July-ish

As we get closer and closer to completion of the house, we are getting more and more people who ask when move-in is.  My response:  July-ish.  Contractually speaking, Bob Ward has to have the house done by July 22 (five months after breaking ground).  However, the next clause in the contract explained that five months is "weather permitting," and we did have some snow hold us up back in March, so we can't hold them to July 22.  I don't know if it's because I'm excited, or anxious, or stressed, but I feel like everything is moving at a snail's pace right now.  Not a lot has changed on the inside of the house since last week.  There are still appliances that haven't been installed, the barn doors for the pantry and master bath haven't been installed, subway tile hasn't been installed in the kitchen, and the list that feels never-ending continues.  We still need floors too, but we know that's not going to happen until we have power so the hardwood can acclimate to the environment.  I know we are so close to the finish line, but it just feels like we are crawling to it.

The only appliance that has been installed so far.  Steve tested it and we are hooked up to gas already!

Concealed the sprinkler heads

The other thing that affects move-in is BGE (the power company for the blog followers who are not local).  I mentioned in a previous blog that they gave Victor (our superintendent) a few tasks that needed to be done before BGE ran power from the road to our house.  Those tasks included running a PVC conduit underneath the driveway for BGE, having septic and storm water management installed, and leveling out a spot for the transformer in our front yard.  The transformer spot is ready to go and the PVC conduit has been installed.  They worked all day Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday to finish up the storm water management installation.  Maryland code now requires gutters to drain underground, which is great since we are on a well (this will refill our aquifer).  It kind of puts a wrench in our plans for the rain barrel system we had planned for the garden, but Steve says we can still make it work.  They started septic yesterday too.

Storm water management

Start of septic

Still no sign of stone on the outside of the house.  We were told weeks ago that it was going to be installed two Mondays ago.  Just yesterday, we were told that they were waiting on the grading and the storm water management to be done before they even ordered the stone.  So I have no idea when it is starting at this point.

I know the tone of my blog today is coming off a bit negative...ok, maybe a lot.  Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely glad to see progress, but I'm just frustrated with having a little less than 2 weeks left in our current house and I'm pretty sure we won't be moving into our new house within that time.  There's a lot going on with packing our current house (the series of pictures below depict Sophie's idea of helping us pack), coordinating storage units, what goes to my parent's house, what do we do with our pets, delivery of furniture and other appliances that we had to buy, among other things.  I'm stressed and that's putting it mildly.  It is July 7th and there is a lot of July left, so I guess we are still on track to move in to the house "July-ish."  But if I'm being honest, I am pretty sure "July-ish" includes the first week or two of August.

Our "helper," Sophie

Let's end on a positive note because I have a really cool story, but the only pic I have doesn't do this story any justice.  I drive past the house every morning on my way to work.  I like knowing if anyone is working or not (I'm obsessed, remember?).  Thursday, I drove by and in one of the lots that will share the common driveway with us, right by the road, was a bald eagle sitting on a small tree.  As I drove by, it didn't really register with me until I had just passed our driveway.  It finally dawned on me, so I turned around to take a picture because how often is a bald eagle in your front yard?!  Technically, it was in a future neighbor's yard, but close enough!  I started to walk toward it to get a better picture, but they must have really good hearing because I was nowhere near it when it started to fly into the woods in our backyard.  It was really cool to see (especially right after 4th of July!) and made me so excited to be living there soon!  Hopefully we see it again when we live there!

MURICA!