Indy Gives an Update

 

Hello everyone, Indy here to give you an update on all the NOISE and PEOPLE I DON'T KNOW COMING IN BOTHERING ME, and the UNGODLY MESS WE HAVE AROUND HERE!  Mom is busy on her computer, dad is sound asleep, so I thought I would take this opportunity to "spill the beans" as to what is going on around here!

Umm, Indy.

Yes Dad...did I wake you up or something???

Indy, you are one smart dog.  "IF" I was asleep, who is typing this out on the computer???

I do have paws dad, and as you said, I am pretty smart...

I said smart, not a genius.  So please, try not to lie to our faithful readers, ok?

Ok Dad, now go back to sleep...

Most of you know that we have been having our cabinets and counter tops replaced, along with getting a new Microwave Oven.  Above you can see that the dishwasher has been put back in place, but it is not hooked up to the sewer, so it is not operational yet.  Dad did have them test it, and it worked.  The funny thing is that it did not work right at first, it was like there was no power to it.  They had to pull it part way out, and test the outlet and sure enough, no power.  Dad said to them, "I wonder if it is on the same breaker as the disposal is on?"  Sure enough, it was, and that breaker was turned off since the disposal is not in place right now.  After they left Dad turned to Mom and said, "I guess I made them earn their high salary this time, huh?"  Once the counter tops are put in, dad is going to install the disposal and hook up the sink himself...he is tired of paying plumbers wages for something he could do.  (He said that he did not feel confident removing the dishwasher because it is the drawer type by Fisher-Paykle.  Since the high priced plumbers struggled with it, he was glad he paid them to do it...and he wanted them to put it back in and test it just in case something went bad.)

 

In this picture above you can see the MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FOUND IN THE KITCHEN!  Do you see it yet???  Of course you do, MY FOOD AND WATER BOWLS!  Some of you "MIGHT" have thought I was talking about the new GE Microwave in the upper right...but nope, I am talking FOOD HERE, and now I don't even have to walk very far into the kitchen to get to my food!  Thank you Dad!!!

Are you getting tired yet Indy, or do you want to continue??

Go ahead Dad, it is all yours.  (for now...but you had better keep your eyes open!)

You did a GREAT job Indy, I think you told them just about everything having to do with the kitchen, except for WHEN the granite counter tops are suppose to be put in.  I am happy to say that they are SUPPOSE to be put in on Wednesday.  Fingers crossed on that one for sure!

With so many new shelves, we got the urge to fill them.  Or, perhaps, with the prospect of future increases in food prices on the way, we just wanted to have ample food on hand when we return from our annual motorhome trip.  After spending $300 at Sam's Club, we are off to a good start.  What isn't shown are the three large Oatmeal boxes which are packed away in our spare room, which we intend to store our Paper Goods and a few food items in.

  I plan on going back for a few more items before we leave.

 

With EVERYTHING going on around here, Indy has crashed a few times into a deep sleep.  Uncle Mike has been by twice, once to move an electrical box and the second time to install the microwave with a little assistance from me.  The Plumbers have been by twice.  The demolisher was here one day, the installer was here two days, the Granite Man has been by once to measure and will be back on Wednesday.  On top of that, the Condo had its annual Termite inspection, more than once there has been a knock on our door by the Condo staff for this and that...and with each visit, Indy releases...and for the demolisher and installer, her growling went on and on and on and ...   I have taken her to the Dog Park every week, sometimes twice in a week.  So when I saw her laying on the couch next to me dreaming of a lush backyard full of squirrels and birds and Aunt Sandy and Uncle Arny and sometimes cousin Parker and Aunt Patti, and we can't forget Grandma too, with her pet squeaky squirrel (with chew stick attached) laying on top of her, I just HAD to take the shot.

I AM GOING TO BE SOOOOOOO HAPPY WHEN THINGS GET BACK TO NORMAL AROUND HERE DAD!

