October

The fall weather has been a big surprise! We Floridians are soaking it up, turning off the air conditioning and letting the breezes flow through the house, and spending as much time outside in the sunny coolness as we can.

I'm trying to plan a piano recital. It's a big hassle trying to get everyone together on one date and then I have to get a location. Conrad said, "Why don't you just have one at 12:00 at the co-op?" That's our Thursday homeschool classes we're involved in, and I teach 7 homeschoolers that day. Add Jake and my other homeschool students, and we would have quite a crowd. The only down side is it would eliminate all the regular school kids, so I think I will continue to plan a regular recital, and keep a co-op recital in mind for Christmas and spring.

I think we're adjusting to homeschooling with the addition of Jacob's homework for his three co-op classes along with band music and trumpet lessons. He gets very stressed and is in puberty. Poor kid.

The kitchen is still a work in progress, but it is completely functional. Lowe's came over Friday and made a list of things they have to order and install. We're waiting for them to be done before Conrad installs tile backsplash and tile floor. I was surprised that I wasn't thrilled to have my kitchen installed, but I just felt numb. It took a day alone at home, cleaning up the REST of the house, for me to start feeling happy about it, and it's been a growing feeling of peace and appreciation as I've started to use it.

Getting Back To Normal

Counters were put in this week! I was looking forward to having a kitchen sink. Who knew it would turn out to be 3 days' work for poor Conrad. The new faucet was defective; when the counter installers pushed the dishwasher back, they disconnected a hose; our old disposal didn't work and had to be replaced, and there was leakage from the pipes. Let's just say water gushed from every imaginable spot. Conrad worked on it Tues. and Wed., which was his birthday. He finally took a break for supper, and the 4 older boys came home so the whole family was together for Chinese takeout birthday dinner. It was really nice. The sink still leaks a little occasionally, but it's usable. The new sink is so deep that I feel like I'm reaching into a hole!

I spent a lot of time sorting through things, getting rid massive amounts of stuff, putting things away and cleaning drywall dust off everything. It's slow progress, but even baby steps toward cleanliness and order lift my spirits! I don't know what to do with Conrad's clutter, and there's a lot of it.

Jacob's schooling has been hectic! By the time I can relax in the evening, I'm exhausted. He is doing a lot of great things though. He is loving his dad's marine science homeschool high school co-op class. Conrad spends many hours preparing and trying to make it as interesting and hands-on as possible. They had a field trip Friday at the river. I missed out on the sunshine, fresh air and chatting with my friends, because I knew I needed a day at home alone, cleaning up, more. "I'm a strange person," I thought to myself.

It's the end of "CMT Awareness Week". I had grand plans to post a CMT fact on Facebook every day, but after posting twice, couldn't think of anything else to say! Unbelievable. I'm actually not that comfortable talking about it either. Anyway, if all 200 of my friends actually read what I posted, then they know more now than they did before. Small comfort. My CMT is affecting me personally with my right foot drop and hands, especially my right hand. My hands are becoming paralyzed and it's really hard to play the piano if I have to reach up to the black notes with paralyzed fingers! That is a little depressing. Stairs have been hard for me for years, and it seems like everything Jacob goes to require me to pull myself up stairs! I look at them with fear and trepidation, sigh, and switch all my stuff to my left side and pull up the rail with my right. It's slow and embarrassing, especially if I'm in a group of friends (which is almost always). I feel bad for whoever is trapped behind me too.

I'm happy with my life. I enjoy it thoroughly and am blessed with a loving family.

Kitchen Lights & Floors

Conrad removed the dusty, ugly 1980's chandelier that was reminiscent of a wagon wheel, but with less charm, and replaced it with these cool track lights. He worked really hard getting them up and they are gorgeous, but the result is a dark kitchen! We are so disappointed. I hope there is a way to make them work without having to take it all down and replace it with another chandelier. I don't know if our ceilings are so high that the light isn't reaching all the way down. I wonder if we need to reposition the lights, or the bulbs can be replaced with something brighter, or if we add more lights to the track that will give me the bright kitchen I want.

