New things

Two weeks ago today our oven kicked the bucket. At the ripe old age of 50. When we bought this house, we talked about re-doing the kitchen. Metal cabinets and countertops that reminded me of those found in old camp trailers (the kind w/the metal edging). It was just begging for a make-over. So when the oven died, we went back and forth again with the idea of doing the kitchen. After not being able to find a fit for our wall oven unit, we decided to just go for it. Five days later we were hauling cabinets home from the great Home Depot. Then the countertops and ordering new appliances. We figure it can only help with trying to sell this house and in the meantime, we can enjoy the fruit of our labors.

Well, as with any remodeling job, you run into snags here and there and we have! Last Saturday the removal of the old began with Kimball & Alexa (Spencers brother & his girlfriend(not Spencer's girlfriend, Kimballs) ) came up to help. It went pretty well, just took longer than we expected. So with everything out, they begin to install the wall unit cabinets. This all seems to go rather well and is quite easy. We bring in a couple of the base units and put them in place, but dont actually install them. We place a countertop piece over them so we have a little makeshift space to use. It gets late, so everything stops for the day. Next day is Sunday, so we debate if we should work on it or not, being the sabbath and all. Decide not to, mostly due to being dang tired.




Now we've reached another first in our marriage. This marks the first time in our marriage that we have eaten microwave meals. Not at all impressed with it, but sure glad we had it as an option! It's been all microwavable food since last Saturday. No range, oven or kitchen sink. We are just like the old pioneers, hauling in our water from the bathroom! Oh wait, I guess we are better off than they were, because we can get it from there. But we are like Kramer who installed the garbage disposal in his shower so he could wash his vegetables while he showered. Only we didnt install the disposal! But we are washing our fruits/veggies there. Doing our dishes there too. I've got my big bowl or soap water, bowl of rinse water and the dish drainer all set up in the tub. Take the waters outside to dump when finished, so I guess it's more like camping, only indoors. Oh, and along the lines of camping, ever since we brought those two kittens home we've had a skunk visiting us alot. We've been trying to keep the cat food put up at night, but it is still lingering around.

All week long we've made progress on the project and today is a big day to get as much as possible done. We have finally got Calvin's blessing scheduled to be done this Sunday. He just turned 4 months, but with Spencers work schedule this has been really the first time we could do it. So we cant keep pushing it back, the boy is already half grown. At his 4 mo. check up he ranked in the 90% for his weight and his hieght is off the charts! He is a long boy.

So back to the project. I put these nasty metal cabinets up on Craigslist and got a lot of replies. One guy wanted them all and picked them up yesterday. Yea, they are off our porch and I made a little cash off of them. Bonus!


And if all of this wasn't exciting enough, let me tell you about last night...

Spencer got home from work and we were able to get one of the girls I used to coach in volleyball to watch the kids. Spencer, Calvin and I made our 20th trip to Home Depot this week and the kids went to the sitters instead of staying here because of the disaster we have going on. Now to set the scene.

We get back 10pm, pick up the kids and then home. Back the truck in to unload our new appliances. We are at the far end of the driveway, because we need to move the car out of the way first in order to bring in the purchases. Spencer gets to the door by the carport and the kids are all close behind him, I'm still walking up. Spencer looks at me and says,

S: The door is open, did you shut it?
Me: Yes.
S: (checks the knob) Well, it is locked, but it is wide open.

I'm still walking up the driveway, he goes in and the kids start to follow. I hear him then say to the kids.

S: You guys wait outside for a minute. (He starts in to go check things out, Daisy is still following and the other two just stopping. Then I hear this, loud and somewhat frantic.)

S: GET OUT! GET OUT! GET OUT! GET THE KIDS OUT!

I'm freaking out, I'm trying to figure out what to do first. I've got Calvin in my hands in the baby carrier. The other kids are still about 15 feet away from me. Do I put Calvin down and leave him and run to the other kids. Or do they sense the urgency in his voice and start running out. Daisy wont completely understand of coarse. (all this in my head in nano seconds, I'm sure you've all been there) Spencer is rushing out with Daisy in his arms and the kids moving now on their own, so I keep Calvin and head back toward the truck.

What the heck is going on? Don't you want to know? I sure did at this moment, but first we had to establish who's fault it was that the door wasn't shut when we left. Spencer is blaming me, I am blaming him. Then he says, "There is a skunk in the house."

Me: (thinking) oh crap! He is in there spraying right now because we just scared him and our house will stink forever.

S: (reassuring and I think more hoping) I couldn't smell anything, but I dont know what is happening now.

We get the kids back in the truck. Now wondering what the heck are we going to do? How do we get it out? And all without having it spray. He slowly walks back up to the door way and sees it again, but scares it again and runs back around the corner. This happens again only me sneaking up to the door this time.

The baby is crying, needs to eat. Its muggy because of the rain we got, so we put the older two in the back of the truck so it isn't so hot. Daisy inside the back of the cab, me in front seat nursing the baby. Spencer decides to run around to the back door to pound on it and hopefully scare the skunk out. So I'm watching the side mirror to see if it comes out the door and about a minute later here it come! Yea I instantly think, but it doesnt just go around to the side gate, it comes running down the drive way toward us. I'm watching in the mirror and it stops right beside the truck. I yell back to the kids, not to move and scare it, thinking that we finally got it out and now it is going to spray us out here.

It continues on and runs around the corner of the house. The same way Spencer had went to the back, so I yell out "HE'S COMING RIGHT AT YOU SPENCER!" As soon as I finish I hear him yelling "aahh,*#@**... stupid skunk!" (just kidding about the explicit) He comes running back with a crazy look on his face. He met up face to face with him with about 5 feet between the two. At this point Spencer did some maneuver leaning to the side while moving (I imagine something like a football move to avoid a tackle). Then he said the skunk turned and his tail went up like he was going to spray, but then just took off the other way.

Whew. Instant relief that he was gone, but we still had to go into the house and hopes were high that it didnt stink. Once again, instant relief, no smell. Then Spencer did a walk thru to determine if it had done any damage anywhere. Sad to say, there was one area. I was so glad there was no spray, but I guess we scared the crap out of him as well!


Don't worry. Our arguement about who didn't shut the door ended quickly and I accepted the blame (being the better person)! We laughed right after it all and are so grateful it didn't do more while there.

Oh and this was cute. The cats know they are not allowed in. Spencer said at one point as he was looking toward the door when the skunk was still inside, the cats were off to the side and leaning their heads to see in and also watching him. Like kids waiting to see the punishment of the rebelous kid who went against the rules.

And a little glimpse of the progress.