November, 2019 Ken and I went to Florida for a November riding experience. We stayed in The Villages in central Florida. Nice place to visit, central to our riding desires, but way to big of a community for us. Anyway Ken says one day "What are we doing?". I asked what did he mean. He said "Why aren't we down here more riding, we could ride year round.".
SO it began. Instead of riding most of those two weeks, our quest began looking at 55+ communities. We found a realtor, found an agent in The Villages and did some looking on our own. We made our decision without either agent.
We decided we wanted to make the move. Had thought about 50/50 time, but would worry too much about the Michigan home being vacant in the winter. So it became an all or nothing type of deal.
We thought about our preferences and what we wanted in a house. Decided we would build. That narrowed down the communities we would look at because not all were still building.
We tripped across one detail that could alter our selection. Garages here are only 7 foot doors. So the van with the kayak rack would not fit. We would have have to but the kayaks on and off in the driveway. No more loading the night before and taking off in the morning, unless we left the van out in the driveway. (Maybe that is not allowed)? Two communities we were looking at had the capability of doing an 8 foot door, but they were not the winners for other reasons.
January 15, 2020
We flew to Orlando, rented a car and came down to look over the final two locations and ask questions.
Long story short - we really liked Arlington Ridge in Leesburg. But it was an issue of we could not have our cake and eat it too. The lots that were left, we could not have the 4 ft extension on the garage, a 3 car garage and room to extend the lanai in the back all at once. We could have only 2 out of three. They also had gas, so I could have had a gas stove. A little smaller and a little older, but it was not the winner.
So Del Webb, Stone Creek was the winner. We met with the agent a couple of times to look at the property et al, view possible lots, look at models and met with a couple that currently live there for breakfast and ask any question we wanted.
We were thinking of one model that had a loft that was 17 X 24 ft that could be my sewing area - dream area right and a 4th bedroom with a full bath, great for additional visitore. But tosee at that model, since it was new in 2020 for the Ocala location, that meant a 2 hour drive to Jacksonville to the Del Webb location there to look at the model.
Now I have stairs in Jackson, Michigan, but those stairs in the Stellar model seemed longer and steeper. So we looked at another model called Renown. And we spoke to one of the Jackonville agents and she reminded us we need to build what suits us 11 months out of the year and not just for additional visitors. So the Renown it was. Signed, sealed and we did it in Ocala.
Our Lot from the street. Facing the pond in the back. Our neighbors are already built up. From the back you can see both ends of the pond and both fountains. The mail kiosk is just to the left of our lot.
February 11, 2020
Met with Nikki, the design consultant to pick out all of the interior items. They sent us a package in advance to look things over, I sent it to Sarah and to Sue to look over as well and offer thoughts. Sarah because she and Abel and recently redone their kitchen and Sue because they have lived in Florida for several years and could offer that perspective.
Kitchen cupboards, counter tops, and backsplash. Sarah helped me walk through the choices and all of a sudden she stopped and said she realized she was suggesting things that make my kitchen look like hers. - that is not a bad thing. She and Abels' kitchen is beautiful.
Master Bath, cupboards,flooring and counter top. The tiny squares are the flooring in the shower. It is a large extended shower.
Wood is Luxury Vinyl Planking that will go through the whole house. The tile on the right is for all three bathrooms and the laundry room.
Laundry room cabinetry. The laundry will have the tile above on the floor. Washer and dryer on one side with a sink. Cabinets above. The opposite wall will be a counter top with lower cabinets.
Here is a link to view what a completed Renown looks like. Our furnishings will not be like these most likely. And with the shut down, not sure when we will be able to go shopping.
After the design appointment it was a wait and see the start date. It was delayed by 3 weeks from the anticipated start date due to the county declining to approve the plans. The concern was the trussing for the roof and how it met what they call the elevation. That means the face of the house - and how it meets the roof.
But once it started, they are moving right along.
This was February 28, 2020. Lot was graded waiting for the permit. This is when we heard that the initial permit was declined. Now a wait for resubmission and work to begin.
March 30, 2020
Pictures of the ground ready and ready for foundation being laid.
These are all of the pipes for water and sewage being laid. An inspection needs to be done before the foundation can be laid.
This "L" shape is the back left corner and is going to be the Lanai. The blue piping in the front left corner is electrical and plumbing for a sink on the lanai. After market we will have a sink installed and brick for an built in grill.
