Background Details—Day 19

 Tonight, on a "no-forward-progress" day, I will go backward and explain a little about how I came up with what I chose to do in the kitchen.  From the start I wanted it to be in tones of a warm yellow/gold.  And, quite a few months back I saw a set of dishes that were for sale on one of the local internet markets.  I contacted the seller and found out that they lived in Murfreesboro.  Melany lives in Murfreesboro so I enlisted her and Wade to be my go-betweens!  They made the purchase for me...and that is the way that I came up with the tone of yellow that I wanted.  I checked the dishes out when the Proctor's brought them to me, but then wrapped them back up and stored them in a plastic storage tub...except for the one cup and saucer.  And, I knew from the beginning what my inspiration
for the gold was = our gold dishes that we chose as our dishes when we got married.  So the gold was
chosen 50 years ago and the yellow within the last year.

Once I knew that these colors would be somehow in my kitchen, I started picking up paint chip
samples from any store that I went in that sold paint.  When I finally chose the gold paint color, it was one of the official Williamsburg, VA paint colors.

 Now Williamsburg is just about my favorite place to visit...so to have chosen one of the golds used in their restoration made the gold paint even more special.  And, once I chose these paint chips, I never wavered back to any of the others.  I even know which house the paint color had been taken from: the Brush Everard House.  These days I think that they are only calling it the Everard House...but when I went through it it had both names.  Last night I decided to do some research
online...and imagine my delight when I found a document that talks about the restoration of the Brush Everard House and actually showed a sample of the wallpaper that my color was taken from!

It was described in great detail.  And, definitely the color of my gold paint works with the gold in the wallpaper.  I was very pleased to have my research give me such detailed information so easily found!

Woody headed out fairly early this morning to go to church.  They were having what they called "Doorknobs and Donuts."  Folk were going to go and attempt to touch base with the families of the children who don't attend our church, but attended VBS at our church this year.  I'm sure that the ones they found at home were pretty happy to receive a dozen donuts...especially the children.  

A while after Woody came back from visiting, he and I took off to go to Lowe's to get a couple of things that I had been given the task to get by our work crew.  I needed to get the metal strips that transition from two different types of flooring at the door thresholds.  I bought two of those for the 

kitchen into the dining room and the kitchen into the family room.  I didn't get the ones that I will need on down the road as we weren't sure about the color that was best.  And, the other thing that I 

got as a new register cover for the heat/air vent in the floor in the kitchen.  Again, I will need more 

for the other downstairs floors that we are changing, but didn't get them till I checked the color.  I'm 

pleased with the color of the registers.  And...Ta da!  I actually was able to do a little something in the kitchen...I put the new register in!  So that is the only picture I will post of the kitchen today!

I guess it is all in the details...both day to day and looking back over all the iime that I have been planning the kitchen!

(And, I will apologize at how choppy the blog paragraphs get when I add very many pictures.  The iPad and Google don't get along very well at times and once I get so far down in my writing then it goes to centering everything and it doesn't let me go back up and choose to put all lines starting on the left...and when that happens then it jumps back and forth and I can't see what I am typing...so that is my excuse for all the typos!)

Paint and Floor—Day 18

The first thing that our workers did this morning was paint the trim.  And, then painted the ceiling.  I think that he may be planning one more coat on the trim and he has a couple of places to touch up...of course, there may be more places to touch up after the cabinets get placed.  The contractor stopped by this morning to check on things and to pick up any trash that might have been left, but there wasn't any.  Our workers have been very neat.  I was told that the cabinets go in on Monday...sounds good!  After lunch they finished the second coat on the ceiling and then got busy on the floor.  Before they left they taped down paper for a path for us to walk on over the weekend.  I took a quick picture of the floor before they covered it up with paper...but the sun was really coming in the west window and the sunlight was right in the middle of the floor when I snapped the picture.  I am pleased at the present as to how all is going together.  The gold paint will tame down a bit when the cabinets go in...at least I think it will!  If you can see that there is something on the window, I have taped samples of possible honeycomb blinds.  

Woody headed off early to get our groceries before he had an appointment.  After he got home from his appointment he sat down for a couple of minutes and then headed off to run errands with his friend.  That took quite a few hours.  He got home well after lunch.  I had out his lunch in the family room so he could get when he got home.  It was hard to go out in the kitchen today due to so much activity...so I got his lunch out when the workers were at lunch so he could heat it up when he got home.  

But definitely progress has been made on the kitchen this week!  Maybe there is a light at the end of the tunnel!  The appliance salesman called me this morining with good news...there was a sale and my total will be less than what he had quoted me!  Sounded like good news to both of us!  Then he said that all the appliances would arrive this coming week  except for the refrigerator...not the best news, but I think that it will work out okay...it doesn't have to fit into the cabinets that there will be counter top.  I know that they wanted appliances close to the time that the counter goes on.  But all I can say is that it isn't my fault that it might be later than they want...as I ordered it as soon as the contractor told me to. We've also got the Fourth to fit in in the middle of the week. The refrigerator will get here when it gets here and any delay will just have to be worked around! I have a few things to buy at Lowe's before the workers get back.  

Celebrating A Birthday and Paint—Day 17

We celebrated Elijah's tenth birthday today!  Where do the years go?!?

A lot got accomplished in the kitchen today...they finished caulking and spackling, they sanded the walls, taped and masked everything off and then spray painted the walls.  The other big happening today was they fixed part of the floor in the dining room that had rotted out.  We could stand on the ground for a while today in the dining room, but by the end of the day, the problem inside was fixed.  I think that they still have to do something outside but I feel better that the hole that I found unexpectedly one day has now been fixed...I feel much better about what I felt might try to climb in!  I think that problem is taken care of...now to fix the problem that caused it in the first place, but they are on top of it.  I will say that our workers are Jacks of all trades!  And, so far have done very well with whatever task we have presented them with.  Our contractor stopped by to discuss the leak problem and while he was here, he told me to go on and order the appliances.  Tomorrow they plan to paint the trim and paint the ceiling.  After the painting is completed, they will lay the floor.  I was told that we should have a floor before they leave tomorrow!  Cabinets will be next.  Progress is being seen!  I am pleased with the paint color...so far.  I will see tomorrow if I am pleased with the trim color.  

