Not Quite "Shrine" Status Yet -- But Getting There

Starting on the Backsplash
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Do you see God's monogram "B" in the stone?
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.Do you see the "B"?

Two boards removed to access the plumbing and lower the kitchen drain line. Read on.

OSHA Babe got real good with the roller.

Dear friend, Anne, from church and SBC days









FOR THE WEEK ENDING April 15, 2007

HIGHLIGHTS:
1. What a difference a little stone on the backsplash makes in the kitchen! After devoting much of the week to painting, we worked in the kitchen Saturday setting the tumbled stone backsplash. The first two pictures above show how much it helps. Doesn't the faucet that OSHA Babe picked out look great?
...So what's the deal about "Shrine" status? In summary, the Maker of the granite has monogrammed the kitchen. As background, being the artistic tile setter that I am, I like to visually tie the granite slab and backsplash together by embedding a 2" x 2" square of the counter top granite into the design of the backsplash. While doing that on Saturday, the first piece of granite that I just happened to use had the letter "B" distinctly visible in the grain of the stone. (Can you see the "B" in the third and fourth pictures above?) At first, I thought it was a left over mark from the fabricators. However, after checking it out, the "B" is a naturally occurring design within the granite square. We're going to call it God's handiwork in the kitchen.
2. Sam the plumber and his helper, Andy, came by Thursday and decided that the existing drain in the kitchen wall was indeed higher than the discharge of the garbage disposal. After some discussion, the three of us also decided that water does not run uphill easily. Hence, the straightforward solution - lower the drain. But how? In the fifth picture above, that dark patch near the bottom of the house is the hole left after two sections of siding were removed from the exterior wall. Yep, we disassembled part of the house to add a lower drain line. Gulp! But the story had a good ending. First, the disposal, sink, and dishwasher can now drain. Additionally, the siding went back on the house so that it looks untouched. Whew!
..While they were there, the plumbers put the finishing touches on the rough in plumbing in the two bathrooms where the claw foot tubs will go. The water supply lines are now in place and ready for the sheetrock to go up. The tub drains are also now in place. We will be ready to set the tubs after the walls have been sheetrocked, bead board paneling placed, and the floors tiled. That's another plumber visit.
3. OSHA Babe was a painting champ this past week. She is pictured above in the TV room as we were getting started on Friday. Saturday afternoon, she led the charge in the master bedroom. The paint in there is a light blue. She already has her eye on the perfect bedspread and pillow cases. There is still a lot to do but we've got 2 rooms down.
4. Cat report - There is evidence that there is/are a new kitten(s) under the house. Bad Girl has been nursing and has a voracious appetite. We're not sure how many additions there are. We'll post pictures as they become available.
5. Our honored guest this week was Anne. You can tell from the picture that she really liked the granite. She and husband, Ken, have been friends from SBC days in Dallas in the early 80's. Ken and I carpooled in both Dallas and St. Louis. Their son and daughter, who babysat for our sons, now have children of their own. Anne just happened to have pictures of the grandchildren. You can tell the she and Ken take true delight in their family.

NEXT STEPS:
1. There is always painting to do. Before the floor guy arrives, we still have Pat's office, the guest bedroom, and the landing area at the top of the stairs to finish. Work, work, work.
2. In the small bathroom upstairs, we must get the tile grouted by Wednesday. The shower door is scheduled to be installed on Friday and the grouting must be done.
..The other bathrooms are ready for tile, sheetrock, and beadboard paneling. When that is all done, we'll be getting close to the time for claw foot tubs to be "footed" and moved into place. We're taking volunteers for helping to move the tubs.
3. We expect a large number of visitors this week. My Aunt Gene (whose picture you have seen on the blog more than once) is having a "special" birthday this coming week. Her children from Houston and the Denver area are hosting a celebration in Del Rio and have invited family members from all over to come. San Antonio just happens to be on the way for several. So, this week's visitors could include one Dad and his wife, one sister, two or three cousins, and possibly another uncle and aunt to come by. I hope they bring their work clothes.