Keeping The Christmas Spirit...

December 15, 2012

I was going to blog yesterday, but for some reason my pictures wouldn't show up.  I thought I had lost them all, but they reappeared today.  I think the universe was telling me to quit complaining and learn to be happy amidst the mess.  I got the strong impression that I needed to learn how to keep the Christmas spirit with me even though I haven't been able to decorate inside for Christmas.  So, today, I will show you what we have been accomplishing at the house with minimal complaining... (notice I wasn't able to say 'without' complaining... just trying to keep it real)

We have had many additions to our original plans for remodel, one of them being the kids' bathroom.  We have ended up redoing most of it.  Here is the picture with the hardwood floors done, and we will be getting a new counter top and painting the old cabinets.  The wall colors have changed as well.   We installed a new toilet and the kids seem to like things much better as they actually work now.  Finished pictures to come...

The back splash in the kitchen is complete except for some small cutting of the stone to make it so the switch plates fit.

In many of the previous posts, I have spent hours cleaning up before taking the pictures.  I decided not to do that so that you would understand how the house looks Monday through Friday and hopefully better understand why I haven't been able to decorate for Christmas.

There are lots of little things to be done, like install the five thermostats, but first I need to paint the walls...

We are missing a few switch plates that had to be special ordered...

The baseboards and trim are getting painted...

The fireplace is missing several stones that came off when they put in the new floor, so David is going to attempt to fix those...

Meanwhile, we have been starting things in the basement.  This is the bottom of the stairs which were taken out and 'floated' as we are pouring concrete to level the place out and cover the underfloor heating down there.

Cement truck arrives...

And down into the basement they go...

And this is our back yard post clean up, you should have seen it beforehand...

Luckily the snow hides a multitude of sins...

And if you keep looking upwards, the view is beautiful...

Especially when the sun comes out...

So I am endeavoring to keep the Christmas spirit by keeping heart and mind skyward.  The bonus is that  the view is amazing, this is our birch tree out front...

Seeing as it is just a little over a week away, I am wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas filled with much happiness and joy...
~Mary

Counter Tops Going In...

December 3, 2012

Last week was a doozie for me.  I cried 3 out of the 5 days...  So much was going on and I had a birthday party to be ready for by Friday evening.  The great thing is that everyone really pulled together to help me get the place ready.

The major thing that happened this week is that the counter tops, sink, and stove and range hood were installed.  Not necessarily working, but at least installed.  We also received all of our appliances.  So, the oven, refrigerator and dishwasher were brought in as well.

That is the island that I am so happy to be getting...

I need to bring the bar stools in from the garage and assemble them...

Luckily, by Friday, I had my oven working and was able to make Danika's cake.  She requested a fancy ladies hat for her 12th birthday cake with three flavored layers, so I made this pink hat with chocolate feathers...

Gotta love the layered inside...

What a great first use for our new oven!!!

As for the green paint in the kitchen, the majority of people hated it, and David was the only one who really loved it, so we decided to change it.  This is the third time painting this part of the kitchen!  The old green was so bright we had to put two coats of primer on first, so really it is the fifth time I painted it...  I am looking a bit tired...

I have to send praises out to Joe Fulford who really organized everyone to get things moving so that  we could have Danika's party.  It took the help of everyone including Ken, our cabinet guy, Richard, our trim guy, and Mike, the main guy who has been on the project every day for the past four months.  They worked really hard on Friday to make sure everything was ready.  Joe also brought us over a dinner of steak with blue cheese butter, mushrooms, red potatoes and fresh bread... it was fantastic.  

One other bright spot for me was that Richard Palmer, our trim guy, had taken the glass door that I etched and fixed it up so that we could use it as the door between the mud room and living room.  He did an amazing job.  I was so surprised when he brought it in and mounted it.  I actually love it.  We call it "The Aspen Door".

So, another week down.  This week we will be refinishing the floors in the dining room, putting the back splash tile in the kitchen, and doing touch up painting.  We are also staining the wood cabinets that I stripped and sanded.  David did some more fine sanding and finishing before the stain.  We are hoping to get the cabinets installed in the mud room this week.  

I still have to unpack all of my boxes and put everything in its place in the kitchen, but I don't think I will be able to get to that this week.  We shall see!

~Mary