Moving Forward With The Remodel

Painters were here in-between other workers this week.  They are mostly done except for some doors and touch up that they will do after everyone else is done.

The last major thing the painters did was the "brown stain" on the dining room walls and some sections of hallways. He said that it had been over 15 years since he had done this type of finish and they don't have the same type of products (because it isn't what people are doing now.)  However, I have loved how it looked and didn't want to change it so with a bit of trial and error and working late one night, they got it done. It is a bit darker than before, but I am happy with it and it is true to the look that we have had (for about 15 years already.)

The electrician hung most of the light fixtures later in the week.

Utility room

Dining room

Over the sink

I love my yellow lights over the island.
They are actually produced by a Hong Kong firm
(made in China, of course.). 

new family room fan
You can see the cherry mantel
in the background.

master bedroom fan

All of our canned lights were changed to LED lights with a flat profile.

We also got some of our appliances with the freezer and refrigerator now installed and working.  It is an adjustment to make the switch to stainless steel but the options and features and prices all made that the best choice.

Our new main floor freezer--
Gary's idea!

We got new carpet for the living room, hallways, and bedrooms on the main floor as well this past week.

Living room--
or Library room as Gary calls it

Jena's bedroom

This week we are looking forward to the tile guy installing the fireplace tiles and the backsplash in the kitchen.  The plumber will also be here to attach fixtures and sinks.

It is taking shape and I am happy with everything.  We are heading out of town for 2 weeks on Thursday so we will miss some of the final details such as crown moldings in the kitchen, knobs and handles for the cabinets, door knobs, and putting doors and shelves back in throughout the house.  It is possible that they may finish while Gary and I are gone except for the front door which isn't expected until mid-April.

Then we have to "move" in for real when we get home.  That is another big job waiting for us.  However, at this point, we don't plan to move again (if we do serve another mission, I don't think we will move stuff out again.  Too much work!)

When we are done, you are all invited to come and visit!

Clouds.....

As I was previewing my photos from the past week, I loved these cloud pictures taken at a red light at State Street in Layton looking west......

I actually hadn't remembered taking cloud pictures this past week, but I loved the mixture of clouds and was glad to appreciate them again through the photos....

Then I looked more closely and remembered that I wasn't trying to take a picture of the clouds at all.  It was the flag posted in the bed of the pickup truck that I was trying to get a good shot of.  With edit feature, you can see the flag as the truck made the turn.

Flags and clouds--both powered by the wind!

I would love to paint clouds like that some day.
 

Carrot and Oat Pancakes

These are our gluten-free Carrot and Oat Pancakes.  As part of changing our eating habits to be more healthy and helping Gary's blood sugar, I am experimenting with new recipes. Despite what it sounds like, these were actually good and with the maple yogurt spread I made, didn't impact Gary's blood sugar out of the safe zone.  

He has been amazing at keeping his blood sugars within range.  He is averaging around 98% and the goal is over 70% of the time.  It will be an experience to travel and to try to be mindful of eating healthy and in the right ways to manage blood sugars--but we are on the learning phase of this and we will be eating LOTS of vegetables.
 

New Adventures For Jena

Last Sunday, Jena and I attended her YSA Stake's realignment meeting where they took the existing wards and rearranged them to form two wards for those 26-35 and the rest are for YSAs 18-25 years old.  This impacts Jena since she is in the older age group.  She will now attend the Clearfield YSA 26-35 Ward which meets on State Street in Clearfield.  It includes people from Morgan, Mountain Green, South Weber, Clearfield, and Syracuse.  We met her bishop after the meeting and then Jena attended her first game night family night last Monday.  She likes it so far.

Our friend, Ryan Miggins, leading the
music during the meeting.  I sent a 
photo to his mom.

The map of the stake building which told
everyone where together and meet their bishop.

Ironically, her previous bishop, Bishop Stott--is the other bishop of the older YSA ward for the west area.  However, although the ward is called Meadow Park YSA 26-35, very little of the area covered in the new ward matched with the past Meadow Park Ward so he will be starting over as well.

She will still meet at 12:00 which works well with our current schedule.  The building is about 12 minutes away which isn't bad either.