Woody spent time upstairs today both on the laptop and also on the old big computer playing Scrabble.  He also went on a mission to find a present for Elijah and was successful in finding what he wanted to give him.  Not always easy in our small town to know what you want to buy and then actually find it!  And, of course he has been doing some reading.

Our Ship(lap) Has Sailed—Day 16

All the shiplap/nickel gap sailed out kitchen window today...that is all that was leftover.  Thus another phase (3rd) of the kitchen upgrade is finished...all the shiplap/nickel gap is on the walls.  The third phase crew/shiplap crew received word this morning that they were the crew who would continue with the painting, flooring, etc.  The phase 2 team who did the ceiling and were coming back to do the painting are finishing up another job that is just around the corner from us.  And, since they want our work to continue they reassigned the jobs.  Today they did work on fixing our squeaky floor...that was probably caused by Nathan practicing ball bouncing in the wee hours of the morning during his Motlow College days.  When I told the workers probably why the floor squeaked, they were interested in see some juggling.  This morning when they took a break, Nathan and the whole family came out to our front yard and told "The Diamond Story" via their juggling.  The short break was appreciated!  After they got the nickel gap done, they left to gather in supplies that they will need to begin the painting.  They came back and did some caulking while I was working at the library.  They also took my paint chip samples.  I hope they come close to matching what I chose.  They use a different brand of paint than the one that I found that I liked the color for...I have been told that the color can be scanned and a formula figured out.  We will see! It is starting to come together...good to see progress!

Woody headed off to the local farmer's market early this morning and bought some very good corn for us and some for the neighbors.  I headed off mid morning with Joy to get her some new shoes.

She looks happy!  

Our Ship(lap) Has Come In!—Day 15

Phase 3 work team showed up this morning with our nickel gap in tow.  Our contractor calls it nickel gap, but all the workers call it shiplap so for the sake of the blog title tonight, I, too, called it shiplap! I am very pleased to this point.  They almost got it finished.  They just have the sink side of the kitchen and that has the least on it.  They don't cover all the walls with it...just have it in the places that will be seen and not covered by cabinets...mainly the backsplash areas and the two narrow end walls.  This morning I had to approve the crown molding for the cabinets, decide whether to have windowsills, told them that it was okay to cover up where an old electrical outlet had been, height of molding at the floor, etc...so several questions were passed by me today.  They will come in and finish in the morning and then we will be ready for the paint crew, who will be the phase two workers who worked on the ceiling.  It is my hope that they can get the painting of ceiling, walls, and trim done before the Fourth of July holiday and then it will be time after The Fourth to put the cabinets in...maybe?  We will see!  At this point I am very happy with "the look" of the kitchen that is finally starting to show the changes.  Woody's comment is that it looks like outside siding!  And, he is right!  There is still a paint color or two to change the look a bit more.

Woody has spent most of the day in the family room with the door closed.  I asked him if he was feeling a bit confined and he said that he was!  He left to go to the prayer room at church just about the time the workers left for the day.

The workers passed things through the kitchen window today...so we are fighting a few bugs tonight. Just don't like the mosquitoes buzzing my head.  I guess I need to get the bug zapper out and get to work!

A No-Show Day—Day 14

A butterfly like the one pictured flew away today when I opened the back door.  We have a butterfly bush similar to this one outside the back door and I'm guessing that it had been enjoying one of the flowers when I so rudely opened the door. I believe that this is a Spice Bush Swallowtail butterfly...but not absolutely sure...and my resident butterfly expert is at the Monday Night Furnace Room prayer meeting.

Well, no workmen showed up today...sigh...I was so hoping that the ceiling phase (phase 2) would be completed today.  Friday it was indicated that they would be back today to finish...unless...the contractor wanted them someplace else today.  Well, I guess that is what must have happened.  My thoughts are that probably the nickel gap panels still aren't in and since our work couldn't proceed that the workers were needed more someplace else.  At least having that thought in my mind gives the benefit of the doubt in their favor!  I keep reminding myself...PATIENCE!

Yesterday I managed to duplicate with the microwave pretty closely one of the pasta dishes that I make fairly frequently for Woody.  I found out via the Internet how to cook pasta...put pasta in a microwave safe bowl and cover it with water and then cook it on high for three minutes longer than what the box directions say.  In the end I cooked it a bit longer than that and it came out great.  I then just drained it and then added the sauce that I also cooked in the microwave.  Very, very close to what I usually cook on top of the stove.  Nathan said that maybe I wouldn't even want to use the new stove once it gets installed.  Ummmmmm no chance at all of that happening...every day look more forward to the new stove and ovens!

I keep saying that I'm going to sew, but so far just can't get motivated to begin.  I did transfer a couple of embroidery designs to my machine today...a step towards a project that I have in mind.  Woody and I are both doing quite a bit of reading during this renovation time.  Other than some cooking, a little cleaning, keeping up with our wash, there isn't a lot to do inside the house since it so topsy-turvy. Isaac and Joseph did come over and read to me today...don't want them to lose their early reading skills over the summer.  They still aren't at the stage that they pick up something to read...would rather be read to...so we want to have them practice at least some over the summer...just hard to find the time between our workmen and their trips.  Woody continues to put in some time outside weeding and mulching, when the weather cooperates.  Today we had a storm blow in...was rather windy for a while and we had several new branches down in our and Nathan's yards by the time it blew through.  Elijah was helping to pick up the larger ones. He was carrying a large forked branch...would have been a great sling shot for a giant! We seem to be caught in a stormy pattern...seems like we have at least one each day.  The rain is making happy plants. Well, most of them...I think that we have lost one of our rescue plants.

