This weekend’s update is all about biting off more than is good for you!

This post is long, it’s really more for me and as proof that the hubby and I are actually this stupid, ’cause there is no way we’re going to believe the stuff we did in a year or two.

I also wanted to remind you to get your entry in the late spring blog contest by midnight pacific time, June 3.  Just post up a comment with your favourite book(s) of all time and why and you’re in the draw to win some pretty sock yarn.  I’m too tired to link to picis, have a peek in the archives, it was a couple of days ago.  Now, on to the fun of the past few days.

We needed to get rid of this chunk of garbage, which unfortunately was actually holding up the ceiling:

So we started with that:

Found a weird plug:

Built an interim wall to keep the roof & ceiling from falling on us:

Remove nasty old framing;

Build a big fat beam out of three huge twelve foot long 2 x 6′s, construction adhesive, and a gazillion screws (say hello Stella):

Installed said post into it’s new position.  *NOTE*  there are no pictures of this process, suffice it to say there was a fair bit of swearing, a couple near misses when I almost dropped my end, and a new bruise or two.

Here’s a little tip, two people is not enough for a task of this scope.  We’re idiots and both of us are in a fair bit of discomfort now from forcing our rather aged bodies to be much stronger and more flexible than they are.    You’ve been warned and hopefully we’ve learned this valuable lesson.

Anyway, once all that was done we just had to unpack the larger of the two tops for the island and put it in place on one of the old cabinets so we could see if we liked the plan so far:

The island will actually be a fair bit bigger than this, about 25 more inches towards the chairs, to line up with the blue line on the floor.  This has opened a whole new Pandora’s box of issues but I’m too tired to think about them right now.  Happy Sunday all.  I need a shower and something to eat.

Well, this is a bit embarassing…

Yesterday I promised something pretty in sock weight by a Canadian dyer, right, right, no problem there:

Fleece Artist – BFL Socks – 115 gms/325m of lovely squishy goodness.  Unfortunately, my camera does not want to capture the red/fuchsia shades correctly.  Those sections that look sort of a barn red are MUCH more vibrant and vary between cherry/fuchsia/burgundy.  Loverly stuff.

Then, I promised something chunky and not from a Canadian dyer.  I can’t locate the skein I was thinking of here.  Maybe Stella ate it, who knows.  Anyway, in it’s place I offer you another skein of pretty sock weight ALSO from a Canadian dyer.  A local woman who owns Knitopia yarn store in Langley.   Unfortunately, they don’t have a website but here is a link to a google search of them.

So, what do I have for you?  This little bit of sunrise loveliness:

60% Merino/30% bamboo/10% nylon – 113 gms & 398 metres.  Very soft and it has a nice sheen to it too.  It does not say whether or not it’s superwash, so I would err on the safe side and hand wash if you are the lucky winner of this one.  Just think, you could make Tequila Sunrise socks.  How cool would that be?

So, post me a comment by midnight Pacific time, June 3, 2009, telling me what your favourite book is and why you liked it so much.  I’ll do the draw on June 4, 2009 and post up who the lucky winners are. 

Mmmm, a little bit of relaxation

Who knew that going back to work would be a good thing?  We’ve put the kitchen on hold for a couple of days.  We need to make some decisions regarding counters (details, details.  Right?), so that means we’re taking a bit of a break.  We’re back at it tomorrow with another trip to Ikea to look at what they’ve got for counters.  We had thought granite but it would appear the piggy bank will not support such champagne tastes.  Oh well, I’m not bothered.  The Ikea ones look nice so that’s all good.

I did manage to read a couple of books this past week.  The first one was The Good Fairies of New York by Martin Millar.  Super cute and I love the concept of little punk fairies who want to start the next great grunge band movement.    A bit naughty too, just so you know.  All in all it was an excellent book to divert me from the rather interesting folks who populate my bus in the morning.

Also managed to finish Made from Scratch by Jenna Woginrich.  Awesome book!  I missed my bus stop for work on yesterday and today because I was so engrossed in this book.  Made me want to order chickens via mail order.  I won’t explain that comment, just read the book and you’ll see what I mean.  This girl is my hero.  She also has a blog that you can read, over here.  This was a recommendation from paperclips.  She and I have been swapping spinning fibre, and now, book recommendations. 

Okay, so here is what I want you to do now.  It’s spring, almost summer, and I think it’s time for a little blog contest.  I want you to tell me in the comments what your favourite book of all time is.  Not only what book is it, but why it’s your favourite book.  What did it mean to you?  I’ll be thinking of my favourites over the next few days too.  That’ll be hard though, I’ve got a fair few wonderful books floating around in my head.

The two prizes for the contest?  Hmmm, let’s say a skein of something pretty in sock weight, from a Canadian dyer…and…something pretty in a chunky weight, from a not Canadian dyer.    What that means is I’m too lazy to get up and take a pici now, but I will at some point this week.

