Quartz Has Arrived

Old island top. It was temporary for about 2.5 years.

New quartz. Turned out beautiful.

We used the same faucet 

and it works much better with this sink than it did with the old one.

We got the matching quartz in the bathroom & I picked up this faucet for $25.

Great improvement.

Quartz Is Coming

Today the quartz countertops were paid for. 

I absolutely LOVE this sink but have chosen a new undermount sink. We will use this same faucet as what is currently pictured.

We are not removing this wall or cabinet.

I am going to put tile on the walls, was thinking subway tiles since they are the easiest to find. I'll cover that phone outlet.

The quartz will go all the way over where this temporary piece of wood top is sitting.

They will make us another piece the same size as this piece of wood that I can use on the other side of the stove to even things out.

We had planned on getting about 56 SF in quarts or granite and go with butcherblock for the island but the butcher block isn't happening fast enough.

I have the wall mount metal cook fan that needs to be mounted above the stove.

The new top will look similar to this only browner.

We're also having them do the bathroom countertop and a new sink in there.

 I purchased a new faucet for the bathroom and it might as well have a new countertop too. The installer is bringing a new sink for in there also.

Kitchen Renovation

This was out kitchen when we first moved in. Its got Granite tile countertops, which are very pretty but I am not thrilled with the dark gray grout, it looks like mold.

Two years ago we removed the double ovens and took the microwave off the wall.

I painted the walls red and still love it

The cooktop was in the middle of the island so there really wasn't a big flat surface anywhere. Can't roll out dough or spread things out with the tile.

So we removed the cooktop also.

I purchased a $100 propane stove

Then paid $1500 for the propane to be extended from the middle of the house to the kitchen, put in a new 500 gallon propane tank & fill it

We have replaced the old laminate flooring with hardwood. I've put old fence boards around the island. There is a (2 years) temporary countertop on the island made from particle board that was stained & had poly put on, looks good enough for now.

This stove is also good enough for now but I want one with 5 burners 

and the oven needs to be just a titch larger

I got this maple from a friend, there's enough here to make the island top plus 2 countertops beside the stove. I am considering purchasing the rest of what he has to do more of the countertops so I don't have to pay so much for granite

That dishwasher never worked so I've replaced it with a nice quiet Bosch.

If we do a reno, we're thinking about removing the cupboards on the right, tops and lowers and taking out 2 feet of the wall. That would open it up to the rest of the house more and maybe help distribute heat from the wood stove that's in the kitchen.

We'd also be able to get rid of the phone plug.

We could move this to the left side of the stove that's behind you over your right shoulder

This 'pantry' has been moved to the wall that would be over your left shoulder.

I would like to move the fridge to the left of the pantry 

but if we do it blocks a window that looks out to the barn.

This is the crap that's always on the counter that we want to remove. 

Theres a lot of stuff behind that box

Uppers hold cups and plates

Upper

Lower

This is the wall

If we remove it I'll have to find another place for this tower

I know these photos are all over the place but I'm just getting them out there.

The sink & bay window today

December 2018

This first photo was taken in November but its currently what out front pasture looks like.

And this is today inside the barn. There are now lights on both sides of the aisle.

Can you spot the differences?

Front door swag

This is actually a wreath but I loved it enough to put it on the table as a center piece; 

it smells wonderful.

The stockings were hung...

One of my favorite gifts: I came home Christmas Eve and found my husband up on the tallest ladder hanging the new chandelier.  We found the chandelier at Habitat For Humanity for $10, the lights were $26 and added a dimmer switch. Changed the whole look of the living room.

The Santa tapestry

This years tree had 2 ornaments, no lights

Spring Flowers

Spring in the northwest might be rainy but it is also when the most beautiful flowers bloom.

I don't know their names

But the Azaleas are all gorgeous

So are the Lilacs. This is the first year they have bloomed for us,

we didn't know this bush was here.

There is a plethora of Blue Bells and yesterday the first Iris popped open.

For Mothers Day I had store bought flowers on the table but they are pretty too

And also on Mothers Day, I bought a dozen Pheasant eggs, I put 6 under a hen and 6 in the incubator with 8 chicken eggs. When they are big enough I'll release them into the wild.

Barn Roof Update

As I walked out to the barn last night I saw lights

The lights on the left are in the arena, on the right those are new, in the aisle way.

You can see the beautiful job he did, insulating and then metal on top of that. He's been working his butt off. Now its getting dark so early that he had to put lighting up. Its very bright.

Same view but other end, toward the chicken house and the house would be behind the chickens.

I love it.

The farmhouse table is almost finished, just needs stain or poly or whatever we decide to use. It was darn near perfect for out Thanksgiving meal.