What a difference some sheet rock makes!

Three days of dry wallers and we have....an actual room! And so much sheet rock dust, we can hardly find each other in here! (It is absolutely everywhere!) Our new kitchen is really taking shape! Today, our electrician extraordinaire is installing our ceiling fan and more lights. It's great to have a scaffold for a few more days!

Next: painting, varnishing, and then next week - the wood floor! And this weekend....Abby and her Mom & Dad are visiting!

All weekend, we looked UP!

It took 5 of us two solid days to install our wood ceiling, and it was time so very well spent. The result makes us very happy and will for years and years to come. First, the four men nailed up some backing.

At the lunch break, Commander spent some time sanding the big beam.

Elisiel - the brains of the operation - a perfectionist! How nice for us!

Late Sunday afternoon, after the cleanup crew wrapped up. (Yes, that would be US!)

Inspiration from nature!

As the sun edged over the mountain to the east this morning, this magnificent old cottonwood tree out the new kitchen window took center stage! Isn't it SOMETHING!!?

And NOW..........

...........we have HEAT AND HOT water! Never has a bath felt as lovely as mine did last night before I fell into bed. For the first time in nine weeks, Commander did not have to scurry across the road to our kind neighbors' house at 5:25am for his morning shower. We are happy campers. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. :)

We have GAS!

Here we are on the first day of our ninth week....and we just got GAS! The very kind NM Gas Co fellow came first thing this morning and installed our new gas meter. Sadly, our plumber and heating man were not able to come today (Grrrrrrrr!). So, we will (should) have both hot water and heat tomorrow. Can you imagine? I can!