More Excavation Pics

Excitement today

IMG_0023, originally uploaded by bendalepix.

Oooooo!

Still more...

IMG_0028, originally uploaded by bendalepix.

Still more pics...

More still...

IMG_0031, originally uploaded by bendalepix.

Still more pics...

Groundbreaking!

Sunny and high 40s - as near perfect a day as one could hope for at the end of December. Although scheduled to begin tomorrow, we received a call from our builder (Bud) saying that he was on site with the excavator and ready to begin. We quickly assembled the kids, grabbed a bottle of bubbly (apple juice) and headed over to the site. What a thrill to see the excavator working away, roughing out the footprint of our house.



Being able to break ground this late in the season is near-miraculous when one considers what the weather SHOULD be like at the end of December. The fact that the temps during the days are in the 40s still (and supposed to hit 50 next week) means that we will be able to work all winter long on the house, thereby finishing sooner. This is adds up to considerable savings on our part...IF we can sell our house in this market. If all things go according to plan, we should be pouring the foundation next week and then raising the frame sometime in mid-January...



...Of course, that's a big IF!

A late Christmas present

We were supposed to have a newly-issued building permit in our hands Friday...but the official who needs to sign the permit decided to cut out early for the holiday weekend. The nerve! Anyway, all that is lacking is said official's John Hancock, which we are told will be given first thing Tuesday morning. Our builder has the excavator lined up for later that week. Wednesday the surveyor will have the corners of the house staked out and Thursday morning we close on the construction loan. So, it looks like we may have a hole in the ground by the end of next week! A great Christmas present even if it is a little late.

Building Permit

Just a quick update for those who are following closely: our builder has submitted the application and fee for the building permit to the town. It could take two to four weeks for the permit to be granted...and then there are the possible "snags" to anticipate (count on?) While we almost certainly won't be breaking ground until the Spring, I would feel a lot better entering the Winter season with the lot cleared, permits in hand, and the restored barn loaded back into the trailer for shipping as soon as the snow melts. That way we can hunker down for the Winter and try to recouperate some savings in anticipation of the big push in the New Year.