Day 73 April 28

So after today’s work I have a little more understanding and empathy for David doing this kind of work two days in a row. My back, knees, quads, and finger tips are killing me! But more progress was made today!! With the last pale of glue we had, David and I managed to finish the mudroom, kitchen, and continued a few slats into the dinette. It looks and feels great! Heathens we are, but we chose to skip church this Sunday and start working around 8:30. With only a lunch break we worked until about 5 and called it a day after that.

I felt like we completed a lot, but it seemed to take forever! What I thought made it the most difficult was how easy it was to get glue everywhere, so you were constantly wiping your hands or boards to keep the spread somewhat controlled. We used blue painters take to keep the boards from shifting, and added some extra weight to spots that wanted to bow up. It was a successful day that left us both battered, bruised and sore, but was quickly remedied with some pizza, beer and a movie :o)

On a side not, at the end of the night I came down stairs to find a HUMUNGOUS spider in our foyer!!! YUCK! AH! PEE IN MY PANTS!! Well not that last one, but I did do a little wiggle dance while calling for David to get his butt over here and kill it for his terrified/pathetic wife who was 50 ft away (but I still had an eye on it in case it wanted to flee). He came to my rescue and killed the SOB with his shoe. I think it was God trying to be funny and put me back in my place when I start to feel really confident in myself and my ability to do just about anything. Funny God… real funny.

The remains. Look at the size of those legs!!! BLAHHHH!!

Day 72 April 27

The cement stones were for high spots

Let there be floor!!!! It looks beautiful! David and Ben kicked ass and got as much done as they could. When I left for training, Ben had arrived and him and David were already breaking into the flooring boxes, getting measurements and making cuts. It was going to be a perfect day outside so we had taken the table out on the deck and that’s where they set up the table saw to make cuts. Did I mention it was seven in the morning? Ben is nuts and David and I couldn’t love/appreciate him more for that :o)

Ben had to leave around 1:30 and after that David pretty much crashed. By the time I came home around 2:30, I found David on his hands and knees in his boxers wiping down the planks where there were glue smudges. He looked and sounded exhausted. He said he was tired from the beginning so to get through as much as they did he was pleased. They got about ¾ of the mudroom and kitchen space completed, and came out a little into the dinette. They went through one pale of glue and little of the second, so my only concern is how much more we’ll need. I know the second won’t be enough, but hopefully we’ll only need one more total.

After David cleaned up a bit he tried to continue to work around the yard. I say “tried” because every movement was preceded by “OH! Ouch! Grunt…owwww!” So after I installed our new printer, I forced him to at least take a load off and lay down a bit since we were having friends over that night. Initially he was resistant but once he was off his feet he was soaking in the moment. The rest of the night we hung out with friends, grilled burgers, and got back to burning our pile of 2x4s and drywall in the back. It was definitely more successful that our last attempt, but I still don’t think it will be gone by morning. Rural/hill billy lesson learned, it’s not worth it to try and burn drywall. Just throw it in the garbage! 

We've completed 4 seasons in our home :o)

Day 71 April 26

Before David left for work he checked the floor and there were STILL areas that were too high or needed filled it. So while he was working I was on the task of making this the last time we had to level this area (we still have the foyer to do but that’s where all the appliances and supplies are now). Before when we were doing a larger area of the floor we would use a squeegee broom and David would come in afterwards and feather out the edges with a trowel. Since I was doing a lot of small areas I just used the trowel, and surprisingly really enjoyed it! I think it was the back and forth gliding motion you make and feeling the liquid underneath. Slightly reminded me of icing a cake :o)

After that I went to the loft to finish the wall. While I was mudding the seams for the last time and finally feeling as if I figured out how to do a 45 degree angle wall semi-well, a thought came into my head. It sounds funny, but I felt sorry for this home and the renovations we’ve done because most of it has been the first time we’ve done this stuff. This has been our starter project/guinea pig to our creative minds. Don’t get me wrong, I think it has turned out really well, it’s just the details that maybe only we’ll notice but that I think back to on how that was the first wall I attempted to mud a seam, and that’s why it looks like shit. I know it’s the nature of the beast, and I think it’s also why I can be hesitant to start something new because of the initial mistakes I’ll make and how it won’t be perfect at first (I know, I sound like a perfectionist nut). That is where David and I are completely different and he’s helped me learn, and feel more comfortable to take that first step, as well as accepting that mistakes will happen but in the end we have learned how to do it correctly.

David came home early knowing he wanted to run an errand before small group to get a piece for the tractor to restore its health. With the previous problems with the truck, and the riding lawn mower and tractor not working, it all culminated when David was upstairs trying to scan and print something and the printer wouldn’t’ work. It led to a slight meltdown on his part. He got this crazed look in his eyes and said, “I’m sick of everything being broken in this house!” So David did what he despises most and ran errands to pick up a battery, printer, and tractor attachment. We were successful with the battery and printer but no luck with the tractor piece.

