Happy Halloween

Jill & Josh were here for the Halloween weekend.

This is their costume for the McKesson Fall Festival
(Alice in Wonderland & The Mad Hatter).

They also decorated their trunk in the Edge for "Trunk or Treat".
This is now becoming very popular in Texas.
People gather in a large parking lot, decorate their trunks and hand out candy
to the children that walk down the rows of cars/trucks.
There is not much trick or treating door to door any more.

Jill and Josh decorated their trunk like a forest, with the candy bowl
being in a "hole" that Alice fell down.

We hope everyone has a safe halloween evening!

Floor preparation

Sunday morning, Jill and I went to church and "the boys" worked on removing
all the linoleum backing and floor adhesive from the floor in the breakfast nook.

Josh is shown scraping the backing off the linoleum.

Doug is shown tediously removing the floor adhesive residue.

We had an estimate for concrete staining on Saturday afternoon.
Doug didn't like the look of the finished product, so guess we will move forward with the tiling.
The remainer of the floor tile was purchased late Saturday afternoon.

Now, if we could just find enough free time in Doug's schedule to get this project started/finished.

Walk to Defeat ALS

Team KLM "Kuklenz's Love Maarten"

This family photo was taken with our friend, Maarten Jans, at the conclusion of
the 3 mile "Walk to Defeat ALS"
The walk took place at Quik Trip Park in Grand Prairie, Texas
Jackie is shown in Huntsville, sporting her KLM tshirt.
She was registered as a virtual walker and chose to walk in her
Huntsville neighborhood to show her support.
She was unable to attend the walk today, as she has her first Chorale concert this evening.

This is Maarten's family walk team
"Mix Master Jans"

It was a beautiful day to be outdoors and support this wonderful cause.
It was a bonus to be able to see Maarten & his family.

Laughs, Hugs & Kisses were had by all!!!
Team Fundraising Totals:
Team KLM = $975.00
Team Mix Master Jans = $1,440.00

Event Total: $212,500.00

Birthday Weekend in Huntsville

Friday, I drove down to Huntsville to spend the weekend with Jackie. Friday night we went to Target & Dollar General to get items for her First Presbyterian Church - Seafarer's box. This is an international mission project done at Christmas time in cooperation with the Port of Houston and supports the missionaries in Jamaica and south Asia. After shopping we attended the Huntsville Cinestar and saw the movie RED "Retired Extremely Dangerous". It was funny and action packed. Gotta love Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren & John Malkovich.

Saturday morning, we woke up early to do some birthday present shopping. Jackie is in need of some career wear. She has been doing observations at several high schools within about an hours drive. She is also teaching voice lessons at the Huntsville High School. We scored some bargains at Kohls, JC Penney, Sears & Dress Barn. So now she will look as professional as she acts!

At noon, we met Jill & Josh at Jackie's favorite restaurant, Olive Garden. We enjoyed too much food and many great stories. I was laughing so hard, I cried. Jill and Josh were in town as they were going to McKesson's Fall Festival. Look for photos of their costume (Alice in Wonderland & The Mad Hatter) in the near future.

Saturday evening, we attended the Sam Houston State University School of Music "Concert Choir". I got to see the new Performing Arts Center, that opened this fall. In previous years, concerts needed to be held at some of the larger local churches, because there was no venue on campus large enough to hold a concert. The facility is very, very nice and they hope to attract other artists to showcase this facilty.

After we got home from the concert, we enjoyed some chicken and Little Debbie snack cakes for Jackie's 22nd birthday. This is in rememberance of a birthday when she was in high school. Doug was out of town, Karl & Jill were in college and it was just me and her to celebrate. We enjoyed Kentucky Fried Chicken and Little Debbie snack cakes...and then celebrated with the family a few days later. So now it's a tradition, when Mom & Jackie get to spend the birthday together ~ it's chicken and snack cakes. Long live tradition!!!

Mom & Daughter with the Little Debbie snack cake birthday celebration!

I forgot the candles, so had to settle for a handy scented candle.

Jackie is shown here with her "house parents - Sandi & Phil"
They are also members of Jackie's church family and have
graciously opened their home for her this past summer.
That went very well and they have agreed to house her this final year at SHSU.

They also have let me stay there during my recent visits with Jackie.
A great time was had by all!

To send Jackie a birthday greeting:
Jacklyn Kuklenz

106 Plum Creek Street
Huntsville, TX 77320
Email: jkk005@shsu.edu
Call/Text: 469-235-7354

Jackie - The "Accomplished" Voice Teacher

When I was in Huntsville last week, Jackie shared a newspaper article about some of
her voice students she teaches at Huntsville High School.

Three of the four choir students pictured below are voice students of Jackie.
The fourth student did not want to try out for All-State.

In total only four Huntsville High School choir students have advanced
from the recent district tryouts held in Spring,TX.

On October 30th, the students will be attending regional tryouts in Houston.
The final audition will take place Jauary 2011.

This is the link for the actual newspaper article in the Huntsville Item.

Jackie is a voice teacher for Seth, Ashley & Kelli.

We wish Jackie and her students well as they
move toward their goal of making the All State Choir!!

Kitchen Remodel - Video Tour

To view a video tour of our "almost" completed kitchen.
Please click the You Tube video link below:

Kuklenz Kitchen Remodel Video
You Tube Video: 7 minutes & 32 seconds

I apologize in advance, when I taped the angled cabinet.
I had to turn the camera sideways to get the whole cabinet in the shot.
Sorry..you might have to turn your head sideways for a short while!

