Update #6:
Painting is done except for touchups, and major activities begin
Things are happenin' now. We have counters in, the backsplash almost all up, and flooring starting to be laid. The upstairs carpeting comes next week.
This has been a big week of big changes. Even some of the post-construction cleanup has started. Tuesday completes week four, so we're getting close to the end. It's odd how easily living in this small space has become a comfy routine.
See a few other photos of progress inside and reality outside of the house.
We're pleased with the way things look and the quality of the work. Ray says the kitchen counter should be impressive as folks round the corner into the room. The contractor is picky and has a glitch in the process, isn't happy with the way the wood floor looks, and is going to redo a portion. We have a new hobby of finding little things we need to buy (stairway banister supports, metal kickplace for the front door) that mean a weekly trip to Lowe's and/or Home Depot to give the credit card a little exercise.
The best part of life right now is we've augmented in a couple of ways what was already a shared healthy positve attitude. Not only do we see multiple reminders every day that things are all working according to our plan, and we're happily enjoying the current moment, but we're also already enjoying the feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment that we plan for the future. Why wait till it occurs when we can live that happiness now every day. Sweet.
It's been a startling cold week, which is bigger news in some ways that the construction. Even the cat doesn't want to go out -- astonishing. Give us those 90s over these 40s anytime, some of us say. I won't thaw until we're back to the 80s mid-week.
Update #5:
Painting is almost complete
I thought I'd be showing you the lovely ivory walls today (whose color actually looks more the color of butter), but the tape and protective papering isn't off yet, so lets wait till next week for the full effect. Even though we're still in a drought, it actually rained and drizzled, disrupting the schedule. Good news, bad news.
Meanwhile, we've settled into a comfortable routine and found other ways to occupy ourselves that are a part of the grand relocation plan.
Even though the Coastal Bend area isn't terribly dense, we're finding a small but steady stream of advertised educational employment opportunities for Ray, so we spend part of each week drafting letters and resumes, and looking for that next posting.
Life inside our cozy living space had only one area larger than a narrow walkway, so -- why not -- we took on the task of ordering, constructing, and placing in that space a chair that we ordered online. One of our previous living room chairs died (we will not speak of that horror), so we decided to replace it for use now and for staging purposes.
See other photos.
I realize my need to take certain cherished plants with me from state to state isn't logical, but it comforts me and gives me a pleasure much akin to taking along pets or children. Over the weekend, I dug up and potted an array of red and pink-purple-orange lantana, caesalpinia pulcherrima youngsters I just planted spring of 2011 (aka Pride of Barbados to us Austinites), cast iron plants that need shade that I'll have little of, a segment of a stately variegated ginger that was just a baby when the sellers stuck it into a corner, and ajuga that's been my companion all the way from Massachusetts in '91. I predict circumstances will make it impractical to see them all safely transported and eventually planted on Mustang Island, but it felt wonderful to be doing what felt like a step of preparation for our new lives. And nothing is better than digging in dirt and potting plants on a perfect 85 degree, breezy, clear Texas fall day.
A noticeable challenge is is keeping the floor clear of mud, wet Cedar Elm leaves and seeds, and crumbs, which are hard to clean with a broom that hardly fits around the table legs and boxes. Ray, learning from his son Derek's success, purchased a robot vacuum that helps lend a hand with the mess. Jetson fans will understand we really had no other option than to name her Rosie.
Next week is to a big week for Luckenbach Lane. Upstairs carpet, kitchen and bathroom counters, and -- so the contractor claims -- even the downstairs flooring is due to go in. That's a mighty big plan, fellas. We'll be hopeful and patient.
Update #4: Texturing is done, painting has begun.
The photos accompanying this posting were supposed to show the wall texturing phase of the remodeling project, an exciting and riveting scene, right?
Unfortunately, after Flickrizing, cropping, and captioning them, I somehow deleted the whole set, except for a few odd photos.
Imagine scenes of walls covered with speckled dots. Imagine large, room-filling painting trestles standing silently. Look what boredom I saved you from.
The next shots coming by the start of next week should show the beautifully consistent, plain walls of the upstairs after the painting phase. If the rain holds off, we might even have a bit of downstairs painted walls to feature.
Life is good, creeping at its petty pace from day to day.
Update #3:
Packing is over and the deconstruction of the current home has begun.
Between the last posting and this one, we packed everything in the entire house and crammed it into the attic until that was full, then put the rest in the garage. Plenty of room after we donated everything we haven't used in the past year.
Meanwhile, we've made choices, gotten estimates, and negotiated better prices (Ray says: "This woman wins in price negotiations; she's dangerous." Alese responds: "Just tell them what you want."). We've ordered carpeting, flooring, and counters, and bought most every doorknob, faucet, and handle that Home Depot and Lowe's had in stock.
We had the trees trimmed to allow the house to been seen from the road, and, to show their support, those nice county road folks decided to resurface our road amid the excitement and multiple trucks out front.
Ray says: "It wouldn't have happened without Alese's hard work." My response: "I love to organize a big project, and we'll never get down to Mustang Island until we've made this house gorgeous and sold it."
Now we've retired to the master bedroom and bath, where the daily essentials were all waiting for us, and we're going about living our lives in a tiny space till the remodeling is done.
Update #6: 
