Oct. 4, the great-room decked out for Hallowe'en. Also visible here are the new hutch and wine cabinet.
Oct. 4, a good shot of the Hallowe'en tree, with the new wine cabinet behind it.
June 13, competition for one of the hummingbird feeders.
June 13, a view of the West side of the house with new (first floor) windows and wall pergola above the basement walk-out door and windows.
The back-up generator on its concrete pad in front of the kitchen window. A white vinyl 4.5-foot-high fence will be installed soon to hide it from view.
June 13, mounting and planting of seven window boxes was finished today (three are not visible in this view).
May 16: The back West bedroom and new window. Drywall patching and repair will take place today, followed by trim and painting. All new maple furniture for the guestroom will arrive from Virginia next week.
May 16: The front West bedroom (or "office") with its new West-facing window. It's hard to tell from these photos, but the room feels twice as large and twice as bright, and it's a joy to be able to look out West from the first floor.
May 16: I'm beginning to "embellish" the outside of the house with things like wall-plaques, trellises and window-boxes. Another window-box for the window on the right is on the way.
May 16: The foundation for the new "barn" was finished today. This new structure will be 20'x32' with a second story and gambrel roof. This foundation is significantly higher than that of the old shed because of the potential for water run-off at this location.
May 14, 2011: The front walkway and generator pad were finished yesterday. As you can see, much of the walkway is a few inches above ground, which means that topsoil will have to built up around it and seeded with grass. The generator pad is barely visible (center-right of photo).
May 14, 2011: In the back guestroom (shown here) as well as in the front "office/bedroom," Adam and Craig (my builder and his associate) prepared yesterday for the installation of windows in the first floor Western wall by cutting out drywall, framing and insulation.
May 14, 2011: The "altered" front gate as seen from the county road (entrance to Middlehills Park). Once the Eastern double fence-line was established, this was the only deer-prevention weak spot, and I think this solves the problem without being too ugly.
May 14, 2011: A photo of the front gate taken from inside the Park, altered to be twice its original height, with heavy-gauge wire panels to prevent larger mammals (primarily deer) from getting through.
May 14, 2011: Completion of the "double fence" along the Eastern property-line, 4 feet high and 4 feet apart, with 200 forsythia bushes between them. According to experts, this creates a barrier over which deer will not jump. All four sides of Middlehills Park are now as protected as possible from intrusion by deer.
May 14, 2011: I asked the fencing contractor to put a small stockade fence around the flagpole to hide the solar panel and large LED fixture that are mounted on the flagpole to (very effectively) illuminate Old Glory at night. While they were at it, they put in a 16-foot post on which I'd mounted a bat house (upper-left of photo).
May 14, 2011: Last week the electrician, with the help of the fencing workers, succeeded in pounding a length of conduit under the driveway near the front gate in order to provide me with electrical outlets at both sides of the gate (for Christmas lights and such). The outlets will tap in to the line that supplies power to the gate opener/closer.
May 14, 2011: The Generac whole-house emergency backup generator sitting on the driveway, waiting to be lifted into place on the concrete pad under the kitchen window. Propane fueled (tapped into the in-ground propane tank), it's primary purpose is to ensure that the floor-heating system never fails in winter.
May 9, 2011: That ain't no hummingbird! One of the Orioles partaking of the hummingbird nectar which was seeping up from the rim of the platform. Aside from the Oriole, I've seen three different hummingbirds at the feeder (when the Oriole isn't in the way).
May 9, 2011: Goldfinches enjoying the bounty of my bird-feeders. I've seen about 20 of them altogether, though they're not all in this photo.
May 9, 2011: A pair of Orioles in one of the Hawthorne trees out back. Last year they only stayed a few days, but as of May 14, they're still here.
May 9, 2011: A pair of Bluebirds at one of the feeders. This is the first time I've seen Bluebirds in person, much less at Middlehills Park, although I put up houses for them last summer along the Western fence-line.
April 23, 2011: Fifty more 6-plus-foot maples (all protected by tubing) and 44 more evergreens were planted in the "Old Field" last week. Lesson learned: all new plantings get some kind of protection from deer, rabbits, groundhogs, etc.
