Family Mellmann

This year has brought several changes and will continue to mean changes to our routines, habits, and traditions.  For Thanksgiving, Joerg and I drove to Michigan to celebrate with family.  Katherine, who had to work the days leading up to Thanksgiving, stayed in Montana to celebrate with the Montana family.  Patrick celebrated in Arizona.  This is the most spread out we have been for any holiday since this branch of the Mellmann family was formed. Joerg and I left for Michigan on Monday morning.  A little snow and some low clouds resulted in slightly treacherous roads between Livingston and just southeast of Billings.  The slower drive allowed me some time to capture a few pictures including one of the sun rising through the cloud just behind the mountains. On our journey back to Livingston on Friday we encountered a Festival of Lights parade in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where we had dinner and spent the night. It was was a nice little road trip and a wonde...

I didn't make it out to the construction site last week (other fish to fry) so this week was a fun visit. Many of the windows were in, the rest are on site and should be installed before Thanksgiving. The house is wrapped (almost done). The plumbing is mostly done (rough-in stage). The roof is mostly done (enough to "dry in" for the winter and as far as they can go without the post and beam materials). The fireplace rough in is started. The entry hall closets were roughed in this time. And, during this visit, I met with the electrician. If I don't report in again beforehand, Happy Thanksgiving.  Master Bedroom Dining Room Standing in the pantry looking through the house Standing by the fireplace looking toward the pantry The Living Room (windows) Fireplace being roughed in Master Bath (window) Windows in the closet!  

It snowed this week, but the warmer temperature and sunny sky had the snow melting away for my weekly visit. The construction crew was busy on the roof.  The excavator was busy building a driveway.  And the plumbers were running fresh water lines (and sent me home with "homework"!).  

We did a little granite shopping this week.  And while we were in Billings we checked out tile, bathroom fixtures, and garage doors.  Decisions, decisions.

We had an opportunity to attend our first Annual Meeting of the Home Owner's Association of Crow Chief Meadows, the subdivision where our house is being built.  It seems that it was well attended by the residents of the community (there were lots of people there), and it was fun to meet several of our neighbors. After the meeting, we took a drive to see the house and ran into our excavator who was making a delivery (taking advantage of the beautiful November weather).  The plumbers have been busy "roughing in" the drains.