Scratching, Quoins, and Keystones

Good news! The man John hired to finish the outside of the house and garage came this week. Since the house doesn't have the roof and windows on yet, he is only finishing the garage at this point, and will finish the house later. The garage is now scratched (a light coat of specially mixed cement spread over the walls of the garage and then scratched all across it so that the finish will grip to the house), quoined (a decorative bit on the corners), and keystoned (a design around the doors and windows). He's coming next week to put the finish on which is called a dash. A special mortar is mixed and spread on the house, left to dry slightly, at which point he uses a special gun-like instrument to throw small, sandy-colored pebbles against the mortar. It looks really great when it's complete, so I'll make sure to post a pic next week. :)

Oops!

I wanted to upload videos on here so that you all could see the progress on the house and how things look, but I haven't been able to get it to work so far. I'll have to ask Molly for some help. In the meantime, here's an update...I got a job! I'm working at the local filling station. Woohoo!!

Our house

Here is the quiet little spot John and I call home. Although you cannot tell from the outside, the garage is very comfortable and cozy inside. We are hoping to get the roof on and the windows in the big house before winter weather sets in (inevitably, not snow, but more rain).

Currently...

Just to catch you up: John and I were married on May 14, 2009. We are now living in Northern Ireland while we finish building the house John began building before we met. We are living in the garage as the house is VERY big and will take a while to finish. When we have finished the house and are able to sell it, we will be moving to the states to settle down and begin a family. Until then, you'll be able to see what's going on here through this blog. I hope to hear from all of you!