One funny before I close for this blog:  Yesterday Joseph (5) was counting to four in Spanish to his daddy.  It went something like this, so I heard: "uno, dos, tres, TACO!  Keep smiling!

Cicada Lesson—Day 12

This is the back tire on our green Taurus.  It may be hard to see but there are three cicadas clinging to the tire in three stages of their lives.  If you click on the photo you will be able to see them.  I will show pictures of them individually as I continue on in the blog.

This is a photo of one where the cicada is still inside of its hard shell...you can see the green cacada through the shell.

Here is the cicada out of its shell.  It was still drying out and getting ready to move on its travels...probably to go somewhere so it can serenade us.  If you don't know what I am talking about when I say serenade then you haven't ever lived here in the South!  There is a certain time each evening when the cicadas all get together and their hum/buzz is very noticeable.  I know when my parents were visiting here from Arizona that they noted that they started in with their "song" every evening at about the same time.  And,it is very loud!

And, here is the empty shell.  We find these clinging to things all over the yard at this time of the year.  This was the first time we have found them clinging to the tires.  The children like to collect them and then surprise a friend or sibling by putting them onto their clothing.  They cling with their little brittle shell feet!

I guess since there was nothing new to tell about the kitchen, I decided to give you a little lesson about these interesting critters.  Every seven or so years there is a bumper crop of these critters...perhaps this is the year?!?

We have had a pretty much ”do nothing" kind of day...at least I have.  This kitchen renovation has me so out of routine that I just sort of move from one place to another not accomplishing much!  I have done some wash...both clothing and dishes.  I have read a little.  Well, after sYing that...I will 

say that I did accomplish a major something...I met my goal of reading through the Bible this year 

and did it in a little under six months.  

Woody went to the libaray for his usual Saturday visit.  He has done a little in the garden, but showers keep popping up.  He has done a lot of reading today, too. 

We have now been without a kitchen for 12 days...and are wondering how many more, but it doesn't look like we will have one any day soon unless by some miracle!

Sanded and Primed—Day 11

Just realized that tonight's photo is a bit blurry...I think that you can grt thr gist that the ceiling is now white!  The phase 2 crew came this morning and sanded the ceiling and then put a coat of primer on.  Hopefully Monday they will come back and sand again and then put the first cost of paint on....I guess let it dry for an allotted time and then come back and do the second coat.  They told me today that they are working on another house nearby so it works out well to back and forth between the two.  The ceiling definitely looks good to this point.  Tonight's picture also shows the new cord that I bought for our wall phone...I know "no one has corded phones these days...but we still do and will continue to do so.  The new phone also came, but I'm going to wait to hang it up till remodeling mess is finished and no more construction dust is flying about!

I got up this morning and set to work on making chicken noodle soup in my crockpot.  It was ready for Woody's lunch by the time Woody got back from running errands with his friend who has no transportation.  While I was still putting the soup together he went to the grocery store for us.  So he had a busy day of shopping today!  He had also spent a lot of time outside on this longest day of the year weeding and mulching!  Happy Summer!  And, it has felt like summer today...hot and humid!  We have storms heading our way later this evening.  We are under a severe thunderstorm watch...meaning that conditions are right for one...and I can see the storm approaching on the radar.

Kathy and their oldest four arrived home safely after spending the week at Student Lifr Camp.  It was
Esther's first time to go to the youth camp and she came home full of tales!  She and I and her kitties spent some time on our front porch while she told me all about it.  She definitely had a great time!  And, Kathy did too...now the other three...well, I haven't heard from them as they were napping when Esther was talking to me.  Esther said that she slept the whole way home so she wasn't sleepy...but that the others hadn't so they went to sleep shortly after they got home.

Another Mudding Layer—Day 10

Not a lot changed today...the phase 2 mudding/ceiling crew arrived with a message from the phase 3 nickel gap and trim crew.  The message was that they were having to wait on the nickel gap to get here...so we won't see that crew till it arrives.  I am hoping that the ceiling crew will find in the morning that the mudding is dry enough to sand and paint.  Running the fan in the kitchen has helped to get the mud to dry.

Woody has spent a lot of time weeding...again taking advantage of the rain that we have had over the last few days.  We had more today.  He is weeding and mulching the large garden that borders our driveway.

After lunch, Donna and I worked in the church library for a couple of hours.  New books were entered and we worked some more on the overdue list.  A productive afternoon.

My only cooking of the day...well, other than eggs for our breakfast...was to make a cruet of Woody's salad dressing.  Main challenge was to find all the herbs that were needed!  But I have pretty much figured out where most things are now...at least things that I have used rather often in the last ten days!  Tomorrow will be a new challenge...attempting to use the crock pot to make chicken noodle
soup.  I already have some chicken in the freezer that is cooked and cut into pieces so I won't need to actually cook chicken while making it...just need to get the veggies and noodles cooked acceptably.  All I can do is try!  Let's just say that I will be sooooooo ready when our new stoves is plugged in and  ready to use!  Still just a dream, though!

More Mud Plus Spacers—Day 9

This is the 9th day since kitchen renovation started...but only the 7th of actual renovation days. This morning the third phase crew showed up around 7:30 (earliest to arrive of the work crews so far).  They were here to measure the kitchen for the nickel gap boards that we are putting on the walls and using as the back splash.  Not long after they left to go get their supplies, the 2nd phase crew showed up to put on the second coat of mud on the ceiling.  They wanted to get in and out before the nickel gap crew showed back up!  A while after the mudding crew left, the nickel gap crew came back.  Today they have put up boards that will act as spacers behind the cabinets...so the cabinets won't go back too far where there isn't nickel gap. We haven't seen the nickel gap yet.  But at least we have a couple of crews working and the work hasn't come to a standstill due to the mud not drying quickly.

