Archerr

The kitchen is basically done. The contractor came today and installed the disposal, the faucet, and hooked up the dishwasher. He also raised the dishwasher and stove to meet the countertop. Everything looks good and is in place.

I talked with my kitchen designer today. She spoke with the countertop manager and is having the backsplash replaced and side splashes installed to take care of the gap between the wall and the countertop. I think this is a better solution then having them rip it all out and start all over again. So besides the backsplash and side splashes, the kitchen is done. However, I won't be writing the final check until it's completely done.

Here are some photos of the kitchen. I think I've decided the red is too red and I might be changing the color sometime in the future. I think I might be leaning towards yellow but we'll see how I feel when I have some time to do the re-painting.

The countertop got installed today...but not very well. Well, actually, it looks fine but the gap between the wall and the countertop is too wide. My kitchen designer was not very happy. It means they did not measure very well at all. So...the main countertop will stay but the back splash and side splashes are going to be replaced. When I got home I wasn't very pleased and then I read her note and realized she wasn't either. I'm glad to hear they are going to replace it and get it right.

Since the countertop was installed I was able to put all the things away in the lower cabinets and drawers. That too way too long. The contractor is coming tomorrow to hook up the plumping and dishwasher. So the kitchen will be basically done by the end of the week. The countertop guys will have to come back and complete the back splash and side splashes but that won't keep me from using the kitchen.

I didn't have time for any photos tonight but once it's done I will post some photos and maybe a video.

I love Amazon.com. They have almost anything you could want on there. And they ship pretty fast if the items are in stock. In thinking about what I wanted to add to my new kitchen I wanted a new toaster and new coffee maker.

I don't drink coffee but the boyfriend does. I had a small 4 cup Mr. Coffee that was at least 15 years old. I decided to upgrade and get the Cuisinart coffee maker. It's exactly like the one the boyfriend has except mine is white. I figured if I had the exact one he had he could make the coffee sometimes when he's at my place.

I've also decided to get rid of my really old toaster oven and go back to a traditional toaster. The toaster oven is really old and I hardly ever use it. The boyfriend and I always have toast for breakfast so a simple toaster would work just fine for me. I found a nice simple one by Cuisinart. And it's white. I've decided all my appliances are going to be white and now they are.

So I ordered these items on Sunday and they arrived today! Again, I love Amazon.com. And the shipping was free! Hopefully my kitchen will be finished tomorrow and I can put my new appliances on the new countertop.

I got an e-mail message from my kitchen designer today saying my countertop will be installed on Wednesday! I can't wait! I can't really complain though. This whole process has really only taken about 4 weeks. I know others who spend months during renovations. So...by the end of the week I should have a complete kitchen.

You know the holiday season has really begun when you start to see minivans with trees tied to the top. I know the ads and commercials began around Halloween but it really begins when you see those trees. I went out today to get my haircut and saw two places set up to sell trees. And today I saw my first holiday movie. I saw White Christmas with Bing Crosby. It was okay. There are so many I enjoy more but I just happened to be surfing through the channels and came across it and decided to have it on in the background while doing other things.

Next weekend we'll be putting up the boyfriend's tree and mine the weekend after that. Even though I don't shop for anyone but the boyfriend, I was up at 5:00 AM on Black Friday to go shopping. Well, I was actually shopping. I was returning something and decided to browse while out. I didn't see anything. Got any ideas for gifts for the boyfriend? He's becoming really hard to shop for.

Three years ago today I started my blog, so Happy Blogoversary to me! The blog reflects my ups and downs and has been a place to reflect on things going on in my life. I plan to continue blogging and posting my photos. This is post 733!

In other news, I had a really nice time at the boyfriend's for Thanksgiving yesterday. My mom had a great time and the food was delicious. Our parents got a long really well and talked the whole time. On the way home my mom talked about how nice the boyfriend's parents are and what a nice time she had. Before going to the boyfriend's my mother was talking about how she missed having big Thanksgiving meals with the family at our old house (she moved to a condo a few years ago and doesn't cook for the family anymore). She was feeling a little sad and missing the wonderful times we had when we were all much younger. I think the time we spent at the boyfriend's visiting with his parents and enjoying he meal made her feel so much better and reminded her of the Thanksgivings we used to have.


After the meal.


The boyfriend's nephew took this one. I don't know WHY the boyfriend can't smile.

A Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Today I'll be going over to the boyfriend's house for Thanksgiving dinner. His parents are in town and will be there as well. I will also be taking my mother. This will be the first time my mother has met the boyfriend's parents. I'm sure it will go just fine. My mother is very social and has no problem chatting with people. Granted the boyfriend's parents are younger than my mom, I still think they'll have plenty to talk about.

I'm sure the meal will be wonderful as well. The boyfriend is a great cook and got a fresh turkey for the meal. My mother will be bringing her famous pumpkin bread and I will be bringing the jellied cranberry sauce (my favorite). I might even come home with some leftovers!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm a little disappointed today. I came home from work hoping the contractor had been here today and installed the countertop and sink. Unfortunately when I walked in my door I saw the sink still sitting in the dining room which meant he hadn't been there. I was really hoping the kitchen would all be done by Thanksgiving but obviously that's not going to happen. So it will be sometime next week before the kitchen will be done.

Last week when my contractor left he said I could start filling the upper cabinets. So over the past two days, after I painted, I started filling the cabinets. I think I have everything in the places I think they should go. Of course this could change as I begin to use the kitchen. I might find that something should go in a different place or that the shelf heights should be adjusted. We'll have to see how it goes. I just feel pretty good that I have a lot of the stuff put away.

Now if the contractor makes a ton of dust installing the countertop, I'll have to pull everything out and re-dust all the shelves and items on the shelves. I hope it's a clean installation!

As you can see from the photo, I got the kitchen painted this weekend. The boyfriend's parents came in town on Saturday and he spent time with them this weekend so I took advantage of the time and painted the kitchen. The color is a bit more red than I care for but I think it looks great.

I didn't get to snuggle with the boyfriend last night and miss him but I'm sure he's enjoying spending time with his parents. I'll see him on Thursday for Thanksgiving. I won't be cooking in my kitchen. He's invited my mother and me over for Thanksgiving with his parents. It will be the first time our parents have met.

So a few weeks ago I downloaded the photos from the boyfriend's camera. Here's one of the pictures I found on the camera. I'm not sure who took it but I know it's at the boyfriend's house during one of his dinner parties. I know it was taken in July. How cute. How sweet. Love the boyfriend!

They completed a lot in the kitchen today. They got the crown moulding up, the light bar up, the baseboard done, and picked up all the cardboard off the floor. Also, the countertop fabricators came in today and measured for the countertop. So now I'm just waiting. My kitchen designer said it could take up to 2 weeks for the countertop to be made but my contractor said he hopes to be out of here before Thanksgiving. I really hope he is done by then. I really want to use Thanksgiving weekend to put things back together and begin the painting. I'm still deciding on what color. I have two samples up on the wall but still have a third to go up. They are all really close but I'm just not sure. It will take some time.

No picture today. There just isn't enough of a change to show in a photo. However, the contractor did take away all his tools since he probably won't be back until next week or the week after when the countertop comes in. Then he'll have to do all the plumbing and any final touches. I did notice there is one drawer that squeaks when you open it. That will have to be fixed.

I'm actually pleased at how fast this has gone. It's only been a week and a half and it's almost done!

Lots of activity in the kitchen renovation today. They finished installing all the cabinets and even had time to put the handles on. They also installed the under cabinet lighting. Then they put the the appliances in to make sure it all fit. And of course it does. They even turned the power on to the appliances. I was able to make microwave popcorn for the first time in my new microwave. The stove and microwave are new but the fridge and dishwasher are about 3 years old. I went with all Whirlpool appliances so the shade of white would be the same and sure enough even 3 years later Whirlpool is using the exact same white. I'm so glad.

You can also see a patch of red on the wall. That is just one color I'm considering painting the kitchen. It looks too orange in this photo but it's deeper than that. I have two others to try out before making my decision. Of course I'll keep you updated. The countertop fabricators come tomorrow to measure for the countertop. My contractor said today that he hopes to be completely finished by next Wednesday. That would be perfect. I am hoping to paint on the Friday after Thanksgiving when I'm off.

Today the contractors instsalled most of the cabinets. They installed all they could. Now they are waiting for the appliances which will be delivered tomorrow early in the morning. Once the appliances are here they can install the cabinets above the stove, install the microwave, and the cabinets next to the stove and microwave. They have to get all the cabinets installed tomorrow because the countertop people are coming on Wednesday to measure for the countertop and the cabinets have to be done before they can do that. Anyway, here's a picture of what the kitchen looks like today.

