In the Garden





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I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses;
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,
The Son of God discloses

-C. Austin Miles

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When Grandma H, my dad's foster mom, was in the nursing home, our minister would stop in to visit her whenever he was visiting members of our church who were residents of the same facility.  Each time, just before he left, they'd sing the hymn "In the Garden" together, and it was one of the songs that we sang at her funeral.  I've always liked that song, but after that it had even more meaning to me personally.  Each time I sing it, I feel a little closer to her.

Grandma K, Mom's mom, went home to God and Jesus on February 10, 2006, less than 24 hours after I finalized the purchase of my condo.  It was a bittersweet day, Grandma was no longer suffering, but I had hoped that she would have been able to see my place, and that we could have built some special memories there.  Unfortunately, that wasn't to be.

A few years ago, I decided that I wanted to create a memorial garden, with things that reminded me of the loved ones who had passed through Heaven's Gate and were patiently waiting for us to be together again.  I knew that I wanted to anchor the garden with a sugar maple tree like the one that had been by Grandma and Grandpa K's house in town.  Grandpa had passed away when I was 3, so I most of my memories are from stories told to me and pictures...one of my favorites are of me, "Paca" and their dog Bingo under that tree.  I remember when the leaves would told beautiful shades of yellow and orange each fall, Grandma would remark how remarkable the works of the Lord were.

In addition to the tree, my garden included:

• Peonies that originated at Grandma K's house
• Lillies that were offsprings of the ones my brother had gotten from the milkhouse by Grandma and Grandpa H
• A mum that had been split off of one given to my mom when Uncle R passed away
• A rosebush, because Uncle R loved roses
• Miniture irises that my Uncle D had given me shortly after I moved into my house (and shortly before he passed away)
• Lilacs, because they reminded of my grandparents and Uncle D

A few weeks after the garden was completed, Aunt L went to be with Uncle R.  She loved ladybugs, and the day after when I found a concrete ladybug when I was at a local nursery, I knew I needed to add that to the garden.

This year, when my parents' neighbor, D, went to her Heavenly Home, I knew I wanted to add something to the garden for her.  D and her husband, G, had become family in the 11 years that my parents had lived next door, and when she'd talk to Cuddles she always referred to herself as "Grandma D."  Their granddaughter A and her family now live in the house, and they too have become like family (A's daughter - A2 has quickly become Dad's favorite...sometimes I think she may even outrank this "Daddy's Girl").  Originally, I thought that, when we had a month with an 'R' in it (because Uncle D said you didn't transplant in a month that didn't), I would try to move some of the lillies that came from D and G's flowerbed a few years ago, but this week when A had a garage sale, I found the right fit for the garden - a fountain that D and G had on their back deck.  It fit perfectly with everything that was already there, and when it got dark tonight and the light from the fountain illuminated the tree, I knew that was the perfect way to remember her, because she had an ever-present smile that, even on the worst day, would lighten my spirits.

While they aren't physically with us any more, I know that Grandma and Grandpa K, Grandma and Grandpa H, Uncle D, Uncle R, Aunt L, and D are watching over their family and friends, and that I will see them again when the Lord calls me home.  In the meantime, I carry a piece of them in my heart always, and when I need a moment of reflection and rememberence, my garden is the perfect place to go.

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And He walks with me,

And He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other, has ever, known!

-C. Austin Miles

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To Do Lists

Those of you who know me know that I tend to lean towards the "techy" side of things. I can control my home thermostat from my smartphone, my home office has a second monitor, and whenever I can, and my laptob bag is FULL of gadgets. When it comes to a "To Do List," however, I prefer old fashioned pen and paper.  I've tried several different electronic formats, but there's just something more satisfying about crossing something off of my list, instead of clicking on a checkbox.

My list lately has been a bit full (part of the reason I haven't written anything in almost nine months), and the heat this summer didn't make it easy to get a lot of things done.  Summer's quickly coming to an end, and there are several things on my list that I really need to get done...before the proverbial snow flies.

