UP, UP and AWAY!

Howdy Y'all!

The last roof section of the house is up! The last portion to go up is the roof over the Great Room, which coincidentally, was also the most difficult. We've been waiting for this point for the last couple of weeks, and it marks another milestone of completion. It's up, and the framers can now devote their time to completing all of the details inside the framed structure. 

This will also be the last post for the next short while as Jan and I take a much needed vacation to the Northwest to see family and friends.

Center roof structure completes the main house!

Here is a slightly different shot using a panoramic lens. Notice the ever-shrinking load of lumber!

25 feet at the peak. What were we thinking?? Jan and I are flipping coins to see who will change the lights up there.

I had lunch last week with a great friend from the Agilent days who lives in the Dripping Springs area. Chris (Martin) stopped by on his way back for the 50c tour. It is terrific to know he and his family live close by, and to see him again after almost 8 years!

Chris Martin in the Great Room

During our last post, the framers had begun working on the entrance. Since then they have made great progress, and the front porch is starting to show definition. There is still an 'apron' with three windows across the top that remain to be completed. You'll have to use your imagination until we get back. 

Front Entrance

A better view

These last pics are an assortment stuff that the framers are starting to complete in the next week. 

Upper windows in the Master Bedroom.

Round vestibule area looking through the Gallery into the foyer.

The Gazelle and El Gato working on the Patio roof.

Back Patio area looking at the Great Room roof.

Jose framing a doorway arch.

Outside patio fireplace 

Inside doorway arches leading to the vestibule.

Barrel ceiling frame over the Master bathtub.

Part of the selection process is picking doors and windows to both complement, and compliment, the house design. We are fortunate to be working with John Murrell of Anderson Windows in designing custom windows for each room. He is a terrific individual who really knows his product, and has been very helpful in making great suggestions. 

John Murrell visiting with us for the final window check

Well, that's the end of this week's post, and hopefully, when we get back we'll have many more changes to share with you, and some great pics from Seattle!

See ya later,

- John and Jan - 

MORE AND MORE WOOD

Howdy Y'all!

Okay, we admit it, this is a 'tweener blog post. There, we've said it. Got it out of the way, so don't expect much. Mainly a 'tweener because the framers keep adding more wood, and we are sort of marking blog time until the main roof goes up over the Great Room. That marks the next milestone in the project. So hang in there with us and the next few pictures, 'cause the really great stuff hopefully will be out by the weekend. (Well, it better be because Jan and I won't be here next week!)

We keep throwing in landscape pictures because we really love the views. Seriously, why build a house out here if you can't have a great view, and still hide out from your neighbors? This is a shot from the back patio, and if you pretend hard enough, you can visualize where the pool and pool deck will be once all of the lumber is gone. Technically, if we still have enough money left, the pool area will span the width of the picture. (We sort of feel like Clark Griswald in the great National Lampoon flick, "Christmas Vacation".)

Back Patio and Pretend Pool Area

Swinging around to the front, the framers have made great progress in pulling together the defining elements of the front overhang and the front door areas. There is still much more detail to frame, but the character of the front of the house is starting to emerge.

Front Porch 

The following picture of the front door arch looks pretty straightforward until we got above it and realized that the framers had actually framed this arch with about 40 cut pieces of 2x6 inside the arch.

Front Double Door arch 

This is the interior view of the Front Door arch, and the interior niche arches that will bookend the doors on the inside. 

Front Door and side niche arches

Swinging back to the rear of the house, this is a full-on shot of the latest progress. All that remains now is for The Gazelle and his buddies to scale the top section of the Great Room and build the peaked roof! Hopefully, we'll be able to share that epic event with you before the weekend.

Rear view

If you are wondering where the excess cut lumber is going, the guys are accumulating it in two piles. Most of the larger pieces will be stacked for me (and any needy neighbors) as fire pit wood. No sense sending it to the dump when we can enjoy hours around a crackling fire in the evening. You know, s'mores and stuff.

Well, that pretty much sums up our 'tweener post today....

But Wait, There's More....

If you haven't figured it out yet, Texas has, arguably, the best BBQ to be found anywhere in the country. But, if you don't believe us, just check out any reputable BBQ source and you will find the first Top 10 from somewhere in this state. So, we've made it our mission to validate the state's claim to BBQ greatness. The following picture is just one BBQ beef rib from Black's in Lockhart. I can eat a lot of BBQ, but I could barely finish this in one sitting. (BTW, the plate is 12 inches wide.) Enjoy.

One Badass Longhorn!

See y'all later!

- John and Jan - 

FOREST OF WOOD (pardon the pun)

Howdy Y'all!

Well, we're back with another action-packed update on the Circle B casa! Actually, not much has happened other than more wood going up, but the house is starting to show some definition. The 'word on the street' is that all of the walls, trusses, and roof joists will be done by next Friday, allowing the next team to come in and start sheathing (wrapping) the house with exterior product, but we're  getting ahead of ourselves.

I'm sure all of you will get "lost in the studs" as we have in looking at pictures, but we'll try and offer some explanation so that you can begin to see the shape of the construction, and the method to our madness. Lots of pictures, so pay attention! (I have no idea if these are in order, but hey, what the hell.)

