All Moved In

Here's the new kitchen. All moved in. I really like it. The stove is level, the things I want to have at hand are at hand, there is a lot of counter space. I really love the bathroom!

2009-07-04

Nearly There

The countertops are in and the stove and fridge have been put back in. Along with a lot of plumbing. Also showing what our temporary kitchen setup looked like. We are now operating half in the dining room and half in the kitchen. Unable to move in completely yet until some final details are finished.

2009-06-07

19 Days Left

The cabinets came yesterday!

2009-05-20

Twenty-nine Days Left

These pictures were taken at night and therefore do not show the rooms to best advantage. There is sheetrock on the walls and Luther has put two coats of primer on it. The tub is in. The bathroom window is this very cool glass block with a bubble pattern. I'll try and get a better picture. The kitchen window is way bigger than our old one and way straighter and tighter. Also, you can swing the bottom sash down to clean it inside and out. The floor of the kitchen has been finished. Perhaps tomorrow the bathroom floor will be installed. Next week is ceramic tile around the bathtub and I am sure some other stuff but we are ahead of schedule so I am trying to read off the original schedule and am not sure where we are at exactly. The week after that is cabinetry and I know that cuz we met with the cabinet guy day before yesterday.

2009-05-07 Twenty-nine Days Left

Extra Day in California

Bert and Nic and Leona Johanna took me to the airport this morning. After the goodbyes, I went in to the ticket counter to discover that the flight to Denver would be late and that I would have to "overnight" there. I said that I would rather "overnight" here and she said that that could be arranged. So I called Nic and they circled around and came back and got me. I have boarding passes for the exact same itinerary tomorrow. I think it would be a good idea for me to check the airline website before heading for the airport tomorrow.

Meanwhile, we decided to come in to San Francisco. We stopped at Ted's to freshen up. And then we took a walk down 24th Street toward Mission, then to Valencia to the Ritual coffee shop to get the right kind of coffee, in addition to stops for tortas, gelato, cute baby booties for a friend, and pizza. In the collection of pictures embedded here, the things to note are the pants that Leona is wearing, the murals, which are on a street off 24th called Balmy Alley, and that Bert is carrying Leona under his jacket in the Baby Bjorn.

2009-04-28 An Extra Day in California

Pictures From the Weekend

Here are some pictures from the weekend. Nic and Leona and I drove to SF on Saturday and I stayed there overnight while N & L came back by themselves. Then Andy drove me back to Stockton today just in time for the baby handoff as Nic went to a Youth Symphony event.

2009-04-26

Child Care

It's been very fun doing childcare. Nearly every day Leona and I end up sleeping on the couch between noon and two or so. The days are beautiful and sunny. Today is a little bit cooler than it has been with a nice breeze. Tomorrow Nic has a longer day than usual at school and then on Saturday I think we will go to San Francisco. My camera batteries have not been holding their charge but I got some new ones today so soon I should have more fotos.

Tuesday in Stockton

Today I meant to get a lot of baby pictures and Leona Johanna meant to sleep a lot. You will note this very cool bassinet she has.

4-21-2009 Baby Pictures (and one of a dog)

California

The trip was easy and quick. It was a madhouse in Salt Lake City but wasn't there long. Ted picked me up and we went to watch Lilly's baseball game. Real baseball. The kids even wear real baseball pants. The we went to see Kai's soccer game. Somewhat hard to follow though fun to watch. Supper was on the grill at Ted's house. The next day, we went rock climbing. I actually rock climbed too although there is no photo verification! I went up the wall twice until my arms gave out. Later met up with Andy & Paul et al and Nic & Bert et al at a musician friend's house near Golden Gate park. The guys and Laura played bluegrass and the rest of us went to lie around in a meadow in the park. Supper was on the grill at Andy's house. Later in the evening, Nic & Bert & Leona and I came to Stockton.

4-20-2009 California

Day Two

There is a lot of old, black dust. The zipper doors only partially protect the rest of the house from it. On day two, the ceiling came out of the kitchen. And the bathroom was demolitioned. All those little dividers are gone.

2009-04-09 Second Day

Underway

After all this time, our kitchen & bath project has started. We had
the kickoff meeting on Tuesday afternoon, April 7, with our builder/designer guy, the owner of the company, and the job supervisor. We had the option of beginning on Monday the 13th, but the workers were ready and willing to start the next day,so we agreed to that, and they showed up in their truck early the next morning and by the end of the day the walls in the kitchen had been taken down and most of the cabinets were gone.

2009-04-08 First Day

We have the fridge and a piece of the old kitchen countertop in the dining room. Yesterday we finally got stuff kind of organized in there so we can actually cook. And we did put out some chicken and potatoes in the Solar Chef. Also at our disposeal we have a microwave, crockpot, foreman grill, toaster, popcorn popper. Dad found a hot plate for us, too. We have to get water either from the basement or the 2nd floor bathroom.

The project will take 10 weeks. The field supervisor is here every day, Monday through Friday. And every Monday morning, the denizens of this house will meet with him and the project builder/designer guy to see how things are going.

Murals

The work of art on the left is by Jack and the one on the right is by Lucia, both faithfully reproduced by Luther.

2008-09-01_Garage_Art

Jo Learns to Play Cribbage

I went to Mankato Friday afternoon on the airport shuttle to visit Lois, my old college room-mate. Well, not old.....you know what I mean. I got to spend an evening with her mother, Mildred, while Lois and Steve were out viewing the Grand March at a formal dance their son was attending. We finished two rounds of cribbage. Interesting game. I recommend it.