September 12, 2008—We are topped with corrugated | ||
Here is a closer view of the courtyard arbor from underneath. I am strongly leaning towards grapes because I think it would be so cool to have a bench under a grape arbor here. Also, a grape vine can be pruned so it has just one trunk, like a tree, whereas other vines will form a barrier between the sidewalk and the rest of the courtyard. I think you want to be able to sit in the shade and look out, but maybe the tunnel effect would be pleasant too. Jim is a little concerned about yellow jackets around the grapes, but I am not sure that will be a problem. Anyway, I am still mulling the issue over. |
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Kai and two of his brothers finished up the steel on the veranda as well today. The light fixtures look great hanging under it. I got the “oxidized” finish on them because we will need to coat the steel with something to make it brown—as per the County code. However, I don’t think we will have to do the underside, so maybe I should have gotten the “shiny” finish instead. Oh well. Surprisingly, this roof does not seem to affect the light in the kitchen-family room at all. I guess that it is high enough so it doesn’t shade the room. |
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How cool is that! With our clerestory latilla shades and the carved columns, I think this veranda just turned out excellently. |
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Here is a view from straight on. I took it almost from the “Teeth,” the rocks at the top of the cliff. I am so happy we have a yard next to the veranda too. I am not sure what we will do with it, but I imagine it will fill itself in sooner or later. I have realized what a huge job building the vegetable beds I have planned uphill from the carport will be. We have so much to do this fall and winter and I am not sure we will be able to get them made in time to start our vegetable garden in the spring. I decided that if it gets too late and we are too far behind, I will get some soil and make temporary beds out here and by the living room for a small garden the first year. At least, we will grow some decent tomatoes and basil. |
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Here is a view from the east end including the downspout from the kitchen-family-room-master-bedroom wing. The electricians were supposed to start installing the solar panels today, but the special screws for that turned up missing from the box of supplies, so I think they plan to start Monday instead. |
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I had some great pix of Kai and his brothers working on the roof, but I had hit some button on my camera by mistake, so they were all taken in almost black and white with just some touches of color. I have used Photoshop to make an arty, posterized version of one the photos. Here is Darren working on the veranda roof. When I think that you can do this in two seconds with Photoshop—something that one used to have to be brilliant in the darkroom to achieve—I feel a little sad, but also amazed at what computers can do. (Plus this would have been a great picture if the color hadn’t gotten messed up.) |
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I took this picture from the family room to show how the kitchen is shaping up with the range hood garland. I still need to do some touch-up on it before it can be waxed. Every day, we are getting closer to a final inspection from the County and moving in. |
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One final shot of our front porch, gate open, roof on and Ginger’s dog blanket in place. Even with only the gravel in, the courtyard looks inviting, doesn’t it? | ||
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