We went shopping for cork floors. Based on reviews, I like US Floors, but they only sell through dealers. Their cork was about $9/s.f. Very expensive. We found cork at Lumber Liquidators for about $3/s.f., but the sample they gave us was so soft that I could tear it and dent it with my fingernails. That's not going to work for me. I'm so sad to have to reconsider my dream of cushy cork floors, but need something durable. I guess Conrad can put the same tile in the kitchen that he's putting by the front and back doors, and I can buy squishy foam rugs for all the standing I do in front of the stove and sink.

What A Beautiful Kitchen!

Even though we only did school one day, it was such a busy week that by Saturday I was utterly exhausted and stayed home from church. Friday, I took Jacob and his friend to Kennedy Space Center. It was a lot of fun hanging out with friends, but it was so hot outside! I drank a lot of water but still got dehydrated. I had a migraine at one point and was quietly panicking because my vision blacked out, but it passed, thank God. I went grocery shopping on my way home, so was pretty tired after my long, hot day. I put a frozen pizza in the oven for the boys' supper. Conrad spent his morning guiding the person measuring our kitchen for counters, then he went for a long afternoon motorcycle ride and ate supper at a buffet place. When I got home, I saw a drawn line on the concrete to represent our counter for the bar. It was so small and disappointing, not what I had been envisioning all these months from the drawing. Conrad contacted the company to change the measurements and make the bar bigger, so hopefully that won't be an issue. If it is, I don't really care. I just want this remodel over and don't have much fight left anymore, lol.

I don't know if my CMT is responsible for how weak and tired I've been feeling, or if it's kitchen related stress. I try not to focus on CMT and just engage in life as much as possible, but feeling paralyzed definitely gets in the way!

I occasionally remember to take care of myself, and felt much better after getting half my hair chopped off last week, and I have an eye appointment this week.

This weekend at home was just what I needed. Our kitchen cabinets were installed over two days (there is still some minor work to do--toe kick, trim work, "skinning" the ends), so I felt peace and happiness after getting the rest of our house back in order and cleaning drywall dust off of everything. Our house doesn't feel so much like a construction zone anymore. I can't wait to take photos, because our ugly bare space has been turned into a warm, cozy kitchen. There's still quite a lot to do though. I'm waiting for Conrad to take down the plastic hanging down from the ceiling that is so annoying and ugly. He wants to spray additional popcorn onto the ceiling and he says it's time consuming and has toxic fumes. Conrad has to install the floor (but is waiting for the toe kicks to be installed), tile backsplash, put in track lighting, hook up the dishwasher and and our new faucet (once the counter and sink are in). Then I'll take pictures!

I love my Boos block kitchen island, and for now it is the only counter we have. It makes our kitchen a little crowded, but I'm not ready to get rid of it yet, so I'm trying to find out a new use for it. I'm also trying to figure out what to do with an antique table from Conrad's family, a red antique shelf from my family, the pot rack, and my huge bulletin board that used to be my message center and hold my calendar. My Goodwill stash keeps growing.

Half A Kitchen!

Half of our kitchen is in! I'd like to say we have fewer boxes, but as soon as the install crew emptied them, Jacob was running boxes to his room with plans for a fort running through his mind. He didn't get much school work done.

Conrad and I are so impressed with the Lowe's installation crew! They were very careful and thorough. They worked hard for an entire day, and are coming back Wed. to install the other half, then the granite people can measure and template the countertop. I am dreading living without a kitchen sink for clean up. The undermount sink is coming with the new counter. I am second guessing our counter choice--both color and material--but I'm trying to put my doubts out of my mind. We really agonized over this decision.

Lowe's has been so supportive of giving us the kitchen that we expected. I love the cabinets and we can't stop staring at the formerly empty hole now cozy and full. But we are not impressed with the company, Diamond. The color discrepancy between the sample and actual cabinets was so disappointing. The night we ordered, our Lowe's kitchen rep called Diamond, and they assured her that the cabinets would be "exactly like the sample." We were also told our re-order of black cabinet was a rush order, but that smaller order took longer than our initial order! Another issue is Diamond's use of particle board instead of plywood. It's true, the cabinets are "all wood" boxes stapled together, but everything else is particle board covered in thin colored paper. We picked out knobs and matching drawer pulls, but there aren't any drawer pulls; lots of knobs though! And the screws Diamond sent with the knobs are too long, so the crew drilled holes for knobs, but we don't actually have any knobs on the cabinets. For months we had a big empty hole where our kitchen was supposed to be, boxes crowding our house and all our kitchen supplies spread throughout the house. Mess everywhere, impossible to clean. Three months without a kitchen because of Diamond. It's been stressful. Looking at the kitchen and seeing cabinets, being able to put things away and clear away the disorder in our home has been a wonderful relief.

