I woke up this morning and, as usual, looked out a window. It was a good start to the day because I didn’t see any snow. Given our recent weather, that cannot be taken for granted. But I did notice something unusual. Do you recognize the object in the circle? If not, you may not live in a community under construction. It’s the top of a crane, a sign of an interesting building day. Though […]
This isn’t the end, but you can see it from here. Work has begun on Phase 4, the final phase, of Maples at the Sonatas. I know it’s too soon to get all nostalgic about this. So I will spare you those posts until later in the journey. For now, I’ll just share a visual progress report. Here we are—Maples at the Sonatas—from the air. Three pictures taken from three small airplanes in three different […]
One of my favorite parts of spring is all of its new beginnings. Flowers reappear from the soil and bloom again. Or they are planted for the first time, sharing color and fragrance from their very beginning. Baby animals come into the world. Trees begin another year by putting on their loveliest blossoms. Like this one. And it’s not only nature celebrating new beginnings. The Maples is all about new beginnings too. For as long […]
If something happens once, it just happens. But if the same thing happens again, you may be establishing a pattern. I have now undergone the same experience twice in less than six years. My pattern appears to be purchasing brand new, move-in ready homes. It’s becoming a compelling, expensive habit. In 2010, I stumbled upon the Abbey that would become my home. Then last December, I accidentally found the Palazzo that I hope to soon […]
There are countless ways to personalize a new home in Maples at the Sonatas. It all begins when the buyers choose one of the five Epcon floor plans offered here. It continues with the selection of upgrades and options. Then the finishing touches come with furnishing, decorating, and accessorizing. But Tom and Brenda, whose home is in the earliest stages of construction, have seized another way to personalize their home. Here is what they’ve done […]
Maybe it’s the sunshine today. Or the bluest of skies, or the vibrant colors of October. If there is such a thing as a photogenic fall day, this is one of the best we’ve had. I couldn’t wait to put on my walking shoes and grab my camera. I was on a mission. I would wander our community, snapping photos of anything that caught my eye. I would try to use little details to capture […]
It’s Thursday, so, as Facebook users know, it’s time for a stroll down memory lane. Let’s throw it back to 2007, which is as far back as I can go here at Maples at the Sonatas. We begin with the sign marking the site of Building 24. Our clubhouse was built during the summer of 2007 too, though the pool would come later. Here’s the foundation. And just two months later, look how quickly it […]
Here we are—Maples at the Sonatas—from the air. Two pictures taken by two pilots of small airplanes, the photos from different orientations in different years. First, we have this photo, taken by Barb’s son-in-law in 2011, when we were a much smaller community. And here we are today, in a picture taken by a friend of Tom D, a future homeowner under contract. Yes, we have grown. But look! There’s still empty space […]
Nature’s first green is gold. —Robert Frost As soon as our last snow melted, I began my daily “green watch.” Every day, I’d go outside and search my flower beds, hoping to find a sign of plants coming back to life. This morning I found what I’ve been looking for. After the harsh, five-month-long winter we just survived, anything green and growing is so welcome. And that, I believe, is why Robert Frost described that […]
Phase 1 of Maples at the Sonatas is oh-so close to being finished. Today there is talk of the “final lift” on parts of the streets, and then, to my amateur eyes, that should be a wrap. Phase 2 is more than halfway built and occupied. Construction is underway on all of the remaining homes in that area. So it is only natural that attention turns to Phase 3. I love to walk around out […]
There are several gauges that can be used to measure the growth of our community. The two most obvious are based on simple mathematics. What is the number of homes that have closed? What is the number of residents who call Maples at the Sonatas home? But there is another measure too, a less precise, more symbolic one. And that is the progressive movement of the construction gates. Until last week, there have always been […]
It’s a gloomy, rainy Halloween here at Maples at the Sonatas. But the weather isn’t likely to dampen the spirits of the two couples who are closing on their new homes in Building 3 today. That’s right. A Canterbury and an Abbey are finished and ready to welcome their owners. The other two homes will be done in about two weeks. Here are some of the finishing steps that have been completed in the last […]
I’ve fallen behind on my updates on the construction of Building 3, a quad being built next door to me. It’s not that I’ve lost interest. It’s more because so much of the action has moved inside. From watching the contractors’ vehicles, I know a lot has been going on in there. I’ve spotted electricians, plumbers, gas company workers, HVAC men, dry wallers, painters, and, of course, building inspectors from the city. And I sure […]
The question often comes up when potential buyers visit my Abbey. It may come from folks who have always lived in single-family homes. Or it may come from someone looking to escape noisy neighbors in their current condo or apartment. Is it always this quiet? How much noise do you hear from your neighbors? I try to reassure them, even though sometimes their expressions make me doubt they totally believe me. It is quiet—always. Honest. […]
It’s time for a construction update. Today I’d like to check in with another progress report on Building 3, the quad going up next door to me. The past week has been all about framing. In a sense, this step is the opposite of the foundation stage, which took a long time with not that much dramatic progress. Framing, on the other hand, is relatively fast and visually exciting. Here is a photo from a […]
There was nothing I wanted to do more this morning than stay home and watch the show. So I made a couple of calls to rearrange my schedule, grabbed a cup of coffee and my camera, and settled in my sun room. Construction of Building 3, a quad across the driveway from me, shifted into high gear this morning and stayed there for several hours. Come on in and join me. Prepare to learn a […]
OK, class, get your number 2 pencils ready. And no fair using your phone to look up information. Question #1: What is the structure pictured from two angles below? Yes, this might seem like a trick question. The architecture is certainly recognizable. But the pieces don’t fit together in a way that we are used to seeing them. It can’t be a standalone home. It isn’t a quad either. So what is it? Answer: It’s […]
For those of us who live in the midst of it, the rapid growth of Maples at the Sonatas has almost become old news. It takes someone who is here only occasionally to really notice it. I’ve had two groups of visitors in the past two weeks who have reminded me just how much and how quickly our neighborhood is expanding. First, there was the visit from my brother and sister-in-law, who live in the […]
Thank you, Wilcox Communities, for the free entertainment today! It’s always fun watching the construction process, but there is no better day than the one when the crane comes in to set trusses for the roof of a new home. And that’s what is happening this afternoon. A lot of action, a little danger, some drama — many of us homeowners drop what we are doing to watch the show. When I began taking pictures, […]
This was a big morning for my soon-to-be neighbor, Jan, and her husband, Steve. The lumber for their new Promenade was delivered. They must have been watching from the home they are renting down the street because they were outside moments later, cameras in hand. In the picture below, Jan is asking framing contractor Mike Carr exactly when the home will be framed. And here Jan enjoys a sniff of the sweet smell of fresh […]
