Paint and Pulls

The painters — recommended by Chad, who did the floors — started work this morning and moved briskly to finish what the other crew had left undone.  Mark and his partner spent a good part of the day in the basement, staining and applying polyurethane to the bookshelves.  Meanwhile, Dave rubbed out the bookcases with steel wool to prepare them for their final coat of finish.  The painters also prepped the walls upstairs and down for painting, which includes some high ladder work in the stairwell.  Kyle was well satisfied with their efforts and said he'd spent the whole morning smiling.

The painters apply finish to the stairwell bookcases.

These guys work quickly and skillfully.  

As other work permitted, Dave went from window to window, using paint thinner to remove the adhesive (remember that awful plastic film?) and then cleaning the glass with Windex.  Talk about a room with a view!

Now you can actually see out of the kitchen window!

Kyle nailed in the toe kicks in the kitchen and then began installing crown molding at the top of the kitchen cabinets.  This gives the cabinets a more finished appearance.  Dave joked that this is also where you staple up the Christmas lights.  I think not.

Crown molding now surmounts the kitchen's upper cabinets.

Kyle nails in another piece of molding.

Yesterday, UPS did not leave our shipment of cabinet pulls at Sharon's and Attila's home, because the shipping instructions required that someone sign for the delivery.  Both Kyle and I signed the back of the sticker, as it directed.  This afternoon I found another sticker saying UPS could not deliver because they needed a signature in person.  That caveat was not on yesterday's sticker!  I regret to say that put me over the edge, in particular because UPS does not deliver on the weekends and delivery on Monday afternoon would be too late.  I made my unhappiness known to Randy at Rycenga... he contacted the supplier... and the supplier was able to arrange for me to pick up the shipment at UPS in Aplena — a half-hour after UPS officially closed for the day.  God does look after people who build houses. •••