A long shot of the ground from front to back. Garage on the right (three car garage - Kens' dream) .
April 6, 2020
Foundation poured.
A good view of the pond out back. It seems smaller than the square footage, but I hear that is a common thought.
Back left corner is the lanai, in front of that is the dining area and kitchen in front of that. Master bedroom is off the the left.
The right side back to front is Lanai, living area , study (kens' space) and guest bedroom 2, which is my sewing room.
April 13, 2020
A look at the house from the front with the block up. Next comes pouring the Lintel (filling) in the blocks and trusses and framing goes in. Garage on the right, my sewing room on the left. It will have a bowed window area that adds a few Sq. Ft to the room.
Behind the garage is the laundry room and to the right is the third bedroom.
The large window in the back looks out to the back - the living room, the short wall to the left is the margin of the lanai. Where the window is Kens' study I think. I think I am turned around hahaha.
You can just see the fountain in the middle window.
Trusses will now be going up along with the framing. We will probably go see it again around May 4th. All framing will be done and it will be what they call "Quality Orientation" to see that things are in the right place. We have our copy of the plans I guess I need to do some homework before that visit. Take a tape measure and see how it goes.
Things keep moving along.
April 16, 2020
There pictures are from Carole Lennard, she is one of our neighbors and a fellow sewing enthusiast.
This shows the walls up and they are preparing to get the framing up. No roof yet.
The area bumped out is the front guest bedroom that will be my sewing room. Next to it is the front door.
Here you see a large opening on the right with a smaller one on the left. It has a 3 car garage.
April 20, 2020
Received photos from the construction manager today.
Front view of the house. Garage on the right, front bedroom on the left, which will be my sewing room. Front entry is the recessed space between. Yes it is a 3 car garage.
This is in the middle of the house looking to the front. So, this is the sewing room towards the very front, the next space is the Flex room or Ken's study. The construction manager is standing in the hallway.
The far left corner is part of the lanai. The space with two windows is the dining area. Our table will fit there in its' smallest form. Will have to be tilted when we open it up.
A look down from the back of the garage towards the master bedroom and bathroom. In between is the laundry, guest room and walkin closets.
Just another view of the master bedroom from outside the wall, The space in the forefront is the kitchen.
We are going to walk through this on Friday. The framers got started last week with building the barring walls and they set the trusses on Saturday. They were delayed with rain last week and today (Monday 4/20), but they should start decking the roof tomorrow and are on track to complete all the framing by the end of the week.
Keep watching.
April 21, 2020
Got a picture from the Construction manager - Jacob today. The first piece of roof going up on the frame. Rain predicted for Thursday and Friday. But we will see how much gets done.
We go see it in two days, but in two weeks we will see it with all framing done inside and just before drywall goes up. We will verify locations of some things. Then off they go to get things done.
More pictures Friday 4/24 - I might even do a walk through video. What do you think?
April 24 - and the rain gave us a break.
Roof boards are on. This is the front bedroom to the left, front door where the star is and the single garage on the right. We have a 3 car garage.
Here you see both the two car and single garage. We had it extended an extra 4 feet. In the garage to the back right corner is the water heater and the loop for a water conditioner. Ken donning his mask I made.
This is at the back of the garage. first the laundry and walk thru room, then the third bedroom to the right. To the left is the hallway which is actually laundry into the first of two walkin closets, master bath and then the master bedroom. That rectangle to the far right is our master closet.
Ken standing in his Study. There just happens to be two tubs in his study. Guess we want him to be extra clean. haha
Kitchen to the right ( I think) hehe. Looking to the front of the house.
Our lanai with the space for the outdoor sink and will eventually have a builtin grill and beverage fridge. The lanai will also be extended 6-8 ft with it all being screened in.
Figured out how to write on the pictures, but writing is not very good. Kitchen at the bottom, the line is where the counter with sink will go. Living/great room in front.
View out of the Master Bedroom.
Jacob our construction manager donning his mask and checking on the layout.Yes everything is where it should be. This is our dining room.
This is the external color scheme. Top is the paint color for the house. 2nd is the trim, 3rd is the front door and 4th is the garage door. The stones will be on the face of the garage .
Again my sewing room/ front bedroom.
