Granddaughter Elizabeth Ann (Elle) is now 9 months old. She rolls all around the floors, sits up, goes after the cat, and has started scooting (almost crawling) over the floors. She also is really able to move rapidly across the house in her walker (video of that is here). We’ve been actively baby-proofing the house for the fourth time in 32 years, locking down the electrical outlets and installing baby gates on the stairs. Elle has just started to get upper front teeth and has a pretty complete row of teeth on the bottom. She’s eating solid foods and loves sweet potatoes especially. She’s still not sleeping through the night, but is a pretty happy kid in general. Her sister Alex can really make her laugh. The video below shows her scooting across the floor to get a toy car, which she promptly sends driving across the room. More videos are on our YouTube channel here, and photos are on our Picasa site here.
Almost done with the kitchen remodel! About one more week to go, we think. More photos and more detailed photos to be posted in a week or so. Click any photo to enlarge.
Our kitchen remodel is getting into the final phase. Lots of progress in the last three weeks. The first photo, from earlier in December, is before the windows arrived. The windows are installed by Day 93, but the better photo is on Day 96 during a sunshiny day. Day 96 also shows the granite countertops installed, and on Day 98, the overhead part of the peninsual is installed. By Day 99, some of the appliances are working (gas stove, microwave) as is water in the main sink. Still washing dishes by hand, however!
Coming up next: tile for the backsplash, paint and cork floor.
We are planning to have Christmas for relatives and friends on December 25th even though the kitchen isn’t done, so we’ve spent the last two days – December 23rd and 24th – madly cleaning.
Click any photo to see a larger version.
Day 79, December 3
Day 93, December 17
Day 96, December 20
Day 98, December 22
Day 99, December 23
December 23rd with Christmas Tree ready for decorating
Our kitchen remodel is rapidly moving to a conclusion. This week the drywall was finished, the paint primed, and the kitchen cabinets have arrived and are being mounted. Door and window trim is starting. Click any photo to see a larger version.
Our kitchen remodeling project, started on September 15th, continues. It is now day 67 of the remodeling, and it looks like we are on schedule for finishing about the 15th of December. The drywalling with all the associated dust is in progress right now, and should be finished shortly after Thanksgiving. Cabinets are due to be delivered on November 30th. The photos below show remodeling progress from three different vantage points. We’ve found a few interesting historical tidbits, including writing on the chimney, which is the last photo in this series. Click on any photo below to enlarge it.
View from the front door looking inside to the West, Day Zero. The wall with photo, right in the center, will be removed.
View from the front door looking inside to the West, Day 7. Wall removed.
View from the front door looking inside to the West, Day 25. New joists have been put into the ceiling.
View from the front door looking inside to the West, Day 54. Framing is complete, including the square ceiling framing.
View from the front door looking inside to the West, Day 66. Drywall is installed, mudding is in progress. Notice the unique ceiling design.
View of the kitchen towards the sink (northwest). Day Zero.
View of the kitchen towards the sink. Day 5.
View of the kitchen towards the sink. Day 54 with framing complete and drywall in progress.
View of the kitchen towards the sink. Day 66. Drywall complete, mudding in progress. The spaces without drywall will be windows. The sink plumbing is visible in the lower center.
View of the stairway to the upstairs and down to the deck from the kitchen. Day Zero.
View of the stairway to the upstairs and down to the deck from the kitchen. Day 7.
View of the stairway to the upstairs and down to the deck from the kitchen. Day 22.
Chimney after the drywall covering it was removed. Click to enlarge and see handwriting from ancient times (phone numbers like WE4-1200. WE=”west” for “west seattle”.
The Ulvelings of Omaha went to the Pumpkin Farm to choose which pumpkins they will make into Jack O Lanterns. Omaha received an early October snow, covering the orange gourds. Click any photo to see a larger version.
James and Jack, bundled up in the middle of the pumpkin pile.
Kyle, Onica, and Grandma Jane pick pumpkins to be transformed into Jack O Lanterns.
It is Autumn in Seattle and at the Seattle Schriers. That means a ton of leaves in the front yard from the two large maple trees there. They were part of a money-raising project for the West Seattle marching band by Scott Turner, son of the previous owners of our house, planted 35 years ago or so. I keep saying I’m going to tax the neighbors because they get to view the beauty of the trees and I get all the leaf raking. Where’s my chain saw when I need it!?
Autumn also means the moss and mushrooms come out in force. The mushrooms in the front yard of Nancy, our next door neighbor to the north, are rampant this year, as you can see.
It is also Halloween. We recently found the care bears costume which Kathy sewed for Lara 20+ years ago. It fits little four-year old Alexandria, as you can see here. Toby the Cat wonders how that new large animal appeared in the house.
Oh yes, and the rains have begun in Seattle! Amazingly, July and August (and often September) are bone dry in Seattle. All the grass dies unless water. Now it is October, and rain returns. I love it!
Click any photo to enlarge it.
The Cat and the Carebear – Alex in a Halloween costume Kathy made for Lara years ago and a fascinated Toby the cat
Fields of Mushrooms in our neighbors’ yard. See any leprechauns?
Signs of an election season in Seattle – Dow Constantine for County Executive
The mossy maple tree and its leaves in our front yard
The long-awaited remodel of Bill and Kathy’s Kitchen in Seattle has started. Hope to be done by December 15th. Will include totally gutting the kitchen, stairway and back bedroom, taking the ceilings up to 10 feet from 8 feet, new granite countertops, maple cabinets and a whole host of other expensive but satisfying things. House was built 1895-1900, date unknown, since West Seattle was annexed into Seattle proper in 1906. Badly remodeled in the 1950s dropping the ceilings to 8 feet, pink formica countertops and a host of other “innovations” which will probably come back in style about the time our remodel is finished! Click either photo for an enlargement.
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