You get your entry in the comments by, oh let’s say…midnight Pacific time, June 3, 2009, and I’ll use the wondrous random number generator (numbers on slips of paper in a Tupperware bowl picked by the wonder hubby) to pick  2 humans to get some yarny goodness.  Sound good?  Yeah, like you’re going to say that winning yarn is bad, right?

So, talk to me.  Share your deepest book feelings and stories.  ‘Cause, if there’s anything better than having too much yarn, it’s having too many books to read

How did a week go by so fast?

Unfortunately, it’s Sunday and that means both hubby and I are back to work tomorrow.  I have to say, this was probably the most non-relaxing week off work I’ve ever had.    Oh well, at least we got lots done.  Today’s fun & festivities included some demolition:

Then we took out part of the wall around the back of the fireplace.  Dude who used to own this house must have been either allergic to going to the dump or just to cheap to do so.  I know this because everything that was leftover from his renovation is stuffed in all the blessed walls!  Like this lump of masonry with chunks of brick in it:

And after I cleaned all that junk out:

Anyway, here is today’s building and fun:

Glass fronted cabinets for our dishes & glassware.  Not sure I’m in love with that carousel but we’ll see.  Hmm?  That thing on the left?  That’s my small appliance garage.  No, seriously, it really is.  It’s also THE most annoying to assemble cabinet in the history of Ikea.  Check it out:

Yes, it does have an aluminum roll down shutter door.  Just like a garage.  Get it?  An appliance garage.  Nevermind, I’m the only one that seems to find that hilarious.  The hubby just keeps giving me that sad look and shaking his head.

We also built another bank of drawers and did a bit of a temporary install on the new dishwasher:

Then, just as we were getting ready to eat some yummy chicken/vegie fresh from the grill kabobs, the cold water connection  blew and we had a mini flood.  Thankfully we were right there and could deal with it right away.  Can you imagine if it had gone when we were at work tomorrow?  Not so good.  I’m taking this as the kitchen’s trial by fire (okay, water actually), and all will be well from here on in.  I wonder how I can finish building this thing with my fingers crossed?

On a completely non-kitchen note, I also was able to collect a urine sample this weekend from Beentsy the wondercat.

Admit it, you’re weekend pales by comparison!  LOL.  I didn’t spill a drop or get any on my hands.  I might have completely missed my calling in life.

Also, my most favourite plants finally started this weekend.  My beautiful purple Rhododendron:

And my luscious red Tree Peony:

And that is enough of that.  I’m pooped.  Happy Sunday everyone. 

Success

The gas is hooked up, the electrical too.  The doors are on and frankly, we’re a bit tired.  This is where we finished yesterday:

We also ran out to T&T Supermarket yesterday and got a wok.  I can’t wait to stir fry this week!

We were a bit bushed after all that so we just sort of flopped down on the workbench and stared at it for awhile:

Then there was a bit of this last night:

Better yet, there was a bit of this today:

They were some kind of tasty.  Unfortunately, it’s right back to work today removing these:

This will also entail installing the new dishwasher and moving the plumbing over to accomodate the corner sink.  I think I’m pooped already!  LOL.

Cats…

So very…interesting to live with.  The sun was out today and Mo Cuirdh was just drinking it up.  Sleeping on the windowsill in their room.  She looked so cute I just had to take a picture:

Then I noticed that one of the cats had thrown up.  Well up, over, and down, the window.  Nice.

Beentsy went back to the vet today, for an ultrasound.  $300!  Mom, you were so right.  I absolutely should have stayed in school!  I should have been a vet for heaven’s sake.  Wasn’t even my super cute vet, who’s on holidays, just some perfectly nice and competent substitute vet. Grumble, grumble, grumble.   Anyway, when she got home she was all lounging in the front hallway.  Rolling around, looking cute, you know.  I thought I’d get a picture of that.  Nope, that wasn’t on.

I am devil cat!  Give me salmon!  Scratch me under my chin!  Mwhahahahahahaha.

Moving right along

Well, it’s been 24 hours and I haven’t stepped foot in an Ikea.  Success!  We were still up and farting around building cabinets and such until midnight last night.  This whole ‘getting it level’ and ‘checking that it’s square’ and ‘following the directions’ sure does make it all take a lot longer.  Here’s a couple shots from last night when I was fading fast:

Yay, the cook top does fit on the cabinet we bought for it.  Phew!

Hmmm, I think those might be his underwear.  Don’t tell, k?

And here is a couple of closeups of the new love of my life.  She’s a 36′ – Five Star gas range who likes sandy beaches and walks in the rain.  She’ll grill you a kabob while simmering rice and simultaneously steaming asparagus.  She’s amazing!

She’s got 1400 BTU’s per burner and underneath that cooling rack and stainless steel cover she’s got a rockin’ hot griddle,

with both smooth side (pancakes & grilled cheese),

and grilling side (sort of like barbecuing without the rainy topping).

