10-26-13

She's coming back today! The Storyman has a lot to do! 

 

 

The primer is still going on the walls in the dining room. 

And right before mom returns from a two week vacation in Europe, the dining room is done.
She walks in and the first thing she sees is this.

10-25-13

I found a second cousin on Facebook. He lives in Canada where my birthfather's family is from. He posted this picture on Facebook today. This is my great grandfather, Grant Turner. I don't see any resemblance, but I do look a lot like my birth father.

I hosted a graduate student lunch today. It was well attended and my students really seemed to appreciate getting together for a meal.

10-24-13

The hole in the ceiling where the pantry was is closed up now.

The floor just needs finishing.

It's Thursday and The Storyman is very very busy trying to get my mom's house ready for her return on Saturday. The painter primed the dining room walls.

I taught a very good class tonight. I found my marbles! They were in the supply closet!

10-23-13

So this is how nice it looks now with the table in place. Meanwhile, Dan is flat on his back recovering from the event. He stepped over the wall holding an entire table.

I had a meeting with the Dean, Associate Dean, and my department chair today. It felt good to be included in a valuable discussion.

10-22-13

Dan decided to move the patio table from the grass onto the patio and look what he found hiding underneath. I do believe that's a black widow. He just left her there.

I had a meeting today with some people today and it was uncomfortable. It was a black widow kind of meeting.

Dan pulled his back moving this patio table.
This is not good.

10-20-13

This is what I worked on ALL DAY. I washed the walls again, scraped old paint off the tiles and the floor, scraped and sanded the ceiling (while wearing safety goggles and a respirator), sanded the cabinets, taped, cut in with two coats, and then painted two coats of semigloss. It's much cleaner looking, and should withstand the humidity now.
Next, Dan is supposed to install a ceiling fan and then we will finish the ceiling.
The walls used to be more of a fleshy peach color. Glad that's gone!

10-19-13

My mother's dining room gutted.

From the other side...

Kitchen looking a bit more done.

This is the "before" picture. She had some stained glass windows designed which should install soon.

Meanwhile, I started another pair of socks.

10-18-13

 

 

 

 

 

It's done!!!
Now for some comfy furniture...

10-17-13

It rained today so the crew only got so far.

I like the way the planter area is looking.

I taught tonight in my new socks.

10-16-13

More rocks and mortar

Parts look finished.

Where to put this one???

By the end of Wednesday it was looking really nice.

Meanwhile, I finished my socks!

10-15-13 my mother's house

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the old wallpaper is now revealed. Boy, does that spark nostalgia!

Looking from the little kitchen to the big kitchen. What a mess.

The big kitchen full of stuff.

More tools and stuff.

Dan, the Storyman, and Fletcher discussing progress. 

The cabinets are slowly going in.

I like the round doorway.
It was so freaky seeing  all this. Very disconcerting to have my childhood home changed.

10-15-13 My patio progress

The crew arrived this morning to start building us a new patio.

They hauled rocks, scraped the existing surface...

Put mortar over the bricks on the wall, and started laying rock.

It was a mess.

But I could see potential.
Worked from home all day grading midterms.

10-14-13

I treated myself today.
On the way into work I stopped by the cart selling Overall Company Pops and got a hazlenut chocolate.

Taught a good class tonight on digital probeware. 

10-13-13

Sock progress

Done sock!

10-12-13

I bought double pointed needles. I am making socks.

My sweet Dan got us a Pumpkin.

I had a great day. Worked in the yard for two hours then scrubbed Squirt's bathroom walls with bleachy water to prepare it for painting.
It's simply amazing what fruits and flowers are alive in our yard this time of year.

While I felt great, I over did it. By 2pm I was feeling the familiar migraine coming on. Spent the rest of the day in bed.

10-11-13

Yellow butterflies are loving this sage plant in our back yard. 

 

 

Mom's kitchen is coming along VERY SLOWLY. The Storyman is slow to get anything done over there.