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!

In the 1990’s the movie “What About Bob,” with Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss was produced at beautiful Smith Mountain Lake.  Last year, a new movie called “Lake Effects” was produced by LifeOutLoud Films also at SML starring Jane Seymour.  It is quite entertaining and includes many familiar lake characteristics.  It was shown this past Spring on The Hallmark Movie Channel and we have since met producer, Sarah Elizabeth Timmons and some others who were involved. Now LifeOutLoud has teamed with author David Baldacchi who also lives at SML to produce one of his books into a movie.  The book and movie are entitled “Wish You Well.”  A few weeks ago, Jack and I went to Blacksburg, Virginia for the casting call for extras in the movie.  We got roles.  Jack will be in a courtroom scene and I will be in a cemetery scene.  The movie takes place in the 1930’s and they have asked if we have any clothing from that era.  I need a hat and a dress suitable for a funeral.  Do you have one still in your closet from that era?  Anyway, we will be going for costume fittings soon but this is the sort of fun we are having in retirement!  I am also singing with a group called the Lakeside Singers (about 100 voices) and our performance for this Fall will be November 16 and 17.  We both are singing with Bethlehem United Methodist Church Choir and we joined the church last week.  There are so many activities here that we could be busy every day!

The past two weeks, we have been meeting with various banks and have many angles working right now but nothing definite on the construction loan.  Nonetheless, we are plumbing away.  We got the waterproofing completed and passed that inspection.  Hopefully it will dry up tomorrow and we can begin to backfill around the foundation.  Then I can plant grass seed!  Jack has been running plumbing and continues to be a building wizard! 

Last week, my sister, Sherry and her husband John visited to check on the construction of her home.  They have surpassed us and now have walls erected.  Very exciting!  Check out her blog!  While she was here, we visited Mom who was seemed to recognize us as somewhat familiar.  She knew we were important to her and showed her love for us.  She doesn’t, however know my name, Sherry’s name, nor the difference between a cup and a shoe.  Alzheimer’s is such a degenerative disease!

This weekend is the Charity Home Tour.  Eight homes will be featured and Jack’s brother Jimmy and wife Deborah will come visit for the first time!  The lake water level is too low to see the homes by boat (we don’t have one anyway!!) so we will travel by car.  Maybe there will be great ideas for decorating!

Until the next time, enjoy the smell of Fall in the air!