April 6, 2011: The 12'x12' fuel-shed, to hide and protect the two 500-gallon diesel and gas tanks, is completed. An open-peaked roof will eventually be added to offer some protection from the elements.
March 15, 2011: One (of two today) of the first deer I've seen since the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The photo was taken from inside the house, through the back porch with its shades down, so it looks fuzzy. I believe these are the two that were born here.
Feb. 3, 2011: The front gate area after being dug out from "the blizzard of 2011." The snow-drifts around the gate were about 4 feet deep, and two feet deep on most of the driveway. I was especially amused by the mailbox, at far right, sticking out of the snow.
Feb. 2, 2011: Snow-drifts in the enclosed West Garden are half-way up the height of the windows.
Feb. 2, 2011: A view of the driveway near the house, with snow churned up by my fruitless attempt to plow with the mule.
Jan. 23, 2011: One of the large, dead elm trees finally fell over in the second snow-storm of this season, about three weeks ago. The camera is facing due East near the front gate (far right).
Dec. 1, 2010: A 7-1/2-foot artificial White Pine, put up for the first time since purchase in 2007. It took hours to "fluff" the branches and fill it in with decorations.
Dec. 22: The "mule," with plow blade. I'd say we've had about 12 inches of snow so far this season.
Dec. 22: The enclosed "West Garden" is an undisturbed snow-scene.
Dec. 11: Look at the size of those snowflakes! This photo was taken around 1 p.m. as it began to snow after a night and morning of freezing rain and sleet.
Dec. 4: A snow-covered night-scene in the back yard, compliments of landscape lighting and Mother Nature.
Dec. 4: The first snow of the season, about 8 inches. Odds are in favor of a White Christmas.
Nov. 5: Construction of the wood-shed (8x12) is completed, but it will need to be painted... in the spring... or when the weather warms up a bit. And, of course, I need to start filling it up with firewood.
October 21: The lattice garden fence was completed this afternoon; an attempt not only to "define" the space, but to discourage rabbits, raccoons and deer. Each slat, made of thick lengths of cedar, was cut-to-fit on-site by three workers over the course of two days.
Oct. 21: "Deer-browse." Three more maples (making a total of 14 out of 25) have had the bark chewed/rubbed off recently in spite of protection, this one completely around. Although they aren't "dead" (they grow back near ground-level) it's a set-back that has prompted me to go ahead and have a third side of the property protected by deer-fencing.
October 21: The back yard, showing the completed fountain with new benches and built-up soil around it. All the exterior shutters are up, along with faux attic vents, and I put the blade on the tractor to level out the mound of dirt that was delivered to fill up the "ponding" problem (foreground).
Oct. 11: The great-room's East wall, for which the last two pieces of "decorative filler" (upper left) arrived about a month ago, and I'm satisfied that I've "tastefully" eliminated the excess of "white space." Maybe I should have a cloudy sky painted on the ceiling? (kidding)
Oct. 11: Also to show that the excess of white wall-space has been decorated, this is a photo of the great-room's West wall.
Oct. 4: Roll-down shades for all of the front porch except between the two center columns, which will have large double-screen doors.
Sept. 2: You could call it "The West Garden," or maybe "The Boulder Garden." The shed (8x8) on the left was finished this week, and thanks to a summer of miserable weather, the "garden" is definitely a work in progress.
Sept. 2: The basement walk-out area on the West side of the house, showing the concrete apron poured earlier this week.
Sept. 2: 2.8 tons of red flagstone for a walk-way to the front door. Anything left over from that,... well,... I have a list.
Aug. 15: In the little glade near the front gate, where the flagpole was erected last week.
Aug. 21: Finally, a good photo of one of the four hummingbirds I've counted, drinking at the back-yard feeder. There are three feeders around the house, and sometimes all four of the hummingbirds flit around a feeder, darting at one another, playing "get away, it's my turn!"
Aug. 6, the 900-foot extension of deer-fencing was completed along the Northeast property line (between me and the couple from whom I bought the land; their house is visible in the photo). Gates at either end remain to be put up next week, as well as some wire in places where the slope of the land prevents the fencing from reaching the ground.
