April - A Look Ahead

Whew! Is it really true that 25% of the year has already passed? That is what the calendar is telling me! And it is a GOOD thing that it is passing by quickly because we are getting more and more anxious to have our new Grey Havens finished, get moved, unpacked, and settled. We intend for this will be our final home. The next stop after it will either be an assisted living facility or underground!

We made some serious headway last month with our various plans and activities, thereby clearing our schedule out pretty well for April. I will be having a follow-up visit with my orthopedic doctor to evaluate my bionic knee. Also, I have to go back to the dentist again mid-month for the new replacement bridge. The dental lab goofed up and the initial one did not fit well. Speaking of pain, LOL, phase I of the dreaded tax return preparation is completed. The IRS refund hit the checking account today. Yeah! Phase II involves the search for an accountant to prepare an amended return after house construction is done.

It is hard to believe that the house framing started a little shy of three months ago, on January 4th. We are heading into the home stretch! We'll make ourselves available to do daily checks on progress and help address issues quickly. Builder Mike and his subcontractors continue to make the whole process a joy. After our unpleasant previous building experiences, we are counting our blessings.

The dining room trim was finished today and it looks gorgeous. The back porch construction is coming along quickly, with Trex decking now installed and side rails going up. The painting crew will take over the house interior next week. The granite countertops for the kitchen and cultured marble sinks for the baths will get installed next week too. We’re really excited to see those transformations. Plumbing and electrical crews will install fixtures after the painting crew clears back out. A tile backsplash will be added to the kitchen walls. Then hardwood floors will get stained and sealed. On the outside, wood corbels and shutters will be stained and added to the structure. A concrete driveway and walkway will be created. Completion of the irrigation system and landscaping will happen after that.

Not all of these tasks are expected be done in April, but the bulk of them will! We estimate that we have about six weeks to go. Hold on to your bloomers, folks, because it is going to be a wild ride this month!

With the emergence of spectacular weather, we plan to have a few jaunts around town to enjoy the spring colors and perhaps take a few pictures. The Bradford pear trees and the daffodils are at their peak right now. The blooming dogwood trees, redbuds, and azaleas will follow with their glory. Our local Dogwood Arts Festival will be getting in full swing soon, and various neighborhood trails will proudly display their landscapes.

I will burrow into my digital photo files and share more journey pictures with you this month. A photo challenge is also coming up on April 10th. So I’ll be rustling up some special images for that endeavor.

I hope that you are able to get out of the house this glorious month and celebrate the end of winter! Fresh air and a little digging in the dirt are good for the soul.