First week of May we will have a walkthru with all of the framing done, just before drywall. Here we will verify the TV wall hangers, extra wall outlets and other stuff. So unless Carole our new friend or Jacob sends pics, this will be it until the first week of May.
April 29, 2020
Carole Lannerd is one of our Stone Creek neighbors. She and her husband just moved in February 14th, 2020. I actually met Carole in our Viking Sewing Machine FB page when I asked for recommendations for a Viking shop that was good . So every once in a while she will stop by our house and take a picture. Here is todays:
You can see the shingles stacked and ready to be put on. Once the roof is on and the house can be kept dry, the inside work can commence. Here is a note from our construction manager yesterday.
"Mr. and Mrs. Burnett,
The framers will finish framing tomorrow, along with the roofers completing the dry in. On Wednesday, the rough HVAC and plumbing will be installed, followed by the windows and exterior doors on Thursday. The electricians will follow on Friday with the rough electrical.
I would like to schedule the Build Quality Orientation prior to drywall for next Wednesday, 5/6 at 11 am. Please let me know if this works for you."
So next Wednesday we will walk through just before the Drywall is put up to verify placement of some things. Progress!!
May 6, 2020
Pre-Drywall Walk through.
So we spent an hour with Jacob walking through the house and he explaining things and us asking questions.
We started in the garage. I hope we have not forgotten anything we wanted in the house. We saw the lines that will carry bug insecticide and on the outside will be termite tubes to keep them out.
So this is a view of the house at present. Left, will be my sewing room. On the right is the 3 car garage. Entry way in the middle.
In the Garage will be the water heater and water softener.
This is the entryway. The red pipes on the right is the Powder room, toilet and pedestal sink.
This is Ken's Den. it is the second room on the left coming in the front door.
This is the walkin closet to the front bedroom which will be my sewing room. You can see on the other side of the wall, the bathroom that goes with this bedroom. All three bedrooms have a full bath and there is a 1/2 bath in the front hallway.
This is the family/living room. The boards on the wall are where the T V will be mounted. There is a media port and outlet both above where it will be behind the TV and on lower with an electrical outlet in a standard location.
Lighting not good, but this is the front bedroom looking out to the front yard.
This is the master shower.Where Kens' hand is will be a glass, the board on the far wall is reinforcement for grab bars. We did not have any put in at this time, but we will know where the board is for a later date.
This is the living room. Again the boards on the wall are for a TV mount. Ken's Den is to the left and the lanai is to the right.
Master bedroom. Beyond the slats is the walk in closet. Bedroom faces the back of the house where there is a pond.
This is the back portion of the lanai. WE could have had this screened in now, but we intend to extend it. They do not offer extending the lanai. So we will extend it 6-8 feet and screen it in. Sometimes called a Bird Cage. I am considering leaving 2 feet at the outer most edge dirt to be able to plant. Will have to discuss that more.
This is the laundry room. The silver pipe in the middle is the dryer exhaust. This wall will be the washer/dryer and sink. Cupboards across the top. The opposite wall will be lower cabinets with a counter top..
May 20, 2020 update
Tile install will continue through Wednesday (5/27), then interior trim on Thursday and Friday (5/28 - 29). The interior and exterior paint will follow the first week of June.
Standing at the Master Bathroom door looking at Master Shower. It is a large walkin shower. Tile walls about 7 feet up. Double shower heads.
Front of the house ready for Stucco to be applied and then painted in 10 days or so. There will be a rock face on the garages about up to the top of the garage doors. Garage doors here are only 7 foot high. That said we will not be able to keep the kayak racks on the van as they won't make it into the garage.
This is standing with your back to the front door and looking down the hallway to the living room. The door to the left is the front guest room that will be my sewing room. Second on the left is Kens' den. On the right is passage way to the other hall that goes from the Garage to the kitchen. 2nd guest bedroom is on this right side as well as the laundry room.
This is standing in the kitchen looking into the Living room. The triple windows look out on the the lanai and far right full window is the sliding glass door that goes out to the lanai.
June 1 will be the next visit to the house.
At that time we will have the consultant for window coverings there for measuring and idea sharing. Also the consultant to design the master closet with dressers etc. built in.