We have had more rain today...so excessive humidity is hanging around!  The mudders have one more layer and then it will be time for them to sand the ceiling and then paint it.  Once nickel gap and the trim are in place, then it will be time to paint the walls and trim.  I talked with the female member of the phase 2 crew about the colors that I have picked out and she thought that they would look on the walls and trim the way that I want them to look.  So time will tell!

Woody and Nathan headed off this morning to get gas for our two cars.  Then after lunch, Woody took one of his Deacon Family Care members to a doctor appointment.  The rest of the day he has pretty much holed up in "his" room on the other side of the kitchen door listening to drills and hammers, etc.  I am presently cooking the rest of the chicken that I started cooking yesterday.  I will say that the specialized kitchen appliances that we have are coming in handy.  The air fryer is doing a great job with the chicken.   I had a delicious panini grilled cheese and bacon sandwich the other day using the George Foreman-style grill and, also, the microwave to do the bacon.  When I reheated the chicken, I first heated it in the microwave and then popped it into the toaster oven on the broil setting to crisp it back up.  All kinds of tricks!  And, we definitely aren't starving!

Too Spongy—Day 8

The phase 2 work crew came this afternoon and declared the mudding still not dry...still spongy...so we wait till tomorrow to see if they can do the next step in the mudding.  I guess this is one of the places that were mentioned where the work slows waaaay down!  This whole renovation process seems to be a lesson in patience!  The only change in the kitchen is that the phase 1 work crew came and picked up some of their tools so there is less along the wall...the only addition is the box fan that I borrowed from Nathan hoping that it would encourage the drying.  I figure that it can't hurt.

I spent the night next door with the two youngest boys.  I slipped over her early this morning while they were still asleep to make sure that Woody was up and getting ready to head out.  He had an appointment with his infectious disease doctor at Vanderbilt.  We had pretty much decided last week that I wouldn't go with him this time since the kitchen renovation had started and that one of us needs to be here to let workers in and answer any questions that they might have.  Then when I found out about Elijah's camping sleepover and the need for someone to stay with the little boys, that cinched the fact that I wasn't going to go.  His appointment was a very quick one today...in and out.  She seemed pleased with how he is doing and she will take him off one of the antibiotics in three months.

This afternoon I spent quite a while cooking chicken in our air fryer...it is possible...and, the chicken turned out quite well.  I was glad that I had made it in the air fryer once before and had left instructions in my recipe app on how to do it!  It looked good enough that Nathan didn't turn down some for his and the three boys for their supper.  Elijah was looking pretty tired late this afternoon...feeling the effects of the late hour he got to sleep at his camping sleepover. Sounds like they had a really good time...kayaking, swimming, fishing, hiking, etc. And, Nathan was very glad that it didn't rain till early this morning.  It has rained off and on throughout the day—one reason the mudding on the ceiling is having a hard time drying.  I think that I am hearing rain on the roof once again.  Well, I guess I will go wash my dishes...all this cooking and cleaning up improvising may get old before we have a kitchen once again...but so far the improvising is working!

Mud and a Staycation—Day 7

Our renovation crew, they were new workers for what I'm calling "phase 2," came after lunch and did the first part of mudding the ceiling.  They will come back tomorrow afternoon to see if it is dry enough to do the next layer.  I was told that it probably will not be dry enough until the day after tomorrow.  We will just have to be patient!  There was a lady on this crew and she was very glad to find out she didn't have to take off the wallpaper!  I guess that is one of the "dread jobs!" 

This morning Kathy and Graham, Abigail, Joy, and Esther headed off for Student Life Camp for the rest of the week.  Then early afternoon Nathan and Elijah and several of Elijah's friends headed off in their camper for a camping sleepover celebrating Elijah's upcoming 10th birthday.  Isaac and Joseph and I are having a "staycation!"  The treat for them is that they can have some screen time and they are thrilled with that privilege because...the family is having a "screen fast" for the whole summer = no screens at all...well, phones but not for playing games, etc.  So getting to have screens a little this afternoon and a little tomorrow made the staying home not seem like a punishment!  They could hardly wait for everyone to head off down the road!  

Besides screens we have played the board game Sorry.  Isaac was the first winner, Joseph was the second winner and Grammy was the third winner aka big loser!!   Once the sun went down and it was a bit cooler, the boys and I went to the public library.  We walked the story walk and I read them the story.  Then we went in the library and the boys chose some books and checked them out with their own library cards.  I'm letting them have a little more screen time while I write the blog.  Woody went to the Monday night Furnace Room Prayer Meeting.  Woody is reading bedtime stories to the boys.

Just Us—Day 5

Today has just been us...no workers...which is what I expected.  I debated on whether to give the day a number, but I decided that it was a day without a kitchen so it counted! Nathan and Graham came over and got the dishwasher.  We are hoping that we can find someone who is in need of one rather than just throwing it out.  I went in search of how old it was and like most things...we had had it longer than I realized...since 2003.  BUT it really is in good condition and I really liked it...just wanted all the appliances to match since we were going to all the trouble of remodeling the kitchen.  The one point that probably the dishwasher has in its favor...we have never run it with the drying setting.  We always air dried the dishes...so that element hasn't been worn out...also just being the two of us we rarely ran it every day.  Anyway, I think that it has some more years in it.  We will see if anyone else thinks thus!

We changed the AC filters today figuring that we needed to get rid of what dust had filtered through in the first four days of renovation and can do it again shortly!  Nathan put in the one that is overhead at the head of the stairs.  And, Woody took the washable one out and hosed it down good and got it dry in the sun.  So new filters are in place.  I vacuumed some more and dusted a bit.  I also vacuumed off the pillows on the front porch and sat out there for a while.  It was a warm day, but in the shade of the porch and with the breeze that was blowing, it was very pleasant.  Isaac spent time with us.  He was planning an upcoming sleepover with us that he and Joseph are going to have.  Joseph came over for a while, too.  Joy and Esther made their presence known also...they painted a bit, as did Isaac, and Joy also started a sewing project making a bag of some sort.  I was taking an afternoon siesta during part of their activity!

