Kitchen Day 26 - CHRISTMAS IN APRIL! Today is THE Day!

After what seemed like forever ago that the first hole was punched through our kitchen wall, what a sense of accomplishment to see the kitchen really look like a kitchen again. Our countertops came. I was at work, not focusing, just asking Lindsey for updates. The only issue was the anxiety attack Lindsey had while they were installing the first countertop - she didn't think they really matched. Fortunately, they match, and it looks great! -T

Oh well who knew...Madgery was actually the one to put in the countertops!

A sink!
I said, "A SINK!"

Oh, so THESE guys actually were the ones to install it. Well, unless this is Lindsey just taking pictures of a man's backside again.

That sucker is huge!

Love the little end countertop to the left of the range

That picture of Lindsey and me has made its rounds in the last few months. That thing is always somewhere new!

They even gave us two free cutting boards! Something free!

I think we've now exhausted the pictures of the new countertops...

...but not the sink!

Why is Lindsey the only one who can take creepy hand pictures?

Okay so I was waiting for Lindsey to get done doing something and I was trying to fill my time...I think I was just bored though. -T

So I guess you're the one who likes to take pictures of guy's backsides. -L

I think these 5 holes need to be filled.

Pull My Finger...On Second Thought, You Better Not!

I took some pictures of Lindsey's ring since it's basically a year after we were married. It's just a good tine to reminisce. -T

Isn't her ring still so pretty?

Her ring doesn't quite shine as much in this picture.

Well it doesn't seem as if I got her ring in this picture.

Well geez, that's two pictures in a row - no ring!

No ring AND a creepy hand claw position (actually, she's showing you her needle bruise)

Who doesn't love stitches?! In case you didn't realize, this was actually pictures of Lindsey's finger two nights after her stitches were put in. Makes you want to go eat something, huh? -T

(Obviously I was turning my ring around for the camera so there was still something pretty to look at. -L)

Kitchen Day 25 - Umm...that's not on the list!

Dale decided he wasn't a fan of our pipes below our sink. So, he came over to change it. That was not something we planned on. However, sanding down copper pipes is kinda cool...they look pretty much like new when you're done. Although when your pipes turn from greenish brown to copper, your hands turn from peach to greenish brown. -T

It just looks like two kids making a mess with all their toys, huh?

Just playin' with a blow torch!

Lindsey told me to show a happy face so I did.

Nasty hands

Oh...apparently we didn't take a picture of the pipes after they were redone.

Baby Schlenk - First Trimester Down

Our kid is going to be SHORT! Normally 4 1/2 inches long at this stage of the ol' pregnancy, our kid is only 2"! Oh c'mon! He/She sure is cute though. Who is now nervous!? Anyone? No? Just me? -T

Enter the Schlensker House at Your Own Risk

Which is more gross? What my kitchen utensil did to my mother in law or what I did to my wife? Comments appreciated...I think. -T

Mother-In-Law Post StitchingWife Pre-Stitches

Kitchen Day 24 - All Cabinets Up, Microwave In, Animal Door CLOSED

When we got back from our eventful morning, things were pretty much done. After we got back, we did then tear out the carpet where the kitchen floor would be going (just a small strip). So, despite being gone for 2 hours, the show still went on! -T

Cabinets up (not the doors yet), microwave up, electrical box in and connected (at least on this end)

Pretty

This is what she was doing...although...looking at it...that doesn't make sense. Anyway, this is the spot of "the incident." This cabinet will always be famous for that...sad.

Where we cut the carpet and evened the floor (the broom is keeping people from stepping on the wet floor balancer substance)

We also touched up spots

No more animal access door! It used to be lower and to the left if you couldn't tell.

Ohhhh snap!

I know! I don't even have to comment! "The incident" cabinet is just to the right of the range...FYI

Kitchen Day 24 - NOPE NOT YET...SET BACK!

