Nothing pretty and pink in these pictures…

I think I’m going to have to alternate my sewing days and my “kitchen makeover” days! I can’t seem to manage both… The good news is, we won’t be working on this kitchen forever! Which is a good thing, because I’m already pooped and the “fun” hasn’t even really begun!

Molly’s dress is still laying on my cutting table, exactly like it was last night. Sorry. We left early this morning to get some more done on the Sunday School house kitchen. It’s really in the ugly stage right now and when you see my pictures, you’re going to wonder if my hubby has a clue what he’s doing. I can assure you he does! Electrical work is nasty, dirty and messy. It seems to take all day to figure out the wiring for everything. It looks almost the same in the kitchen today as it did yesterday… except maybe there are a few more holes in the wall. He’s got a gas stove to put in, replace a light on the wall, a garbage disposal to put in, 3 outlets, a range hood to wire up, 3 light switches and 3 LED cam lights in the soffits. He’s putting them in with the wires going into the basement so if anything ever needs fixed or replaced, the wall doesn’t have to be ripped out.

Yesterday we picked up the oak cabinets and lined them up like they’ll be when they are “officially” put in. We needed to mark the walls for the lights and outlets and mark for the countertops.

If you click on any picture, it will enlarge.

…then fast forward to today… what a mess!

We had to go to Lowe’s once today to get a few more things and on the way there I asked my hubby if this project was “overwhelming” to him? He said, “No… the plumbing and the electrical come easy to him…it’s time consuming and slow going, but not overwhelming.” I can’t imagine how to make heads or tails of it all… I just hold this wire and fish this one through this hole, and holler down in the basement when I see it coming through, and give my opinions on where the outlets should go… He has a plan and I’m sure it will all come together soon… it just looks like a disaster right now… (well, actually we swept the floor before we left this evening, so it looks better than this picture.)

All those holes were made looking for studs and fishing wires across the 2×4’s. I’m sure you already knew that, didn’t you? The 2×4’s are supposed to be 18″ apart, but they weren’t in some places and there were some “extra” 2×4’s laying sideways in a few places, causing us to punch in a few more holes…

The place where we bought the cabinets has a deal where you get free granite countertops with the purchase of cabinets. This is the one we picked out… I know it’s hard to see, but it’s really nice!

Here’s a pile of wires and pipes he got rid of down in the basement when he did the new wiring and the plumbing last week. I’m ready to get to the “pretty” part of this kitchen… :o)

Okay enough on the messy kitchen…how about something fun. I had to come back home to get something for my hubby and while I was home I walked Reuben around the house. When we got to the corner, this “ice sculpture” had formed from the water dripping off the roof of our house. Reuben growled and then barked his head off at it and was a little bit afraid of it, sniffing it…from a distance…

Well, that was my adventure on this Thursday… I hope your day was “equally as fun!” :o)

See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne

23 thoughts on “Nothing pretty and pink in these pictures…”

  1. Charlotte Trayer

    Well, you certainly were busy today, even if you weren’t sewing! That kitchen is going to be really pretty when it’s all done–looking forward to those pictures!!

    Dogs are so funny sometimes! And the ice sculpture–what fun! I remember my aunt and uncle used to get an “ice sculpture” out by their cabin where some kind of spigot or spring was bubbling all year around. Of course, after they got the cabin moved off the property (they moved it over the ice of Lake Michigan, about a half mile along the shore, to someone else’s property) and built their beautiful home on that site, the water got all connected up and they didn’t have their “ice sculpture” any more!

    It’s good to hear you “sounding” so much better today, Jeanne! Hope you are truly over this latest bug!

    1. Hi Charlotte,
      The new kitchen is going to be really pretty when it’s all finished. It was such a disaster before and just imagining how nice it’s going to be is something I’m really looking forward to.
      I wish I had recorded Reuben growling at rhe ice…it was the funniest thing…
      I’m getting better every day…
      Thanks so much!
      Blessings, Jeanne

  2. You must be better or you couldn’t be having all this fun. We asked for pictures — granted they aren’t as pretty as the ones of Molly’s dress — because you can’t really appreciate something until you’ve seen the mess that it took to reach the finished stage. I’m glad you showed the “cabinet in place” pictures because they were so encouraging.
    This is great — I’m looking forward to more dress progress and pictures and more kitchen progress and pictures.
    Stay well and keep following all our advice from past days — the advice about continuing steaming sounded good to me.

    1. Hi Marilyn,
      George is helping our pastor put in a new gas fireplace at his house today, so I’m going to take advantage of my time at home and work on Molly’s dress. I hope I get something done on it that’s good enough to show for tomorrow.

