We had the final inspection on Monday.  The only thing he could find wrong was that I needed a railing on the front steps.  Really!  No one knew that for the last 13 months.  But, how can you fight it.  Waiting for the builder to come up with something. I don’t want it attached to the house or drilled into the granite steps.

So, the house is finally finished. Yeah!!!!!

Last week the gutters were put on.  Don’t know how the rain garden is going to work but we’ll have to wait to see when it starts to rain heavily.

I had an appointment with Comcast from 10-12 am on Saturday.  We got out there at 8:45am.  Put together the TV stand I got from Home Depot. Then the wait began.  Comcast finally showed up at 11:45am.  Then there was the problem with an overgrowth of trees near the phone pole.  He finally managed to get the line installed.  Plugging everything in and he was done by 2pm or so.  I re-configured the router so it has the same SSID as the one in Nashua.  That way, something that connects to the Nashua network will automatically connect to the Gloucester network.  Things like laptops, tablets, smart plugs, etc. I also configured 2 of the Alexa’s (Echo and Echo Dot).  Worked like a champ.

Tried to install more cameras but I left the main controller home.  Sure enough, got back to Nashua and it’s where I left it. I  had unplugged everything but forgot to move the controller.  Next week I guess.

We had taped various walls to touch up the ceiling. When we pulled the tape, some of the paint came off.  Guess we need to remove the tape right after we paint.  Michael spent the day touching up the paint in my room and the bathroom.

The end is in sight!  Tomorrow, Monday, is to be the final inspection.  So, we should receive our occupancy permit after that.  Everything seems to be complete.  We went out today to continue painting.  I was disappointed that the interiors stairs had not been finished.  The builder asked 2 weeks ago if his painter could do them and I agreed.  So, that didn’t happen.  We’ll finish them ourselves at this point.

Michael finished painting the kitchen ceiling and the bathroom ceiling.  Other than a little touch up here and there, the downstairs is finished.  I assembled one of the counter stools, with my left hand (since I’m not supposed to put any strain on my right arm).  The day was a little warm but the AC worked great.  It’s so quiet.  We also started to assemble my bed.  Boy, is it heavy.  After some touch up to the walls, it’ll go together pretty quick.

The deck is complete.  The stairs have been put in along with the railing system.  I was sitting out there for a time just enjoying the cool breeze (until it started to get more humid).

Next week, Comcast is coming out to install the internet, phone and cable.  Finally, the house will be on line.  Can’t wait until we can spend the night there.  I did bring out some of the food stuffs I’ve been collecting and also some cleaning products.  Now I have to find some other things I’ve picked up over the last few months.

You know where this is going…we went out to Gloucester as usual and found not that much had been done during the week.  I saw that the post and railings for the deck were mounted but I couldn’t see the wires in between from where the web cam is located.  Turns out they only got 1 row done (of the 10 rows) and the steps have not put up either.  That’s all it appears to have been done this week.

Michael did finish painting the entrance way hall, the wall outside the bathroom and the back kitchen wall.  We still need to finish the bathroom and kitchen ceiling, that will be next week.  We got to meet the occupant of Mr Duffy’s house.  She’s very nice and will be a welcome neighbor.

We bought the backsplash tile and delivered it.  It’s small glass rectangles with a green tint.  We’ll put those in once we can stay the night.

We were spared Hurricane Dorian.  It laid waste to the an island in the Bahamas, sitting on top of it for 2 days with 175+ mph winds and torrential rain.  Then it started its northern path, staying far off the US coast.  It came by Massachusetts last night and this morning, about 150 miles to the east.  All we got was some wind gusts and some rain.  We only had a little rain on the way to the house.  We were meeting our pastor and her husband to show them the house and then go to lunch.

This past week, it looks like stairway was completed and that’s about it.  The equipment, saws, portable AC, etc have been removed.  The house is now on it’s internal furnace/AC.  The house was set to 73 and it was quite cool inside. The porta-potty left on Friday morning so we have a working bathroom.  We dropped off a bunch of house supplies so that later we can wash the windows and clean the kitchen.  Also, the dryer vent was added.

The deck still needs to be completed and the gutters put on.

Yet another week has gone by.  The things we noticed was the propane tanks have been connected to the house.  The furnace, hot water heater and stove are now hooked up.  I tested the water heater by drawing water in the utility sink in the basement.  For some reason, most of the water has been turned off.  We were told that the toilet was leaking but they should swap it with the spare that’s already there. We’ll bring the leaking one back to Lowe’s for replacement.

The stairs to the 2nd floor have been installed but some of the baluster’s are loose.  Another call to the builder today.

The shower enclosure was installed last week.  Looks even better in person.  The washer and dryer have been hooked up.  Just need to wait for the dryer vent to be completed.

We installed the light in the entrance way and in the kitchen.  The entrance way was difficult.  You have this 25 lb or so lamp that you have to hold against the ceiling while you connect the wires and fasten it to the plate.  We need to adjust the chain a little when we decide how low it should be.  The kitchen light is a flush mount but requires 4 screws to keep it in place.  The other lights are on back order.

I’m hoping the deck railing gets installed this week so we can get the house inspected.  The stairs to the deck are not there yet and some grading needs to be done to that side of the house.  Still need gutters installed and the rain garden.  They did put in a new parking area, a little bigger that what was there and they did tar some of the street where they had to dig into to install the water line and sewer connected.

