White Christmas 2009

Hope everyone had a Merry White Christmas!

Hwy 84 Wind Mills

This past weekend I got the chance to fly to Dallas and visit some of my family. On the drive home I couldnt believe the amount of windmills that have gone up on Hwy 84. These things are gigantic and fun to see. I have heard that the motor that the wings attach to is as big as a suburban!

4012 107th St- Yard Cleared

4012 is coming along nicely. Last week the retaining wall was complete, so the yard could be levelled and the fence posts were installed. On the inside the tile is almost done and the electricians/plumbers will trim out soon.

9302 Grover- Framing Complete

Despite the freezing temperatures this house trucked on last week and the framers got it done. These guys dont believe in weather days. The windows will be installed today and the roof will be dried-in.

9208 Genoa- Painting and Staining

The interior of Genoa has been stained and the walls will be painted this week. It seems like the schedule for this house just keeps hitting right. I will look up and this house will be finished soon!
Next up: Floor and shower tile.

9302 Grover Avenue Framing Progress

The Grover spec house framing should be complete by the end of this week. This house will have 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, office, and dining. This floor plan has it all!!

End of Year Inventory

It's that time of the year to do inventory. I hired my little girl to count left over shingles and scrap lumber. She was qualified for the job since she can count to ten.

10702 Orlando Brick Progress

The face of Orlando is slowly taking shape. The weather has sure put a damper on the brick progress. There will be a total of 7 brick/stone arches on the front of this house!!!

Cowboys vs Redskins

On Sunday, I flew out to Dallas with a friend to go to the Cowboy game at the new stadium. The stadium is just AWESOME and a sight to behold. Its hard to believe that something like this can be man made. Its just that BIG and nice. The video screen is as wide as the length of two basketball courts. To top it off, the Boys won on the last drive of the game.

More Vandalism and Theft

Today was a great day in Orchard Park. I was greeted with over $3,500 worth of vandalism and theft. All my doors were locked, but nothing can stop the force of a big boot kicking in a door. Tis' the Season to be Stealing!!!! It's a wonderful world out there.

10702 Orlando Ave- Brick

The brick and stone are just about complete on Orlando. They are working on the front porch right now.

Remembering Lester Newman Jr.

On Wednesday night I returned to my old high school cafeteria to make a presentation to the Coronado High School Basketball program. During the summer of 2008, we lost a member of the 1998 varsity basketball team that I played on. Lester Newman was our starting point guard that year and a dear friend of all of ours long after our high school days. He was killed in a car/pedestrian accident. All of us from the 1998 team got together and presented two plaques and a donation in Lester's name to the booster club. Lester's parents and our coach, Barry Voss, were able to attend the event as well. It was a great evening in honor of Lester and the legacy he left Coronado High School. After the dinner, we walked down to the locker rooms and gym with Lester's parents to show them where the plaques would be mounted. It was definitely a walk down memory lane.

Christmas Lights

Since the weather has been so nice, I took the time this weekend to put up our Christmas lights. For some reason I enjoy doing this. I always try to reflect on what was going on the year before every time I do this activity. I have a handy roof map that shows the location of all the strands, so it makes life easy every year.
Attn: OSHA, I am tied off to the chimney, you just cant see the harness and line behind me.

10702 Orlando Ave- Insulation, Sheetrock and Theft

Its been a great week of progress on Orlando. The insulation was complete and the sheet rock installation is about 80%. The remainder of the stone and boulders were delivered in anticipation of the brick starting.

