We're In! (But Not Fully Operational)

Well, the carpet was laid at 5:00 pm today, and by 9:30, we had hung the curtains and moved most of the furniture into the new bedroom. (The curtains were my one requirement before sleeping in there!) It looks AMAZING! And, it's not even done yet! Dave still has to finish tiling the bathroom and hang the closet rods, but otherwise, we are set! Merry Christmas to me, and thanks honey, for working so hard!


My new "office" that still needs flooring:


From the sliding door:


From the doorway: (Don't you love the chair??)

From the doorway:

Still working, but it's going to be beautiful:

Merry Christmas....we're moving in!

'Twas the week before Christmas, and all through the addition, Dave was all jazzed with new motivation. The doors were all hung by new baseboards with care, and countertops were installed so the bathroom we'd share. The tile was all settled in on the floor, with visions of curtains and mirrors and more! And Kathy in her painting clothes, and Dave in his hat, had just finished painting every this, every that.

When out of their mouths, there arose such a shout, the neighbors had to come look see what it's about! Away to the new room, they flew like a flash, threw out the tools and cleaned up in a dash. The lights in the top of the new master ceiling gave a luster of joy and an excited feeling. When what to our wondering ears should we hear, but "The carpet's in Tuesday, so get it in gear!"

With only 3 days to get it all set, we knew in a moment our challenge we'd met. More rapid than eagles, the couple they flew, and whistled and shouted, and frantic they grew. "On putty, on sanding, on caulking and painting, On tiling and grouting, and no, there's no fainting! To the top of the tub, to the top of the wall, now paint away, clean away, finish it all!" ....

They spoke no more words, but went straight to their work, and finished it all and then stopped with a jerk. And laying their bodies down flat on the couch, they moaned and groaned "ouch, ouch, ouch, ouch!" Then rose from their sleep and to their team gave a whistle, and away they all moved furniture fast as a missle. But we heard them exclaim as they dragged left and right "Merry Christmas to all, we're moving in tonight!"

P.S. (Some artistic liberty was taken in the writing of this poem. We're not completely ready to move in, but the carpet will be in Tuesday, and we're hoping we'll be ready by Wednesday!)

Getting There....

After a few weeks where not much happened in the remodel arena, this week has been full of changes. In the space of one week, we have textured the walls, painted the entire addition, hooked up all the lights, hung some blinds, and set the bathroom and office cabinets. It's starting to seem real to me now.

There's not much else to report from the Bryson family right now. Our whole life seems to have been swallowed up into this construction. The kids even ask me nearly every afternoon what project we're working on that night! They are almost as excited as we are (although mostly just because they get to play with all the boxes and make messes everywhere!)

We're trying to get as much done as we can before Christmas, when we hope to take a little break before starting on the kitchen. If I thought my life has been interrupted by the addition, I know I "ain't seen nothing yet!" I am looking forward to the kitchen, but I'm dreading it at the same time. Dave assures me he will finish it as quickly as he can, but I know there is only so much he can do while holding down a very busy full-time job! So, by the end of this, we may be on a first name basis with the people at McDonald's!

Here's some before and after views....

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Cabinets in the addition: (countertops soon to come!)

Office:

Bathroom:

Look! No more sheets over the door!