Looking forward and looking behind.

So we've been in the house a little over a month.  I've found some rugs but I'm looking for more.  Still working on the 2 gallery walls and still looking for the sideboard to go under the Longhorn picture.  It is a process.

I did buy the churchpew and love it so much.  Looks perfect.  I'm currently working on 2 needlepoint pillows for it but if you've ever done needlepoint it doesnt go fast and then you have to make a pillow out of it.  

There was always gonna be a carport and we finished that up just a couple of days ago.  Now we are working on the lighting for it.

Big enough for both ATV's and Bob's truck and my 4-Runner.  With wood storage and a gardening/BBQ storage area as well.  We also took the cattleguard from the second entrance and put it in the driveway to the house.  There will be a yard fence to protect the house/AC Units and porches from the cows.  But that wont start until pipe prices come down.  

Looking back at this whole process is disappointing in some aspects and wonderful in others.  

We set out to have someone hand us the keys when it was done albeit with our picking out fixtures, tile, paint, texture etc.  But we realized about 8 months in that that wasnt going to happen.  We struggled with firing our General Contractor many, many times and finally did toward the end when we found out that he wasnt paying or was way behind in paying them.  It became a perfect excuse to let him go without completely burning that bridge.  You have to choose your battles.  We believed him when the timeline in the beginning was 4 to 6 months but it ended up taking over a year and a half.  We built our other home by being our own General Contractor in just a little bit longer time frame so what did we save in the end because we ended up doing so much of the work ourselves?  We will not be doing this again mostly because we have found our forever home for however long we have left on this earthly plane but if we had to do this again we should have just become our own General Contractor again.  I'm pretty sure we have enough contacts to be able to make informed decisions about sub contractors and their work.  

We met some outstanding workers and made some new friends and we are extremely happy with how our drawings became the house we are living in.  

If I had any advice to lend to anyone reading this blog....I'd tell you to really give your General Contractor a microscopic look over.  Speak to present clients and not just past ones.  And if you dont know anything about building a house or any of the systems ( plumbing, electrical etc) then DO NOT use anyone other than a large home builder because they have it all down to a science.  

Thank you dear readers for coming on this journey with me.  I'm looking forward to getting the front steps in place, gravel for the driveway and under the carport.  I'm looking forward to planting a garden and hosting family get- togethers once again.  Peace