We have been busy. So busy that I have neglected to blog in a VERY long time. Maybe this is a blog comeback, or maybe it’s an anomaly and will not happen again for another 3 months…time will tell.
In between work and handling our sometimes sweet, sometime heinous threenager, Matt has been getting back into home improvement projects. We have been working on our kitchen for…uuuh…uumm…years. You ask, why has it taken you years when some people can do it in weeks? Josie is why. For example, as I was trying to hide for 15 minutes to write this blog post Josie ran over to let me know that she had stuck a bead up her nose – a big one – way up there – so far I could not see it. I spent the last 15 minutes helping her blow it out and digging with tweezers to grab the damn thing. ER visit averted for now.
I’m a little this..
and a LOT this
Today we took a family trip up to Arlee for the annual sale at Buckeye Hardwood & Lumber Company. Matt was giddy but promised he would not spend over $100 on odds and ends for his future turning projects (bowls, plates, tops, etc.). He also reminded me that I bought new shoes last night, which is a fair point. While browsing, we found a finishing touch for the kitchen that we did not even know we were looking for – a new counter top that they had been trying to sell for years. Matt practically had a woodgasam looking at the Maple slab, priced to move, and I knew we were not walking out of there without it. I endorsed the purchase because of the screaming deal, but mostly because Maple is the official tree of Vermont.
200 pounds of wood happiness
Can I have my candy bribe for being good?
When we bought our house we had no idea that there were wood counters in the kitchen because they were black with years of dirt and grime – nasty! With a heavy sanding job we (Matt) brought them back to their former glory and we have loved them for 6 years. When we started remodeling the kitchen last year we added an extra cabinet which resulted in the wood top not fitting the bottom. Matt has left 2 pieces of wood counter hanging out unattached for the last year with the promise of someday connecting them. I thought he was being lazy, but it turns out he thought it was going to look like crap to have a big seam down the middle of our counter – good point, it does.
Goodbye old friend
Matt had to cut the new counter way down for installation – I could barely watch. Without sounding too naggy or disrespectful I made sure to tell Matt not to screw it up. After many annoyed eye rolls in my direction, he made perfect cuts.
My Assistant
measure twice, cut once…or something like that
Mineral oil applied and BAM, project complete!
Hello beautiful
In other wood related news, A few weekends ago Matt decided to build Josie a desk, bookshelf and window seat. He also was planning to build shelves to the ceiling and I pumped the breaks. Matt is a wood project dreamer who sometimes needs to be brought back to reality. It took much more time that he thought, (see paragraph two for reason) but it looks great.
big little helper
Before
After
Our next wood dream sequence is to get new siding, a new front porch, new wood floors and a new laundry room. I better head to the gas station for a lottery ticket.
Big Sky Bound 