Our Train

We have been looking at, buying and renovating this property for 7 months and this is the first time that I have seen the train.  Most people think that it would be a nuisance and I must admit I was a little concerned.  After today I'm hooked, this was very cool,  Ella and I have made plans to watch for the train and sit and count the cars.  I am sure that we will think of other funs things to do.  Some people have model trains, we have the real thing and let me say once again, THIS IS SO VERY COOL!!!  Check back later for more pics and maybe a movie.  

Walls fall down and walls go up

 As we talked about earlier, the brick on the back of the house fell down when they were putting in the windows and doors.   Mel and I cleaned off the bricks and the guys put them back on the walls.  In the construction game things change on a daily basis, choose the right guys and thing get fixed really fast.

Burn Pile

It's in the Casteel blood, we love to burn brush.  Papa Casteel is the happiest person in the world when he is buring a brush pile.   Here at Gifft Hill we have piles of brush that we cleaned out over the last few months and we are burning it to clear the area.  Mel and I were talking as we burned the brush last Saturday.  The only two things that were missing were our Papa and Tony, our old bud from Athens.  Both guys love to set things on fire.

Weekend Update

 Mel loves this part of the driveway.

 Front yard and a shot of the awesome Japanese Maple.

 Lucky on the azalea colors.  We like reds, deep pink and white.  Don't like purple - no purple.

 Awesome Dogwood and the Jap. Maple in the front yard.

 Front entry shot below.

What a beautiful spring and early to boot.  We are just loving the time outdoors at the property.  It has been so pleasant and all the trees make for tons of shady spots to take in the day.  Took some photos trying to capture the wonder that is created by all the Dogwoods in full bloom right now.  It's hard to do.
It was really nice to get to tour some of our family and friends around this weekend.  We enjoyed having Mel's Dad (Mack), our adopted family (Aunt Brooks and Uncle Steve Dumas) and the whole Higdon gang (Charlie, Marla, Champ, Cael and Cooper).  Talk of a huge party once we get settled in - whenever that will be.  Such a long process this is.  

Prime Spring Season come to Gifft Hill this Week

 Should be the best weekend ever to see the blooms at Gifft Hill - just waiting to see everything unfold.  Can't wait to get some photos and share. Ella is so happy about the pink azaleas.  Feels like bonfire and smores on Saturday after Streetfest - oh there's the 'No Rain' Dance coming again.

                                               They are just so big we can't get over it.......................

The Warehouse?

Shed becomes the Warehouse, as Ella affectionately calls it.  That might just stick.  Geez, what else do you do with sheds but store things - it's not far fetched.

Details come to Life

The siding is now done except for where they are waiting for the front porch to be added.  It's sorta cute, but maybe too cute, in yellow.  Why yellow you say.  Well, did you know Hardi-plank comes primed in yellow for the south and gray for the north nowadays?  Learning new things everyday around here.  Now to pick the final paint/stain colors.  What do you think they will be?  Hmmmm......   

Two pieces become one

Everyday something new happens at Gifft Hill, the siding work continues today.  These guys are moving fast, Whoops!!! I mean guys and girls.  That's right the siding crew is headed by a lady and she takes care of business.  I was worried about the siding situation because the Pulte crew had some broken edges and bad places I had to fix, fast forward 10 years and here we go again.  So far no worries everything is perfect but we will be checking things out tomorrow.  I will let you know how things turn out.

Mechanicals continue

The plumbing is stubbed in and the HVAC continues, the electrician are set to begin tomorrow.

Hidden Gems

A Few Views

Gifft Hill is all about the outside and the views, these windows pulled us in and they do not disappoint.  Light pours in with a wonderful view from the main living space.

Stone Column Properties

We want to send kudos out to our Builder, Brent Leibee.  He has to put up with our unnerved craziness and obsessive anality almost everyday.  He lives up to the promises he makes on his website - which means the world when you are new at this process.  Need a Builder - we highly recommend him!  Check him and his company out at the following link:  www.stonecolumnproperties.com

3/10/12 Update

Just a shot of the front as of yesterday.  You can get a peek of the front windows, but we have some more cleaning to do tomorrow to open them entirely up.  We are blessed with some beautiful weather this weekend and look forward to spending the day on the property all day Sunday.  We should have lots of photos to share after that.

Expecting HVAC, Electrical and Siding work to all begin this coming week.  Plumbing system is pressurized.

What blooms abound?

If anybody knows us you know we are plant nerds. Yes, that means we get excited about just about anything to do with plants.  So, this spring should prove to be like Christmas for us around Gifft Hill.  We know there are tons of dogwoods about to 'snow' upon us, but we are anticipating just about anything as we learn what plants make their home either via human means or naturally around the property.  Mel already found some purple crocus up by the old porch and we moved them to a safe location during the build.  Daffodils showed an early display in spots along the top of the driveway.  We have some huge, and we mean 9' tall huge, azaleas at the gate near the stream.  Look what we found yesterday morning.  Looks like Pink it is.  Hoping for a full display in the coming week.

Teaser- Windows

Oooooooh My!  We took the boards off the existing front windows today to check them out.  WOW is all we can say.  Boy are we glad we kept them - they are amazing to look into and out of.  Once we can get some of the work around them done and clean off the porch we'll take some photos of how the whole thing looks together and post.  Love, love, love the windows.

What's That

No trolls have not moved in the house, this is the access for the plumbers.  A real shock when you show up and find a big old hole in the middle of your kitchen.

                                                  All the odds and ends you need for one bath.

Piles = Water

Right now the materials are all in piles and in the next few days we will have a new water system in the house.  The plumbers started today.

No blue tarp

We will get a little more sleep now because we have a brand new roof.  No more late night runs to mop up water on the hardwoods.  Sorta feels like getting a new pair of shoes!!!

Oops the wall fell down

When the guys were taking out the wall to put in the french doors and the windows, a little more than expected came tumbling down.  Looks like the brick mason has a little more work to do.