The Weekend

It is the weekend!  Yea!  MMCM is off doing his thing today and I'm left alone with his mess... my mess... someone's mess.  

This is what was finished yesterday.   It is coming along.  The nicest thing is being able to look at the ceiling without ductwork hanging down in the middle.  I just love MMCM!   He is going to put a cabinet on the wall with the door and the top molding will cover up the little ductwork that remains showing.  

It is nice to see progress.   I'm having fun just imagining what it will look like when it is finished.   I have lots of decisions to make yet and am going to get on that next week.  For today, I'm going to enjoy a little quiet time away from the sawing, hammering, compressor noises, etc. etc.  I'm going to sweep a little here and there.  I may sweep a lot.  We will see.  

Until Monday... this is it.   I'm off to enjoy the silence and peace of the weekend. 

Up and Down

The sheetrock went up on the ceiling yesterday! YEA! I did the little happy dance and tried to get MCM to join me. He was a little less showy in his happiness dance, but I know he felt it inside as well. The mud, sanding, priming, and painting, will come later. For now, just seeing that lovely sheetrock on the ceiling covering up the duct work is a lovely sight.

In the interest of my Creative Memories album that I'm making to document this whole remodel thing and to capture the awsome sight of MCM at work, I take lots of pictures. MCM has long ago given up on any hope that I'll just go sit down and watch Oprah. I really do try not to pester him. I can't honestly say that I try too hard, but once in awhile I give it a little show of effort.

Yesterday I kept opening the back door a tiny bit and peeking at him. He was working over that door and I guess he thought perhaps I was becoming a problem. He actually took a board and screwed it into the floor so I couldn't open the door again. He locked me into the back room. He did. Of course, it was all in fun... I think. We both laughed, and he let me out without too many threats on my part.
As soon as the ceiling sheetrock was in place, MCM started taking the sheetrock off the walls. The back part of the kitchen is now bare bare bare. Yes.... bare.

The area looks pretty clean here, but there was a lot of old sheetrock and lathe to be carried to the trailer. I helped. I didn't do it by myself this time. He actually asked me if I WANTED to do it myself. Crazy man! I may have to change his name from Master Carpenter Man (MCM) to Messy Master Crazy Carpenter Man (MMCCM).

My morning time is flying by, and my second cup of coffee is almost gone. I guess I should get busy with the morning routine of getting around. MMCCM will be here after awhile, and I need to be ready for the day and whatever it brings. I'll try not to be too much of a pest as don't want to be locked into the back room again. Ta Dah.

Almost Sheetrock

Master Carpenter Man has been at work this week in spite of icy streets and really really cold temperatures. He walked to work. Now there is what I'd call having a work ethic. I didn't ask him to do that, but he did.

He has worked on getting the lower part of the ceiling level so the new sheetrock will be nice and level and not go up and down... no sagging allowed. He has measured and sawed and shimmed till the world has looked level. Believe me, it is straight.

One thing can be almost guaranteed in an older home: nothing is plumb or level. Everything needs work. I'm sure there is an art and at times some frustration in working on an older home. It is nice to know what you are doing and be able to figure out how to solve any problems that surface. I certainly don't know how those home improvement shows make something over from start to finish in thirty minutes. You know they are leaving a lot out of their reporting. It always looks so easy. Phooey.

The good news is that the ceiling is ready for sheetrock, and that will be starting next. He is going to work on the ceiling, then move to the walls in the lowered part of the room. I rather like working on this as two different areas. It has helped me keep my appliances going so far.

As a matter of fact, I'm so sleepy and about to crash head first into the keyboard, but the dryer is running as I decided to do a last minute load of laundry. When you aren't sure you are going to have one of life's conveniences, it makes you appreciate it more.