Aug. 15: A large branch of the healthiest apple tree on the property,... a victim of one of the recent storms and,... well,... my "neglect." Pruning the apple trees has been on my to-do list since spring. Now I'll have to cut off the broken branch and seal the wound. The upside is having a supply of apple-wood, which is wonderful for smoking and grilling meats!
July 12: Another split-rail fence was put in yesterday (for "aesthetic definition" between driveway and yard), along with an 8x8 stockade fence around the electric power-pad.
July 25: A photo taken from inside the back porch at dusk, with the shades down. This gives you a better idea of just how little light is blocked by the shades.
July 7: Roll-down shades were installed today, by Ace Awnings of Dubuque (Iowa), around the back porch and two sides of the front porch. They look dark in this photo, but the shades only block about 30% of the light from outside. Most importantly, they provide a rain and insect barrier.
June 19: Good news regarding the 9 nine maples in the field that I thought had been killed by deer: all of their roots were sufficiently established to result in re-growth from below the level of chewed-off bark.
June 19: Black raspberry bushes, especially those which get sun most of the day, yielding fruit already.
June 15: A raccoon chowing down on fallen wild bird-food,... tempting enough to bring a nocturnal animal out into the light of day. The level of destruction being caused by the rabbits brought me to buy a .410-/.45-caliber revolver, and then a 22 rifle. I never thought I'd be a "serious" gun owner, but...
June 15: They eat door-mats? I couldn't believe it, but I caught the rabbits up on the porch pigging out on the hemp or coir or whatever it is. When I found they'd chewed down a couple of young Clematis, and contemplated what they might do to a garden, my mind was made up to buy a gun.
June 15: I put this little palm outdoors because it was infested with spider-mites, but I never expected the rabbits to chew it up. I was simply hoping the ants would eat the mites.
June 7: I finished putting up the shutters on the front of the house today, but still have 8 pairs to put up on the South and East sides. It's been two weeks today since the lawn was "established," and there's been so much rain that I've had to water only three times. And how do you like that sore thumb of a satellite dish?
June 7: Goldfinches at the feeder which I moved closer to the house yesterday. The finches can clean out a large feeder in two days, and that finch-food ain't cheap. Oh, and there's at least one Baltimore Oriole in the vicinity with beautiful orange plumage.
May 22: A bat sleeping under the eaves near the kitchen window.
May 20: A close-up of wild geranium blooming profusely all over the property. Thanks to Jerry Brill back at the condo in Arlington for identifying it.
May 15: Rivers of slug-slime (and slugs) on the black-top the morning after paving. There are thousands of slugs dying on the driveway.
May 14: Paving of the driveway was completed today.
April 27: The contractors got the Western deer-fence up in one day. They were at it until 5:30 this afternoon and should be back tomorrow to remove the last of the Old Field fence (North) and to dig holes for the flag-pole and Purple Martin house-poles.
April 25. "Ponding" alongside the driveway near the house. The landscaping contractor will correct the problem when he establishes grass around the house.
April 24. Ugh! Refuse at the bottom of the gully, certainly deposited more than 11 years ago by the second to last owner. I'm going to ask the excavating contractor if he'll remove it for me.
April 22: One of many measures taken to protect saplings and seedlings from deer-browse and interference from other animals.
April 4: A close view of the Michael Healy door knocker that arrived yesterday,... a contemporary spin on the traditional lion's head knocker.
April 3: The second and last order of interior shutters arrived Friday and I installed them today. In the lower left of the photo you can see most of at least one of the large, four-wing Purple Martin houses, waiting to be mounted on 16-foot aluminum poles, probably at either end of the Old Field.
March 30, a "prize piece," the "Waterfall Bradlee Sideboard" that arrived last night along with 7 other pieces of furniture.
March 30, a breakfast table, four side-chairs and a window chest, delivered last night.
March 30, another parlor chair with stool, also delivered last night direct from Virginia.
March 10: The fireplace is at last completed with the mounting of the cherry mantle-piece today.
Feb. 8: A daring doe, probably curious about all the bird and squirrel activity around the three thorn trees in which the bird-feeders are hanging.
