Itching to Cook!

Now that the appliances are in, I want to cook! Yummm, Christmas candy, cookies, quick breads, not to mention soups and stews, stir fries and fun stuff done on the gas (hurrah!) cook top. Phil's using it to cook eggs in the morning but I've not wanted to move up there to cook until the kitchen feels done. (I did dismantle a turkey on our island this morning though.)

The fridge is nice but, oddly, seems small. It also has an ear piercing alarm for when the door(s) are left open. We don't see a way to turn it down or off.

The dishwasher is very quiet, which we love, but it also seems smaller than our old one.

The garbage disposal in the main sink is in and is ultra-quiet. :0) I also love the prep sink. I'm glad I got a big one because I think I'm going to be using it a lot.

Hold onto your horses

The big reveal of our kitchen will be soon..........:-)

House update

You would think that people who work on other people's houses would make some effort to not be offensive.

False.

There is a fellow working on our house (subcontractor) who has a body odor problem. It is so offensive, the stench permeates the entire house. I always have to air out the house for half an hour or more after he leaves. It's tough to be here when he is here. Only one more day and I hope we never have to see him again. That's sad because he is a nice person but I can do nothing but avoid him.

Speaking of the house, we are now a little behind. The lights and all electrical should be done tomorrow. Some of the cabinet doors had to go back to the shop for a little touch up. The drywall guy should be here on Saturday rather than tomorrow. And, the guy who's helping put millwork up ...we don't know yet when he can come do that. We won't be able to paint until that work is done; we hope the millwork is done before Turkey Day.

Naps

Bedtime tonight; I had just finished reading to Naomi and I was stretching my back by lying across the narrow part of her bed. (By the way, I don't take naps normally--I tried to when the kids were both babies but that only worked for a little while when Naomi was small.)

N: Why haven't you left yet?
Me: I'm tired. Aren't you? I didn't get a nap today (joking). (but Naomi did get a nap)
N: Oh Mommy, you're silly. Grown ups don't take naps!
Me: They don't?
N: Only if they are too sleepy to walk.

Nap in a Box

This is Leah, too cute, napping in a box (right now, 3:30). Her legs might be a bit stiff when she wakes up, huh?

Renovation Progress

It's been a while since I posted about the kitchen. Work has been going on steadily. The lower cabinets and island are now in and the floors are finished.
We've ordered the cabinet hardware and this morning we approved cuts for the granite counters. The counters will need to be installed before the upper cabinets are installed.

Greta is on the Mend

Greta is finally eating. Hurrah!

Naomi with her Colby cats

I had to post this picture of Naomi and her two Colby cats. The stuffed one is getting so ratty I'm not sure it will survive much longer. Naomi likes to stroke its tail while she falls asleep or if she needs to calm down. It is her constant companion and even goes to preschool with her.

New York City T

Here's Leah wearing her NYC T-shirt from Aunt Miki. She wants Miki to come over to see it, which is a tough wish to fulfill since Miki lives in Indiana.

Sick Kitty

Greta refused dinner the other night for the first time ever. She looked pretty bad by the next morning, having refused water also, so I took her to the neighborhood clinic. She was treated for dehydration and her blood test shows first signs of geriatric kidney issues. I'll be taking her in later this afternoon for more subcutaneous fluids and we'll see what happens. The vet says that it all depends on the cat...some respond very well and don't have any issues for a long time and others decline rapidly. This news is better than we had anticipated as it seemed to us that Greta was on death's door. We tried to prepare the girls for her death--Naomi understood and is sad and worried. Yesterday she drew several pictures for Greta to cheer her up. They are now taped at Greta-height all around our downstairs. What a sweetie pie.

Kidisms--runnng list

Animal=amiler (both)
Boiled egg=oiled egg (L)
Yesterday=the day before this day (N)


Leah at 2 said she wants to own a shop that sells pumpkin muffins when she grows up.
Naomi at 2 said she wants to play the violin when she grows up (and Leah will play the flute).
Leah doesn't want any kids or wants me and her dad to be her kids (yikes). Naomi wants lots of kids.

The Popcorn is Gone

Here's how our new space looks without popcorn ceilings. This picture was taken before the wood floors were laid and you can see how dusty it is. The gyp dust is ground into the subfloor, which was brown before.

Three Year Old Tomato

Last week, I found a three year old tomato in the yard.

Leah couldn't resist the draw of the tomato cage. She said she wanted to play robot and got herself stuck inside--classic, if a little scarey! It reminded me of the time Naomi poured honey all over one of the kitchen chairs--all over, puddles of honey--so 3 year-old. Leah wasn't hurt and not even that scared but it did take me a while to cut off the cage.

Stairs

Our stairs are now beautiful cherry hardwood. Leah shows how they work and also shows off "matching" T-shirt and undies.