Yes Indy, we feel the same way...but don't get too use to it, we will be back on the road in about a month from now!

Oh GOOOOOODIE GOOOOODIE!  I can't wait to get my morning Arny Treat and my afternoon Sandy Treat...and I miss my cousin Parker and my next-door neighbor friend Jack!

Cabinets Are In! Now for the DW, GD, Sink, Counter...a Week or Two to Go

 This...

Is NOW This...

And the NEW Area for Cabinets...

Of course, there is still much to do.  The Dishwasher needs to be put in.  The Garbage Disposal put in.  The new Sink (Double Stainless Steel Sink) needs to be put in.  The Counter Tops need to be put in (Granite).  And the New Microwave needs to be bought and put in.  But the hard part is over, and we can start loading up the cabinets again.

So, what do you do with everything that is in your kitchen that does not fit in the Fridge or stored in the oven?  Above is our toaster oven, paper towels, plastic silverware (which we don't normally have) and a few other odds and ends on the dining table.

The guest bathroom is our new Starbucks Outlet...we named it Lotte Potty.

The second bedroom is full of food, dishware, cooking utensils, etc.   The large cabinet was our previous food pantry...now our storage for paper towels, TP, Kleenex, etc.  Some of our less used cooking utensils will find a permanent storage place in the drawers.  The table in the foreground is Indy's Grooming Table, which is normally out on the enclosed patio...can't wait till it is back because someone needs a haircut.  The table along the window was also in the kitchen, and not sure what we are going to store there for the long haul.  Over the next few weeks we will be transitioning stuff from this room, into the new kitchen cabinets.  The fun never ends...

The Fisher Paykel Drawer Dishwasher is sitting in our Living Room, and the garbage disposal is just in front of it out of sight.

So, how did we all handle this?  Well, Indy had a hard time with all the various people who have come by.  There was the initial visit from the Cabinet Shop to measure for the quote.  There was the visit from Uncle Mike to move an outlet up about two feet so it will be above the counter top in the area that we did not have cabinets before.  Then there were two plumbers who spent two hours removing the dishwasher, the garbage disposal, installing four emergency shut off valves to replace the four original copper ones which were frozen in the open position, and remove the plumbing for the sink.  (Per hour, that was the most expensive work done...about $250 per hour each!) 

Then there was the guy who destroyed the kitchen in about four hours...

And the guy who spent two work days putting all back together again.  (Yes, it was installed by ONE GUY!  He did EXCELLENT work but camera shy)

I was looking at the old (30+ years old) copper ice maker line on Monday, and decided to change it to a Shark Industrial 25 FT Stainless Steel Braided Ice Maker Hose with 1/4" Comp by 1/4" Comp Connection, which Amazon delivered the next day.  

 

So on Wednesday after the demolishing of the kitchen, I ran the line from the under the sink area to the refrigerator, putting the line just under the sheet rock so that it would not interfere with new cabinets.  For $22, this sure brings peace of mind for the rest of my life/ownership of the condo.

We can't wait until the kitchen is totally done, but in the meantime we will do the best we can with it.  Not having running water in the kitchen is the hardest thing.  Tomorrow I will shut Lotte Potty down, and move it back to the kitchen, fed by bottled water, setup on top of a cutting board that perfectly fits over the new cabinets to the right.  For the far left cabinets, I have two heavy duty boxes from Home Depot which I have not used yet, and they will make good temporary counter tops.  So we will be able to use the kitchen, and serve most things in paper bowls with toss away silverware.  It will be nice to have a somewhat functioning kitchen again.  Both Marcia and I are glad this part is over, and frankly can't wait till it is totally finished.

New Kitchen on Order - Clearing it Out Getting Ready for it.

 

Our Condo was built in the 1980's.  The kitchen looks like something out of the '70's, other than the glass cook top which came out in the '80s.  ALL 90 units looks like this except for the colors...some have white doors, some have blue doors, some have the wood-grain look...

