New bay window is in and the door out from the guest suite. Doesn't that look pretty! More plumbing is done and our old tub was moved down to the guest suite. And there's David looking out what will be the door to the patio off the master bedroom. They've taken off the front stairs/stoop and will be working on that in this coming week. We've chosen a door with side glass area and Bill designed some pillars for us for a more elegant looking front entrance. The mason has been out to estimate what the stone fireplace/chimney will cost as well as extending the current brick chimney beyond the new roof and the blue stone patios on both sides of the house. We decided not to do a screen porch out the side for now and a new deck will be built starting just after the entrance to the basement.

And when we returned from our Scottish Adventures - we came home to this! A finished and capped roof, windows going in, plumbing getting laid out, and more plans for us to approve on the guest suite. Jim says that although our rainy March put them behind, they've pretty much caught up in April and we're still on track to move back in sometime in July he thinks. Siding is ordered and will go up next. Now that we made our decisions on the layout of the stairs leading down to the guest suite and how the bathroom will lay out, he'll get the plumber back in to finish all that up as well as the electrician. Then they can get to work on the inside in earnest. He's got us checking with the mason and the tile man now, choosing our fireplace, and soon all the kitchen stuff. It's all very exciting. Not sure if I'll sleep tonight - although the jet lag might just supercede any sleeplessness.

Scotland Adventures

Ok, so we need a quick break from renovations to talk about our trip to Scotland. What a wonderful green place with landscapes to die for, the nicest people, the yummiest food (yes we tried haggis), unbelievably amazing art and buildings, the cutest lambs - and lots of them - and great shopping! I had my first experience with single malt whisky (they do not call it scotch there or spell it with an "ey" at the end) on the Isle of Islay (pronounced eye-la) along with Dave and Jan....our new Canadian friends. I had no idea there was as many varieties as wine (almost) and each has such different characteristics. Where we were they pride themselves on the peatiness of their product - we saw fields and fields of peat and got to tour a couple of distilleries (Lagavulin and Bruichladdich) to see the process and taste their wares. We'll post all 500+ pictures and post a link soon but here are some beauties to tide you over......