kitchen progress

 

This is the "before" picture.  As you can see, the cupboards are custom made with tongue and groove cedar.  We did not want to replace them with all new cabinets, as the layout is great, and the 'carcasses' are good two side 3/4 inch plywood, and not pressboard or crap wood substitute that modern cupboards use.  Of course, we are in the midst of this renovation, so here is a picture of it in progress on another wall.  The new countertops will not be here for 3 weeks.  

 

This is three coats of Zinsser Primer and 3 coats of creamy white semi-gloss paint.  Whew! Lots of work.  At the same time, I am cleaning out the contents of the cupboards, and getting rid of most of the contents.  We do not store food in these cupboards, as we have a huge walk in pantry.  So, how many dishes do you need?  Very little.  We are learning to pare down, pare down and do it again in our preparation for rv'ing full time.

Happy Birthday D!

      Well to some it is Robbie Burns Day and to us it is Donald's birthday!  He has opened his gift from his lovely wife and of course, it was RV related, and all books:

     By Mike and Terri Church: Southwest Camping Destinations, Camping Mexico's Baja and Mexican Camping.
     Trailer Life Directories: 2009 RV Parks, Campground and Services and the RV Road Atlas.

and an RV themed birthday card made by the aforementioned wife:

    
    

Kitchen renovations

     Well, today we started on the last of the kitchen renovation work, in preparation for selling the big house.  D started on finishing the windows and window trim and I have cleaned and washed down one set of upper cupboards.  This afternoon, I will tape and start priming then painting.  I have picked out a nice cream coloured paint, and we picked up some dark antique brass looking knobs when we were at Home Depot. 
     We also ordered and paid for all the countertops, that will be here in about 3 weeks.  We have one window to replace, in the main floor bathroom and that is better than replacing all the windows!
     I know, it makes you tired just reading this.  Just gotta keep that goal in mind --- RV, travel, new friends, freedom ......

Trip to the city for shopping and a break

     We went into Prince George this week for a break and to do a little shopping.  Let's see - we bought a Wii, Wii Sports, WiiFitPlus and board, a Cuttlebug machine for cardmaking, some cardmaking papers and stamps... wait a minute - what did Donald get? Well, he is playing Wii as well.  We managed to go see the new Sherlock Holmes movie - quite good.  The plot was well written, and the acting was well done.  It leads into a sequel and what movie doesn't these days.  Two friends were also in the city at the same time and Lorne and Dan joined us for lunch and the movie later that night.
     There was a trip to Home Depot for new knobs for the kitchen cabinets.  We just have to decide what we are going to do with the cabinets - paint, new knobs, and new countertops OR new cabinets fronts, new knobs and new countertops.  Decisions..decisions. The layout of the kitchen is terrific, the bones of the cabinets are 3/4 inch plywood and not particle board .  I have a new recent huge walk in pantry. So, there is no need to make any structural changes, just updating the tired wooden fronts.  The biggest decision is knowing how much to do or not do with the goal of selling the house in mind.
     It is nice to have a 2 week break from work this week and next!
     Oh yes, we did make a trip to the RV dealer in Prince George and we feel very proud of ourselves - we did NOT get out of the vehicle to walk around and look at the 5th wheels. ( look? gawk... drool... )

Football Sunday and chores

     Yesterday I worked for about 5 hours and now I have two weeks off with banked overtime I have to use up before the end of January.  It will be a nice break since I have not had one since last August.  Donald was busy in the morning measuring up the kitchen countertops in preparation for ordering new ones.  Measure twenty times!!!
     In the afternoon, I made a card for my brother in law's birthday that is coming up on February 14th.  I have a number of cards to make in the very near future.  I think this afternoon may be a nice walk with the Gatorgirl while Donald watches the playoff football games and then I should commence on more card making after that.  It looks like it will be a nice day.
     We had a lovely email and phone call from Donald's sister yesterday - thanks Liz!  Our 20 year old son is having some minor health problems and she called with some welcome advice.  Tomorrow we are going for his one week follow up doctors' visit with him. If all goes well with that, we may go to the city to do some shopping ( looking for a Wii ) and just a break.
     So, not a lot of plans for today, but relaxing just the same.

welcome to new readers on the journey!

Welcome Welcome !  to Kenny and Angela : http://rvlifeisgoodtoday.blogspot.com
Thanks guys!

