starting to look like a kitchen

Although it is still FAR from done- we can finally see how it is going to look with the new arrangement in the kitchen.  Here are the bones of the new arrangement...
Here is the master carpenter standing by his handywork

And guess what I am so happy about!!!  A dishwasher-- yippee!  And look at all that countertop space...

Another window to replace

The original goal for the day was to finish the drywall around the new window on the right-- and by 11 am it was done

Then one thing lead to another---and we decided to take out the other window today....as expected the old window was poorly supported --as you can see the header beam only went part way across the top of the window...

 Soon we had the window out- luckily the afternoon was relatively warm even though we had new snow on the ground this morning.

 Here is the new window in place- notice the nice header that goes all the way to each end of the window!  After getting this far we decided that was enough for today!

More window work

First job on Friday was to insulate around the new window.  We ended up taking the wall board off the little ceiling area--after noticing that there was no insulation in there either.

 Kurt moved the ceiling light fixture while he was at it, then he put up some insulation.  

New wallboard on the ceiling-before calling it a day and going fishing.  He came home with a fish too!

Out with the old....

The old sink cabinet came out on Thursday-- Here it is partially demolished.

 And now it is all removed.

 With time left in the day Kurt decided to change out the window on the right.  This was the last original window remaining in the house.  Here is the empty hole. 

 And now the new thermal pane slider window is in place.
 And a look at the window from the outside

Day 3-new beam in and drywalled!

Kurt is moving fast-  
Here is where we were 3 days ago

Tonight the new beam is in place and covered in drywall. We gained 6 inches of head room. It makes the room look much more open.

New kitchen means demolition first

Interior work started yesterday on the kitchen remodel. First day not too bad- Kurt 'just' took out the beam over the sink

Today it is a little more serious- cut the studs and insert a new beam- while holding up the wall with posts.  Note stove is moved and dust everywhere.  Dinner was take-out!

New kitchen- here we come!

When Kurt isn't fishing he has been working in his woosdhop to construct new kitchen cabinets-- Here is the first unit- It will go in the corner under the window.  The sink will be delivered any day.  And we still have not decided on a countertop surface, so we are still a ways from installation.
In the meantime LOOK at this great cabinet work- dovetailed drawers, full tenoned doors and (although you can't see this) automatice closing drawer slides.

Kurt brings dinner home

Kurt has a new hobby.  Can you guess what it is?

He's hooked now that he finally caught one.....

Kurt caught the bigger one and his fishing buddies gave him the only other fish caught this afternoon--so that we would have enough for a meal. 

Christmas Gifts

Josie is here

Another task completed!

Kurt has been working on little finishing touches- today he completed a display shelf in the large niche that was once an opening into the livingrooom.
Here is the livingroom side of the opening- at the beginning of construction this spring.

mid-construction.....

and today (the window opening is covered over)

And here is the kitchen side of that wall...

as construction was beginning.....

And today- the old opening is filled in with a mirror and some custom fit shelves....

and the happy carpenter- with another job done!

It's a winter wonderland over here today

Turkey with crab apple stuffing anyone?

Our wild turkey flock finally discovered our loaded crabapple tree outside the kitchen window.  In one day they have nearly picked it clean.  Their technique is to send four birds into the tree to shake down the fruit.

Then the rest of the flock gobbles up the crabapples from the ground.   

My flamigos take it all in stride.

Good bye Fall

Saturday was a beautiful day here.  I took some farewell pictures of my 2010 garden.  And just in time too because we got our first winter snow on Sunday.
Here was one last bouquet from the garden....not bad for Nov. 20th.

Here is our garden all tucked under a bed of maple leaves.  (with a few remaining green kale plants)

Notice the snow on the hills across the river...

Our house is all tucked in too....

Our remodel is turning out to surpass our expectations for a warm house.  Even at 15 degrees today we had to damp down the wood stove to keep from being too hot!

One more view of the snowy hills across the lake...