Today is the day. We no longer need footwear to do laundry.

What you see below is the pad. it's blue. Actually, it's covered in a blueish membrane.










And here is the carpet and our two installers. Hopefully they'll be done soon.

Time for carpet!

It's about time. You know, working lots, and being a dad and husband takes some time, but really, it's all good.

So, here's the news. We're getting carpet on Friday. I've got some touch-up paint to do this week, but on Friday, the basement will be habitable with socks. That is our goal. To walk to the basement in our socks or bare feet and not worry about getting them dirty.

Peace. Calm.

Now what?

Pictures, I guess.

1. From the hallway looking towards the back door.











2. From the middle of the living space looking down the hall. Laundry to left, mechanical to right, mechanical straight ahead, and almost not visible bathroom on furthest back right












3. From outside entrance looking at pantry and paint and shoes on right, hallway on left.










4. From bottom of steps looking at outside door. Picture taken at 3.30 p.m. Stupid daylight savings time. Bright at 6 am, dark almost after lunch. Wait, I digress.









5. Staircase. Notice beautiful trim boards up each side. Had to remove 9 treads and risers to adjust the stringers to add the trim on the right side. Reset treads and risers to be in the center of the space. I added a light and switch at the top of the stairs - otherwise, it's really dark and dangerous at the top of the stairs. Now it's well lit and safe.

Moar Basement

Well, I have time before the Missouri Botanical Gardens festivities, so I thought I'd upload some pictures of the priming. Really completes the room look.

My in-laws are in town this weekend, so we are spending some wonderful time exploring the festival @ the Missouri Botanical. I'll get the actual painting done this coming week. I've got some free nights. Finally.

Hopefully we'll carpet shop on Sunday. Maybe then we'll be able to enjoy walking through our entire house barefooted. That'll be awesome!

On to the show:

The basement, continued

Well, gentle reader, here are the promised pictures.
Please enjoy.

This is last weekend, September 26 & 27 2009. Notice the nice mud & tape job.

I didn't do it.

A hiatus

It has been time, gentle reader, since I spent some quality time with my keyboard and blog. Much has happened since then.

I've changed vocations (slightly), been incredibly thankful for friends, and finished my basement.

Why yes, finished my basement. It's all framed, insulated, drywalled (thanks Jeff, Andrea, Jake and Jenna!!) and now, thanks to the modern art of mudding and taping, it looks done.

I'll be gathering pictures tomorrow to share with you. It's a total change, and one well worth the effort.

Ah, home on the 4th!

We have arrived at home. We enjoyed our trip to KC and Mark's house, and it was certainly wonderful to spend some time my entire family. We left KC at 2.33 p.m., intent on arriving at an outlet mall close to St. Louis in time to shop before 6 p.m.

We did. Arrived at 5.31 p.m., after over 200 miles and one stop.

Horrible rain from Wentzville to Chesterfield.

Dinner at cracker barrel, home to watch the explosions on our street. I love the 4th.

Good night, gentle reader, and I'm sure you'll read more. This next week, without our child, is work in our room week.

Kansas City, 4th of July

st="on">Kansas City, July 2009

Dateline: Thursday, 2 July

Departure was delayed from our abode this evening due to work, packing, dinner, forgetfulness. We finally got on the road somewhere around 6.30. MacKenzie had already left St. Louis with my parents and sister earlier today, and had arrived safely at her uncle’s house.

Our trip, thankfully, was not very busy with traffic. We stopped at a Wendy’s in Lake St. Louis, got some dinner, and headed west on 70. A very uneventful trip for us – a quiet trip, with no daughter in the car. It was rather nice, being able to spend time talking to my wife tonight.

We got to my brother’s house about 10.40. MacKenzie was already asleep, and we spent some time exploring the work that my brother did in his living and dining room. Floor sanded, stained and re-sealed, new drywall, removed popcorn ceiling, arts & crafts style trim, and new windows.

Time for bed. More tomorrow.

Friday, 3 July

Today’s venture into the joy of eastern Kansas takes us to Bonner Springs, Kansas. Our final destination in Bonner Springs is the Moon Marble Factory. It’s less a factory and more a store with tons of vintage toys and marbles.

We took a side detour to a local produce stand for tomatoes and corn for dinner tonight. After arriving at the Moon Marble, we found parking. The Moon Marble is located between 2 east-west NS tracks with a sidling and the road. Not lots of parking, and since it had just rained, the parking area was rather wet.

Buckets of marbles, tubs of all different sizes. Pretty cool. We got to see a demonstration of an art glass marble being made. That was neat. Darcy wanted to get an art-glass marble, but I informed her that the price was a bit too high.

Then it was off to Leavenworth to the Carousel Museum. Lunch was had at the High Noon Saloon. Excellent food, and their amber ale is very tasty, I might add. My father and brother experienced the stout and said it was very good as well.

If you’re ever in Leavenworth, stop and see the carousel. It’s the fastest one I’ve ever seen, and it’s pretty cool. Very old, enclosed so inclement weather doesn’t bother you. The horses are all vintage, and the tail popped out of one horse yesterday. Quite funny, actually.

Departed Leavenworth to head back to my brother’s house for a dinner of grilled ribs, fresh corn, carrots.

Finished dinner rather late, got MacKenzie to bed, and then it was off to bed for us.

More tomorrow.