There were four trucks full of logs that hauled wood to a sawmill to be cut into boards.

Then the piers and pilings were poured. It was an exciting time because after years of planning, we were actually beginning to build the house. We walked through the “rooms” at this stage and envisioned what they might look like as they grew.

The foundation was built, and I worried that the house would sit up too high off the ground. I was told repeatedly that it wasn’t too high, but they couldn’t convince me. I could see a L-O-N-G, arduous set of steps to be navigated to get up to the house.

The framing might have been the most exciting phase.  That’s when the individual rooms really took shape.

When I saw the kitchen bay window framed out, I had tears in my eyes.  It was that exciting.  We had looked at the plans for this particular house for so long, and to see it becoming reality was wonderful.

Framing the second story was also exciting.

I loved it when the two front gables were framed out.  They’re part of the distinctive features of the front of the house.

And then they nailed up the plywood and then that waterproof-paper-whatever-it’s-called over the playwood.

Somewhere I have photos of the guys doing the brickwork. I’ll look them up someday.  However, here’s a photo of the finished brickwork - including the beautiful front steps.  Not too many steps at all!

This photo shows our landscaper (our son) drawing his plans for the landscaping, sprinkler and lighting systems.  You’ll notice that the forms are ready for the sidewalks to be poured.

The paving crew poured the patio, sidewalks and driveway.  They did a wonderful job.

The finished house - with the front rock garden that RT built for me. 

This next picture is the artist’s rendering of what the “Hickory Ridge” plan by Donald Gardner should look like.  I think our house is MUCH more beautiful than what the artist envisioned.  We made a few changes - added an additional bedroom and bath downstairs and made some of the windows larger.