They're Here!

Today's visit revealed that the footings had been poured and ... the forms for the foundation walls have been delivered!  I didn't expect them till Wednesday or after, so that was a great surprise!  Below are some snaps of the poured footings and of the forms.

It was such a hot day today, but when I got back into the woods, the air was cooler and there was a delightful breeze!  So happy about that.

Footings.

After spending a long weekend in Northern Michigan, I'm happy to post that more progress was made mid-late last week!  We carpooled for our trip from a friend's house a couple of miles away from my property, so snuck over Thursday a.m. on the way out of town - and this is what we saw.

The footings had been laid on Wednesday:

On Friday, the inspection was done and the footings were approved:

Next, footings need to be poured, which will happen in the next day or two.  Then, foundation forms need to be set up and poured.  I just got word today that I would have foundation walls by the end of the week - I'm so excited about that!   

Next photos should be foundation walls!! 

Finishing the Dig.

Today, there was some finish work and leveling to do to finish the Big Hole.  The kids got to go check out the machines, up close, which made one especially happy boy! 

I was so glad to get these photos sent today with people standing in the hole...it's easier to gauge the size of the hole with people standing in it.     

 

A Great Day for Digging.

It's here - digging day!  Such excitement in our land!!  The progression of photos below were texted to me during the day by Mark & Angi.  So wished I could have been there, but the photos are the next best thing.  The bottom photos are the finished BIG hole that I saw after work.

9:30 a.m.

11:00 a.m.  Evidence of past visitors!  (Note to self: gardens must be fenced in)

I was wishing every little boy I know could have been there today to see this beauty at work.

Great progress for just a half day's work!

WOW!  I don't think these photos show how huge this hole really is, but here goes...it's not as deep as you would expect, because we have to build the house up a bit higher so the water flows away from it instead of toward it (good plan).  It's also wider than the house will be, so the guys have room to work on the foundation.

Speaking of foundation...forms for footings come next, which I think will be this week as well.  Once footings are poured, then come foundation walls.  I love this part of the process, cause so much progress gets made so fast!

Ready to go!

Today's excitement: we have final permit in hand and digging is scheduled for Monday!  You can be sure I'll be posting photos Monday evening.

Paperwork.

OK, friends, no photos this week, but we are making behind-the-scenes progress.  Last week, Mark met with the septic/well inspector, who approved staked-out locations, so that permit application was filed.  Also, the driveway application was filed (who knew?) and we received the permit over the weekend.  Now, we're just waiting for the septic/well permit and then can apply for The Building Permit!  Hopefully we can get that by end of this week and you know what that means - excavation!  If we can get on the schedule, that can happen next week.  I can hardly wait!

Stay tuned...next you'll see a giant hole!!

Week One.

Oh my gosh - what a difference a week makes!  So grateful for the guys who worked so diligently through the rain this week.  What you're looking at is the space completely cleared and flat and staked with the house dimensions.  Can't see the string so well, but the back windows (living room, kitchen, master) will face the view you see here.  It won't stay heavy woods, but there are some gorgeous trees that I've already picked out to stay.  We had such fun drawing lines in the dirt where the rooms will be!

Black gold!  This soil is so different than what I'm used to...already looks like topsoil has been brought in.

King of the mountain...

Next week, the septic and drive inspectors will come and issue their permits, which will allow the overall building permit to be issued, which will allow....the hole to be dug!