Our Little House on the Prairie

The office a work in progress

2011-03-07T11:04:00.000-08:00

The office still has many things to come but so far it has two key pieces that I love.

I found them in a local store new made to look old. Both of them are really meant to be used for something else but I really thought the would work well in our office.

Next up is to buy some filing cabinets. So hard to find wood filing cabinets that are old looking.

I have a plan just need to put my mind to it.

Pics Feb 1

2011-02-02T18:15:00.000-08:00

Entryway

Finally got the chandelier hung just in time for Christmas

I already had the metal Indian cutout but thought it needed something more so I found someone to make me the buffalo and now it just looks more finished

Still undecided on what picture to hang above the fireplace but for now it is a painting of my dad.

Planning on changing out the coffee table for something more rectangle. I don't like how this one gets lost in front of the big couch. Also still not happy with the area rug in this room. But there was a rush to get things done before all the family arrived for Christmas.

I have ordered custom curtains for the patio doors. Hopefully to arrive soon.
It will help finish off this space and hopefully deaden some of the sound.

That's it for the main room.

Move in day November 16

2011-02-01T17:24:00.000-08:00

Ok, People have been demanding I update the house blog with the rest of the story. (Debbie and Donna)

So I will start off with moving day.It was the years worst story every -30C and wind blowing 70 km/hr. So basically we moved in the beds, TVs, and computers.

Almost time

2010-11-12T09:29:00.000-08:00

We were all set to move in on Monday but a small code issue with the mantel on the fireplace has moved us back a couple of days. Just in time for a could front to move in a dump snow on us. Everything is pretty much done just the final cleaning and some touch ups.

October 26th

2010-10-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

The floors are all done but they are covered with plastic to protect them so no pics. My mom requested more pics of the news stuff. Here it is mom then back to work.

Up date October 13

2010-10-12T16:49:00.000-07:00

They have told us we will be able to move in by November 15th. Seems like there is a lot to do between now and then. All the rock work is done now and the hardwood should be done by the end of this week. Tiles is progressing and the electrical is being done right now.

Sept. 15 beams and front door

2010-09-15T15:51:00.000-07:00

Hi All,
The end is in site. Thanks goodness. Things are getting a little tense in the old fifth wheel. The weather has been cold and rainy not giving us much to do except sit around and get on each other nerves. The front door was installed today and it is so pretty. Unfortunately you will not get to see it fully because it is covered with plastic to protect it from the workers. The beams have all been stained as well. All the stain basically matches the kitchen cabinets as well. All the wood is Knotty Alder. The walls are not painted yet but all the trim has been painted. Painting is next and then the floors will be installed first the tile and then the hardwood.

The cabinets are in

2010-09-05T09:57:00.000-07:00

Update August 16

2010-08-16T13:27:00.000-07:00

sorry it has been a while since my last up date. Didn't really think much was going on with the house until I looked at the last up date. I was wrong a ton has gone on since the last update.

the siding is all done

The front entry is my favorite part. The real front door will be put in when the construction is all done.

Love the cedar paneling on the roof

Ignore the yellow it is only primer

I am going to get the mantel on Wednesday. Very excited to have the rock done and a nice timber mantel

I will be gone dog trialing for a week and a half. Things will be so different when I get home. The kitchen is suppose to go in this week.

Update July 4

2010-07-04T10:45:00.000-07:00

Garage floor is poured and the doggy doors are cut in the wall.

Fireplace is installed. Not really ready to use yet.

The hardi plank is being put on. It actually looks less green in person.

Right now everything is getting roughed in. So not much changes from day to day. The electrical and the plumbing are all roughed in. Now just waiting for the low voltage stuff to be roughed in. Meaning satellite, internet and alarm system.

Roof and windows

2010-06-18T10:08:00.000-07:00

The house is coming along. The roof was done last week. the windows were installed yesterday in the down pouring rain.

The roofers started today in hopes of finishing for our next round of rain. I heard rumors from Trevor that our siding is in and they were waiting for the windows to be installed.

Plumbing is all roughed in and the electrical starts on Monday. Thankfully the house is almost closed in so all this rain won't be a problem anymore.

timbers arrived today

2010-06-04T17:55:00.000-07:00

I know two blogs in one day. There was a lot going on today. I came home from Shopping and the timbers for the main entry had arrived and boy are they pretty.

The walls are done and the roof is coming along nicely.

Bathroom and kitchen ideas

2010-06-04T17:49:00.000-07:00

I meant with the plumbing fixture people today. I came home with a bunch of options and I am sure a couple of thousands of dollars. I had no idea you could spend $800 on a kitchen faucet. Sorry for the bad quality pics. I forgot my camera and used my cell phone.

I really liked this tumbled slate back splash

Kitchen sink

Kyle wanted a unique sink for the master bathroom and this is what I came up with.