January 27: The arrival of an 8x11 area rug necessitated some changes in the great-room's seating arrangements. Absent is the fireplace mantle (being made this week or next), a second parlor chair (coming in April) and wall tapestries.
Jan. 27, a photo of the front guest bedroom or "office," taken from the doorway and facing the Northwest corner of the house. Tall shutters for those windows should arrive next week.
Jan. 27, the South wall of the front guest bedroom, showing the maple daybed made by the Hardwood Artisans in Virginia. The door on the left goes to the entryway for both guest bedrooms and bath.
Jan. 27, the West wall of the front guest bedroom and "office." The pictures I plan to hang on that wall are still in Indiana.
Jan. 27, the East wall of the "office" (the front guest bedroom). The double-doors open to reveal a closet.
Jan. 27, the walk-in closet as seen from its pocket-door from the master bathroom.
Jan. 27, the master bathroom with closer view of the air-tub and huge shower-stall.
Jan. 27, the guest bathroom, rather small but adequate.
Jan. 27, the long and narrow laundry room, off the entry from the garage.
Jan. 11, facing West in the master bedroom. I had to lighten most of today's photos with image software because the camera's exposure reading is thrown off by light sources (I haven't mastered those settings, because they're usually not a concern).
Jan. 11, a view of the master bedroom from the garage entry-way door into the bedroom. The basement, laundry, garage and great-room doorways are also in this entry-way, and the floor-heating pipe-junction is right underneath it, so it is, ironically, the warmest place in the house.
Jan. 11, a view of the master bedroom, facing the entry doorway.
Jan. 11, the master bedroom, facing its Northeast corner and the door to the master bathroom. The headboard, dresser and wall shelf were all made by The Hardwood Artisans in Virginia, as with most of the living-room and dining furniture.
January 11: The great-room with everything pretty much where I want it, although there are some area rugs on order, and I'm in the process of ordering two more matching dining side-chairs, another Parlor chair (like the one in the center of this photo), and a buffet that matches the dining table. Most of my furniture was made-to-order by The Hardwood Artisans in Virginia, so it will have to be shipped.
Jan. 11, the great-room from the dining area to the fireplace, which still has no mantle. I've changed my mind about that, and the cabinet-maker is going to make one for me from lengths of cherry to match the entertainment center cabinetry.
Jan. 11, the fireplace-seating area ("living room") of the great-room (Southwest corner).
Jan. 11, the great-room as seen from its Southeast corner, facing the front door of the house.
January 5: A photo of the great-room taken last evening, with furniture in place and window treatments. In spite of another inch of snow the night before, the moving van made it up the driveway with no problems on New Year's Eve.
Jan. 5: Thank gawd for a big basement to hold both empty and as-yet-unpacked boxes. There are about 85 boxes in all. In the background (back-right area of this photo) are the boxes, of mostly books, that I haven't unpacked yet.
Nov. 19: The heart of the floor-heating, hot water and air exchange systems. The plumbing and heating contractor is 100% finished as of yesterday morning, when anti-freeze was added to the fluid circulating in the floor heating pipes (you can see the bluish pipes). The black box on the wall left of center is the propane-fired boiler. In the center of the photo is the hot water storage tank (fed, as needed, by the boiler). Above and to the right of the storage tank is the air exchange unit.
Nov. 15, taken from the back porch, holding the camera horizontally, this photo of "The Ridge" (the highest point on the property) gives you an idea of the house's relation to the land. It's about the same height from the house down to Pauls' Paddock (the lowest point on the property).
Nov. 14: Two young men surprised me by showing up Saturday morning to install gutters and downspouts (which will look like sore thumbs until some landscaping can be done next spring). A "faux" attic vent needs to be put up on the wall facing the camera, and you can see why I want shutters for selected windows.
November 10: Once the top-soil and driveway were down, there seemed a need to "define" all that open space, so an 80-foot split-rail fence was put in today between the driveway and back "yard."
Nov. 7: Most of the boulders not used in the retaining walls were placed around the septic tank this morning, to hide it from view from the house. Whatever was left is scattered around near the well-cap.