Woody made his weekly trek to the library.  This evening I managed to cook hamburgers on the George Foreman-type grill.  While I made a few more than the two for our supper so all we have to do the next time is heat them up.  The dishes have been done for this evening.  I will be ever so glad to have my kitchen work triangle back...this going from one place to another in the house looking for utinsels and then preparing in one room and then cooking in another is for the birds!

Tonight's barn has been seen on the blog previously...but it has a part in the kitchen renovation which will be revealed later!

Plumbing and Ceiling—Day 4

This morning they got busy and finished the last of the electric work...we just thought that they were done yesterday!  Then they worked on getting a waterline to the the other side of the room for our new refrigerator so we can have ice made by the fridge for the first time.  No more ice trays?!?  Well, I may keep a couple for emergency...but most are going bye-bye!  I guess they sprung some kind of leak on the sink side...I didn't realize it because I was upstairs...but Woody told me about it after the fact.  All seems to be high and dry at the moment...except for the hose on the dishwasher.  We didn't let them haul off the dishwasher as I know that someone can use it as it still should have some years of use left in it.  So if any one nearby knows of anyone in need of a dishwasher we would love to
have them have this one! We still have the old refrigerator in the kitchen which I am thankful for.

After the electric and plumbing was taken care of,(oh, and they did go under the house to run the waterline instead of overhead) they got underway with putting up the sheet rock on the ceiling...no more holes or trenches...at least that we can see.  When they left today, they told Woody that two other workers would take over to finish the ceiling and I think do the walls and perhaps the painting.  This week's crew will be back when it is time to lay the floor.  So I think that will be after the cabinets are in place.  Oh, and the dumpster got taken away today...so I guess that was progress, too!

Woody did his usual Friday errands for us and then with his friend.  He was gone most of the morning.  I started cleaning out the sunroom and laundry room.  Those have to be cleaned out to have new flooring, also.  As do the three bathrooms...I'm so glad that there isn't a lot to have to clear out of the bathrooms.

Today the work crew said that they were really enjoying working on our kitchen because they could tell that it was going to be used.  They said that so many that they do, the kitchen is hardly ever used, but that the owners eat out most of the time and don't utilize the improvements in their kitchen.  I can guarantee that ours will be used...and, that I am looking forward to it being finished very much!  Tonight I cooked on our little George Foreman-type grill.  It worked, but...would have been so much easier on the new stove top!  I have a dishwashing station set up in the bathtub!  A small plastic tub for washing the dishes in and our dish drainer sitting next to it.  It works...but my knees will be happy when I can stand up at our new sink!  But we're not starving nor are we eating badly...so I think that we should survive how many weeks that it might take.  I still haven't asked when they think it will be finished...mainly so I won't be disappointed if that date comes and goes! Today our under-the-sink water filter arrived in the mail and one of the workers looked at so he would know how it is attached. He said it looked like it would attach easily and that they wouldn't need any other parts.  So that box
is now stacked on top of the water faucet box.  I did ask the subcontractor today when he guessed the appliances would be needed and he thought maybe in a week and a half or so.  I'm guessing that we won't see any workers until Monday, but I might be surprised...someone will be here if by chance they do come tomorrow.

Switches and Outlets—Day 3

I heard the workers say that the electrical work was done!  We have lots of new outlet and switch plates...LOTS!  I have been away most of the day so missed most of the renovation action today.  Woody sat in his chair watching the progress or outside weeding the gardens.

I went out to breakfast with friends.  We had lots to talk about from weddings to upcoming vacations to kitchen renovation!  We filled in quite a few hours visiting and catching up.  Always fun to get together.  Just before I left I made decisions for the outlet and switch plate for color and types...had no idea there was much of a choice!  I never paid attention that sometimes the plug place is rounded and sometimes square!  I got rounded as we have that style in the rest of the house.  And, I did switch to white because our motion sensitive switch that Nathan put in for us is white and also our new phone is probably going to be white.  So more decisions made.  I made those decisions before I left and when I got back they had all been changed and new plugs had been added and one had been moved that would have been covered up by the new pantry.  The next job was to move on to getting a water line over to the other side of the kitchen for the refrigerator...we had never had our refrigerator icemaker connected because we didn't have a water source.  I was surprised to see them cut out an opening in the current ceiling to run the water source through there.  That task was left to be completed when they return tomorrow.  Woody has been surprised as to how much electrical work has gone on.  I'm still amazed that it has all gotten underway!  Today while I was gone, the contractor stopped to check on things as well as the person in charge of the two workers who are working.  So we have been a bit like Grand Central Station today...lots of folk coming and going.

A little after I got home, I headed off to get my hair cut...didn't forget this time!  After the workmen left today, Woody suggested that I vacuum up some of the inevitable white dust.  They lay down a tarp between the kitchen and the front door so they won't track too much...but some of that dust was getting tracked into the family room.  So I vacuumed the dining room, kitchen, and family room.  We decided that it would be good to mop up what wouldn't come up in the kitchen to lesson the dust at the moment.  And, that did help...till they start work tomorrow!  I heard that they may be able to start work on the ceiling tomorrow once they get the water line run.  Here at the end, I'll post a picture of the tuneling that they have done in the ceiling and walls.

And, There Was Light—Day 2

When I titled tonight's blog, I thought about the creation account in the Bible...but light was day one!

Another very productive work day on the kitchen.  All the cabinets have been removed.  They also worked on the plumbing for the sink and then electrical wiring for lights AND got the can lights all in.  Boy is it bright in their now.