And, finally, the mailbox has been installed.  We now have an official address.

Another week and another wait.  Propane tanks were supposed to be hooked up to the house on Friday, still nothing.  However, there is good news.  It looks like the plumbing is complete.  We have a bathroom, a kitchen sink, ice maker in the fridge, dishwasher and stove; all hooked up.  We even have ice in the ice maker.

The stairway to the 2nd floor is in progress.  The utility sink in the basement is in and the drip lines from the furnace (A/C) and hot water heater are in place.  No more work was done on the deck.  I did speak with the builder earlier in the week to ask about a gate on the deck (to keep critters out).  Also, the hot and cold PEX pipes are labled as are the circuit breakers.

We had some friends meet us there to see the progress and then went to dinner at the Seaport Grille, us and everyone else in Gloucester.  We waited more than an hour for a seat on the outside deck.  They had heaters going and blankets and we had a delicious meal.  We didn’t get home until 10, 3 hours past my normal bedtime.

Another week has gone by but there has been some progress.  The furnace/AC is installed.  The compressor outside is hooked up and the downstairs thermostat has been installed.  The entrance way was painted.  We asked for help because of the height.  Looks perfect.  Temporary lights have been installed so that there is light in every room. The smoke detectors are in and working.  The kitchen faucet is in, can’t wait.  Hopefully this week, the remaining plumbing work will be done.  The sewer control box (the box on the outside of the house) has also been installed.  The deck was added, just waiting for the Feeney Rail system.

In the bathroom, we installed 1 of the lights we bought at potterybarn.com.  We brought what had been delivered.  There are still 3 lights on back order, the light over the sink and the 2 lights in the upstairs stairway.

Not much to report this week.  Michael finished painting the bathroom.  Plumbers were in for about 30 minutes this past week.  No other activity.  We did meet our next door neighbors, Peter and Maria.  We’ll have a party to meet the others once the house is finished.

We discussed landscaping.  These pics are from his gardens in Nashua..a hint of what Gloucester might look like starting next spring.

We finally ordered the interior lights from Pottery Barn.

As you may have guessed, we went out to Gloucester to continue to paint.

Step back 1.5 weeks…..I go to Costco to buy 2 TVs for the new house.  Costco had them on sale, so with Michael working, I stopped and got them.  I get them to the car and as I’m unloaded the 50″, I twisted my arm and I heard this ungodly snap.  I thought I had broken my arm but there was no pain and no break.  So, I continued to unload them into the car.  When I got home, I used a 2 wheeler to move them.  I noticed a small bruise on my upper right arm but nothing else.  When I woke up Friday morning, almost my entire right arm is black and blue…but still no pain and no problems with moving it.  Over the weekend I googled and found out I had torn my bicep tendon.  I went the doctor on Monday who then referred me to an orthopedic doctor on Tuesday.  Yup, torn bicep tendon.  Requires surgery which will happen on Tuesday, August 6.  I’ll be in a splint for a month and then will require 4-5 months rehab.  I can’t drive for a month, so that means I’m out of work at least until Labor Day.

Anyway, back to the house.  We get there.  The steps leading to the basement and to the 1st floor are done and protected with cardboard.  I flip a switch and there are lights.  Lights!  Ceiling lights, under cabinet lights, closet lights.  No plumbing though.  The trench for the propane tanks has been filled in.  The structure of the deck is done, waiting for decking materials.  The power for the sewer is still not done.  So close.

We did get my bedroom painted, so that’s good.  Went to Lobsta Land to celebrate Michael’s birthday with Gail and Debbi

We need to think about landscaping and the rain garden.  Also need a mailbox.  Got a bill from the propane company.

Another trip out to Gloucester today.  Not as hot as last week.  Noticed that almost all the switches and outlets are in.  There are breakers in the service panel in the basement.  The outside lights are also in with one of them (by the basement door) with the lens on.  Anita had purchased these for Mr Duffy’s but decided not to use them so we bought them.  There’s one for the front, back and cellar door.

I was out here on Wednesday to meet the guy from Oasis Shower Door.  On the previous day, I called the granite place and was told that the helper had broken his collar bone and they were looking for someone else.  Just after dinner that night, I get a call and was told the granite counters had been installed and they sent a video.  I got to see them for the first time on Wed.  Very nice.  So, back to the shower door…the one we had planned to put there couldn’t be put there because of the acrylic shower pan.  Instead, they proposed another configuration which turned out to be cheaper that the one we had planned on.    So, that will come in 3-4 weeks from now.

So, in the coming week, the electrical should be complete.  The plumbing should be complete (since they were waiting for the counters).  Don’t know when the deck will be started.

The trench for the propane supply lines was dug, inspected, pipe laid and now waiting for another inspection on Monday.

While I was there on Wednesday, we had some neighbors show up to eat some of Anita’s apples.

We also got to meet a new neighbor, Pat.  Her house can be seen from ours through the bushes in front.

And lastly, I got my first delivery.  National Grid had a special deal of 6 LED bulbs and a smart power strip for $10.  The only gotcha was it had to be sent to the property.  I just happened to be sitting there when the UPS truck backed up and dropped this package off.