Birthday gift from Cat's folks

For my birthday, my folks got us new counter stools, to go with our awesome new kitchen. They're the first items of actually new furniture that we didn't put together ourselves that Chris and I have owned. Very exciting, and oh, oh, so comfy on the tukas.





There's some gunk on the lens messing up this one, but Miss Gretta, one of our foster pups, is being unusually social in the picture, so I wanted to include it.

COUNTERTOPS!!!!

Well, here it is, folks. The new countertops/bar. What do you think?
It's still not entirely done, as you can see. The window and the wall around the trash can still need to be finished. Also, something to be continued that isn't visible in the pictures: the outlet we're getting installed at the end of the peninsula! (So excited!)

But, really, what do y'all think?

Truly before

These are the pictures I have from when we first looked at and then some from when we closed on the house. What a long way it's come!

Way way before

A little of what it used to look like. I'm going to dig up the real "before" pictures, from when we first looked at the house.

In which we wield power tools and sledge hammers.

Well, now that it's underway, I'm having a blast. For some reason, I can't find my before pictures. I'll dig some up later, but here are some preliminary shots of the destruction of the kitchen.

















The first set of cabinets comes down.















The scary black stuff. Just turned out to be 70 some odd years of grime. Comes right off with bleach.












The fridge's old and new homes.


A big thanks to Chris' dad for coming up here to help for the last several days. It's been a wild adventure in creative problem solving, very dusty, and a lot of fun. It was great to visit with him, and we appreciate all his help!

I admit, we got a little emotional about the walls.






Before










First layer of plaster removed, lathe and frame yet to come down.








And the old waste of space is gone! We're currently framing the new wall, then the contractor comes in and does the electrical, then we put up the drywall, then when our new cabinets arrive, he'll install them, and we'll have a new kitchen!




Well, after I finish patching and painting all the walls...and the ceiling. I'll be practicing my fresco, should anyone need me.

School starts next week, and I have infantalizing new teacher orientation nonsense this coming week, so things are picking back up in a hurry. We're both really excited about our classes, and it promises to be a funfilled, action packed semester. Stay tuned for lots of action shots, blurred with the speed of our page turning.