PS

Gary has a new calling.  I just reviewed the posts and realized that I hadn't mentioned that last week.  He was sustained as the assistant executive secretary in our ward and his primary job is to arrange appointments for the two counselors in the bishopric.  He is also in charge of arranging prayers for sacrament meetings.  He added a few meetings to his week--Tuesday evening Bishopric meetings and also Sunday morning Bishopric meetings at 6:30 am.....his first Sunday one was this morning which unfortunately was also the switch to Daylight savings time. He was a bit tired when he got home today.  I know if I needed a secretary/clerk type of person, I would want Gary on my team, too.  He is organized and follows through on his assignments with diligence.  The executive secretary is Craig Pessetto, one of our closest friends and neighbors so they will have fun working together with the other bishopric members. Randomly, Craig and Michelle are heading to Australia the week before we leave for New Zealand. They took a vote in last Tuesday's bishopric meeting and everyone wants to go with us to New Zealand over Australia.  The world is an interesting place and I am excited to hear about their adventures in Australia.  I don't think we will make a trip there (although we are flying to Brisbane to catch our plane to Christchurch, but that doesn't really count.)

Do you think we will get to take vacations in the eternities and to visit the cool places on earth we didn't get to see?

Snap Shots From The Week

Early in the week after some mountain snow, I took a shot of the mountains to send to one of the young adults in Arkansas.  She has never been to Utah yet.  Arkansas hills are beautiful and Utah mountains are as well--each in their own way.

And later glancing at my sideview window, I caught a glimpse of the setting sun---the pinks against the clouds was so beautiful that I had to stop and get a picture.  Luckily, I was in a parking lot so stopping was okay.

Then on Thursday night, Jena had to go to her stake center and have her temple recommend interview with a member of her Stake Presidency.  She met with President Bair.  We had never met him before, but it was a sweet experience for all of us since he invited me in to her interview with her permission. She then attended an Institute class and stayed for food afterwards.  She is so brave.  She just walked into a room with lots of people and found a seat and enjoyed herself.

On our way home for her Stake Center--more "perfect" views....

Our Syracuse Temple.....

We pulled over to get a good photo

How great is that.  This temple is a tribute to all of the good people who settled this part of the state many years ago.  Three more months until the temple is dedicated.

One more shot from the week---My white blood cells have been off a bit over the past few months, so my doctor sent me to a specialist who took 14 tubes of blood and ordered other tests and we will see him again AFTER our trip to New Zealand.  No worries from our end at this point, because I have few symptoms to be concerned about.  However, I did like this sign posted at the lab.  14 isn't much according to the lab tech.  She once took 54 tubes from one person at one time.  I can't even imagine that. 

Hope it makes you smile, too! :)

Look around and enjoy the beautiful things in your world (and also the quirky or funny things, too.)

Painting....

 takes central stage in the remodel this week, although the fireplace surround was installed as well as the hand rail for the stairs.

Jena's new blue room.  It reminds her of the blues inside the Bentonville Arkansas Temple.  How sweet is that.

Her bathroom is a couple of shades lighter of the same blue family....

The sweet yellow of the front room or "library" as Gary calls it now...

And although this is very close to the same yellow we had before, it has been covered with primer for a few weeks.  When I came upstairs and saw it painted this bright yellow, it made me smile!  I love yellows, because they are bright and really make me smile.  We will be staining these walls again (with what Gary describes as dirty water) although it is a bit trickier these days because it isn't a popular style any more so there a fewer products to consider.  Fortunately, our contractor had done it in his home 15 years ago and is familiar with the technical aspects of it and we think we have it figured out.

Our railings got their first coat of stain.  It is a pretty cherry wood like our cabinets and I love it.

Yesterday was spent getting this part of the house ready for paint.  Things were all wrapped up and primer applied on the walls.  Our stove is now out of commission. 

This is our new fireplace surround--taken from a picture on the internet.  The sides and under the mantel are white, but on top (covered with paper in this photo) is a cherry wood mantel.  I can't wait to see the tile go in!  It should be beautiful.

Fortunately, they ran a power cord to the fridge so we can still use it for food.  Our washer and dryer were all wrapped up, so we unwrapped them this weekend to do laundry and we were also able to use the utility sink still for washing dishes.  However, that is likely to be removed tomorrow as part of the process of prepping the laundry room.  Our contractor and workmen have done such a great job in allowing us to use things for as much as possible during a remodel.  It has been inconvenient, but not impossible to continue to live here during the remodel.

Getting excited to have things done and to move back in.  I am loving everything so far.

