New Counter top and Sink

I have been laying low the last few days with a head cold that came out of nowhere. It hit me on Thursday,which would explain why I was so darn tired in the days leading up to it. Of course,it had to hit on the day the sink and counter top were being installed,so while I was happy it was finally getting done,my happiness was dulled somewhat. We put the dogs in our bedroom while the guys were here to keep them from getting underfoot,and I couldn't wait until everything was done so I could go and lay down.

Anyhoo......after six months,our new counter top and sink are in!

You remember what it looked like before,don't you? We had new cabinet put in where the stove was,and was using a board for a top.Not pretty to look at,but it worked. Our old laminate top and basic double sink served us well,but it wasn't what we wanted.We have never lived in a home where the home reflected US . It was time to make it OUR home! (You do know I am in charge of decorating,but everything goes by The Man of The Place first..so technically,it is our taste,right? LOL!)

We had a new bottom board put in the sink cabinet (our old one was nasty,remember?)and Brother B installed all new pipes and shut off valves. The counter top guys were here for about an hour and a half or so.The wound up having to shave about an 1/8" off of each side of the counter top,it wouldn't quite fit in the space. The counter was in two pieces,with the seam meeting under the faucet. You can't tell it's there. They did a great job. We had to install the faucet,but they set the sink up.

My first choice was a lovely white porcelain apron sink with pretty decorations on the front...until I saw it was over $1,000. Uh,better go with the second choice...this stainless steel one with a bowed front was nice and about a third of the cost. It came with a large grid that rests in the bottom of the sink to rest your dishes on. I have always wanted a goose neck faucet for filling large pots-comes in handing with stock pots or canning pots! Sorry the photo came out a bit blurry :(

Next step is to get the tin back splash up and redo the window molding...but that counter top and sink sure look pretty!

In this light,the counter top gives off a more pink look.I wanted a counter top that brought out the various colors in the room-and the tin back splash when it's put in.

In this light,you can see the counter has a beige background. I love having a counter top that runs the length of the wall! It makes the room look much larger and to me is the focal point of the kitchen. Now I have to figure out how to set the counter top up. The Menfolk have put the basics back on the counter-coffee pot and microwave. Everything else is still on our kitchen table waiting for me to feel good enough to deal with it. 

Next on the list:

-back splash

-window trim

-closet next to the fridge

-paint touch up

-see if I can make a pot hanger out of an old ladder and have it hang over the window next to the oven (see above photo)

I am very happy with the new look!

Dapper Zach

Friday night was Zach's first semi formal. He missed last year's because he was at an Order of the Arrow camp out earning his ordeal sash.He wasn't going to miss it this year,though! We had some good mother-son time buying him new clothes and new shoes-he's outgrown everything!

Just sharing a few photos with you:

 

 

This is Zach's friend Sarah.They "went out" from 3rd-6th grade-which basically means they thought each other was cute and went a few places with either us or Sarah's mom,such as swimming or the movies. They do make a cute couple,don't they? No romance,though...which is fine with me.Plenty of time for that! She loved her little pink rose corsage :)

Sneak Peek

A few things have been going on lately. My garden is finally planted! Brother B and I sifted composted soil and refilled a few of the beds.This year,we are growing onions,sugar peas,green beans,garlic,tomatoes,potatoes,cukes,pumpkins,zucchini,summer squash,broccoli,beets,lettuce,and spinach. My herbs did not take,so I will have to buy some plants.

Yesterday we got 12 more Girls-four Buff Orphingtons,four NH Reds,and four Silver Lace Wynadottes. We had the dogs outside and they heard and smelled the chicks,so of course we let them investigate. Brother B held a chick in his hand,and Sasha just smelled the chick and left. Samson,however,immediately tried to put the whole chick in his mouth! Luckily,Brother B has quick reflexes and pulled the chick away before Samson could get the poor thing. It reminded me of the Sylvester and Tweety cartoons where Sylvester chomps down on Tweety whole and has feathers hanging out of his mouth (before Tweety manages to escape,of course).

The local carpenter,whose name is also Rick,came out and refitted our sink cabinet for the new apron sink.He also attached the new cabinet that we bought around Christmas to the rest of the cabinets,and then he also had to try and get them even.Since nothing in our house is flush,that wasn't surprising.

We had to take the drawers out,and clean out under the cabinet.We didn't have the proper saw to cut the sink out,so Carpenter Rick had to do when he got here.Under the sink was awful-we have had leaks from the pipes and the bottom board got horribly warped. Here is a close up:

Carpenter Rick made a new bottom for the cabinet,as well making supports for the new sink. You can see the bottom in this photo,as well as the new area for the sink:

Not only did we have to have our cabinet refitted,but of course,since the sink is much deeper,we had to have new doors made.Mr Ames,who is a great woodworker and lives a few streets over,made up our new doors for us. Carpenter Rick also had to make sure we could put our old sink back until the counter top is installed.

We had to slide the new sink into the space so the counter top guy could take the proper measurements for the counter top. He had to use strapping to create a template-though soon they are going to go digital.

I took a quick photo of the new sink in place to give you an idea of what it will look like,with the new doors.Counter top and sink should finally be installed next Thursday: