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June 29, 2006
Bring on the Insulation
While the stone and stucco are being completed on the outside, the real progress shifts to the inside as the insulation is delivered and rapidly put into place.
Here are some pictures from yesterday. Here’s the insulation in the garage apartment:
Here’s the stonework around the garage:
Posted by Jim at 9:15 PM | Permalink | Comments () | TrackBack
June 20, 2006
Front of House Stonework
The focus of progress on the house has been the stonework being done on the front and sides of the house. Some of the more detailed work is also beginning like the waterproofing of the shower floors.
Heres a closer look at some of the stonework:
Left front side of house:
Right front side of house:
Right side of house:
The roofing should begin this week.
Posted by Jim at 8:18 PM | Permalink | Comments () | TrackBack
June 19, 2006
Fathers Day on the Lake
With Deb and Scott with Deb's mother in Corpus Christi, the girls planned Fathers Day for me. The plan was to spend the afternoon on a rented pontoon boat on Lake Travis.
Claire found the best deal and made sure they had boats available. We headed out and were treated to a beautiful. blue sky day.
Here's the girls before we loaded the boat:
Here's yours truly captaining our pontoon boat towards Lakeway:
And courtesy of Claire's photography skills, here's Meg and Kate showing style points on their leap into the lake:
Girls, thanks for such a great Fathers Day!
Posted by Jim at 7:42 PM | Permalink | Comments () | TrackBack
June 13, 2006
Celebrating the June Birthdays Austin Style
It was great having Mom and Dad come in to celebrate Scott, Deb, and Dad's June birthdays.
The festivities began Saturday afternoon with a tour of our apartment complex and apartment. We showed off the pool room, theatre, pool, workout room, before venturning to our cozy abode. We all fully hydrated knowing we were going to visit the house. It's gotten quite dusty out there given the lack of rain over the past several weeks.
Undeterred we headed out for a tour, showing the progress todate. Here's Mom, Dad, and Deb on the 3rd floor deck:
After the tour, we cleaned up for a big night on the town. Pizza for the kids, and Aquarelle for Dad, Mom, Deb and me. The food, wine, and conversation was fabulous. The only disappointing thing is that no one asked Dad and I to sing, like someone did when the four of us were joined by Uncle Al and Aunt Helen a few years back. Dad and Al's reputation as the Cahill tenors must have widely circulated through Texas--even here in Austin!
We came back in time for some fierce cards. I must have been a gracious host with the lousy cards I had all night. Here's the gang in action:
We finished off the weekend with a great brunch at the Oasis on Sunday. It was a little hazy so it was hard to see the house. The brunch was great.
We had a great time Mom and Dad!
Posted by Jim at 7:26 PM | Permalink | Comments () | TrackBack
June 8, 2006
Fireplace, Stones, and Speakers
Here's the mid week house update.
The fireplace unit was placed in the family room. Here's what it looks like before the tilework is done:
Note the wiring above for the flat screen.
After meeting with the stone and stucco person this week, we agreed on the type of stone and the paint colors. The next day the piles of stone were dropped off.
The rocks are fresh from the quarry so the cutting dust makes them appear whiter than they will actually be. You can see the true color by dousing them with water.
The low voltage wiring guys came to wire the network, phone, and audio/visual cables. Here is a ceiling speaker bracket:
I'll be taking extensive photos of all the plumbing and wiring before the insulation is put into place so we know where everything is if we ever need to find or troubleshoot anything in the future.
Posted by Jim at 6:10 PM | Permalink | Comments () | TrackBack
June 4, 2006
Electrical, Water, and Waste Water Progress
Lots of progress was made this week on the electrical wiring, the main water line from the street and septic discharge field.
Most of the power outlets, light switches, ceiling lighting cans, and the main distribution panel are now in place. Here's some pictures:
Here's a picture of the trench dug for the main water line:
Not being a septic expert, Meg, Scott, and I visited the famous How Stuff Works site and got a septic system education. After the water leaves the tanks having been processed in the tanks it heads to the drain fields. Here how it looks after the initial digging is done by the tractors:
As the How This Works article indicates:
You may have heard the expression, "The grass is always greener over the septic tank." Actually, it's the drain field, and the grass really is greener -- it takes advantage of the moisture and nutrients in the drain field.Looks like the makings of a great football field or grass tennis court!
Posted by Jim at 8:49 AM | Permalink | Comments () | TrackBack
June 3, 2006
News Flash: Claire Wins First SuperChamp Main Draw Match
UPDATE AT BOTTOM
This just in... At the Texas Summer Grand Slam tournament, Claire just won her first main draw match. She has shown improvement with each successive Superchamp tournament, first by participating and facing higher level competition (without a victory), then by losing an initial match and coming back to win the consolation draw, to today winning her first match to remain in the main draw. The scores were 6-2, 2-6, 6-0. After splitting the first two sets, she spoke with Meg's coach and one of the ATA Alumni players currently playing NCAA Division 1 tennis. She followed their strategy advice to a T bagelling her opponent in the decisive third set.
Kate got her first taste of Superchamp level tennis, had a fierce battle but did not prevail. She plays in the consolation draw tomorrow.
Stay tuned for further reports, as the Cahill sisters make their inaugural appearance as doubles partners. The match is scheduled for 5pm. Luck of the draw has them playing fellow Austin Tennis Academy players. Go Kate and Claire!!!
UPDATE: Claire and Kate win the match 8-1. Great start to their doubles career! They face the 3 seed tomorrow so my only advice was, "Have fun, hit out, and remember that all the pressure is on your opponents." On the singles front Claire ran into a buzz saw and will join the ranks of the consolation bracket tomorrow.
Posted by Jim at 1:30 PM | Permalink | Comments () | TrackBack
June 2, 2006
Out with Honeywell, In with Emerson
When I saw the HVAC quotes come in, there was a problem with the winning one. They had quoted Honeywell thermostats. Honeywell is fierce competitor of Emerson in our market of process automation systems.
I could not imagine walking around the house and seeing the logo of the folks in Phoenix that I've affectionately called "The Bad Guys" for so many years.
I could only imagine how Dad would had liked seeing a big Texaco or Shell logo on the walls of his house... wouldn't have happened!
Knowing the Emerson makes all kind of appliances from garbage disposals to ceiling fans I checked and found the White-Rodgers line of thermostats. I sent the specs for the 90 Series™ Blue Touchscreen over to the HVAC folks and they said no problem to use these instead.
We were excited to see them arrive today, and here Meg gives her best Vanna White impression:
Posted by Jim at 5:26 PM | Permalink | Comments () | TrackBack