Just One Further Tease...

Walked by 523 this morning and the big dining room wall of rock was mortared! It's absolutely STUNNING. Looks like an old wall from a chateau in France. I'm thrilled with it and those of you who will live there/see it will love it too! Beams arriving today or tomorrow and the cabinets & GORGEOUS marble countertop will be installed within days.

It may be even BETTER than I'd envisioned, if that's possible!

Thank you everyone who has made that possible with your hard work and QUALITY craftsmanship!

This & That

I found this little boy outside Aldrich's really chowing down on a piece of watermelon. I spoke with his mom and she told me that his name was Denver & that it was his birthday. He would barely stop his devouring to talk about his birthday and his watermelon. Kids LOVE Port Townsend as there's so much to keep them in a state of wonder from simple walks to classes ranging from the arts to marine life. Such an idyllic life for them and the best part is, many of them realize it.

And I forgot about this little clump of violas that I found on a walk recently. It is growing right out of the middle of an asphalt driveway. Determined to be showy while it lives and it is! I admire it every day I walk by and continue to be amazed at its beauty in the middle of such starkness.

The interior photos will probably stop at this point since there isn't a huge difference day to day, although cumulatively it obviously has changed. Barry & Shane are hard at work on the tile work, the gutter guys have been on the roof installing, more insulation was added today, the painter continues to prep and the guys are working on trim around the doors & windows. The fireplace is now installed and mortared. It looks fabulous. I ordered carpet on Saturday only to find out today that they don't have enough of it at the mill so they're going to have to make more for my job so it will all be from the same dye lot.

I went to Sequim today for the usual end of the job items that always pop up - door stops, toilet seats and even a garbage disposal. They're so quiet these days! It can barely be heard - thankfully! On the way back, the "elk crossing" signs were flashing along Highway 101 as a warning to all the motorists rushing along. It led me to remember one dark night in Vail where Sam, Jason & I had just arrived at the Stollport quite late. We jumped in "Wookie" our Jeep that lived in the parking lot while we were away and headed to the house. Out of nowhere an entire herd of elk/moose/SOMETHING HUGE "cantered" across the road in front of us. I slammed on the brakes and we started counting them in the headlights. As I remember, we lost count at around 28. It was so startling and today I watched closely the entire journey back just in case...

I'm continuing to pack up as the guys are coming tomorrow to move the heavy stuff out of here for me. So I'll be living out of a suitcase until I leave on Friday. But that's not a huge problem in the scheme of things, is it?

I'll be away for awhile so I won't be posting. When I resume, I'm changing the blog. So if you're a Google "Follower" or have contacted me as I discussed in a previous post, then you'll be on the list for the new version if you're interested.

Thank you for reading about the house's journey. Many of you have sent me such complimentary private emails and I've been gratified by your interest. The house will be incredible - I just hope the life inside will be as well!

Lili

Only In A Small Town...

would you go to the orthodontist on a Sunday. My 15 year old permanent retainer waited until I was in PT to fail. The local orthodontist makes his own appointments & he offered one on Sunday. Needless to say, I was floored but when I arrived, he'd already seen a previous patient & had another waiting when I left.

My morning walk today included the downtown loop. It's a longer route than my usual stroll and I always swing through the marina as a part of it. The Relay for Life was winding down at Memorial Stadium and downtown was full of people enjoying the incredible weather. Today, I saw a sign you'd probably only see in PT - I'm posting a photo. What you can't see is the word "wood" around the corner of the box.

When I finished my walk I went by 523 and was surprised to see the garage door taking shape. I had been told it would be installed on Tuesday - what a pleasant surprise! I met the installer - who is also PT's new interim school superintendent after 20+ years as superintendent in a town on the west coast of WA. I also "met" his son (well, only his hand behind the door...) who was helping him. I'm posting a photo of the door, which I believe really helps polish the overall look of 523. And when the hardware is added, it will look even better.