We are both anticipating tomorrow’s progress with the floor, and praying for as smooth of sailing as is realistic. David’s coworker, Ben, has offered to help AGAIN and is coming over tomorrow morning at 7. Have I mentioned how much of God sent he has been? What a guy :o) I have training tomorrow until 2 so depending on their progress I may or may not be of any help. We’ll see!!

Day 70 April 25

Sanded and spackled wall again. I think it’ll only need one more pass after this one. I left for training in the evening while David laid some more of the self-leveling compound on a few spots that were still causing some problems. I’m thinking we’re doing something wrong or this stuff doesn’t necessary do what it says it does. When it says “self-leveling”, I think it really means it just dries smooth so you don’t have bumps. But if you poured it over a high spot that high spot will still be there when it dries. It doesn’t flow over the spot and fill it the low spots on either side like we assumed it would. At this point we just go around the floor with the level and mark areas that need to rise to meet the high spots. If you don’t have a level you could also use a long board or stick and mark the spots where the floor isn’t flush with the bottom of the board. Our floor never really seems to “level” because it appears to have a gradual slope toward the deck, so using the level is kind of pointless other than it a long flat object. It hasn’t mattered too much that this process is taking a little longer than we expected because we don’t plan on laying the floor until we have a full day/weekend to get it all done at one time. 

Day 69 April 24

I played the role of house wife today. Completed laundry, washed the pile of dishes we had been avoiding, ironed the stack of David’s shirts I've accumulated over the past couple of months, and cleaned the house (that is as well as you can clean a house in construction). Mainly that was straightening up the family room, our room, and vacuuming up stink bugs that are slowly infesting our house. I then started sanding the loft wall. I managed do get about half of it done, but I had to wait on the other half because it was still damp. To speed up the drying process I bought our fan out from our bedroom and pointed it on the problem areas. Should be good to go by tomorrow! There wasn’t much to do by the time David came home, so I convinced him to watch a scary movie with me. Those are his favorite ;o)

Since we've moved to PA I've grown a few extra appendages :o)

Day 68 April 23

Light day today. During the day I started mudding the seams in the loft where David had built the wall. If anyone has any tips/tricks on how to mud a 45 degree angle I am all ears! I think I figured something out but I'm open for other suggestions. I also picked up our glue! It is so refreshing to work with kind and helpful people. People that aren’t just doing their job for the paycheck, but instead have a true passion for their craft and enjoy using that to help others. That’s the experience we’ve had with this local lumber and supply store. I think you just can’t go wrong with small town locals :o) When David came home we ate dinner and then curled up on the couch to watch The Voice.

Day 67 April 22

It was a double edge sword kind of day. We had our countertop templated, YAY!, and then she told us it would be three weeks, tear tear :o(. Aaaaand, a section of the cabinets weren’t in level with the rest so they needed to be dropped about ½”. I would strongly guess that was the first time david wanted to shed a few tears too, or punch something. Either way, we got the ball rolling on the countertop so all we can do now is wait and get everything else done.

David had come home early in an effort to ask questions and confirm details the lady may have. Which she did have a few and I was glad David was there. After she wrapped up all her equipment, went over some details, had us sign a few things, she was out the door and we were breaking cabinets apart. Sad, sad day. There were definitely some frustrating moments, but It actually went smoother than we thought it would. Once we managed to lower it a bit, our next concern was to make sure the dishwasher would fit. David said when he and Shawn worked on it before, it was an extremely tight fit, and was very hard to come by. So once the cabinets were in place and we were pretty positive there was enough space, David craved a little more confirmation and we dragged the dishwasher over to put in the spot. After struggling to get it off it’s wooden base, we slipped it in and it couldn’t have fit any more perfectly! You rock David :o)

After we wrapped up the cabinet debacle, we both headed outside. I worked on draining and refilling the hot tub, which we didn’t use all winter but David is convinced Spring and Fall are it’s prime season, while David worked on the truck. The past couple of months we have had major issues with the brakes sticking real bad, but it was still drivable. But then the other day as I was heading down the driveway to take the trash down it got really bad and started screeching it’s tires on the pavement which it has never done. So I backed it up the driveway and left it waiting to be looked at. So while David was manning that job, I pulled out the push mower (tractor and riding lawn mower currently out of commission) and got to town on some of the taller areas of grass. It was the most perfect night and I could have walked that thing over our entire three acres, but my stomach was growling and the night was getting dark. David finished by the end of the night and it feels like a new beast :o) Not too shabby for his first drum brake job.     

Day 66 April 21

A little hodge podge day today. Actually that seems to be how most of the days are lately. After hitting up early church we came home and jumped right on laying the compound. David figured the floor would be done in two stages, considering the entire space we are working on is a heavy trafficked area, and it’s has both of our areas of access in or out. So for the first stage we’re focusing on the mudroom, kitchen and dinette. By the time we were done, we used up three bags, leaving three more for the rest. The process went rather smoothly, afterward leaving us to wait for it to dry.

