It's here, it's here

The kitchen has arrived. I can't believe it is going in next week!!!!!!!!




We are having Russell install all of our baseboards and trim. It's another one of those jobs that will never get done if we leave it up to us. I have someone coming on Wed to help pick out blinds. The fun stuff is coming up next, decorating!!

And some garden shots.

The peonies have finally bloomed:


Roses:


Lillies:


The scary bush now looks like this, does this help anyone to figure out what it is?

Hardwood Day 3 and Day 4

End of Day 3, the hall is almost done:



End of Day 4, the end is near!:

Hardwood - Day 2

I think it just hit me, that not only was today my last day of work for 5 weeks BUT more importantly, our kitchen is being installed next week!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
If I don't see another piece of this ever again in my life, it will be too soon:


So, on to the main event. Hardwood progress for Day 2. We have an excellent system. Brent is like the surgeon, doing all of the delicate work. I'm like the nurse, I hand him tools, give him water, lay out the wood and vaccum where needed.

The front all closet is done:



Who needs Mike Holmes? :


End of day 2 :


The trim I ordered today (it won't be white when I'm through with it):



Welcome to my world, Martha Stewart would not approve:

Hardwood End of Day 1

Not bad for a couple of amateurs!

Please no more painting

Well, I am 90% finished painting. I didn't get the closets done because I hate painting closets. You have to remove everything, and do so many edges, and it's cramped in there. I'll get to them eventually. Brent should be home from his golfing trip soon and I think he will be happy with my hard work this weekend.

We start installing the hardwood tomorrow. Yay. It feels like this has been a long time coming. I'll be sure to photo document it for the blog. I went to another flooring installation seminar on Sat, just for a refresher. They always include a marriage counsellor on the list of tools for when you are installing hardwood. That and tylenol.

On the job front, I am thrilled that I have managed to negotiate the month of July off of work! My last day at Dominion will be Tuesday. Im really sad to see it go. I really liked everyone and the job too! I have signed on to start at Apache on June 30th. I know the geological manager there from my days at ConocoPhillips. So, at least there will be one familliar face.

So, looks like I got my wish, a month off and a job to go to at the end of it all. Life is good :)

It's starting to come together

T minus 9 days until our cabinets get delivered

Ceiling Before:


Ceiling After:


One of the new potlights installed by Brent:


The new kitchen lighting, almost complete:


Living Room lights (you can see the new paint color in this pic):



The new carpet in the bedrooms:


Washer and Dryer:


The tile for the fireplace, finally a decision was made!:

Quick Update

Things are moving ahead full steam. The carpet was installed, pot lights are in, first electrical inspection passed, appliances delivered. The last week has been spent drywalling, mudding and sanding (mostly by Brent). Of course, we decided on the fancy rounded corners, which meant more work for us. But, it will be worth it! (On a side note, I have been informed that I am no longer allowed to mud because I'm terrible at it and it creates too much sanding. That's fine with me. Any excuse to not do work is great!) Russell is stippling the ceiling on Saturday while we help to lay sod out at Jim and Margaret's place.

Pic's to come Sun night hopefully.


On the job front, I may be getting job offers from 3 companies next week. They all have said they are interested. However, I have not seen anything on paper from any of them, so until then, I'm still a free agent :)

June = Crazy

It's June 6th today. This is everything we have to get done by June 29th because that is the day our cabinet installation begins.

On the Home front:

- finish installing all potlights
- carpet installation this Sat
- appliances being delivered this Sat
- get and pass electrical inspection
- move a pipe in the kitchen
- drywall one wall and several corner pieces
- tape, mud and sand, sand and sand again
- sand, paint and prime kitchen window sill
- get ceiling stippled (contractor is doing that on Wed the 13th)
- paint
- put more screws in the subfloor
- install hardwood

And during the day, on the job front:
- interview with potential employers (3 scheduled so far)
- if I get offers, figure out which one is right for me
(both of which are stressful enough for one month, let alone the house stuff)

Plus:
- company golf tournament next week
- Brent is away for one weekend on a golf tournament
- we are helping install sod at Margaret and Jim's on the 16th

If I have grey hair the next time you see me, you will know why.
I am totally going to take July off.

Got some help

Not much new to report.

We spent the weekend in Banff at the Dominion Exploration condo. It was so nice and relaxing. I think Brent and I both really needed a break from the renovations.

We have found such a great contractor who is fixing our ceiling. He is mudding right over the existing stipple and then re-stippling. He does everything, so I think we are going to get him to install our hardwood. We were all gung-ho to do it ourselves, but I think we are both running out of steam. While the contractor does the flooring, Brent can install the railing on the new deck, and I can paint baseboards and trim.

After 6 months of anticipation, the company I work for finally got sold. The buyers are Paramount Energy Trust and Baytex Trust. Dominion is officially laying off everyone, so as of the end of the month I am unemployed. The new buyers will be interviewing people over the next week and a half. I'm not too stressed about it. Worst case scenario, I get the summer off and look for a job at the end of Aug. Best case scenario, I get the summer off and start with one of the new companies in the Fall. haha I think that is wishful thinking.

Hmm...I guess I had more to say than I thought!