I went on a mission today to find a pendant light for over the sink.  That hadn't been in my original plans, but when I realized that there would be no light directly over the sink, I got to wondering what we could do.  The contractor suggested a pendant light.  So I headed out after lunch and found one, bought it, brought it back home, and the workers got it the right length.  They needed it purchased so they would know where to put it in the ceiling.  Another decision made and completed...my part completed...they just have to put it in.  I also ordered the cold water filter that will go under the sink.  Still waiting on being told when to order the appliances!

By the way, the blue checkered wall paper is the wall paper that was on the walls when we moved in. Memories are literally popping out of the walls!  Most everything has a thin coating of dust on it after they drilled put holes for the can lights.  

Woody remembered his appointment at the oconology clinic here in Tullahoma...unlike me and my haircut appointment yesterday.  He had a late morning appointment and it was the quickest that he has ever gotten through there.  This is where he gets his shot for anemia and also his B-12 shot once a month.  This week has really been something for appointments...my iPad calendar has something on every day this week.  No wonder my head seems to be spinning...especially with the renovation beginning!

Woody worked out in the yard pulling weeds for a while today.  He ended stopping due to rain.  I had hoped to do a little sewing while the renovation is going on, but so far that hasn't happened.  I was glad that I did a load of wash last night and that I had washed our few dirty dishes prior to the workmen coming this morning.  It wasn't very far into the morning that they turned off the water with no warning.  I knew that they would be but just not when and figured that they would give us a heads up...but no!  So I ended up taking our water pitcher over to Nathan's to fill it so we would have some water to drink.

As I said, all the old cabinets have now been taken out.  Here is a picture of the current fill line of the dumpster:

Out With the Old...Day 1

Look what "magically happened in my kitchen today! 

Woody and I headed out the door a little before seven this morning, as I had my six-month check-in with my personal care physician.  Her office is 45 minutes away.  Not long after we got back home I got a call from our contractor's office saying that the contractor and one of his workman wanted to come by so he could show him what is going to be done.  As they were leaving, they asked if it would be okay for the worker and some other workers to come back with the dumpster and some tools in a little while.  I wasn't going to argue with that!  And, when they got here I found out that they had several hours and wanted to get underway...if it was okay wih me!  Again, no arguing on my part!

They were able to save two of the upper cabinets so Nathan can use them.  I don't think that I have 

shared, but Nathan has a new job.  He is going to be the new director for the Baptist Collegiate 

Ministry (BCM) center at Motlow Community College...our local community college.  For those of you who are familiar with this ministry on college campus...it is what used to be Baptist Student Union (BSU).  This is a part time job for him.  He is a product of the Motlow BSU/BCM so he should feel right at home!  He plans to use these cabinets that were salvaged in the BCM center...he has quite a few plans that he is having fun working on prior to his new position starting up in August.  So he is having fun salvaging wood pieces from the dumpster.  

I got so involved in the wreckage, that I forgot to go for my haircut.  Woody remembered about a half 

hour too late!  I called and apologized and rescheduled for later in the week.  Too much going on 

today, I guess.

I will keep updating as things progress.  They will be back in the morning to finish getting out the sink side of the base cabinets.  They didn't want to mess with the side with plumbing at the end of the 

day so will start on that when they are fresh in the morning.

Now...for a tale of small town living...when I was introduced to the two new crew members, I thought that I recognized him...so I said "don't I recognize you?" He said that he thought that he went to school with my son.  Then he tells me his name...and, yes, he went to school with Nathan...Burton top of that I taught his two children at Montessori.  Very small world in a very small town!  I like knowing the workmen on a job like this!  I think it makes it easier to communicate with them when you already have some common ground.  

Progress...At Least For Me!

Every cabinet...top and bottom...EMPTY!!!  I even had Nathan come over this morning and pull the refrigerator out so I could sweep and mop the floor in that space.  I wanted it clean before they get ready to lay the new floor.  They won't be taking the floor up, just putting it on top...well they will be putting a board of some kind on top on existing floor and then laying the new floor...I think.  I didn't want to have lumps and bumps of dirt under the new floor.  When we did the floor prior to this I did it realize that they wouldn't remove the old floor and I had scraped wall paper off and the floor was a mess and unbeknownst to me they put the new floor on top of all the mess!  That always bothered me...so at least this time I know that the layer directly under the new will be clean.

I still have things on the counter and on the kitchen table...things that we are still using and I figure that I can have them off quickly if the workers show up magically...about the magically...I haven't gotten a call yet to tell me what day!  Still being patient?!?  The living room has become the holder of LOTS of kitchen items.  I can still get to the items that we need...as the kitchen hasn't closed...at least not yet! Yesterday afternoon I made two meatloaves and put them in the freezer.  I still plan to cook a few hamburger patties and freeze them...but I think that I am through for the day.

This afternoon Esther came over to give us her and Joy's softball pictures for this season and we talked "cats!"  She does love her kitties!  Then somehow we got off onto social studies that she will be doing in 7th grade...not her favorite subject...I don't think!  I mentioned how much she had travelled and that most kids haven't been on three of the continents...that most just had to go on pictures that they see, but that she has actually seen so much both in Africa and Europe and so much of North America due to their travels.  She mentioned something about Poland and I pulled up a map and she wanted to know if we zoomed in if we could see the rivers, etc.  I told her not on the map we were looking at, but on Google Earth we could.  We had the best time going to all different places all over the world and zooming in and being able to see parts in 3-D.  We ended up in Disney World and she showed me the rides, shows, etc. that she enjoyed while in their latest family adventure.  It was a fun learning time!  I hope that she will remember Google Earth when she is studying the continents this year in 7th grade!

Woody has done quite a bit of weeding in the big flower garden that straddles the two Dorrell property lines.  He is taking advantage of the ground being softer after all the rain we got.  We got quite a bit more rain yesterday.  So it definitely made his weeding easier.

Woody is at the Monday night Furnace Room prayer meeting right now.  I'm ready to sit and read.  And, I'm sure that Woody will be ready to sit and read when he gets home...another quiet evening in this Dorrell household.

Still Raining!