Today after church, I took a look at my list and decided to try to tackle at least a few of those items on the list.  First task: Clean the windows and patio and storm doors, all of which were dust laden from our dry summer.  I pulled out the ladder, mixed up some vinegar and water, grabbed some newspapers and I was on my way.  About an hour (and lots of trips up and down the ladder) later, the windows sparkled for a few hours until the rain came...maybe I should have washed the windows earlier this year to bring on the rain when we needed it.  When that was done, as long as I had the ladder out I took down my Fourth of July decorations (yes, I know it's August 19, please keep in mind that, as I mentioned above, I've been a little busy) and moved my wind chimes since the clanger kept hitting my bedroom window whenever we had storms.  This afternoon I took down the summer decorations inside and tonight I started cleaning up the office - shredding old bank statements and duplicate checks, sorting things to be filed, etc. 

I do have other work that I should be doing, but now it's time to unwind a little bit, sit with my feet up and relax my mind with a little blogging and some TV.  There are still plenty of items on my To Do Lists, both home and work, some of which I do need to tackle before bed, and that's okay too...because then I can cross them off of my list.

Need a Little Christmas

Haul out the holly, put up the tree before my spirit falls again.  Fill up the stockings, I may be rushing things, but deck the halls again now...And I need a little angel sitting on my shoulder.  I need a little Christmas now. - Jerry Herman

I learned that song for one of my Elementary School Christmas Programs, and this year it seems to pop into my head quite often.  In an era where everyone seems short on both time and patience, it's easy to lose sight of the Reason for the Season.  This year seems to have flown by, and once November hit, things went through at warp speed (as evidenced by the fact that I actually started writing this blog the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and here it is, December 30, and I'm finally finishing it).

For those of you who haven't seen my house at Christmas, I LOVE to decorate...I'm not kidding you.  Outdoor decorating starts the week before Thanksgiving, I have two bins of lights and garland for outside, plus additional figures, wreaths, swags, etc. for outside alone.  When it comes to inside, I more than 30 bins, plus assorted boxes of items, not to mention my Christmas trees, and the items that are freestanding, simply covered with a garbage bag to prevent dust.  I start decorating Thanksgiving day, and don't finish up until late Saturday night.  I recongize that, compared to most homes, I seem to have a lot of decorations, but the first year I had my own place, it was on the Christmas Tour for the local library, which meant I went all out.  As an accountant, there's something inside of me that says "you bought all of this stuff, if you just let it sit in the basement, you're not getting your maximum use for your dollar."   This year, someone hinted that, because of the hectic schedule I've had lately it would be perfectly okay to cut back on the decorations.  While I appreciate his concern, I know that he is much more easily irritated by the sights and sounds of Christmas...down to the level of saying that Christmas songs don't count as music.  For him, and for those around him, that may work perfectly well.  For me, it doesn't, there's something calming about the glow of the lights from my trees (yes, trees), and this year more than ever, I've needed that.  In fact, as I sit here typing, I find myself glancing over to the Christmas tree in my living room and a kind of peace comes over me.  Don't get me wrong, I know that Christmas is about the coming of our Savior, which is more important than making sure that I get every decoration out and in place.  At the same time, this year  it was important that there was "no highway option" taken in my decorating.  Things that were happening around me that weighed heavy on my heart, and I needed to do something to help me prepare to celebrate Christ's birth.  Fortunately, I have a fantastic family that helped me get everything decorated in just a few days.

The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas was more chaotic than I ever remember it being before. Between caroling with the church group, Dad's family Christmas party, and a crazy schedule during the week, I didn't start Christmas shopping until December 23rd, yes, a whole 48 hours before Christmas.  That is something I don't care to repeat any time soon.  Honestly, I prefer when Christmas falls during the week, rather than on a weekend, because that seems to have presented some challenges as well. Christmas Day arrived much sooner than I would have liked, but I actually was ready, and the Miracles of the Season weren't lost on me.  Mom's last chemo treatment was in early December and she struggled to bounce back this time around, but she started to improve last week, to the point that she actually had a craving for a glazed donut, and when she ate it she wasn't disappointed.  Up until then, everything had a metal taste to it, which made eating a bit of a challenge, so I am happy to report that she had two helpings of the prime rib I made for Christmas dinner (I am also happy to report that the prime rib was edible, and we didn't have to resort to peanut butter sandwiches). 

