Even Kramer is ready to get busy!  It all happened at once.  We signed the loan and I started back to work with Virginia Tech as an Extension Specialist in Family & Human Development.  Virginia Extension is where I started in my career–so it’s full circle and I am already loving it! I worked hard from my home office while Jack supervised the pouring of the concrete basement level floor.  It turned out as smooth as glass!

 

Of course now that we have re-started building, it started raining, But, maybe that will raise the lake water levels which are critically low.  Some people don’t have enough chain on their lift to get their boats lowered to the water while others have boats docked on dry land where there once was water. 

This week, Jack will start building the first floor deck in preparation for the timbers.  In celebration, we had a little date in Roanoke.  While in the big city, we delivered a gift basket of Bedford Landings goodies to the contact with Hometown Bank who helped us obtain the construction loan. He took it to a bank board meeting and the next day we got a thank-you note from the bank president saying how scrumptious Jack’s biscuits were!

After joining the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce this week, apparently they sent a tip to WSLS-TV10 about our project.  In turn, WSLS is sending a team to do a story tomorrow (12-17) so we will post a link if it turns out well.  Then, hopefully soon, we will have part of that first floor decking to show!  

Fa la la la la!!  Enjoy the season!

Today we closed on a commercial construction loan with Hometown Bank.  Since it is a commercial loan, they know we are planning to become a B & B once our home is built.  We were having to keep this part of our plans on the quiet side as we applied for home mortgages.  Thus, we are out of the closet, so to speak!   It is interesting how this “Godsend” came about!  Remember when we were extras on the set of Wish You Well, the movie?  In making movies, there is a lot of downtime, waiting around time.   During some of this downtime, Jack had a conversation with a gentleman on the set who was also an extra.  After hearing about our banking issue, he asked if we had tried Hometown Bank (HT).  Indeed we had (for a home mortgage).  He said he was on their Board of Directors and wanted to see if HT could help us. The next day, their Chief Lending Officer called.  Within 3 days, he and their Commercial Banker showed up to speak to us and see the property.  We are so thankful for this serendipitous meeting!  So we are Out of the Closet, excited to be up front with our plans and ready to move forward.

The next steps in the construction project include: spreading gravel for the foundation, termite treatment, inspection of the surfacing, then pouring the slab.  After that, we will begin installing the first floor system so that Blue Ridge Timberwights can do the timber raising!  You can see by this photo that we are ready with good strong steel to accept the timbers!

The timber raising will be such a fun time!  I will probably step up my blogging as this project moves along.

On another note, I decided to go back to work and have accepted a job with Virginia Cooperative Extension, part of Virginia Tech.  I start Monday and I will be an Extension Specialist for Human Development. Primarily I will train extension agents in areas such as school readiness, child and adult stress, family connections, outdoor learning, quality child care and any topics communities may need to strengthen and support families.

Thanks for all of your words of encouragement and prayers!  We’re feeling the Christmas spirit!  Hugs to all!

As we enter the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, pause a moment and think of the many gifts you have in your life!  Sure, there are down moments, but all in all, life is good…especially here at the lake!

We were verbally approved by Hometown Bank for a construction and permanent loan!  We are cautious in that we have not signed the dotted line so I hope I don’t jinx it even mentioning it!  We can’t wait to get started full force again!  Jack is already losing sleep over designs and I can’t wait to paint and decorate.  In fact, I made some little throw pillows as color inspirations. (See photo)

The airplane pillow on the top left plus the basket are for the FLYING room – blue and tan colors. The top right and the table plus the paddle is for the FOREST room which will be dark brown and evergreens.  The FLYING room will be salmon and a cool green.  The pillow is close to what I want, but the little wooden fish in the basket shows more the color samples I will pull from.

 

For turkey day, I am so proud that Jack’s daughter, Jennifer and her husband Jesse will be hosting the Phillips-Padilla clan. In addition, my niece Katie is taking on a houseful of Browns. The next generation is stepping in and I love it!

Hopefully there will be more construction developments to report soon!  Until then, be thankful!  We are free, safe and warm!

I know I have not posted recently about the house or construction loan.  I was hoping to post when we got good news.  We are certainly working on it but I can’t report that we have closed on a construction loan yet.  Instead, we HAVE passed the plumbing inspection which means Jack has done a great deal of digging ditches and installing a hook-up from the house structure to the septic system.  I have been picking up items for winter projects such as fabric to make themed throw pillows and frames to start new stained glass projects.

Beside that, we have both attended a powerful spiritual retreat (of sorts) called Walk to Emmaus.  Hard to explain, but wonderful to experience!  In addition to that, we have been working on our Oscar Nominations!  Yep- we’re actors now!  Well, we’re extras in a movie being filmed in Virginia.  Wish You Well completed the filming last week and we appeared in several scenes.  It was quite fun actually sitting around in costume all day.  The best part was watching the Director get the most (emotion) from the actors, especially from MacKenzie Foy, the lead child actress.  

The movie takes places in the 1930’s.  Here is a little clip of the final filming of the street scene last week.  We weren’t in this scene.  We appear in the courtroom scene and the cemetery scene.

Today we are talking with the bank again so if you see another post soon you will know it is good news.  In the meantime, get out those hats and gloves!  It’s winter in Virginia!

This morning I went for a walk and counted 14 vultures sitting in trees at the end of the runway.  What does it mean?  After the presidential debate last night, I had several captions but thought in the spirit of working together, I would let you draw your own conclusions!

We still are working on the construction loan and our second appraisal is in the works.  Pray and cross your fingers and toes!

In the meantime, I had my scene shooting for Wish You Well yesterday and Jack’s scene is next week.  Jack went with me to share in the torture of getting up at 3 am and driving to Giles County to be there by 6:15 am.  We were shooting a cemetery scene on a lovely farm.  The fall leaves were beautiful but my feet froze in the 40 degree morning air!  It was pretty cool being on set with Ellen Berstyn (from the Exorcist), MacKenzie Foy (from Twilight Saga), and Josh Lucas (just plain cute).

The movie takes place in 1940, so the look was coûte frump!  Check it out!

After Jack’s return from his Walk to Emmaus (a spiritual retreat), he and I hiked a 3875 feet  rocky trail called Sharp Top at the Peaks of Otter.  It was an activity in stamina and climbing ability.  The trail was 1.5 miles long but rigorous.  It was so nice seeing families, kids, and dogs outside on the trail!  Everyone seemed so gleeful- even us, until the next day when our feet ached!

I love to experiment with photography even though all I have is a cheap digital pocket camera.  Here are some of my favorites from that hike.

This was my favorite photo–the smooth bark of Mountain Laurel.

Enjoy your Fall!