Often I spend the weekend at the boyfriend’s house and I always take my MacBook with me. I like to stay connected and check my e-mail and surf the web pages I like to read daily. The only problem is getting a connection at the boyfriend’s house. While he has a computer and a great connection of his own, it’s not wireless. I’m so used to using my MacBook that I sometimes find it cumbersome to switch to the PC and use web mail. I like the feel and ease of having my mail program come up and check my mail for me. It also puts all that nasty spam in a place I don’t have to look at it.

Anyway, the point is that stealing wireless connections at the boyfriend’s is very hit or miss. Sometimes I startup the MacBook and it finds a strong connection without a password and I’m off and running. Other times I start up the MacBook and it can’t find a connection or those it does find are password protected. I think there should be free wireless connections all over the city. Of course that’s impossible but it’s a nice wish.

The cabinets arrived yesterday. As you can see in the photo, my living room is filled with boxes and boxes. The renovation is moving along. They finished the tile on Friday. It's been grouted and is ready to walk on. I'm hoping on Monday they'll begin to install the cabinets. It would be nice to have more walking space in the living room and to clear some space for the appliances to be delivered on Tuesday. The kitchen might be close to finished by next weekend. The only thing I'll have to wait for is the countertop. Once they get the cabinets installed, the countertop installers have to come out and get exact measurements and then go back and fabricate the countertop. That whole process can take up to two weeks. I hope it moves faster than that. We'll see.

According the AP, George Allan is about to concede the Senate race to Jim Webb. The Associated Press reported at 4:47 AM that Jim Webb has won the Senate Race in Virginia, my home state. Jim Webb has a 7236 vote lead. According to election officials, most recounts don't reveal more than a few hundred votes going the other way, so Allan won't be able to make up the difference. In this case, every vote counted! Let's hope George does the right thing and concede today!



I'm so glad the election went the way it did. This change should have taken place 2 years ago. I think the tide is turning and people are beginning to see how bad the republicans are for our country.

On voting day the contractor and his helper finished clearing the old floor out and deciding the tile layout and figured out the wiring.

Today they began laying the tile floor and installing the wiring. As you can see in the photo the tile floor is almost done and the electrical is just waiting for the appliances and cabinets. Click on the picture to see a larger version to see what the floor will be like. I think it looks nice and it will go well with the cabinets.

The renovation has begun. Today they took out all the cabinets, sink, faucet, and dishwasher. They also began tearing up the floor. There are several layers of floor that need to be taken up. This might take some time. I can't believe how much they got done on the first day. And they are very clean workers! Here's what the kitchen looks like today:

I always kid the boyfriend on his photography skills. Most of his photos are out of focus or not centered. Today I was using his camera when I discovered some photos he took this week of the fall leaves. I couldn't believe how beautiful they were. Here's one of the photos he took. I might have some competition!

Just as I was picking up the phone to call Sears to tell them they'll need to hall away ugly Betty (my ugly stove), I got a phone call from someone who lives in my building asking if the stove had been sold yet. I had put an add in the basement offering the stove for sale more than a week ago but I hadn't heard from anyone. I was just about ready to give up on selling it when the neighbor called.

She decided to come down (she lives on the floor above me) and see the stove. She couldn't believe how clean the stove was. I informed her that I hardly ever used the stove. It's about 30 years old and in really good shape. She was really excited about possibly replacing her old stove with mine but didn't have a way to move it. I didn't want to get into the business of moving stoves so I told her she'd have to work that out herself. She said she'd talk to her partner (unmarried male lover of some 30 years) and get back to me.

She called about an hour later and said she's bringing her partner down to see the stove. They came in and just a minute after he saw it, she was writing me a check. They will have to work out getting it up to their place but that's fine with me. The boyfriend and I moved the stove into the living room this morning and it will just sit there until they work out how they will get it to their place.

So ugly Betty is sold and the kitchen is now completely ready for the demolition to begin on Monday. This morning I cooked the last meal on ugly Betty and of course it was sad but I think the new pretty Betty will be so much better.

As you know I'm having my kitchen renovated starting next week. The demo is scheduled to begin on Monday. The cabinets are scheduled to be delivered on November 10th. The appliances are scheduled to arrive on November 14th. What are the chances all this will run on schedule?

I've spent most of the week cleaning out my old kitchen, boxing things up, moving appliances and setting up my temporary kitchen in my dining room. Below you can see my temporary kitchen. I hope I can live with this for a few weeks while the renovation takes place. I'll try to post to the blog regularly as to the progress of the kitchen renovation.