I then got ready to leave for a baby shower while David geared up to work outside with the tractor. The rest of my day was consumed with the baby shower and running errands. I picked up the sink, as well as some items for David after he ran into a crappy situation with the tractor. He was leveling out an area of the yard with the bucket when he started leaking oil. He diagnosed the issue as a hole in the pipe line which needed to be addressed immediately. He was able to drain all the oil, as well as the transmission fluid, while I picked up some steal pond stuff and more diesel oil, a more difficult task than you would think. I came home to a tore up yard and broken tractor. Actually the spot he tore up looked really nice, I’m just anxious to plant grass there now. Takes me back to last year at this time when grass was tore up everywhere while we tried to lay electrical to the garage :o)

Since the tractor was out of commission, David went to work on the riding lawn mower which offered him no greater comfort. That failed to turn over due to a dead battery, at least a simpler fix than the tractor. Once I came home with the goods, David started working on repairing the pipe on the tractor. He did what he could and closed out the night with the bond drying on the pipe line, him covered in goop, and the tractor lying lifeless in the yard. It’s hard to say if this was a successful weekend or not. I think we can compromise and call it a semi-success. 

Day 65 April 20

Well not the day any of us were hoping for but the necessary steps were addressed. It first started when Ben came over and him and David started evaluating the levelness of floor. (Side note, David hoped to get to the leveling part yesterday but as the night got later he just ran out of steam, and figured him and Ben could do it the next day.) To say the least, it was awful. Pretty much there was no space that didn’t need work. We originally figured we would need to level some spaces and had picked up self-leveling compound a few days ago, but we completely underestimated the need.

So while David and Ben worked on the floor, I ran to the local lumber store where we had ordered our glue. We were supposed to receive a call yesterday when the shipment was to arrive, but since we never got the call, I just figured I’d swing in. Once I got there I got the bad news that the glue wasn’t in because the truck bringing the order had broke down and it wouldn’t arrive until Monday. Shitter sticks!! I relayed the news to David and he took it better than I thought. I think he realized that the leveling would take a few days to lay and then dry, so we wouldn’t be able to glue the floor anyways until the beginning of next week at the earliest. We’re so naive. To be expected though when it’s your first time I guess.

About that time Ben left since there wasn’t much left to do after they laid the leveling compound we did have, and I left to get my haircut. When I came back a few hours later, David had changed directions and built the wall in the loft to close in the new duct work. It looked great! What a stud :o) He had also assessed the materials we would need for the floor and we made a trip to Lowes. We figured while we’re there we could pick up our sink too.

Aaaaaand NO! To make a long story short, basically the person who pulled the sink when I ordered it online pulled the wrong one, and the only other one was purchased, leaving no sink for us. It was disappointing because we have had such great customer service with Lowe’s, and this was a complete crap shoot. We had to have the sink by Monday and they couldn’t get another one to the store until Wednesday, leaving us to drive 30 minutes out of our way to a different store where they put one on hold. This situation shed so many problems with their system and customer service, but after we bitched about it for a little bit to each other, we sucked it up and decided I would pick up the sink tomorrow after I went to a baby shower. On the positive side, we were able to pick up more self-leveling compound in the hopes to complete that process tomorrow after church. 

Day 64 April 19

David's efforts really paid off, it looks fabulous!

A refreshing day in the sense that it was actually a bit of a day off for David! He stayed home AND received maybe only 4 phone calls throughout the entire day! We’ll take it :o) David and I started the day prepping the doorways of the 2 bedrooms and bathroom downstairs. David wanted the seam of where the wood and carpet/tile meet to be in the center of the door, so you don’t see the opposing material from the room you’re in. So I tackled cutting back the carpet to the bedrooms, while David manned the small tile pieces in front of the bathroom.

I finished earlier than David so I worked on wiring the outlet for the range. I managed 3 of the 4 wires, but after about 10 minutes of shear frustration with the last not going in its hole, I thought it best for all of our sakes if I just walk away and work on something else. David ended up coming back and finishing my work… hmmm, I’m noticing a theme with David finishing my work :o). He struggled as well, and felt frustration when we couldn’t locate the one screw we were saving that attached the cover, but in the end he managed a different screw to do the trick.

The last little detail we had was to install the track lighting. I had attempted to hang it yesterday but it was too heavy and cumbersome for just one person to do it safely. So in no time with the two of us working together, it was wired, secured, and with a flip of the switch it glowed bright! As of now I’m sitting in the middle of keeping it or returning it. It gives off great light to the space, but with that light also shines bright on the imperfections in the walls from mudding and painting. I also seems like it adds just too much “fixtures” in the space, but I figured we keep it for now and if I’m still hesitant about it in a few months, we can take it back and just put a cover over the space in the ceiling.

Once we completed the small tasks, the only thing left to do to prep for the installation of the floor tomorrow was to clear the space out. I worked on cleaning off the supply table so we could move it outside later, while David swept and vacuumed. I haphazardly threw stuff into boxes and put them in the garage, hoping if we are to need anything in them I could remember where they were. We’ll see how well that goes.  

