Step Warmfloor

So we have been working on the kitchen. The next step was actually installing the Step Warmfloor. Remember that picture I posted of the perfect little rows of black plastic looking ladders? Well, here is what our floor is looking like right now...

Supermoto has been working hard to make our toesies warm and that is what it looks like. The company made it sounds super easy and in their installation dvd it seemed like it took about 15 minutes to install. Let me tell you it doesn't. That being said, everything went smoothly with the product, just not the stupid particle board that is on top of the sub floor. At one point, at a temperature of about thirty four degrees, we had all the windows open and a cloud of smoke and dust billowing out of the router. That is all I need to say really. As you can see in the picture we are leaving a hole for the cabinets to sit on plywood at the wall and the flooring in the front as well as for the island to sit on the wood in the picture on the left. More to come...progress is being made.

Merry Christmas People!

You are all very special to us and we miss you!

SuperMoto, Moto, & The GeoDog

Progress

SuperMoto is home and we hit the ground running. Today was the first major work day and we have majorly worked. That is for sure. Here's a before and after...

before...

after...

As you can see, we are almost done demo-ing the kitchen. Just a few lowers, the dishwasher and sink are left. We are making progress. Unstopable, would be the word that comes to mind. We are on a mission!

This is what I am doing. I removed baseboards, removed carpet and pad, pulled up tack strip and pulled out staples.

This work isn't really fun but it is necessary and I am glad to have something that is necessary to do.

Sometimes I think, with this hand of mine, there is nothing necessary I can do, but that's not true.

It is quiet here. I love the quiet but after a while of it I am feeling a bit lonely. I only have to feel lonely for a few more days though as SuperMoto will be in his way soon. I need to clean up, vacuum up the endless amounts of dog hair that are everywhere, and generally get ready for his return. I have so much laundry to do. Never realized how messy I would get doing home projects. I can't wait to make more progress.

One Last Thing...

Just in case you are wondering if you are thought of in times like these...

The Second Snow

I awoke this morning and looked out the window and to my surprise, like a present under the Christmas Tree, there was the second snow. It danced around me while I slept and teased me and taunted me to awaken, so the GeoDog and I could go outside and play in the snow. And so we did.

This time, it stayed on the ground, like a blanket, for about five hours where upon it began to melt away like tears streaming down rosy cheeks.The remnants of our second snow lay quietly outside the window in the cold, slowly fading away into my memory. I wonder how long I will remember this second snow. Will I still be thinking of it at the hundredth snow. Will we be old and gray and losing our memories but the thousandth snow falls and reminds me of this special second snow? The second snow that melted my heart and made me fall in love with this place all over again but this time even more deeply than the last.

Although it would be a blessing and a curse, I would like the third snow to stay on the ground for longer than a few hours. The goal is to awaken to the third snow and retire to the third snow and awaken again to the third snow. Ahhh, if only...

So, let me just say that, when I get to the hundredth snow, I am well aware that I should duck because you all are going to be throwing snowballs my direction. In the mean time, get over it, I am loving my snow people what can I say!?!

The GeoDog is loving it too. She danced and barked and sniffed.

I really have never seen her happier.She bounced in a way that was so adorable.

She is a snow dog that is for sure.

Well, now that most of the snow has melted away and all the playing has taken up so much of the day I must get back to being productive.

Funny how this trip I haven't really updated you on much of the work being done. Wonder why that is? Because I am being so lazy and social. Sheesh!

The First Snow...

Sunday, December 13, 2009 approximately 7:30 a.m.

The first snow of the season fell this morning. This was a momentous snow because it was the first "lived in" snow. I have had plenty of vacation snow and traveling snow. I have never had "live in" snow. It was the most lovely "live in" snow.

I was on the telephone with SuperMoto and getting ready to feed the GeoDog and take her outside to do the morning business when I looked out into the gray sky and noticed something softly falling. I took a double take and realized that the soft falling shimmery silent sky was blowing snowy kisses my direction. I ran out with the GeoDog in tow and looked up into the still darkish sky and to my amazement, it was snow.

The first, "we live in it", snow.

I have been hoping, wishing, and begging the sky for snow. Finally, this morning my wishes came true. The only thing that would make it better is if SuperMoto were here to share it with me.

The Floor So Far

Not sure if I showed you, but this is what the floor looks like now that one side of the room is done. As you can see, the tall double oven cabinet is in the living-room. If it weren't, you would have a better view of the floor.

This photo was taken before the wall was painted.

The GeoDog likes to lay on the cool floor when I am boiling her out with the wood stove.

Poor SuperMoto, every box of boards I open I would scream out, " OH, I LOVE THIS BOARD" or "THIS ONE IS MY FAVORITE". He is down on the floor, working his buttocks off on his hands and knees and I am strategically trying to put my favorite boards in places I think I will see them, once furniture is in the room. I always have to ask him to look and coo and caaaa over the boards that I love. He tolerates this but I am sure is ready to kill me by end of day.

I also get equally excited when a very long board comes out. Sounds funny but there are so few 72 inch boards that when I get them I get so over the top about it.I love the real dynamic boards that have knots, or waves, or dynamic colors on them.

Who knew flooring could be so completely wonderful?

What is it that I do? I PAINT!

Is anyone sick of me painting??

I know I am!

But look, one color on the staircase...

Remember what it was looking like?

See how we were testing out colors?

Well, clearly I decided on one and have been painting, squire hill buff color.

. Not sure if you can tell, but in this photo, it is the old color on the left which is yellow and the tan color we are painting on the right, blond wood.

Unfortunately I have been spilling paint all day and yesterday. It has been terrible. I had two colors in the fridge. One was in a bucket, one was in a paint tray, along with two rollers and two brushes. The bucket has been upside down in front of the fridge twice and so has the tray. WHAT A MESS! When you have an off day, you have an off day and I am having one today.

The Cold

Disclaimer: I am well aware that there are colder places on the planet

BBBBRRRRR....

It is Cold!

So the high today was in the thirties and the low was in the twenties.

The frosty yard looked pretty this morning. Snow is in the forecast three day next week.

WAHOO!

Not only did the yard look good, check out the sky & fog this morning...