Surprise Visitors

Last Friday (April Fool's Day) was a day to remember! (no fooling)

Karmen came home Friday afternoon to spend the weekend with us.  We enjoyed her company and while we visited I was able to finish some jobs in the basement such as installing a couple light fixtures, some outlets & switches, move the computer, etc.  It was closing in on 11 PM which is past our bedtime but Brenda was still working away and in the process of moving the filing cabinet and it's contents to the basement when who should appear at our front door but Kyle and Kalynn.

Surprise indeed.  Brenda had just made the comment as she tore into the upstairs bedroom that since nobody would be sleeping in there for some time, she wouldn't worry about the mess she was making and would sort through it later.  Karmen (who knew Kyle was coming) tried to delay Brenda's room wrecking but to no avail. Kyle didn't mind the files, boxes & papers that kept him company that night so all was well.

The second surprise was soon revealed when Kyle and Kalynn told us they had actually made the trip to tell us of their engagement.  So a hearty congratulations to the two of them!  We are excited and wish them the very best.

They have been keeping company for about two and a half years.  Since Kyle has lived near Kalynn for much of that time while he's been attending Oklahoma State U, they didn't have to get acquainted via long distance.  Welcome to the family Kalynn. 

Speaking of schooling, Kyle graduates next month with his degree in aviation management and Kalynn is working on her dental hygiene training. 

A wedding date hasn't been announced. 

The next day was Kyle's 22nd birthday so his grandma made him a pound cake and we all celebrated together.

Kyle & Kalynn

Laugh? or Groan?

Basement XII

Brenda started priming the closet.  It wasn't long until I heard her muttering and expressing

some frustration with herself for running the paint roller over the recessed light fixture.

We got it cleaned up of course but the heat from the lights dried the paint almost instantly

and it came off only with some persuasion.

There wasn't a large area to paint but it was broken in several pieces and I was 

quite surprised when she started on a Sat afternoon and finished the primer and two

coats of paint before bedtime.  A real paint slinger, she is.

Looking toward the closet after Brenda finished.

And at long last.  

The final coat of varnish is being applied.

My neighbor Kirk works near the window and gets some fresh air.

Basement XI

With the main room under control it is easy to forget just how much work is left in the halls, the coat closet and storage area.  Included in these areas are 6 doors such as the one below leading to

the furnace and hot water heater. 

The coat closet with it's doors.

Starting on the hall wall.

Even though this is really the hall way to the main room, the area is large enough we hope

to eventually make a bookcase here. 

Just about done with this wall of about 90 square feet.

This walkway was lit with three small lights but now has four ceiling lights and three wall lights.

We went from two overhead lights in the main room to 4 ceiling can lights, 1 - 36" bar fixture with 4 accent lights for the fireplace, 1 ceiling fan fixture and 8 wall lights.  There were but three electrical outlets in the old room and now there are 11 outlets with 5 of those being double gang boxes.  It would have been interesting to keep track of how many feet of new wiring is in place but something close to 500 feet would be a reasonable estimate I think.

Basement X

More progress.

The main room is almost complete in these photos.  Just a few more

boards to go.  Then on to the hallway.

We are getting far enough Brenda is checking out carpet samples. 

As always, we've come across a few things we'd do differently if we knew when we started what we 

know now.  But all in all, it's looking satisfactory - at least to us.

Basement IX

We're ready for the walls.  

7:30 Saturday morning we begin with some measurements and then start setting the base layer.

Two rows run uninterrupted and then we're into setting outlet boxes.

Progress is pretty fast.  Brenda is impressed.  That makes me feel good!

After the outlet boxes, there are about 10 uninterrupted rows and then 6 more boxes 

to install for our wall lights.

It's early evening and I'm not ready to quit, but it's the last photo Brenda shoots today so the most 

recent photos will be in the next edition.

Basement VIII

Progress.

Fireplace is pretty much done finally.  We're very pleased with the end result.

That is, as long as the folks where we purchased the fireplace can make the multiple flame levels work.  

So far it only works on low which just doesn't put out enough heat. 
We've been assured it will get fixed.  We're counting on it because it's permanent now!

The shelving and hearth are all Indiana limestone. Mostly what I know is those pieces tend toward heavy.

Next step is the walls.  Perhaps Saturday we'll make some headway there.