The week between Christmas and New Years has sped by, and in a little over 24 hours we'll be saying goodbye to 2011.  I, for one, will not be sad to see this year go, as this year has been a rough one.  The weather in January and February seemed to have been an omen for things to come.  In May, a woman who was like a second mother to my brother, and actually to me, passed away suddenly.  Shortly thereafter, a dear friend and neighbor of my parents suffered the first in a series of strokes that have rendered her unconscious, and she and her husband are now living with their son and daughter-in-law.  (Their granddaughter and her husband and baby will soon be moving into the house, and we're very excited to have them join the community, something to look forward to in 2012).  Mom's cancer diagnosis in August, and subsequent chemotherapy treatments made for a tough Fall.  This past week brought more bad news, as dear friends of my brother were dealt with their own personal heartache that has left me feeling like I've been punched in the gut as I ache for them.  Through all of this I am so thankful that I have my faith, as I don't know what I would have done otherwise.  I know that everything that happens is His will, and I'm not always meant to know why things happen.  As a fellow blogger, who's dealt with her own personal heartache has said in the past, I simply need to trust that if He has brought me to it, He will get me through it.

So, as I look forward to 2012, I welcome the new year and am excited to see what He has in store for me.  I am excited for new neighbors, and for celebrating Mom's recovery with a girls' trip to Hawaii, as well as for those things headed my way that I am not yet aware of.  And, I'll admit it, I wouldn't be in the least sad if one of those things would be to bump into Alex O'Laughlin while we're in Hawaii...(yeah, right like THAT's going to happen, but a girl can dream, right :-). 

I hope your 2012 is filled with joy and happiness...and know that no matter what the year brings, come next Thanksgiving, if you're in need of a little Christmas and are in the area, stop by.  Because, no matter what 2012 has in store for me, next Thanksgiving I will again Deck the Halls, and the bedroom, and the office, and the laundry.....

We interrupt this construction project for another construction project

I know that I haven't posted much lately, but, in all honesty, there's not a whole lot that's changed.  The rec room is close to being finished.  Close enough, in fact, that I ordered my TV today and am going to the store tomorrow to pick up the last big item...an electric fireplace.  There are only a few things to do yet in there, finish the few ceiling tiles, add the track lighting in what will eventually be the bar area, move the filing cabinet into the other room and add shelving to my closet.  The bathroom, however, still has a ways to go, the tile floor is complete, but the ceiling needs to be installed (including the gridwork), as does the sink, toilet, and exhaust fan.

After such a great start, I had high hopes for having everything done by early October.  Now, I'm hoping that everything's done by the middle of November.  So, what's the big holdup....another construction project.  You see, our church voted to undertake a major remodel project this year on the 45+ year old building.  Some of it was necessary, our roof was leaking; some of it was cosmetic.  And, of course, one of the members of the building committee was my brother.  While he didn't head the building committee, he wound up being the one to go up to church every night to make sure the doors were locked (the construction crew was pretty forgetful), hear the concerns/complaints from congregation members, and be the all around Johnny on the Spot, so he didn't have a whole lot of time left for his big sister's little basement project.

That still left Dad to keep plugging along until he too got sucked into the church project.  Along with the remodeling in the existing church, as a part of the construction project, a storage shed was to be built.  To save a little bit of money, rather than have the construction company build the shed, members of the congregation were asked to volunteer.  Two pretty awesome men (and, by default because he was the son of one of the volunteers, one awesome former Sunday Schooler of mine) stepped forward.  When it became apparent that nobody else was going to help, my dad offered.  Unfortunately, that meant my project came to a SCREECHING halt (although I understand I am in good company, as one of the other builders has a list of things he wanted to accomplish this summer at home).  The build seemed to take forever because, while they weren't building the shed, the construction company was responsible for organizing when the concrete was laid, as well as when materials would arrive.  On several occasions, there were interruptions because the materials weren't there at all, or if they were, there weren't enough.  My personal favorite was when the Project Manager sent out a nasty email reminder because someone (not any of the volunteer builders) promised during a construction meeting that a certain portion of the shed would be finished by Monday so that the concrete could be poured.  Our mighty construction crew worked through the weekend downpours to get the work done (mind you, they couldn't have started any earlier because this Project Manager didn't order the materials in time), how nobody came down with pneumonia is still beyond me.  And, guess what?  The concrete wasn't poured on Monday...or Tuesday....or, well, you get my drift.

