Life here has become so hectic it is unreal! The house has been a shambles for almost two months now with construction going on. There is so much to do. We are making headway but sometimes it doesn't seem like it. It throws me into a fit of depression from time to time but, fortunately, I've been able to climb out of it each time. Nevertheless, it is all very tiring and stressful.

I've put up a new album (Remodeling the Little Casa - Phase II) with some representative pictures of our efforts here.

We blocked in that front porch and incorporated it into the living room by removing the existing front wall. Windows have plywood over them right now but we're supposed to get some windows today (June 20th). They're being made. The now-enclosed back porch has been incorporated into the back bedroom with an archway knocked out to join the two.

I cannot tell you how thrilled I am with the new kitchen. The man who built these cabinets is also making a dining room table for us which will be situated, mounted on the wall on the living room side just beneath the pass-thru from the kitchen. It will be resting on metal cariolles mounted to the wall with no table legs to get in the way. He is also building open shelves for up above the kitchen counters for dishes. And a six-foot, 14" deep wall unit/pantry for the wall opposite the kitchen cabinets. And he is building chests and shelves for both downstairs bedrooms.

Originally, the bodega was our kitchen and the current kitchen was the dining room.

The bodega will now house the washer, dryer, laundry tub, water pressure pump, and an on-demand propane hot water heater mounted on the wall. There is also an inside stairway in there giving access to the upstairs so we were able to take down the old spiral staircase which we had at the front of the house.

Everything is in various stages of completion so it's still very chaotic around here. Concrete dust and grime all over the place. It makes it difficult to maintain some order in the activities of daily living.

If I owe you an e-mail or some other communication (which I probably do!), I apologize. Under the circumstances, I'm doing the best that I can. Eventually, we will finally have this project completed and I will be able to get back into my old routine. I hope....

Until later....