HERE WE GO.

Building permits are in.  The bald eagle is perched happily in a tree.  The construction drawings are finished.  Contracts are signed.  Today officially marks the first day of the construction phase.  The crew at Model Remodel is estimating 5.5 months which puts us at the end of August.  Fingers crossed that it goes as smoothly as possible. 

TAKING OUT A CONTRACT.

We’ve reviewed the bids, searched the couch cushions, sold some plasma and made a decision on the contractor for the construction phase.

 

We’ve selected Model Remodel for construction.  Jason and the crew did a great job during the demolition and we were impressed with their eagerness to work on the project as well as their environmental considerations.  We should begin construction early next week.

PERMETTEZ – MOI.

Exactly one month after Anna hauled a check and a boatload of paper to the city, we got our final building permit (along with giving the city another check of course).  Anna retains her 100% rating with the DPD, only tiny little changes were required and the potential bald eagle / blue heron conundrum has been averted.  We’re papered up, looking into the contractor bids and searching every couch cushion for loose change.  With luck, we’ll start construction next week.

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED.

Despite a couple Monty Python-esque goof ups between the city and the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife, it’s been determined that our house is in Bald Eagle Zone #1215.  After debating whether the real threat was the dreaded nesting blue herons, the government bodies have decided it’s the eagles we have to protect. 

Tim the Bald Eagle (TM) is indeed within the legal zone limit of our house (by about 3 feet) so we can’t cut down any trees that he thinks would make a nice home.  The blue lines are the zones; the blue box is our house.  We’re about a wing flap into his space.  By this chart, the gutter of garage is the only thing in his zone.  Enjoy it Tim.

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A LEAK.

The not-so-surprising discovery of today is that our 50+ year old oil tank was leaking. Whilst being removed, the tank man discovered several small holes and small tree branches growing through the tank. It’s been drained, pulled from the ground and now we are awaiting official word from the state on how we need to dispose of the contaminated earth.

If you want to see what a 50 year old 500 gallon heating oil tank looks like, click on the picture or follow the demolition link.