Tomorrow I hope to have some pics of sheetrock on the ceiling. Tah Dah

Kitchen Paper Find

Master Carpenter Man (MCM) was tearing into the sheetrock above my washer and dryer today. Just look at the wallpaper he found under the current sheetrock. It really was nice paper at one time and the colors are still very vivid. I'm not saying that I want it on my wall, but imagine someone really enjoyed it at one time. It makes me wonder what year it was added.

It has been a cold icy day in our little town, and in all the towns around today. MCM insisted on being at work, although I thought he was crazy. A little ice didn't seem to bother him. I guess I'm just too much of a princess. I was worried about him getting safely home. He did manage to get lots of work done in the kitchen.


He is going to take all the sheetrock off the walls and redo everything in the kitchen. I'd started out with wanting a new ceiling, new countertops, a sprucing up on my cabinets and a new floor. I'm getting 'the works' with everying in there changed. I'm not sure how that happened, but it did.

I just had to drop these pictures on the post for you to see that there is work being done. I'll bet you are glad this mess isn't in your kitchen.

Trying to Communicate

MCM and I are having a little communication problem.

MCM likes for people to give him concrete directions as to what they want. He likes pictures, diagrams, details. He can work with that. I think I must be driving him crazy as my current plans are just not there. They are vague, without any diagrams, and fuzzy at best. He asks questions as needed when he gets to something that I , as homeowner, should decide. I respond by flinging my arms around and saying intelligent things like ‘I don’t know!’ ‘What do you think?’ ‘What is it you need again?’ There are gray hairs beginning to make their way into MCM’s black hair. I ventured a guess one day that they might be directly related to me. He assured me that that could be the case.

Yesterday I had a simple (if there is any such thing) assignment. I was to go to Nearby City and head to Lowe’s. I was to pick out either some cove or crown molding to put right under the new box that will appear on the north wall of the kitchen. It has to be there for the heat/air to arrive in the back room. MCM’s idea is to disguise it. Cabinetry is going to be put under it. He needed the molding that would go on top of the cabinetry so he could make the perfect (Love his perfectionist ways!) something or other. Sorry, there is that vagueness that is driving him crazy. I just really don’t understand exactly why he needs this essential piece of molding at this moment. It has something to do with the angle on the back of the molding. It must be known. It will also be something that will be added to the tops of the other cabinets in the room.

I took off for Nearby City as well equipped as I could be for my assignment. I’d begged MCM to no avail to go with me. He said ‘NO!’ and made me go by myself. The mean man. He hates hates hates shopping. Of course, I could see the value of him accompanying me to the store. I felt deep inside that he would be better served in the long run helping me with this. I just had to take his answer and go with it, so headed out to try to do what he asked.

Standing in the molding aisle of Lowe’s, I set to make a selection. I really didn’t know what I wanted, but at least could be guided by signs that said ‘cove’ or ‘crown’. I decided to head to the kitchen cabinet area and just see what lovely things were at the top of their cabinetry. I was a little reluctant as I headed there as the idea that a combination of moldings were probably going to be used, and I’d not know what to do about that. I was right. Then I saw one cabinet that had a rather plain top. It didn’t have any of that molding that had angles on the back. It was flat... perfectly flat around the edges.

How on earth was I going to check with MCM about this new wrinkle. I finally decided to call him on my cell. His answering machine picked up... he didn’t. I really NEEDED him, so stayed on the line saying, ‘Pick up.. pick up... go ahead, pick up. He did. I proceeded to try to explain in ‘words’ what he needed to ‘see’. I realized from the get-go that it was going to be a daunting task. He couldn't see me flinging my arms around. Seriously, I talk with my hands. I explain and demonstrate at the same time. I knew he would say things back to me that I’d not really understand. I have the same problem. I need to ‘see’ things too. After a bit of back and forth, he asked if I couldn’t just go pick a board I liked and bring it home. I could take it back to the store later. I said, ‘Well, fine! It will just be a straight flat board! Perfectly plain and FLAT! Simple simple simple!’

