Fully Evolved

Just to recap:

We went from this

To thisAnd Finally, to this

We ripped the old kitchen down to the studs- if you need to refresh yourself, click on the Construction label- took out the wall between the kitchen and dining room, reconfigured the powder room, moved the door to the garage, changed the opening to the entry/ mudroom, took out the laundry room and moved it upstairs, took out a defunct chimney and incorporated those two areas into the new and better kitchen. Sebastian built the cabinets based on my specifications. I asked for, and received, a whole lot of drawers- even behind doors- on full extension glides. I asked for, and received, white cabinets with bin pulls on the drawers and glass panels on the upper cabinets. I didn't ask for a hardwood floor, but I got it anyway and I really like it. we still have to hang the picture moulding and put the stainless steel on the edges of the slate (How cool is that?) Counter tops, but other than that, we are done! And it only took 6 months! Which is short around here- because my fabulous husband doesn't get paid to remodel his own house.

And just because I am a stinker, you have to click here to see the pictures!

Evolution 2

If you recall, we started with this:

So, from phase 1 we went to phase 2. As part of a whole house remodel we got an attached 2 car garage, moved the powder room, we gained a large entry (originally we conceived this as a breakfast room, but we just didn't live that way, so the table became the dumping ground for all our junk as we came and went.), and a family room that can double as a MIL apartment with it's kitchenette and 3/4 bath. Also in this remodel I gained a master bath off of my monstrously huge bedroom.


The kitchen stayed almost the same. We took the large bank of cabinets from one side and turned the bottom unit around to the other side of the room. The cabinets stayed the same, but we did discover the original fir floors under the hideous peal and stick tiles. The fir only ran part of the way through the kitchen. That bump out in the last post was added some time later, and the addition was camouflaged by hideous tile. Badly, I might add.


With a little creativity and some fir we salvaged from the laundry room (that had to be leveled- and took 6 bags of leveling compound) we put together a wood/tile combo kitchen that didn't look too weird. And we lived with it. For a LONG time.


In 2003, Sebastian went to Argentina to climb Mt. Aconcagua. Sine I don't sleep well when he is gone, I had a month of late evenings on my hands. I went to visit all of my sisters, and then I refinished my kitchen cabinets and put new hardware on them.





This is a blue print for #2

And it got ugly in that remodel...that took about 3 years to finish...

Gone, baby gone. Goodbye you hideous waste of space!

Off came the roof of the bad bump out to make way for my master bathroom.

Here is the new garage entrance, the new powder room, and off to the left, the stairs to the new family room.

The new entry and deck, and Jesse looks like he's about 5 here.

This is how the addition ties into our old house. Right above the door is my master bath.

And then this was what we had.

Stay tuned for the big reveal tomorrow- assuming the 1 1/2 feet of snow here doesn't put the power out again.

And keep looking at the first post and trying to be sharp! I fully expect one of my family members to figure it out- but I may just tell you if someone doesn't get it soon!

And then I'll have to eat that Symphony bar myself.

Evolution

ev-o-lu-tion 
–noun
1.any process of formation or growth; development: the evolution of a language; the evolution of the airplane.
2.a product of such development; something evolved: The exploration of space is the evolution of decades of research.
3.Biology. change in the gene pool of a population from generation to generation by such processes as mutation, natural selection, and genetic drift.
4.a process of gradual, peaceful, progressive change or development, as in social or economic structure or institutions.
5.a motion incomplete in itself, but combining with coordinated motions to produce a single action, as in a machine.
6.a pattern formed by or as if by a series of movements: the evolutions of a figure skater.
7.an evolving or giving off of gas, heat, etc.
8.Mathematics. the extraction of a root from a quantity.
9.a movement or one of a series of movements of troops, ships, etc., as for disposition in order of battle or in line on parade.
10.any similar movement, esp. in close order drill.

All pictures circa 2000.

This is pretty much what the house looked like when we bought it.

We took out the cherry tree in the front yard, and we built the fence just after we moved in.

The back had a funny addition built onto it, a detached garage, and a carport large enough to park out motor home.

The blue print shows the layout of kitchen #1.
Don't miss all the living that has gone on in the pathetic kitchen.

Jesse, About 2 1/2 years old.

Notice the hideous peel and stick tiles on the floor. Remember those!

Jesse and Sebastian teaching baby Caleb to walk

Caleb about 11 months old.

Yes, son, I do see you on the counter.

Baby Caleb, about 10 months old.

Our VERY boring dining room.


There is a secret contest to go with this post. It is so secret that I can't even tell you the rules- but you may figure it out anyway- If you're really sharp.

The prize? Think chocolate.

Men At Work

I was looking for the perfect song to play for you , but I couldn't find any jack hammers.

Sorry I've been away so long, but if you look left you will see that the list has gotten mighty short. I will show you pictures soon. If you promise not to hate.

Actually, I would show you now, but we have been evicted due to toxic fumes.
Our flooring guy said we could stay at his house for the night. What a nice brother!
We should be home tomorrow and then I will have to do some MAJOR cleaning while I charge my camera batteries.

Pssst, Down Here...

