Just bought a prunus avium lapins -- wild sweet cherry -- going to put it in garage. At least it's short enough for that. Have a bed of marigolds about 1/2" high, plus some odd swampy big-leafed thing, can't remember name, same height. Will lay strips of bubblewrap on those. The rest of the yard, all tender baby new leaves, can only pray. Will hand-water heavily today, Friday and Saturday. They say trees and bushes do better in freeze if their roots are damp. It has sprinkled a bit here but hasn't true rained enough to wet more than the grass for a long time. Must say at this point the grass is thicker, healthier and more lushly vibrant than ever before in the yard. The tree leaves are so small from all the cold that the sun reached all the grass. Wonder if the thick exuberant grass covering everything will protect tree roots? It helps protect from sun scorch in the summer. It's dwarf grass, perennial rye and some wild stuff, not mowed, about 8" high now, will be massed over by strawberry clover when it gets warm and sunny.

Elphaba - I think it helps if you find a way to be on site as much as possible. That's hard to do - so you feel like you are doing something (not *watching* them!), but still being available. This morning I went to the house early to start the fire in the stove, so it'd be warming up for the first crew to arrive. I answered some questions while I was there, discussed some minor issues. Later I went back out to sign for appliances and since I was there, I was able to answer more questions, etc. I always try to compliment them on their work as well - you know, keep things happily moving along. One stray observation about this GC thing - some days it's been easy. Slow at times. But as we're coming down the home stretch here, you know what I'd like? The chance to take a shower/relax during the day and know I won't be interrupted. But I'm always ready for the phone to ring. And it often does. It's been a wild ride, and I'm glad we've done the GC thing though.

9h Lord- I forgot how stressed I was 25 years ago- and that was essentially a decent build atmosphere! This house will also be a 'small build'. 800-1,000 ft2. I am also against illegals working for any company that is used. Though the footprint will be small there are several upgrades that I want. I have been screwed so many times that I HAVE been better about "we're done check please until I inspect EVERYTHING!! And hopefully learn BEFOREHAND what I need to know about each phase. What I want is none of your business as long as architect approves and you have been told ahead of time. I may need drugs! Or at least many bottles of wine....... Two friends are in the process of building, one just broke ground and another to start in a couple months. I will probably have to live in a camper on site... Not fun that you cannot trust people. How about you need to come into my Emergency Room for something serious- but I don't give a rat's Add... Shall I give you half the cardiac meds? Use wrong suture on your facial laceration- align the wound edges unevenly or decide that I'll just not sew muscle edges- after all, you will never know.... 'Good enough' is not acceptable. 'Done correctly' is. Maybe I'll forget to give you pain medication..... No, I would never do that but am so frustrated at the work ethic of many. I hope I have good connections in Gainesville.... I hope your build goes well.

How nice to have an introvert thread. My husband and I are both introverts, and it often seems as if the whole world wants open layouts where you cannot do your own thing without being interrupted by others. Meanwhile, we are all about walls and soundproofing. As others have also stated, my first thought was also that you want SO much to be different that it sounds as if all signs are pointing to just moving. But I understand that is not an option. Given all that you are doing and wanting, it sounds to me as if what would make more sense for you is building a second story. That'll cost more up front but usually adds A LOT to the value of a home. Run this idea by a realtor and see how much value that would add to the home in your areal Might be worth it? This is why, in terms of your goals, it makes sense: -- If the goal is a higher ceiling in the living areas, you can vault the ceiling as you are proposing. Or you can just make the ceiling higher (say, like, 10'-11') while you're adding a second story. Either way, the roof comes off. -- I don't think you will enjoy an open layout at all. It may make the house feel more spacious, but it's a terrible layout for introverts. And basically miserable if you have no other living areas. My husband and I have and that now (an open layout with no secondary living area) in our one-bedroom condo, and it's one of the main things we are going to avoid our future home at all costs. You just CANNOT get away from your family in that situation. You mentioned that you want your home to feel "restful," and this definitely does not. The normal noise/smells/activity of life in your home are all jumbled together in the same environment, and the result is unpleasant and chaotic and something you can't escape from unless you go lock yourself in your bedroom. We actually set up our bedroom to be a secondary TV room so we could actually escape each other, but it's really not the same thing as a second, separate living space and never will be. -- "I thought I would use the basement space for our family room but I am finding the basement not as comfortable as well. Too cold and too far removed from the kitchen." If you add a second floor, the bedrooms will be upstairs, and then you can use the current bedrooms for a family room. They, presumably, are not cold like the basement. And they're much closer to the kitchen. -- I have thought about adding on to the house but it will mean $$$ and less yard on our narrow property. A second floor doesn't save money, but it take NO extra space on your property. -- "We will move the washer and dryer to the basement (it was already upstairs when we moved in. I love this convenience and will be sad having to go to the basement to wash clothes but we do need the space!)." With a second story, the laundry can go on that second story along with all the bedrooms. It'll be just as convenient, but also not taking up the space you need on the ground floor. Do you have a floor plan of the entire first floor as it currently is, including all the bedrooms? Could you post that?