Kitchen Remodel

The Lowes installer came over yesterday to look at the kitchen and check each box to make sure our order was complete. We love our cabinets (Whiskey Black Maple) and the glass pattern. But when he opened the box of "chocolate brown" my heart sank. They looked like a dark stain. Pretty--I actually have a couple pieces of furniture that color-- but not what I wanted, which was black. I was so disappointed. Conrad saw that, although we paid for the all-wood upgrade, the end panels are particle board! Their catalog states the upgrade is all-wood. He called the Diamond company and they weren't helpful. They simply don't make end panels in wood. Conrad was livid and ready to send it all back. Those end panels will be next to our dishwasher! Our Lowes rep promised to come over that evening to resolve this right away. She brought the samples with her, and we could see that our chocolate brown cabinet looked much different than the sample, although the cabinet company had assured us that the cabinets and sample are the same color. She promised to take all the chocolate cabinets back and re-order them in black, rush order. She also said that the installer would make our end panels out of wood, because Diamond would not (I still think that is bizarre). Conrad and I were both happy. She really went above and beyond to make us happy, and completely restored my faith in her.

Anniversary and Kitchen

Today is Thursday, so we're far enough into the week for me to safely say, "This week has been so much better than last week"! I feel normal now that I'm on Benadryl. I thought I caught Jacob's cold too, but after a couple Advil yesterday, felt great.

Monday, Jacob was fooling around with a friend and broke his front tooth. I was very upset. Tuesday, our dentist did a beautiful job repairing it. You'd never know, and Jacob looks like Jacob again.

Yesterday, Wednesday, was our 14th anniversary on the 14th! About 30 boxes of kitchen cabinets were delivered and now tower in our family room. Conrad said, "Happy anniversary!" The installer is taking a look at the kitchen next week, and will schedule installation after that.

We still haven't ordered counters. The numbers from Lowes just don't add up. I don't trust them anymore, because the prices keep going up, and they can't explain why. For instance, I wanted a couple of black cabinets. When we were ready to order, Lowes showed us a chocolate door. I had to prove to them from the manufacturer's book that they really do sell actual black cabinets. After hunting around, the black door was found. Oh, guess what? The black costs more than the brown. That makes no sense to me, black paint versus brown paint, but I went with the cheaper brown. Whatever. Not happy. I repeatedly asked for a turned leg (or two) for under the bar, and after ordering the cabinets, I got home and called to verify if it was ordered in black. Not only was it not ordered in black, but a fluted instead of turned leg was ordered. Wrong leg, wrong color. Of course the leg I wanted was $80 more, making it well over $300 for one leg. I decided to find the leg and paint myself and save $200. It was apparently too late to change the leg order (even though over the next two week I got subsequent e-mails from the company stating that they were starting work on our cabinets). Lowes are supposed to give us a refund. I'm curious to see if that happens, or if I have to pay some sort of restocking fee. We ordered the cabinets without getting a line item pricing, and I'm kicking myself for being so stupid. Lowes does pricing "points" instead of actual figures. I feel like we overpaid and trust is gone. Onto the countertop.

Here at home, Conrad has made great progress in the kitchen. Last week was all about the electricals and moving the phone. Now he's down to sanding where he puttied the new sheetrock together, and painting (although it will all eventually be covered by cabinets and backsplash).

For our anniversary, we had dinner at our favorite restaurant, Thai Paradise, while the boys gorged themselves on takeout pizza. Thai Paradise spoils me for every other restaurant. I got my usual, spicy green curry, and Conrad decided to branch out and try the spicy drunken noodles. He was thoughtful and ordered vegetarian so I could try some. It was delicious! It tasted like teriyaki. When he got the bill, Conrad said, "You're a cheap date!" I was being funny and responded, "And I'm easy too." But Conrad with his hearing problem said, "What?" I said it a little louder (but not really funny anymore), and he said "What?" so I yelled, "I SAID I'M EASY!" and then realized everyone heard me. So much for being funny. I'm going to start carrying pen and paper to communicate with him.

July 2010

Conrad is currently happy in his retirement because he's wrapped up in a project--renovating the kitchen. It seems complicated to me, because we're not just replacing the cabinets--that would be easy. He's changing everything about the kitchen. There's a lot of details to consider. He's moving the stove to a different wall, so he had to consider the proper outlet for that; he's moving the vent, all the light switches, putting in new overhead lights, under cabinet lights, outlets, moving the phone and dishwasher. He's been sawing and hacking away at the cabinets and walls every day (except Sabbath). We had short cabinets attached to drywall boxes, and he removed the boxes so our taller cabinets will fit, and had to sheetrock the areas. After covering our house with drywall dust mixed with whoknowswhat, he hung plastic all around the kitchen, which helped a lot. He's been removing the popcorn ceiling. I am allergic to something and developed a head to toe rash, then swelling, and all my joints ache. I finally got smart and took Benadryl and feel much better--still have fat sausage feet, so it hurts to walk-- but it was quite a miserable week stuck at home! I am impressed with Conrad's energy and organization. He has been so methodical! I feel useless and am looking forward to being able to use the kitchen again. The whole house is a mess, because everything that was in the kitchen is spread everywhere. Our cabinets are being delivered on our 14th anniversary, and we don't know where we're going to put them. After the kitchen cabinets are put in, Conrad will be putting in a tile backsplash and cork flooring. We still haven't ordered countertop. The counter I like is quartz and is $70/sf. I'm now considering cheaper countertop, because we've spent so much on cabinets, new appliances, lights, and haven't bought backsplash or floor. The prices at Lowes are outrageous.