The picture doesn't do it justice.

The way to a woman's happiness is a really big soaker tub.

A floor sample

2010-06-03T11:09:00.000-07:00

Below is a sample of the flooring that I really like. It is larch wood with an antique oil finish on it. I am getting it quoted from a local flooring company I have used for a couple of our renovations on our previous house. sitting at the bottom of the sample is a little sample of the Kitchen cupboards I have picked. They will be a knotty alder with an cappuccino finish.

All ties in nicely with the Knotty Alder soiled wood door I ordered.

Progress to date

2010-05-26T17:02:00.000-07:00

Starting to look like more like a house.

A sign of things to come

2010-05-19T20:17:00.000-07:00

Giant stacks of lumber arrived today in anticipation the framing will start soon.

Some of the back filling is done now.

Finally

2010-05-10T17:13:00.000-07:00

Finally the basement is getting poured.

Just in time for more rain to come.

Because of all the rain and snow we are now almost four weeks behind schedule.

Your kidding me right

2010-04-29T09:07:00.000-07:00

Sorry for no posts but nothing has really happened since the basement was dug. They came and poured the footings. And now this. I decided to post video to get a better effect. But after watching the video I still don't think the full horror comes through the camera. Anyways enjoy.

The forecast today is for wind gusting to 90 Km/hr. Just hope we don't blow away. Also the power is off and on which means no satellite or internet. Everyone should have the adventure of living in their holiday trailer at least once in their life.

Big piles of dirt

2010-04-18T18:07:00.000-07:00

Equals one basement.

It is rumored that tomorrow footing will be poured.

Going, Going, Gone

2010-04-12T20:27:00.000-07:00

Today was moving day for our house.

The hill looks so bare without the house there.

Turns out the movers miss calculated the high of the house and applied for the wrong moving permits. So the house is going to stay in our hay yard for the next week or So.

As you can see the weather was perfect for moving and making mud.

Fireplace and chandelier

2010-04-05T11:34:00.000-07:00

Below is the fireplace we built in a previous house. We are planning to build something similar in the new house.

I bought this chandelier about five years ago. When we moved from your house on the Highwood river to the current small house I had nowhere to hang it. So for the past almost four years it has been living in my mom's garage all wrapped up nicely. When I first saw it I knew I had to have it.

This picture does not do it justice. It is massive and really detailed.

Almost moving time

2010-04-05T11:27:00.000-07:00

Not much has really been going on. In hindsight I started my blog a little too early. Slowly things are coming together. I have a meeting with the builder tomorrow. Then I will sign the agreement and give them the first payment. We have sold the trailer and it will be moved off on April 12th. Which means we need to be moved out of here by the weekend so we can tear off the decks and unhook all the services. I have not packed anything and I am procrastinating by writing blogs and reading blogs.
A couple weeks ago I went to Ponoka to look at some reclaimed wood floors , mantels and wood beams. Below are some pics.

We are definitely going to get a mantel form this place. Not sure about the reclaimed wood floors. They are nice but really expensive.

First purchase for the new house

2010-02-24T16:25:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I made my very first purchase for the new house. A couple of years ago while out doing some credit card damage with my friend Jackie I saw this sink and thought it would be perfect for my house. Remembering that I drove 40 minutes south of here to pick it up. I think this is going to be place I will spend a lot of time and money at Frontier Western shop.

I plan to put this in the half bath on the main floor.

Not a lot going on

2010-01-25T19:45:00.000-08:00

Hi all,
Unfortunately nothing much is going on with the house. We had a budget meeting today to start looking at final numbers. Of course I added the word "upgrade" beside many of the items. Once the plans are drawn up then we will get a 3-D walk through. So cool. That is the time to make some last minute changes. Still hoping to break ground March 1st. Lots to do between now and then.

Plans added

2010-01-10T16:43:00.000-08:00

Hi All,
I have added a link to the house plans on the right hand side of the page.

Question answered

2010-01-07T20:47:00.000-08:00

Lani wanted to know why we would be living in the holiday trailer during the build. The house we live in now is politically correctly called a mobile home. But we can it a trailer (pictured below) and it is in the exact perfect spot the build. We have found a buyer and it is going to be moved.

The house plans should be in tomorrow or early next week. I will post them as soon as they come in.

Finally we are doing it

2010-01-05T16:13:00.000-08:00

After a fire, followed by seven months of renovations, and two years of living in this little house. We have decided to take the plunge and build a house. We have been meeting with a builder the last couple of months. The floor plans are almost final. If everything goes as planned we are going to break ground March 1st. I started a new blog just for house stuff. Kind of Pioneer women's lodge blog only much less creative. I will take you shopping with me for house stuff, progress pictures of the house. Mostly what Jerry will call me harassing the workers.
Enjoy