Jack, Kathy, Tiggy and Bumps visit Pittsburgh!

Tiggy and Bumpa's first time to the Incline!

More Pittsburgh visitors - thank goodness - they keep us sane!  Tiggy, Bumps, Jack and Kathy all piled in the minivan and drove out to Pittsburgh.  They broke the drive up into two days to make it a bit more manageable.  When they arrived, we took them to restaurant in the Strip District called Gaucho Parrilla Argentina.  We all ordered big sandwiches loaded with veggies or prime rib.  We were a bit chilled sitting outside in the late October air, but it was a nice little trip to the Strip.

Coffee to sustain our shopping adventures!

Bumpa taking in the scenery! 

Street Vendor Kabobs! 

We then went on an adventure to search for the perfect fabric for crafting around the house.  Tiggy and Kathy were kind enough to bring out the sewing machine and help me with curtains in the office and the front door to ward off any peeping toms!

Saturday we went on an adventure down to the Strip District for some shopping.  We found a lot of goodies. I bought some locally made lotion and a few small gifts for my parents.  I also took my first crack at ordering cheese from Penn Mac, compliments of Lori and Matt's gift card.  I got italian cheese and some reduced fat fontina - both were outstanding. We all got coffee for a little jump in our step and we even tried some kabobs from a street vendor. It was an excellent adventure.  That evening we went to Noodle Head for some spicy dishes. Jack brought us for ice cream next door to cool off a bit from all the spice.

The whole family out for dinner at Noodle Head!

We spent the rest of the weekend staining the deck so we could get one coat on before the winter hit.  It was "all hands on deck" - if you know what I mean.  Considering how many sides, corners and hard to reach places that come with staining railings, the job was done pretty quickly!  Tiggy and Kathy helped me with all of the yard work and were a huge help in getting the leaves cleared - what a job!

Our little rascal, Dale.

Enjoying all of the sewing fabrics with Kathy!

We enjoyed evening hors d'oeuvres, watched Frozen and took a lot of fun photos.  I am so happy they were able to sneak in one more quick visit before Paul left for Italy! I know I sure appreciated all the help! Thank you for the fun and memories!

The more hands the merrier! 

The boys went to town staining the deck!

Jack and Kathy visit Pittsburgh!

Walking around Squirrel Hill always requires a stop at Waffallonia!

The weekend after my Dad and Uncle Ray took off with the old kitchen in the back of the truck and the new kitchen firmly in place, we were able to welcome Jack and Kathy out to visit us to see the new place!  Jack was able to grab a little vacation time and we were so pleased they were able to visit us out here. Right away we were able to put that kitchen to use! They helped us restore order to our back yard which recently turned into a construction zone and also helped us tremendously with hauling out all the garbage.  I do not know what we would have done without their help on that one!!

Kathy and Jack in Pittsburgh for a Spring Happy Hour!

Dale passed out with all fours in the air - he was really enjoying the movie. 

Out for breakfast at Square Cafe!

While I was at work Paul, Kathy and Jack took a trip to the waterfront to get Jack a sharp new haircut and to look at some of the nice specialty stores down in that area.  One that they particularly enjoyed was the wine store!!  It was about Paul's Birthday and they surprised us with a beautiful Amish made wine cabinet!  It fit in our house nicely and Kathy had it decorated and looking great within minutes!

We also had time to watch "Brave" the new Disney movie, and Dale passed out cold with all four limbs completely extended - it was absolutely hilarious!  The following morning we went to Church and breakfast in Regent Square at Square Cafe.  I got the lemon blueberry pancakes and they were spectacular as always. 

The new kitchen!

The new kitchen view #2!

It was such a fun and productive weekend around the house!  We were able to restore order and even enjoy a few happy hours in our back yard while the weather was nice.  Weekends like these make us wish we lived closer to home!  One day!!

Paul's Birthday Wine Cabinet!

New Kitchen in Six Days

Uncle Ray wasting no time to start the demolition!

The BEFORE shot - nice and dirty!

The OLD.

When dad and Uncle Ray rolled in with a truck full of tools and building supplies, I knew that we were in for a whirlwind kitchen remodeling project.  It didn’t take long for them to start the demolition.  Shortly after they arrived, we moved everything from the kitchen into the basement, dining room and living room and the dust began to fly!  Paul even got in there with a few hammer throws to try to knock down the walls.  Of course you never really know what is laying within the wall until its knocked down, so we were certainly in for surprises – like a dummy vent that was disconnected, and makeshift plumbing that we’re surprised has stood the test of time. The demolition of the floor is what proved to be the most challenging.  

Demolition is all hands on deck!

Mmmm, should we cut this pipe found in the wall??

As they were ripping up the floor, many of the floorboards were coming along with it – so we had to devise a plan to put down a new floor all while taking into the consideration the height of these new cabinets and the new ceiling as well!  What was going to be a swift demolition and reinstall turned out to be a complete overhaul including a new ceiling, new walls, and new floorboards!

Time to try to get up the old stuck on tile, not an easy task!

The days went by in an absolute blur, we ate a lot of meals from slow cookers and Dale had his fair share of nail guns and screw guns that he wasn't too fond of.  It was an adventure to say the least.  One night we ate chinese food from our small coffee table while all sitting on a burlap covering on our couch. The dust was piled high and I'm pretty sure if my mom were here she would have already been at a hotel. Haha! It was a mess!

There once was a wall...

