Thanks for all your kind comments. We'll need all the Mudcat encouragement we can get!

Richard, the planning permission (aka "permitting") varies from state to state, and town to town, although there are environmental considerations that come down from the feds. We started THAT process a year ago, and it was indeed a process! We had to determine, among other things, that the habitat of a local endangered salamander wasn't being compromised. I am truly pleased to know that it wasn't.
But getting the building permit was a breeze, and since our town doesn't even have a building inspector, getting the "certificate of occupancy" shouldn't been too bad- the fire chief just comes and makes sure there are enough egresses and smoke detectors, and everything's wired correctly. Which it will be!

Susan, we're going to follow the same process as your friends, except that we're going to try to be completely finished by next March! No sheetrock, no painting, no trim- it's all wood, inside and out, which MAY simplify matters. We have no illusions that it's going to be easy!

Dorothy, thanks for the tip on B- I knew that once, but had forgotten.

Today the walls get poured, and we'll be, as they say, "above ground". The weather's been perfect, and I pray it keeps up the good work!