Our Christmas Tree

Christmas tree making the great room festive while we play games and exchange gifts.

Christmas Morning

No dressing up for this picture, but we were having a very relaxed Christmas morning just enjoying each other and opening a few gifts from Santa. We were so excited that Nik made it home from New York. That storm they had last weekend almost kept him there, but he was creative enough to work with the airline agent and they found him a route home. It is so great to finally be in our own home after a year and a half.

Merry Christmas

I know. It has been quite some time since my last entry. But getting moved in and unpacking just the boxes to "start up" as well as readying the house for Christmas was a little overwhelming. Andrew, Rich and I did get out in the forest to select an Alpine fir tree to decorate. It is beautiful and about 14 feet tall. It took us about a week of intermitent hanging of ornaments to make it look like Christmas. We also had to get the basement ready for Andrew and Nik to have "rooms." Rich created walls with grommeted canvas and cardboard screwed into the 2x4's. It looked great. We hosted our entire family for Christmas Eve dinner and realized this was the first Christmas celebration we had ever hosted in our own home. We were always the visitors or stationed too far away. I did not have time for cards before Christmas, but will get them out soon. Pictures will follow.

Lots of SNOW

We woke up this morning to 12 inches of beautifful white powdery snow. And an early morning ride down the mountain in the rhino. It was fantastic and rode over the snow great. Rich spent part of the day snow blowing the road with his tractor and snow blower attachment. After arriving home from work, Rich came down and picked me up in the rhino. We got another 4 inches of snow during the day. It is now taking a break. Maybe more tomorrow.

SNOW, SNOW and More SNOW!

About 5pm tonight, it started snowing. Our first big winter storm. My new snow (sticky) tires on my Explorer make it very easy to get up and down the mountain. BUT tonight we are expecting 10 inches of new snow. So, Rich and I headed up to my Mom's and loaded up the RHINO on the trailer. We got it up to the mountain and parked my Explorer at the bottom of the hill. Now, I will be able to get to work in the morning. Rich will drive me down in the Rhino and off I go. It is now almost 11pm and the snow is still coming down. It is so beautiful. Well worth traveling down the mountain in the Rhino, plus it is fun! I'd love to take you for a ride. Come and visit.

Still Unpacking

Well, we have been in the house since last Thursday and we are still surrounded by boxes and paper. It is more difficult to unpack and get organized when I'm working 3 days a week. But I am making some progress and soon we'll be all moved in.
Yesterday, Sunday, Rich, Andrew and I hiked up a trail on Blewett Pass and found the "perfect" Christmas tree. It is an Alpine Fir and is about 15 feet high. I love it! And in the process we found a very nice snowshoe trail.

Tomorrow, Thursday, is the BIG DAY

We passed the county inspection. Today, was little item fix day at the house and tomorrow morning Rich and I will be arranging the furniture and starting the unpacking process. I can't remember what I even own, so many things have been packed for over a year. I am so excited. Once the place is somewhat put together, I'll get a tour of pictures up on the site.

Front and Rear Exterior

Final inspection is tomorrow. The gas line was hooked up and the house was cleaned while we were in New York last week. SO, I think we will be moving in this week. It looks like there will be exterior painting in the spring. It has gotten too cold here to finish the trim paint. This week the highs are going to be in the teens. You can tell from the pictures we got snow last night, about 3 inches. The wind chill will be in the single digits or negatives.

L shaped deck off the breakfast area and the dining room. The glass railing system makes the view more enjoyable.

Master Shower with full glass wall /door. Deck off the master bedroom. The glass deck "railings" have been installed.

Tile and Vent Hood. This picture is for my friend, Cindy, because she noticed a while back that the tile didn't go all the way to the cabinet. Now it does and it looks great.

Fireplace

Me and Nik in "his office."

This is a new work area for the theatre students for planning. The Theatre building is in the process of being remodeled and it looked great.

Models of set designs for classes by Nik

Nik's Class Projects

Projects include puppets for "puppetry class, models of set designs and a painting for another class.

Andrew and Christmas

This afternoon, Andrew and I strolled through Leavenworth to take in the Christmas lights. It is always so pretty downtown this time of year. The Christmas Lighting weekends (3 of them) start next Saturday. Yes, he is holding a bottle of wine. We stopped in at a local wine tasting room to "warm up!"

Front and Back of house

We are getting so close. 10 to 14 days from now we should be in the house. But we will see. It looks like carpet this week and towel bars, accessories, etc. Today, it was so beautiful up there. It was clear and sunny, but a little chilly at 42 degrees. I sat out on the porch for awhile and took in the view.

Tiffany Lighting and Stone Fireplace

Rich and I selected matching tiffany lights for the entry, great room wall sconces and the pendants over the island bar that separates the kitchen and dining room. They accent the warm tones of the copper and golden wall colors. We also selected warm tones and grey tones for the stone around the fireplace.

Laundry Room and Garage

The garage was painted a few days ago and the power is off to keep people from using the garage door opener. So, the picture is dark.

Exterior porches/decks

Will We Make It?

We rented a U Haul truck this weekend to start moving our belongings up the mountain. Four of our local friends helped us yesterday along with Andrew. They used their pick up trucks, so we managed to get a majority of our goods up to the house in just 3 trips. Today, we plan to get the rest up there. But wouldn't you know it, the winter storm got over the Cascade Range and we awoke to 2 inches of the white stuff and it is still coming down. We will persevere! I'm determined to get it all up there today. The weather is predicted to improve by noon. We will get the truck loaded this morning and make another couple of runs today.

One last Gable and the siding will be done.

The white splotches you see in the picture are snowflakes. Yes, it is Beautiful, but stressful if you are planning a move in.

Master Shower 4 ft by 8 ft.

I love the tile and the windows in the shower. Lots of light.

Master Bedroom & Rich's Built In Dresser

Great Room Fireplace and Windows

Dining Room

Kitchen

Well, the appliances are at the door awaiting entry. I'm hoping for this afternoon, but it could be tomorrow.

Breakfast Room

Kitchen Pantry

This room is 6 ft. by 10 ft. Lots of food and drink for lots of visitors.

garage

I finally got in for more pictures

Please excuse all the subcontractors working and their equipment, but I really wanted to get some pictures on here for my viewers. The painter is doing touch up (I'm sure there will be more later!) The plumbers are installing toilets, sinks, and hardware. The electricians are installing the light fixtures and the drywallers are completing the garage. For once, I don't have to finish or paint my garage. And the dog wash, boot wash station is being built. Things are moving along, but it is snowing. Rich and I hope to get some moving done soon.

More Snow

Another early snow storm arrived yesterday morning and it snowed long enough to give us about 2 inches of the white stuff. It is BEAUTIFUL, but it ended up scaring away the appliance delivery people. The painters were up at the house continuing with the doors and trim. They will be there for several days. The snow will start melting over the weekend, so maybe the appliances will arrive early in the week. Rich and I are hoping to start moving our "belongings" up to the house next weekend.

We are getting closer!

Quite a lot of work was done this past week. The granite counter tops were all set. Most of the tile is done or ready to grout. The roof is done and the siding and gutters almost complete. The interior trim is ready to paint. This next week we should see our front porch and back patios get poured, the tile backsplashes and the master shower get done and our garage door installed. The appliances go in on Friday - I hope. I also think the plumber comes back to install toilets, sinks, etc. The weather is turning wintry and we are ready to get our belongings up to the mountain. Hope you are enjoying the tour.

Roofing completed / Siding almost done

Yes, really! Can you believe it? It only took them 3 weeks to get the composite shingles on the roof. They are almost done with the exterior trim and siding.