Throwback Monday

Since Monday was our anniversary, it seems good to throw in some "throwback" pictures--I hope to write our family history over the next few years and then these and other pictures will be together in a more meaningful way, but here are a couple--

I had very strong opinion about announcements--1. the focus should be on the wedding and where it was taking place; 2. although I wanted yellow announcements the printer suggested that this ivory was better for pictures, etc. He was probably right; 3.  I wanted the "new" style folded casual announcements rather than the two envelope formal announcements which were still popular then I am not very formal; 4.  I didn't want to use Judith but that is the one thing I regret because from a family history point of view it would have been better to have my complete name; and 5.  Ever since I heard this quote as a teenager, I wanted it on my announcement---and I also hope now that it will be on our gravestone-- "Thou lift me and I'll lift you And we'll both ascend together."

my parents, Gary, me, Gary's parents
Not sure why we took the photo this way,
but I like it.  Our parents supported both of us
from the very beginning.

The cake eating part of the reception in Amarillo.

As we were talking through the day about what we remembered from 47 years ago, one thing I mentioned to Gary was that from the moment we got engaged in December of 1977, I never doubted that this was what was next for me and that it was right.  I didn't have a powerful witness of that until shortly before we got married, but I had a confidence that I was moving in the right direction.  That has been proven true over and over again in the past 47 years.  We are so lucky God directed our paths in specific ways to make the timing, the place, and the connections to be right.

Happy Anniversary to Us! 47 Years Along Towards Eternity

How we celebrated:

We are not much into "romantic dinners" or fancy gifts to celebrate these occasions.  We do usually plan to do something and eat out (because I always look for  reason not to cook.) And many years, we planned a trip or at least an overnight get away sometime in February or March (although if you read this blog, you know that for our 40th anniversary, we delayed our trip until October to make a trip to the Albuquerque Balloon Festival to copy what my parents did for their 40th anniversary--which turned out to be their last anniversary they celebrated together on this earth as my mom passed away the next February--so we are very flexible.) Gifts are not a big part of things although we have boughten things in honor of an anniversary--a specific picture of the Provo Temple for our 30th one and our flag pole for our 33rd anniversary!  This year, I chose a library lamp....I wanted one for our piano for a long time and this seemed like the best thing to celebrate #47 and our remodel by adding a pop of bright green in our front room. (Of course, at the moment the piano and lamp are living in the basement with the rest of us.)

So, we headed to Salt Lake for dinner at Cafe Zupa's and a play at the Hale Theatre "Little Women"--which was excellent.  The cast did such a great job with their characters.

Jena got the "hugest" strawberry....

The set was fun in the Jewel Box theatre at Hale.  With digital changes the backdrops and the pink blankets over the set changed throughout the show.  It was a great theatre experience.

Waiting for the show to start----

Happy 47th Anniversary, Gary....love you to infinity and beyond!

Our "Hardwood" Week

With the pounding of hardwood floor installation and later the "smell" of the finish, we made some adjustments in our plans for the week.  We did temple sessions on Tuesday and Friday...Gary also went on Wednesday while Jena and I spent the afternoon running errands and getting her to her Institute class.

Thursday morning, we packed up and headed to Ogden because that was the day that they stained the floors and the smell made the house not fit for humans or anyone.  (Gary and I can attest as we had to go over that afternoon to open some windows to air it out.  The installers needed it to dry to a certain level before windows were open.  Our eyes, lungs, and stomachs almost immediately reacted to the stuff in the air.  It was crazy.)

We met Gary and Vonette for breakfast at IHOP, then we headed to the Layton mall to walk around for a bit before our movie "Paddington Does Peru" started at a nearby theatre.  That finished just in time to pick up Ben and then head to Ogden again to check into our hotel for the night.

Jena and I at the Ogden Temple on Tuesday
We drove separate cars so that Gary could do
another session afterwards.

It has been a long time since we walked the
Layton Hills Mall. We didn't know they
had a rock shop there.

Movie time at the Cinemark in Layton.....caught Jena waving at me.

Just in case you don't know who
Paddington is.  We were the only three people
in the theatre.

We went to the Pita Pit for dinner and all enjoyed our food and fruit smoothies.

Friday morning at the Ogden Temple.......

We were able to get back into our house on Friday afternoon with many windows open and the furnace fan blowing continually for the afternoon and evening.  We have been blessed with excellent weather all of this week which we appreciated with the remodeling done.

Although we do now have a new sink installed in our kitchen....

as you can see, it isn't attached to plumbing yet so not useful.

So this is how we wash dishes currently.  We carry them upstairs and use our utility sink to wash and rinse them, then they dry on top of our dryer.

Glad we have some options.  It is better than using the small bathroom sinks in the house. The "joys" of remolding!