Almost gone

The housesitters have arrived, the flight to San Francisco was pleasant, we're getting our city errands and restaurant projects done, and will be off to China soon.  The decision has been made to leave the laptop and tablet at home so posts here will be sparse, if at all.  We don't know if or when wi-fi will be available so are just going to concentrate on having fun and exploring China.  Think of how much I'll have to tell when we return.  Be working on your patience skills while we're gone. Have chocolate to tide you over, go out and rake the leaves, watch a good movie, clean the basement, paint the dining room, polish the silver, write the great American novel, take a road trip, bake Halloween cookies, build a coffe table, wax the car, run a marathon,  learn to speak Italian, knit a sweater, donate blood, whatever it takes to distract yourself.  See you in November.

Comin' Along

Al got all the insulation up in the living room.  Do you love the look of the pellet stove in the dining room? Too bad it doesn't provide any heat because it's chilly in here.  The furnace has been disconnected during the project, so we're lucky that we have our love to keep us warm. 

Now the drywall/sheetrock/whatever it's called is going up with the aid of this very clever lift thing.  Wish I had been the guy who invented that.

 

 

Here's my favorite part.  They covered  the can lights and then cut out the circle.  How do it know?

 

 

 

So now we have a finished ceiling, higher than it was before.  Well on the left side.
The right side is actually a little bit lower.  

The fireplace is completely different without that big stoney brick that was on it.  The decision hasn't yet been made of how to finish it but we'll be putting everything on hold when we leave on Tuesday.

Did I tell you we're going to China?  We planned this trip a year ago, so away we go.  We'll spend a couple days in San Francisco, two days in Tokyo (the only way we could get a flight using the elusive miles - they encourage us to accrue miles but don't seem to want us to use them.) then will be with a group of pals for about sixteen days in China, a few more days in San Francisco, then back to Sequim.  I'll keep you posted along the way whenever I can.   

Breakfast for dinner.  My favorite. 

Twenty-seven years!

Friday night we put on clean jeans and went out to celebrate our anniversary.
Who said it wouldn't last?  Well, who?  Come on, now's the time to confess.
Alderwood Bistro in Sequim was lucky enough to have the pleasure of our company. 
We were lucky enough to have this beautiful borscht,

a simple salad,

meat loaf and buttermilk mashers,

clams with garbanzo. Al's favorite bean - which proves he's an interesting guy.
  How many people have a favorite bean?

The chocolate cake looked so good that I just had to have a bite before I could pick up the camera.
Those are rose petals making it look all dolled up and ready for the Homecoming dance.

Now we're back to reality.  Yesterday the crazy guy hauled two big truck loads of yard waste to the compost guy.  Our beautiful Tom Dually is now a working truck.  How quickly things change.
See how fast that hammer moves on what will once again be the fireplace.
It's fun to watch a left-handed guy with tools.

How he loves his power tools. It seems like this project is taking a very long time.
Well, it is, but we wait until each carpenter, electrician or tile guy has time for us between other jobs.
Don't you think the plastic wall is a lovely accent?

Slow and Steady

Progress is being made, but it seems to be taking a very long time.  This an example of Al's ultimate recycling.  The red wallboard is what he hacked out from the guest bathroom when he opened it up so the shower can go in.  He used it to replace a spot that was a bit mildewed - right after he used a few tubes of caulk to prevent the same thing from happening in the future.  Isn't he resourceful?  He's working in what will be the sewing room, attached to the garage.  I'm a lucky woman! 

Sequim has a lot of days with rain and sunshine mixed and this is the reward.

 

 

Our yard is filled with treasures.  I've never seen gooseberries, but here they are.  Kind of like tiny kiwi and tasty, but only if you catch them on the perfect ripe day.  Too soon and they are bitter, too late and they are mushy.  Now I have to find out when and how to prune them.
Come on over.  Bring your clipper.