Roof tiles, a new window and, look at that blue sky!

By week's end, the roof should be complete (see photo below). At the same time, we hear that pointing has started (i.e. applying mortar between the stones), and our future bedroom has a new window, directly above the kitchen's, on the southern wall. I have added a photo of what that opening used to look like.

Oh, yes: and spring has sprung in the Dordogne!

The newly framed bedroom window.
Below: before.

Latest site report

Roof fully framed, insulation going up, dormer windows in place, roof tiles on site and about to be laid.

Here are some photos from the latest batch, sent by the architect just yesterday:

Compare with the way it looked in its original condition - below - as recently as last fall.

The old floor beams were lovely but most were unusable. New oak beams are being laid in place.
(Above, the guest room, and below, the living room.)

The front of the house. Note the new
stone dormer window, which went up this week.

More press coverage of the Dordogne

After the Globe and Mail (see November 4 post) it was the Toronto Star's turn, last month, to uphold the virtues of our future home region.

Travel editor Jim Byers writes:

"The Dordogne isn’t a name that rolls off the tongue of North Americans like the French Riviera or Bordeaux or Burgundy. But the rich food and the small towns and wide rivers and historic castles that seemingly pop up every 10 minutes might just be the essence of what many visitors would want from a European or French vacation."



La Roque Gageac, on the Dordogne River

 Jim Byers photos /Toronto Star Jim Byers/Toronto Star

Read more from "A picture-perfect paddle in France"

Some then-and-now shots (2008-2011)

The chicken coop, as it used to be ...

... and as it stands now. The half-demolished part,
on the left, will become the covered sitting or summer
dining area, while the part on the right will remain
essentially as is, though with a lowered roofline,
to afford a better view of the valley
from anywhere in the courtyard.

The stable (future living room) as we first saw it in 2008 ...

... and in February 2011 - with subfloor concrete slab in place,
and ceiling beams gone, soon to be replaced with
new oak beams that will bear the guest room floor.



An original truss (this one was in the attic,
where the  future master bedroom en-suite will be), in 2008 ...



... and the new reproduction truss, in the same spot
but higher, now awaiting insulation and covering.

More photos from the last site visit

Some of our regular visitors have asked for more views of

"Gaulejac - The Building Site" ...

The view, driving up to the house.

The courtyard, from the second floor ...

... and the house, from the courtyard.

Stone & Oak, and some concrete, too

We were very pleased with the progress and quality of work we observed on our last visit at Gaulejac, just last week. It was odd to see this place, which over the last two years has remained unchanged visit after visit, finally come to life and starting to look like a house ... well, a house-to-be.

Here are some snapshots. As usual, click on the photo to enlarge:






Part of the roof frame over the guest room, in the north end of the house.



More of the roof frame.
Our only regret is that only a few parts of the beautiful work by Monsieur Renaudie, Master Carpenter, will be visible once all is done.



The new, raised chimney top over the kitchen fireplace, the first of the three chimneys that will rise eventually above the roofline. The next two will take form over the next three weeks.

  

Two mortar samples that were patched in for us to choose, for both inside and outside walls. We chose the sample on the right. The other colour is lovely but so yellow and bright that it takes over, and the beautiful "pierre des Eyzies" stone tends to recede in the background instead of being featured as it ought to be. Keep in mind that the colours aren't quite true in this photo: there isn't so much pink in reality.