I expected our kitchen would be done before school started, but my new goal is that it will be done in time for Conrad's birthday (Sept. 22)and the holidays so we can have parties!

I'm Starting To Get Excited!

Our black kitchen cabinets were delivered last Friday, Aug. 27th! We started this project in June, and it's September, but we're moving forward again.

Lowe's wanted to install the kitchen this Thursday and Friday, but sadly we are teaching classes on Thursdays, so we scheduled for Sept. 14. Miraculously, the installer called back yesterday and said he might come over Thurs. after Conrad's class is over, but definitely would start this Friday at the latest, and finish up the following Wednesday. I am so thrilled and grateful! These boxes take up so much space that I can't wait for them to be where they belong--the kitchen! I look forward to filling the cabinets with dishes, pots, pans, silverware and other kitchen stuff that is spread throughout the rest of the house. I am so excited about my house getting back into order. I'll be able to breathe again. I'll be able to clean again! I'm reminding myself that installing the cabinets is only Step 1 (albeit a huge step in the right direction!). Then we have to be measured for countertops and wait for those. Conrad will be installing lights, backsplash, kitchen hood and vent, and the flooring, which we still have to choose and buy.

Jacob and I homeschooled Jacob's Algebra all last year and the beginning of this year, but I never liked it as much as Saxon, so I switched back. We started the Saxon Algebra 1/2, which has a lot of review of 5th and 6th grade math. I feel relieved to be back to the familiar Saxon. Homeschool is going great. Band started. Jacob's still playing trumpet and Conrad started trombone! My husband's such a cool guy.

We had our first "Homeschool Exchange" park day on Merritt Island last Friday. It was great! Weather was beautiful! So many field trips planned!

Our brand new "co-op" starts this week. These are the classes I referred to earlier. I have 6 new piano students! I'm going to be busy! Conrad will be teaching marine science. Jacob will take his dad's class as well as writing and photography. I hope it's fun. We are off to a busy, fun school year!

Who Needs A Kitchen Anyway?

Conrad ripped up the flooring in the kitchen yesterday, so now it's down to bare concrete. We are again debating...this time over whether to install floors before or after the cabinets are installed. I've googled that question, and apparently it's a personal opinion because I read pros and cons for both. We're concerned about putting our expensive new cabinets directly onto an area of the concrete that he discovered was damp under the laminate. We would really love cork flooring, so I'm reading up on that too. Tile is great, but we spend so much time standing at the sink and stove, and drop dishes all the time, so I'm leaning toward the more forgiving, squishy qualities of cork. Beautiful too. It's not as indestructible as tile, but tile chips and scratches anyway.

The older boys moved out last week and are living over the river with my parents. They have a big light, roomy space and hope that helps them study. They started working on their Bachelor's at a new college this week. It's nice they're around in the evenings to help their grandparents, and I think so far my parents enjoy their company. I wonder if our prolonged kitchen remodel had anything to do with them moving out?

We had a week of homeschool in our house mess, and once I cleared off half the dining room table so we could lay out the books, we were able to tune out our surroundings and concentrate on schoolwork. Piano lessons have continued as normal. We have a path to the piano and a path to the couch in the family room, and there haven't been any injuries or complaints from piano students and families, even those with little ones.

Jacob's friend is staying here a few days, so we're taking vacation already! It's been fun, and I thanked Conrad again for giving me this beautiful life where I could take the boys to the pool at 10 a.m. I thoroughly enjoy my "job" of homeschooling Jacob, but even my "job" of teaching piano is a joy, and many students are Jacob's friends, so they become weekly playdates (wait--he's 12 and says that word should not be used anymore). Okay, I mean they hang out.