October 29th 2008

Cabinets are hung and fit perfectly. Crown moulding next. Kristen got busy installing shelves in the pantry and Micah found a perfect place to relax! A couple of days ago Mom and Micah made chocolate chip cookies for Uncle Jason. Every once in a while he would turn up missing and we would hear him yelling from the back porch about going into Jason's house to get a "tootie". Good idea!!

October 24th, 2009

Its list making time. Lists of what to do next, what to measure, what to buy, what to paint, what bulbs go where, what needs to be flat and what needs semi gloss, how many drawer pulls and how many knobs, how many shelves in the pantry and how many in the linen closet, what size are the mirrors and how wide are the windows...but oh what fun! We are to the pretty stage. Listing and picking out the things that are colorful, shiny, curly, and add warmth. This trip to Lowe's will be henceforth referred to as the "Lowe's event". I think anything over 3 hours should be reclassified. You know you've been there too long when the same lighting guy has asked 3 different times if you need any help yet. (HD & Lowe's shopping hint: Bring lovely young blond daughter along for extra attention from helpful male employees:)

October 21st, 2008

What a great day and great friends! We met at 5pm and except that we ran a little short of paint, everything was painted by 6:15pm. Pizza from Dominoes and salad from Nana Niecy finished off the party perfectly! Thanks gang! Cristin, you missed a spot...see you at sunrise! :)

October 16th

Of all the painting, I love walls the best! It takes more time with a brush and roller, but the color turns a generic place into a personal creation of warmth and vision. Not my vision or creation this time, which makes it all the more fun to see it appear. Three walls in Micah's room...color perfect! Second color on the 4th wall yet to be seen. Three grey-blue walls cut in and ready in the master bedroom and so far very lovely! The great room is a little dark, but that is the beauty of paint...color adjustment- needs to be a little lighter and we are ready for a rolling party Tuesday. All you need to get past the bouncer at the door is a 9" roller frame & tray! And if you show up without, the hostess will probably make an acception! Dinner included so RSVP

October 14th, 2008

On Sunday the 12th, Dann sprayed primer on every single wall surface in the house. I was hidden away in the mountains trying to get a feel for relaxation so I am ready when the house is done and the wedding is over. What a great season for the Plum family, so much excitement in the air! Anyway, Tuesday the 14th, celebrated my brother's birthday by painting the ceilings. Three hours, two coats, 8 gallons, minus the gallon I accidently spilled on the floor.

Got to love a sprayer! I mean its the only way to go if you don't have to worry about over spray. So the ceilings are done and we move on to brushing and rolling wall color. To borrow a line from a very courageous man "Let's Roll!"

October 9th, 2008

Whew! A hot week has come and gone and bless those dry wall guys they didn't miss a beat even in the heat. Texture went on today and will be dry by Sunday for primer. Ahhh, Sunday, the day of rest or painting? We'll see. All of the interior paint was picked out and purchased. 14 gallons of primer, 4 gallons of ceiling white for...you guessed it, ceilings and closets, 3 gallons for the kitchen/great room and possibly bedroom #3, 2 gallons and two colors for Micah's room and 3 rolls of wallpaper and 1 gallon for the master bedroom. Probably not enough, but we have way extra of the exterior base color and trim so I am shy about buying too much until we see. Bathrooms yet to be determined. We finished all the exterior trim Wednesday and have started assembling the kitchen cabinets. Lots of heavy flat boxes turn into lovely white cabinets following pages of instructions and our little foreman to show us how its done! It is so handy to be 36" tall when you need to get inside a 36" wide cabinet to work on it. All of you who offered to help paint back when we were just talking about this project...we're calling your bluff! Dig out your roller frame and pan and meet us on Alameda next weekend!

PS. Ventura's most eligible bachelor is still single. The opportunity to casually cross paths with Danny Strong at our house as come and gone. Guess you could punch a whole in your own wall and give him a call:)