‘Simple’, he said.. Then he launched off into the kind of thing that breaks the ice and lightens the weighty feeling I had. ‘Did I ever tell you’, he said, about the girl from Arkansas that I met, who was so simple that, when she smiled, tobacco juice ran out of both sides of her mouth?’

I’m telling you, it is all about humor. We MUST have it. Without a little humor along the way, we would never make it in this world. When things seem to be getting tense, just throw in a little humor, and it will be better... most of the time.

I came home with no board. I even forgot to go buy another item that I’d planned on getting. I was wrung out and tired to the bones over trying to select a piece of cove or crown molding. I didn’t get one... I hope MCM can understand when I try to tell him what I want. I did pick up a few cabinetry books and am trying to find pictures of my ideas. Of course, the exact cabinet wasn’t to be found in any of them.

My poor MCM must deal with a crazy woman. I’m glad he is patient and persistent. Otherwise, he might throw down his tools and exit the building. Then I’d be sad... REALLY sad. I guess we will see how this goes when he returns and I am without the strategic piece of molding. Oh, my. Knowing him, he will cope. One good thing... I do have more of an idea of what I want. If I can manage to make a few decisions just ahead of his working, we may come out of this okay in the end. The remodel will go on.

The Ugly Duct

After reading my post, Daughter I-Needa found a picture and sent it to me of the Ugly Duct. See...look at that ceiling and that thing hanging down. You may not be as worked up about it as I have been, but you've not looked at it for umpty ump years either.

I was glad she found this picture as it will also go in my home remodel Creative Memories album. I love to document. Yes, I do. I have a glorious album of the dining and living room ceiling remodel, and now I'm going to add pages and once again capture the divine work of MCM in all his glory. Yes, I am.

At any rate, you can now have a visual of the offending eyesore that has graced the middle of my kitchen ceiling. It is the eyesore that is no more. MCM has settled that once and for all. Long live MCM!

If you are scratching your head wondering what I'm talking about, you need to read the previous posting and all will become clear... or not. Carry on.

Packing Up and Tearing Up

Here is my kitchen now. I'm fortunate that the appliances are still in the kitchen. I can use everything so far, if necessary. Of course, I packed everything and the cabinets are empty. I know that one of these days MCM is going to announce the moving of the appliances. I'm going to find somewhere to keep my refrigerator plugged in, but I know the rest will go.

I've received tips on how to live with no kitchen. I'm prepared, but we will talk about that in another post. I know you are just dying to see the demolition and know what we did first.

Here is the beginning. The ceiling must go. This is the lower part of the ceiling. You see, years ago, someone added on to this house, so part of the kitchen has a higher ceiling under the original part of the house, and the other half of the kitchen has a lower ceiling which has a flat roof above it. We started with the lower part.

I looked and looked but couldn't find a picture that has the part I have always really hated about this ceiling. I guess I carefully avoided taking a picture of it through the years. I really hated it.

You see... in order to get air down from the attic heating system, one must cut a hole and come down. Since the part of the ceiling that was lowered had no place to hide the duct in the ceiling, the pipe just came down, the lovely thing was boxed in, and the duct was in the middle of the lower part of the ceiling. I'm sure you are scratching your head at this point, but, trust me, it was ugly... UGLY! Did I mention that I hated it.

It seems that MCM thought it was pretty ugly too. When I mentioned having work done in the kitchen, he jumped on the opportunity to question me about that duct. Knowing full well what it was, he said, 'What is this thing?' See... he hated it too. He set about to come up with some way to fix the situation. He came up with a plan. I also checked with my main heating and air person, and he came and checked out the plan too.

Of course, the best laid plans of mice (I hate mice) and men go you know where... astray. They do and they did. It didn't turn out to be an easy task, and we spent Monday... the first day... in frustration. I know that anyone else would have called it impossible and let me live the rest of my life hating that duct. Not MCM... he didn't like it either and felt my pain.