Brian arrived to put the last of the cabinets in. He has a 90 degree drill to make it easier to put the "quiet close" device in our 9" cabinet. It's such a weird angle, so for the first time I needed Lindsey to hold the device while I tried to shift my way into getting the screw in. (Side note: We had put all these in earlier in the week, but couldn't get this one in so we waited for Brian's drill.) With a shift of weight...I did get the screw in, lost my balance in doing so and came off the screw right into Lindsey's finger. While I was almost passing out from Lindsey saying, "Oh now maybe I can finally see what my muscles look like" and sticking that nasty thing in my face, Brian was thinking straight enough to get the camera. -T

Mmmmmm

If you're picturing Gretl from The Sound of Music saying, "I hurt my finger" or whatever she actually says...you are not alone my friend! This is 2 1/2 hours, a drive to urgent care, a 40 minute wait for them to open, 3 stitches, and a bandage later. -T

But look how nice the family room looks without all of that kitchen stuff piled up in it anymore! - L

Now back to what Kitchen Day 24 was originally intended to be for!

Kitchen Day 23 - Electric Line Run, Animals In?

Dale and Dad came to run the electric for the microwave. We still need something for the electrical box because well, there's no where to hook in a separate wire for the microwave. We still ran the line though and it's ready. The problem came when we realized that the vent for the new microwave would not match up where the old vent was. The old vent was from the range hood that was vented outside. With the new design to our kitchen, the range, and now microwave centered over it, got moved a few inches to the left. It wasn't just off center now, it was too low for the new microwave. No problem for our team though! We still wanted the microwave to vent out of the house (might as well, right?), so we just cut out a new brick in the house! The only problem was now we have a huge hole into our house. Thanks to cardboard and Lindsey's old t-shirts, we were able to keep any curious animals out! -T

Where the vent was to the outside. There's a man in the window.

No biggie...just cut out another brick to the house!
Small hole - open to the public.

Bigger hole - really open to the pubic!

Aaahh! Oh wait...that's not an animal that got in.

Closed for business.

On both sides. Oh, and there's a nice yellow electrical wire poking up behind this.

Countertop Countdown - 11 Days

These next 11 days can't go quick enough! We're surviving...doing dishes in the basement is weird though. -T

You're not even going to say anything about the color of that water?! -L

Kitchen Day 22 - Base Cabinets In

It took some work but all base cabinets are now in AND level! Who built this place?! We also put shelves in. We're not 100% sure where we want each shelf but for the time being we put them in so we could rid the rest of our house of some of the clutter! The countertop guys came the following day and measured. 15 more days until we have countertops! Oh man...that does not sound soon!-T

This picture almost seems like a painted picture the cabinets look so pretty (not the cockroach markings).

I think it just might end up looking phenomenol (I've told Lindsey I would like to start using this word more)!

Fillin' 'em with stuff!

In and sturdy

Brian tried to get Lindsey to hang on the cabinets to show how sturdy they were...she wouldn't do it!

Kitchen Day 21 - Very Visble Progress

It's amazing how much more you can get done on a Saturday! Dad showed up first and started figuring the best way to make things level and even with the wall. Then, Dale showed up and began working on the electric for the range. It was previously hard-wired which we didn't want. Brian then showed up, Dad finished his job, and Brian and I started on the cabinets. We finished the two that go to the left and above the fridge. Dale finished the electric, and that just left Brian and I with the base cabinets. We completed the sink and fridge corner of the kitchen, and when I say finished, I just mean everything in its spot, nothing works (i.e. sink, dishwasher) except for the range! -T

It may look like the wall just puked, but this is everything that was in the hole that Dale cut out for the range outlet. He found it would be better to recess the outlet, otherwise our range would stick out rather far.

Any ideas what the black/brown speckles are? Dale said it was cochroach feces. Not to worry...he said it was from awhile ago and not recent. Lindsey rubbed her hand across it and didn't even wash her hands!

What? Don't you know Lindsey at all...of course she washed her hands. Actually, she didn't even touch it, but I think her hands felt dirty just looking at it so I think she really did wash her hands afterwards. Meanwhile, here is the hole we cut in the soffit to make the cabinets level...and also actually fit correctly!

What, you were expecting stainless steel? Pssh...please...constant fingerprints aren't our style.

Sink base!

Cleanup on aisle everywhere!

Not looking too shabby, eh?

Not too shabby at all!

I think it will look better with countertops.

The next day's project...Susan and her friends!