99% Complete!

There's a good reason I haven't posted an update in almost three weeks ... I've been busy with the kitchen and the newsletter.

The counter tops went in as scheduled and it didn't look like I thought it would. The color was great but it was the size and shape that threw me off. It looked like a big, brown t-shirt. It's grown on me since though and I think it looks good against the floors and cabinets. That same day, the cooktop was put in, as well as the sink and faucet.

The appliances were picked up the day after which freed up space in the garage but cluttered up the store. They pretty much stayed where they were in the store until last Monday (11/19) when the hood was installed. Then we came to a standstill and I almost lost it ... the ovens were too big for the cabinets and cabinets were too small for the ovens. I was about ready to start crying like a girl when my trustee designer from Lowes, Nelson King, told us that we had to cut out holes in the cabinets to make the ovens fit. And they did ... by 6:30 that night, both ovens were in place, so was the refrigerator and new lights shining down on my big, brown t-shirt.

The next day, Tuesday, Debbie, Bernice and I cleaned and dusted for at least 8 hours. Keith came by and installed the microwave and taped up some stuff for painting. On Wednesday, the electricians, Brian and Joey came by and finished hooking up the appliances to the new electrical panel. Keith came by and finished trimming the microwave and Debbie, Bernice and I cleaned and dusted some more.

By mid-day on Wednesday, we started bringing in the holiday merchandise and spent most of Wednesday night, some of Thursday and all day Friday and Saturday resetting the store for Christmas. It looks pretty good but needs tweaking. The counter tops are covered with merchandise that we don't have room for but I'm hoping to rearrange the displays before end of week. Our stools were delivered on Friday and blends in with the floors and counters.

Barring no issues, we should have final inspections wrapped up by mid week and be ready for our first cooking class, Open House and wine tasting starting this weekend!

I don't have any recent photos ... the camera has dust on it! I'll take some in the next day or so.

Counter tops in one week!

The counter tops will be installed next Tuesday, November 13th, first thing in the morning. Once they are in place, Mike and Keith will install the appliances and get the final inspections wrapped up.


There hasn't been a lot of significant change in the past week. Most of the holes in the walls have been closed up. Tomorrow Keith will close up the ceiling. The hood still needs to be installed as well as the water heater. These should be taken care of before the counter tops are put in.


After a few days of stressing (what else is new), I finally found the bar stools that I wanted. I looked every where -- locally and on the internet and then looked again some more. I finally narrowed down my search to: a counter height stool (24 inches without a cushion and 26 inches with a cushion) made of wood with a dark stain and a simple back. Once I knew what I was looking for I couldn't find it at a decent price in the time frame that I needed. And then ... it hit me ... Bernice's son-in-law, Blaine, is in the business. He and his family own Brawley Furniture in downtown Mooresville. I spent less than 30 minutes with him last Friday and got everything squared away.


Here's what the counter stool looks like. I think it's much better looking in person! As soon as the hood and counters are in, I'll post more pictures.


AND GUESS WHAT?
I'm working on the schedule for cooking classes and wine tasting through the end of the year! WHOO HOO!