Keep your footing...

Keep your footing....

July 6 -- Things slowed down considerably with the July 4th holiday and the concrete shortage, but progress continues, even if it is slow.

I'm happy that my raspberries have not only survived, but they are thriving and here is the proof.  This patch is a type of "ever bearing" variety that includes one crop during early summer and another one in early fall.  There is no better way to beat the summer heat with a bowl of crushed fresh raspberries and vanilla bean ice cream, especially when the raspberries are from the yard.

Although the destruction of the landscaping of my yard has been more traumatic, so far, than the demolition of my house, I have been able to keep some parts of the yard alive.  Here is a shot of the front perennial flower bed with the landscape roses past their bloom, and the day lilies and purple cone flower (or echinacea) in full bloom.

It is so strange not to have my usual large vegetable garden, but at least I have three large pots of tomatoes -- an heirloom variety, black cherry tomatoes, and that good old standby celebrity.  As soon as the tomatoes set, I'll include a few photos...right now there isn't much to show.


On July 5th and 6th, a man showed up and told me that he was there to set up the footers for the foundation.  During the first day there wasn't much to look at as he left some thin boards, set up some metal stakes and  set up some measuring string.  However, when I returned home this afternoon there was great progress.  This photo shows the forms for the footers and gives a good idea of the dimensions of the gathering room addition and to the left, the rear entry mudroom.

This photo shows the footer where the new stairs to the basement will be located. 

This shot gives a perspective of the footers relative to the back of the house and the basement door (that will be moved a foot or so to align with the new stairs).

This shot gives a good perspective of the existing southwest corner of the house, the outline of the mudroom rear entry and the gathering room, especially the distance between the addition and the existing garage. 

As soon as setting up the footers is completed then the concrete truck should arrive, probably in the back alley with a boom that will deliver the concrete into the footer forms.  After the footers are poured, set and cured, then the foundation wall forms will be set up and there should be another round of concrete.  

In the mean time, the challenge of having to select plumbing fixtures for 3 full and 1 three-quarter bathrooms and the kitchen has been a challenge and will soon have its own blog post....that is after I have another glass of wine.