Next will be finding ceiling fans, and eventually the outdoor kitchen and extending the lanai and screening it all in. At the lanai extension, I plan to have the last 2-3 feet left as dirt for a garden. Protected from critters and bugs. Will have some veggies & herbs as well as flowers. We will see how that all goes.
Still have to decide on living room furniture and patio furniture.
So much to do and decide (agree) on.
May 27th update
The wrong tubs were put into the two guest bathrooms, so they were changed out this week. I don't know yet what was different about them. The tile floors are done in the bathrooms.utility/laundry room and the tile shower is done in the Master bathroom. Drywall should be about done. and the trim should have been done by Friday 5/29. So that means we have the woman with the blinds come in and measure on June 1 when we go see how things are going. We are also hoping for the person doing closet organizing to come with ideas as well.
House front has had the texturing started for the stucco finish.
The tile work in the Master Shower. There are two showerheads. The control for the shower is just left of the doorway opening. The window area to the left will be a window. No shower curtain.
Monday June 1 we will be going through the house again and getting updates. We still do not have a closing date. Waiting on the date for delivery of the cabinets. Those have been a week behind delivery on the other houses going up.
June 1 visit!!
Cabinets that have been delayed will be installed June 11. Original date was June 4.
Interior and exterior painting in commencing today through the week.
Refresher: Bathroom cabinets, flooring on the right. Bottom middle is counter top for master bathroom.
The flooring on the left is what is going in through the whole house. On the right is the tile for all bathrooms and laundry room.
Cabinetry for the laundry room
Flooring will be installed beginning June 23.
Most trim is in. They ran short of our crown molding, so that is to be finished.
Doors we chose are taller, and some of those are on back order.
Yet another front view. You can see the threshold space is boxed in and they have the stucco applied. Ready for painting this week. As we left they were ready to paint the garage.
Measured the driveway today and it is 30 X 30 ft at the main space and 7 X 9 added at the single door space. Trying to decide if we want to do an epoxy coating on the driveway. It is already being done in the garage.
This is the garage entryway. We have this bench on the right side and behind the door is a closet space. There will be coat hooks above the bench.
A look at the tile floor for all three bathrooms and the laundry room.
We selected the tub unit for the two guest bathrooms instead of a tub with tile. They had previously put in a regular tub and tiled the walls as a standard. They changed that option with the new models.
The style of our doors. The doors for some of the rooms are on back order. We have 10 ft ceilings and hence 8 foot doors. Not usually ordered so they are a couple short for now.
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Kitchen to the left. The Pedastal in the middle is where the kitchen island will be. The stove pipe on the wall is where the stove top will be. You can just see the crown molding around the wall. 
The next couple of pictures are the master shower. We have two shower heads. The alcove to the left is for shampoo etc. The shower controls you might be able to see to the lower left. The controls are at the entry of the shower, so you don't get that cold shot.
Looking into the shower from the window.
A longer shot of the master shower.
 
Ken and Jacob on the lanai. The walls prepared with stucco for painting this week. Looks like rain Thursday and Friday so exterior painting could take a delay. We will see.
Another shot of the kitchen and to the right is the living room. The door you see to the left goes to the garage/ and laundry area. The doorway to the right goes to the front entryway. Kens' den is the first door on the right.
Measurements were taken today for window coverings and we will go to the shop on Wednesday to discuss more about style. Color we will meet and decide on when the painting and flooring is done after June 25. So that said, we might not have window coverings right after closing.
To do:
Pick an internet company
Pick out furniture and ceiling fans
Get all grout sealed - company picked, just need to
schedule for after closing
Decide if we want to do epoxy on the driveway.
Find a moving company
Get floor protectors with having Vinyl Planking.
Tentative closing is penciled in for July 20, 2020.
Cabinets are in, did I say that.
June 8, 2020
To date, we have decided on the internet company, water softener company and plan for TVs' and installation.
We have our blinds company and style, we will finalize the blind colors on June 25. We have a plan for our closet organizer since we no longer have our dressers and it will all be in our closet.
Talking to 2 different companies for each the extended lanai and bird cage and for an outdoor kitchen plan.
My head is spinning.
Have visited two different places for ceiling fans and lights. Have that decision to make too. And we thought with the house choices we were done.
Have gotten no where near to the living and lanai furniture search.
Here are pictures from today. We will be at the house tomorrow (June 9), for closet organizer planning. Get to see the paint job upclose and for real. Pictures look good.
