Trim and More!

(Sunday, March 5, 2023)

CalOk’s trim has been completed by Alex and his team at AG WoodWorks, LLC; paint by J.R.C. has started prepping and spraying; stair and patio railings have been fabricated byJCW and taken away for powder coating; and electric and plumbing are moving toward completion!

Less than 3 three weeks and counting. It’s a whirlwind of nerves, anxiety, and excitement at the tail end of a long, difficult journey.

Renewed Movement!

(Saturday, January 21, 2023)

After months of no movement, CalOk is moving forward with a new sense of urgency and exciting speed. In less than just two weeks, V.P. Construction and a talented team of subs, that genuinely want to make this place a home as soon as possible, have breathed new life into the space with trim, cabinets, tile, interior doors and countertops. Outside there’s been dirt work, brick laying, propane buried, roofing finished, concrete poured, steps built, and drains laid.

It’s been a journey full of highs and lots of lows. People say it’ll be worth it in the end, and now there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Special thanks to these local industry-leading, kind professionals for just recently jumping in, picking up the CalOk project and running with it: V.P. Construction, AG WoodWorks, A & R Construction, Floor & Decor, JS interiors, Nayar Flooring, Ronny Wilson, and Sour John Masonry.

It’s a HOUSE!

(Wednesday, July 6, 2022)

The sticks that started in April have turned into a long-awaited and much-anticipated, real-life, walkable, I-can-see-it HOUSE!

Framing is near done. Windows are on. Exterior doors are in and going on. Interior doors are coming. The electrician and plumber are starting on all those countless outlets, fixtures, and faucets that are so easily overlooked and under appreciated. There is truly a new appreciate for that well thought out outlet / fixture and its function and placement!

Things are (finally) starting to move at a quicker pace and the excitement is growing, along with the behind the scenes work to research and select all those details. The fear of forgetting a detail is starting to set in as the finish line get closer and closer - but we’ll get there.

Excitement Over Sticks,
Yes - Sticks

(Tuesday, April 12, 2022)

We officially have sticks, which means framing has commenced! Which means, walls are starting to take form! Who knew so much excitement could come from “sticks.”

Despite the ongoing battle with weather (one of the only constants is the unpredictable Oklahoma weather) , lumber prices, and labor shortages - there is immense gratitude to finally have sticks and a sense of cautionary joy (even a little excitement) in seeing walls, rooms and even windows start to take some semblance of shape.

The BEST part of day one of framing? Seeing the gorgeous view through the opening that will soon become the window in the lower level guest suite. And what a view!

Cannot wait to see the rest of CalOk Manor start to take shape! Fingers crossed that weather, lumber prices, and labor hold steady, PLEASE.

A Little Bit of Denial

(Thursday, February 17, 2022)

“Denial is the way you handle things you can’t control.” And right now, denial is a phase of CalOk’s build process, albeit a process that’s being fully embraced. Despite the delays and uncertainty - thankfulness takes center stage. With that said…

Timeline? Can’t really commit. Still just rolling with it is as best as possible. That might be a new mantra.

Here’s where CalOk currently sits - there’s still more concrete work to be completed. Concrete on concrete on concrete. The walkout basement, poured. The pool, poured. The main house foundation walls, poured! Which means you can start to (kind of) see where the actual house will sit. The garage pad, ALMOST there. If the weather holds (it likely won’t because the only thing as unpredictable as the timeline on this build is Oklahoma’s weather) the garage concrete, the final pour that needs to happen before framing can take off, SHOULD happen in the next week, or so, hopefully. Unfortunately, no one on earth can control the weather (that might be a new mantra too).

CalOk does needs a sturdy foundation upon which all these great memories and activities can take place, but who knew it needed to be THIS sturdy.

Our builder is doing his best to move things along, and CalOk has a great team behind it. As first-time builders though, denial over just how unpredictable and truly uncontrollable the process feels is the current mood. Mixed with a healthy dose of excitement (that fades in and out, depending on the roll of the moment) and always - a lot of thankfulness, for this entire experience.

Where’s the House?

(November 4, 2021)

Despite the excitement over seeing the pool taking shape, CalOk Manor is four+ months out from estimated completion, hopefully. Due in small part to weather and the sheer amount of concrete work, the originally projected deadline was pushed mainly because the massive 28’ x 31’ pool has to be completed BEFORE the rest of the house can start going up - and apparently this isn’t “normal,” even by custom home standards.

CalOk’s main structure is going to surround the pool (like a block letter “U”), and once it’s up - there will not be easy access to the center courtyard and the space is too tight to do it all at once.

Design details and resulting delays - are all part of the process. You just roll with it as best as possible, some days better than others. Ultimately, so thankful the dream of CalOk is still in the works, just have to say sometimes, “That’s going to be an amazing pool, but where’s the house?!”

Footers, Foundation & Retainers

(April 30, 2021)

April brought about a slew of new changes to the once empty lot. CalOk got extra wide footers to support what will become a massive foundation for an unexpectedly even higher retaining wall and updated expanded floorplan!

Compared to standard 12” - 18”inch footers, CalOk’s are 54” inches wide with double mat rebar - these footers aren’t going anywhere!

The retaining wall that will also serve as the backside of the infinity pool with cascading water also grew from a predicted height of 8’ - 10’ feet to 18’ feet! CalOk already had magnificent views from the ground level, but imagining the panoramic lake views from 18’ feet up made this unexpected change (and cost) welcome!

And perhaps most exciting for the month, has been the progress and seeing the retaining walls starting to take form and knowing that this is all part of the foundation that will become CalOk Manor.

Breaking Ground

(Wednesday, March 24, 2021)

Digging in dirt has never been more exciting! CalOk officially broke ground and the beautiful land is beginning to transform into what will become a beautiful forever family home.

A Contrast in Weather

(Saturday, February 20, 2021)

While California tends to enjoy relatively consistent sunny weather year-round, Oklahoma delivers a true four seasons. A welcome change with visions of blooming bright green springs, sunny lakeside summers, beautiful color changing falls, and brisk winters with actual winter clothes and the occasional dusting of snow.

Oklahoma winters, like right now in February, are TYPICALLY mild with average temperatures ranging between 30° to 50°. This year however, they’ve seen once in a decade snowstorms with record-breaking snowfall and ice. Extreme temperatures as low as -2° shut down local highways and businesses with weather warnings issued across the state to keep residents, and animals, safe.

This is in sharp contrast to Southern California’s February mid-60° average. Usually, the difference is not THIS much - 50° to 60° is not that big of a difference, right? The idea of adjusting to occasional extreme weather, and a true four seasons - is just that, an adjustment. A welcomed one and just another part of the adventure that will make up CalOk. Seasonal clothes, here we come.

For now, glad to hear the extreme weather is dissipating and loved ones are safe; and fingers crossed things will return to work-able temperatures so CalOK Manor can resume its build process.

Clear the Way

(Wednesday, January 20, 2021)

First major action: clearing the land! This meant knocking down some trees, cleaning up debris, and burning it all up.

Trees along the parameter and not in the direct way of the build were spared. Even though trees will be replanted during landscaping at the end, it was counterintuitive to lose beautiful trees early on. Welcome to trusting the process!

Secure the Land

Easy to envision trading in beach life for lake life after falling in love with the surrounding area, lake, rolling hills and pace of life.

After picking out the view and lot, with the help of Christina Gnose - the land was purchased for the future vision of CalOk Manor.