This is Emilio, aka The Gazelle, who routinely makes a habit of walking across the glue lams no matter what height. Notice the absence of other framers up there?

Master Bedroom north wall

This is the same view from the corner of the Master Suite area. The point closest in the picture is one of the master bathrooms, and moving to the left, one of the closets and a utility room. To the right of the picture begins the master bath area and another closet. (We told you it was confusing.)

Master Suite and Bath

At the end of this wing in the house is the Media Room. This faces the front of the house at an angle. This was a room of great debate - should we or shouldn't we? I (John) got to pick three rooms and this was one of them. It will have complete sound deadening material in the walls, and the plan is to have one of the walls act as a subwoofer. The beauty of all of this acreage is you can rock and roll and no one can hear you! Heh-heh.

Media Room

This next picture is the Powder Room next to the Media room. Any guess who designed the Powder Room? (Nope, not John.)

Media Room and Powder Room

This is a shot of the tower if the Powder Room. While the exterior will be the exact roofline, the interior ceiling will be bell-shaped. Hey, you gotta have something to look at when you are using it :).

Powder Room ceiling

Moving to the Front Door area, this is still incomplete. There is a fully enclosed front porch with columns that have not been framed yet. Not sure why. Maybe I need to buy more lunches.

Front Entrance

Moving further to the right of the entrance is the Dining Room and Prep Kitchen (which you can't see clearly in this picture, but is hiding behind the tree). The Prep Kitchen is a second kitchen that we can mess up while the main kitchen remains pristine for guests' view. Yup, we thought it all through!

Dining Room and Prep Kitchen

Moving inside, this is the view from the Great Room (the tall framing) looking at the Kitchen area. To the left, which you can't see, is the Breakfast area. This will actually be an arch when it is completed. Behind the big glue lam way in the back is the attached garage area.

View of the Kitchen from the Great Room

This next view is from the garage side of the house. The front door is to the left, with the Guest Suites being visible to the extreme right. The large slab in the forefront is the Detached Garage (my second pick) which will have a second story apartment. The framers have not started that yet, but will begin when the main house is complete.

Garage side view with Detached Garage

Here is the view from the Detached Garage. You're looking at the Mud Room on the left, and the main house garage on the right. Where the dirt is now will be raised to form a motor court between the garages and out to the driveway.

Main Garage side view with Mud Room

I forgot my wide angle lens when I shot this picture, but as you can see, the exterior Master Suite and roof section  are almost completed. The 30'x16"x36" glue lams in the forefront of the picture will girder the Great Room roof structure. Now the question is how do they get those up to the top? Yo, Emilio!

Rear side view of the Master Suite

Of course, we've (okay, just me) saved the best room in the house for last - The Wine Room/Cellar (my first room pick!). This is actually the side view; the door will open in from the dining room to the right. After I took this picture they framed this opening closed. We're hoping to have room for 800-900 bottles depending on how high we take the racks up. Yes, friends, we will need your help drinking the grape. (This actually looked straight when I took the picture(?).

Side view of Wine Room

But Wait, There's More!

Nope, this picture is not anywhere in Texas. My sister sent this to me today, and it is a beach in Brazil, which is where I've decided Jan and I need to go after this project is complete and we have moved in. Can't think of a better use of a hammock!

See ya later!

- John and Jan - 

LITTLE BY LITTLE

Howdy Y'all!

We're baaaack! 

Each day brings a new look for the evolving build activity. We've also received a number of emails asking if we can show the different elevations (front, rear, sides). Unfortunately, all of the architectural drawings are in .pdf format, so this is the best we can do to present the appearance of the final product from the architect's plan. The elevation drawings are also in 2D, which doesn't clearly show the various angles of the floor plan. Hopefully, you'll begin to see the essence of the shape through the evolving pictures as the house develops.

Pictures from Monday and Tuesday

Panoramic view of the front of the house

Garage view from the right side, and Guest Rooms 

View of the second garage from the main house

Rear side view of garage and Guest Rooms (yes, for you)

Building the Dining Room window double wall

Pictures from Wednesday
As you can see, the framers are moving quickly (probably don't like the food and treats that we are bringing to the job site!). At this rate, we should be ready for roof trusses by Monday morning.

New view of the front of the house with Great Room

Sequence shots of the Powder Room

The Powder Room top plate (top circle) is about 17 feet with a peaked roof, but the inner room ceiling will be a dome at 16 feet. Somehow, the rooms looked smaller on paper. These guys move around like cats without scaffolding or supports. We get nose bleeds over 6 feet.

Breakfast eating area (Munchkins are still here)

View of the breakfast room from the inside looking out

View of the Great Room from the back pool area 

Okay, are we sick of framing pictures yet? No? Well, one more then.

Rear view of the complete house (yup, needs a roof)

But wait, there's more!

We've spent a lot of time talking about the various aspects of our building process, but we wanted to share a couple of pictures as to why we selected this area to live in. Aside from our great party-animal ranch neighbors (see below), the natural beauty of this area can be breathtaking. We are surrounded by some of the oldest trees in Central Texas, and on any day, there is a varying spectrum of natural beauty in the land.

And, even more!

Jan, Lauren and Tristan checking out the handprints

Melinda and Kathy rejoicing over our progress after a few sips of the local grape (just kidding!)

See ya later!
- John and Jan -