Hey, Guys. I wanna showed the best food dat my mom maked for dinner.

It was so yummy. She said she getted dah idea from Princess Kat- cause she maked some yummy looking stuff like dis dah udder day.

Dis is what it looked like when Mom called us to eat. She hasta yell real loud cause we never come dah first time! Mom sayed dat it was eat out of dah pantry night. I say it was good.

All of dah kids toadally liked Mom's dinners. We fink she maked good dinners tonight.

And speaking of pantries, my Aunt Kris comed over on one day dis week. Mom sayed it was Twosday. Mom was ready wif a project for Aunt Kris cause she is TOADally good at dem.

Mom finks dat dah pantry was a mess since dad broke dah kitchen. Mom sayed dat she never wanted to put dah food in here cause it wasn't acshully made for food. But she haves food in here now.

But since Aunt Kris comed and helped Mom put anodder shelf in dah pantry, all of Mom's stuffs are toadally, super neat. I fink it was nice for Aunt Kris to come over dis Twosday cause now my mom can make my yummy dinners super fast.

And see how happy dat makes me?

Happy Birthday To The Man Who Has Everything He Wants Has No Wants

My husband is seriously hard to shop for! The problem is not that he has everything, but that he truly does not want. Yes, I know that is a blessing, but it makes it hard to buy anything for him. He has a roof, a full belly, and clothes to put on everyday. What more could he need?

How about a new coat and hat with our company logo on it to keep him warm while he is slaving away? Good idea.

Happy 40th Birthday, Sebastian.

I Love You.

Anybody Need Some Excitement? Come On Over!

Tonight I decided to take Jesse and go out for a while to do some birthday stuff. Jesse has a birthday party to go to during the day tomorrow, Caleb's birthday party is tomorrow evening, and my niece's birthday party is on Sunday. Somehow, our quick and dirty escape was foiled and we ended up with the other 2 boys as well. I was not excited. Not yet.



The excitement came when we got home. I had only just walked in the door and set my few groceries on the counter when I heard my husband's muffled voice. It sounded like he said, "We have a problem down here." And it sounded like he was laying on the floor. I knew his back had been hurting him when he got home from work, so I went to see if that problem was his back.



I rounded the corner and nearly fell over Sebastian. Yes, he was on the floor. No, it didn't appear to be his back. He was peering under our stairs.



"Um, what did you say?"

"I said we have a possum down here."

"How did it get under there? Be careful. They bite. They carry diseases. Kids, move! Stand on the steps! Honey!" I was losing my cool.

"Don't worry it's just a baby. It crawled up from the hole in the floor."

"The one in the kitchen?" The one that used to vent the dryer in the laundry room that is no longer there. That bothersome hole right in the middle of the walkway where Jonah was dangling his foot earlier this evening?! That same hole that I can't keep covered no matter what I tape over it? You mean that hole?!

"Yes. Could you help me, I'm going to try to push it out. Somehow."



MacGuyver SuperSebastian finally rigged up a noose on a really long pole with a climbing rope, a caribiner, and some duct tape. He managed to slip it around his baby possum and began to drag it from under the stairs. I got one look at that thing's hand/paw and flipped my lid.



"THAT'S NOT A BABY!!!!!!"

Meanwhile as he is dragging that possum out from under the stairs it is hissing and grabbing at the noose and fighting for all it is worth. I wish it had just played possum- but no. I smacked a garbage pail over Mr. Possum and we managed to drag that thing out the door, down the walk, and let it go in the street. Now that was exciting!


























I used some duct tape to tape two layers over the hole and then topped it off with a sturdy piece of cardboard. That ought to hold for a few days....

Progress Report

Not finished, but functional.

I've started fitting my dishes in where I think they should go.

It's Almost Orgasmic!

He-LLO, Beautiful!

You've been steppin out on me for the last month or so,

But now your back,

And I am as in love with you as ever!

I see you 've brought some friends home with you. That's OK. There's enough love to go around! And that is just dead sexy!
We got a little bump and GRIND going on in the kitchen.
And this one is here to stay. No more nonsense about needing to detach for a while or about how it needs to be free wheelin'.I am going to sleep tonight with a smile on my face!

Progress Report

As I leave for a week to the Oregon Coast with my kids and my extended family,

here is what my kitchen currently looks like:

My honey decided to stay home to finish it.

I am only halfway sad that he won't be coming.
But at the end of the week we are going to meet him at the Washington coast. He and the kids are working on hiking the western coast of Washington. This year they are going to do their second leg of the trip. I don't imagine there will be a chance to blog while I am gone, so here is a little eye candy to tide you over.

My Current Kitchen

I decided you should all have a tour of my "kitchen."

Here you will find the prep area, and the cooking station.

You can do a lot with a BBQ and 1 burner. Really.

On this side of the kitchen is the clean up station.

If you look closely you will see running water

And waste management.

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the snack and beverage station.

Please note that we use only the best and finest china for meal service.

And may I just take a moment to bless the socks off the good people at Green Giant who make the finest in haute cuisine- cooked on only one burner.

Thank you for touring my kitchen.

We are taking orders if you would like one just like mine.