We have actually had quite a few downpours since yesterday.  Really good soaking rain, too.  Nice to hear the rain on the roof after a three week dry spell.

Woody went to the library in the rain.  He got more books from the author that he is enjoying at the moment.  I finished an e-book and am almost finished with a "real" book (book you can hold in your hand and turn pages!).  I have also continued to empty things in the kitchen...did not hear from the contractor so still don't know what day they will begin.  But figure that I had better be ready in case they just show up.  I have left the drawers till the last so started emptying them today.  I'm trying to keep handy things that we use the most and then have the other cooking utinsels where I can get to them if I need them.  We'll set up a little cooking station in the family room using our small kitchen dropleaf table. We can put the microwave and other items on it.

I have spent quite a bit of time cooking today...figure that I won't have to do much cooking other than warming food up for most of the rest of the week .  I thought that I might freeze some of what I made today, but in the end decided that we will just eat on this till it is gone and then come up with something else after that.  With Woody's strict diet we can't very easily do convenience foods during this renovation time.  If necessary I can do a little cooking next door.  I may make a meat loaf tomorrow and cook some hamburger patties...both those will freeze well and we can pull them out when needed.  Then there are salads, fruit, veggies, etc. that can fill in the chinks as well.  Not sure when we will lose the refrigerator.  At that point we will have to put things next door in Nathan and Kathy's freezer and fridge.

Speaking of next door...they are home.  They have been gone for just about two weeks.  They had a family vacation along with a couple of ministry opportunities on their way home from the vacation.  They pulled in late this afternoon.  With big smiles still on their faces after going to Disney World for the first time as a family...the children had never gone before.  We had taken Melany and Nathan many years ago.  Not sure if Kathy had been before or not.  They had a marvelous time.  They all discovered their love for roller coasters (didn't get that love from me!).

Finally...A Real Rain!

We finally got some really good rain today and our gardens are much happier.  I decided to go out and take a picture using my iPad to use in tonight's blog and when I headed to the garden so did a couple of my friends!  So I decided to include Peaches and some balloon flowers in tonight's photo.

Woody headed off early this morning to do our weekly grocery shopping.  I put away what he bought when he got home.  It rained really hard while he was away and he ended up getting home in a downpour,  he waited till it let up to head out on his second errand Friday errand trip...the one where he takes his friend who doesn't have transportation to do what he needs to do...groceries and other errands.

I continued to attempt to get ready for our kitchen remodel to get underway sometime next week.  I had hoped to hear today what day they would start...but didn't.  Very much doubt that I will hear tomorrow so will still be in the dark about next week,  I will just figure that it won't start on Monday if I don't hear from then!  I took down things from the walls in the dining room today and relocated things.  I will never find everything when this is all over!  I did carefully move my large Loara Standish sampler upstairs along with the floor stand.  I have it tucked away in the guest room...the farthest room from renovation activities...well, except for the new floor in the bathroom right next to the guest room.  Hard to get things too far away from where things will be happening.  But the tearing down of cabinets won't be happening near it.  I still have to move the spoon collection and cup and saucer collection.  I made room for those on a couple of other end tables today.  Lots of shifting of "things!" I vacuumed part of the upstairs before I moved things.  I have the stepladder in place for me to climb up to place the model of the USS Constitution that my grandfather built on top of the bookcase in the school room...hard enough to keep it dusted when it is on the mantel under normal dusty conditions...don't want to have to remove construction dust from it!  That job is a two-man job as Woody carries the ship upstairs and I carry the stand and climb the ladder and place the stand and receive the ship when Woody hands it off to me.  Waiting for Woody to be ready to help.  When I mentioned it to him, he didn't have shoes on...so I just told him to tell me when he is ready.  Wonder if he even remembers that conversation!  I will mention it again tomorrow if he hasn't initiated the moving of the ship to higher ground!  Something that I did today that didn't have anything to do with the kitchen was get my closet late spring/summer ready.  I still have a couple of things to move out of my closet, but want to handwash them first...the moving of those may be delayed till I am in the mood to do that! But not today!

Woody has had a cooking afternoon.  He made Italian Cauliflower and "his" slaw (really your recipe,
Connie) recipe...one that has a cooked oil and vinegar dressing versus a mayonnaise dressing.

We have both been reading today.  The TV has entertained Woody some and I have watched a couple of HGTV shows on my iPad. A good rainy day to watch TV, read...and perhaps nap a little!  The sun did come out for a bit before sunset.  I did hear a rumble of thunder when I went out to take tonight's photo...so I don't know if there is more coming in or not.  But I will say we were very glad to get such
 a good rain today.

It's a Start!

We have gotten some drizzles of rain...so we have a start on replenishing some of the much needed moisture for our yards, gardens, etc. We finally got enough to come down that the whole street got wet including the places that are heavily shrouded with tree branches.  It is supposed to rain harder over the next few days.

It has been a stay in day for me.  Woody did venture out and got a hair cut.  But the rest of the day he has stayed inside too.  I have been trying to work on putting things away that are out on end tables and shelves that probably don't need to be exposed to construction dust. I had been wanting to put away some of the dolls that I have that I  inherited from my Aunt Lois.  That meant going into a closet and taking out items so I could get back to the boxes that I store them in.  I ended up doing that today.  I only left out three dolls...two that I sew for and have some plans to do some sewing for them so left them out.  The rest got tucked away for a much deserved rest!  I realized today that I probably need to take down my spoon collection and my cup and saucer collection as they are on walls that will be jarred by construction.  I keep thinking of more and more things that need to be moved or tucked away...and there is just so many places left to tuck things away!!  Pretty soon we won't be able to move around in the rooms that we are occupying! I also need to find a safe place for my Loara Standish sampler that resides in a prominent place in the dining room...definitely too close to construction mess.  I just keep moving and rearranging things!  Not sure that I am accomplishing much!

