this. Thanks for listening.

Friday, April 11, 2014

Latest and Greatest

Renovation activities have been slow at the lake this week. The new laundry and sunrooms have been completely tiled, though, and look beautiful. We are so happy we chose the pattern and grout color. The grout blend is lovely with the tiles.

Our GC, Bill, met with the finish carpenter boss the other day. We have not seen any sign of them since, but we're sure Bill gave him his marching orders. Hopefully, they'll come today.

Larry has been busy mounting upper cabinets in the laundry. We both have been staining them here at the in-law's house. We'll take the nine doors in separate trips, so as not to wreck their finish in transport. He's got some in the truck, and I'll bring more in my convertible.

Speaking of the convertible and this is top-down weather right now: We are really enjoying it, but have to be mindful of the heavy pollen coating all our vehicles. I had to wipe out the dash and doors the other day to get the yellow coating off the inside. A good hard rain early in the week took care of the outside, but now more is forming. My eyes burn with pollen irritation every day. Luckily, my antihistamine is working and my sinuses are fine.

With warm spring weather, the Azaleas, Dogwood (white and pink), Wisteria and Yellow Jessamine vines (the SC state flower) are all out. Blooming trees are everywhere and the lakehouse yard is just gorgeous right now. Our cherry tree is also in full bloom on the water's edge. I just love spring in SC.

We realized last week that our master bathroom vanity was purchased with a different room configuration planned. We decided to keep it anyway, but had to purchase a triangle-tank toilet to accommodate the limited spacing. I'd rather look at the shower door when I pee than be bumping up against the vanity just trying to sit down. Wouldn't you? Larry purchased the toiled from Amazon Prime, and put the bowl in place to check for spacing. We think it'll work just fine.

The kitchen cabinets have all been installed and the granite guy came to template the kitchen and master bath. We chose "black pearl" with modeled gray in it and some little blue specks. The bath will have "mahogany blue eyes" with iridescent blue and green specks in shades of brown.

I've been shopping like crazy to decorate the interior. We only have a month of construction left (hopefully). Then we'll have two weeks to move back in and decorate before the party on May 24th. It better be ready! I keep cracking my whip at the GC and other workers. They just shake their heads and chuckle. It's life in the slow lane here. I keep reminding them I'm a Yankee and we "move and shake"! Lord help us all.