Big Kitchen Changes, Part I

So we've decided to make some improvements to our kitchen to make it work better for four people. We were always short on storage space for food and we were always short on counter space for doing anything. With four adults eating and working in the kitchen it's gotten a bit crazy in our kitchen. Plus, I have some aesthetic concerns with the way we have had pile stuff up on the cabinets along the empty wall. Here is a picture that explains the problem.

So we can't handle redoing the whole kitchen, but we can get a few cabinets and a little more counter space in on that wall. Here's a sketch of what we are planning - a pantry, a microwave shelf with storage above, a horizontal upper cabinet, and one base cabinet. The space between the pantry and the base cabinet is for the trash cans.

The first step in the project was taken care of a few weeks ago when Dad passed through town. We needed to move some electrical outlets so that they would be above, instead of behind, the new cabinets. We also need to remove the ceiling fan (just out of view in the upper left of the problem picture above) because it will be in the way of the new pantry. And we had to remove the baseboard heater that was along that wall because it would be in the way of the cabinets. Here is a blurry picture of Dad working on the wiring.

Yesterday we went on a reconnaissance mission to IKEA to make sure the cabinets I'd picked out online were really fine and to talk with the kitchen people about the process because I know kitchen's work a little different than when you buy other stuff there. All was in order so I decided to make today a paint day and get the wall behind the future cabinets painted and ready to go. Painting over the wall paper proved problematic, and removing the wallpaper turned out to be a huge project involving a lot of sanding.

So I started painting the wall under the existing cabinets to actually feel like I was getting somewhere. I wanted a pale green color and Mommy would be proud because I just mixed greens I had with white paint. Its not quite as light as I wanted so I might have to redo it. I don't seem to have taken a picture that shows the green anyway.

So I was frustrated and Miran asked if I'd like to take a break and I asked if instead he'd like to take out the wall between the living and dining room as the wall was already stripped down. I think I have the greatest husband ever, because he agreed, and spontaneously removed the wall for me. It took about two and half hours. He still has to do all the molding, but I'm going to paint first and that can wait until next week-end.

Kico did not enjoy all the noise from the electric saw and electric sander and spent most of the afternoon downstairs under a table. It was a monsoon outside so we couldn't let him just go out.

Disney World !

Last week Miran and I went to Disney World. My parents generously invited us to join them and Margaret and her family for three action packed days.

Here are lots of pictures of the fun ...

On Safari and making plans in the Animal Kingdom ...

 Some close encounters in the Animal Kingdom ...

Keeping hydrated (it was super hot and super humid and we struggled, especially in the mornings). We are used to similar temperatures in Charlotte, but we aren't used to being outside 12 hours a day!

 In Epcot we met a couple of classic characters ...

 We also played a little soccer with Goofy ...

 In the Magic Kingdom we saw the fireworks, took a jungle cruise, and I got Miran on the tamest roller coaster in the park ...

 Back in Epcot we had an adults evening out to check out the country exhibits, including Morocco, and to have a lovely dinner in the French restaurant.

 In Hollywood studios we did the Great Movie Ride, among a lot of other shows ...

 And the final morning before everyone headed home we had a Birthday breakfast for Dad at the Wilderness Lodge. Happy 71st! (Matt is missing because he was feeling sick that morning).

North Carolina Zoo

A couple of weeks ago Miran, Milada, and I went to the North Carolina Zoo for the afternoon. Its about an hour and a half away in Asheboro. It is a very nice zoo with really nice and spacious enclosures for the animals. Some of the enclosures are so big, its hard to see the animals.

The highlight for me was three cougar kittens playing. They were racing and chasing each other all over the rocks and up and down from a tree. They were playing with apples like balls and really just putting on a show for the crowds. It was hard to get a shot of the action.

There was also a really sweet older Polar Bear who was new to the zoo and still getting acclimated to her enclosure. They are building a huge new place for Polar Bears as well and plan to get more because they really can't survive in the wild anymore and zoos are among their only options. At least thats what the sign said.

And then just a couple of shots of us with various animals.

Milada Update

Based on this blog you can barely tell Milada has been living with us for four months. I really need to post more often.

She is keeping busy with English classes at Central Piedmont Community College (where both Miran and Azra got their AA degrees). The classes are free for residents of Mecklenburg County and seem pretty good. She can go five days a week for a couple hours in the morning. But attendance doesn't really matter, so some mornings she doesn't go depending on how she is feeling.

She has also been knitting, going out for coffee and shopping with Azra, cooking dinner and desserts a couple days a week, and has been very active in our yard. She has been helping Miran with his vegetable garden, but has also been planting flowers and weeding and trimming. Its gotten kind of hot, but she is usually out there in the evening for a hour or so.

Here are some photos of her efforts:

Azra's Graduation!

I am very behind on blogging so prepare for a flurry of messages with pictures to get caught up on the past few months.

First and foremost, last month Azra graduated from UNC Charlotte with a BA in Communication Studies. She didn't want to walk because it cost a lot and she didn't really have any friends graduating, so we just had a low-key family lunch to celebrate the day after the official graduation. She also had a party with her friends at a restaurant one evening.

Here we are having celebratory martinis!