The interior and exterior paint are completed and the driveway was poured. The soffit and fascia (front of the house) are scheduled to be installed tomorrow (6/10). Cabinets are on for Thursday (6/11)and countertops on Friday (6/12).
Front of the house. There is a varigated stone for the face of the garage.
A view of the back. The inset area and the partial wall is where the outdoor kitchen will go. It is plumbed for a sink and wired for a small fridge.
The living room. The TV will go between the two windows. The windows to the right are looking out to the lanai.
This is the master bedroom. It overlooks the pond in the back.
The master shower. It is tiled 6 feet up. The shower has two heads. The controls are just around the corner of the entry wall.
We will be there tomorrow (6/9).
Progress continues.
Well today is 6/17 and the "Celebration Walk Through" as they call it, is just a month away. July 15 we will walk through the house to learn about its' functions and identify anything that needs to be fixed. All documents will be signed electronically. We will walk through again on the 20th to see that anything that needed to be fixed is complete and the closing paperwork will be completed. We will get the keys and the house is ours.
We have days all planned out to get things installed: Internet, TVs', Blinds, Ceiling fans, dining room light fixture, grout sealed and water softener. We have the movers scheduled for the 29th. Our rental is over on the 31st.
Still need to buy flooring protectors and shelf paper.
Still looking at Living Room furniture. We will be without it for a while as factories are still slower to produce due to social distancing in the factories.
Here are some recent pictures:
This is the front guest bathroom that is my sewing room. A rather large counter.
 This is the second guest bathroom. Just showing off the cabinets and countertops since they were put in last week.  The grey area around the garage will all be a stone front.  
View of the kitchen, Microwave and oven are installed.
Close up of the kitchen sink.
Long shot of the island counter
Along the back wall of the kitchen. Stove top and hood yet to be installed as well as the backsplash.
More next week.
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June 22, 2020
Progress today!! Too bad we have to wait for July 15 for the walk thru and July 20 for closing. I think it could and may be done sooner. EEkksss.
From our construction manager, Jacob today:
"The plumbing and electrical trims have been completed and the prep for the luxury vinyl plank started today. They will have it installed Wednesday, so you will be good to check out the colors on Thursday. The stone delivery was delayed until today, but they started on the install this morning. It should be complete tomorrow. The final grade will be completed on Wednesday, followed by the irrigation and landscaping install on Thursday, and sod by early next week.
Also they will leave a box of the vinyl planking for future use. "
Stacks of our flooring . Starts going in on Tuesday. Be done on Wednesday 6/24/2020. This is going in through the whole house except the bathrooms and laundry room.
It is all stacked in the laundry room which has a tile floor. You can see my laundry sink in this picture.
Lighting is in in the guest bath..
Shot of the kitchen. Not much different from the last one except all of the wall outlets are now completed.
This counter top is in the laundry room. It sits opposite the washer , dryer , and laundry tub. It is 8 ft. long. Great place for folding.
Here you can see the light fixtures and master bath countertop and cupboards. Actually these are different light fixtures than we saw in February. They changed vendors and this was the new selection. I like the better.
Master Bath with two shower heads in the master shower.
Oohhh Lala.. Can't wait. You can see the controls to the left as you step in, so you don't have to dodge the water as it gets to your desired temperature.
We will be at the house on 6/25 to select our blinds colors and meet with a contractor about the outdoor kitchen. Fun and we are counting down.
June 25, 2020
Not too many pictures today. They were working on the landscaping and finishing up the flooring. Some of the concrete flooring had some blemishes that needed to be shaved down to prepare the floor for a good fit. So it did not get completed on schedule. But that did not interfere with out plans to be in there today to use the lighting to chose our blinds colors and look at swatches of the couch/love seat and chair material to make that decision.
Also decided that 3 high stools at the kitchen counter was the right number.
Had them put in a Crepe Myrtle instead of a Magnolia in the garden. Not sure what the rest was, they were busy and did not want to interfere.
We will now not go back until July 7 to meet with a second contractor about the outdoor kitchen . Met with one today that had things come in with in what we anticipated. It will include a 17X24 sink, 4.5 cu ft fridge, 4 burner grill and a side burner. We will chose the stone and granite counter top. Cannot be put in until after we get HOA approval which is after closing. And this company is currently booking in mid August.
