Christmas is Coming

Last Christmas arrived just as the workers were wrapping up our remodel, however, there were a few lingering things that we had to finish. The one that lingered for a full year was the wood stove. Finally, I kind of demanded that it be finished as the whole area really required it to appear finished. JD started on the project, but was rather discouraged about the stones. He did the one downstairs successfully years ago, but I was more than happy to bring in Francisco and relieve him of the chore. Francisco has done a ton of stuff for us the last few years, including the whole apartment over the garage and our house remodel. We have also referred him for many jobs and friends' homes. He sent a husband and wife team over for the stones.

They worked a long day, but got all the rocks in place and were very pleasant to have, so have won the job to also do the front of the garage in the spring. 

It was glorious to have done as we were already a month into the wood stove parked in the middle of the dining room floor area!

After they were done, JD finished up the tile under the stove. 

He also cut and installed the Amish mantle we had made and then reinstalled the wood stove. It was finished for Thanksgiving. 

Now I have hung the barn collection above it and decorated for Christmas. I'm making the last missing touch in the next week or so, which will hang on the top left.  

I'm very happy to have this last piece of the remodel finished! This year I was able to decorate more than last year. I really love my Nativity sets!

I also like greenery and lights  - 

A few more festive areas - 

JD's dad made these one Christmas - there are seven of them and they are among our most treasured Christmas decorations!

This smaller tree is for the benefit of viewing from the window as you come up the driveway, but it's providing a good wrapping and present staging area. 

This years wrapping elves in training were hard at work when Alaska decided he really needed to nap on this particular rug. Since there was no room for him, he just stood in the way like a horse!

Lastly, our Christmas cards will go out tomorrow, then I will be able to put the family pictures on the blog also. Spoiler alert, some made it to Facebook before the Christmas cards!

Merry Christmas to all if I don't make it back before Christmas Day! I actually may, as I have a month break from classes, so life is feeling rather leisurely! 

Demo and Redo

 We have talked about expanding the main living area for the last several years. When Moriah moved out, Julia moved downstairs to her old room and the dining room is now expanding into Julia's old purple room. JD cut costs by doing the demo himself. This is a load bearing wall, so we had a design engineer sign off on JD's plans. 

We host a church home group in our home every Friday. This was about 1.5 hours before guests were due to arrive one Friday. We had everyone working very hard to have it cleaned up before arrival time. Yes, we have continued to meet with the half walls, etc, but are going to have tonight and next week off as it will be even more unlivable. 

This is the view from the kitchen. 

After the walls were down, we removed the glass cabinets that were between the kitchen and dining room. It's so much better open now.

The one break that JD was out of town, Alei and I painted the hutch - 

The island is actually going to go down in width where the bar stools are in the middle of the kitchen and the counter here will extend for bar stool seating. 

After much trial and debate, I decided to go with painting the current cabinets over staining or replacing. They are good quality cherry but very, very worn by a dozen children over a dozen years. After research, I went with the Dixie Belle chalk paint regime that is many coats, but I'm confident it will last.

The outside has gone from brown to "fluff". 

The island is "gravel road," - the doors will all be sprayed in the backyard. The rush for the cabinet frames was to get them some curing time before the new countertops come in next Thurdsay. There won't be any doors back on, or drawers inserted, until close to Thanksgiving as they take 21 days to cure.

 We have the building guys starting Monday on moving a few doors, installing a new large window, putting in a woodburning stove and a few other exciting things before the new floors go in. The goal is to be down by Thanksgiving!