      I used the medicated stuff in the vaporizer last night and it was the best night of “not” coughing so far….yay!
      Thanks so much,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  3. Wow! That’s going to be a beautiful kitchen, Jeanne! So glad to see that it’s coming along nicely, in spite of the messy pictures. Tthat’s the way it always goes when you are renovating. It is truly remarkable that you also got free granite counter tops, and to think we had to pay for ours! After all this is done, maybe on to the Wiedlocher kitchen??
    With a husband like George, anything is possible it seems! You should clone that guy!

    The ice sculpture is amazing! No wonder Rueben was scared! We did have some pretty high temperatures, and it is really something that it has survived. But…more bad weather coming!
    So glad to hear you are getting better and better! We know that Molly’s dress is coming along, and you do have time before Easter, lots of it!

    1. Hi Linda,
      I’m glad you like the pictures of the new kitchen and the way it’s coming along. Yes, free granite countertop, now mind you it’s only three quarters of an inch thick but if you take care of it it should last just as long as the thicker stuff. With new paint on the walls, new cabinets, new brick backer board and new flooring this room is going to look totally different. I’m really excited about what it’s going to look like when it’s all finished.
      Oh, and yes…my kitchen is next!!! Oh, and YES…I’m keeping my hubby!!!

      More cold weather? say it ain’t so!!!!
      Thanks Linda,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  4. I can empathize with you! I’ve lived in a ‘construction zone’ for decades…. if it isn’t one thing, it’s another that’s ready to be replaced. One of these days, I sure hope we can just sit and enjoy! (It creates a good ‘challenge’ – trying to play with dolls, too!)

    1. Hi Mary,
      We’ve lived in the “construction zone” too, for the last 13 years…and when the kitchen gets finished, all the major parts will be done…I’ll have to kid my hubby and tell him it’s time to remodel those first projects now…don’t think he’ll go for that too well…
      Thanks Mary,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  5. The kitchen looks wonderful already, even if they’re not hooked up yet. You two do amazing work together. Molly’s dress will be darling.

    If I had heard someone with a wracking cough like I have, I’d have suggested they get themselves to the doctor pronto, so I did. I have an infection with wheezing in my lungs. So they gave me a breathing treatment and a prescription for a Z-Pack. It takes me a while to catch on. I’ll be on the mend soon. I hope you”ll go to the doctor if your cough doesn’t improve soon, Jeanne.

    1. The ice sculpture does look like a ghost in chains, doesn’t it. No wonder Reuben was scared. Glad you shared the picture.

    2. Hi Susette,
      I’m glad you could see the hope of things to come in my kitchen pictures…it really is going to be a HUGE HUGE improvement!
      I have a dr appt on Monday and was going to have her check my breathing, just to be sure. I am still coughing, but it’s getting better. ..
      Glad you liked Reuben and “the ghost!”
      YOU take it easy and use your treatment everyday!
      Blessings, Jeanne

  6. Love your ice sculpture photo! That could be a magazine cover. Nature’s wonders. Sorry Reuben wasn’t impressed.
    The church cabinets look so much better. Will be great storage with lots of counter surface. Love the counter top choice. Once your drywall patches are complete no one will even know all of the work that went into the new outlets, plumbing, etc. I think you should frame before, during, and after photos and hang them somewhere so everyone is aware of all the work that the remodel entailed. George sure knows his wiring and plumbing. All that fishing wires and crawling around in the basement should be commended. Do you have to have the city/county inspect the work? We do here. I can remember when my father wired our bedroom addition years ago. He was sweating the inspector as he hadn’t done any major stuff since our cabin. He read up on the current codes and everything passed with flying colors. I’m sure George and company would pass too with no problems.
    Glad you’re feeling better. Looking forward to that darling dress for Molly. Let’s see, maybe she needs little pink socks to match. Or even white bobby socks with lace tops. 🙂
    Try not to work too hard until you are fully recovered.