What else did we learn today? Well the paint job needs work as we looked around. Fridge, washer and dryer are not in yet. Hood over the stove top is not in because they had to order a new one. The first one came in damaged. I am not sure about the flooring as I love the color, I see too many gaps between the flooring and molding. Have asked that question.
Irrigation was going in today, landscape in and sod goes in tomorrow. It will have a different look in two weeks.
Not a great photo, but you can see the stone work on the garage. The other side stays as it is.
This is the flooring. I love the look. It is Shaw Luxury Vinyl Planking. If a piece is messed up, you just pull that plank up and replace it. They leave us a box.
These light fixtures are new. The original ones were discontinued . The design person emailed us about 6 weeks ago that these were the new choice. I like them better.
And this is our master walk in shower, with two shower heads. Can't wait.
Next pictures won't be until July 7, so hold on.
Be sure to make comments if you wish at the bottom.
Getting Anxious. !!!!
June 27, 2020 Received a couple of pictures from Jacob, the construction manager today:
All of the sod will be in end of Monday.
Final touches on paint will be done through the week next week.
Other things will be completed that still need attention. Delivery of the fridge and washer& dryer, finish of crown molding. The Garage and front doors.
The stone is complete on the front. Landscaping is in you just cannot see it from this view. Will get that later.
The hood is started over the stove top. You can see the backsplash is also in. We are having a company come in the day after closing to seal all grout. All bathrooms, the master shower and the laundry floor tiles as well as this kitchen tile.
Now the next pictures will be July 7th, 2020.
23 days to closing.
July 15 Walk Thru
Papers are signed, money sent, Walk thru found a few things. Here are a couple of pictures.
We are ready to move in. We will meet Monday again with Jacob our construction manager to see that the things we found today are fixed. We have 12 months to find other things. Found paint that got on window frames, wrong finish on toilet handle, chip in Kitchen cupboard and dent in stove vent pipe (these had already been identified and replacements on order). Chips or smears in paint in various spots. My sewing room was missing an electrical outlet for where the TV is to be mounted on the wall - hmmmm.
Have to learn how to use my combination microwave/convection oven. And my stove top has 5 burners and two of them can vary the size of the pan used to 3 different sizes.
Temporary fridge in the kitchen a nice 18 cu ft fridge as the one we ordered is on back order. We get to keep the loaner - Wow.
A sewer clean-out in the lawn is buried somewhere.
We asked they not put up the hanging racks in the master closet as we have a closet organizer being put in, but we wanted the materials to use elsewhere. There is a whole bunch of stuff there.
I have ideas.
Not sure how well they clean the place so I will be doing cleaning Monday and Tuesday.
Our House : 6670 SW 94th Circle
Ocala, Florida, 34481
Close up of the Kitchen back splash
Top is a microwave/convection oven combination. Bottom is the oven.
Shot of the whole kitchen with under cabinet lights on.
Kitchen Pantry
Master shower with two shower heads.
Master bath counter top and sinks
Water shut offs under the sinks are not a turn but a
push me, pull you set up. This is in all sinks.
I did not take pictures of the laundry room, but it is very nice. Will get those in the next couple of weeks. The next two weeks are very busy. We close officially on Monday at 11am. We have someone coming in to do something every day next week and the movers will retrieve our furniture on July 29th. That is when we will part with the rental and move in. A slight catch. The storage facility has been bought out. To go with their new branding, they are painting all of the storage unit doors beginning on the 20th and will take 3 weeks. So now we have to negotiate with the director on the days they will do the units we are in. We will have to prioritize what we pull out. But must have access on the 29th. Ugh!!
A look at our new house in progress. Check back every couple of weeks for updates.
ReplyDeleteGreat documentary of your dream house. Looks like you got everything you wanted, plus a water view!! Can’t wait to see it this summer! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteWow, everything is coming along really nicely. Fun to watch your plans and visions develop before your eyes. Thank you for sharing in your Florida home!
ReplyDeleteVery nice Helen. Lots of decisions are made and everything is coming together beautifully. In the blink of an eye your boxes will be unpacked and you will be found sewing up a storm of items for your family in your new sewing room.
ReplyDeleteWOW! Very nice, Helen (& Ken). From vision to reality. Beautiful.
ReplyDelete