Day 63 April 18

Workedy work work. During the day I hung the pendant light fixtures which I love!!! They are so pretty and emit a really nice glow. My only concern is that they might be a little too low, but we figure we’ll live with them for a bit and if need be we’ll change out the length later. But for now I think they look great :o) Next was to pull up the rest of the carpet. Looking back I don’t really know why we didn’t just pull it all up at once in the VERY beginning before we had so much crap in the space, but who really knows why we do the things we do. I had to shimmy the range and dishwasher over and then up it went. Wahoo! Carpet done!

After completing my labor intensive tasks of the day, on to ordering our sink. This was a bit of challenge considering our time frame of Monday, as well as different amenities offered for different products. In the end we went with a sink from Lowe’s that they had in stock, which would guarantee meeting our deadline. The only other thing is a faucet, which we have already picked one, we just need to confirm that it will fit. It was a typical Thursday night when I left for training, but not so typical for David because instead of taking the night off he tore up the last bit of ceramic tile in the foyer. There actually is a little bit smaller tile by the bathroom but the large sections are completed.  

Day 62 April 17

The other day during our hardware store run we picked up some laminate samples. The sales rep told us you can order larger samples online for free, so this morning that is just what I did. You got to get the ball rollin’ sometime! Today was my day of running errands, and once I was finished I popped on over to David’s work to hang out since it was be-a-utiful outside! And yet again, any excuse to get out of the office David was all for, so when we offered for one of his coworkers to borrow our car while his was in the shop, it was only appropriate for David to finish work at home. I CAN justify that he worked the rest of his work day, but with much better scenery. You don’t get the feel of the wind blowing, the heat from the afternoon sun, or the enjoyment of listening to birds singing when you’re working in an office building :o)

While David was sun bathing and working, I was inside rebuilding the wall next to the fireplace. Awhile back when David opened the wall he found rotten base boards, so I replaced those and secured the studs. I also added horizontal studs as a nailer but for reasons too difficult to explain in words, they ended up being pointless. Oh well, in the end while I was off at training David finished putting up the paneling and the only thing left is the trim! He also added padding and carpet to the landing which now feels so good on my feet when I come down the steps!

A touch of Spring to brighten your day :o)

Day 61 April 16

Nowadays David is looking for any excuse to get out of work early. Today is was to make a trip to Lowes and Home Depot to check out sinks and faucets to have in time for our counter top appointment on Monday. It was disappointing on both fronts because after looking in the stores we realized they don’t have many on display. We both prefer to be able to see and touch what we want and the internet just doesn’t give you that privilege  But considering that looks to be our only option that’s just what we’ll have to do. While we were at the store we also picked up more of the pendant lights we decided on and a dinette lights as well. They’re really pretty! A nice yellow/gold tone to them. Should be a good match for the rest of the décor in the kitchen.

David was pooped when we got back so we opted for a movie instead of work. But during the day I did accomplish a few things. I painted the exposed wall near the fireplace with the same stuff I used under the cabinets to prevent moisture damage since that part of the wall is under ground. With two coats applied it will be ready to be rebuilt tomorrow :o) With instructions from David I also attached the dimmer switch to the dinette light and  prepped the wires to be connected to the light. With the volt meter I checked that it was registering, but we’re waiting until we have the light hung before securing the plate cover. 

Day 60 April 15

Booyah! Counter top scheduled! I received a call from the manufacturer today and we agreed on next Monday to have someone come out to template the counter top. I can see the light!! The only thing is that since we are doing an undermount sink, we need to have the sink and faucet because at the house the time of the appointment so they can be templated into the design. That being the highlight of my day, next came cleaning. I’ve come to realize when the weekend comes I have no desire to wash dishes, put away clothes, or straighten up kitchen supplies. I really think it’s because I prefer to hang out with David as much as I can instead of doing all those mundane chores. It works out in the end because I have the time during the day on Monday to catch up on cleaning while David is at work.

David had another late evening so we didn’t do any work but we did come to a decision about the floors. This whole time we’ve been talking about the floors we have been searching for a definitive answer as to if we should glue or float. It’s obviously incredibly cheaper to float, but considering our concrete slab that is half above, half below grade, gluing would be ideal. We had a role of the foam stuff so we laid that out and set a few boards down to consider how the possibility of floating would feel. After a few passes by both of us, we came to the conclusion that the boards just moved and flexed too much with the pad. So glue it is! The rest of the night David was researching different glues we could use.

Day 59 April 14

It’s Sunday so guess what? That’s right, church followed by hardware store run. It just wouldn’t be a Sunday without the two. This trip to Home Depot was a big one though because we finally purchased our counter top!! I think we finally made the decision because the day before I asked David how long it would take for the counter tops to come in and he said probably 3 weeks and I almost cried. We are sooooo close and fatigue is starting to set in so any extra time was making me feel sad. So we buckled down and just picked one! Last big purchase…CHECK! Man that felt good. We were told we would receive a call later in the week to schedule an appointment for someone to come out and make a template.

