One More Itsy-Bitsy Cabin Project

[NOTE: Oddly, I’m not able to post a 2016 date, so I’m changing the date to Dec. 31, instead of the Jan. 3, when the project was completed.]

 

Before:                     Almost After:

 

We can’t help ourselves.  Back at home on Wednesday evening, after two nights in Leavenworth, I mentioned to Dwayne that since we were heading to Whidbey to do the Polar Bear, we should retile the master bathroom floor.  And if we had the floor up, we might as well think about getting a new vanity.  Dwayne, kindly, madly, or thoughtlessly, agreed.

Thursday morning:  Spend money at Home Depot.  Pack car(s).

Thursdsay afternoon: Travel to cabin. Bathroom looks like this.

Thursday at 4pm:  Start demo.

Attach HardieBacker board to subfloor.

Thursday Midnight: finish demo and prep.  Clean thinset buckets, etc, outside in 28 degree weather.  Sleep until 10 the next morning. Talk myself out of Polar Bearing.

Friday: Tile. 

Praise Piper for making us snacks to get us through the day.

Friday evening:  Dwayne and Jen drive an hour to nearest Home Depot to return previously purchased vanity and buy a new one. And since we’re replacing the vanity, we decide to replace the medicine cabinet.

Saturday: Grout. Put toilet and new vanity in.  Go to store several times for various plumbing needs.  Look at vanity lighting and decide it needs to be updated, too.  Discover no South Whidbey stores carry a selection of lighting options.  Realize that we won’t finish early enough to go home that night.  Feed kids. More clean up. 

Post “Almost After” Picture:

Collapse on couch while composing a list of what to get on the mainland before we come back to finish up.

Saturday Midnight: Realize toilet  shut-off valve is leaking.

Sunday morning: Denise takes kids home.  Dwayne stays behind to work on leak, hoping to save us the time and money of not contracting a plumber.  Add this to my list of 1000 reasons I love that man.

Hi, Santa!

 

After the parade, I picked up the other kids and took back to the Island Fairgrounds. Santa must have a cabin on Whidbey Island as well, because we caught up with him in a barn.   He was pretty jolly, and we hope we see him again soon!

Awesome Whidbey Island at Christmas

It was raining, it was cold, it was gray.  And it was the Langley Christmas parade.  So of course I went!  I was able to talk Wesley and Piper into coming with me, but Kyla and Aubrey stayed behind in the cozy cabin.  They missed out!

I love the exterior (and interior, if I’m to be honest) of the Saratoga Inn. 

It was a small parade—girl scouts, marital arts, and a pony.

Piper grabbed her Santa hat and American flag, but is probably still kicking herself for not having more and deeper pockets.  Again, for all the candy.

But Santa showed up, and if I say it was on the back of the ambulance, don’t feel worried about his health.  Those aren’t real raindeer and they needed the help.

Next to Santa, and lots and lots of candy, I loved the bagpipes the best.  I actually loved seeing our friends down at the parade best, but the bagpipes were amazing.

And to top off the parade, the rain ended and a rainbow appeared. 

See, it’s always better on the island.