Moving In and Renovating . . . Or at least knocking holes in walls

I have a huge stack of grading that has been giving me a hairy eyeball for a week, but I just had to post some snaps. We have been so busy and having so much fun with the house that I really wanted to share. So here you go:








Mike and Trina helped us move (Angels!) and Katie settled in with Indy the next morning - sort of. Katie was a big help all moving day; she unwrapped glasses very carefully, she put canned foods and jars in the cupboards, and most of all, she kept me company while I undertook the mega-disgusting task of scrubbing out the kitchen cabinets. I can't begin to tell you how gross they were. Truly. How do people live like that?

Jim's first big project was making an out-of-the-way place for the cat box. He fearlessly began chopping away at the space under the stairs, and created this beautiful little cubby. It gave us the opportunity to see the original construction materials, which was pretty cool.






Currently his Dad is here for a few days to help with the next round of major projects. The first on the list is cutting in a door from the dining room that will provide access to the fenced part of the back yard. Since we needed to document that, I went ahead and took a bunch of other pictures. So please excuse the mess; most of it is construction related (thought not all, I admit).

In addition to the construction (or destruction?) activities, we have also done some shopping. We've been in sore (literally and figuratively) need of a new bed for a long time, so we got one ordered last week. That won't be here for some time. I wish I could post pictures because it is so lovely, but that can wait. Jim also surprised me by ordering a gorgeous vanity at the same time.











But he also gave into my pleading for an (almost?) antique sofa that I have been yearning for ever since I saw it at our friend's consignment shop several months ago. She was asking $399, but took only $190 from us! And we also took the little book table (Jim's birthday present from me) and the brass lamp (only $2). So it was quite a weekend. I hope we are about done bleeding money. But aren't they beautiful things? It is nice, after so many years of doing without or going with just Salvation Army beat-up cast-offs.









The guest room may not look super attractive at the moment, with the empty bookshelves and whatnot, but by the time anyone can get here, it will have a real bed in it! Hurray! And Jim will have built shelves downstairs so we ought to have all the books unpacked and this room will be nice and cozy for you. Hint hint.