For your viewing pleasure :o) 

When we came home it was cabinet time again, and David was determined for it to be the last. We brought the single 18” base cabinet into the mudroom to meet up with the larger cabinet David had built yesterday. They were leveled, attached to each other, then attached to the wall. To make sure we had space for the doors of the base cabinet and pantry to open freely, we had a space that needed filled on the left side. There would also need to be a filler on the right side to make up for empty space that the cabinet didn’t take up. David snapped his fingers and POOF! There were fillers! Ha! David wishes it was that easy. He actually did a great job using our supplies from the store to create a seamless transition of the cabinets.

Now for the pantry cabinets. We had two 24” cabinets that were 12” deep, and then two 18” cabinets that were about 30” deep. The 24” would be perfect and require no modifications, but then there were the 18”. They were custom built to fill the space on our angled wall, but for our design we needed to cut them to 12” deep to align with the other cabinets. We measured, cut, rebuilt, and then brought it inside to a surprise. The cabinet was about 6” taller than the other ones. We’re idiots. Didn’t even think of it. DUH! Fatigue brain is setting in. What’s funny is that I even said while we were carrying it in, “man, this one is smaller but feels heavier.” As we were setting it into place David was talking about it being made of a better quality wood or something like that, and then we looked up. Haha! It was actually pretty humorous. We talked about cutting off the top and jerry rigging a door, or keeping it as is, or moving it around, but in the end we figured something out. As I was taking off the doors to get it ready to be secured to the last cabinet, I stepped back and realized, “hey, that doesn’t look half bad”. I was a little hesitant at first how the top jutted up, but when you take off the doors and make it just shelves, it made for a nice accent piece, I guess that’s what you could call it :o). We got the last cabinet in and we were pretty excited, it looked really nice! Especially in my head when I’m picturing the shelves filled with cookbooks and cake pedestals. Now there are a few more details to be ironed out. First, the one cabinet never had the two top doors, well it did at one time but were removed and we’ve never found them. With the middle cabinet being open I would prefer a symmetrical look for the other two cabinets. So we’ve started an internet search for two oak doors. Second, since we’re keeping the middle cabinet open we need to add a couple of strips of finished wood to give the front of the pantry a more refined and polished look.

With the cabinets in, now we just had to decide on what we’re going to do with the counter top. Originally I was thinking a wood cutting board look when we were going to paint the cabinets white, but when I opted out of painting them it would just be too much wood. So then we were thinking of continuing our kitchen counter top into the mudroom, but considering it will mainly be used for storage space and wouldn’t really be a place for cutting or extreme hot and cold, we couldn’t justify the high cost of a nice material. So when we figured we could go cheap, laminate it is! We were going to go with one of those pre-made standard sizes you can find off the shelves, but with our weird spots that jut out we’re thinking we’ll need to have a template made. So close, so close, so close! Another productive weekend on record. 

Day 58 April 13

At least this weekend it wasn’t a ridiculously beautiful day and I was stuck inside all day for training. While I was learning how to care for veterans and their families, David was home alone. Duty continued to call, but at least he was in the comforts of his own home while having to work. He basically worked another half day, while still managing to build a cabinet! We had left the sink base in more of a demolition condition, so David worked on repairing the poor thing. He attached part of the side cabinet, as well as building the two additional working drawers we’ll now have. He also blocked off the one cabinet that will be used as a filler, and added our previous laminant kitchen floor for the base of the sink cabinet that was all torn out during the demo phase. I couldn’t help but laugh when I came home and he showed me his handy work in the garage. There were cords, tools, wood scraps and screws everywhere! Because of the DIY nature of the cabinet, he was scrummaging around the other cabinets that we’re not using to find the right piece/part for the job. In the end we have a working cabinet that cost of $0! The only flaw was how the added drawers wobble quite a bit. David recognized the same issue and said he still needs to adjust a few things. All in all not a bad job David :o)

Day 57 April 12

It was David’s day off but he ended up having to work about 4 hours with phone calls, writing procedures, and emails. For as difficult as it is for me to have him home but not really here, I know it’s harder for him. Remembering that fact seems to help me cope with it all in the moment. The day wasn’t lost to kitchen progress though! We attached the last base cabinet with a little pushing, pulling, shimming, and drilling. We then moved onto the pantry cabinets that we decided to put on the wall between the bathroom and second bedroom. It’s a little odd with the bathroom and kitchen kind of melding into one another, but where we put the pantry we figured defines the kitchen space a little better. AND more storage! Gotta love it :o)

The pantry went in rather smoothly and all the cabinets were completed in the kitchen! While the cabinets were finished in the kitchen, the next task was our existing cabinets which we decided to redesign to fit in the mudroom. It will give us tons more storage compared to the open, empty space it was before. We have more cabinets then we need so our first task was to decide which ones we would use and how they would need to be modified. During the day I sketched out a possible plan and with not too much resistant from David it was a go. Our existing sink cabinet consisted of one open under space built from two 12” and two 18” cabinets. The ends were capped with the 12” cabinets and had available sliding drawers. However with the new design we needed to remove one of the 12” and add a single 18” to that side. So in the end it would be a 12” (used as a filler) and three 18” cabinets that would all have available doors and drawers. Since two of the sink base drawers were just caps, new drawers would need to be built. So while David was making calls I was prepping the cabinet for work. I removed drawer slides and attached them to their new spots and removed the front drawer caps for David to use to build the new ones. By the end of the night we had cut off the 12” cabinet and the rest was ready to be rebuilt the next day. I have training all day so hopefully David can get the cabinet rebuilt without his assistant.  

