What Ana Does

Wow. Once the walls went up to cover all the holes the plumber and electrician needed, the kitchen room looked so much BIGGER! With a clean ceiling thanks to no more soffits, the room just looks so wide! We had daydreamed what the kitchen would look like without the soffits but seeing it was a whole other thing.  TOTALLY WORTH IT! I was also amazed by all the new sightlines. Never before could you see the patio door from the front hallway, and now you can thanks to the new openings in the dividing wall. That additional longer view and all the sunshine hitting new places ... I just can't get over it. Now imagine all the white cabinets and walls, the additional lighting and warm wood accents -- and this kitchen is going to be a beauty!  Progress is slow and steady -- the steady part I'm happy about, the slow, no so much. I wish I could get 8 more guys in here working. But this is just the reality, I guess. And the drywall process has been LOUD. Lots of sawing and drilling pieces

While we were away, our GC started the kitchen renovation with the demo! It went from this ...  To this ...  Week two is over and the plumbing is done and electrician is underway. It might take him the week to finish up and get the inspections done. But after next week, we should start seeing this room get put back together again. There are decisions to make every day -- from position of sconces to where I want light switches and outlets. I've got to come up with a plan for the trim on columns and where the family room panelling should end and sheetrock will start.    Here's the design concept post for a preview of what's to come. 

(Ok, so the title is an obvious pun, forgive me, I had to.)  After two years of being home, we were delighted to be able to head back to Europe and fulfill Alice's wish to see the Acropolis after becoming fascinated by Greek mythology at school.  Dave had a meeting in Madrid for a week, so we tacked on our vacation to his trip, picking him up in Madrid and flying together to Athens and then to Santorini.  MADRID  We've both spent time in this cool city, but it was the first time for the girls. I was so excited to show them Plaza Mayor and how singularly wild and cool the capital of my "homeland" (as my dramatic father calls it). I have a whole itinerary here . It's a walkable city that's pretty easy to navigate. We only had a half-day to explore but it was enough to sample all the flavors.  From Plaza Mayor to Plaza Del Sol to Gran Via to the Corte Ingles and, the best spot, Marcado San Miguel. Spain is just the best.  ATHENS It was our first time in this very