The Kitchen Sink

We had a clogged drain in our kitchen last week... That's right the week before Resurrection Sunday. Nope, the Draino didn't work, nope, my feeble attempt at using a snake didn't work.... Sooooo DH snaked the pipe from below. We were done around Midnight... Plech! This processes involved filthy drain water gushing over my head, but at last we had flowing water, and the ability to wash dishes again! The whole process of trying all the fixes took about 4 days.

After we did about 4 1/2 loads of dishes, the kitchen was habitable again by Friday evening. We went on a much needed date on Sat. and came home happy and content around 10:00. "I'll just clean out the sink before I go to bed" I thought, WRONG... the sound of water gushing out of the pipes under the sink greeted my tired ears. We apparently had a slow leak from the previous 3 removals of our trap, and the sink had been slowly dripping into my mop bucket, (conveniently located) and now at last, a giant gush of water went through the floor, into the basement below, right on top of our family scrapbooks. Yes they had page protectors , but they don't protect much from overhead water. Well, after feverish cleaning, and cutting out of basement carpeting, we fell exhausted into out beds around 12:30.

Since all this had happened we have decided to go ahead with a tiny and as cheap as possible kitchen counter remodel. DH reasoned that since he was going to have to replace all the under sink plumbing anyway, he might as well replace the sink (50s cool looking, but impossible to get parts for the leaking, broken hardware) and really, why not do the counter as well? We had already been saving for these items, and since we had a sink from a friend, he went full steam ahead. So now the kitchen is about 1/2 done. We have the counter top cut to the right length, most of the plumbing ready, and the sink hole is ready to be drilled. Doesn't sound like much does it? But, My Amazing SuperHubby got home around 3:45 or 4:00 on Monday, and that's when we started. The old counter (ancient Formica) was ripped up, the Formica glued to the wall peeled off, and the 250 Lb cast iron double sink was sloowly dragged out. That was a chore! Today we had to get a new counter top, because the first was a mite too short and we picked up the fittings for the sink, so we were back to work at about 1:30. So really, we haven't been working on the actual project that long.

I am SOO looking forward to cleaning the counter!! It has no seams, so wiping it up should be a breeze. Our counter is slanted toward the sink, but whoever remodeled in the 50's had not realized that and just slapped on Formica. When the counter top hit the sink edge about 1/2 inch lower than it should have been, they just gummed it full of caulk. Sooo every time I tried to clean it, all the gunk would end up in that valley of caulk. The counter was beginning to actually swell from all the years of water dripping into there, so when we took it off we were thankful when the cabinets seemed just fine.

When this project is done, I am hope to reline all the cabinets etc. They are ukky too, but at least no one can see the linoleum tiles attached to the shelves with brass furniture tacks.

God is Good!

PS.. Oh Fooey! I just realized that when DH took the sink to the metal place, he left my good dishtowel stuffed in the drain to keep plaster dust from falling into the plumbing. :-)

See the curve on the sink ? Impossible to find a replacement for the original fittings.. Ours had the same curved back. Lovely, but you can't replace the cracked & pitted faceplate.

Parks Series....

Last summer we were exploring the local park scene.... So far, we really like Canby's River park behind Safeway. The park behind Safeway is great during the hot summer months, there are tall tall fir trees that provide just the right amount of shade, and also a giant field that the kids can run about in. There is also a duck pond, that can be fished in... a nature walk along a creek behind it... (bring boots or wait till hot weather starts) an honest to goodness merry-go-round, big kids metal tall slide, and a few bits of other assorted playground fun. There is also a section of the park that borders the Molalla river, and if you are a bigger person who is a strong swimmer, adult-type people love the swimming hole there.

If you are needing a bit of nature study for your home school, this park is great, we feed the ducks, Canada geese, regular geese, and have seen muskrat/river rat/otter thingies (yes, yes, I need to find out) playing on the creekbank. You can also fish in the pond, and in the summer there are actually big edible fishies there. The pines are home to quite a number of squirrels, who do amusing things like eat the crackers you toss to them while sitting on a branch just above you.

It is however only a park that would be fun if you have children who will come when called, and who are capable of doing these biggish kids activities... Not so fun for the toddler toting Mama. My Dear Sister brought her daughter here with us last summer, but Dear Niece was too little do do most of the fun things, and was not into coming when called at the time, so my poor sis was always running after little Miss Naughty and keeping her from jumping in the pond, getting dragged by the merry-go-round, etc. Thankfully, this year is much more fun for both of them and obedience is the norm. My sweet little niece is just the right size now to do all the park rides with her cousins. So Fun!

It is a great picnic spot, and in the hot summer evenings is generally crowded by river swimmers and picnickers... but during school days it is usually empty.

Also conveniently located just next to the Safeway, is the Dollar Store, home of such fun park activities as Bubbles, Frisbees, bouncyballs, and bug boxes... just don't forget the snack crackers.... :-)

I wish I wasn't sooo tired......

Well, we have the plague... or rather had, most of us are getting over the last trace cough of this spring's flu/cough/fever/headache/achyness /dizzy/weakness...... We missed all the sunny weather here, and also the long awaited trip to the pool.

My kiddos and I were happily enjoying a trip to Canby's River park (behind Safeway) and we frolicked in the sun, tried to feed the overfull ducks, and were mad happy creatures for all of the 18th. I was so inspired by the lure of the spring sun, that I promised to take the kidlets swimming the next day. The next day did not begin well, DS awoke with rare grumpiness oozing out of every pore, and was soo naughty that he was reprimanded 2 times before breakfast alone. After struggling through the next 2 hours, he finally admitted, "My head hurts Mom. " Hmmm...... I kissed the naughty one's head, only to find a fever! No wonder he had been soo grumpy. This was the beginning of a 2 week long stay-at-home-while-sick time for us. 3 days later, Mommy was sick. Then, about 6 days after the original outbreak, DD got sick. Needless to say, we are tired, and still coughing.

Mommy really needs to clean the house, but isn't quite well yet, and if she does too much, she will be sick again.

Now if only the kids will forget about the pool till we all quit coughing. :-)

INSPIRATION!!!!!!

I have a few favorite blogs that I like to read to get the web equivalent of coffee... You know, one of the blogs that give you that extra bit of energy to get you going into your day victoriously. I haven't read a couple of them lately, and when I checked, I found that Maryanne of The Happy Helms had written one of the most encouraging posts I have seen this year...... So, if you are a Mom who needs to get a bit of ZING into your day, read the post on Founding Mothers here...

The Happy Helms