About that time for patio chairs :o)

Day 56 April 11

The combination of my training in the evening and David’s exhaustion from work equated to another slow day in the kitchen. The only thing during the day I accomplished was templating and cutting out the section of drywall for the ceiling in the mudroom. Other than that I did a little cleaning and got dinner ready for when David came home.

Day 55 April 10

David’s work has yet to improve, so only small bits of the kitchen was completed. I sanded the wall one last time, and then figured it was time for some paint. After I painted the wall, I got to a few spots that I had spackled and were just waiting to be painted. One part was the double outlet left of the peninsula which will operate the pendant lights. With the wall painted I attached the outlet and switch and added the cover plate. I love adding finishing touches. During the day while I was running errands I met up with David for some lunch at Chipotle. It was nice to kidnap him from the stresses and frustrations of work to enjoy some burritos. It was another beautiful day so any excuse to eat lunch on a patio I’m game. I’m confident that Spring is here and here to stay!

Day 54 April 9

The previous day I had struggled getting the lazy susan door attached. David got up a little earlier than normal so he had a couple minutes to get to the tasks I was struggling with, including that dang bit that was still stuck in the cabinet. So David swooped in to remove the bit and attach the door as easily as brushing his teeth. This project would have been screwed a long time ago if it were all up to me to get things accomplished.

I sanded and spackled the extended wall hopefully one last time so I can paint and then we can attach the last base cabinet. I was originally thinking we should go ahead and put in the cabinets in the mudroom, but then I remembered part of the ceiling that had not yet been put up. I figured it would be easier to get that in while the cabinets and more stuff wasn’t in the way. With this in mind, we would need more drywall. So I texted David the idea and he agreed. We would also need more drywall for repairing the wall at the base of the stairs, along with building a few walls to cover the added ducting. With any excuse to leave work, David came home early and we took a trip to a local hardware shop to pick up 4 more pieces of drywall. Weather was great and skies were clear so it was good timing to pick them up. A particular assignment David has been working on at work has kind of gone to shit so the rest of his night was consumed with phone calls and emails. Sometime I wish I could do it for him but then he’d really be in a load of crap.

Day 53 April 8

I love it now how every time I walk past the kitchen or come in from the deck I just stare at the cabinets and get a tinge of excitement and anticipation. We are so close now! Today I tackled getting some of the carpet out of the way. I moved our supply table and rolled up the rest of the carpet in the dinette area. With the large rolls now out of the way it makes for more room and easier access to the table and around that area. Next I moved all the cardboard boxes out of the mudroom and got some measurements for the cabinets that will go in there. Since we’re working with our existing cabinets I’m trying to plan out the ones we’ll use and where they will be installed. I brought in a small 12” cabinet to assess the look and space we’ll have. I’m hoping in the next few days we’ll have the mudroom cabinets installed and can start to tackle the floor. I also added some insulation to a hole in one of the walls which will be behind the pantry.

 

With the incredibly warm day I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to soak in some rays. This gave me the excuse to clean our cars. With the weather and our dirt lane it’s hard to keep them clean, but they were long overdue for a washin’. After washing the outside I tackled the inside. I find it comical how much I love a clean car, but how little I actually keep it that way. I’ll just have to enjoy it while it lasts. David got home late so maybe tomorrow night I can convince him to install the mudroom cabinets :o)

First blooms!

Day 52 April 7

Ok, now it really looks like a kitchen and I am sooo giddy!!!! Today we were able to get the refrigerator panels up and all the wall cabinets! The wall cabinets seem to have really made it come to life and feel like a kitchen now. It all went pretty smooth today, or as smooth as you can expect a DIY project to go. The one issue we had we saw coming due to yesterday’s adjustments with installing the cabinets. Due to our walls not being completely flat, they had to add a gap to make the cabinets level and flush with each other. Due to this, it pushed the cabinets out about an inch. When we built the refrigerator cubby in the wall David had measured it exact, not leaving much wiggle room for possible error in the plan. After we had both panels in we unwrapped the frig and rolled it into place to see the damage. When you slide it back into the hole it’s cocked at an angle. It’s not a big issue considering it doesn’t HAVE to slide all the way back. But David is going to give it a try and attempt to shave off part of the one wall to make it fit better. He did one pass and it’s still off, so he’ll try again another day. Another spot that was effected by the gap was the half wall. Once again we measured to exact, leaving our cabinet on the other side of the range to stick out about an inch. This was easily fixable with a couple of pieces of drywall attached to the end. I screwed them in, attached the corner rods, spackled it all, and will wait so sand and mud a couple more times before it’s painted and the last cabinet is installed.

