Small details

Saturday, January 22 Hans and I visited our log home to see what changes had been made since we visited on Monday, January 17.   The things we noticed were small and not something that everyone would really notice.  However, each small step gets us closer to finishing.

Our gas lines have all been installed and passed inspection.  When our gas appliances arrive and they are ready for installation they can be hooked up and will be ready for use!  AmeriGas came and filled our propane tank with 150 gallons to get all the lines charged and tested.  We have a 1000 gallon underground tank, so they filled enough to test all the lines and give us a starting supply.  We will fill more when we move in.

We also noticed that the electrical sockets are starting to be drilled out in the logs.  When we walked in it looked like we had very large mice moving in!  Piles of squirrely sawdust all over the floors!

I have also asked for one change to be made.  The chimney has been covered with log siding and I would like to see that changed to river rock.  Steve and Dennis have both agreed to do this change for me.  I will be happier with it!

Again, no huge changes, but small details that we noticed on our weekly visit.  I have included some updated photos for you all to share.  Thanks to so many of you for sharing our dreams.  Whenever I travel I am thrilled at those I meet that are following our progress and our dreams!

Here's the current photos:

We've selected our carpeting and here are the samples up
against the logs

Furnace ducts running along the ceiling of the basement

Chimney with log siding.  They will change this to river rock

Drilling electrical outlets into the logs.  See the "squirrely sawdust"?

This outlet goes all the way through the log.  This will be
an inside outlet and outside outlet

Sign on our new windows.  Love the message!

Looking into the great room on the stairs landing

Looking into the kitchen from the stairs landing.
See the drywall all ready to be installed?

A beautiful day on the Mountain

Today was a work day, picking up nails, dropped labels, nails, strips from packaging, nails, soda cans and miscellaneous things one finds on the ground in a construction site, like nails.

We also noted that more exterior trim is up and the first two mantles are in place. We delivered the basement mantle and took a few pictures of the house as work inside progresses slowly. The plumbing is ready to receive bath and kitchen fixtures and the gas lines to the furnace went in today. The heating ducts are almost done and then the electrician will run wires throughout. Once we get all the utility permits signed off, the drywall will be put up.

Here are today's pictures.

A view up to our bedroom from the the North side. Can you believe that blue Colorado sky?

The South side with siding now on the upper windows.

The windows are framed with a dark cedar that should stand out when the coating goes on.

A little closer shot of the siding. Nice. The contractor will leave the porch trusses exposed so we can finish them later.

Here is the artist with one of his mantles mounted on the wall. The fireplace from the mantle to the floor will be covered with river rock but that may be a few weeks away. Above the mantle will be painted wall board.

Fireplace hearths and more!

Another beautiful day in the Colorado mountains and time spent on the "Klossner Mountain" Hans and I and our 4 fur-kids spent a beautiful day at our new home.  We were pleased to see the furnace man there, working on the furnace ducts and getting the vents and pipes ready for the placement of the furnace.  The furnace has been delivered and is waiting to go in.  We also have all the plumbing "plumbed"and next is the electrician...we think!

We have the boxes built for two of the three fireplace hearths.  We took up 2 of the mantles that Hans has built and set them on the hearths ready for the construction crew to install when they are ready.  They look absolutely beautiful.  Hans created them out of one of the aspen trees that had to be pushed over to make room for the house.  Hans is still working on mantle #3...so most likely next weekend we will deliver that one.  It's also pretty cool to see the chimney sticking out of the roof, with both flues put in.

On the north side of the eaves the top "logs", which is really log siding, has been installed and the window trim has been added.

The things we are noticing now aren't as major as when we watched the log walls being built, but each thing done, means one step closer to finishing.  We realize there are many more things to be completed, but it is such fun to notice the smallest details as well as the big flashy items.

For Christmas, Santa gave Hans a 27-ton gas log splitter...and today we gave it the maiden journey of work.  For 4 years we have been stacking aspen logs that we cut and today we started splitting those logs into usable split logs for future fires.  We have been burning "slash wood" for the past 4 years in our large open fire pit, trying to clean up the surrounding forest and making our piece of the mountain cleaner.  Trust us, we have enough wood to burn a fire every day starting now and the next 30 years without touching any of our existing trees!

Pictures to share with you:

The two mantles Hans built, ready to deliver to the mountain

Pride of ownership

Window trim on all windows is completed

Roof with plumbing pipes and flues...no roofing yet though!

Hearth in living room

Hearth in master bedroom

Hans with his mantle in master bedroom

Mantle ready for install...beautiful aspen log from our mountain

Mantle for living room..other half of log from master bedroom
Hans did a beautiful job in creating these mantles

Holding mantle up to make sure it fits.  Can't wait to see the
finished product!

Looking at the full house with chimney and flue

View from near the firepit.  I am already planning the
landscaping!

Nice view of the back of the house.  

Sophie basking in the sun...watching Hans work!

Sophie and 3 of the fur-kids.  Stella, Josie and Cohiba....Talbot
is not in the picture!

North side of the house with the log siding on the top
and windows with casings on them.