Day 137: Peace

Yesterday was hard. With the last week's stress of lamenting over the granite, and making a new choice so quickly yesterday, I have to say that Im mentally exhausted. I did spend last night staring a the lousy pictures I took of the Eco countertops. I do adore it and am eager to see how it looks in my new kitchen. I know it will work well with my kids and all of the wonderful things we intend on using that huge island for. I can breathe easy knowing that they cant stain it. It doesn't have to be sealed or use any special cleaners on it, which will be easier for me, too. So, overall, I think this whole thing happened for a reason and is working out for the best.

Jennifer called this morning to check and make sure I was happy with the new selections I had made yesterday. I could honestly tell her I was. And am!

This morning I headed over to the house to select where Id like my new trees to be placed. With a blank slate of a yard, tree placement is important as they will eventually give me shade, if I place them in key spots. However, because of the direction my house faces (west-southwest), mostly my neighbors trees will shade my house in the afternoon. My trees will at least help shade my front sideyard. However my beautiful house will give my whole backyard its afternoon shade, which will be incredibly nice in the summertime.

While I was placing bricks where Id' like the trees to be, I found a heart-shaped rock in the dirt.

And last piece of granite was being wheeled out and put onto Summit's truck. Goodbye granite!

 

 

 

Believe it or not, after reading about my new countertops, Eco by Cosentino, Ive learned about how granite can expel radon, an invisible odorless gas which is a Class A carcinogen and a cause of lung cancer. Remember when I said perhaps God knows best? I sure don't need anything like that around my daughter who has asthma. The Eco tops will be much healthier for her and all of us. 

Also, there was a worker there working on the leak in the master bath/kids bathtub area.

When I picked the kids up and stopped by the house today, we noticed white stuff on the floor, so we didn't walk around or look at much. I would take a guess that its in preparation for the wood flooring. I cant wait to see that! In all of the houses Ive ever rented, none of them have ever had anything other than vinyl linoleum and carpet. It will be a wonderful change to have a earthy element in my new home.

I did notice that our nook lower cabinets were installed. Uppers were still not there. Upstairs, in the master bathroom, the leak has been repaired and the wall put back into place. Also, the entry hole to get into the attic now has a cover.

My littlest, who has the best eyes in the family, noticed on our way out that the shingles are finally complete (above the front patio). The house from the front now looks almost finished.

What a good lookin' house!

 

 

 

Last, on our way out of the neighborhood, we met a new neighbor, David, who is building down the street towards the pool. He was checking out his lot. I remember those days! He'll be where we are in no time.

 



Day 128: Granite

So it appears I'm unsettled with the granite. At first when I saw it, I was surprised because it was not how I had envisioned or designed. I had my heart set on the sample that I had picked out and ordered at the design studio, and the colors it entailed. I picked out other things based on my kitchen centerpiece--the granite. I chose espresso cabinets to match the chocolate sparkles that Delicatus is known for. I liked the contrast between dark cabinets and white countertops. I chose a sleek, pure white back splash to go with it as well. 

And after lamenting, pouring over pictures, going to see it in person more than once this past weekend, and doing a lot of research, I know this is *not* Delicatus.  

I am convinced this granite is Arctic Cream. I can find plenty of pictures of that and it all looks like what I have installed. It features a beige-ish, latte-colored background with dramatic, striking black lines. It's not white at all.

I have found no other pictures anywhere--not on granite websites, not on blogs, not on home building websites, not on pinterest or Houzz, not even on Summit Stoneworks' website (the granite company who installed this) -- not once have I found a picture of Delicatus that looks like this.

Im definitely going to have to talk to Raymond and Jennifer about this.

 

 

 

 

 

Day 22: Some Bumps in the Road

Welcome to Week #4!

After posting my plot plan, an old high school friend happened to see it and shared with me some helpful knowledge. Since he's an architect, I trust he knows what he's talking about and the next morning I immediately contacted Chance at KB about this. He's going to discuss it with the engineer and we'll go from there.

In the picture above, you can see how my lot begins to slope at the easement line. However, after driving around the neighborhood and looking at the houses over on Crested Butte that have similar slope, Im confident that my drive will be leveled in the same fashion.  See pic below.

 

 

Next, the brick. Kennewick isn't available. I'm not sure why since it's being used in the neighborhood down the road from me. I'm terribly upset about this. I've spent the last 24+ hours hunting for a brick I like. Ive found a couple that I can settle for, yet when I consider how much Im spending on this house, I dont feel like I should settle. I'm not happy. And at this point I'm willing to pay extra to get what I want.

 

I pray to God that something good comes from all of this stress.

 

In the course of my hunt, I did find a rather unusual plant that caught my eye in one of the neighborhoods. It's actually a sumac plant, non-poisonous and the berries are actually edible. Edible sumac red berries are from the Sumac bush whereas Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) has white berries. NEVER eat them!

 

 

 

Around this time of year, Sumac bushes have whitish berries that turn a deep rusty red. The berry clusters appear like flames from the green bushes, just beautiful! Its what caught my eye! Not only are they edible, sumac berries are medicinal.

 

Here is an excerpt from Mother Earth Living that I found interesting:

 

Sumac leaves and berries are classified as astringent and cooling. Certain Native American and Canadian Indian tribes used sumac to treat bladder, digestive, reproductive, and respiratory ailments; infections; injuries; stomachaches; arrow wounds; and more. The Chippewa Indians of North America made a decoction of sumac flowers to treat gas, indigestion, and other digestive upsets. The Iroquois used sumac as a laxative, diuretic, expectorant, liver aid, and in countless other applications. The powdered bark and dried berries were allegedly combined with tobacco and smoked during peace pipe ceremonies. The inner bark was also used to treat hemorrhoids.

 

Early pioneers used the berries to reduce fevers, and they steeped and strained the berries and thickened the mixture with honey to yield a soothing cough syrup. Some transformed the berries into wine. Others used the root to produce an emetic tea (to induce vomiting), the bark to make dye, and the leaves to relieve symptoms of asthma.

 

Sumac berries contain malic acid, which possess antifungal properties and putative anti-fibromyalgic activity; tannic acid, which is present in tea and wine and is known for its astringent activity; and gallic acid, a white crystalline compound used in dyes, in photography, and in ink and paper manufacture.

 

Fascinating, no?