We finally have the last concrete pour for our front drive and the back patio.  Next comes brick columns for the back deck, which should start a week from tomorrow.  

 We finally have concrete forms, hoping for concrete tomorrow depending on the weather. On an unrelated note, Jo Ann has new personalized license plates on her Mini Cooper.  

 We are getting close to the end.  Below are photos of the interior and exterior of the breezeway, the balconies, the view down the “Keyhole” to the fountain, and the back deck.  We hope to pour a driveway to the Porte cochere week after next, put sod in the front yard, brick the columns on the back deck and install the remaining iron work around the house. After putting stones on the morning court we are close to totally finish, but I am sure I am forgetting something. I suspect we will still be polishing this up the day they take us away. 

 The front stairs are complete. We are getting close to the end of this ordeal/adventure. However I think that the guy that designed the front stairs has been watching too many Highlander movies.

 The stairs are coming along.  This is a view of the front door steps, with a view of the columns where the Browning M2 .50 caliber machine guns will sit.  They forgot to leave a place for the Claymore mines, as instructed.   The underside will double as a wine cellar/nuclear fallout shelter. 

 The front stairs and the Porte cochere are coming along nicely. 

 People were able to work all week. We got the spiral staircase in and got the Trex on the new deck.  

 I am ready for global warming to come back. 

 This is the beginning of the front stairs.  The porte-cochere will be a good place to be in a tornado. And a nuclear war.

 What goes up, must come down.  (Spinning wheel got to go round.)  The temporary back door steps are coming down to make way for the new deck.

 Supposed to be here to start front stairs Monday and Wednesday. And it’s not supposed to rain for awhile. Thank goodness.

 The walkway is taking shape.  Thank goodness that the foundation for the front stairway has been poured.    Weather was giving us fits on that.  Also the pad for the spiral staircase.

 I wish I could post a video. All of these guys working to Tejano music is fun. I need a shot of tequila. 

 The covered/screened in walkway from the house to the guest house is beginning to take shape. Soon Her Highness will be able to come and go without fear of rain nor snakes.

 The brick skirt is finished (mostly). And the Grinch oversees the wrecked front yard.

 The brickers were supposed to be finished last week. Note that all that is left is the top of the tower on two or three sides.  But rain on Friday kept them from finishing. They were going to come back Saturday and/or Sunday to finish, but Saturday was too wet from the Friday rain and it rained again on Sunday.  So they are supposed to be here to finish on Monday, but I suspect it will be too wet from Sunday’s rain. The concrete guy was supposed to be here Monday, but he got put off till Tuesday. When the brickers can’t finish on Monday, then the concrete guy will get put off till Wednesday. Ad infinitum. 

 The elevator has been operational since last Thursday.  It took some time for me to remember that it was there.  I walked downstairs once, but quickly remembered when it came time to walk upstairs.   The brick work is progressing well. 

 The garage has been bricked and more progress has been made on the elevator tower.  The installation of the elevator is supposed to begin Tuesday. 

 The beginning of the elevator tower.

 There hasn’t bee much to show lately. But here are photos of the underside ceiling whose purpose is to help protect the pipes from the cold. Also there are photos of the elevator tower. There is actually hope of a working elevator next week.