Update January 23

We've had a rough couple of weeks with my family that have kinda put our work on hold. My grandmother finally went to be with my grandfather and Jesus on Thursday, and family was here. Not unexpected, but sad. Meanwhile, one of our biggest cheerleaders, the fearless Aunt Dot, had to go into the hospital as well for an unexpected and unwelcomed tune-up. She's okay, but the timing is challenging.

As a weird twist of it all, though, my handy cousin Greg (spawn of fearless Dot) asked us how things were going on the house when we saw him in the hospital visiting his parental unit. We explained how we still hadn't installed the kitchen floor yet and voila! he arrived on Saturday with two floor nailers and a modicum of nails and soft head hammers to get the job done. With his expert pointers and Rich's willingness to do anything, including semi-impaling one hand, we were able to get the whole floor installed by the end of Sunday!! We used almost all new wood, except for a couple of areas underneath one cabinet and under the toe kick on one side of the kitchen, and under the fridge (so we don't have to roll it out again to finish it). So the hardwood sin we committed all those months ago did not occur completely in vain.

The floor looks amazing! It's too bad you have to put polyurethane on it afterward, because it's really pretty beautiful without anything on it. But I'm thinking the eventual red sauce that we'll be eating as partaking Italians and Italian-wanna-bes will stain that gorgeous floor a color too similar to blood. So I guess we'll have to poly it next. Again, the work never seems to end!

I've included a picture here to prove it. And no, that's not satan in the background with the glowing eyes. It's just fat Spatz. So no more dodging and weaving in the kitchen. Unless you're drunk. And in that case, don't spill anything!