It's Done

Relief. The faucet is in and working. We have running water in the kitchen. All that's left is the hardware for the cabinets and drawers. It's been 2.5 months and I'm ready. Sorry for the picture of the faucet, but I took it with my phone. Would I do it all over again? Yes, I'm that pleased with the result, but I wouldn't do it for a long time...

Kitchen Update

Well, it's almost finished. The appliances are in and we're slowly but surely putting stuff away. Friday the electrical stuff, lights, etc., will be done. The faucet and cabinet hardware are about 2 weeks away. It's a bit odd to have to go get water from the utility room, but the faucet will be worth the wait!

Changes

This week there have been lots of changes at my house. The plastic walls are down, the painting is almost finished. We have all the new windows that we ordered. We have about a week and a half to go on this process, not counting the kitchen faucet. That could take up to three weeks... My attitude has changed as I see the end of the process of remodeling, but I'm not sure when Phase 2 will start because I can't see going through this again.

One of my daughters lost her grandma in law this week. This one is particularly hard because we are so close to our son-in-law's parents. His mom lost her mom. My heart breaks for her because I have been there. My daughter is hurting because her daughter will never meet her great-grandmother....I so understand that hurt because my mom will never meet my granddaughter either.

Friends are the stability of life. I cannot stress enough the need to have friends. There have been times in my life when I haven't had friends and those were desolate times. Today I've had calls from two friends and I know that my daughter's mother-in-law who just lost her mom and I are connected by the heart. Tuesday I had the privilege to spend time with 3 friends to celebrate the birthday of one of them. Next Wednesday we are going to lunch. I need that time with friends. That 5 year span I had without friends still causes pain in my heart. When I was at my lowest of lows, 3 friends were there and I will never forget that. Friends are the stability of life.

Our life has been changed with the friends we have made here. In some ways, the remodel is because we will be hosting those friends at a get-together in February. Friends are that important.

Too Optimistic

Well, the contractor told me a couple more weeks, but as slow as the painting is going it's going to take a lot longer than that. Nothing was done on Tuesday.... nothing. Wednesday was a ton of taping off drawer runners and hinges and today has been lots of caulking. IF they do any painting tomorrow, it will be primer. I'll be surprised if it's painted by Wednesday. Seriously.

That means granite will be done on Thursday, tile on Friday, and we'll then be into the 8th week of the project.

Sorry to be so negative, but the frustration is beginning to set in.

Update

Cabinet doors and drawer fronts are up today. Painters start tomorrow. Another couple of weeks and we'll be done.

Organized some projects in the sewing room this weekend. I didn't realize I had so many UFOs. We kept having to go back to the store to buy more plastic shoeboxes...

I've been crocheting today, about half done on that project and aim to get some sewing done this week. The weather is cooperating... I'm always more interested in stitching and sewing when the weather is cool.

Real progress

Last week I picked up the new microwave so that the cabinet builders could measure it properly for the new cabinet. That seemed to be a big step at the time, but now it's just sitting on the dining room floor, not in it's rightful place, so it really wasn't a big step.

Today, however, was a big step. The new exhaust fan is in. It's in and it's big. It's very industrial looking. I love it.

Tomorrow they will finish the crown molding. Monday they will put on the cabinet doors and drawer fronts and then on Tuesday, the painters will take over. Once the painting is done (probably by the end of the week), it's time for the rest of the appliances and then the details such as switches, outlet covers, etc. There is a light at the end of a tunnel!

OOPS!

When John came home last night he was surprised to find that there was a discrepancy in the cabinets where our huge hood would be mounted. The spacing was 2.75 inches on the left side and 5.25 inches on the right side.

Call the contractor! Well, actually I e-mailed him. He was out here bright and early this morning and had to add a bit to the left side cabinet to get them to come out properly. I think it looks pretty good!