Sunrise!

This grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never all dried at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal sunset, eternal dawn and glowing, on sea and continues and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls.

John Muir

Spam

It's crazy!

Obviously we'll have to be careful not to disclose any personal information, etc.

You would think people would have better things to do than cruise around the web reading other people's blogs.

Spam Comments

How the spamlords found us here is quite the mystery. Is there anywhere sacred? (Comments in the 'Update from Luke!' entry).

Update from Luke!

Luke gave us an update today:

• The house is almost done, and he says it's beautiful.
• Painting, floors, ceiling and trim are finished.
• Bathrooms almost done.
• Deck is finished.
• Ceiling fan in greatroom is up.
• Loft railing is done.
• Water is at the lab for testing.

Still to do:

• Island maple butcherblock top.
• Front screen door.
• Shower door in downstairs bath.
• Railing on front porch.
• Dimmer switches....Luke says he will personally change the switches to dimmers wherever we want them.
• He will do the Entertainment Center and Builtin Bookcases in the next couple of months.

The true definition of PB&J

Many of you may know PB&J as 'Peanut Butter & Jelly'...



After graciously being invited by Bob, Mary, Eric, & Michael to their home during my first day in San Francisco....the Bergen family defined as the following:

PB&J (pee-bee-and-jay): noun - patio, beer, & josh (cool huh?)

WOW! Can this stuff be submitted to Webster's!?! Pretty cool!

Nontheless, we had a fantastic time.

Mary picked me up at the airport at ~11:15am PT and we took the scenic route back to San Jose - it was great fun. As we moved south to San Jose, the fog had immediately stopped when we crossed a low level mountain range....it was amazing....nothing like you would see in Cincinnati (went from gray sky to a bright blue sky....had to squint my eyes...).

We picked up Eric and Michael at Bob's parents house and headed to the homestead. Bob and Mary's neighborhood is beautiful. The homes are in excellent shape (partly b/c they are not going through the harsh Ohio winters) and have designs that are completely different from Cincinnati.

I was greeted with hugs, food, cigars, beer, GREAT weather (high 70s...no humidity...light breeze...), I was in heaven. We jumped in the warm family pool and had a great time. Bob, Mary, Michael (his friend Sammy), and Eric had a fun time. The backdrop of their home was unreal....slowly moving slopes of brown grass and juniper/evergreen shrubs all over.

I presented Michael with a Birthday card (his birthday had already passed...but c'mon...we had to get him something...).

Later in the evening we grilled out some very large steaks and had a blast. I was dead tired at around 9pm PT (12am ET)....I slept like a baby...

Woke up at around 5:30am PT on Sunday or so...stared at the ceiling for about 15-20 minutes...then fell back asleep until 8:00am PT (11:00am ET) or so....heeeheee. Had a light breakfast of muffins and coffee and great conversation at the kitchen table.

Again...Bob & Mary - if you're reading this...THANK YOU so much for the inviting me into your home....I would have been completely bored sitting in my hotel room (calling Sarah every 5 minutes and bugging her...like I do every time I leave her...)

Singing off -
Josh 'PB&J' Rodgers

Map is Ready

We also have the Leelanau Map framed and ready for the entry hall.

Gettin' Ready to Furnish IT!

In 2 weeks I'll be driving up north with a rental truck full of stuff for the homestead.

Today Nancy & I cleaned 6 oak chairs and found some nice cushions for them at Pier One. Yesterday we bought a ton of colorful towels, sheets and mattress covers for up north. We also have 3 beds, a futon, a loveseat, a couple of mirrors and some framed art that I plan to take up on labor day weekend. We are piling the stuff up in the living room right now (see the pic). Can't wait!!!!

Please POST while we're out in San Francisco

Please post while we're on vacation...I love to jump on the site and see that there has been updates (from someone other than myself!). It makes work a little bit more fun.

Does it look a little cold?

Kitchen Island Bar Stools

Check out the bar stools for the kitchen island!

Update to the Home...and things to yet complete...

- Sept 1 is good

- Trim is 99% Complete, Railings are 75% Complete

- Yesterday poured concrete under screen porch

- Deck framing today

- Laundry Vinyl today

- Bedroom Closet shelves done

- I'm sorry but I dont remember our final layout for laundry closet

- Entry Tile are DONE!

List of things to complete are.

- Retaining wall
- Deck
- Counter tops
- Painting
- Front porch rail (Wait on drawing from Brian)
- a Few light Fixtures
- Inside screen porch
- Interior Door Hardware (Waiting for final coat of paint)
- Plumbing & Heating Completion