Thank you again Kyle for your Quick Grip clamps. It made installing the wall cabinets a much smoother and enjoyable process (I’m keeping tabs of all these essential tools we’re borrowing for future gifts for David ;o)). David said installing the wall cabinets was much more enjoyable than the base cabinets. Damn rolling floor! Before we installed the wall cabinets I remembered the under cab lighting I had picked up at Ikea. This was good thinking because we would have not been happy if we installed the cabinets and then remembered the lighting. There was an outlet that would be accessible in the middle cabinet for the microwave and under cab lights so we measured the box and cut the hole. We attached the lights under the cabinets and drilled holes in the backs and sides. We decided to put the main box behind the microwave so no wires would be seen and it would still be easily accessible. David wanted to attach the three cabinets together, wire it all threw and then install them on the wall. Considering there was only me to help hold the cabinets while he screwed in I opted for Plan B. We wired each individual cabinet, put the right one up, strung all wires to the microwave cabinet, installed that cabinet, then installed the last one. It was perfect!

By that time David got picked up to leave for the field for the night and next day. With my excitement about the cabinets I quickly got on the task of installing all the doors after David left. All was well until I got to one of the cabinet doors above the frig. David accidently used one of the door holes to secure the cabinet to the panel. In my attempt to fix the situation, I ended up getting the bit stuck in the hole. For fear of driving it in too far and there being no hope of recovery, I abandoned it until David returned to fix my mistake ;o) I next grabbed some tarps we were no longer using and tended to our failed bon fire. Hopefully the tarps and bricks will help to keep it dry through Spring. It should be raring to go when family and friends come to visit!!

Day 51 April 6

Thank you Sean!! David had a buddy of his from work come over to help continue with the cabinet installation. I had stayed downtown over night and had a full day of training so I couldn’t offer a hand. Let’s just say I wasn’t too disappointed about that fact. I’ve come to realize through this project that David and I work well when it comes to kind of doing our own thing in the same space, but then once he have to be hands it can get a little dicey. I think it stems from me not being on the same knowledge level as David, and that can throw the flow way off balance. I completely understand his frustration and he does a really good job at containing it and trying to work with me, but in the end it can tend to lose its enjoyment. I also I realized about myself that I don’t do well when things don’t go as smoothly as I think they should. I tend to lose hope in the situation working out and just get frustrated that it’s not working in the moment. That was why it was good that Sean was here to help David because things definitely didn’t go as smoothly as they could/should have.

The guys soon realized how jacked up our floor was and broke out the life-saving shims to solve the problems. They said the corner where the lazy susan is to sit was like one big sink hole. With Sean’s level, which was bigger than ours, and the shims they were able to get it just right after about an hour. After that one they said it was smoother sailing. When I got home they had all the base cabinets in but 1! It’s finally looking like a kitchen!! And I am loving our decision on cabinets! So pretty :o)

David was pretty exhausted with kitchen duty so we switched the scenery and FINALLY planted our tomato seeds! Last fall and winter we got a little excited about the possibility of a garden, leading David to go on a seed binge. In the end, along with many other veggies, we had 8 varieties of tomato seeds to plant.  We repurposed some cabinet lid boxes into planters and now we’re just waiting anxiously for little green stems to sprout up :o) I also planted some parsley, basil and chives in small pots. Once we were done playing in dirt we had a go at burning our large pile in the back. It’s mainly comprised of 2x4s and drywall from our demo stage. Our first Christmas tree also made the pile. The burn had its highs and lows, but it was mainly a big dud. It’s seen snow and rain and the drywall just absorbed too much moisture that it barely burned. I figured after it cooled off I would cover it to try and protect it from the spring rain so it will burn one of these days. Concluding our pyro stint, we grabbed some dinner and snuggled on the couch, continuing our Breaking Bad marathon.

David later told me how nice it was to have Sean helping him today. When David was feeling tired and brain fried, Sean would swing in with ideas and encourage progress, and David would do the same for Sean at other times. Sean, thank you so much for your time, knowledge, skill and encouragement today. We owe you and Stephanie a home cooked meal in the kitchen you helped build.

Day 50 April 5

Yay for the beginning of cabinet installation!!! I had to leave for the night for some training downtown but before I left I helped David carry in a few big pieces. He said that by the end of the night he had brought all cabinets in but the lazy susan and the pantry, and had connected some of the smaller ones together. Before he could secure the cabinets to the wall he had to find the high point in our floor. Considering our floors and walls are not the most level this was a bit of a challenge for him. But with Kyle’s laser level he found the point and with some shims started securing a few cabinets to the wall. He was initially planning on securing the lazy susan cabinet first but the highest point was on the other side. So instead he started with the blind cabinet off the half wall and started the run from there. 

