The Long and Winding Road

Cleo and I took a walk out by the construction site 2 weeks ago and naturally I was thrilled to see we have curbs on our new roads!







I fired off an email to my contact at the builders, and he told me they'd be doing the temporary tarmac within the next few days...and then the builders will be moving in!! (Thank heavens because if we can get the foundations poured before the ground freezes they can build all through the winter).

So Monday Cleo and I hit the road again...literally! They have laid the temporary tarmac and we were even able to walk our new roads!! Awesome!

Construction Pics

Well the crew are wrapping up the sewer and water pipe work, according to the workman who came beelining for me at the jobsite yesterday, I had Cleo with me for the ride and she's a total magnet for cute guys!! So hopefully we will see some actual "construction" work being done in the next few weeks!!

Yes! We have fire hydrants!!

Design Centre part deux

Well today was the big appointment at the Design Centre. I didn't get a wink of sleep last night (OK...I'm exaggerating a little, but I swear I woke up and looked at the clock every hour!) I stuck to my guns pretty much on not going overboard on upgrades and everything is very neutral in colour.

Here are a few pics from my final choices...the full album is available on my Facebook account.

Kitchen cabinet in Maple "Wild Apple" - yes, I upgraded from the basic line. (thanks for your feedback Monette!)
Counter top in Tuscan Marble.
Floor tile - Corte Milia Silver.

Kitchen cabinets, counter top and main floor floor-tiles again.

Bathroom cabinet Vermont Classic in natural Maple.
Counter top in Poritico Marble.
Floor and wall tile in New Albatroz Grey.
Brushed chrome handle (closest to cabinet door).

Yep, bathroom again. I steered clear of coloured tiles because I don't want to be restricted decor-wise and the patterned tiles and borders go out of vogue so very quckly.

Broadloom 35 oz (yes, I got the upgraded under pad) next to the floor tile. No the carpet isn't pink...just photographs that way. OK...here's a better shot of the carpet. Bottom row centre.

The bedroom en suite upgrade was ordered, a rough in 3 piece bath in the basement, and a couple of extra cable jack rough-ins ...and presto! We're done!

Now I just have to wait for them to build it! Here's a shot of the site from yesterday....

A shot I lovingly call "Men @ Work"....and now I can't get that song from the 80's out of my head! Arghhhh!

Design Centre

I was out at the Design Centre this morning to check out all the different samples etc. for the new house. My appointment is in just over a week's time to go in and make final decisions on various items. Carpet, cabinetry, countertops etc. Naturally I took my camera...but I am not about to upload all the pics here. Instead, drop by my photobucket account and have a wee gander ...and if you have a suggestion/preferance or observation, please do not hesitate to leave a comment here.

Let there be sewers!

OK...who ordered the rock garden?

OK, so most people wouldn't give a sh...but this to me looks like sewer pipes! (pardon the pun)

I'm soooo impatient for them to actually start BUILDING...argh! Would be nice to know what tiny wee plot is mine at least.

...but I will be patient...obviously this stuff is tres important. But wait...orange stick in the ground! Woo hoo...dunno what it means...but it's something!

Is there a better way to spend a Sunday morning than photographing sewer pipes?? Seriously!

I wonder if I even have a 2B pencil?

It's been a busy few weeks - work has been busy (and stressful, but I wont go into that), and I have been working all kinds of overtime (yes, for the house). Which reminds me, I need to get out and take a few more pics of my dirt at some point :0)

The promotional process at work has started and I have submitted my resume and application...and am just waiting to hear if I have made the successful candidate list. Assuming I am...the study package will be available the first week of August...and the exam will be September 13th. I hate exams...never was very good at them. If (and it's a huge "if", because apparently it's a bastard of an exam) I pass, the interviews will be in October. They base their interviews on all that "I, I, I, me, me, me" stuff...and when you are a typically self-effacing Brit like myself those kind of statements seem so very alien, smug and downright unattractive. I am going to have to learn how to blow my own trumpet...and sound like I believe it.

My social life right now is it's usual sporadic array of nothing, nothing...busy, busy....nothing. My love life is beyond extinct and I believe it now qualifies for an archaeological dig.

My diet however, is continuing to plod along, as of this date I am down 57lbs and I am trying to "step it up" a little as I have become a little slack in my cardio workouts - hitting the gym only 3 times a week for my weights routine instead of 5-6 times a week with a combination of weights and cardio. I had a knee injury (ironically from over exertion on the treadmill) about 2 months ago. It took forever to heal and I never did get back to running. Originally my goal date was Labour Day weekend...and as of today I am going to be a little short of hitting that target - but not by much, if I step it up now through to the beginning of September. Either way, I will get there come hell or high water before Thanksgiving (Canadian).

I have holidays coming up at the beginning of August...19 days of rest and relaxation. No plans, no destinations ...and definitely no overtime. My last set of holls I ended up working half of them and went back to work feeling that I had never been gone. After the past few weeks at work I definitely need the break...and it will be good study time for the exam.

...did I mention how much I hate exams??

More pics of my dirt!

Decided to come out on a "work day" to actually catch some action...LOOK!! A workman! Woot!

Workmen again :0)

Digger-excavator-thingy (Hopefully Josh will help here with the correct word!)

I ran into a workman down on the main road who aside from being the spitting image of the construction worker from the Village People (I kid you not) he informed me that they are building roads and laying sewers.

...therefore given my new technical expertise ...this must be a road building thingy! (Dad would be so proud!)

Week 4

The amount of work they have done this week is astounding. The entire area is basically cleared! I litterally gasped out loud when I got out of the car to take these.

It blows my mind that 4 weeks ago this was all trees and grassy hills.

South...wish I could figure out where my lot is...gonna have to have another gander at the site plans.

Now that's what I call a big pile of dirt!

"Excavators" (thank you Josh!)

Looking north/east

Looking east from the far south-westerly edge of the construction perimeter.

I did take more, but let's face it...it's dirt! Crossing my fingers that we see some actual construction starting soon! lol

Week 3

Ohhhh ...big yellow digger things have arrived! (technical term, I know you're impressed).

A big clearing area.

Looking south.



Still looking south.



Yep...you guessed it...looking south again.



Looking ....north! (ha! fooled ya!)



Looking north again...and the porta-potty stage right.



North....again.



...and finally, north again.

Stayed tuned for more next week!

Land clearing week two

Early Sunday evening I was out prowling the construction site...again.

Week 2 and the progress is staggering!

Those mounds look like earth from a distance, but they appear to be straw/dry grass.


Ohhh look they even have a portapotty! (No! This isn't my bathroom upgrade!!)


Looking south across the construction site.


Ummmm...any suggestions? Someone said "road"...that works for me!


It's almost sad to see all the trees gone (I said *almost*).


Looking north - east from the south edge of the site.


Quite the change in a week, eh?


*sigh* Lovely dirt!