Nov. 7, a view of [the front of] the house and built-up top-soil from the Northeast.
Nov. 7, a view of the house and finished driveway from the "triangle."
November 5: The kitchen (and bathrooms) were made fully operational yesterday after the counter- and vanity-tops were installed. The electrician and plumber then got everything "hooked up." The light fixture over the island was lowered two feet. All that remains to be done is to install a vent for the kitchen island downdraft system.
Nov. 5, a close-up of the kitchen, which was completed yesterday (countertops, plumbing and electrical work).
Oct. 30, the entertainment center cabinet, shelving and trim was put in this morning.
October 23, the West end of the great-room. The fireplace mantle and an "entertainment center" cabinet and shelving (in the nook to the right of the fireplace) are pending.
Sept. 24, the new electric front gate. Electric eyes, a keypad and remotes will come Monday (9/28).
Sept. 6, a photo of the house from the center of the old field. It will be an altogether different sort of view once the siding is on, because the color will be a blend between that of the field and the trees. After all, the intent was to make the house "blend in" with the land.
Sept. 6, the five new (deer resistant) spruces that were planted last Friday along the Southwestern ridge of the old field. Before next spring I'm going to have to find a way to protect isolated seedlings from "deer browse," or I will have wasted much of my reforestation efforts.
Aug. 26: Taken from the Southwest corner of the home-site, this photo shows the fourth and final retaining wall (center-left), put in yesterday.
Aug. 17: Spray-in insulation (kitchen area).
Aug. 17: A view of the house from the "triangle" (see next photo).
Aug. 17: The "triangle," where the main driveway splits off to the shed (right) and County Line Rd. (left).
Aug. 14: Crazy animal activity near an oak seedling. "Digging Practice," I'd call it, since the holes connect underground.
Aug 14: A photo of some of the hundreds of birch saplings in the Northwest area of the old field. You can make them out as the wind exposes the underside of their leaves.
Aug. 14: Anglophile that I am, I call this Pauls' Paddock; down the Western end of the old field toward the previous owner's property, where five horses are boarded. Seedling isolations are visible in the foreground.
Aug. 13: Wind Power. Four of a larger number of wind-mills several miles North, visible from the Southwest ridge of Middlehills
Aug. 13, Adam and I both agree that the Eastern ridge-vent isn't done right. For "looks" alone, why not have one continuous vent? Never mind the left side (see photo at right) is not "uniform" in appearance.
Aug. 13, a close-up of my issue with the Eastern ridge-vent, which looks "wonky,"... and that's only a yard or so of it. Adam will be asking the roofing contractor to come back and correct the problem.
Aug. 13: Tell me this isn't a grapevine! Altogether it's wrapped along about 20-feet of fencing and up in to a young walnut on the Southern fence-line. I tasted a piece of the fruit, and it's definitely a grape.
Aug 13, an eye-level photo of the Queen Anne's Lace dominating the old field.
Aug. 11: Very "wonky" thanks to the el-cheapo image editing software included with Windows Vista, but this is an otherwise accurate rendering of the REAL 1st floor layout.
Aug. 11, the fireplace was finished this morning (except for the mantel), with mortar still drying in the top section.
Aug. 3, a birch tree knocked down by the early morning storms that missed the town entirely.
Aug. 3, a walnut tree near the house, broken in half by this morning's storms.
Aug. 3: The Stuck Stick. I always chuckle when I find these dead branches, blown from the trees, sticking out of the ground like this.
July 30, the pile of branches I picked up this morning is on the right, and that's technically the burn-pile on the left, made up of branches gathered the day after the storm.
July 29, the interior of the East wall of the house. All of the first floor interior framing is done and awaiting wiring, plumbing and then drywall.
July 29, the interior of the West wall of the house.
July 29, in the basement, about 10 feet from the West walk-out door, is the newly completed masonry base (and ash-drop chamber) that will support the fireplace. The dark lines of mortar aren't dry yet.
July 29, the stack of all the light fixtures and bulbs (to date), awaiting installation.
July 29, the well-water pump and holding tank in the Southeast corner of the basement.
July 28, yet another milestone: running water at the shed.
