Cabinets and countertop are in

Here is the beginning of the new look.  We still need to hook up the plumbing, the reduced sized mirrors, modify the lighting, paint, and install the rest of the fixtures around the bathroom. But it is beginning to come together.  The realization is hitting us hard that remodeling involves far more than one sees looking at it in the future.  It takes longer, costs more, and involves more complexity than we considered going into it.  Of course if we stayed home more . . . . . naaaaaaah.  We still need to keep our priorities straight.  I must say, however, that we are very pleased with the outcome so far.  The colors are coming out well - something that we were very concerned about - and the better use of the space for storage is wonderful!  We have decided to go with brushed nickel finish for all of the fixtures and are very pleased with that decision.  Having looked again at these photos I notice that the lighting is not good and distorts the true colors.  Oh well, you should get the idea and we'll work on better photos in the next update.

By the way, yesterday we also put in our potatoes and onions and last night it rained.  The rain is forcast to continue through the weekend.  So the fasting of all the Saints last Sunday was efficacious, and we are grateful to the Fount of all of our blessings.

Lois Charlotte Ottley Flegal

A week ago last Saturday we attended the funeral of Aunt Lois.  She was 96 years old and had lived a full and faithful life.  She would always tell me that she wanted to live to be 100 because she was having so much fun with her family.  She missed her sweetheart so much but just loved being with her family.  It has brought back some great memories as I have thought back on time spent with Aunt Lois.  Many of the speakers at the funeral mentioned that that each of the grandchildren thought they were the favorite one and it was no different for me.  I always remember the warm hug and welcome.  I think she was the only one that still called me Joannie and I didn't mind.  It was a sweet term of love to me.  When  I talked to my cousin Anadel she told me that Aunt Lois always called her Annie.  We went to Aunt Lois and Uncle Dave's often in our growing up years.  We never left without having some kind of treat, usually ice cream or some of her bottled fruit.

She was the last one of Frederic Joseph and Lydia Ethel Ottley's children to pass on.  At the funeral I saw so many of my cousins that I hadn't seen in so long.  It was a time of great rejoicing as we gathered together as a great family.  Here in the picture from left to right:  Lorraine, Elden, Della, Fern, Florence, Lois, Pyrcle, Raymond.  My Dad and Aunt Lois were the youngest in the family.  Dad was three years younger than Aunt Lois and used to say he never knew there was chicken in chicken noodle soup until he was a grown man. And that he and Aunt Lois would get in trouble for laughing at the table.

These are a couple of my favorite pictures.  My Mom and Dad with Aunt Lois and Uncle Dave.  They loved to do things together.  My Dad used to go and pick up all of my aunts and uncles in his van and take them when ever there was a family event, wedding, reunion, or just getting together.

Then as our family grew up, Aunt Lois was there to welcome our new additions.  When we would visit, she would ask about every one of our kids: "how are they doing, what are they doing, tell them that I love them".

  Always welcome, and always something good to share.

We stopped and visited before we left for El Salvador.  I found out at the funeral that every letter I sent to her she would share with the family.

When we got back, Aunt Lois was in the care center after falling, so we had a great visit there.  I thought there was no way she  would worry about giving us something good to eat, but she found a way.  People had brought her treats and she shared with us.

Left to right:  Lois, Della, Raymond, Elden, Pyrcle, (center, sitting) Florence, Fern and Lorraine.  Truly we are blessed because of our family who has gone on before us and have held fast to their testimony and love of the gospel.  They have been an example of love and sharing all they had and have worn out their lives in service to others.  Though these wonderful people have gone forward to their heavenly home, we still feel their love, support and caring concern of us.  

Pop Quiz (Papi Quiz?)

Quick - which hand holds the thing to be struck and which hand holds the thing doing the striking?

Actually, I almost always wear gloves, and there have been surprisingly few incidents requiring first aid.

Now you see it - now you don't

So here is the latest on our remodel project:  We got a call yesterday that the bathroom vanity is ready for installation, so we scheduled it for tomorrow afternoon.  Which means that we had to get the old one cleared out today.  Here are some before and during photos . . . the after photos will have to wait for awhile.  After the cabinets are in the guy doing the top will come and measure one last time before making the top and installing it.  Then I'll be putting in the fixtures and attaching them to the plumbing.  In addition, we plan on taking the mirror in to be cut into two pieces so we can mount a piece over each sink.  Then we plan on re-doing the lighting so that we have light bars directly over each mirror and no overhead lighting.

Lots of work ahead.  Stay tuned.

 

 

 

Warming up to our work

Last week we worked on our fireplace replacement project.  We still have a considerable way to go, but we are making progress - as seen below.  We are experiencing some sticker shock as we price gas insert fireplaces, but still feel that that is the way to go.  In the long run we think it will be the most cost efficient, as well as energy efficient, way to go.  So we are swallowing hard and movin' on.

 

 

 

Although you probably can't see it in the photos, as we are getting ready to resurface the face of this wall we are finding some anomolies that will need to be dealt with.  Nothing really serious, its just that none of the surfaces are at the same point.  Some are out and some are in, but that is always the way it is with remodel projects.  You never really know what you are going to find until you do the demo.  Our plan is to replace all of the faux rock face with a different look.  We are pretty sure what it will be, but have not actually ordered it yet.  We also want to put another bookshelf on the right side of the fireplace so that there is some symmetry to the look.  Hopefully when we get that other side stripped we will still have that option open to us.

On a separate note, one of our goals is to reduce costs as much as possible by doing whatever work we can ourselves.  This means doing all of the demo work "in-house".  A related goal is to complete all of the work with all of my appendages intact, with a minimal loss of blood, and with no visits to that place where they ask if you have a DNR on file.  I must say that I was doing pretty well, especially considering some of the fun tools I get to use.  But today my winning streak came to an end as I really mashed the old thumb.  Aside from having to use a band-aid for a few days though, I think we're going to be fine.