Tonight was such a gorgeous evening that after looking at chandeliers online for hours and talking to some friends back in Dallas, I set out for an evening walk. I must be getting thicker blood, as I saw some people out with their jackets on but I only needed my light vest! I'm posting a photo of the darling pooch waiting for his human at Aldrich's - a daily sight and never unappreciated for its preciousness!

I'm off here - awaiting "Mad Men's" premiere.

More tomorrow...

The Marina

Seems I don't always escape the building process even on weekends. Since I got back so late yesterday from Seattle, I met Pete at 523 this morning so I could empty out my car which was crammed with items for the house. Got to see the fireplace up close and the many interior doors which were hung while I was on the road. Got the upstairs carpet ordered today along with an area rug for the dining room and I had to wait my turn! That's fine with me - it means that there are other buyers in town & that's great news for all. Of course, it was Farmers' Market as well and what a STUNNING day for it. I woke up to sunlight & it's just now starting to fade at 9:00pm.

Tonight, I walked downtown to meet a new friend, Stephanie, and her two sons who were skating at the town's skate park. Joseph & Daniel are great kids and even more than tolerated a friend of their mom's watching and asking a lot of, probably, ridiculous questions. The last time I was on a skateboard they had metal wheels & it (of course it couldn't have been the "driver") caused my second broken arm when I was flying down a hill and a stick got in the way. See - I've not always been so cautious in life! I've wisely steered clear of them since but it's amazing what kids can do with a skateboard these days. Stephanie & I walked over to the marina and gabbed for quite some time, during which I took tonight's photo of the boats in the marina at about 8:15pm. The sun was so gorgeous on the water & if you look very closely (sorry, it was taken with the iPhone!) you can see Rainier in the middle of the photo.

I'm already packing for my move out of this temporary housing and for my trip to Dallas next week, which can't come soon enough for me, blast furnace or not...

Seattle

What a BEAUTIFUL day it was in Seattle today! Sunny, warm temperatures greeted everyone & I do mean EVERYONE.

I'm posting a photo of the GIGANTIC cruise ship that was taking on passengers as I was headed back to the ferry. Around the corner, but unfortunately out of camera range, were two "normal" cruise ships. Without exaggeration, this one appeared to be at least five times as large as the other two. Later saw it going by PT in the Strait of Juan de Fuca - heading to Alaska?

More tomorrow...

Beehive of Activity

That's what 523 was today. Loren & three of his men finished the preliminary rock work while Barry & his son, Shane, arrived to start the tile work in the bathrooms. I'm posting a photo of Barry (one of the funniest photos yet for the blog) and of Shane (his Owen Wilson-double son) hard at work. Then it was "old home week" with Greg, Patrick & Mark back again. They trimmed out the windows today and installed the newel post for the stairway. Had no idea that newel posts were secured from beneath the floor. Lots of trips under the house today - the result of a coin flip? What a dance they did with that level - it was extremely accurate at the end, however, as usual. Greg & I measured for all the closet components which I will order in the next couple of days. Chris dropped by with the granite hearth for the living room fireplace with his usual humor. Don, the painter, dropped by momentarily to coordinate with Pete since the sheetrockers are now out of the way. This is a SMALL house & with all these workers swarming (and me standing in the way at times), it gets a little tight although they're always so courteous.

I had to run downtown today - something I can go a couple of weeks without doing at times. I forget what a different world it is just below Uptown as that's where I usually always am. They're simply two different worlds and Uptown is self-contained enough to eliminate the need to go there (well, except for the Rose Theatre...) The ferry was disgorging passengers who then flocked to Water Street to be greeted by shops, food, street musicians and stunning weather. Today had a sax player on one of the street corners & Thursday nights feature music on the dock with rotating groups to entertain locals & visitors alike. I'm posting a photo of the ferry arriving - it reminded me that this ferry will soon be gone. It was loaned to the Port Townsend/Whidbey Island route from Pierce County when a routine inspection a couple of years ago determined that the old ferries had to be pulled IMMEDIATELY. The first replacement ferry - the Chetzemoka ("fine young man") - will be arriving soon with the second in 2011. The Chetzemoka is already undergoing trials in the Seattle area to check its seaworthiness as we "speak".