Day 49 April 4

A little of this, a little of that kind of day. We’re not putting flooring below the cabinets so today I painted on some Drylock paint where the cabinets will go to prevent moisture damage. I got a small cleaning spurt in me and cleaned the downstairs bathroom which was long overdue. The picture is the evidence of that. It was a nicer day so I took our box of paper and some cardboard and did a little burning. I find myself just standing there staring at the flames. It seems to put me in a trance. At least I can justify it by saying I’m cleaning. While I was at training for the night, David got back late from work and took the night off from progressing with the kitchen. I’ve begun to notice a pattern on Thursday nights, I go to training while David curls up on the couch in his work clothes under a blanket and catches up on Breaking Bad until I come home. It’s been a bad addiction lately for the both of us, but we’re determined to finish the four seasons on Netflix before my sister cancels her subscription that we have been mooching off of :o)

Day 48 April 3

It seems like days I run errands there are less hours in the day. Weird how that happens. During this whole project we’ve acquired a stack of return items, and today I decided to clear out some of the clutter and return some of the things we were positive we wouldn’t need.  Four hours later after making trips to Home Depot, Lowes and Wally-world, we had $200 back in returns! It’s so much for fun when THEY pay you.

I came home and after eating lunch and putting stuff away, I did a little work in the kitchen. I picked up outlet covers while I was out so I got to putting those on. One of the outlets needs extended so no go on that one, the peninsula outlets will wait until after the counter top is installed, NEXT, one of the double outlets on hold til painting around it is done, and then came the triple. You can make it work when they are off horizontally, but this one wasn’t aligned vertically, like they were all different height levels. I stared at it for a bit and wiggled stuff around, then figured David might have a better problem solving solution.

After installing the few outlets I could, it was about time to make dinner…for once an actual all around healthy dinner. Oven-fried chicken and a medley of cooked veggies. And David really liked it! Due to work occupying David late into the evening, no more progress was made in the kitchen for the night.

 

Day 47 April 2

I was getting really excited to put the green on the walls and then I remembered I hadn’t primed the mudroom yet. Darnit all! It actually ended up working out just fine. I primed the mudroom and while it was drying, I started edging the top and painting corners, and then by the time I got to using the roller the mudroom was dry. I’m really a fan of the color green I picked out, realizing after the fact that two pieces of furniture in our family room are the same green. You know, just tying it all together... totally intentional…wink wink :o) I had more plans for the kitchen but got to talking to a friend on the phone for over 2 hours. David still has a hard time understanding how women can do that, “what do you talk about??” he’ll ask. I just say we go into more detail than men, and he says men already understand/assume/know what the other is talking about so more information is unnecessary. Then I’ll emphasize the ‘assume’ part and he’ll just shake his head and wave a hand in the air.

My extended conversation with my friend led me to not get as much done in the kitchen as I had planned because I was going to a book club in the evening. But before I left I added a few outlets back in that were removed earlier for easier drywall insulation, mudding and painting. I also pointed out a few spots on the ceiling where you could see the seams when the light his it a certain way. Now this is my dilemma that runs through my head at this point in the game. I know it looks like shit, but I’m getting so ready for this project to wrap up. So when I bring it up to David and he asks if I want it fixed, I struggle with what to do. I know the right thing would be to fix it now instead of probably never getting to it later, but I just see it as two steps back when at this point I’m wanting to be charging forward. In the end David was the voice of reason and decided to respackle the problem areas, including a spot on the slanted wall near the bar top.

 

After shedding a few tears because I knew this meant more dust, I got over the fact and left for book club. Yes I may not have read the book, but it was a nice time to get out of the house and mingle with some ladies. Refreshing :o) I came back home and David had worked on rebuilding the step that was disassembled to run wire out to the AC unit. What a treat it is now to have our step back.

Day 46 April 1

Well now that we’re back home I guess it’s time to work. David left for work and I got back to painting. Before the weekend, David put a first coat of ceiling paint up but it needed a second. So that’s where I started my day. David had used up an entire can the first time and we only had one more so I was a little wary of running out. But in the end I got it all painted and even had some to spare.

Then I started putting color on the walls!! Finally some character is going into this space! Earlier I had decided on a brown for the actual kitchen walls…some would disagree that brown is character but anyone that knows me know I tend to stay with neutral colors. Brown just seems to leave room for splashes of color elsewhere…at least that’s what I tell myself :o) That was a priority to work on first so we can get the cabinets in right after it dried. I put on one coat and by the end of the night just touched up a couple of areas and it looked good to go! I wanted to work on the green walls but I had a few questions I needed to ask David before I could roll forward with that. David came home with big plans of progress on the kitchen, but instead a friend was in town so we decided to spend the evening relaxing with him.

Day 43,44,45 March 29,30,31

There was no work but plenty of play during the last few days for David and me. We made the trec back to Columbus to visit with family, celebrate Easter, and par-tay. After visiting with family on Friday and Saturday, we celebrated my niece’s first birthday on Sunday. She’s the cutest freakin’ thing and I couldn’t have been happier to spend the day with her. Aaaand here are a bunch of pictures of the cutie patutie :o)