Little car damage and seach for a Wii

     The rain keeps 'a coming. Our snow is melting and the roads go from a mess to very slippery at times.  There have been a few car accidents.  We had one this week but it wasn't due to the weather conditions.  Donald was parallel parked at a local hardware store and the truck in front of him started up and backed right into the front of the car.  Well, that was $750 damage, but our ICBC insurance will cover that and the other fellow has to pay the deductible.  We have 2 years to repair the vehicle, so we will wait till we put the truck back on the road about the end of April, and do it then.
     If the road conditions are reasonable, we may go into Prince George this week for a bit of a break and some shopping.  I am still looking all over for a Wii, with WiiFit Plus and a board.  I tried one out last night at a friends house, and I am hooked.
     My Aunt and Uncle were coming to visit us this summer down at the rv lot and stay with us a few days, but they tried to fly into both Calgary and Victoria and there were no! rental cars available.  Looks like it will be a busy summer in Canada!  I told them September is also beautiful, sometimes the airfare is cheaper, and rentals should be there for the renting! 

Warmer weather

     Our weather has finally come out of the minus 20's ( minus 20 celsius - brr! ).  The snow is starting to melt off the roof of the big house and onto the decks, so we have some cleaning to do.  I think an afternoon walk with Gator is in order.  As my father would say - " Get outside and get the stink blown off you!"  Ha!
     I have been busy making cards for birthdays and anniversaries and planning Donald's birthday at the end of the month. Well, not really planning much but ordering things from places off the 'net.  He asked what was in that box that came in the mail this week? NEVER MIND!  ok ok ok.

Gator in the summer - it can't some soon enough!!!!!!

     So, I think I will be tackling the kitchen in the last half of the month for the list.  I will get organized for that this week.  Donald is presently outside busy on the ride 'em tractor with the snowblower attachment, no doubt puttering around to get the stink blown off him.

Avatar and New Drivers License

     Last night we went to see Avatar.  I was so excited to go ( Star Trek fan, Star Wars, future type movies, action films...) and this was new technology in 3D to boot!  Ack! We have a brand new theatre and the movie was not provided to be 3d. I asked how come, the attendant said, well, just some theatres are doing that - what? So, we will go again in a REAL theatre in a bigger metropolis someplace and see it in 3D.  Still, we enjoyed the movie. 
     The weather is incredibly freezing again - now it is minus 22 Celcius.  Enough already. I want to start walking to work without my face and legs in danger of freezing, instead of driving.  The poor birds and forest creatures, it has been a cold winter for them.
     Donald's drivers license was up for renewal for another 5 years so he went for a haircut yesterday got it done today.  Handsome guy. That is another thing off the 'list'.
    

another tick on the list

  I got the christmas tree down, the decorations split between our two boys into small boxes and a tiny box for us with their 'christmas baby decorations'.  The fake tree, all the lights, everything went out in the trash this morning.  One more thing chalked off the list to full time living in our RV/RV lot.

Skating in the Country

     When the RV gang can't get out to RV and carry on around the summer campfire, well you just have to do it in the winter.  It warmed up in the afternoon, with some lovely big snowflakes coming down.  We all gathered in the country at Margie's mothers' place.  She has a huge big pond, that Dan cleared off a portion with his snowblower to make a really big skating rink.  Then, a roaring fire was made, and a bbq going with hotdogs, a pot of cocoa and a wee bottle of peppermint schnapps for the cocoa. 

    
     It was so much fun!  Margie's mom even made some chocolate chip cookies to add to the festivities - Donald sure loved those!  The older boys have snowshoes and they went away into the bush for an hour or so.

And to top it all off, Dan had bought a Family Size set of Fireworks from Costco last year and this was the special occasion to use them.  The older boys sent them off over the pond to be safe, and used a wheelbarrow of dirt to stick them in to light them up.  Margie and I really like the sparkly ones that went up in the air and then exploded into thousands of tiny wee sparklies.  

                                So, a great wood fire, good friends, good time.

A Great time to ring in 2010

We were out a a hall way way out in the backcountry with about 180 other people enjoying our rv'ing gang and some of their kids playing in a big sound funk band.  Dance music all night - with Stevie Wonder tunes, Van Morrison tunes, you name it for 4 hours of straight playing and dancing.  Our usual bedtime is around 10:30 - 11:00 and low and behold we did not get home till 2:30!

Well, we are making our New Years telephone calls to family and friends.  I think a nice ham should be in order for dinner tonight and I suspect we'll be snoozin' on the couch not long after!!!!!!