We aren't going to be able close on the house today as we planned because Scott hasn't finished some big items: the propane tank isn't installed (we need that for the heating system to work), kitchen appliances aren't in the house and the stone facing on the outdoor fireplace isn't done.

There are also a lot of small things that haven't been completed -- mirrors in bathrooms, outside electrical outlets and water spigots, screen for the porch, staining a door and some railings, etc. But Scott says he can have it done by Wednesday so we can close Thursday. We're encouraged by the amount of work he did last week, so maybe he can.

Here are pictures we took yesterday:

I wanted the casings around the windows painted red, not just the wood parts of the windows and the sills. But it's such a small thing compared to everything else that has to be done that I'm not even mentioning it to Scott. I asked him to leave leftover paint and I'll paint the casings myself.

Stairs to the front porch were built last week.

Ceiling fans were installed on the side porch, which still has to be screened.

Scott ran out of rock for the outdoor fireplace and has to drive to Birmingham to pick up more. The faux stone is made by a company called Alluriam. The subcontractor installing it was at the house yesterday and said it's a good product.

Permanent underground electrical lines were not run until Thursday, and that (among other things) prevented the appraiser from filing a report last week. The green box houses electrical lines and all the lights, outlets, etc. in the house now work.

Downstairs bath

Workers installed ceiling fans last week. This one's in the downstairs bedroom.

Upstairs bedroom

A masonry subcontractor was installing the last of the stone on the fireplace while we were there.

The kitchen sink and faucett are in place.

The house from the back deck

French doors going into the upstairs bedroom

View of deck from upstairs balcony

Back of cabin. This view makes the house look bigger than it is because of the unfinished basement. Railings still need to be stained.

View from side porch

Randy stopped by the cabin this weekend and took these pictures. The house is supposed to be finished by Wednesday, when an appraiser will be inspecting it. Scott still has a lot of work to do, though, and the electric company wouldn't even tell me when permanent power will be run to the house. We won't have water until then since electricity is needed to power the well pump.

Some work was done last week: the stone facing for the fireplace is partially done, hardware is on the doors and the kitchen counters are installed.

We went to the cabin Sunday, after going to a surprise birthday party for one of Randy's old friends Friday night. I got to meet the people from Randy's stories of his reckless youth. It was interesting.

A good bit of work had been done on the cabin. And a huge trench had been dug through the woods for the underground electrical line. I wasn't happy about that. The builder had told me they would bury it under the driveway so no trees would be knocked down.

The final inspection of the house is scheduled for March 25, and Scott says he will be done by then. Here are pictures we took:

The French doors are installed, and all the exterior doors are painted.

The bathroom sinks and faucets are set.

Most of the woodwork inside the house is finished now.

View from deck

The stairs have been finished with pine boards.

Trench through the yard for underground utilities

I went with my parents to the cabin yesterday. I had to drop off a light fixture Lowe's in Fort Payne didn't have and a bathroom sink that was sent to me instead of to the builder. Several things have been done this week -- toilets and some light fixtures installed, some baseboards and other interior woodwork, the front door is up -- but at this point, the things that aren't done are more obvious.

The house has to be finished by Friday in order to meet the extended closing date of March 31. I don't see it happening. Here's what still has to be done: Installation of a permanent power line, to be buried under the driveway, which currently looks like a small pond; a generator and propane tank installed; cleanup of site and final grading; remaining exterior and interior staining and painting; kitchen counters and sink/faucet installation in kitchen and baths; two sets of French doors; rock surround on fireplace; testing of the water pump (which can't be done without permanent power); septic tank hookup; hot tub installation; another door and window in the basement; remaining light fixtures installed; front stairs built; railings and screen for side porch; wood flooring on stairs; transom windows in the living room; and probably more things I'm not thinking of now.

Randy says it can be done. I'm sure it could -- with a small army Scott doesn't have.

Here are the pictures I took -- bad quality, I know, because I forgot my camera (but ironically remembered batteries for it) and had to use my phone:

I found this Craftsman-style door at Southern Accents, an architectural salvage store in Cullman.

This porcelain kitchen sink came out of a house built around 1910 or 1920, according to the girl who sold it to me at the Habitat for Humanity Restore in Northport.

Light fixture that will hang over the kitchen table



Downstairs bathroom light fixure

Stairway light

Toilet in master bath

The showerhead and rod were installed in the master bath.

Master bath vanity and light

Master bath light