The Plateau

Good Evening, I just looked back, and saw that our last meeting was on the tenth of July, nearly a month ago! Three things have limited my responses: first is that summer-session ran for two weeks. I was working with a collection of fifth graders, practicing reading and math to prepare them for the coming year. Second was a mammoth vacation. 

The weekend of the fourteenth, we did some four wheeling out in Front Royal with a new friend and his daughter. Next week, Katie and I took off on a tour of the east coast. Stamford, Connecticut; Freschent, New Jersey; Brewster, Massachusetts; Lake Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg, Massachusetts [link]; then home for a day, before going tubing in West Virginia, and a weekend with friends in Virginia Beach.

That two week road trip composed most of my absence. Finally, the third is that our projects have plateaued. The big stuff is settled, and we're now finishing decorating rooms, one at a time. 

I think the kitchen has been chronicled quite thoroughly, while the living room is waiting on one chair to make an appearance, and some art work to be hung. (Not hanged, people are hanged, things are hung, special thanks to John Welby for straightening me out on that one!) We are expecting a collection of house guests in the coming weekends, so when everything is neatened up, I'll snap some photos and put them up with a rundown of the living room progress.

I must say, the Olympics have also been a great distraction, along with finding TMC hidden in our million channels of cable.

So there's the plateau, not much change. But there's much to be done!

1. Gable vents on the roof - one needs to be completed, and the second needs to be replaced.
2. Kitchen closet door - sand and repaint
3. Living room - it's not getting any less brown tileish. Also, I am still considering facing the mantle piece in some sort of wood.
4. Bedroom needs a new color, and the other rooms could use some furniture!
5. Exterior - there's some rotten wood that needs to be addressed, and the thinly laid green paint isn't going to turn itself blue!

So that's where things are this past couple weeks. We definitely are loving the kitchen, and the barbecue we acquired for the back.  If you are interested in helping paint the house this fall, feel free to let me know - many hands make light work, and I want to get a 6 foot sub to feed the workers! (which requires at least a dozen people, I'm told)

Thanks for checking in, and I'll toss up some photos to help you get a good feeling for how great the past three weeks have been!

-Jeff

Wheeling with Mitch, he took a great photo of Katie and I, but it's on her camera

so you get Jeeps.

The New Jersey leg was for Erin and Brian's wedding, this is them and a bunch of girls.

Vacation Sunglasses!

Third time on a bike in a dozen years!

This lighthouse was very heavy.

Katie and I waiting on a ferry from Boston (In Provincetown, MA)

Mac and Meg joined us for the second half of the Cape Cod week.

(Meg was on the ferry from Boston, Mac had to drive alone)

Classy lunch, at the Lobster Claw, Orleans, MA

Connecticut Ramont's walking to happy hour

Clamming in Brewster

Clamming 'ain't easy.

Lunch at Secuit Harbor Cafe with DueselParents and Connecticut Ramonts

In Virginia Beach, Scott won this lobster from a video game!

This restaurant hadn't had this much fun since Connor's t-ball league dinner!)

*I have no idea why all the photos say "Jeff Duesel 2011" in the corner.