Save a Cup for Me!

What a wonderful morning this is for a cup of tea. Even though the sky is just beginning to show some light, I am up "pushing" dust. Installation of our new hardwood floor required the demolition of 30 year old parquet that covered the entire area. The installers had to cut it along with the underlayment in order to successfully remove it. In the late 70's when we built our home, parquet was quite the style. This morning I am thinking is quite a pain. Originally, it was glued to the underlayment to insure its permanence. Well, it tried its best to be permanent but the saw is mightier than the glue and the old flooring has gone on to its reward where all good flooring goes - sawdust!



Late last summer we remodeled our kitchen. This project involved removing wallpaper, painting, refinishing cabinets, new hardware, and new countertops. I had decided to keep the current parquet for a year or so in order for our bank account to take a breather. It was really panting at that time. Well, it hadn't even gotten its second-wind when our plans were drastically changed. My DH had decided to use his plumbing skills (this became questionable) and reconnect the sink after the countertop was replaced. About two hours after his "Joe the Plumber" act, water began to trickle out from under the base cabinet doors. This resulted in.....

After surveying the possibilities, I decided on a "gunstock" oak. It is a wide plank with a hand finish. I especially like the fact that it is not shiny-therefore-the smudges of four "little people" are not as obvious.

The furniture was moved and the wood delivered to insure it was ready for installation. As cold as it has been here in Missouri, one trip from the flooring store to the house was enough to insure a chill that would last at least a week.

To make a very long story short "Houston, we have dust!". It was everywhere. Any of you who have remodeled know the story. I honestly do not like the frosted look. It seeped into every nook and cranny of our main level. Even the glass doors which lead to our deck were etched in a fine layer of dust. I had removed china, glassware, silver, and decorative items to large plastic tubs to insure that they would be hidden from the dreaded dust. My built-in china cabinet, minus its contents, was "dusted" to say the least.

After three days it was finished and so was my patience. But the results were well worth the effort, inconvenience, and TIME. We are back to normal now and I have no excuse for the dust that invades my serene suroundings. Just a side note. I purchased large "pet wraps" used to dry your puppy after a bath. I just wrap one around my Swiffer and sweep away. They launder easily and were so economical - $1.49 each! How is that for a way to stretch your budget? Here is the result of the re-do. Now I am ready for another cup of tea.