As I write tonight we are progressing right along. We now have dry wall and unfinished hardwood floors completed. We did the cleanup of the dry wall clutter and dust. At last after mudding and sanding dry walls became complete to form rooms.

Our tile is in progress now. It will take a long time to adjust to putting floor tile on the walls but this is now the “in” way to finish a bathroom. I likely will always pine for the sweet, pink 4 inch ceramic tiles that met their demise at the hands of our tear out crew’s sledge hammers. I can still hear them falling!

Our general contractor used his heavy equipment and dug out the tree stump of the tree that feel on the house during the flood.  We get a new roof this coming week.



Painters are arriving next week and finally those plaint colors have been selected. We have only our braided rugs from which to pull colors. In fact, we have no soft furniture in the house and no mattresses! The trim carpenters have put up our very first crown molding and are adding their magic to the window and door trims. Doors arrived and some are hung. Kitchen cabinets are scheduled to arrive on August 17. We have miles to go before we have our home complete. 




We had the honor of providing the birthing room for Mother House Wren. She insisted on being in the “garage-shop.” After running her out for her persistence in coming in it was time to close the doors and turn on the window AC unit. One afternoon Roxie needed to shop. She heard birds “in the wall” that Chas was sealing up with insulation and finished wood. When she returned she was ready to have Charles tear apart his work because he surely had sealed a bird in them. With disgust Charles offered her the crow bar. To this she replied that this was way beyond her strength. Then Charles made the discovery that on a shelf in one of his tennis shoes were 4 widely stretched mouths waiting for groceries to arrive.

We moved the babies out on top of the AC and for a week mother was diligent to feed them. Of course, we protected them from rain. Finally after a week plus it was time to join the world and one by one they left under the watchful eye of mommy. She sat on a line above the motor home and chirped to them. And…we felt that empty nest syndrome.

When will be be done? The right of occupancy will be issued by the City of Franklin’s Codes department. Meanwhile we help with our home, answer questions from our subcontractors and never have enough time in a day.



Our mud caked furniture is waiting in our POD. There is a lot of clean up before we move it into the house. Refrigerator, washer dryer have been purchased and await the nod to deliver. We have nothing soft in the house for sitting or sleeping. We did loose several pieces of furniture. The good news is that the gentleman who took in our piano says it is fine and in his garage. His children are even playing it!

Tennesse weather has been as brutally hot as the nation has endured.  After a weekend of relief we return to near 100 degrees for most of the days this week.