Catching up

So back in April in about the 4th week of quarantine, I was desperate for a project.  Something to take my mind off of the scary world that was all around us.  We had WAY too much time at home and my home project mind was running rampant.  I told Jimmy I was going to paint our kitchen cabinets white.  I have always wanted a white kitchen and now was the time to try it.  I mean, we had nothing but time on our hands.  Jimmy did not agree. Lol!  He begged me to wait until a slow down happened with workers and he would send them to do it and to waterproof and finish our basement.  So I agreed to wait...reluctantly.  (I'm not a good waiter :)

Finally in late September Rudy, Roberto and Troy had a break from houses and came to start on our basement.  I will have to post before pictures of the basement on the next post but I'm thrilled with the results.  After the basement they moved upstairs to the kitchen.  Here is the before...

I literally took everything out of my cabinets and put it all in my dining room.  You can imagine the mess...  Oy... it was about to get real.  I was thinking we may live like this 2-3 weeks... turns out it was more like 6-7.  Nothing ever happens as quickly in home renovations than you think, or would hope.  

Chattanooga Paint told us to prepare for it to be a long process and not to rush it.  The cabinets needed to be sanded really well, cleaned and then primed.  Each layer should take several days to cure but the primer didn't stick well so we had to resand, reboot, repaint and then wait.  You should have seen the mess in my house.  The dust, the dust, the dust was no joke.  Especially after we had to resand the cabinets that couldn't be taken outside and reprime.  There were cabinet doors laying ALL over my garage for weeks.

Primer finally on and waiting for it to cure...  Ready for Dove White paint after the primer.

In the meantime, we decided the dark granite countertops would really not look right with white cabinets.  This was not the original plan but it's a "If you give a Mouse a Cookie" scenario.  I went to Scenic City Tile and picked out White Cloud quartzite and I LOVE it!

New countertops...

We still don't have cabinet pulls yet but the kitchen is finally functional again and I LOVE the results!!  So bright and airy.  We ended up doing the island in Dragons Breath for some contrast and I'm thinking I want some brush brass pulls to warm it up and pull out the browns in the new countertops.  I am beyong thrilled with it!

Meanwhile, you can imagine how much the dogs have loved living through a home renovation project that never seemed to end.  People constantly in the house, them shut up in the bedroom all day, noises coming from everywhere and more mess and clutter than you can imagine.  Timber waiting patiently for a bite of daddy's Firehouse Sub brisket sandwich...

We have really enjoyed taking them to Coolidge Park and getting some much needed exercise.  We live in a BEAUTIFUL city and are very thankful for it.

Halloween rolled around and we managed to have a semi normal one even though mom and dad didn't do their annual Halloween party and trick or treating.  

The night before Halloween we went with Cristin and Emerson to The Enclave and their friend Sloan's house to trick or treat.  It was the perfect place with low crowds and little traffic.

Trace brought Jack and they racked up in the candy department.

Then Halloween night, we just went over to Ramsgate and walked a few streets and said hello to Nana and Papaw.

Regency finally opened up a little for visitors and dad and I got to see Nanny.  Of course, we were behind a barrier and masked 6 feet apart but it was SO good to finally see her face to face.  Since then, she sadly got Covid even after all the precautions they had taken and she was moved to Memorial and is now at Life Care of Hixson rehabbing hopefully to get strong enough to come back to Regency.  She has been through so much in the last few weeks and it breaks my heart.  We figured up she has been in about 7 different rooms and 3 places since she was diagnosed with Covid and is so confused.  This is what our fear has been all along.  We still can't see here and are just praying she can get strong enough to go back to her room at Regency.  She is so precious and I can't wait until the day I can giver her a hug!

My crazy friend Cristin turned 40 and we celebrated with dinner...

My hunter boys...

So during the renovations, digging up half of the backyard for a patio we apparently invited some unwanted guests.  Sadie was pumped about these mice, the rest of us were not!  