This wouldn't have been bad, with the exception of a couple of things.  When this project started, I approached the head of the building committee and our minister and asked them if they were going to include language in the contract that encouraged the builder to complete the project on time and on budget.  Specifically, I suggested we include penalties for every day the project ran over.  I was told that that was rediculous, and that I (actual words) "had absolutely NOTHING to worry about."  Even after the project started and things were progressing extremely slowly, the response every time I asked if we were going to be on time was "There's nothing to worry about, (insert The worship area will be done for J&A's wedding in August; the classrooms will be ready in plenty of time for Sunday School and, my favorite, EVERYTHING will be done well before October).  HA!!! As you may have guessed, I've had several times where I could have said "I told you so." 

And, through it all, the two people who've interacted with the project manager have sung her praises.  Let me tell you, this chick must be HOT, because that's the only reason I can see for these guys praising her up and down every chance they get.  I know at least one P/P/D I work with reads my blog, and that she would CRINGE at the emails that come from the project manager to members of the building committe, as well as the volunteers for the shed. No client should be spoken to in that manner, and that's what we are, her client (perhaps someone should remind her of that).  Right now, with the deadlines her folks have missed the mark on, she should be treading very lightly.  When I equate it to my job, it would be like me not only missing the deadline of a project, but by first having the software up and running on September 10, when the client needs to use it to complete a tax return by September 15.  Not exactly a stellar performance if you ask me.

So now, the shed is finally finished, and Dad is getting back to work on my basement.  Hopefully, it will be done by the end of the month.  If it isn't, perhaps I should ask a certain project manager to step in.  On second thought, probably not, otherwise I'd be lucky to have the basement done by March.

Warning Signs

Warning signs are a part of our every day life:  Deer Crossings on the Highway, Wet Floor in a public restroom, Do Not Open While in Midair on the airplane (okay, okay, maybe not EVERYONE would say that's a part of every day life).  No matter where you are, there's bound to be a warning on something to remind you what to do or not to do (just in case you ever wanted to use your hairdryer while in the bathtub).  I'll bet that most of you, like me, have the ability to tune out at least some of these because of repetition.  And, if its that deer crossing sign that you drive past every day, only to see a deer lying dead on the side of the road 3 miles AFTER the sign, ignoring the sign isn't the end of the world.

How about those less obvious warning signs?  The ones that aren't bright yellow with an exclamation point through them.  You know what I'm talking about, they're those little subtle changes it's easy to overlook, like when the gas gauge drops below 1/4 of a tank and you decide to drive past the gas station because it's raining, or your significant other tells you (s)he's "fine" and you know it's not but decide to accept "fine" as an answer.  Eventually, if you ignore the signs long enough, something bad is bound to happen.  Most often, the "warnings" that we choose to ignore are those that our body is sending us (like a sniffle) until they become bigger issues (like a nasty cold or, worse yet, pneumonia).

That's what's happened to me lately.  I've been under a lot of stress from a lot of different forces, and my body's tried to tell me to slow down, but like most of us I've ignored it.  I mean, come on, in this day and age, who am I kidding, stress is a part of everyone's life, and we all just deal with it.

Unfortunately for me, when I'm stressed, my body likes to attack me, literally...

In high school when things got stressful, I noticed that I had a very flaky scalp, which I attributed to dandruff and bought some Selson Blue and "sucked it up."  When the flakes started creeping out to my face, I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with seborrheic dermatitis.  It's similar to dandruff and is a way that one's body can react to being stressed over a period of time.  So, I found some outlets to help me "de-stress," used some prescription shampoo to get things under control, and things improved.

I actually did pretty well controlling my stress the first two years of college, but Junior Year it hit me.  There was boy trouble, the classes were HARD, and I felt I was being pulled in many directions.  When I got home from choir tour that year my mom walked past the chair I was sitting in and did a double-take.  I had BALD SPOTS - 3 of them.  Two were the size of a quarter, and the third the size of a half dollar, running down the center of the back of my scalp.  (Kudos to my roomies then boyfriend now husband G, who, upon our return to college, said to me "I noticed them when I was sitting behind you in the van, but I thought it was because you were getting older, I mean, look at my receding hairline").  The diagnosis - alopecia areata, a condition where, because of stress, you lose your hair.  Essentially, my white blood cells started attacking my hair folicles.  Here's the scary part, the folicle is the area that contains the pigment...and if left go too long, the pigment will be gone and any hair that grows back will be WHITE - can you imagine white streaks in my dark hair?  Fortunately, after a few cortizone shots, the hair started to grow back.  Once again, I vowed that I'd find ways to keep my stress level under control, and went on my way.

