Tearing it Up

FLOORED: We continue our never-ending kitchen remodel. Lately, our attention has been on replacing the (horrible, terrible, awful) old flooring. The ugly vinyl was glued down to the substrate like it would be there forever, so we had to take the substrate out, as well.

In the photo below you can see how part of the floor is down to the original 1962 framing.

Once the subfloor was all out, it was time to glue and screw new 3/4-inch plywood down.

Honestly, the floor looks better with just good ol' plywood than it did with the vinyl. 

Then, we did a dry fit of the new tile. Believe me, I realize the irony that most people would find this flooring unappealing. But that's OK. The next owners can tear it out and question our poor taste. ;)

We put the glue down for the new stuff at about 11:30 a.m. It took four hours to cure to a point we could start sticking the new tiles down.

The new look is big fun. :)

UP TO SNUFF: On Saturday, Annabelle took a math placement test to determine if she's up to snuff for college math classes. We're happy to report she placed well above math 101 level, so she's good to go in that respect for Running Start. (She'd already been qualified for college-level English.)

Next step for her is meeting with a counselor to plan classes to take this fall. Exciting times!

Meanwhile, CJ started his final quarter at South Seattle this morning. He's taking a Northwest history class, a nutrition class, and a world film class. We're all looking forward to learning more about those subjects. This morning, when he was putting in his application for graduation, CJ checked his transcript and saw that he was 4.0 last quarter (English, film studies and crazy math), and is on the President's list again. Way to go, CeeJ!

SIGNS OF LIFE: Things are sprouting 'round here at MPA. I love this poppy that appeared from a crack in the concrete near our front door. (When the kids and I cleaned up the garden last fall, we shook the poppies really hard, hoping seeds would sprout this spring.)

Our sunflowers are impressing already. They emerged just a couple of days after planting them.

And look at how much bigger they are just two days later!

Meanwhile, our first tomato plant has made an appearance.

A couple hours later, it was joined by a couple more. Hooray!

MORE MEMORIES: A couple of other mementos from our first visit to the ballpark in over a year.  This view was the bottom of the ninth inning.

And here's a little video taken right before the 2021 season started.