So... he found a way. Here you see a passageway he cut through from the kitchen into the back room. It will go through a closet, but I don't care. It really won't take up much room.

Here you see where it will come out in the back room. I'll have air. I do now, but this is a new place for the air.


Isn't it pretty?








At this point, I will say that MCM has spent a good deal of time working to hide that duct. He spent lots of time in the back with this bending tool he brought. One thing is for sure... it helps to have the right tool for each job.

I'm a little behind on letting you know what is happening. This has been going on for a week, and I've just started to clue you in. I'll work on it this weekend and try to bring you up to date. I know we will all be better for it... or not.. ta dah.

First Things First

Since this post will be at the top of the page, you might just scroll down and read the next post first. Understand? That way, this might make more sense.

No, this isn't the kitchen. First I have to show you what I'm going to put in the dining room. I realize that monitors do crazy things to colors, but this is a happy on the rust side red... Love it. It is going to become the new color for my dining room. My Interior Design friend says I should put it on the walls as well as my draperies and cornice board. I'm thinking about it. At first I gasped, but the idea is growing on me... really growing.

The reason you are getting to see the dining room pics is to know what colors will flow into the kitchen. After all, we must coordinate.

I snapped a picture of part of the dining room. The lovely blue thing in the doorway just left is a nice thick tarp hung between the kitchen and dining room. We keep out as much dust as possible. Anyway... the rust flowered print is going in this room. I picked it out just before Master Carpenter Man (MCM) announced the kitchen redo was at hand. Actually, I was really proud of myself for being ahead of things and picking something for the dining room.

Of course, I'm not going to be doing anything in here until the kitchen is finished. I can't see the sense of getting that lovely fabric dirty, so it will wait for awhile. As soon as the kitchen is finished, I'm going to get that fabric in here.

My Kitchen Remodel Reality Blog

For those of you who I know like to check on any kind of doings that involve a remodeling mess, I hereby return from my blog vacation to post while this is going on.

Feel free to sympathize with me at any time. Pick up any useful tips... like planning ahead for such adventures.

Here is the deal. The last time Master Carpenter Man (pictured here) was here redoing the living and dining room ceilings, I mentioned that I really needed work in the kitchen. I had vaguely planned some updates in there, and I did mention to him in October that I wanted him to come back soon. I was afraid that if I let him get away, he wouldn't be back for a couple of years. I figured I had at least until March before he returned.

I was surprised one day when he showed up to tell me that he would be ready to come the following Monday.... which gave me two days to think about what I want to do. Let me tell you, one takes Master Carpenter Man when one can get him. He is a busy guy.

I whined a bit about the fact that the house was going to be torn up again, and everything would be a mess. I got no sympathy. Daughter Ineeda went so far as to say that she really couldn't work up any sympathy for me having to put up with a sexy man around lifting and stretching and flexing... all that stuff. I began to think perhaps she was right. I guess life is all about perspective. Friend Juju didn't come through any better as mentioned the fact that he was a 'hottie'. So there you have it.... no help from my family or friends.

So... I could expect MCM to arrive in two days, and I had no plans. Right. No plans. He did arrive on Saturday, and we spent a good deal of time looking around the kitchen and talking about what I wanted to have done. It turns out that I really want everything done. That wasn't the original plan, but it is now.

Now let me see.... I need to do the following: pick out everything. Right. I believe the word 'overwhelmed' surfaced about this point in time. I'm not sure anyone in their right mind would take on a complete kitchen remodel with NO plans.

This is what I know: I want a new ceiling, a cabinet update, new counter tops, new tile, a new floor. Yep... that is what I know.

So.... MCM has been at work for a week. I've been looking at magazines, and he has been working. I intend to show very shortly what he is doing. I'll just post this first one, then get on with more pics and the mess. I imagine he is going to be around for a few months. As a matter of fact, he brought a 2009 calendar and hung it in my kitchen. Ha.