Just another Monday

A weekend of working on the house is always followed by the reset on Monday. Usually the girls are a huge part of that.  And this time was no different.  After weeks of the school shelves being in the playroom while the tile was laid, it was finally time to get them back in the dining room. 

It's always so refreshing to me to put things back in their place. Especially now, when all the work we do is PROGRESS - visible progress!  One weekend at a time...

Isn't it beautiful?!

It's the Little Things

James spent weeks planning a big 40th birthday party for me - I wasn't allowed to do a thing!  That meant that while he was finishing the island and the tile, he was also shopping for fajita meat and organizing the menu.  And he had one last house chore on his list, to help improve the look in the main part of the house - a door for the laundry room.  

It's amazing how it improved the look of things - we'll paint it one of these days.

Back in Business

After dinner was over, and the men left, it was time to cut the hole for plumbing and get the island set in just the right place. 

Then to install the new countertop. :-)  This will do for now...

And just to be an overachiever, he got the sink back in place, too.

The next day, we had to get Darcy out of her new favorite hiding place so James could put the dishwasher in. 

And in the meantime, Uncle Jeff came by to get the carpet trimmed and re-stretched next to the new tile.

The Island Has Landed

After a day to let the tile set, it's a big moment around here. 

James enlisted the help of family - Dad, Ray, Daniel, and Stephen - to get the island from the barn to our kitchen.  SO thankful for these men. And thankful to Jan, who provided dinner for them to eat when they were done.

I can't believe it's actually here!

Island Out, Tile In

Well, the new island is stained and sealed. The tile is done - as much as is possible. It's time. 

BEFORE:

The old "island" found a new home in the backyard (for now), and we set up shop in the laundry room. You know, we installed this utility sink YEARS ago in preparation for being without a kitchen sink for a few days. It's finally paying off. :-) 

Now time to finish the last of the tile!

THE LAST ONE!!!  (of over 500!)

Coming Home to a Mess

...is actually one of my favorite things. :-)   It means PROGRESS!!
And today, coming home from karate to sheetrock missing and wire everywhere means the electrical in the kitchen is getting finalized. That means texturing, painting, cabinets...Bring it on!

Stain, Sand, Seal, Repeat

Well, James is living at his parents' barn these days. When he's not at his day job. 

He's busy staining and sealing, then sanding and re-sealing. And we've enjoyed visiting him. And the island. :-)

And every once in a while, he comes home for dinner. :-) One night, he took time to read with Darcy before he went back to work - a much-need motivator, I'm sure. 

Next up is choosing counters. Oh my.