Shiny Happy Counters

I cannot tell you how pleased I have been with this company, and how stunning I think these are in our new kitchen. We debated for weeks over what type of countertops to do. Because I'm so tough on a kitchen (read: messy!!) but still so OCD as to cleanliness, these were the perfect solution. You can't hurt them- set a hot pot on them, buff the scratches out with the pad that they provided, and soap and water in between! I can't wait to make my first mess- uh, meal on them!


It took all five of the Specialty Stainless guys plus our contractor to haul in these beautiful things!


Check out the depth of the sink base!



I'm so excited about how easy it's going to be clean up my kitchen from now on. Look, no caulk!




The countertops came in exactly as I imagined them. They have a slightly raised "mariner's edge" to keep liquids from streaming off the ends, and the guys created a perfect radius on all the corners to keep little heads from being bonked.





This beastly floor has been what's been holding up progress for two weeks. It looks great and we are really pleased with the final product. But I had no idea how long they would take! One week was taken up with the installation and this past 5 days has been sanding, staining and coating with poly. Super stinky; it kept me out of the house most days.

End of Week 4

Cabinets are up! (and no longer warehoused in my basement- hallelujah!)


Pantry on the left, drawer units for pots/pans, gas range, microwave, and refrigerator on end.



Sink base, dishwasher, and prep area with extra huge drawers. This will also be a bar top for kiddos to participate in the cooking.




This is my newly expanded pantry and a major reason for the total gut job. You can see where the spackle ends and tell how much space we were able to increase it by. I love keeping all of my dry goods in here versus the cabinets. One glance and you know what you are out of or have too much of.

Hardwoods are being installed next week! I'm hopeful that all the stinky smelly part will be done while we go to visit Aunt Allyson in NC.

Some wacky fun

by a group called Gaelic Storm

THE NIGHT I PUNCHED RUSSELL CROWE

Here's a little story about someone that you know
he was a right famous fella by the name of Russell Crowe
I was workin' at a pub and he was smokin at the bar
and that's a crime as you all know in Cal-if-orn-ia

so I sidled up the rail, right to where he stood
said, sorry Mr. Crowe as nicely as I could
You'll have to put that out now throw it on the floor
and if you don't I'll have to kick you out...show you to the door

He squared right up to me somewhat in surprise
Then he narrowed up his gaze shot me daggers with his eyes
"If you think you're man enough, go ahead" he said
I was scared for me live so I dalked him in the head

The closest I've come to ending up dead
was the night that I punched Russell Crowe
The Gladiator in the head.

He lifted up his hands put them to his nose
blood was running through his fingers dripping on his clothes
His bodyguards ran up, "get him!" shouted Crowe
"Run!", cried Chucky, "run! and don't stop until you get to Mexico!"

The closest I've come to ending up dead
was the night that I punched Russell Crowe
The Gladiator in the head.
The closest I've come to being dead
was the night that I punched Russell Crowe
The Gladiator in the head.

You can't hit me I'm he Cinderella Man,
I'm the Master and Commander, I'm Australian
You can't hit me, don't you know I'm dangerous
I am the outlaw Ben Wade...I AM MAXIMUS!

In the meantime...

We've been eating chocolate...


wherever it may fall.



Getting up close and personal with SuperWhy! at the public library's Festival of Reading.




Camping and hiking with friends over Memorial Day. There's Professor Jeff showing off a crawdad to all interested parties- minus his flesh and blood.






Madeline was mostly interested in how quickly they skitter away. That's my girl!

We've encountered the headquarter's of Murphy's Law here at the house. Before we left for Memorial Day camping, I noticed that the HVAC was out upstairs. A lot of electrical work had been completed that week and I just assumed a wire had gotten crossed. No go. The HVAC is being replaced this week. We've been doctoring it by draining this pan that's been filling up with condensation about every 12 hours. We can either repair it for $500 or replace it's 23 year old carcass. Thank you, Mr. President, for the $1500 tax rebate that made that decision much easier.

Now, last Friday the repairmen who were moving the gas line for the kitchen noticed leaking under the hot water heater. That left me living in fear for the weekend with only a towel as armor. At our last house, our water heater went out on us too. This is how that went down:

Scene: year 2003, Ashley heading out for a girls night.

Ashley: Bye chief, have a good night!
(opens door to the garage, sees a large waterfall that must be traversed to get to car. Notices it must be coming from the water heater at the door's right)
Ashley: (yelling to Jeff) I think the water heater is busted. Gotta go!

Luckily that unit was located in the garage on a concrete slab and simply drained straight to the street. This unit is inside our house, where it could destroy carpet and our new cabinets. We replaced it with a tankless water heater yesterday.

Did I mention that we are about 4 weeks in to a kitchen remodel and I'm six months pregnant? Oh, and it's June and already too hot???

Hi Murphy. Quit rubbing your hands together in glee.

It's Progress....

....just not the terribly exciting kind.

Our half wall is completely removed, and I am thrilled with the openness that it grants between the rooms. Or at least what I can imagine from the ET wall boundary.



Mostly this week has been taken up with drywall, mud, and spackle. I'm told that next step is to install cabinets! Oh, happy day.



The lighting and electrical has been the other big project. We've got 6 new can lights and wiring for undercabinet lighting. The overhead light, can lights, and undercabinet lighting all have their own switch. Don't worry, the boob lamp is on it's way out. I'm still shopping for the new one.

Three weeks into being without a kitchen and it's not been too bad. Many of our friends have been kind enough to take us into their homes for dinners and simple sandwich lunches. I am so grateful! I'm glad that it's been warm enough outside to play and get away from the thump, crash, boom of construction. We are doing our dishes in a plastic tote in the guest bath tub and Jeff and I have been surprised at how just those 15 minutes of an old-fashioned chore give us to really talk to one another. He's been good to cook lots of extra chicken in the smoker, so that I can throw together some quick assembly style meals. Last night, I made chicken salad with toasted walnuts. Okay, I actually put the chicken salad on bread with Monterey Jack cheese and had a melt, but MMMMMMMM! it was good. Thanks be to God for a toaster oven.