Exterior Update

I was in South Carolina last week and one of the final activities was a visit from the landscaper.  I will do the plantings, but the yard needed some attention!

I now have a properly graded front yard with berms to route rain water away from the house.  The yard was seeded with rye and fescue so it should start to look better after some rains.  The grass will, of course, limit erosion. This also means a lot less red clay/mud will get tracked into the house.  The new driveway greatly reduces my chances of getting stuck in the mud with my vehicle!

The goal is for the yard to eventually look like it might look if it had not been scraped bare.  I don't want to be tied to lots of yard work when I am in SC so I'm thinking of a natural look with shrubs and small trees.  Limited need for mowing.  It will take some time, but that's OK.

Still need to finish painting  doors and trim, but the yard is so much better.
Frost on the roof that morning!

We added a turn around spot to keep me out of the mud!

The cat and the dog went with me on this trip and the cat was a very good traveler!  A few squalls, but once Barney (dog) got right next to her crate she was silent the rest of the way.  On some level, I think he must have been letting her know it would be OK.  Silence is golden!

Barney and Allie (in the crate)

There are a couple of items for the builder to finish and I have to pay at least one more payment, but I think we are very close to the end!  I am very happy!

Looks Like A Home and Feels Like Home!

It's been a journey of about seven months, but the end is in sight!

On December 3rd, one of my brothers, my sister-in-law and I set out from Florida in a three vehicle caravan to take a load of furniture to South Carolina.
Doug drove the 16 ft rental truck, Katie drove one of their cars and I drove the pickup truck filled with "treasures" for my house.  It was a whirlwind trip and Doug and Katie worked tirelessly while here so my house is starting to look like a home. Nancy O. has been here (again) helping and working very hard.

Take a look back at all that has been accomplished...
Please note that I still need to:

• paint the woodwork and doors
• complete the touch up painting on walls
• add window treatments (on backorder)
• set up and decorate the larger bedroom (no pictures of that room  in this post)
• finish recovering sofa in living area (The pinkish fabric will soon be  completely gone!)
• turn piano into a desk (Piano is in pictures, but draped with sheet.)

Living Area - AFTER

Guest Room - AFTER

Kitchen - AFTER

Kitchen - Looking into former bedroom area

First meal in new house!  (Take out, but delicious.)

Small seating area with paddle arm chairs.

Next:

Final grading of lot, landscaping, installation of post lights,complete driveway and parking pad.