House Update

So, a few things are going on and we've about 7 days before the builder does a walk-through, then 5 days after that and we've got the final walk-through and then keys. Yay stress!

1. The laundry room was messed up. For some reason, the contractor put the vent for the dryer and the drain washer in the wrong place, too far over and didn't leave room for the cabinet we ordered. So, they had to tear it apart and redo everything.

2. Today, Tuesday, August 28, the master bath cabinets were finally replaced and I have my vanity.

3. Terry and I went out this past weekend and bought our refrigerator. Sears was having a 20% off sale of all Kenmore products. So, we got our refrigerator for about $400 less than we had planned. That $400 paid for a warranty and the delivery.

4. We also bought a curio cabinet for the family room to place my thimbles in. Yes, I collect thimbles from all the places we visit. Family members also bring me thimbles from their travels. Terry has brought me a thimble from every place he's been while working, even as far as the Bahamas. My favorite? The moose thimble I brought home from Alaska.

5. I have planned to buy the LG Steamwash Washer and the matching dryer, in Cherry Red. (vroom vroom). We found pedestals at Home Depot, or at least one pedestal, for $100. It doesn't match, but you know, saving $100 on something like that is worth it. The other will be red to match.

Now we wait for the final stuff to be done.

Today, we got our landscaping, or at least most of it. The cabinets in the laundry room were fixed. They took the protective cover off my countertops. Things are progressing, but sometimes it just seems so slow, especially considering what day it is.

Small Touches, Make Big Differences

The kitchen sinks and countertop are in. The appliances are going to be black. So, the faucet is as well, to match. The faucet itself comes out and does the spray thing, by pressing a button on the side. The smaller sink is the side with the garbage disposal. The bigger sink is big enough for a cookie sheet to lay down inside. Yay space!
The stair rail after it was finally stained. Not as dark as I thought it would be, but it's still beautiful.
The entryway tile. Brown to go with the carpet. Terry and I are talking about redoing the entire first floor in slate. We've got a real nice one picked out, 18", and we can do a nice design with it in a smaller piece, as well as the edging that matches. Time will tell how long we'll have to wait.

Bathroom Marble

The master bath shower.
The kids' bathroom sink.
Yes, that's a toilet.
The sink for the downstairs bathroom.

Pour The Cement!

Prepping for the cement.
The back patio.
Thirty-one-feet of cement! Terry is thrilled with the size of the driveway. To me, it's just a way to get into the garage.

Painted House

Excitement and joy! The house is painted... except it's the wrong color!! Oh joy! Let's work with a color blind man to determine what color our house will be. The supervisor keeps insisting that there is going to be green in my garage doors and front door. I keep insisting that if the house has any green in it, he'll be repainting it. He's repainting it anyway. How lucky can he get?!

Stair Rail

The rail without the stain. Beautiful even without it. Even better with.

Doors and Cabinets

Front door.
Kitchen cabinets.

So, while the cabinets were delivered and look gorgeous, the cabinets in the master bath were wrong. We ordered a extended vanity and they delivered a full cabinet. And... we wait for the replacement.

Outside Stucco

The first layer of stucco.
The last layer of stucco, back of the house.

Inside Drywall

The front door and Micaela telling me how small the windows in the family room are now that the drywall is on them.
The office/den, the family room and the downstairs bathroom.
The formal diningroom.

Natural Highs

Natural Highs (an email from my father)

Think about them one at a time before going on to the next one. It Does Make You Feel Good, especially the thought at the end of #44.

1. Falling in love.
2. Laughing so hard your face hurts.
3. A hot shower.
4. No lines at the supermarket.
5. A special glance.
6. Getting mail.
7. Taking a drive on a pretty road.
8. Hearing your favorite song on the radio.
9. Lying in bed listening to the rain outside.
10. Hot towels fresh out of the dryer.
11. Chocolate milkshake (vanilla or strawberry ).
12. A bubble bath.
13. Giggling.
14. A good conversation.
15. The beach.
16. Finding a 20 dollar bill in your coat from last winter.
17. Laughing at yourself.
18. Looking into their eyes and knowing they Love you.
19. Midnight phone calls that last for hours.
20. Running through sprinklers.
21. Laughing for absolutely no reason at all.
22. Having someone tell you that you're beautiful.
23. Laughing at an inside joke with FRIENDS
24. Accidentally overhearing someone say something nice about you.
25. Waking up and realizing you still have a few hours left to sleep.
26. Your first kiss (the very first).
27. Making new friends or spending time with old ones.
28. Playing with a new puppy.
29. Having someone play with your hair.
30. Sweet dreams.
31. Hot chocolate.
32. Road trips with friends.
33. Swinging on swings.
34. Making eye contact with a cute stranger.
35. Making chocolate chip cookies.
36. Having your friends send you homemade cookies.
37. Holding hands with someone you care about.
38. Running into an old friend and realizing that some things (good or bad) never change.
39. Watching the expression on someone's face as they open a much desired present from you.
40. Watching the sunrise.
41. Getting out of bed every morning and being grateful for another beautiful day.
42. Knowing that somebody misses you.
43. Getting a hug from someone you care about deeply.
44. Knowing you've done the right thing, no matter what other people think.

Lord, keep Your arm around my shoulder and Your hand over my mouth .