In the 15 years since I've graduated, I've had recurrences of both the dermatitis and the alopecia.  But, I've been pretty good about paying attention to the warning signs and have noticed my hair falling out, or the flakes creeping past the hairline, before they've gotten really bad.  Yes, I've had a few more cortizone shots, and have an alignment of flake-fighting shampoos in my shower, but in all things have been okay.

Back in early August, I noticed a discoloration on the bridge of my nose.  I wasn't too alarmed (well, except for when one of my co-workers jokingly told me it was an age spot), so when the dermatologist couldn't see me for 6 weeks, it didn't bother me.  In late August I noticed two more spots on my forehead, so a friend of mine suggested I change my skincare routine, just in case it was a reaction to what I was using.  I did, and instead of it going away, I noticed another spot on my cheek, so I was glad to finally see the doctor on Monday morning.

When my doctor walked in the room the first thing that she asked me (actually, I guess it was the second thing, the first was to ask how my cousin, who she knows from med school, was) was if I had had a lot of sun exposure this year.  Um, hello???? I'm an accountant, we don't have time for such frivolous things like going outside in the sun.  Just kidding, kind of, but no, I hadn't had excessive amounts of sun.  And, when I am outside for a period of time, I am really good about wearing sunscreen and a hat.

Once she ruled out the sun, the next thing she asked me was if I had a lot of headaches?  Anyone who's worked with me knows I carry around the super sized bottle of Excedrine Migraine, so the answer to that was a YES.  Follow up questions:  Are they like migraines?  Have they become more frequent?  Yes to both.  How about my hair, am I losing it?  Not in patches.  Is it getting thinner? Yes.  How long has the dermatitis been creeping onto your face and in your eyebrows?  Quite a while, likely for about a year.  Within 5 minutes of walking in the door, my doctor had diagnosed me with a condition called Melasma.  Ironically, it's nickname is the "Pregnancy Mask" because it's seen most in pregmant women, because it's related to hormone changes.  Unless there's a second coming of the Messiah, that is CLEARLY not the reason I'm getting these spots. 

Because of my history, I had some bloodwork done yesterday to see if my Pituitary or Thyroid gland is out of whack, as that would be a reason for both the Melasma and the Alopecia.  In case anyone's wondering, yes, stress can impact either of those glands.  So now, it's wait for the results of that to see if I need to get that fixed.

In the meantime, I have two prescription creams (one for the flakes and the other for the spots) that I use every night.  It's also become quite clear that I need to find ways to destress.

There are some things that I can't change, such as the medical problems of my family and some good friends.  Those things I must leave in the hands of a higher power, and pray that he helps me to know what I can do to help these people, as well as to give them (and me) the strength to make it through the hand that's been dealt.  As for work, that's one of those things where the stress level comes and goes with deadlines, just like it does for everyone else.  Once I make it through this next deadline, things will be much calmer.  Honestly, while it does get stressful at times, I actually like my job, which not everyone can say.  Knowing there's an end in sight helps, along with making sure I take a little time each night to do something just for me, either to blog, read, or meditate.  There are a few other stressors, not related to family, work, or friends, that I'm not going to go into here, other than to say that some people who discount me because I have opinions that they don't like, but at the same time expect me to help make them look good to others and also to help them achieve what they want financially.  Perhaps it's time to purge these people from my life and go somewhere where I'm respected and appreciated.

Sooooo Close

The project is getting much closer to being finished.  The team has been a little sidetracked as of late because Dad and John have been "redeployed" to different projects.  You see, our church project is still ongoing (must...resist...next...comment, let's just say it rhymes with "Hi old shoe foe"), and Dad's been helping to build a storage shed while John's been dividing his time between work, church counsel, many aspects of the church building project, Crimestoppers, friends' weddings and attending a few Brewers Games because he wanted to see them clinch the Central Division (which, with the help of MY Cubbies, he did get to see on Friday night).  My schedule wasn't exactly conducive to helping as of late either, since we were approaching one of the biggest tax deadlines of the year (9/15 is the deadline for extended corporate tax returns). 

That said, things have kept on moving, just slowly.  The ceiling grid is in, along with most of the panels, and the rest of the panels should be in by the end of the week.  The can lights and ceiling fan are also in place.

 

With any luck, the carpeting will be installed on Thursday and when I get home Thursday night or Friday evening, I'll be able to move the furniture into place.  The couch and recliner were delivered two weeks ago (usually, it would be exciting to get furniture 2-3 weeks early, but I really would have been okay waiting).  Since then, it has been patiently waiting under sheets as the construction goes on around it. 

