More Concrete! And we go shopping for a kitchen!

Much to say about this week.

Last week this time, we had the rough plumbing set under the slab with some stone spread on top. On Monday, the slab guys came and finished getting ready to pour the concrete. On Tuesday, they poured the slab. It took 44 cubic yards (that is, about four and a half trucks). And on Wednesday, the framers showed up and started at it.

So that is where we are at. It’s starting to look like a house. (Due to some technical issue that will require more explaining than I am able to do, I will post those pictures separately).

We also had the pleasure of visiting a kitchen showroom this week.

This was not a Home Depot or Lowes setup. This was a “to the trade only” sort of place, filled with sample kitchens of all kinds, from basic to quite extravagant. We were there to look at a particular brand of cabinets along with some appliances.

While I don’t think either of us are big shoppers, the few times we have shopped for big items it has always been one of our particular strengths to find something we both like in a matter of mere minutes, only to discover we have picked out the most expensive stuff in the store. (This was most clearly illustrated the time we visited a carpet showroom, only to discover we picked out the most expensive carpet in the entire store in less than two minutes. Two minutes!) This trip was certainly no exception, as we both agreed the quarter sawn white oak cabinets with hand hammered hardware that we saw were rather attractive. But after seeing built-in stainless steel refrigerators larger than closets in our first house and granite counter tops that cost more than the first new car we ever bought it dawned on us we were way out of our league, and knew better than to even ask what those cabinets cost.

Oh well, progress continues. Hopefully, by next week this time, the house will be fully framed and possibly dried in (that is, windows and exterior doors in place and felt on the roof).