...and the beat goes on.....

So now we have a new tow vehicle!  I'll think of it as a blessing in disguise.  The Olds was totaled in a rear end collision and who knows how much longer the Mercury will hold out?  Besides, I needed a truck and this one will do the job without breaking me.  '06 Chevy Colorado, less than 100K on the clock, extended cab, 20 MPG highway, hitch in place.....it's all good!

It's gotta be camping time.....!!

Now to finish the kitchen, clean out the garage and get back to this trailer rebuilding business!!

You've probably been wondering what I've been up to.... (Part Two)

Captain's Log:  Stardate:  092114.22  Investigating a distress call fragment from the Kitchen Sector which was recorded as follows:  "Oh no, there's something wrong with the floor...."  Upon arriving in the danger zone, certain starship personnel nearly took a header as he tripped on the swollen kitchen floor.  Within minutes it was determined that the dishwasher's inlet valve had failed allowing the unit to fill very slowly with dihydrogen oxide until the containment pan overflowed.  The vinyl floor and underlayment took the abuse; the watery solution did not breach the subfloor.  State Farm command was notified.  We are about to go where I have never gone before!

Removing the vinyl and portions of the underlayment revealed we were lucky!

Please keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all times; have a great day at Magic Mountain!

This is going to be a big job, I'd best fortify first!!

Since we have to rip it all out, why not get the kitchen we always wanted?

Guess what pet project will be getting put on hold?

All these cabinets (plus two already removed) will barely fit in the garage.

The only salvageable part of the countertop - and it will be going in the trailer!

Where the offending dishwasher did it's offensive offense!

Yup, it alls gots to come out.  The window, too.  You'll see where it goes soon

Hey, this could really work!  But can we do it??

Temporary dining room....Christmas dinner was had in the living room!

Better look up and take a deep breath!

OK, all cleared out - looking south...

...and north.

I need to keep the dust to a minimum

The French doors will go from the edge of the window over to the sliding glass

Removing sheet rock and relocating some wiring

Had to remove some siding as well - it'll be covered with vis-queen

Support wall in place and insulation removed for both the doors and window

New window rough in and new beam over door opening

Randy to the rescue!  Skills + tools = success!

It's getting cold in here!

Almost done...

Total time: two hours fifteen minutes

Sliding glass removed and framed in

Trying to keep the warm air inside

Honey, didn't the weatherman say it's supposed to rain later tonight?

This'll definitely take some getting used to

Time to add more fortification!

Time to insulate and install sheetrock

South wall done

West wall done.

Looking real!

Now about those two arches...

What??!!  No beam over the arches in a bearing wall??

Much better!  Thanks to Lance for the assist...

...and thanks to Hal for the assist with the new arch framing

New ceiling light over sink...thanks to Jim, here

Christmas Tree, 2014

Somebody got a new bike!!

Linens for the trailer, backpacking stool, and a lunch box!

"Dad, I'm getting you a new toilet for the half-bath - that's all there is to be said"

Thanks to Lance #2 and Willie for the great job they did on the plaster

Looks like it was always meant to be this way!

Have to extend the plumbing a little ways and the gas line a little further

...but in the end, if you didn't know, you'd never be able to tell

Paint is done...

...and ready for the new flooring!

First the underlayment...

...then the vinyl

Voila! (or is the Viola!?)

Remember this guy.....he'll do a much nicer job here

Best seat in the house.  Thanks, Greg!

Might as well make the entry match while we're at it

And here come the cupboards...

...followed by the cabinets...

...and the new dishwasher!

Even found a matching fixture for over the dining room table!

Countertops can't be far off now. Thanks to Rob on the new cabinetwork

Special order on the snow...it quit just in time!

Danger!  Men Working!

Somebody pinch me!

I must be dreaming!

Special thanks to Jim and Eleanor for the tile and to Katie for setting it

The stove is in; perhaps we should bring in the plates and utencils?

Ahhh....time for 500 or so pages of light reading!

After all, isn't it about time to curl up with a good book?

This is unbelievable.  We were so blessed - blessed with damage that was isolated (it could have been sooooooo much worse in so many ways), blessed with good neighbors and friends who helped us through this "adventure", blessed with a job that let me have time off to take care of things (thanks, Peg!) and blessed in other countless, unseen ways.  There is still much to do - baseboard moldings, trim around the door, vinyl work this summer outside but it's functional, we love the look and openess of the new plan.  Special thanks to Lance and Janna, Jim and Eleanor, Rob, Lance #2 and Willie, Hal, Chad and Cathy, Katie, Randy and Kim, and to any who I may have overlooked - and especially to my Mom, Gloria, my in-laws, Darrell and Karen, and to all the kids.

OK, now that this is in the home stretch, I suppose I can think about getting back to the more important matters.  It's been calling to me from the other side of the garage, waiting me to come out and play.....