Saturday, September 27, 2014

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

"I should just stay composed and run to the finish line." ~ Asafa Powell

Well, by the time this posts, we should be well on our way back home. Our remodel has been quite an experience (a not yet complete experience), and we are happy, tired, and glad to be headed back north. I am including only a few shots this go-round; mostly of our new countertop. Once again - I promise a more comprehensive post in the future - probably not the next one (I'll be in VT), but perhaps the one after.


Here we go -


The flowers in the pictures are for our upstairs neighbor - who has been beyond patient with all of the noise involved in this project.







Some things that are being done as I type: 
  • closet doors
  • French door between the bedroom and living area

Some things will be done in our absence:
  • trim
  • molding
A number of things to be completed upon our return:
  • kitchen backsplash - which will add another dynamic to the kitchen for sure!
  • under cabinet lighting in kitchen
  • delivery of master bath vanity
  • additional tile work
And then:
  • furniture! I'm not sure that we will be able to afford any!
  • window treatments - we will live without for a while
  • dishes, towels, etc.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

"Patience is the art of concealing your impatience." ~ Guy Kawasak

Another short post, with a few updated shots of the condo. I realize that things still look a total mess, but it really is coming together. This evening we will finish the painting, with the exception of the woodwork that will be installed once we head home. We have painted every paintable inch of this place and we are tired of it! Tomorrow we will do the woodwork, but it is just long pieces of unattached wood, and we hope that we will make fairly short order of it. There have been some kind of funny painting stories, and some not so funny ones - like the gallon of ceiling paint that tipped over in the trunk of my car this morning. Yes - a disaster, but not the end of the world (I seem to remember using that phrase not too long ago with my new stove mishap - I hope this doesn't become a habit!)

We plan to head back to NY on Tuesday, and what is done is done - with a few things to be completed in our absence. By Friday, we will be in Vermont for a family weekend. From southern Florida to northern Vermont in a matter of days - I'm going to need a serious nap by the time we are done!

So - here are a few photos. I do promise a more comprehensive and knowledgeable post down the road - for now please excuse the mishmash!

Kitchen hardware - I like it very much - sleek and simple.



My mini escape from painting and a condo full of men - I couldn't take it any longer!

Notice the paint atop Bruce's head - we have both had enough!

Apricot Mousse - the color for the bedroom - not a great depiction of the actual color!
Wish us safe travels!

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

"If there is no struggle, there is no progress." ~ Frederick Douglass

A short but sweet post. We have been busy, busy, busy. Between paint, sheetrock dust and grout, everything is gritty, and a mess! As you can see however, the kitchen is well on its way to completion. The handles and knobs went on cabinet doors today (pictures at a later date), and yesterday someone was here to make a template for the counter-top, which should be installed on Monday. Our new stove has a cracked ceramic top, so Lowes will be here in the morning to take care of that. Yikes - we have a list a mile long of things to be done, but it does seem to be getting a bit shorter.

In the meantime, Bruce has said that he never wants to watch another HGTV renovation show!






Saturday, September 13, 2014

"Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet." ~ Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Yes, I do have some updated renovation shots for you today. Things have been moving rather slowly, but there have been no major obstructions. Last night we stayed in the condo for the first time since work has begun. Today, the kitchen cabinets are being installed! Psychologically, that seems like a major step, even though a lot of work has taken place prior to this. I think that it just makes things seem so visually real.

I am writing from the library again. We do have WiFi at the condo now, but there is no place for me to "set up shop" so to speak. Plus, the sound of saws and drills, while music to my ears, is not exactly conducive to focusing on what I'm doing.

I will try to provide a little information to what is happening! Below - new half wall between the kitchen and the dining/living area (where full wall was taken down).
 
 New sheet-rock in kitchen.


Bruce priming ceiling.


Sheet-rocker sanding.


From inside the kitchen.


Appliances and a chair shoved into a little hall.


The arrival of the kitchen cabinets.



Freshly tiled kitchen floor.



Boxes of cabinets in the kitchen.


Installation begins!


Our bed covered in plastic to protect it from all of the "stuff"!


They are here!





By the time I return, I expect that many of the upper cabinets will be hung. We know he won't finish today, but it's exciting! Even more exciting is that I hope to have a refrigerator plugged in and running by the end of the day. Cold water!!!

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

"Follow your passion. The rest will attend to itself. If I can do it, anybody can do it. It's possible. And it's your turn. So go for it. It's never too late to become what you always wanted to be in the first place." ~ J. Michael Straczynski

It had been my plan to bring you updated renovation pictures today, but, as is in the world of remodeling, I don't have much new to show you. There has definitely been progress, but I'd be showing you more tiling, some wall-priming, and some sheet-rocking - not great pictures!



We had been ambitious (quite) in thinking that we could move into our condo this past Saturday. When it came right down to it, it was just not going to be realistic. Because of its size, there are not a lot of places for the various tradespeople to leave their tools, and even setting up our bed would have impacted negatively on what space there is. So - we are still in the hotel, but fine. I hope to have more to "show and tell" on Saturday. In the meantime, I'm going to share a news story  with you that I have already put up on Face-Book, so for some of you, it will be old news!

Our nephew Brian has been a runner since his days in junior high. He ran straight through his college years, and it has been a significant part of his life. Upon graduation, Brian pursued other interests, but has recently made a dedicated return to serious running. Below you will find an article, and an interview following Brian's first marathon. By the way, you will also find that not only did he win, he beat the old time by over 25 minutes - that's 25 minutes, not seconds. We love him and are very proud!

Thewhitefishpilot.com

First-Time Marathoner Sets Two-Bear Record

Two-Bear Marathon Runs Through Whitefish

Saturday, September 6, 2014

"I have nothing to offer anybody except my own confusion!" ~ Jack Kerouac

OK - so, I have been in Florida for a week, with Bruce here a week and a half before me. A whirlwind to be sure! My role so far has been unscrewing switch-plates, being a gofer, and moral support! Bruce has done more of the grunt work, but I'm awfully glad that we are both here. We have had a series of workers - electricians, tile people, sheet-rockers. At one point I announced that I felt like I was back teaching junior high! Everyone's work is dependent upon the work that someone else is doing. My role as a resource room teacher has been reprised!

I would have to say that so far, things have gone fairly smoothly. There have been some frustrations, but in the grand scheme of things, here and in the world, we recognize that we are very fortunate that these are the frustrations that we are facing. At one point we were watching the evening news and I commented on how grateful I was that our dilemma of day was to try to find the right outlet fixtures. We know, and are grateful.

Today is the first day since I have been here that we are not staying at a hotel. We are going to stay in the condo, and now have a working shower and toilet. I readily admit that I am not a camper, but I will be glad to sleep in our own bed in our own home, as "in disarray" as it may be!

I am going to share a number of pictures, in no particular order at the moment. I am working from the library, and on a bit of a schedule, but I promise to bring more orderly posts in the future!










Till next time!

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

"The future is something which everyone reaches at the rate of 60 minutes an hour, whatever he does, whoever he is." ~ C. S. Lewis

Today my retired teaching friends are gathering to celebrate the first day of school with their annual luncheon out. For the first time in three years, since I have retired, I will not be joining them. I am certainly with them in spirit, but am now back down in Florida with Bruce as our condo renovation is well under way. I promise to share pictures in the very near future. In the meantime, the back-to-school luncheon also marks the third anniversary of this blog! 

ClipArtBest.com

Yikes! And - thank you!