November 11, 2010: Lots Going On!

Today's a federal holiday, and our house is more full of construction workers than we've seen for a while!

David the tiler got hired for a union job, so Bradley and his son Braeden came to finish grouting the master bathroom.



Mark mudded the rest of the drywall entry between the houses.


Darrin and Roger worked on finished the exterior trim.



Eric and Bobby installed the blowers and the stainless steel cover for the range hood.


Oh, and by the way, Bennett took many of the photos today (including this work of art!) while I was out all day with various girlfriends celebrating my birthday!

Bobo worked on some of the electric stuff on the island and worked with Eric to install the pantry and hall lighting.


So, lots of things getting done in and on the house today! Flooring, floorboards, appliances... we finally see the end in sight!


Randomness...

The screen in the guest room that we use at night to block out the street light that shines into the room...


The dog who is slowly getting used to his new routine, with his "brother"...


And Jody came by to visit and check out the progress...

Looking forward to when John visits as well... once he's done with his Mideast tour.

November 6, 2010: Moving the Appliances Inside

Eric spent the morning implementing all his plans and schemes to get that 1/4 ton+ refrigerator up those six steps, around the lanai, and over the threshold into the house. Special hand trucks, special friends, and special ramps all came into play.

Two views of his ingenious ramp over the threshold.

And here they go... at first I was hoping to get play-by-play of the process...

But at this moment right here... I was prompted to replace the memories with active, fervent prayer!

And the results...

Between Eric, Roger, Bennett, Michael, Eric's friend Pila, and Pila's older friend, and some good old-fashioned supernatural help, both the refrigerator and the oven unit made it into the house without accident or injury (as long as you don't count Eric's pre-prayer scrape as an injury!).

Ah! David arrived just in time to admire the work instead of help! You gotta live in Kaimuki to know that the first Saturday in November is Celebrate Kaimuki Day, and NO ONE gets around quickly. Oh well...

Thank you, Pila, for your strong back!

Time to position temporarily...


And time to begin moving stuff into the guest bedroom in preparation for Monday's breakthrough.

November 5, 2010: Finishing the Guest Room

Quiet day today. Only Eric, by himself, putting the finishing touches on the guest bedroom. The corner rounds were milled by him and painted by painter Mike back when they were painting the interior.


Eric temporarily placed the chimney over the stove hood so we could see how it looked. The dishwasher is also temporarily in place. None of the appliances will actually work until the electrician and plumber return to connect them, and that won't take place until after the counter tops are placed. Soon, though!


The doc came by on his way to help Wally prepare the orchids for the KCC Farmer's Market tomorrow.

Happy to see progress once again!

Tomorrow! The big appliances, including the 640-lb refrigerator, will be making their way into the house tomorrow. Now THAT will be an adventure in ingenuity!

November 3, 2010: Stove Hood Installation

The kitchen tile is finished except for the sealing, which Bennett will do tomorrow.


Eric and Bobby began installing the stove hood, starting off with my favorite tool--the laser level! The white stuff on the chimney is caulking to seal it.


The sheet metal to conceal the chimney will be put on Saturday.

Eric also began installing the shelves into the spare bedroom closet, using HIS new favorite tool--the puka making jig!


We're beginning to see the end... it's even fun relaxing on the lanai!