We got a little bit more done today, between vet visits for Stella (nothing serious) and in law visits (again, nothing serious).  Here’s where we stand now:

How do you like that fantastic pumpkin orange wall colour?  What?  It was the 90′s!  Everyone got their colour palette from The Olive Garden, didn’t they?  Hubby is off to Home Depot right now working out some venting  and electrical issues for the new cook top vent.  He wants to run the gas line tonight so he can cook breakfast on that baby tomorrow.  Hey, who am I to stand in the way of a man wanting to cook breakfast?  Go baby, make them pancakes!

Fear me!

For I can insulate your house if need be!

See, I’m not just taking pictures.  Sometimes I actually do some work. 

Yesterday we (by we I mean hubby), realized that the pretty kitchen faucet that we chose (by we I mean me), will not work with the pretty corner sink we chose( by we I again mean me).  I didn’t do a lot of logic, I just liked them because they were pretty.  Logic is supposed to be all Mr. B’s area of expertise.  So, back to Ikea we went.  Found another faucet that will work much better.  It’s not quite as attractive, but it was almost $100 cheaper, so that’s all good.  I’m gobsmacked at how much taps cost, by the way.  Crazy making.

Then today, we finished up a wall, with real insulation and a vapour barrier!  We’re wild I tell you, wild.

So far so good.  Then we decided to build the 36″ cabinet that the gas cook top is going in.  Hubby wants to run the new natural gas line yada, yada, yada.  Hmmmmm, problem:

That is not birch.  That is white.  Wrong.  Hey guess what?  We went back to Ikea!  We’re trying to set a record for most trips to Ikea in a week.  None of this seems to be going nearly has quickly as I was hoping.  I think it might be all the driving around in between tasks!  LOL.

Hmmmm, Sunday eh?

Half way through a long weekend (Victoria Day in Canada and Memorial Day in the US), which is sort of the unofficial first long weekend of summer, particularly for the weekend warrior type.  Huh, yeah, that would not be me.  I’m more of your weekend warrior typist I think.  See what I did there!  Snort, I slay me.

Okay, update time.  All these things going on and I get scattered and forget to let you know how stuff turned out.

1. Beentsy went back to the vet for her followup xray and like a good long weekend miracle, it looks like it was fluid on her lungs and the diuretics cleared it and she DOES NOT have lung cancer!  Much happiness ensued.  There is something going on with her liver or her kidneys so she’s getting an ultrasound on Thursday.  But either of those things could be managed with meds for a good long time.
2. My WordPress comment issue.  Thank you for all the very helpful suggestions, I tried all of them and it’s still very hit & miss.  I’ve sent them an email asking for help so I’ll let you know how that turns out.  I could just reply in the comments but that isn’t how I like it, darn it! 
3. Kitchen work is grinding along.  We started putting in new lighting.  Let me just say that when the former owner filled the walls with garbage and called it ‘recycling’ or ‘insulation’ he also thought this was perfectly normal and a good idea for the attic.  Dumb ass.  It’s not quite as much fun finding it in the attic as it was in the walls. Gravity and it falling on your face as you cut the holes for lights sort of sucks the joy out of that.  Here are the new lights:

And on:

18 watt compact fluorescents on a dimmer switch.  So much brighter then what was there before, which was nothing. 

Hmmm, what else, what else….oh yeah!  Stella snuck into the basement behind me while I was folding laundry and then snuck back out with a new victim.  This time is was a skein of Yarn Chef Minestrone Merino in beautiful oranges and golds.  Before:

After:

I think I can save most of it.  I think because it was a soft skein she couldn’t get a really good bite on it and snap through the individual strands in 75 million places like she normally does.  I firmly believe that cats are just a much more civilized pet than dogs.  I’ve never seen Beentsy running around the yard shaking a skein of yarn or a bra/sock/pair of underwear to death.  Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Beentsy run across the yard.  See!  Civilized I tell you!

Have a good rest of your long weekend everyone.  I think we’ll be installing the other three lights in the kitchen and then it’s time for this thing to get out of my house:

We’ll be without a stove for a few days.  Can you say barbecue?

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

Right, I’ve obviously messed up my WordPress.  I used to get these lovely little emails when I had a comment.  Then I’d approve the comment and I’d get another lovely little email with the comment in it.   Then I respond to the comment in a nice little email and chat to whomever left the comment.

Suddenly, none of that is happening.  No email to approve, no email once it’s approved.  Therefore I can’t send a nice email message back to the commenter.  Sigh.  Technology hates me.

My knitting is good though, so that’s okay.    Here is my progress thus far:

I’m so smitten with this.  Unbelievably soft and literally as light as air.  Yummers.

Right, I’m going back to try and figure out what the heck I’ve done with my wordpress comments feature.  Good thing I’ve booked next week off work.  It’ll take me that long to figure it out.