2021 roundup pt.2
stone getting higher
(read pt.1 here)
After an eventful May with several projects and steps happening on the house, it also was a month where I was mostly away in the US and we also got the sad news about the passing of our geometra from covid. And although some of the general tasks could be continued (such as the stonework), this did end up causing about a 4-month roadblock to many of the other larger things to be done as it was a lot of bureaucracy to clear up and officially name another geometra in his stead.
Besides this, the supply chain back up hit us and months of more delay for materials also became a waiting game through most of mid-year. However, below are some of the good things that still were able to happen in early summer.
JUNE
As June began I was on my way back from the US and the stonework was moving steadily along. Even the first layer of plaster went up on one part of the exterior which was nice to see some of the red block disappear. A few amazing fossils were found in the stone piles and the mason started to put a few in prominent places in a line of sight. It will always be nice to find them among the walls.
It was the first time too since 2020 that the exterior started to advance from the point of view of any passerby. From the road, one could see that there was a bit of progress being made.
One big step since the main intonaco (interior plaster) was completed, the whole house was primed and the first coat (of 3-4) of the finishing plaster went up. After about 20 colors were tested I thought that I’d decided on one, but fast forward a couple of months and I’ve now made it even more neutral for the final coat. Since there is so much natural light coming in the house all of the colors that felt warm on a swatch ended up with a violet cool undertone with only neutral outside light hitting it. So I had to warm it up even more and I know once the interior lights are installed this will make a difference as well.
A vintage chair that I’d found at the end of 2020 made its way to the upholsterer and was restored and recovered. Now it’s just been waiting in our current office (which has become a big storage room in the meantime) and it’s a perfect little seat for reading. I’m excited to curl up here with the stool one day soon while looking out at the view.
screen grab from google maps
One day as I was going to send the location to a vendor making a delivery, I noticed that google maps satellite had finally refreshed with the house on it. Before this month it was still only a field, and now it’s nice to see it from above.
JULY
The end of June began our first retreats since the travel bans had lifted, so we stayed busy with a couple of groups here in the area. As the project timeline was hitting some speed bumps, it at least gave us something else positive to focus on. I continued with my sommelier certification course which had been paused due to covid for the last year, J took a trip to the UK and I took mini vacation to the Tuscan seaside with a friend. We had a few little day trips to visit the hot springs, and at the end of the month I headed back to the US for my mom’s memorial service with family.
The main (and pretty much only) thing that happened on site was that the piece of steel that we’d been waiting for for months finally arrived and the test of the pylon strength (which is one of the main required tests of the structural part of the project needed to gain permits) could finally be conducted. A boring day, but so exciting in so many ways as it meant that more steps which were dependent on this step could now get going.
So then this huge step was finally complete.
…just in time for August holidays. (to be continued)