Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty

Puma, cougar, el leon.  Whatever you choose to call it, the mountain lion is at the top of the food chain in the Rocky Mountains.  At a neighborhood party, Mary learned that the woman living four houses away, downhill, discovered a mountain lion and two cubs living under her juniper tree two years ago.  Also, a mountain lion recently left four fresh-killed deer carcasses in the yard of a house to the west of our new home.  And, last Tuesday, our stucco crew spotted a mountain lion on the ridge above our new home.  While we are not anxious to meet it, we call the mountain lion, “neighbor.”

Please Come In

Mary invites you to come into our new home through the front door.  The frame and window were installed today.  It has an alternating pattern of reed glass and black metal, with clear glass transom windows above.  The front door, to be installed later, will be the mirror-image alternating pattern of wood and reed glass.  It promises to be a gorgeous entrance.

Up and Away

After 3 attempts, the crane arrived and lifted the final large windows into place.  Yes, that is an attachment with 8 suction cups that lifted the windows.  All went well until the clouds rolled in and the wind came up, causing the large windows to vibrate and sway as they were hoisted along the north side of the house.  It was no small feat to place these 300+ lbs windows in their holes, even with the crane.  But, the finished product is beautiful.

Stairs - First Look

We got our first look at the steel frame for the main stairs this week and saw how they will fill the space in the tower.  Meanwhile, the mechanical rough-ins continued.  The electrician started installing light cans and wiring on Friday and helped us figure out how to light the downstairs hallway when most of the ducts and piping run through its ceiling.  The fireplace was installed in the living room on Monday.  The exterior finish crew continued to install more windows and doors, and cedar siding.  However, they ran into a problem on Friday when the battery on their suction attachment was not strong enough to hold our large windows so the crane could lift them over the house and into place.  We are awaiting Plan B. 

 

Beehive of Activity

We had 7 subcontractors working on the house this week.  The exterior finish crew installed more windows and started installing the cedar siding.  Mary is hoping that the siding becomes darker red with the second coat of stain.  Meanwhile, the roof-top HVAC unit was put in place.  Also, the fire sprinkler and plumbing rough-ins continued.  The framing crew returned to complete a few small items such framing in the ducts and plumbing chases.  The roofers installed sleeves around the exhaust vents.  And, the home alarm company walked the site on Friday to update their bid.  Whew.

First Snow

Golden received its first snowfall of the season on Friday.  It rained on several others days, as the temperatures progressively dropped.  Work on the exterior progressed slowly but we never complain about moisture in this part of the world.  The sun returned on Saturday and Dave's mom, dad, sister, and brother-in-law visited the site.  Dave's other sister and brother-in-law visited earlier in the week, too.

Roof Installation

The weather cooperated and the roof was nearly completely installed this week.  Just the membrane on the front deck and some flashing remain for Monday.  The framers also finished most of the final details, including the privacy walls on all three rear decks.  Dave made sure that the framers installed 3/4" plywood on the back wall of the wine closet so he can attach his wine racks (priorities!).  On Friday, the windows were delivered - it took a small semi truck - and next week the framing company will start installing them.