Granite

Granite is an intrusive igneous rock. Intrusions (plutons) are bodies of igneous rock that result from crystallization of magma deep underground. Slow cooling at depth in the earth produces larger crystals (coarse grained) that can easily be seen by the unaided eye. Granites can be pink to dark gray or even black, depending on their chemistry and mineralogy. Outcrops of granite tend to form tors, and rounded massifs.

Hmmm…

intrusive…
Rock…
MAGMA…

sounds like it would be a pretty harsh, coarse material for a home.
But look what happens when intrusive igneous rock from magma pits are cut and polished!

These counter tops are well traveled.

Apparently, somewhere in the magma pits of Mount Doom
or some such place the granite first formed.

Then some lucky folks dug them up, cut and polished them and took them to Ukiah.

Eventually, the counters found themselves on our moving truck and traveled from California to Michigan. David and I (and Lukie) loaded a truck first with the cabinets that Doug made, then these lucky counter tops. Only after those items were safely in their places did we fill our belongings in around them. As you may remember me mentioning, what didn’t fit… didn’t come.

I know the house is a while from being ‘finished’ but we are very close to being able to live in it.

Now that the sinks are in, Larry is going to come up from Wisconsin and help David finish the plumbing. Yayyy a toilet! Very important indeed.

We have also picked out the tile we wanted. It is Mannington Garda tile in Pine Cone:

We also decided on a pattern. Jerry has eyeballed it and will be putting it in the mudroom (entryway), master bathroom, and hearth under the woodstove downstairs. He will be starting on that next. Here is a picture of the pattern:

Gee... I am going to have to decide on paint one of these days... that will come later I am sure after we are living there and can see everything in its place and watch the lighting throughout the day. I thought I was on the path of choosing a palette but ... after the cabinets and granite in the kitchen was installed I realized the colors I had been contemplating will probably not work. Oh dear... back to the drawing/oujia board. I am hoping to channel a combination of Martha Stewart, William Morris, Gustav Stickley, Geene & Greene, the Roycrofts or Frank Lloyd Wright soon so I can get the painting part out of the way.