Circle B Ranch: LOTS OF TIDBITS

Howdy Y'all!

Did ya miss us??

Its been a busy time since our last post on August 21st, including escaping the Texas heat for a week to attend our niece's wedding in So. Calif. (more on that later). Building activity at the ranch has been an assortment of little things, which you'll see in the score of pictures we've taken. Think of the last two weeks as a 'time lapse' camera, and you'll see the difference in progress unfolding.

When we last left you there was a lot of indoor framing, electrical work, plumbing, etc. Well, most of that was completed, and work started on the exterior, so let's bring you up to speed with some pics of the interior progress.

Here we have the return of El Gato scaling the heights of the Great Room. [Notice the OSHA approved scaffolding and safety lines. :-(] They are putting up the 'nailers' that will eventually support the cedar beams that will run across the interior roof line.

The framers completed the interior entry arch leading into the Great Room from the front entrance. This will be layered with the same stone as the exterior with round columns on the sides.

Moving further into the house, the builder installed the in-wall vacuum system that will support our ability to chase dust bunnies from room to room. (This thing will suck a marble from one end of the house to the other.)

The framers also completed the bathtub platform for Jan's bathtub (notice I said 'Jan's'). When the tub is delivered, they will cut an appropriate hole in the top, lower the tub in, and then sheetrock, granite and tile the surrounding platform.

We met John the Resin Guy this week as he was applying the fiberglass base coats to each of the shower floors in the house. This was a four layer process that he eventually filled with water later in the week to test for any leaks. (We closed all of the windows, inhaled, and had a great time reminiscing about our surfboard building with the same stuff back-in-the-day.) No leaks!

Moving to the detached second garage, the framers were able to complete the 'casita' (apartment) framing to allow the plumbers and electricians to begin their work.

Framed kitchen, bath and closet areas.

As you can see from the following exterior pics, the house was completely zip-taped just before we left, and the roof tile pallets were delivered while we were gone (in between the thunderstorms).

22 pallets of roof tiles.

The roofers then went to work applying the second layer of roofing paper and felt (remember 'ice and water armor'?), and began laying the 'nailers' to the roof that will hold the tiles in place during installation.

This is the time that they also apply all of the roof 'crickets' (builder-speak for metal that is specially welded to contour the water off of the roof in a specific direction), and the metal flashing in the corners and around pipes poking through the roof. We have what the roofers have referred to as the "Roof from Hell" because of all of the gables and hips, not to mention the turret roof. (Blame the architect.)

Cricket at the base of the powder room turret. Not finished.

Since we have never built a home with Spanish roof tiles, we learned that the roof tiles needed to be stacked on the roof before the stucco mud is applied to the exterior walls. This allows the roof weight to settle the walls, and eliminates any stucco cracking. (See how educational this is!)

The cornice team returned to finish assembling the tongue-and-groove soffits and patio roof. (Jan doesn't think we see her.)

This then allowed the painters to come in and begin the caulking process for the fascia before it is painted.

Early last week the stucco team arrived and began assembling the scaffolding for the stucco application. A portion of the house will have stucco accents, and will take about 2-3 weeks to complete. They were able to install the 15-pound roofing felt on the walls, and 15-gauge metal netting all around the areas that will have stucco treatment (it still looks like chicken wire to us). The remaining 'green' walls will have stone per the previous blog post.

Upper Great Room exterior wall.

Motor Court archway.

Detached Garage rear wall.

They also installed the forms for the window 'eyebrows and chin' (don't ask, because I have no idea how this description evolved) on the windows in the stucco areas, and on a few of the arches in the patio area. They do look kinda cool.

Jan and Regina (designer) going over stone, stucco, and tile color selection.

A cool picture just before a Texas thunderstorm yesterday.

Late Breaking News...

As we visited the site this morning before sending off this blog installment, the stucco team began putting up a 'scratch coat of mud' (builder-speak for the first stucco layer), and the fireplace team began installing the indoor and outdoor fire block for the gas and wood burning fire places. (More on the next blog update.)

First coat of stucco on the motor court arch.

Moving at the speed of mud.

Mexican stucco comedy team.

Inside fireplace fire-block pieces waiting for mortar.

Patio fireplace waiting for installation.

Cutting flue and vent holes in the chimney.

But wait, there's more...

Jan and I spent last week in So. Calif. at our niece's wedding. It was a beautiful wedding, but what made it doubly great was that all of my father's east coast brothers and sisters, and our cousins, were able to attend (minus the two brothers living in Greece). It was a truly memorable family reunion with a lot of laughs, partying, and a happy time together for the 'elders'. (Unfortunately, I left out about 200 additional pictures which I'm sure everyone is dying to see.)

Warning! - Lots of family pictures below!