On Wedneday I walked in the house at 1:30p and turned around to look in the backyard and noticed a man walk out the back door. He saw me and immediatly started "acting" like he was picking up trash. I asked him who he was and what he was doing. At the time we agreed he was at the wrong house after I walked the house and noticed nothing missing or out of place. I didnt think anything more about it until the next morning when I was in the attic and noticed all the copper freon lines cut and wound up. I put the clues together and remembered the encounter. I had scared the man out of the attic the day before when he was cutting the lines. He didnt get away with anything but he did ruin all the freon lines and the copper coils on both A/C units. I took a picture of the lines after I put them in my vehicle. The local newspaper ran a story about copper theft on the rise the day before this incident, so I blame the paper for reminding these thugs where to get money. Haha. I hadnt been that mad in a long time when I was in the attic and discovered this that morning. Not so much because of the money (its covered under insurance) but because this thug was in my house in broad daylight when I was there. But this is the world we live in and part of being a builder. I knew it was bound to happen, I just didnt want it to happen anytime soon. I have heard of much worse stories of constructiong theft going on in this same neighborhood. With the economy down and Christmas approaching....LOCK your doors.

9208 Genoa- Trim Started

The trim and cabinets were started this week. Im looking forward to seeing this house come alive with the completion of the trim and the kitchen installation.

4012 107th Trim and Paint

The trim and cabinets are complete and the painting is close to being done. These are the best pictures I have right now because it has been so dark in the house with the windows covered up. I've had some good traffic this week some nibbles on the house. We picked out the wood, tile, and granite on Wednesday before the home builders meeting.

9302 Grover- Kick Off

I broke ground on 9302 Grover today. This house is for sale. It will be a 4/3/2 with an office, dining room and breakfast nook. Total SF will be 2659.

Great View of the Hub

I spend alot of my time in my truck throughout the day. If you are traveling West on the Marsha Sharp Freeway and take the flyover to West Loop 289, you will be greeted with this great view of SW Lubbock. I know I know it doesnt compare to the BIG flyovers in DFW, but who wants to live there anyway?

10702 Orlando Ave - Blitz Week

It was finally Orlando's turn to experience Blitz week. The framing was complete so the windows were installed, the roof was dried in, the plumbing was stacked out and the HVAC system was installed. I expect the electrical system and the fireplace to be installed Monday and Tuesday. I really like the way this house sits on the lot. It is visible from the main boulevard and the owners will be able to see down two streets at once.

9208 Genoa Brick & Stone Work

Genoa made some great progress this week with the completion of the brick and stone. I really was pleased with the mixture of stone and brick. The brick was washed late yesterday afternoon so it really brought out the color. The interior walls were insulated and I expect the sheetrock to be installed Monday and Tuesday. The roof was also installed since the last time I blogged.

4012 107th Trees

Nine pecan trees were planted this week. It totally changed the elevation of this house. The driveway and rear patio concrete was poured. Next week we will be painting and staining the trim and cabinets.

My Little Inspector

Friday afternoon, we took Ava out to inspect the houses. When we pull up the construction sites, she always yells, "daddy's buildings". She enjoys running around and throwing things. My Little Inspector approved all three homes on Friday.

10702 Orlando- Roof Framing

What a difference a week makes on Orlando. The roof framing is just about complete. You need to drive by this house just to see the massive front elevation on this biggun!!! We are all looking forward to seeing more of it come together. When you turn North onto Orlando off of the main entrance of Orhard Park, look up, you cant miss this one. Check out the picture from last week on last weeks' post to see how far this house came in 1 week.

9208 Genoa-Blitz Week

Framing complete

Windows installed

Roof Titanium installed

A/C ductwork installed

Plumbing stacked out and tubs installed

Next week: Electical rough-in

4012 107th Texture

The sheet rock was taped and bedded this week. On Friday the texture was shot. Word on the street is that the cabinets are already built and ready to install this coming week!! Look out!

9208 Genoa- Framing Progress

Genoa is coming along nicely. The exterior doors and windows will be installed this week. I will order the brick and stone this week.

10702 Orlando Ave- Framing Progress

The guys continued framing last week. The front porch and rear carport were completed and the 10/12 was started on the garage.

4012 107th -Sheet Rock /Tape and Bed

The sheetrock was installed last week and now they are working on the tape and bed. In the meantime, the cabinets are being built and should be installed next week. I had the grounds cleaned up so its starting to look like a house!