Fire!!!

Wood stove installed in the living room, just in time for my family's holiday stay.

Nearly finished with the guest suite.

Sitting area in guest suite.

Second guest bedroom ready!

Walking Lower Ellen Rd

Evidence everywhere that this was once an forest of massive redwoods, but were probably logged 80 years ago.

Ellen junction

The road is a curving path at times barely wide enough for cars, which makes it perfect for a walk.

Alien artwork

Guess there a few different species of wood in this forest.

There might be an ocean at the end of that view, but there was too much foggy haze during my walk.

Zayante Creek with its usual gurgle.

Even solid rock isn't enough to halt the green.

Someday, I'll read up on mushroom types. Already bought the book, so I'm halfway there.

New hearth with more heart

After demolishing the initial attempt at the living room hearth, we're ready to install the more natural looking California Gold (aka Autumn Flame) slate.

James Bot

James with his makeshift rain gear, ready to tackle photographing the flash flood waterfalls

James Bot activated!

Falling waters, Zayante edition

Zayante Creek at full throttle

Up, down & out

Every bookworm needs the perfect chair...

My perfect chair just happens to look like it would suit Dr. Evil himself.

The view, when I'm not reading... or passed out.

Thanksgiving @ Zayante

As seen on Dishes With My Dish: http://www.disheswithmydish.com/2012/11/thanksgiving-dinner-zayante.html

Slow news period

Much has been in the works, but there's little of great interest to report. The focus is mostly on the details, while waiting for the various shipments; for example, the last of the kitchen cabinets is en route. The next major indoor project is the complete reworking of the unfinished hearth in the living room. Outdoors, the solar power system and backup generator.

Hopefully, and I'm feeling positive about this, we'll be ready for our first long-term guest: family for the holidays!

Utility room

The utility room may be small, but it took some effort to transform the mess that it became.

Upstairs powder room (aka executive break room)

Front yard

Backyard

I love watching the setting sun shine on the opposing hillside on the deck in the evenings.

Dining room

So far, the dining room is the most finished looking to me. The utility room looks like a staging room for robot battles, and our bedroom looks like a clothing thrift store.

Cookbooks shelved

It took me about 2 hours, but the bookcase for my cookbooks is assembled!

Cooked

The underground line to the house failed, and it nearly cooked my entire house. I started flipping breakers when I found a surge suppressor boiling black smoke as it burned into the title flooring. However, I fear it was too late for some appliances. Hope the PG&E claims department is ready for me!

Posting a image of the hole PG&E dug in my driveway so that I track its location.

The nightcrew dug this hole on Monday between the hours of 11pm to 4am. I'm grateful, but wish they'd return and finish the job. I have a temp. power cable running around my car and front doorstep.

When the lights began to intensify, I started hearing popping noises throughout the house. First, I yanked the plugs on all my work PCs. I was on my way to the circuit breaker box when I saw the black smoke pouring from behind the sofa. The "chalk mark" was a surge suppressor.

hiatus

Pardon my posting hiatus. It's been a busy month of moving out of and dealing with my rental of the past 5 years. As boxes are unpacked, and this house becomes our home, the tone and content of this blog may be modified.

For example, I've added a series of new pages for each of the rooms or areas being renovated. Currently posted and new photos will be added to these pages to better illustration the progression of work involved. I figure this type of visual history might amuse visitors during the housewarming, and be critical when planning future repairs and modifications.

Ba

New potted pals

Currently residing on my office desk, James added a new orchid to his collection. According to the tag with the plant, it's a dendrochilum magnum.

James second pick was this drought-tolerant alyogyne hakeifolla, Elle Maria.

My addition to our plants is this grevillea "Ned Kelly" (or Mason's hybrid), which is a drought-tolerant Australian species.

Still needing a pot, another James' pick, an euphorbia "Tiny Tim".

Lastly, to continue with my love of strange succulents, two species of the kalanchoe genus: orgyalis (copper spoons) and tomentosa (panda plant).

Kitten toilet

Even the cats' bathroom gets the royal treatment!

Officially moved in!

As of this morning, with an offering of fruit to the house spirits, James and I officially moved in to our hillside hut. It's been a long voyage, and we're only partly there. Despite a few minor glitches, the place is magnificent for habitation.

Tonight especially, marked by a blue moon, I appreciate James, my friends, family, and personal experiences that has led me here. As a precocious child rooted in a family's dairy farm's red dirt of Oklahoma's "Green Country" region, I stretched my imagination to believe my current life was possible.

Lazy-man's clothes line

Until the circuit breaker for the clothes dryer is fixed, I'll be drying my towels the old fashion way.

Flushers and washers

Master bathroom toilet with the new remote-controlled Toto Washlet.

Upstairs guest bathroom with our old faithful Lotus. 

Loki's (aka downstairs) bathroom. Yes, that's black electrical tape holding the ring together, exactly as we found it when we bought this place.

Cats

Bacchus (top) and Lalita relaxing in the cat tree behind my desk.

Bed head

At last! The headboard for master bedroom has finally arrived, without damage and the correct finish.

Wonderful water works!

Singing in the rain(fall shower)

I'm massively in love with my tub!