Since the furniture is here anyway, and the ceiling is now almost complete, Mom and I took some time this weekend to assemble the shelving unit that I got for my birthday back in March.  I think we did a pretty good job, and we did it without injury or curse word.  Woot! 

As for the bathroom, there was some progress there as well.  I was in Chicago for work last week, and when I came home Thursday night, I had a surprise waiting for me.  John had finished tiling (including grouting) the bathroom floor.  I know it wasn't an easy job, because the floor in the basement is not even, and I think he did a terriffic job.  In a typical year, I help John with his taxes in return for him being my handyman.  This year he went above and beyond the call of duty, so I need to get him something cool.  How much do you want to bet he'll want me to get him something Brewers oriented, just because he knows it'll KILL me to buy it. 

Once the ceiling is done in the Rec Room, we'll move on to the bathroom ceiling.  Oh, and if any of the P/P/D's I work for are reading this blog, I think it would be a GREAT idea for me to be on the road when this happens early next week, it's a much smaller area than the rec room, requiring a lot more cutting (and probably related cussing).  It may prevent WWIII from breaking out, just saying...

Cuddles is about ready for the project to end.  He doesn't like the constant visitors, and all of this new stuff is coming with new rules.  You may have noticed the white box-like thing on the left corner of the couch.  Yeah, that's a motion alarm that emits a high-pitched squeal when there's movement.  Seems a certain feline thinks that since this furniture is in the basement it's fair game for him to sleep on.  Unfortunately for him, both at my house and at my parents, he is not allowed on any furniture other than my bed and that rule extends to the Rec Room.  He behaves well upstairs, but the dark furniture shows his kitty-litter-dust paw prints and is a dead giveaway that he's been where he shouldn't be.  So from now on, the door stays shut when I'm not in the room.  Don't worry folks, he still has plenty of room to roam upstairs.

A Change in Appearance

I know I haven't updated lately, but we had some things going on at home that slightly derailed the remodel process.  I won't go into details here, but suffice it to say any future home changes (i.e. remodels and/or new purchases) will NOT be in process when my mom has her yearly doctors' check-ups.

The first change is in the bathroom, where the electrical is complete, the light is installed (although we're waiting until after the ceiling is installed to put the light covers on) and the vanity is set in place.

The Rec Room area has changed a lot since my last blog.  Four gallons of primer, three gallons of off-white, and three gallons of the faux finish later (oh, yeah, along with 4 more trips to the home improvement store to pick up "one more gallon" of paint), the painting was completed.  The laminate floor, which was given to me by my parents' most generous and awesome neighbors when it was removed from their house, has been installed in the bar area.  The doorknob on the bathroom door was replaced with a locking model, and the old doorknob has been repurposed for the closet door. 



Of course we still have a ways to go.  The tile floor needs to be laid, and the countertop, sink and toilet need installing in the bathroom (the final plumbing for that depends on me clearing a path in the disaster, oops, storage room so that the plumber can hook up the water).  We also need to get the ceiling measured so that my Dad can get that installed before the carpeting comes.  I've picked out my carpeting, and the guy will come on Wednesday to measure.  From there, it's about a week and a half for them to order it.  Then, the room will be ready for furniture deliveries.  The sofa and chair should be here in about three weeks, and I can pick up my coffee table at any time.  There will be future additions, including building a bar and decorating the walls, but by the end of September, for all intents and purposes, I should be able to call the rooms "done."

There is one individual who hasn't exactly approved of the remodel.  Cuddles isn't exactly excited about strangers or noise, so he hung out by Mom and Dad's house when the project started.  When he came home, and he suddenly couldn't travel through the walls anymore, he wasn't exactly keen on the whole thing, and he let me know it.  His curiosity does get the best of him, and he does daily inspections to see what has changed, but he doesn't seem to anxious to spend any real time downstairs.  Hopefully, once everything is in place, he'll realize it's not such a bad place to hang out.

There has been one casualty so far in the project.  The little stepladder I bought when I moved into the house to help me reach things in the upper cabinets and the shelves of my walk-in closet is now permanently covered in primer, paint and other construction materials and will be relegated for use in the garden and the garage. 



I will try to be more diligent in my updates, if my schedule permits.