MOVIN' RIGHT ALONG

The inspectors finally came and went. The only thing Handyman Husband had forgotten to do was put on hurricane straps. Who knew that here in Kentucky we needed hurricane straps? The floor of the deck has been built, the shingles are over half done (it got too hot up there this afternoon for him to finish), we have a lockable door and window, and the vinyl soffit is up.

FAMILY HEIRLOOMS

John & Clarinda Mosier 50th Anniversary Spoon

I have several heirlooms around my home that were given to me by my grandparents and/or parents. I think it's interesting to match the heirlooms with the owner(s). My grandmother gave me this spoon that belonged to her grandparents. It is engraved on the back with the date '48 - '98. Today when I see those dates, I think 1948-1998, but no, those dates were 1848-1898. The spoon has the letter "M" engraved on the handle. It belonged to my great-great grandparents, John & Clarinda Mosier. John was born March 12, 1824 in Adams Co., OH. He married Clarinda D. Mahaffey, who was born June 30, 1829 in Highland Co, OH, on October 26, 1848 in Adams Co. The spoon commemorates their 50th wedding anniversary. They were the parents of John Riley Mosier, who was the father of my paternal grandmother, Ethel Faye Mosier Jackson. John was a veteran of the Civil War. He served with the Ohio National Guard. What I find really amazing is that these people are my grandchildren's great, great, great, great grandparents and we still have such a tie to them with pictures and things.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Ever since we decided to add the laundry room/pantry, I've been struggling with what to do with the kitchen window since it will look directly into the new room. I finally made up my mind - It's history. Handyman Husband will remove the window completely and drywall both sides of the wall. On the kitchen side I want a bridge cabinet to go between the existing wall cabinets on that wall. It will look like the one on the opposite wall over the range. However, since there will be no microwave under it the tile will go all the way up to the cabinet making a nice backsplash over the sink. Now if we can just find a matching cabinet. I went to the cabinet shop where the original ones came from but they don't carry that brand anymore. They did give us the name of a company here in town that handles that brand now. One of us will check it out this week. I've also been trying to match the wallpaper border, but no luck. Lowes has completely taken out their wallpaper department and the decorator at Porter Paints told me the book it was in has been discontinued. I knew that wallpaper was not popular anymore, but I would have rather added it to the addition instead of Handyman Husband having to strip what's on the walls over the cabinets. It seems as if I keep finding more and more to add to the project.

The plumbing inspector came today and signed off on the roughed in plumbing. We're still waiting for the electrical inspector - hopefully tomorrow.

I guess I should have cleaned up the kitchen a little before taking the pictures. I used the big buckets this afternoon while I was cleaning the patio doors in the sunroom. I finally found a fairly easy way to clean them. Mix Spic and Span liquid with water, wipe it on the windows and then wipe dry with a Shamwow. They're handy towels/rags that (if you watch TV) you've seen on infomercials. They really do work. I got 2 walls of the sunroom clean, but the sun was shining too brightly on the other side. I'll try to get it done on Saturday morning. I also mowed the grass this afternoon. Today was a vacation day, but I worked harder than if I had been at work!!

MEMORIAL DAY 2009

SLOWLY BUT SURELY

Today didn't show much progress on the addition. I'm not saying Handyman Husband didn't work hard, it's just more tedious work than working with 2 X 4's or 4' X 8' sheets of plywood. The electrical and plumbing have to be roughed in before the next inspection. He got most of the electrical in today, but hasn't started on the plumbing yet. At least it was a little easier day today than yesterday. Not quite so physical.

I've been looking at a new table to go in the breakfast nook when everything is completed. I found what I want but it's a little on the pricy side. It's an Amish expandable table that goes from seating 2 to 10. It would be fantastic to have it for the grandchildren. I'd like to have a table big enough to seat the whole family so we wouldn't have to worry so much about spills since it'll be on tile, not carpet like there is in the dining room. I also like it because when it's just Handyman and me, we wouldn't have to deal with such a large table.

FRAMING IS ALMOST DONE

Handyman husband has been making good use of the beautiful days this week. We now have a roof on our addition. He's had to spend quite a bit of time up on the ladder while sheeting the roof. At one point he thought he might have to call me to come home from work because he got in a bind and didn't have a hand-hold to get down with. But he worked it out and managed on his own. He's had to do some piece-work where the new addition meets the old house. I'm glad that he can figure those things out (even while he's up on a ladder). I've been trying to keep up the yard work so he can concentrate on the addition. I mowed the lawn this afternoon so we're good for a while.

RAFTERS GOING UP

Handyman husband had a productive day on Saturday. It's beginning to look more and more like a room. The rains are supposed to be over for the week so hopefully he'll get a lot done this week.