Around the House
Construction on SandHill Cottage began
in 1991. Franklin Homes built the exterior framing and the inside work was done
by Carl and me. After all this time there is still much to do.
The original plan was to enclose the bottom and increase the basic one
bedroom, one bath plan to a 3 bedroom, 2 bath plan.
More than a dozen years later,
we finally took steps.
Beginning in September, 2004, we contracted
to have a detached garage built. When that
was finished early in November we made
plans to begin the work on the house. The contract was signed, the work
to begin on November 29 and the completion date was set at February 15. N.B.
My husband and I are both native Texans, but we've each lived much of our lives in several other states. Carl is really an Arkansan born in Texas. Most of his family lives in and is from Arkansas. I'm a Texan who travels. Most of my family was born and bred in Texas.
I've also lived in Montana, Illinois, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Oregon and California.
As of December 27, leveling dirtwork
was done, some forms were built
and the first pouring of the concrete foundation
was scheduled.
By January 31, all the foundation was in and most
exterior framing was done, but then things went south fast.
By March 9, exterior framing was still not
finished. Most interior framing was done, but not close
to finished and the workmanship was appalling!
Additionally, during a
rare rainstorm, we discovered leaks in the foundation in at least 4 different places.
Why was I not surprised.
I was really stressed.
It was NOT a fun exercise. I posted
some pictures of this slow and painful process on my
Webshots site.
March 8 was the last time we saw the two workers from Rhodes Construction. Phone calls
and messages went unanswered. Fortunately, we had NOT advanced more money,
so Glenn Rhodes only stuck us for a few thousand.
Educational expenses, eh wot?
When we bought the land back in 1991, there was an old termite-ridden house to remove before we could start our own construction.
While the old house was being torn down and the new frame being built, we lived in our motor home, sharing it with a Pug, Ms PoppyLu,
a super sweet Doberman, Barney,
a Great Dane puppy, Conan, two lovebirds and a cockatiel.
We also had a couple of cats, but they mainly stayed outside.
Time has taken its toll.
By the spring of 2003, Barney, PoppyLu, Conan, the lovebirds
and the cats of that time were no longer with us.
View from the back porch, April 2003.
Behind that fence is the old chicken house. We kept chickens there until once when we went on vacation and raiding dogs killed all the chickens. Now we use it for our "burnin' barrel area.
We're located in the "Lost Pines" area in Bastrop County, Texas.
View from the front deck in the early Spring. That's a crabapple in bloom.
Our little storage barn, built from a kit and to which we added
skylights & a neat checkerboard tile floor.
Lots more pictures of our little home in the forest in my
FLICKR photo album
and my
Webshots albums.
Back to the index
Interiors at SandHill Cottage
Family
Since November 29, 2004, we've been undergoing some major remodeling. All
did NOT go well. The project was supposed to be
finished by February 15, 2005, but our "professional" contractor
(Glenn Rhodes, Rhodes Construction) dropped the ball big time.
He disappeared March 9, 2005.
We've worked on it as we have time, money and help.
Carl's brother came from
Arkansas a few times and helped get a lot accomplished.
Since October, 2005, we've had help from Ricky and John Bell, friends of Carl.
Carl finished major stairwell construction February 5, 2007.
Pictures of the ongoing project can be seen at my Webshots site.