I'm also posting two photos of what I found when I drove up one of my many visits to 523 today. The deer in PT must be taking fertility drugs since several of them have twins this season. At first, I didn't see the other mother & thought the visible one had TRIPLETS. Not true. Just two moms out with their twins for a "leisurely lunch" from the garden of the neighbor across the street. And what an incredible garden it is!

No post tomorrow - Seattle time again. Somehow I'm not as excited as the last time I went there. But then, it's a different reason...

A Slower Day

thank goodness! Not as much accomplished, but still hurtling toward the end, which is now in sight. Today, the sheetrocker finished the last of his work, the painter arrived for priming & the rock guys were back to continue. I'm posting a photo of every one's favorite room which is now "all white". A white coat of paint really opens things up again. I had thought that the house might be "dark", but so far it's not which is a wonderful surprise.

I'm posting another photo of the strange fog that sometimes presents in PT on such a sunny day. You can barely see the mountains on Whidbey Island above the line of fog. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the wooden boat with its three sails into the picture. It was so picturesque.

If you've been reading the blog and are not a gmail "follower", please write me to let me know. I'm going to be changing the blog soon & will need to contact some of you to let you know my plans for it. Please use "lglast@yahoo.com" for an email contact.

More tomorrow...

Hectic

That's what today was. But so much accomplished! Door hardware is now ordered. The cooktop is now ordered so that Chris, the marble man, can have it early to use as a template. Ceiling fans ordered. Lighting trim selected & the last of the electrical-related choices will be made tomorrow.

But the biggest change is the starting of the rock work in the kitchen & dining room. Four men showed up and really endeavored to get rock on the walls today. I think the photo (taken mid-day so I wouldn't be locked out by the gate later) shows the beginning of a gorgeous room. When we went with similar rock in the kitchen in Irving, Sam liked it so much that he said we needed to do the entry also. And he was so very right. Several people commented that they felt like they were walking into a castle as a result. Will be interesting to hear what people think of this area. Pete seems to really like it while Greg, Patrick & Mark haven't been around much for the past couple of weeks since the sheetrockers & painters were there. But they'll return later this week - can't wait to see their reactions, although most of you know I WON'T be there that early to actually witness it!

I'm also posting a photo of the weather today. Very overcast/foggy this morning but, as usual, it burned off fairly quickly in Uptown. The photo is taken from the sunny bluff in Uptown showing the ferry arriving below, shrouded in fog (wish I had a recording of the constant foghorns in the distance).

More tomorrow...

Haven't Fallen Off The Face Of The Earth..

I'm just running like crazy! Photos of the painter - taken with the iPhone - didn't come out. Suffice it to say that the painter has started some priming & the sheetrocker is still working at 523 daily.

I went to Poulsbo/Silverdale today & am going into Seattle again tomorrow.

There won't be any new posts until Sunday or Monday - busy week & weekend coming up. Talk to you then!

A Beautiful Day

The heat has disappeared already - two days were apparently enough for it - and we've been left with temperatures in the lower 70s, not a cloud in the sky, a light breeze & air that smells so sweet.

Saturdays always are uber-animal day in PT because of the Farmers' Market. This is a town that loves its animals dearly. They're out every day but in full force on Saturdays because of the Market. They greet each other with the same friendliness their owners display toward other owners. It's quite precious.