    1. Hi Joy,
      Yes, my hubby really does know his stuff…and yes, it has to be inspected. The reason we remodeled the building instead of tearing it down is because of all the NEW codes that you have to have. It would be 4 times as expensive to bring this old building up to code…air tight windows, wheelchair ramp, high efficiency furnace, finished basement, and lots more things that really aren’t necessary for this building. So until it falls down, which it won’t, because it’s built strong, we’ll just keep fixing it up…
      Okay, I better get cooking on Molly’s dress…
      Thanks Joy!
      Blessings, Jeanne

      1. They are getting very tight on disability access out here. They would probably require a ramp as well as having all of the sinks, stove, etc. be wheel chair accessible even on a remodel. Lots of lawsuits so any building the public uses has to have everything in compliance. We had a brand new fire station built (right in the middle of where the big fires were) but before it could be opened, the codes had changed so they had to spend a gazillion dollars to make everything accessible for wheel chairs. All of the kitchen areas, doorways, sleeping areas etc. This was in a fire station in areas that would only be used by the firemen and women. Unfortunately, even the new fire station burned in the fires. Crazy.
        Makes a lot of sense to me that fix up is the way to go in your case. It will be such a great improvement.
        I’m still thinking you should package your son and now George too then overnight them to those of us with projects that need completion. Perhaps you need a sign up sheet? 🙂

        1. Hi Joy,
          Not only are there all the new codes and regulations, but our church is in the historic district of town so if you do anything it has to be regulation and fitting for your building. We desperately need new windows but we can’t just put any old efficiency vinyl windows in…they’d have to be wood, and with the grids…stuff like that keeps us just fixing up…
          Our fire station moved to another part of town and before it could be used, they had to do all those ridiculous things too. It took several months to get everything all done.
          Oh, I’ve gotta keep my guys here…sorry.
          Blessings, Jeanne

  7. So glad you are feeling better, Jeanne. I know you’re taking good care of yourself. Suzette, I hope you get to feeling better. Especially with that terrible cough. I had that type of cough in November and December and it is not fun. Take care.
    Jeanne, George is so talented and I can’t wait to see how the church kitchen turns out. The congregation will be thrilled when it’s done.
    That ice sculpture is so cool. What a natural piece of art!! Poor Reuben, I can imagine what went through his mind when he saw it.
    Take care and everyone in the midwest, stay warm.

    1. Hi Paula,
      I am feeling like myself again..
      Except for this crummy cough. I guess it’s going to be the last to leave. I’m in my sewing room again and it feels wonderful.

      I can’t wait to see the finished kitchen either…I hope it starts moving along.
      The ice sculpture is all melted now…
      Glad you enjoyed it.
      Blessings, Jeanne

  8. Dear Jeanne, I am with Reuben. I think the sculpture looks like a giant frozen spider. I would be barking too (smile). I am glad you are feeling better.

    1. Hi Dorothy,
      The ice did look like a big spider or long legged bug of some kind. I’m glad you enjoyed it!
      Thanks so much,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  9. Good progress on the church kitchen remodel, Jeanne. George is as skilled with plumbing and electrical systems as you are with sewing and embellishing–a great combination! I think framing some before and after pictures would be a nice addition to the kitchen walls. With the cabinets lined up and the granite sample laid out, we can really see how nice everything will look when it’s finished. How much easier and enjoyable it will be to prepare meals in the bright new space! Does your church host Lenten Suppers as we do here? Perhaps everything will be finished for the Easter Sunday Sunrise Service Celebration?

    Your servant’s heart is such a wonderful example of the JOY (Jesus, Others, You) model, Jeanne. So glad you are feeling better, but please do ease back into your busy days slowly, as it is very easy to underestimate these viruses and end up with a secondary infection in your lungs. (Take care, Susette! Well wishes to you!). The coughing can be so painful, and peaking from experience, even lead to the dislocation of one or more ribs. The dust of linens, cleaning, remodeling, etc., as well as cold air should be avoided whenever possible. Although they look a bit funny, we have even used cloth masks here when braving exposure to the Midwest cold, especially with my daughter’s chronic illness to consider. Don’t mean to nag, but we care about you, Jeanne! Hope some time in your sewing room today allowed you a bit of R&R after helping George yesterday. I’m sure it built the excitement for Molly over her Easter dress! 😉 Wishing you a good weekend!

    1. Hi Anne,
      We make a great team with his knowledge of things and I keep him in line with the details for making it pretty. I can’t remember what it was, but I thought of something the other day that he said was a great way to do it!
      The hopes are to have it finished by the 27th…our 30th Anniversary Sunday. Well give it our best shot. The kitchen is mostly used by the students for the different life groups that meet through the week.
      We have those paper masks that we used when George was in Chemo, and I was using them when I was in the kitchen yesterday. They kept some of the dust out of my mouth and nose.
      George has been gone all day and I’ve stayed home and worked on Molly’s dress! :o)
      Thanks Anne,
      Blessings, Jeanne

  10. Forgot to say that our Easter Sunrise Service is always followed by a big church breakfast! Pancakes and sausage, anyone?! Then on to the Easter Egg hunt!

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