It's been fun, 2010! Hello, 2011!

Before we bit adieu to 2010 and give our warmest welcome to 2011, we'd like to give you one last update. Our home has decking on the roof, and she's wrapped in Tyvek, a weather-proofing wrap. Noel's parents and our niece came for a visit to see the progress. To our surprise when we all arrived, the house had been swept out and the tubs put in place! 

We decided the views weren't all that good so we just removed the windows.

View from the back.

Side door into the utility room. Wipe your paws, please!

Future mini bonfire locale in the main partaay room.

Heaven!

Do you think we have room for a dining table in here?!!

Warning: steep drop at the end. Run at your own risk.

Keith's checklist. It appears he has to do the fireplace hearth and the windows and doors. (Hope he hasn't forgotten that he has to build the garage to. Maybe I should have written that on there for him.)

You wouldn't think that choosing a fireplace insert would be a big decision...and for Noel it wasn't. Of course, I have to research until I want to gouge my eyes out to be sure that we are making the best decision. Apparently, a brick hole is not sufficient in a new construction home. We have to get what is called a fireplace 'insert.' 'Insert' in the fireplace world is a very loose and very vague term. Basically, an insert (from what we can gather) is an all-inclusive brick/piping/doors or screen kit that is inserted (HA!) into the location you would like to one day make s'mores inside your home. The alternative is a stove, which would consist of an enclosed fireplace area with heavy doors typically made of cast iron or steel. We chose an open insert with glass doors rather than a screen (for safety reasons). The main difference between the two is the purpose of use: ambience or heat? It will not be our main heat source thus we went for the open fireplace. A stove emits a radiant heat and is significantly more pricey. When we honestly thought about the use, our answer was obvious.

To begin 2011, we meet with Indy and our electrician on Tuesday. And, we should be getting a garage next week.

So 'Hello 2011!' But we'll never forget what we learned in 2010...

Go with your gut when choosing a contractor and your lunch.

Wine and whiskey make every problem seem like less of a problem.

Pick your battles, and when you choose your battle, get a damn good weapon.

The only opinion that matters is ours. (In the words of the Burger King, we can have it our way.)

When you need to know how to string barb wire, ask the person with the most experience and try not feel incompetent when your 83-year old teacher shows you up.

And laugh more. (It's a good thing I'm so damn funny!)

And our parting shot...the western half of our support system (and Noel).