Sheet rock.

The inside is sheet rocked. It looks much bigger inside now.

Before..


After..


Living room.


From the kitchen.


Bedrooms.

More bricks!

More bricks delivered. To the right.

These folks like to do it right!

In trying to be reasonable I suggested a compromise that would let them avoid tearing apart the stonework. This was the second time I had offered to accept a short cut when something was overlooked. In both cases they chose to do it as it was supposed to be done. They tore open the stone work to get at the box and made a hole to mount it facing the house, which I had indicated I preferred. I am still very impressed with their attitude and approach. These are good folks.


Facing the house.

Oops, ver.01

There is an electrical box on the front of the pillar, inside the stone. Ouch!

Oops!

Now that they have sand they seem to have run out of bricks.





It looks a bit like a bunker. I like that.




Inside. A new pan.


Back wall.

Almost!

The bricks are almost done. They might have finished this weekend but ran out of sand. Some of the sand was taken earlier this week to finish a nearby house and it was not replaced yet. I am surprised how fast the brick went up, particularly as the workers told Elena the boss had told them to take extra care. The light colored bricks that Elena picked tend to show any unevenness in the bricklaying to a greater degree than the darker bricks, plus he said this house was "special" and he wanted it to look very good. Elena took them snacks and cokes Saturday and had a chance to talk to them about where they had come from, etc. They all spoke Spanish and Elena has commented that almost all of the people in the different crews have been very polite and nice to her. She is happy with the brickwork and the stone so I am sure they will pass anyone else's
standards.




The back patio and back wall were finished this day.


The stonework is this high and will be brick above. They could do no more for lack of sand (for the mortar).

Bricks and stone!

They just started this morning and by late afternoon things are well in hand. Elena promised them sodas and snacks for tomorrow.



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The boss.

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The sliding patio door.

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The stone. I would have preferred brick, myself. I thought this was just thin layers of stone over the brick. Now I understand the price a bit better.


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Thats a big shower! 42" by 60" inside plus 12" for the seat. Marble pan and marble front and side walls. Glass end and sliding glass door.

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Another one.

Wagner is not really in Mozart's league but Die Walkure is extraordinary. I love this version, and this is a wonderful piece. Gary Lakes and Jessie Norman. I don't think it could be any better.

Some music for Otta

Mimi is very sick and Colline, the philosopher, is going to sell his beloved coat of many years to pay for a Doctor. This is James Morris, excellent!



Barbarina has lost a pin she was to take from the count to her cousin. I have another performance of this and the next which is much better but it is packed.



The Countess wants to win back the love of her cheating husband. She has always been a loving and faithful wife.



This is really too good to be an ice cream aria.
.

Shingles and bricks.

In the morning.






Later. The roof is on.




The bricks.


The master bath. The window is moved. The shower pan is five feet and the seat is another foot.

They don't waste time!

There were a couple of mistakes in the house. I called yesterday afternoon to let them know and they already fixed them. I'm impressed.

The window by the front door was supposed to be deleted but it was installed. They have already fixed it.
Yesterday.


Today.


There was not enough room between the wall and the window in the master bath for the six foot shower. I told them we would accept a five foot shower but they moved the window. Wow!
Yesterday.


Today.



A couple of inside doors were not the correct size but they have already fixed those. The man in charge of construction is very impressive. I have a good feeling!

The back of the house showing all the window space. The center section will be a sliding glass door. (I couldn't upload this yesterday)

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We're skinned!

They put the window in next to the front door. They will have to remove it.



The side, from the corner.


The back of the house.

Things are moving fast.

And from the back.