Kitchen Video of Delta Pilar Touch Faucet

Delta Pilar Touch is the newest collection in the Delta Kitchen Faucets line.

Kuklenz Demo - Delta Pilar Touch Faucet
You Tube Video = 1 minute 23 seconds)


The high arc design of Pilar provides great functionality. It has a sleek design coupled with the latest valve technology. It features a stop that allows the faucet to swing 180 degrees so it's never in the way. Pilar by Delta Faucets features the Touch2O™ Technology and MagnaTite Docking. Just one tap of the faucet with your fingertips, wrist, forearm or elbow and Pilar will give those busy hands much needed assistance in the kitchen!

Kitchen - Before & After

Well, DFW Improved has now completed all their "TO DO" lists for our kitchen remodel.

Kitchen Remodel - Before & After photos

The only thing left is to start and finish the tile floor. I'm kind of liking the look and feel of the concrete floor....so stay tuned on that one.

Under Cabinet Lights

The JUNO pro-fluorescent under cabinet light fixtures were finally received this week.

Doug purchased 1/2" split flex tubing to hide the romex coming out of the wall.

Home Depot $1.99

This leaves a nice clean look

These direct-wire lights have a slim 1" profile and an electronic ballast provides instant lamp starting and flicker-free operation. The lights are in a black finish, to better blend in with the dark cabinet color.

In total, we have 5 lights installed (4 @ 22" in length) (1 @ 12" in length)

Hardware Mishaps

Friday, the trimwork team was at the house to install the moulding underneath the bar top and install the door/drawer pulls. We had two different sizes of handles (Medium/Large). Doug placed the handles at each cabinet/drawer and worked with the team on spacing.

This is the new bank of drawers with double - large handles.

Close-up of the medium handles

This is a photo of our two missing sink tray drawers.
The cabinet guy picked them up on Friday evening.
The trimwork guys had drilled holes for medium handles when it was meant to have large handles. The problem was that this was the last two drawers they drilled. So we had no other options. Cabinet Guy to the rescue.
Two new drawer fronts are being made with tentative delivery date of Wednesday.
The drawer fronts will still need to be stained on Thursday.

Oh brother!!!

Painting & Plumbing

Friday was a hectic remodeling day.

The ceiling was to be painted. The painter arrived at 8am to paint, but the first color was too yellow. The second color was too white. The third color was just right - Lennar Ceiling paint color "Nu Hope". The painter stained the trim before finally painting the ceiling. The problem was that when he finally got the kitchen taped up and ready to paint ~ the plumber showed up.

The plumber arrived at noon. Once he saw how much he would have to do, he started talking about rescheduling because he only works until 3pm. He needed to have his truck turned in by 3:30pm. He proceeded to talk his way out of this plumbing job for about 1 hour. I had words with the plumber. I called Doug into the house and he had words with the plumber. Doug called the project manager, who came to the house. The project manager had words with the plumber. They ended up taking their conversation outside. But in the end, the plumber got his wish and left without doing a bit of work. We told him we'd rather reschedule than have a disgrunted employee working on our project or rushing through the job.

Plumber rescheduled for Monday!! Today, a different plumber arrived at 2:30pm. He completed all the work in 4 hours and was gone by 6:30pm.

Plumbing work:
1) Install new faucet ~ Delta Pilar Touch faucet
2) Install disposal
3) Install recirculating pump
4) Install dishwasher
5) Add sink strainer baskets to new sink

This is a profile shot of our Delta Pilar Touch faucet
(shown with two soap dispensers)
One soap dispenser will be for hand soap, the other will be for dish soap.
The soap dispenser will dispense Ivory right into the sink with a single pump action.

The copper tee we needed added to get three shutoff valves
1 - Cold Water
2 - Hot Water (one for the dishwasher and one for the hot water/recirculating pump)

All the new plumbing underneath the sink.

Garage Organization Complete

This photo shows all 4 kitchen cabinets utilized in the garage.

Close-up of the new garage organization system.

A new shelf: tool charging station

Pegboard was added to the end of the cabinet by the door to the garage.
It holds items that we frequently go to get in the garage
(tape measurer, screwdriver, various tapes, flashlight)

You'll have to take a peek inside the cabinets, next time you visit to check out the
cabinet storage/organization as well. I'm sure you will all think we went a little over-board, but we should be able to find anything now....at least for a little while!

Backsplash

Doug has started the backsplash behind the sink area.
Laying tumblestone on the diagonal.

Which is a little tricky, working in such a small spaces.

And then there are the corners

And the outlet boxes...YIKES!

But look how great it turned out!
And even MORE outlet boxes!!!

Final backsplash with rope trim.
Grouting is next!

Granite Installation

Thursday, Stone Resources was here to install the granite.

It took 3 guys, about 3 hours to install 6 pieces of granite

(the bartop is 3 pieces seamed together;

the sink piece is all one section,

and each section by the stove is all one section).

The undermount stainless steel sink was also installed.

Side view of the bar top...we added a modest curve to the bar instead of leaving it straight.
The entire kitchen

The section to the right of the stove.

A better view of the undermount sink

Garage Cabinets

Doug is shown here, prepping the garage for adding some of the saved cabinets from the kitchen for added stroage in the garage. In total we are recycling 4 cabinets to the garage. The rest were scrapped.

The pegboard was cut down to accomodate the different shapes of cabinets.

The four recycled cabinets, ready to be installed.
Three cabinet units placed around the pegboard.

All four recycled cabinets.
The largest cabinet is to the right of the garage refrigerator.

We are still in the process of cleaning out the garage and organizing the tools.
A final photo will be shown, once that is complete.