So the new cabinets are in, and adjusted, and I’m gonna say that we’re about half way through the process. That’s sort of how it works when you’re doing it pay-as-you-go. We could have done it just full scale if we had paid someone else to do the entire project, but that’s not how we operate. If you’re not in a hurry, a piece-meal process can work, especially if you’re doing a lot of the work yourselves. We did the design/layout, and we just had the cabinets built, we did the painting and the installation. We didn’t have a firm schedule – we wanted it all done by Thanksgiving – doesn’t everyone? – but that didn’t happen, but with any luck, the lazy-susan door will be fully installed by Christmas.

We still haven’t started in on the countertop, but because of the weight of the cast iron sink, we almost have to go with granite. We’ve picked it out, priced it out, and we just need to get that process going. The holdup now is that we need to get mudroom sink installed so that the kitchen can sort of function while the countertop is being made. The counter guy wants the actual kitchen sink and the faucet when he cuts the granite – he won’t use a template, so we have to get the mudroom sink hung, and the sink base built. Nothing is easy around here.

We’re taking a bit of a break, financially and time-wise, over the holidays, and I guess we’ll get back on it in January. We still have the units that go around the oven and refrigerator to go, as well as the island.

And we haven’t even started talking about the flooring. That’s a whole ‘nother set of philosophies, trade-offs, and squabbles, because what we do in the kitchen is largely dependent on what we do in the dining room. It’s a long story.

I’m not sure if I’ll ever totally be in love with any cabinet or appliance or any sort of housewares, but, and I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, I never realized how much I disliked my old cabinets. They served us well for 10 years, and will continue to do so – for a while at least – as much-needed storage space in the basement.

The way I figure it, we’re about six months away from having the kitchen completely done, a mere blip in the whole timeline that is pay-as-you-go construction.