Our dining room. Who wants dinner?!

New drywall was required after our crazy demolition!

We started doing dishes in the laundry tub and lived by the microwave and slow cooker.  While Uncle Ray and Curty were out here we also had to take them to Fat Heads so they could experience the big burgers full of flavor!  I got Chicken Little and Paul and Curty got the Triple Bypass Burger!

There's always a few holes that need patching when it comes to remodeling!

Progress, and we're still smiling!

As the week went on it seemed like the tasks were piling up to the last minute and the kitchen was probably not going to be finished this time around.  Of course, my dad had other plans and kept proposing goals for each day and the next.  Each day Paul and I would get home from work we had the opportunity to appreciate the dramatic changes in how the kitchen was shaping up.

The first cabinets go up on the walls flush to the new ceiling!

One of many backyard BBQ's on the saw table. 

When we came home to see that the walls were plastered and painted and the cabinets were about to be put into place, it was a major transformation!  The colors all starting coming together so nicely.  The sink going into place was a major relief because we could finally start cleaning up the dust and setting things in place.  It went from small ally kitchen to a beautiful, yet affordable, modern kitchen with a wide open passage to our dining room!

Construction BREAK: Fat Heads on Carson Street!

I got the Chicken Little - which was NOT little. 

The Artery Clogger!

Headwiches, as big as your head!

After just 6 short days, Dad and Uncle Ray had to hit the road back to Wisconsin and heal from the long work week of carpentry from daylight until dinner - which takes a real toll on your body!  I couldn't believe it, but they had completely finished the kitchen!  My task was now to organize and put everything in its new home.  I couldn't believe the transformation!

Dishes in our laundry basin...

Look at what we did!!!

Bringing in the new stainless appliances!

We cannot thank Curty and Uncle Ray enough for all of their hard work and help with the kitchen project.  It definitely did not happen overnight and took a lot of shopping around and planning to do the project on a budget!  Paul also found us a dandy of a refrigerator on Craigslist to polish the place off.  It came together much better than I ever could have imagined and we cannot thank everyone enough who was involved!

Uncle Ray and I sharing a cup of coffee brewed in the kitchen and not in my bedroom!

Breakfast from the new stove in the new kitchen, under the new lights!

We had to show you the amount of garbage that resulted - what a mess!

Hopefully that's the end of major transformation projects for the house, it's really shaping up to be a wonderful and comfortable place to live.  We love gathering around the kitchen, and it has become a favorite place to entertain friends!

Our old kitchen, now in Curty's truck cab!

The final breakfast in Pittsburgh!

THANK YOU!

Wisconsin for St. Patty's Day: Spring Break 2014

My partners in crime.

Free casting during ice fishing season - new concept. 

Well, it was Spring Break 2014.  Lyssa and I continue to go on spring breaks together ever since we started college - since we're both still on school schedules (me a student, her a teacher) we continue to have time off to break away from the madness and hit a beach!  Usually because we cannot afford any vacation, our beach of choice is the Marsh Pond.  This year spring break fell on St Patty's Day, so it was a whole host of madness.  Lyssa picked me up from the airport and we enjoyed a few Maplewood Meats hot sticks.  There's really nothing better than a good hot stick.  After meeting up with Curty (who was of course at Menards), we went back to Menards to pick up some stuff for the remodeling project including all of the tile, grout and other building supplies.  Lyssa and I, like the children we are, both grabbed a Sprecher soda for the drive home.  You can't beat it.

How many polls can you fish with at once? 

Once we got back to Seymour it was time to cast a few lines with the Nagel Boys.  We brought over the expert ice fisherman to fish some trout out of the pond.  They put a few holes through the ice and we were able to catch a few nice ones!  I froze them up and brought them back to Pittsburgh!  So good.

FISH ON.

Friday the whole family - Lyssa included of course - went up to Joel's cabin to check on the place and  do a little snowmobiling.  Since the snow was melting rapidly and I hadn't been on the trails much this winter - it was my las chance to get in a good trail ride.  We went down to the local pubs and chatted it up with the always entertaining hosts.  We hung around Saturday for a bit while Curty was doing some odds and ends at the cabin and then headed on our way back home to Seymour to celebrate St. Patricks Day!

Fish slayers

Fishing captains!

After a moment to freshen up and scrunch my hair (per ush) Curty handed over the keys to his Chevy!  The van that I usually drive when I'm home was in Pittsburgh, so I had the luxury of driving the big beast to Lyssa's in BC.  Seriously, that 20 minute trail ride made me want to toss my Hyundai to the curb and big up a big Dodge. I felt like I could run over anything and everything.  However, I should have probably been sitting on a phone book, and maybe that would have helped that feeling. 

Notice Lyssa's snowsuit. Epic.

Deer at Buck's Camp

Curty let me take out the Chevy!!

 At Lyssa's we med up with Jeanne and Lizzo to enjoy the Palubicki residence before going to Appleton.  It was just like college and I was in love haha!  It was nice to see everyone in one place!  We went to the Stoneyard and boot stomped to a little Nashville Pipeline before heading back to Seymour to drop off Lizzo and see who was all at Jackson Point.  At JP we did some more dancing around to a band who was playing the cowbell like I've never seen the cowbell be played before.  

All in all, it was a wild spring break 2014 and I was stranded in Green Bay for one more night due to weather before making it back home to Paul in Pittsburgh.  Well, see ya next year Lyss!