Finally, we got the Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO).  Jack diligently worked on the punch list this past week with the help of Steve W. and Tom B.  Thanks for burying that cable to the hangar to install another smoke detector (Steve) and thanks to Tom for your neatly applying dry wall where Jack had to cut a total of 23 holes to find wiring to complete circuits or pull the new 40 amp oven wiring.

In the meantime, shout outs to my sister, Sherry who opened packed boxes and placed things in cabinets all the while asking “why did you save this?” or telling me that we have enough “wine glasses to serve all of Smith Mountain Lake!” Well…

So the (a different one) inspector showed up yesterday and checked things off the list and gave us the TCO.  It took less than half of the time the last inspector took.  I just kept unpacking while Jack followed him around.

Re: decorating.  Sherry set the breakfast room tables and I added a few things here and there.  We made three beds and placed about as much furniture as we could in the week she was here.  I could not have made quite the dent without her!  I now have the Forest room nearly finished.  Jack will plumb the sink in there today.  I nearly have the Flying room completed with the exception of the loft and hanging a few things.  I nearly have the Fourth room completed but need a white table to add there.  And the Fishing room is complete except there is no bed.  We have been sorta using it!  The Master has become a dumping ground but we will work on it today.

Today, the health inspector comes to check that we have a refrigerator thermometer and the Discover shop is picking up some donated items.  Tomorrow our Pastor, Reverend David Lord (yes, that is really his name) will come and do a ceremony to “bless” the house and the Bedford Landings business.  We are looking forward to that!  Then the Laker magazine is coming to take photos for their next edition that will feature lodging at the lake.

By later today, I hope we will have the reservations page up and running for our opening December 17th.  It is the 100th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers first flight.  Don’t that just bring a tear to your eye?!   And to beat it all, we have our first reservation booked already!  Half price specials for the month of December.  If you want to come hang out, we are at the stage of needing to haul away packing boxes, staining doors, and hanging blinds!

Thanks for all of your blessings and prayers!  And you thought it couldn’t be done!  HAPPY dance!

(will post photos next week)

Along with family and friends, we frantically worked through the weekend completing the receptacle wiring and hanging lights.  The granite was delivered Wednesday night before Thanksgiving and installers worked from 8 pm until 1:30 am installing.  We had to have at least one working bathroom complete and all wiring working complete with arc fault protection to receive the certificate of occupancy (CO). We had all wiring in place and face plated.  All fixtures accounted for and 3 working bathrooms.

 

View from Great Room to the kitchen and breakfast area.

The inspector arrived Monday at 3:00.  Hearts beating, we followed him around room to room. Some of the arc fault circuits didn’t respond as was required.  The exhaust hood had not been installed over the oven (confusion between kitchen installers and me). The inspector insists that we need a smoke detector in the hangar to detect a house fire and that we must drywall Jack’s workshop because he has a small garage door on there to get out large airplane projects, deeming it a garage. However, there is a deck post in the middle of the door pathway; so it can’t possibly be a driveway and garage!  Thus, we did not receive the CO.  Instead we have a 21-item punch list.  The good news is that we can move in furniture and (seemingly endless) boxes.

Tuesday, five men and two trucks arrived from Heritage Movers in Roanoke.  With great care, the very nice movers unloaded box after box from 3 storage units.  But by 8:00 pm, we followed them back to see what was left in the storage units. There was too much to load in the dark!  And apparently they were unaware that there was a wooden crate with an airplane engine, a wooden create with a RV-10 wings and a wooden crate with an RV-10 tail section.  Those have yet to be loaded and delivered.  So today we begin again.

I have had several emails and calls asking for reservations.  I am sorry if you have called and I sound breathless and frantic. One woman said, “may I get a reservation please?” I thought she said,”this is the innovation police.”  I responded “What?” Apologies!!

We have a target date of  December 17^th as opening date.  It is the 110 th birthday of the Wright Brother’s first flight at Kitty Hawk.  So we are working hard to bring you “comfort better than you will find at home” at Bedford Landings.  We just aren’t quite there yet!

PS.  We will not be open December 24-27 in observance of the miracle of the Christ child and rest for the weary!

 

This morning, I had two calls for reservations.  I just can’t take any  reservations until at least December  13.  But that’s good the word is getting out!  We hope to call for the Certificate of Occupancy on December 2^nd and move in on the 3^rd.  Cross your fingers that we pass the inspection!