Jimmy obliged and gave in to decorating before Thanksgiving.  In a year like 2020, you find joy where you can.  Christmas decorations bring me JOY and luckily my children totally agree so he was outnumbered when we decorated weeks before we normally do.  

Keatyn got to do a Volleyball clinic at GPS and loved it.  I SO hope she can play at school this spring.

I started this post in early December and am finishing it up on Christmas Day.  I have GOT to do better with this.  Sadly, since then we lost my precious cousin Marilyn who was a total devoted reader of my blog.  In fact, I'm pretty sure she was the only reader.  My heart was broken when I heard the news but I'm thankful she is no longer suffering and is reunited in heaven with her son.  Love you always Marilyn!

 

Fall Break in the Smokies

So we may have been the only parents left in the southeast to have never taken their children to Dollywood.  I know.  I heard it all the time... y'all still haven't gone.  In our defense, we bought season passes a few years ago to Six Flags and White Water so we just never made it there.  Not to mention my hubby's strong dislike for Gatlingburg.  People come from far and wide to see the Smoky Mountains and although Jimmy is a mountain man and loves a beautiful view, Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge with its crowds and traffic sounds like a nightmare to him.  So, imagine my surprise when randomly one night after the kids were asleep he mentioned taking them to Dollywood for Fall Break.  Huh?  Should I fall for this?  Or just book it before he could change his mind?  

I booked us 2 nights at the Park Vista hotel.  This hotel has been there since I was a little kid and I remember it from when I would go with my family.  We waited until the day before we left to tell the kids.  They were excited and ready to see the mountains.  We headed up Sunday afternoon and they wanted to check out the hotel and see the pool.  I swear I think we could take them to Las Vegas and book a different night in each of their fancy hotels and they would LOVE that trip!  They are explorers for sure. Lol  

We took our bags to our room and headed down to the Gatlinburg strip to ride the Skybridge.  It's new and the longest pedestrian bridge in North America.  They loved the ski lift!   We rode it twice up and down the mountain and absolutely loved the gorgeous views from the top!  I think Trace would have stayed on that thing all night.

We came back and ate at the hotel restaurant because Jimmy couldn't wait to get off that strip. Ha!  The words "Hell on Earth" on the crowded sidewalk and standstill traffic may have been used.  

They hit the pool next...

Keatyn ran up to me at the pool and said several girls from her class were there.  She was so excited!

The next morning we drove back down to Pigeon Forge to Dollywood.  Keatyn didn't know it but Emerson was there.  Turns out half of CCS Elementary was there.  Lol

Spotting Emerson...

Turns out Quinn and her family were there too.  It was SUCH a fun day!  There were about 20 of us that walked around together and rode all the rides.  The park handled the virus precautions amazingly well and while it was tough to wear a mask all day outside, it was worth it.

The boys rode the Wild Eagle with Cristin and Emerson and apparently it got a little wilder than anticipated when the 17 year old running the ride made a big scene when Cristin took off her mask so she could make sure Emerson was good after she took her sound off in order to ride the rollercoaster.  There was quite a heated exchange and Cristin even told Jimmy to video it on his phone for photographic evidence.  Lol.  He thought for sure they were going to jail after the kid called the Park Police on her and the ride was held up for 30 minutes trying to sort it out.  Lol. Luckily the police were very understanding and agreed she could take off her mask to communicate with her deaf daughter.  Good grief!  Some people...  It is never a dull moment with her!

Once the sun went down, the lights came on and was gorgeous!  Riding rollercoasters in the dark is quite an experience.

The next day we checked out of the hotel and drove up to Ober Gatlinburg before heading home.

Another skylift that they loved...

Before we left, we rode the skylift halfway up and rode the Alpine Slide down.

 We headed back home after that and Fall Break was over.  It was a great few days spent with my favorites in a beautiful place.  We went ahead and bought season passes for Dollywood and Splash Country, so sounds like we will hopefully be seeing it again soon.  I can't wait to see Dollywood at Christmas!