Phase 1 - Lots of Progress and a Story

This is from last weekend.

Rick did some really good work while I was gone, and even more when I got home. I will give a brief update with pictures and then tell his calf story. Things accomplished this week:

• ceilings and walls - textured and painted
• upper cabinets - stained, sprayed, and HUNG
• kitchen ceiling and cabinet lights

For fourteen days, we have made some major progress.

The Calf Story

Rick went to check the cows out at the farm the day of the blizzard on his way home from work in his tennis shoes and no coveralls, etc. While there he found a brand new baby calf. Since we had already lost one new baby during some bad weather, he was concerned about this one. So he decided to carry this 100 pound calf to shelter in the blowing snow. He had to stop several times to rest, he was in mud and snow up to his knees, and his chest and throat were killing him. Of course, no cell phone was with him. He had two thoughts during this time if something was to happen to him:

1. No one knew where he was.

2. It would not be fair to me, if I had to go through losing another husband. (I was greatly moved when he told me this.) He said that the good Lord was taking care of me!

He finally got the calf in shelter, and he got back to his truck. He was gasping for air, his fingers were almost frostbit, and he was wet and muddy up to his thighs. After he left the farm, he was so thirsty that he had to stop on the side of the road to eat some snow. He did end up with a sore throat and sore lungs from breathing so much cold air.

Now that time has elapsed, his thoughts are that he must have a pretty strong heart. The calf is still alive and doing fine.

TCEA - 2010

Good Day from Austin. I am having a blast. I have even chosen some really good workshops yesterday and today. Technology amazes me. The problem with it is two-fold - not enough money and not enough time. I have trouble keeping up with my blog.

I hear it is snowing at home. Also I hear Rick is doing some really good work at the house. I will write more later.

Phase 1 - continued

Here I am in Austin at the TCEA conference with my house looking like a bomb exploded. You've got to love it. I will get to experience the best of it all. I love the TCEA conference. I am really one of the technology nerds who loves to touch and see all the latest things others are doing. I am waiting on a workshop right now to begin on BLOGGING (and other Web 2.0 apps)!

As for as the house, this weekend we continued with Phase 1. The ceiling got scraped and taped. All of the light fixtures are gone; as well as, the paper and wainscot paneling. The paper was the biggest challenge; but thanks to Rick, Chad, and Tara, I made my goal to have it all off the wall by the time I went to bed Sunday night. We used a various of techniques to do the stripping that I had found on the internet. WOW! This was messy.

The goal for this week is that the ceilings and walls will be done by the painter. The cabinets will be stained; and hopefully, ready to hang next weekend.

Phase 1

We are doing the kitchen in three phases. The ceiling, pantry and upper cabinets are all part of phase 1. Saturday the demolition actually began. We unloaded and tore out the top cabinets. Of course there was no ceiling above the furdowns, so Rick had to do some sheetrocking, also.

Letting Go

I started last night cleaning out and packing up my first kitchen cabinet for the remodel project. I must remind you that I married the first time 32 years ago; I have been in this house for 30 years; and I am a pack rat. Can you imagine what treasures I found?

I started with a corner base cabinet. This cabinet is where I stored my glass platters, large bowls, and cake stands on one shelf. This was a nice trip down memory lane. I have a mixture of my dishes and mothers. These were all keepers. Then I came to the jewels – a popcorn popper, a waffle iron, and a pan that poaches eggs. The popcorn popper went in the trash pile, the waffle iron went to the Goodwill pile, and the egg poacher is the only thing I kept of these three. The poacher was from Mother’s kitchen. I had many poached eggs as a child out of this pan. I am sure you kids have no idea what this is – considering I did not cook too many eggs since I stopped eating eggs as a teenager. I also had a crock jar full of old utensils that made the trash pile.

The next items were the appliances that go to my Nutone Food center. All the pieces went to the trash pile. Many good things have been prepared with these items – the mixer, the food processor, and the blender. However, it was time to retire these things.

As I was packing things away, I could not help but think back to 30 years ago when this kitchen was built. Carl was 25; and I was 22. I am amazed that God gave us the wisdom and resources to build this house. The other thing that kept going through my mind was what a great job Carl did on the house, and he was so young. The quality of work is unbelievable. As I start this major project, I can certainly tell that it is going to be hard to let go of so many things (including the yellow counter tops, Chad).

Kennith Marlow Scoggins

January 25, 1920 - April 14, 1990

What a Great Weekend!

It saddens me that another weekend is over, but I can't or shouldn't complain. It was fantastic.

We are focusing on prayer at church in the worship service and Sunday School. Both just made me realize just how much God wants us to have very personal two-way relationship with Him. It reinforces what we are also studying in our Women's Bible study about prayer.

Rick and I are in the planning stage of the kitchen. We have looked at so many stoves, ranges, and cooktops that I could get a job selling them. We actually made a decision after many stores, sales people, and internet reviews. Yes, he did call me hard-headed several times in this shopping excursion; however, we both compromised and hopefully made the right choices for our needs/wants.

Saturday night we went to a concert of the Platters, Coasters, and Drifters. The music was unbelievable. I am musically challenged, but I actually recognized all but two songs. Back when I taught keyboarding, my students typed to one of the Platters' Greatest hits CD. Also when I used to play the piano for my enjoyment only, a few of the love songs I played were from these groups.

The highlight of the weekend was Chad and Tara showed up Sunday morning to go to church with us. We got to take them to lunch and cook dinner for them. They got the picture albums out from their high school years. What a great trip down memory lane. I am so glad that I had it documented with pictures. Both talked about how young they looked. I disagreed. Neither have aged. Chad doesn't have the blond tips, but he still has the great smile. Hopefully, they will not mind me adding the picture from today.