...ours is wood-grain below, yellow doors with wood-grain trim above.  Essentially, it is UGLY.  All Formica, all pressed board, it just needs to be replaced!  And, within a few more weeks, it will be replaced.  We have been working feverishly to clear out cabinets and either giving stuff to Salvation Army, tossing stuff out, and most it is being stored in the spare room.  Still have a bit more to do, then we have to wait until it is "D-Day" (destruction of old cabinets day).

We actually started the remodel procedure back in 2018 when we got our Fisher Paykel drawer dishwasher (yes, that is Skruffy in the picture).  In 2019 we looked into having the Formica replaced or painted over and getting new counter tops...but we just were not pleased in spending that amount and still having OLD cabinets.  We also wanted to have more cabinets in that there is a bare wall on one side in which a large storage cabinet was placed by one of our renters years ago, and a table along the rest of the wall.

Our contract includes some printed color pictures of our cabinet layout.  I know this does not copy over to the blog real good, but it gives you an idea of what we are doing.  All of the cabinets are white, the granite counter top is a "Shadow Storm" (example below...actual pattern will be determined by what is available)

There will be a 2" backsplash of granite, much like our current Formica has.

There will be a new double stainless steel sink with a Moen Kaden Single-handle Pull-down Sprayer Kitchen Faucet (below).

  The sprayer is all part of the faucet, keeping the look simple and clean.

One of the many good things is the angled top corner cabinets, giving us even more cabinet space to the right and left of the sink.  There is still a large dead area just to the left of the sink under the counter...at least we won't have dead space above like we currently have.  (Dead space defined as hard to reach anything back in the corner, which in turn means you don't use whatever is put there.)

To the right in this picture is the new cabinets and counter top in an area which has nothing.  In other condo units we have seen a few who have done this, some who have just put a counter in, and others who have left it blank.  The depth can only be 12", but it is better than nothing, it will look real good, and give us more counter space along with storage space.

Along the top everything will be enclosed.  The upper cabinets are taller, and the rest is filled in with crown molding...this is one of the few items that was a must for Marcia.  Anything put on top of the cabinets, like we currently have, is just "DUST COLLECTORS" she says, and after pulling everything down, I agree....Dust and Grease...a yucky mess.

We are also getting a Microwave to replace the older antique microwave which has a "dial" that you turn to select the minutes you want it to run.  Surprisingly, it still works...but it seems to take forever sometimes.

After our Spring-Summer-Fall travel, we will have the entire inside of the condo painted (maybe not the spare room), and Marcia wants the Kitchen walls to be a light grey...the color for the rest of the place will be decided then.  We also want to replace the Fridge, and the Oven/Stove.

Indy loves the new couch...she gets many more belly rubs than when we were both sitting in chairs.  When 'Mom' comes to sit down on the couch, she goes berserk...it is not a place for mom to sit, just dad and Indy.  Well...she has a clearer look on that now.

Here Indy is sitting on my lap watching either Pick-a-Puppy or Lucky Dog.  She really loves these two Sunday morning shows on the DABL Channel.

As the morning wore down, she watched the shows from a neutral site on the floor.  We are trying to stop her from attacking the TV, we surely don't want her pulling it down on top of herself.  For the most part, she is doing well with this...and when she doesn't, we have a little talk about it.  She knows when we have talks that she is not doing right...no yelling, no hitting, just a little talk.  She is such a good little girl...

Finally, just heard tonight that Marcia's Granddaughter Alicia had her second baby, a not so little baby boy.  Cyrus Renato came into this world yesterday, almost 8 pounds.  Mom and Dad do not like pictures of their kids put out on social media, so sorry, no pics, but he is a handsome little guy.  Mom and child are fine, and big sister is excited for a little brother (she is five, turning five just a few days ago).  We still have another Great-grand on the way in July, and my oldest son and wife are having a child in July too.