Conrad has been taking Jacob and some friends to band camp every morning. It's been a wonderful opportunity for Jacob! I teach piano lessons during band camp on Monday and Tuesday, and I was going to take them Wednesday, but was too miserable to do much of anything because of this annoying allergy. I was just a useless, swollen, achy, painful lump. I look forward to a better week!

A Quiet Sunday

I got up before 7 a.m. and was so excited about picking Jacob up from camp. I woke Conrad up and we were on our way when I got a call that a friend will bring him home, so we turned around and came home. On our way home, we passed a gas station and saw a woman and man in a camper, and it looked just like my sister and her husband. We turned around and drove over to them and honked and waved...but it wasn't them. We hurried and drove home, red-faced.

My camera started taking red, streaky pictures. I changed the batteries and bought a new memory card, and it would take one or two good pictures, and then was back to the streaky, blurry photos. I was ready to throw it away and was searching for a new camera, when I impulsively decided to Google the problem. Among all the advice to "toss the camera" was one person who suggested contacting Canon. I did that, and they were aware of a malfunctioning part that caused this problem, and offered to fix it for free. They even sent me a shipping label. I got an e-mail from them that it's been fixed and is on its way back to me. Wow! Canon really stood behind their product and gained one loyal customer! I have my camera back and it's like new.

My husband is so multi-talented. A few days ago he gave my long hair a trim and did a really good job! I need him to help me dye it again. He's pretty genius at lightening my hair. Conrad is currently making Sunday morning breakfast. He's a good cook too.

I've been pondering Jacob's homeschool in the fall, and I think for the first time in 13 years I don't need to buy anything! He is going to be so super busy with classes and extra-curriculars that I need to be careful to not overload him. There are just so many great opportunities where we live! He'll be going to homeschool classes offered at one church on Tuesdays, another church on Thursdays (I'll be teaching piano and Conrad is teaching marine science), and yet another church for band on Mondays. Churches are very homeschool friendly. We'll continue meeting with the Homeschool Exchange at the park every other Friday. I'm going to have to be careful with our time management, to ensure that I have time to teach Jacob math and piano, and that he has time to practice his instruments and do his schoolwork!

Sabbath!

When God wrote the 10 Commandments and said, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy," it was one of the greatest blessings He could have given me! This has been quite a beautiful, busy, productive week, but I'm happy to "rest" from it.

We sent Jacob off to camp with his friend and we bought him a trumpet. Conrad's younger brother Jan had a heart attack, but was able to call 9-1-1 and get to the hospital. He had an angioplasty and a stent put in, and will have another put in in two weeks. I praise God our beloved Jan is doing well. We continued planning our kitchen--it's all more complicated and time consuming than I thought! I think we will actually order everything on our fourth and final meeting with the designer at Lowe's. The whole family went to Orlando for my nephew's high school graduation this week in my dad's new handicap van, which enables him to scooter in and scooter back out on a ramp. My 5 foot nothing mom has been lifting my dad, so the van is wonderful. I am so proud of Nathan for graduating. He is dyslexic and worked really hard.

After church today, we're all having dinner together at my parents. Haystacks. That's the Adventist name for taco salad (don't ask me why!). My sister Margy and her husband and little girl are coming over from Zephyrhills, which is near Tampa on the west or Gulf coast of Florida. It's a special occasion--Margy's birthday! I'm never happier than when I'm together with my family. I'm sorry Jacob isn't here. I hope Margy's little one isn't too disappointed. She and Jacob love to chase each other around.

Jacob called from Camp Kulaqua last night. He didn't feel well, and was homesick. Conrad and I are picking him up Sunday morning. It's about 2-1/2 hours north of us.

Happy Sabbath!

Rolling Along Like A Freight Train

SURPRISE! Conrad and Jacob were gone only a week before they came home from the Appalachian trail. Conrad's hips hurt so badly that he decided not to continue. They hope to return in the fall with lighter packs. I'm glad they had that experience, even if it was brief. Now Jacob knows exactly what to expect from the trail. He found it was a lot of work, but he loved it. Conrad's brother, Jan, and sister-in-law, Lynn, who live in the Atlanta area, dropped them off and picked them up again (a lot of driving for them!). Conrad and Jacob had a great little visit with them. They had a fun day on Lake Lanier on Uncle Jan's boat.

I was so relieved they were safe, and it was good to have them home. However, I hadn't expected them to be here all summer, so hadn't planned any summer activities or camps for Jacob. I'm a slow thinker, so it took some time for my brain to adjust to them being home. I was thrilled that Jacob came home early enough to participate in his band's final concert, and our homeschool group's final yearbook party.

After 13 years of nagging and begging, Formica countertops cracking and swelling, cabinet doors repeatedly falling off, stove only half alive, Conrad decided to start on our kitchen remodel since he's home for the summer after all, so we are in the planning stage of that right now. The whole kitchen will be different, rearranged and walls torn down, so it's going to be a lot of work. Conrad's doing most of the work himself, but I can see this is going to take all summer. I sincerely hope it's completed before school starts! I can't wait until it's all done and I can use my new kitchen--but I try not to think about it, because I'm not a patient person.

This week we took a tour of the facility that will make our quartz countertop. After my piano lesson this morning, we're meeting with the Lowe's designer for the third (hopefully final) time. A Lowe's kitchen installer measured our kitchen and she had to make changes. I hope we order today, because she said it takes 4 weeks to get the cabinets in!

Jacob and I went blueberry and strawberry picking with our friends. I have so much respect for field workers! It was a beautiful day with a cool breeze, but I was still covered in sweat. I loved it, it so much fun. I can't wait for next year! Those strawberries started wilting pretty quickly, so I made a big blueberry/strawberry coffee cake.

This week, Jacob was invited to Camp Kulaqua in north Florida with our pastor and his wife. They are camp pastor and nurse. Jacob hung out with their son. He called once, and was having a terrific time swimming in the deep and scary springs.

Jacob's band teacher sent me a craigslist used trumpet suggestion, and that was the catalyst for my research of trumpets. Once I felt knowledgeable, it was time for Jacob to start blowing. We went to the Horn Section in Melbourne, and he tried a used Besson for $500, Bach Strad and Getzen Eterna, among others. The expensive trumpets sounded very piercing to me, but Jacob said he didn't notice a big difference in how easy or hard they were to play. I was surprised. I really thought he'd fall in love with a trumpet and we'd walk out of there with a huge payment plan. I was also relieved because I realized that at his current level, any decent beginner trumpet is just right for him, for now. I thought it would be a good idea for him to take trumpet lessons, and planned on continuing to rent, but when I got home, I started looking on ebay, and got excited about some trumpets on there. Just before Jacob went to camp, I got in a bidding war and was surprised to win a 1970 silver Getzen Capri. Utterly shocked, to be more accurate. I shocked Conrad and Jacob too. Considering Jacob's lack of enthusiasm at the music shop, I was surprised that he seemed very excited to have his very own trumpet. Conrad had to do some catch-up research, to be sure I didn't overpay. I was really happy that I had sold Jacob's outgrown clothes on ebay, and used that money to pay for the trumpet. UPS delivered the trumpet last night, and everyone enjoyed blowing on it. It sounded pretty bad, but hopefully will sound better when Jacob blows on it! It is 40 years old, and I expected it to look a lot uglier than it does. It's beautiful! We'll see how it sounds when Jacob gets back.

There are free golf and band camps next month. Next week we plan on putting Jacob back into swimming with his favorite coach, Coach Mike. Trumpet lessons start next week. I have to pick something and commit to it, because Jacob can't do everything.

Our church is having VBS on June 21, and we're going to that. I love VBS! It's so much fun!

We've been to the beach, Sea World and Busch Gardens. I'm still teaching piano (but my, isn't everyone relaxed! Including me!). I'm practicing my choir CHRISTMAS cantata like mad--it's HARD!-- and thankful I have the summer to practice it, because this coming school year looks so busy. I've found that the summer is flying by, and I am hanging on, having fun, and recharging my batteries.

Spring's Over...Already??

Summer is here...for me at least! My hubby and youngest are hiking the Appalachian Trail for the summer. They've been so excited! I get to watch their progress through SPOT GPS. http://www.findmespot.com/ It's pretty cool, and nice to have a connection. It's very touching that everyone is concerned that I'm bored and lonely without them. People have been calling me out of concern. It is nice to feel so loved, but I'm still teaching piano lessons and have two kids at home (even if they are in college), and my parents live nearby. I'm taking this opportunity to de-clutter. We have very little storage, and every closet is over stuffed. I am taking pictures and selling things on ebay. I put some things on craigslist, but no one's buying, so I guess I'll put it all on ebay. I do this every summer. I hope to clear off the back porch, but it's mostly my husband's big heavy stuff, such as the huge fish tank and huge tile cutter, so I'll work up to it. It would make me happy to use the porch again.