It always gets worse…
…before it gets better.
But before I get into that, I want to say that I realized this morning that I’ve already been away from home for more than a week! I guess time really *does* fly when you’re having fun – or not paying attention, either one…
And now, back to your regularly scheduled blog entry.
I think I’ve mentioned once or twice that Eve and Rick are redoing their kitchen while I’m here (it’s always good to have an additional body when doing big projects at home). We were originally planning to go bicycle-riding last Thursday, but decided instead to start the kitchen’s demolition. We got all the old stuff out, even down to the drywall. We got the wiring all buttoned up and the new drywall on, and put the first coat of drywall compound (aka “mud”) on the joints.
Yesterday (Friday) I sanded down the first mud layer and applied the second one. Rick built the custom ceramic tile countertop bases and cut the tiles, and Eve worked on the 1×2 hard maple edging boards. I swear, that girl has magic in her hands. She has made those edges as smooth as – well, I don’t know what else is that smooth! It impressed the hell out of me!
Today Rick had to go to his job (it happens occasionally), so Eve and I carried on. I put down some sub-flooring to bring the cabinet locations level with the rest of the floor; Eve worked on cutting the individual pieces of the counter edges and gluing them together, I sanded down the second mud layer and cleaned up the resulting mess and painted a primer coat on it. When Rick came home he laid the tiles on the countertop sections and we put the first color coat on the new wallboard.
So I think we’re through most of the “getting worse” part and are well on the way to the “getting better” part. The final floor still needs to go in; walls need a second coat of paint; cabinets need assembling and installing; counters need installing; appliances need installing; and I’m sure there’s more to come with all that. But I’m running away tomorrow to ride my Honda with a friend. I *am* on (permanent) vacation, after all!
Stay safe, no matter what you are doing! Someone in your life needs you in theirs.
The Peripatetic Traveler 
😀