Today has been a day to communicate with friends and family who are traveling.  Talked with my sister and she shared that her granddaughter was home safely from a school trip to D.C. and New York City. Talked with ones winging their way to Seattle on their way to cruise to Alaska, some
heading New York way with a bus tour group, and some heading "sort of" toward's their home after a week in Florida...in a round about way. Must be summer with all the travelers communicating with me! And, here we sit waiting on more rain and renovation to start!  Guess we are settling in for a "staycation!"

Will Wonders Never Cease?

Mid morning the phone rang...Woody answered it and called upstairs that it was for me.  Surprisingly enough it was the contractor's assistant.  And, her words were what I have been waiting to hear!  They will start taking out the cabinets this coming week.  They will call me back at the end  of the week to tell us what day they will start.  Gulp!  I guess it is REALLY going to happen.

I did do some more removing things from the cabinets and drawers.  And, have been planning in my head just the best way to exist during the renovation time.  Things like where to put the microwave and what I might be able to prepare ahead of time for us to eat.  And, how to use up what we have in the refrigerator so there will be less things to have to put in the fridge and freezer next door.  Anyway, my mind is working over time!

This morning I went to work in the library.  I'm the only one going in this week so decided to work this morning as there was a possibility of rain this afternoon and then a better chance tomorrow.  The rain this afternoon was only a drizzle...hopefully tomorrow will bring the needed drinks for our plants.  Boy is the air thick with humidity this evening...hope some drops can be squeezed out of that wet, heavy air!  I did some deadheading of my flowers today and a good soaking would really help them.

Woody has been doing a lot of reading.  He picked up a book of an author that he likes a week ago and ended up reading it so quickly that he stopped by the library on Monday returned the one he had
read and got a couple more by the same author.  He has already read one of those and is well on his
way through the second one.  Between the TV and his book, I'm sure that he will be quietly occupied this evening.

Twiddling Thumbs

I'm really not sure what I have accomplished today!  It has been one of those days of doing a little of this and a little of that.  Worked a little in the kitchen first thing this morning.  Then I came upstairs and hunted online for some things that I want for the kitchen...eventually...when it is finished.  I have been putting items in online shopping carts to "save for later."  By doing that I can go back and choose what I really want when the time comes.  I guess it is my way of dreaming about the kitchen while I sit here twiddling my thumbs waiting!  I finished an e-book last night and tried to get the next book in the series but checked out an audio version of the book instead.  Well, I have listened to it off and on while I have been planning a sewing project or two...never got beyond the planning. I did spend some time hunting for embroidery designs in my computer files.  Anyway, I have ended up filling in my day with a little of this and a little of that along with some napping.

Woody has done his usual daily things like reading, crossword puzzles, some looking at things on the computer, Sunday School lesson planning, TV watching, watering plants, etc. He did venture out and delivered some church literature to one of his Deacon family care families.

I guess all in all it has been a relaxing day.  I enjoyed not having to do anything specific or go any where.  I like stay-at-home days!  This week is a bit different than others we have experienced lately...absolutely no doctor appointments here in town or out of town.  That is a nice change of pace.
Next week and the next we will once again be heading off to appointments, but nice for a week's respite!

Fulfilling My Grammy Duties

I'm late blogging tonight because I got elected, by process of elimination, to go to a softball meeting. Kathy and Nathan were out of pocket and Woody had Furnace Room Prayer meeting...so it fell to me to attend a middle school girls' softball team meeting.  I was sort of a fish out of water...but I guess I got the information needed.  Esther is on what they are calling the "B" team.  They are going to work with the "B" team pretty much like they work with the varsity and junior varsity teams.  Should be good for improvement of softball skills and a better chance for her to make the team next year when they have tryouts.

I got up this morning and decided that it would be a cooking day.  I decided that I wanted a pasta dish that Woody isn't supposed to eat...one with tomatoes in the sauce...so I made one pasta dish for me and another for Woody.  Made mine before lunch and his after lunch...kept me busy for several hours.

Woody helped me with some of the cooking dishes...and the dishwasher helped with the rest!  He visited with one of his Deacon Care families this afternoon.  Then he and I drove across town so I would know where the ball field was for tonight's meeting.  I have lived her for 50 years and had never seen the middle school on the other side of town!  And, he didn't know where the softball field was so we both saw new territory in a Tullahoma today!  I found out that the softball field at the middle school is THE softball field for the high school girls' softball field...which is shared with the middle school girls.

June Has Arrived

Another sign of June...the cone flowers are beginning to bloom.  Today has been a cooler day with a breeze and lower humidity.  Woody did some watering of various plants in our gardens.  He also went to the library...his usual Saturday "adventure."  I have had a pretty lazy Saturday.  I have done a little of this and a little of that around the house...a very little!  I have done a lot of reading as I have three good books underway...well, I had two going and then Woody brought me home another from his trip to the library and I decided to read it too.  So I'm reading a chapter out of one and then a chapter out of another and... Well, that is, until I get deeper into the book that involves a mystery and so for the last little bit I have been continuing in it and not going back and forth between the other two.  The mystery is the one that is due the soonest so probably good for me to get that one read before it gets taken back into cyberspace!  I did cook another rack of ribs.  Woody found a rack at the store yesterday that didn't have a salt solution put into it...so I cooked this one for him to enjoy and not get the salt. It really is hard to find meat that doesn't have aditives...especially salt in some form or another in it. I do the ribs with a dry rub of many herbs and spices and cook it slowly in the oven.  They really are good cooked this way.  Even though I mainly cooked this for Woody to enjoy, I
couldn't resist eating a rib or two and getting my fingers good and greasy!  I did get the hem done in my last t-shirt this morning.  First thing this morning, I did change the blank ink cartridge so Woody could print out his crossword puzzle this morning...yesterday he had to do his puzzles on the computer screen, but he prefers doing them on paper.  So he was a happy camper this morning to be back to doing them the good ol' fashioned way!