appliances, doors, shelves, hardware, plumbing fixtures

that's all we need to finish the kitchen. interesting enough... it might take awhile since there are 57 cabinet doors/ drawers, glass cabinets, lights, cabinet latches, bin pulls, shelves, and who can forget the kitchen sink? that might help, too.

the final paint coat did go on the cabinets today, electrical trims out on thursday, the appliances are in the living room, kitchen sink is in place, we're so close it's hard to not get antsy and want it finished NOW.

i guess there are other things to still be installed: downdraft hood and ductwork, garbage disposal, powder room sink, powder room toilet.

goof-off and an old toothbrush, for all those hard to reach places

we have massive amounts of trim in our living and dining rooms. between the windows, built-ins and baseboards, we have a lot of cleaning up to do... goof off and an old toothbrush have helped millions and not taken the finish off the woodwork.

another reminder about inginuity. our wooden return air floor grille was busted into many pieces and beyond repair. we looked at getting a new one, but the size (18x30) wasn't typical and bigger than most. even a used one would cost us $200 at a reuse store. so karen found us a metal grille at a garden store and with a little trim, it fit perfectly! all we need to do is paint the wood joists black to disappear... $25 for an ornamental grille is a lot better than $200!

but as joe also learned with the 1/4 round, always predrill oak... or use a nail gun :) that stuff is hard!!

(almost)finished

before

buckets

you can never have too many buckets. some of my friends think i'm crazy, other's agree. i started collecting them from work when we were getting married and needed to pick up almost 2000 flowers from the dahlia farm...

here's a few uses of the buckets in use right now...

clean rags

a trash can while you're working

sorting electrical, etc. while doing demo

sorting and storing long tools

my favorite: extension cords

90 years ago yesterday...

I just got out all the articles I've found about Evelene Spencer and the first one I found that linked her "fishy" self to this house was the following article posted in the Oregonian's "Society" Section on January 12, 1919... after she had moved out of our house...

January 12, 1919

Mrs. Evelene Spencer, accompanied by her daughter, Adrienne, left Friday night for Monterey, Cal. Under the auspices of the Women’s Club of that city. Mrs. Spencer will lecture for a week on “Fish Foods.” Closing at Monterey, Mrs. Spencer will commence at Berkeley University a month’s demonstration on the preparation of fish, before an assemblage of the food demonstrators of California. Mrs. Spencer and her daughter have been in Portland for the Christmas holidays.

Happy New Year

we made a living upstairs, away from the dust

snow storm = opportunity to paint the 1st floor

finished...

the kitchen, we're getting there

how to thaw joint compound...