Retaining wall

The retaining wall is done! We were amazed at how the brick layers rounded the corner at the end. Their work has been top notch all the way around. They did a great job on the turn as well. Now we need to decide what to do along the top edge. We had originally thought about putting up a fence to keep people from walking over the edge...it's quite a drop! The wall is so pretty, though, we may just do a wide elevated flower bed. If you have any ideas, send them our way!

First major disappointment...

The front door was finally installed yesterday, and when Mark stopped by to check it out it turned out not to be the door we ordered...at least not the transom (window above the door)!  We had requested an arched transom above the front door, but apparently the roof design doesn't allow enough room for an arch.  Oh well...not really a huge deal in the scheme of things, but I was hoping for an arch above the door to match the arched windows.  We did get a rectangular transom which still allows lots of wonderful natural light into the foyer, my intention for a transom in the first place!  The only brick work left to do is around the front door and then it's all inside stuff!  Things are really moving along!

Brick work is almost done!

The brick work is almost done!  We're just waiting on the front door to arrive and be installed so the bricklayers can finish the front porch area.  All that's left are some places under windows and the edges of the retaining wall.

The detail work in the brick is amazing!  Can you see the outline of the cross between the two windows?  I can't wait to put a small garden here with maybe a solar powered fountain!

This is the stepping stone stream right behind our house that Mark and I call "Anam Cara Creek".  It's hard to believe the creek was 30 feet wide at this spot during spring flooding!  Now it just looks like we excavated an old road bed...the bottom is a smooth layer of stone!

Our amazing brick layers!

BRICKS!

Our contractor sent me a text last night to say the brick layers would begin today!  He said they should have it done in about 5 days which absolutely floors me.  Apparently, they have a large crew that works fast and long hours.  It's going to drive me batty to not be there each day.  Mark will be driving by to take photos, so hopefully we'll have a couple of pics posted soon.