Merry Christmas and Kitchen Remodel Progress

Old fireplace replaced with gas - new travertine

New entry - step removed and double doors replaced

Sliding door replaced in dining room - side lights were added yesterday

One of the 4 new windows in lving room

Well it's been awhile since I updated the remodel progress. We had a few weeks waiting for the new windows to arrive....but at last they have. A few of them were installed yesterday in the living and dining room and now today the two kitchen windows are almost in. I'm hoping that things will be winding down in the next couple of weeks as I have one of my best friends, who I haven't seen in over 12 years, coming to stay with us for a week on December 30th! Can't wait to see her! We don't have a Christmas tree up this year which feels really strange. We still don't have our furniture in yet because they will sand and re-finish the hardwood floors one last time when everything is done. I won't know what to do when Matt (our contractor) is through......he's like part of the family now!

Merry Christmas!

Kitchen Progress - Getting Closer

No more hand washing dishes in the bar sink!

Oven that Matt set in Spanish for me

Well tonight marks a huge milestone in the kitchen remodel. I am cooking the first dinner even though the kitchen is not completed yet. We have all the appliances installed except the microwave. Matt, our contractor, succeeded in driving me crazy by setting the wall oven in Spanish! It took my daughter Courtney (3 years French in high school) and myself awhile to interpret and reset the oven to English. The oven didn't have the operating manual shipped in the crate so that was a fun time trying to figure that all out! I've since downloaded the operating manual.....Anyway.....I'm anxious to get back to cooking!

Roving Renton Returns!!!!

After a short hiatus, Roving Renton returns! I am pleased to hear that once again the Melrose, Armondo's, Red House and Blossom have joined forces to continue their weekly Tuesday rove. If you haven't had a chance to join the fun.....you need to get this down on your social calendar! Each week one of the four above restaurants rotate as to where you start the evening. For $25 per person you receive an appetizer and glass of wine at each stop (the last one of the evening typically is a dessert). The Rove starts at 5:00 (get there early as they only allow 60 participants to keep things moving) and ends at 9:00pm. See you there! Armondo's 310 Wells Ave S 425-228-0759 http://www.armondos.com/ Red House 410 Burnett Ave S 425-226-2666 http://www.redhousebeerandwine.com/ Melrose 819 Houser Way S 425-254-0759 http://www.melrosegrill.com/ Blossom Asian Bistro 305 Burnett Ave S 425-430-1610

Another Successful Olde Fashioned Halloween

Families enjoyed a day full of good olde fashioned fun!

Wonderful volunteers who made it all happen!

Getting the new popcorn machine ready for business! Today, with help of several local Renton business owners and other volunteers, the 4th Annual Olde Fashioned Halloween Party located in Main Street Square in downtown Renton was a huge success. Several hundred spooky, scrary, Super Heroes and fictional characters alike played games, ate popcorn and sipped on apple cider, all free thanks to donated goods. The Trick or Treaters were also treated to candy at several of the downtown businesses. Thanks to all who volunteered.....another great Halloween had by all!

Happy Halloween

Love all those pumpkins! Some friends and I are getting together

this week to carve a few!

Kitchen Update

New cabinet in dining room that use to be a bookshelf

This will be a built in hutch and desk. Cabinet company forgot to build the right lower cabinet....so we are waiting for that.

Microwave will be in upper cabinet and wall oven in lower cabinet. Refrigerator will be to the right of cutouts.

The sink (which is sitting on top of base cabinet) will be installed in this corner cabinet.

Well we have come to a standstill in the remodel. One reason being a mess up in the crown molding as I ordered and the other reason, and most serious, is that our contractor has come down with the swine flu! He hasn't been on the job since last Wednesday. He was planning on completing a small window job last Thursday and Friday at another site. I learned from my kitchen designer friend that he became sick early Thursday. He apparently contracted the flu at last weeks Seahawks game! Along with a ton of other fans. So beware! Here are a few pictures of the cabinets. All the lower cabinets are installed minus the lower right hutch baser.....the granite will be installed on Thursday. Looking forward to it! On to paint choice, stair rail posts and wrought iron balusters.

Kitchen Progress

Today is not a fun day with the kitchen remodel. The first setback is Saturday evening, after all the monsoon rains, a previous roof leak reappeared in the dining room. Which means the sheetrock is wet and will have to be patched after the roofing company comes back to repair the roof once again. Then the cabinets arrived today, and not without their set of problems. The corner sink cabinet arrived 3" shorter than the plans, thus making the sink selection I was planning on impossible. So, I am back to looking at sinks that will fit the cabinet. The contractor we finally decided (and my personal hero), will shim the cabinet to make it all work. I can see that this project will result in more wine than expected.........