Hard Part Done!

After I took bandit to the vet, I set about putting the laminate on my cupboards. Here is a look at what is done. I had to stop and clean up in time for Monday Night Football.
Kayak Bandit

Ready For Laminate

Here is what the kitchen looks like after all the countertops are installed. I am going to rest for today and install the laminate tomorrow. Notice that the sink hole is ready. It fits snuggly, but just fine.

I am taking Bandit to the Vet tomorrow because his bandage is slipping down his leg. I suppose it is because the swelling is going down and the bandage is not as tight as it used to be when first wrapped.
Kayak Bandit

Kitchen Update

Hi Everyone,
It is Sunday morning and I feel great! I survived the emotional trauma of my dog cutting his tendon in two. I made some great progress on my kitchen. And, I am taking next week off to nurse my doggie along toward full mobility.
I feel especially great because I am doing the fun part of the kitchen remodel. The nasty part of tearing out and breathing the remodel dust is in the past. I can now smell the new wood. I love building the cabinets. They are all roughed in and will get the laminate today.
The following video is from a couple days ago. Some of the cabinet face frames are not installed and the counter top is not on. If I get to work now, I may have video of that part by tonight.

Bandit is bored. As I take him for his potty breaks, he looks beyond the fence with longing. But no, the mean guy at the end of the leash just hauls him back to the house as soon as finished with his do do. Some times I take him to the shop with me and he lays on a pile of sawdust while I work. I chose times that I am not using the planer because that machine is what makes the big pile of sawdust that he likes to lay on. The planer is very noisy and he is spooked by it.
Next year, for our family vacation, we are planning to go to Fort Stevens. We have not chosen an exact date yet. If you would like to join with us, let us know your choice of date. We are looking at late July or August.
Back to work,
Kayak Bandit

German

Well, when I last talked to you, I planned to go to the Greek Festival. I did not make it.
I had a crazy day trying to get some things for my kitchen. I spent a couple hours at Home Depot waiting for someone to help me with an exchange of my instahot. I never did exchange it because the difference between the in stock one that I bought and the special order one I want is double the price.
I did buy all my knobs, hinges and drawer pulls for the kitchen. I chose a stainless steel frame with a white porcelain inlay. Not exactly cheap. I also ordered a storm door for my back entry. I know I lost a bunch of heat out that door over the years. I cannot put off fixing that before this winter. I expect heating will cost double what it cost last year.
Home Depot is right next door to Costco. I went in and stocked up on all sorts of stuff. One thing that I bought that sounds good is the salmon patties. I will give them a try real soon. After I found every thing I needed, and more, I stopped at the deli for a German sausage. I do not think an entire Greek meal could have been as good as that German doggie. I ended up with the perfect blend of condiments on my meal in a bun. Yummie. As I drove past the Greek church on the way home, I somehow felt sorry for everyone that was spending more than the dollar sixty seven that I spent. And the soda is included!
Kayak Bandit

Greek

Every year, here in Spokane, the Greek Church puts on a nice festival. They open the Church to everyone to learn more about themselves. One thing I learned a long time ago is how delicious their food is. I was planning to keep working on my kitchen all day today, but every time I think of something that could take me away from home, such as needing some more nails or lumber, I immediately consider how far out of the way it would be to go by the festival. I seem to be obsessed about going and getting some baklava. I am always obsessing about something.
I think I might as well go down there and get it over with. Does anyone know the schedule? If I time it right, I could probably get a meal too. Great idea! Thanks for the suggestion.
Kayak Bandit

Still Alive

Well, anyone that is worried why I have not posted for a while, stop! I am fine. I have been busy and my mind has not been able to create the blog. Some days I sit down in front of the computer and the words just appear. Not lately.
I was talking to Dick, Red Lion Man, and he said Barb has mentioned most mornings that I did not post. She was a little worried. Speaking of them, be sure to go to the link and see what they are up to. They are on an extended working vacation that sounds like a lot of fun (and work).
Yesterday I took five newbies out kayaking. I am afraid they have the fever. They were talking about going shopping for kayaks and racks for atop their car. I warn you not to try it if you cannot afford to buy yourself a kayak. Almost everyone really likes kayaking. The day was cool until underway. Once you started paddling, you were just right.
I forgot the storage bags to carry the lunch in the kayaks, so we returned to Doug and Colleen's home to eat her fabulous lunch. The day was a perfect success. It may have been the last kayak outing until the eagles show up in December. I love to go out then and see them swooping down to pick kokanee trout from the water. Last year it was so cold that in quiet water there was a skim of ice. It is toasty inside the kayak. I can hardly wait.
My cabinets are progressing slowly. At times I am completely anal about getting them perfect. Where did that come from? At other times, I am down right lazy and slow. I have decided to take the week after next off to work on the kitchen. I want the kitchen off my back so I can play without feeling guilty.
Boy, that was not hard. I should blog every day.
Kayak Bandit

