impedimenta: baggage or other things that retard one's progress, as supplies carried by an army

So, not too surprisingly, I was correct in thinking that once my classes at Willamette started up that Wordy Wednesday would get pushed all around.  However, I am still going to try and aim for Wednesday's and am going to try and plan ahead for the next few weeks.  This week though I am late...4 days late.  I guess better late than never?

This week the remodel is finally finished!!!!  I am so excited to have it all done but the big chore of putting everything back together was...well...a big chore.  I thought through the years that I had done a good job of decreasing the amount of "stuff" we have but I am finding that isn't really the case.  We had to pile a lot of things in other rooms so this little remodel feels like it has turned into one big house reorganization. I really do feel like all the impedimenta that has piled up in the guest room/garage/closets is making this whole thing even more difficult.  I am really trying to subscribe to the "a place for everything and everything in it's place" philosophy.  Apparently right now the bed in the guest room is the place for many things.

I have purposefully scheduled a gingerbread house decorating party for next Saturday which will force me to keep working instead of closing the door and pretending that everything is clean.  I know I have promised already, but I really do promise pictures of all the changes once I get everything in it's place!

Kitchen remodel so far....

There is no doubt at the moment that we are in the middle of a kitchen remodel.  There is dust everywhere, it smells of paint and things are looking very different.  Tomorrow the cabinets are coming and will be installed.  Here are just a few pictures..... 

This is where the stove/oven used to be...and where the sink and dishwasher is going to be.  It was the first sign of the new replacing the old!  This was actually taken last week and already looks different at this point. You can see pictures further down to see the wall complete.

Some of you that have been to my house might recognize this as the spot where small children and animals could get their heads or even entire bodies stuff between the wooden slats.  No more...a half wall replaces it and a matching slab of granite counter top will be across the top.

Here is a picture from the family room that looking over the half wall into the kitchen.  You can see the finished product of the above picture where the dishwasher and sink will go.  A one foot slab of granite will go across there as well...and will be used to hold the plates of goodies that we have the party we are going to have once this whole thing gets done!

See that wire coming from the wall?  That is where my microwave will be that will be above the stove and oven.  Off to the left will be cabinets above and below.  There used to be really long useless windows there that have been since covered up.  The white color you see is pretty much going to be the color it is...is it technically "white truffle" but the cabinets and floor are going to be so dark I wanted something that would lighten the rest of the room.

There used to be a wood stove right here.  We had discussed the possibility of maybe thinking about removing it.  We asked for a quote.  Joe came home and the stove was gone.  I guess that takes care of that!  So our kitchen remodel has turned into a kitchen/dining room/family room remodel...but that is way too long to say and type on a consistent basis.  The carpet will be pulled up at some point and replaced with wood flooring that will be much easier to clean.

Samuel Butler apparently said, "Life is a long process of getting tired."  

All I have to say about that is that I am REALLY living right now.