July 24, the sunset after the disastrous hail-storm.
Mark-up (with a cheapo software program) of the 2005 satellite photo of the land with boundaries and a few of the landmarks added.
Untouched satellite photo of the land from 2005 (Google Earth).
July 24, a view of the house from the Northeast corner. I especially like the tall windows for the front of the house.
July 24, the concrete floor of the garage completely finished.
July 23, the three thornless boysenberry bushes surrounded by rocks to prevent the raccoon(s) from digging them up.
July 16: Although this photo is from a few weeks ago, this is the main entrance to the property "as it is now."
July 16, another milestone, electricity for the shed.
July 15, taken from the Southwest corner of the glade, shows the beginnings of all 3 retaining walls and the extent of roofing at noon.
July 15, a close-up of the Northwest retaining wall, which looks as though it wants at least one more layer of boulders.
July 15, piles of boulders delivered yesterday, waiting to be put in place for the retaining walls.
July 15, floor heating pipes in place in the basement, awaiting the pouring of the concrete floor.
July 11, from the Southwest corner of the glade, shows the size of the house from basement floor to roof peak, and also shows that some roof boards had been put up since my brief visit the day before.
July 11, the "septic field." The septic tank is a huge 2-chambered pre-cast container with three lids. The white-capped pipes in the left half of the photo mark the ends of the three long "leaching" tanks.
July 9, from the Northeast corner of the central glade, shows roof trusses being lifted into place and secured.
July 6 photo of the lone mulberry tree which had been left to grow on the Eastern fence-line (now removed) of the old field.
July 6 photo of one of the hundreds of black raspberry bushes (now bearing fruit) that populate the land.
July 3 photo showing destruction of the zero-turn mower's seat by what I assume to be a raccoon.
July 2, taken from the Northwest corner (lowest point) of the central glade, gives a good idea of how high the house is on the terrain, and how much fill-dirt has been delivered so far.
June 29 (2009), view of only the Southeast quarter of the old 11-acre field after careful mowing, shows (by the presence of stakes and darker green patches) the number of new plantings and seedling preservations that are part of my reforestation effort.
This photo, also taken June 29 (2009), from the North end of the old field, gives some idea of the number of new plantings and newly-isolated seedlings. It shows about half of the old field, and there are non-field areas that need reforestation.
The back porch, finished June 24 (along with the much larger front porch), just to give you an idea of the color and texture of the concrete. Both the front and back porches will be covered by roofing.
June 24, taken in the basement from under the master bedroom area. This gives you a better idea of the size of the great-room and two guest-rooms area.
June 24, the basement taken from the "walk-out" door-way. Floor-heating pipes will be laid on the Styrofoam and then the floor will be poured. The area at bottom-right is where an extra 10-inch-deep "footer" of concrete will help support the fireplace.
June 20, 2009, close-up of the finished water-well. The pump, water-line and wiring were put in June 18. The metal "casings" (pipes) are 10 inches in diameter and go down 200 feet to another 60 feet or so of limestone, through which the water is derived.
June 9, 2009, close-up of the cycle gate, showing how much more "cycle-friendly" it is for access to the public road than the main driveway, which is not only steep, but currently made up of base or "breaker" material.
May 2, 2009, view of the central glade the day after initial excavation.
The Massey-Ferguson 1540 compact tractor with bush-hog. A dozer-blade has since been installed. Yeah, bring on the snow!
The shed and "mule," spring 2009. The shed, which is 16x24 on concrete slab, was put up last summer by Adam (my home builder) and his co-worker. I admit it was meant to be something of a "test" of his abilities before asking him to take on the house.
Original floor-plan of the house. The storage room in the kitchen/dining-room area has been removed to expand the kitchen and give me a sink under a front window, and all superfluous interior walls (especially for a "dining room") are out. A master bath vanity has been removed to accommodate the toilet so that one big shower-stall can be put in.
Artist's rendering of the house. In reality, the siding will instead be "Hardie Shingle" (cement fiber-board that looks like cedar shakes) in a "heather-moss" color. The roof will be more brown than shown. Also, the windows will all be "casements" without grilles.