Speaking of animals, I'm adding a photo of Lenny, the rabbit. I first read about Lenny in The Leader, the weekly paper. Lenny was taken from his hutch on the main drag down from Aldrich's. In typical PT style, a polite note was left in his empty home, "Dear family, I have decided a vacation is quite in order. I will return once my adventures are complete. Love –” with an inked paw print to "sign" it. He is so precious I can see why someone would WANT to take Lenny, but that doesn't excuse the anguish they caused over his loss. Several days later, after he was featured in The Leader, Lenny returned safe & sound with blue ink residue still on his paws. Every time I see Lenny, he has a bounty of Aldrich's day old veg at his paws. Such an exciting life he leads! Since my iPhone photo was so poor, I'm posting a photo from The Leader instead today only.

I found Nonie & Chloe outside this morning coming back from a romp on the beach. I've already told her that Chloe is going to refuse to go back to Tucson when she leaves. Chloe's already a PT dog! Nonie went with me on the spur of the moment to the Rose which had a piped-in production of "London Assurance" from NT Live. I've written about these performances before - they're recorded in HD at the National Theatre of London and broadcast in 22 countries around the world. Emma Freud introduces each play and also interviews a pivotal individual from the production - this time Nicholas Hytner, the director, who provided insight into his thought process for L.A. As this was the last (an added treat) of this season, I'm already looking forward to the next one which will feature Hamlet, FELA!, Frankenstein directed by Danny Boyle & Complicite's A Disappearing Number. PT may be a small town at the end of a highway, but it never lacks for interesting activity.

No Photo

because nothing changed at 523 today. The sheetrocker called in and asked to work tomorrow (Saturday) instead of today so it was fairly quiet all day long. Pete straightened up the grounds a bit, met with Barry the tileman and of course, we had our daily discussion with Greg, who was there connecting the Solatubes prior to further insulation.

I went out early this morning to see the countertop slab which is now safely at Chris's shop. I got the ceiling beams' order almost completed, picked up wallpaper, saw the incredible upholstery fabric for the vintage chair I'm having reworked, and spent more hours at Jeanne's looking at fabrics for the dining room side chairs. Back to the local paint shop for more paint chips since my deadline for paint selections is Monday. EEK! But how wonderful it will be for that to be checked off the list too!

It's "chilly" here this evening after a quite warmish day. Think our heat spell is broken after a whopping two days. Back to PERFECT weather for the foreseeable future.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Sequim & Port Hadlock

Well, the "heat" has arrived. Is it possible that only last week we were wearing coats/jackets and this week we're "melting"? My car said it was 88, the iPhone said it was 79 and I say it was hotter. But after tomorrow, we're supposed to dip back into the low 70s which will be heavenly.

Today, after meeting Fred about the cabinets at 523 & conferring with Greg on all things carpentry, I ran by to pick up Nonie, my new downstairs neighbor, and we went to Sequim to meet Pete to order some interior trim. Afterwards, we went to the primo shopping in Sequim - WalMart & Costco. They actually ARE quite nice stores and it was a quick trip over & back. Along the way, we saw the FABULOUS "Model T" that was parked in the Costco parking lot. I've never seen a vintage car in such pristine condition! Nonie is a great neighbor & such an interesting person as well. I'll enjoy her being in PT until she leaves in October for Tucson again. And of course, I'm enjoying Chloe, her rescue dog!

The "tapers" are there working on the next phase of the sheetrock and they're quite good and quite fast. I'm attaching a photo of one of the installers on his "stilts".

Got some things ordered today and will be going to Chris's tomorrow to look at the countertop slab (now in PT) with paint swatches for the kitchen cabinets. Thank goodness we're in the middle of days of blinding sunlight for selecting colors!

Tonight I went with Nancy & Robin to a "cafe" in Port Hadlock at the marina. Quite a gathering and everyone was totally enjoying themselves. Apparently many of them were the owners of sailboats out in the bay. Such a life...

More tomorrow...

Odd & Ends

Nothing huge accomplished today. The sheetrockers FINALLY finished hanging the "rock" and another crew swooped in to clean up the leftover dusty chunks (sound familiar Jackie?) Thankfully, the HVAC vents in the floor were double covered although I wouldn't be surprised to find some of the fine dust in the venting when it's finally turned on. Tomorrow, the "tapers" arrive.

