Week 5 kitchen remodel is coming along!

I was told we would not be able to get counter tops in this week, well, well, well, counter top guys arrived this morning. Roger, the cabinet man, is still working away on trim and crown molding, so they were not able to get ALL the granite in but they were able to get in everything but the bar and island. It has been a very steady progress. We've not had any week days where work was not going on. Some days were quieter than others, but work has progressed nicely. There will be a big cookout/celebration this Saturday honoring Casey and Matt's graduation, and Matt's birthday, but I will have running water in the kitchen and counters to put food on instead of outside with the flies!

Huge granite here, TV will go above....



look at the beautiful countertops! Moving right along....

Joey LOVES the dirty concrete.....

and now he's half-white

Wedding Shower #1

Yesterday was a beautiful day with a wonderful shower given for Casey. It is a very busy time of year and we feel very blessed that people took time out for this event.

What a wonderful group, each of these women had an instrumental part in raising Casey.

Casey with her to-be Mother-in-law the wonderful Stephanie Marchbanks, then Casey and me...

there is always a special teacher in your life. Jill Maxwell, Art Teacher at Abilene High School, is instrumental in developing many artists, Casey and Mallory love her dearly.....Casey went on to study at ACU with Jill's husband, Jack Maxwell ... yes they are Jack and Jill....














And this a special moment with sisters, Casey and Crystal. A lovely day!!!!

Week 4 progress....

Well, this seems to be dragging a little. Trim work on the cabinets was put in place, electricians in and out, still waiting for some of their work to be completed before cabinets can be finished. Painters have been in and out too, tons of SANDING. Then, this morning (Friday) around 8:00 am a TEAM of painters "blew in" and began taping everything up, they covered and taped EVERYTHING except the walls. Within minutes I did not have access to a refrigerator or the laundry room. I managed to get the dogs outside really quick (much to the dogs dismay) and once the painters finished their prep-work there was no access to that part of the house, or the backyard. The yard gates were locked and I could not get to them from the alley either!

After their prep-work (which only took minutes it seemed) they began sanding and sanding and sanding. Fortunately this time the sand did not filter through as much with all the prep work. After lunch they came back and "blew in" the texture. Took about 2.5 hours. When I got home around 4 all the plastic cover and tape was gone, and dogs were HAPPY to see me......and thirsty....





This photo is of the dogs, OUTSIDE without food and water, and me not able to get to them! The Gates were locked so couldn't get there from the alley either!


Hardware is being put in place, and I HOPE HOPE the counter tops are installed next week!

Cabinet Progress and OTHER Celebrations

As Week four begins a great deal of the cabinet work is complete. The Granite Counter guy came today to measure...he wasn't sure when they would be back to install the counters, and when they do come it will take about 3 days to complete.

These photos are from Friday night, Richard doing his "inspection"








In less than 2 weeks, May 8, we will have another HUGE celebration as we celebrate (DRUMROLL..........) Casey Lorelle Roger's Graduation with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Graphic Design from ACU! And on that same day we celebrate (more drumroll) Matthew Marchbanks graduation from HSU with a degree in Communications and minor in Art (photography) AND (yes there is MORE) Matt's 24th birthday! We will celebrate with a small gathering at our house, hamburgers in the back yard - kitchen or NOT......


AND I'd also like to celebrate Hawley JV Baseball team in their undefeated baseball season. Todd Rogers had a great batting average and gets stronger every year!

New Cabinets Arrive!

The day after we return from vacation I take Todd to school....I return to an 18-wheeler in my street and a sign in my yard saying "Cabinet Solutions" the Cabinets have arrived!!!!!!

Before the day was done our expert cabinet guy had made great progress....

Kitchen Update - Week 4 Begins

So I last left off kitchen update on Day 2. We are actually now on Day 15, beginning day 16 and week 4. What has been going on you ask?

There has not been a single day of "no work" being done. It's been a steady process. Demo went smoothly....

I set up a "kitchen" in a bathroom and my office.

Next the framing work began.







and I wasn't happy with part of the wall.....so we spent the evening studying and figuring out the "problem"






Discussed with the framer the next day. His comment was "I knew that wasn't staying that way". And our problems were fixed.

Richard and I took 8 days off for a vacation...we left with details and information of things to happen, and a great contact at Rich's office in case a decision needed to be made. Thankfully things went very smoothly while we were gone, they finished the framing, scraped the POPCORN CEILINGS and removed the florescent lighting!!!

The Electricians spent several days getting all the electrical in place, sheet rock went up, ceiling got patched and is being prepped.

We returned from our vacation, rested and happy.....

How Many Dresses do I need?

So, there are 3 weddings coming up. My first thought is "I need three Mother-of-the-Bride" dresses. HAHAH if only!

There are 3 rehearsal dinners
3 (at minimum) showers
3 "day of" the Wedding Outfits

And that's just for me. Doesn't include what the girls need. Oh yes, and then there will be shoes to go with everything.....and jewelry...and then I need to figure out what the husband and son will wear......