Sunday 12.30.12

8:00am-Morning property check.
High winds last night brought down a lot of limbs and more shingles off the Cottage--nothing major though.
A quiet, beautiful winter Sunday morning at Ramsay

Morning

Jim Bailey and Rob on site finishing up exterior speaker systems
Jim and Rob helped SY hang the drapes in the family room
TS emails that planned arrival with guests at Ramsay is postponed due to Hunter being hospitalized in SC

Afternoon

Dear friends (Wilsons and Sarah Handley) here for long-standing tradition of New Year's related brunch
Jim and Rob depart after review with SY of work completed during this visit.
5pm lock down and evening lights on

Evening

TS email that ETA is now 2pm Monday afternoon-New Year's Eve!
8:15pm- lock down and lights out

Saturday 12.29.12

7:30am-Morning property check; more limbs than usual down along Cottage lane.
Only a dusting of snow...

Morning

Sherry on site until about 2pm - clean & prep for guests for New Years
Jim and Rob on site until about 7pm
SY finish snow/ice removal
FEDEX delivery
SY finish stacking firewood. Placed firewood at fireplace by Cottage and at Main house


Afternoon

SY:
-rake and cleanup where Jim and Rob trenched underground cable connections to ext. fireplace & Cottage
-placed new wreaths at main entrance
-livestock feeding (horses are trying to"'make friends" with the cows--not happening yet.)
-widespread limb and storm debris cleanup
-replaced light bulb on Cottage front porch
-install 2 solar landscaping lights at mudroom entrance

Evening

Test all ext. temp lighting done by Mark S. yesterday -- looks great!
9:15pm lock down & lights out

Friday 12.28.12

7:30am-Morning property check

Morning

Busy Broom crew on site (8am-1pm) to clean kitchen
Anne Thompson & Jane Candler on site (9am-1pm) re: finish faux painting in family room-
$3,600 invoice received
Jim Bailey and Rob on site all day re: underground wiring to cottage & outside speakers at fireplace
Mark Schuyler on site all day re: exterior temporary lighting of walkways to cottage
SY furniture pick up in C'ville for Susan L (sofa for Tom and Reae to consider purchasing)

Afternoon

Susan L. here re: placing new sofa, etc./temporary re-figure of LR furniture arrangement
Hunter's sofa moved to cottage garage
Firewood delivery-SY stack in wood shed
Purchased 2 snow shovels and heavy broom for exterior maintenance
2210 tractor returned from Virginia Tractor
Scheduled Clay Frazier et al for tomorrow afternoon clean up after forecast-ed snowfall tonight
Coordinated with Sherry for tomorrow

6pm lockdown/lights

Evening

9:30pm lock down & lights out

Thursday 12.27.12

12.26.12 (yesterday)  Snow, heavy ice, and mixed precipitation from 4am ---> , did little damage to the trees and shrubs. 1" snow, 1/2" ice/sleet

Major UPS delivery of speaker equip., etc. for Jim Bailey (during the height of the rain/sleet/ice storm--SY and UPS person get extra credit--both got completely drenched!!)

Morning

SY snow/ice removal shrubs, walkways, driveway,etc.
Extra livestock feeding due to snow cover
Sherry on site making preparation for guests for New Year's Eve, etc., plus sorting numerous packages delivered the last few days
Anne Thompson and Jane Candler on site all day continuing faux painting in family room.

Afternoon

Mike Herring and crew replaced small section of fence on front property line along Rt. 250 near west property line.
Tele - Mark Schuyler - will be on site Friday re: placement of temporary exterior lighting
Note: Saw kids joy-riding on a Gator in the North main pasture. They exited through the opened gate to adjoining neighbor's property used by D. Wright. I will close that gate (or post a "Private Property" sign)
Our Gator battery died again. I purchased a small battery charger this afternoon.
Tele Jim Baily, they will stay in motel and be on site tomorrow
5pm Anne and Jane depart - main house lock down

For tomorrow: Anne Thompson and Jane continuing painting in family room
                       Mark Schuyler here for lighting work
                       Busy Brooms crew re: kitchen cleaning
                       Clay Frazier re: yardwork

Evening

8:20pm lock down and lights out

Christmas Break

The several days leading up to and following Christmas have brought us many happy occasions and gatherings with family and friends. So much has been different for us living in a new location and moving in slightly different circles, but the traditions shared with family and close friends have kept us grounded in the more meaningful themes and celebrations of this season. We're grateful for these things and count them precious among the many new blessings that greet us daily here at Ramsay.

A few days of relative quiet--without the busy-ness of people coming and going, attending to the buildings and grounds--have heightened our awareness of what a special place Ramsay is. There is a peace and presence about this estate that is hard to describe, but anyone who has spent any time here speaks of what a special place this is--and they're quite right! Some family visitors--new to Ramsay--were simply overwhelmed by the beauty of the grounds, the views, the "feel" of the place (in their words) and how wonderful it is that we get to live here.

Our first Christmas at Ramsay has been a very Merry Christmas indeed!

Friday 12.21.12

7:30am-Office
7:45am- Morning property check

Morning

Activity is winding down as we approach the holidays
Set up small heater in fam room re: faux paint curing
Tele from Kimberley in Richmond Re: repaired plate from Cottage.
     -She will deliver it next week when making a delivery to Mirador
Chuck Kennedy Electric here installing 2 GFI receptacles by exterior panel at Cottage
Tele Mike Herring are making fence repair at main road near west property line-
to be completed next week

Afternoon

Returned bedside table from guest room (from Susan L.) to Anne George in C'ville
Tele with TS re: measurement of picture and space over DR fireplace
Tele with Sherry re: final check-in before holiday break
Friday pm widespread property check--all is well--some downed limbs but very high winds
expected today through Sat.pm, so will do major limb clean-up on Monday
PM livestock feeding
5:30pm-lockdown, light check

Evening

8:30pm- lockdown & lights out

Thursday 12.20.12

6:45am- telephone call re: delivery from Pottery Barn
7:15am-Office
7:45am-morning property check

Morning

Delivery of bar cart from Pottery Barn
Anne Thompson & Jane Candler here all day-- faux painting in family room
(Loaned Anne our multi directional floor lamp for lighting.)
Sherry on site this morning--unpacking recent deliveries, cleaning, etc.
David Snyder on site re: cottage roof, getting final info for Buckingham Slate application
Office work

Afternoon

Chuck Kennedy on site re: installing 2 GFI receptacles at cottage ext. panel site
Assist Anne with plaster issue in family room
Susan and Harry L. on site re: library contents
Tele with TS
First winter hay feed for cows and horses (cows rule the pasture!!)
Tele Mike Herring re: fence work
Final check in with Anne at 6pm (they will return on 12.28)
First major rain since moving here 11.09
6pm lockdown

Evening

Office - email from Rob Hanna-- will return 01.03.13 to continue furniture work
8:30pm lockdown--cottage and main house
Tele TS re: Greenwood P.O. Box 2