My new neighbor, Nonie, and I took her dog, Chloe, on a walk throughout a large swath of Uptown today. She's already besotted with PT - usually doesn't take long! As we walked over by 523, three police officers were there cleaning up after a wreck at the corner. One of the strange aspects about PT roads, particularly Uptown, is that there are some intersections that don't have any stop signs. Apparently that was what was responsible for today's wreck. I stopped to talk to one of the officers in his cruiser and Nonie & I later spoke with another. I had some "road questions" to clarify as these were not the type of questions on the driving test. I couldn't get over the politeness and friendliness of these men. Upon hearing that Nonie had just arrived, one of them made sure we were aware of PT's various restaurants. As we walked off, we remarked that neither of us had ever had a conversation like that with a police man/woman. Another side of living in a small town...

I'm finishing the "beam list" for the house tonight so that I can place the order tomorrow. Also, the door hardware list is now ready to go as well. By the end of the week, I should have everything ordered except possibly the upstairs carpeting but that's "easy". It will be nice to have that portion of my responsibilities completed so I can know we're on the downward slope.

Seattle

I, who slept through a nearby tornado once, was woken this morning at 5:30am by my dear downstairs neighbor & her friend who was departing today for Tucson. At first I was quietly grumbling then realized the sun was already bright, so why not get up? Shocked aren't you, those of you know know how much I love to "sleep in". But the sun has definitely arrived in PT for an extended stay, per NOAA. And the area is thrilled at the 70+ degrees today with not a cloud in the sky.

After a brief stop at 523, I was on the road to Seattle. Unfortunately, the Hood Canal Bridge had other ideas. I've been so fortunate to have only been stopped once before when it had to open for water traffic & it wasn't a time where it made us late. Today, it made me miss my timed ferry for Seattle. I'm only hoping that it was a Navy carrier or submarine that stopped us - not a single sailboat like the first time. For those of you new to the blog, the Hood Canal Bridge is a "floating bridge". Due to the depth of the water it can't be rigidly secured (and such depth also makes it so perfect for submarine traffic). You can't feel any bobbing - it's not THAT much of a floater - but just to know it... Once when Sam was up, we were on the ferry going to Whidbey Island & we had to "tread water" while a carrier went by. I went back to the hotel to check its number - the only marking - and it was the carrier that Bush landed on with the "Mission Accomplished" banner as a backdrop. The area has a strong Navy presence down the canal and on Whidbey Island and PTers are often fortunate to see these vessels go by on their way to base or back out to sea.

Chris from Old World Granite met me in Seattle to select the countertop material. Poor Chris - he got the assignment since Gilles is in France. This was my third trip over to "shop", but my first with the all-important stone that will cover the walls next to it. I asked Chris to meet me since I am not trained in "bad slabs" as he is. We went to five slab sources today - all on foot (easy when it's in the low 70s) - and I found "the winner" at the first store. I'm posting a photo of marble being moved into the sunlight for a better look - what a procedure! Even though this is my 5th experience with stone, it's always exciting.

On my way toward the airport area I came around a corner on I-5 and saw this jaw-dropping sight. Mount Rainier is the "Drama King"! I took these photos supported on the steering wheel after frantically digging through my purse for the camera while driving 60+ MPH along with lanes of other equally speedy drivers. Not for the faint-hearted.

And the last photo is of Port Townsend at 8:15pm. I thought I saw some masts while outside & when I walked closer to the bluff, this is what I saw - notice Rainier had to get into this photo as well! What a beautiful, peaceful setting in the "late" evening. Beautiful sunlight, still waters. Loved it. Hope you do as well...

Shingling Finally Completed?

Most definitely (as Rolando Blackman used to say...)

Freighter in the Strait of Juan de Fuca Reminding Me Of Quebec City?

So true...

Sheetrocking Started?

Check.

Sheetrock Delivery Through Temporary Hole In Siding?

Check.