I haven't done much with the house after moving to the new apartment. I have been installing the outside trim to the base, but it isn't as good as it should be. I think it will be possible to remove the three sided trim and replace it with professionally made pieces later on without damaging the house/yard. I just can't afford what will most likely be several hundred dollars worth of finish carpentry.

I have assembled the back panel for the base along with the countersunk power strips and a box for the transformers to be stored in. I haven't started framing yet and I don't know when I'll be able to afford the lumber needed to do this next step. It looks like construction is going to grind to a sudden halt within a few weeks. I just don't have the extra income now that rent and utilities have increased and I still have a hefty medical bill from the surgery I had in July. On the upside, I was able to completely assemble my first basement in less than a year. If I can find a way to finance construction and get back on schedule, I could have this house finished before my daughter starts kindergarten.

I'm still amazed by all the comments in my gallery. Reading all those encouraging comments from the pros is so encouraging and reassures me that I'm not insane for attempting this kind of a project. I truly hope this house turns out the way I intend it to be. I think this may be my Mona Lisa.

One other side project that won't start until I finish this house is the pipe organ. The more I think about it the more I want to build one. I've never been a fan of room boxes, mostly because it seems like so much work for just one room, but I'm thinking about building one now. If I build a pipe organ it will need a room, but it will be too big for a house and I don't build churches, so I'll have to build a room box of a theater stage or something like that. I can build a majestic organ without building an impractically large house for it.

I spend too much time at work and don't have enough income for projects like this. At least I love my job and have one, but I would be very busy with minis if those two obstacles weren't in the way.