Great Buy

Today, I went to Home Depot to make use of a coupon for ten percent off my next purchase. I made a list of all the things I need to complete my kitchen.
I found all the items I needed in short order, including a new air compressor. The old air compressor gave up recently. Then, I decided to look at gas ranges. I have wanted a gas range for a long time. I like the idea that you can adjust the heat and it reacts right away. So, I go in with the idea that they would be outside my budget. There was this really nice lady named Ella, that showed me all the choices. The last choice was a close out, floor model. It's original price was over four hundred dollars, on sale for two hundred ninety seven. How could I resist. I bought it.
I did not plan to buy a stove, so I had to go home for my pickup. I am pleased with my selection. Jenny is troubled that it is a Maytag, but I am okay with it.
Hopefully, I finish my project and we all get together for a party.
Kayak Bandit

Garbage Disposal Placement Revisited

I know we have already been over this subject. I really appreciate every comment. Thanks for voting in the poll.
Some of those that commented said they could not be sure of their position unless they knew the layout of the kitchen. So, I drew a little sketch that will give you an idea what my cupboards will be like.
Everything to the right of the sink, extending over the dishwasher is clear counter space. Everything to the left of the sink is clear counter space until the stove. You can see there is plenty of space on either side to use as one chooses. The sink wall is ten feet long. The window is centered on that wall. The sink will also be centered on that wall directly beneath the window.
I am moving the disposer switch from left of the sink to slightly left of center of window and sink. It will be somewhat behind the left side sink bowl.
Notice that the sink I am buying is not equal sized. The bowl on the left is larger than the right. Also notice the faucet is behind the smaller, right side bowl. Here is a link to my choice.
It is possible that the actual sink I have in mind is slightly different from this link. I remembered my choice had the drain holes far back. I know the one at Home Depot had the holes in the rear of the sink which will allow room in front under the sink for a garbage can.
Someone commented that the faucet they like has the sprayer incorporated into the faucet. My daughter Jenny has one of these. You just pull it out and squeeze to get it to change from stream to spray. You can also pull it out and not squeeze the trigger. This works well to fill tall pots that don't fit under the faucet. She likes it a lot.The whole sink area looks better without the extra sprayer. I think I will get one.
This added information may have changed your opinion. Somehow, I doubt it. But, if it did, go back to the poll and change your vote.
Now I have to decide whether to abide by the poll results or stay with the unified voices of my two very lovely daughters. Stephanie has commented for you to read. Maybe Jennifer will post her ideas also. Watch for a poll that asks whether to honor my daughters opinions despite the fact they are in the minority on this issue.
Again, thank you for weighing in on this important decision.
Kayak Bandit

Garbage Disposal Placement

One would think it would be easy to decide which side of a double sink should have the garbage disposal. Well I am here to tell it is not easy.
For most of this spring, I have been planning ahead to the day that I tear out the last parts of my kitchen before I reassemble everything. Well, on Saturday, I tore everything out. Now I must wash dishes in the bathroom sink. I cooked breakfast on my camp stove outside. It was pretty good, if I say so myself.
But now that I am getting ready to put the wires and plumbing back into the wall, I have to place everything just so. I want it to be perfect. The problem is, I want it to be perfect in the eyes of any eventual wife. I know some of you married guys are confused. You probably think it would be great to slap everything together without harassment from the little old lady. Sure you do, uh huh? I bet if you think this all the way through though, you will see the quandary. It might be okay for the short term to put a light switch on the wrong side of a sink, but not for the long term.
If you choose the wrong side, that sweet little bride will get more upset every time she uses the misplaced switch. Pretty soon the sweet little bride is no longer as sweet as you would like. "What ever made you think to put that switch there?" "That is the dumbest place to put a switch!" "It will cost twenty thousand dollars to hire a contractor to fix your stupid mistake, and I ain't payin' for it, you are!"
Enough about that. Suffice it to say, I want to get it right in case I trick some pretty thing into marrying me. Here is the debate. My dishwasher is to the right of the sink. My stove is on the left. I am buying a double sink that has the faucets to the right of center, with the larger sink on the left. With the faucets to the right, it seems your right hand will be busy with the sprayer. That only leaves one choice in my mind for which side to install the garbage disposer switch. You guessed it, the left. That solves today's question.
I am headed off to install the switch on the left. The debate is over on that, but the debate will begin anew when it is time to actually install the disposer. So, go to my poll and help me choose the right way to install the disposer.
Kayak Bandit

Bare Walls

It is still the 4th of July, 2008, as I sit here to write this blog. It will post in the morning.
I began my holiday by doing my yard work. I edged the lawn before mowing. Bandit gets so excited as I get the lawn tools out. He knows that I will throw the ball for him while I work. Today was no exception. I threw it to the worst spots I could imagine. He could always find the ball though. I did wear him out. As I came into the back yard, he was laying next to his water dish panting. His ball was floating in the water. He was tuckered out.
Once the lawn work was done, I attacked the kitchen. I had gone as far as I could with the kitchen sink still in place, so today I tore that out too. Boy, was it a lot of work. When they built stuff back in 1952, they wanted it to last forever. Everything was nailed with big nails and the metal parts were all rusted. I now have it all stripped to the bare walls. So the next step is to reroute some wires and replace the galvanized pipes with copper.
I was going to buy a new sink, but looking the old one over, convinced me to reuse it. I am going to get a new disposer. I have most of the other materials I need to continue.
With no kitchen, I plan to eat on paper plates and cook most of my food on the bar-b-que. Tonight I had a nice steak and corn-on-the-cob. Yum yum!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Kayak Bandit