It is very busy at Bedford Landings.  We have trim carpenters, central vacuum installers, painters, kitchen installers, granite fabricators, carpet installers, hardwood shoe molding installers, and driveway pavers.  Tomorrow we add back the tile guys for final grouting.

I am trying to keep up by vacuuming edges before trim goes down, stain trim, and stain around doorknob holes so the knobs and locks can be put on the doors. I met with the lighting consultant (Ferguson’s) on final orders, then met with the kitchen designer (Elegant Designs by Sheryl) then ordered cabinet knobs and faucets.

Jack has continued to be interrupted by contractors needing to know various things but has finished the railing for the back basement steps, completed the front porch railing and been completing wiring lights and outlets on the Fourth bedroom.  Phew!

Here are some photos:

 

 

Thanks to our followers and your continued support of our dream!

This week, the kitchen installation started, the trim carpenters continued to trim doing excellent work.   I stained woodwork, keeping up the with trim carpenters (with the help of David, Kathleen, and Carolyn this week).  Jack started wiring lights with Bill’s help. Next week, carpet!  So this weekend, we try to remove all tools from the floors for carpeting and vacuum, vacuum, vacuum.

On Friday, WSLS came to do a story and the bankers came to check out their investment.

http://www.wsls.com/story/23981054/smith-mountain-lake-bb-is-almost-ready-for-reservations

We are so excited to be on the homestretch!

Here is a link to the WSLS full story.

We sure enjoyed having Karen McNew and crew visit!

The title of today’s blog is one of Jack’s favorite sayings at a busy time like this… but we couldn’t be happier!  I don’t think he was referring to me as the one-legged cat, but I could be wrong!

 As I blogged earlier this week, we have had the good fortune of being mostly on schedule and having the scheduled contractors all here (seemingly at once).

As promised, I want to share a series of pictures to SHOW you what is going on. First the outside.  All Pro Earthworks did a patient, calculated job of grading, seeding, mulching the yard and building a drain system and dry creek bed.  They were a gentlemanly crew and I would recommend them to anyone. Here is a progression of their work.

Before and After

We needed a distinction from the house to the driveway. Out lot is narrow so we didn’t have much room. There are actually tiny box woods planted in the mulch.

Steve had already installed a culvert, but we tied into that culvert from the yard with another drain under the dry creek bed.  Each of these rock were hand placed.  Then I added a little bridge to cross the bed.  The front steps and a short paver sidewalk yet to come.

Once the dumpster is gone, I will show the other side of the house!

Now the inside work:

And a glance at their work!  This is the Dining Room.  I was mainly taking a photo of the ceiling to see the T & G so the angle is a little weird! But doesn’t it look spectacular!

The Hardwoods

The hardwood crew got the rhythm of laying the great room and front hallway flooring.  Flooring provided by Interiors by Kris at Smith Mountain Lake. Joe, the ever patient hardwoods expert has been helpful all along during this project! Todd, the crew leader, had this crew well organized.

Look how far this shot has come from the May post of the front door newly stained!

PAINTING AND TRIM CARPENTRY

The painter must paint around what has to be installed, like HVAC systems, trim, and tile.  Tom, the painter and I have both been painting spots so other work can proceed.  Doreen even chipped in this week to paint so a window could be trimmed, so then the tile could be completed for one of the bathrooms!

Here are some shots of the painter and trim carpenter. The trim carpenter is working to install bull nosing (I stained it) and stairs to the theatre room downstairs (I stained the stairs too). Railings are going up and there will be wrought iron balusters. Can’t wait to see how that will look!

Tile Work

Jeff Enslow and his mighty assistant, Jason are installing tile.  I love to watch what they bring for lunch.  These guys don’t just eat out of a can, they often bring a little crock pot of chili or soup and make a plate of and sandwiches, serving themselves on a nice plate and eating on the porch!  Class!  And their tile work is classy too!  Take a look!

I sure hope you are enjoying following along with our B & B progress!  I am so enjoying watching all of the decisions I made about color and décor coming together.  But today, I will be gone as Jack keeps on working.  I get to go to Raleigh to pick up my grand daughter, Destiny, for the weekend!  Yea!