For the moment, imagine you are not with me on the Brilliance – rather you are back in Berkeley looking at what was – for about a year – a gravely, muddy mess filled with pickup trucks and construction debris. The fact that everything was picked up (without me getting yet another flat tire), ground prepped and base laid down is even more astonishing.

Admittedly, photos taken on a cell phone and passed over to be aren’t always outstanding, but this one does the job. You can see my new fence along the back line. No more worrying about someone backing up a few cm too far and getting dropped backwards down a hill. No worries about potholes in cement that was poured sometime before 1960. What I have are mostly grey pavers (manmade stone) with an occasional hint of some other color). Phots not taken at twilight don’t show the color variation as much.

But it is a definite improvement and the end is in sight!

Meanwhile, this is a sea day. Cross-stitch and audiobooks are the order of the day.

The tiling in the new bathroom is almost complete –

with the glass to go in last

The floor is done, the cabinet is in. We have the fixtures. All that will remain after the next day or so is the glass for the one section. As this is close to an accessible shower, the floor is slanted toward the back wall. There isn’t a door, making entrance and egress easier.

Neither Dani or I are thrilled with the colors, but they are neutral and inoffensive.

It has been a while since I have bored everyone else, much less myself with the current status of the ongoing renovation/construction.

There was progress while we were gone. Most of it isn’t visible to the eye involving foundation, heating coils, more concrete, and wooden uprights. And then there is the wiring and plumbing. Where before there were wires hanging and occasional circuits in the house not functioning there are now two breaker boxes on the wall of what will become my utility room. There are pipes with valves where there will be plumbing fixtures and sinks There are the beginnings of walls.

The front entry revision has been started.

The windows have been delivered, we have counter tops, tiles and flooring on order along with kitchen appliances. I think we still have to get the majority of the bathroom fixtures and fittings ordered.

Perhaps I need a check list?

In any case, I think there is an end in sight. In fact, I think an end is actually going to happen…

Pictures? Oh, yes. Just have to get them off my phone….

House renovations are still going gangbusters. What that translates is that there are large amounts of each day this week where we will have neither power nor water. Given that – thought I would just drop a quick note.

The cement pouring is complete as is most of the framing. The temperatures will continue to be elevated today which won’t be fun for either the dogs or the human beings working in and around the house. My plans are relatively simple – try to get some work done, run errands and not to fry.

George is still in Germany and won’t be flying home till Wednesday.

We were also in Heidelberg 16 years ago. I was at work, 1500 in the afternoon. The kids were finishing up in school.

Please, stop and think. Observe a minute or more of silence and reflection today both for all of those who died. More importantly also have that moment for the survivors who had to struggle through a world which had irrevocably changed for them personally as well as their surroundings in a new world order that seems to have lead to even more death and destruction.