VACATION

I must share some of our vacation pictures with you from Corolla - it was absoultely AMAZING!!! We didn't want to come home!

Driveway

Ok...so we finally have a driveway it's not completely finished with all the rock and stuff but the pipe is in and the ditch all cleaned out from where I got stuck with the tractor. I haven't had a chance to take pictures yet but I will do soon. I met with the man that's doing my official blueprints last week and I should have them back this week to get started on the bank process.

The First CUT!

Anna and I set off yesterday afternoon after dinner to cut our grass for the first time on the LOT. So, yeah pretty much there's not a house there yet and we still have to cut grass. It had gotten pretty tall and we wanted to make sure the people that are going to be coming to do work soon could even see the lot. My brother hooked the tractor up for us and off we went. We were doing so good and were almost done...but of course that wasn't quite good enough for me. I wanted to get a little closer on the ditchbank. It only took about 2 minutes of that and I was stuck!! I slid in the ditch and after the 4 1/2 inches of rain we just got that was it.

Of course Dad pulled me out with no problems...but we have pictures to share! Needless to say the LOT looks great and soon we'll have a driveway. The finished product......

We have an ADDRESS...

I get to update with some great news...we have an ADDRESS!!!

Our official address is 11183 Burwells Bay Rd. Smithfield, VA 23430

Don't start sending the summer clothes just yet though we have to get a mailbox up first. We will soon have pictures of our driveway I hope...check back next week! :)

Progress...let me see if I can bring the blog up to date on where the project stands today.

Back in November of 2006 I sold my condo in Hampton in 3 quick days and closed on it at the end of November and moved to the rents. So, Nana and Grandy quickly adjusted to Anna, 2 puppies and me being at home again. We rented a POD thinking we would be moved into the new "modular" home by May or June at the latest so we packed up all of our summer stuff. Well, in case you didn't know it's May and there's nothing on that lot yet and the summer stuff is out of reach...so we're accepting any donated clothes :)

After much research I determined that we could do this ourselves and sub it out and save a lot of money and use all of the Ferguson discounts. So, the entire plan changed. I started making phone calls and trying to ensure that we could do this. The plan began to change which meant a lot of waiting to get everything in order. In the meantime I was waiting on the county to approve the survey to transfer the land over from my Dad to me. After they lost the paper work once and made me re-do it finally after several months the deed is finally recorded and in my name. The septic system has been approved and we're ready to pull the permits.

Well in order to pull the permits in Isle of Wight County now you must be very detailed in your plans and specs. etc. So, we had to hire a designer to draw up exactly what we wanted. We currently have the preliminary blueprints and we're trying to cut some corners and get some friends to help out with the final blueprint to save about $1500. I have a meeting with someone that is able to do this on the side next week he recently helped a friend do all of hers on her own as well...

I talked to VDOT today and applied for an address. Soon we should have a driveway for you to all come visit our "LOT" and an address for you to send the summer clothes donations. I'm beginning to get bids on footings and framing so that we can get all the information lined up at the bank for the construction loan.

I think you're up to date now and I'll be back next week with hopefully some more updates...

The Lot

So, this lot will eventually have a house on it...no really I promise...

Here are some pictures of the lot and of course the puppies...they LOVE the country!

The picture to the right is pretty much our backyard. It is the other part of the farm where the house will be there's corn growin there now :)

The Big Question

So the big question these days...so how's the house coming? The reply depends on the day; oh it's coming, it's not, slowly but surely and the great thing is all are probably correct answers. I decided to create a blog because I just thought it would be a cool way to follow the progress of me building the house and a good way for me to keep a somewhat journal to look back on and read one day once it's all done. Now others can join in on the excitement, anticipation, frustration and aggrivation with me.
Hopefully we'll have more and more to add soon...Enjoy!!