Gone Heiken: September 2018

Our first home: 5290 Project

It's been ONE YEAR ... September 2018

The clock on the construction loan is ticking; and we were able to get a 90-day extension. So, the countdown to completion is now December 2018.

Here are a few BIG moves in September:

Updates to the existing bathroom. It's been the only functioning bathroom for 1 year, so why not add some inconvenience to each and every day while the rest of the house remains disassembled?

KITCHEN progress:

Wall built for future island

Patch + sheetrock

Cut in kitchen lights; prepare electrical for appliances

Design transition from cove ceiling to non-cove ceiling

Paint (thanks, Emily!)

Shiplap wall complete

9.25.2018 - Kitchen cabinet installation day!!

Here's a play-by-play for updates to the existing bathroom:

Picture from Realtor.com

First things first ... we swapped out the shower curtain. This happened immediately.

Everything else was as-is for the year.

Until, I got antsy ... Just what Sam needed: another project.

Truth be told, my intention was to take care of it by myself. But, I ran into a few snags. And, SOO appreciated help from both Sam and Doug!

First, prime and PAINT.

Went with SW Sleepy Blue for the walls; white for the wood.

A new light above the vanity! I don't have/couldn't find a picture of the sconces that had been there. But, this is an obvious improvement given what you can imagine.

This is where Sam's help came in:

As for the medicine cabinet... I ripped that out of the wall (prematurely, as you'll see), took the dimensions to Home Depot and bought the size that would fit beautifully to replace the existing, gross medicine cabinet. Well, it didn't fit. Sad day.

Then, while we were galavanting somewhere in the mountains of Colorado, Doug came to the rescue!! He made this beautiful medicine cabinet that fits gloriously!

We will install the new walnut vanity at some point in the near-ish future :)

Kitchen & Dining room

To start in dramatic fashion, here's a quick trip down memory lane: pictures from Realtor.com:

Kitchen

"Dining room" / previous living room

Ready to tear down the wall separating them ...

Wall DOWN!

Island wall UP!

Now, patching in with sheetrock ... and working in the electrical (thanks, Dad!)

Ready to PAINT! Thanks, Emily!

(SW Essential Gray)

Now, the day we've been waiting for ... 9.25.18 ... KITCHEN CABINET INSTALLATION DAY

Wouldn't fit through the front door ... so we went through the window!

All cleaned up - ready for cabinets!

First, all the boxes. Opening up and setting each piece near its rightful home.

Shiplap wall installed where our bar will be: Before & After:

Finally!!

Great times at 5290!

We're making some major moves as we count down the days.

Coming soon ...

- kitchen appliances

- carpet

- master bedroom closets

- finish up master bathroom

- furniture? a couch?

To the mountains: 8.30.2018 through 9.7.2018

We headed West for a Labor Day week escape to visit family, friends and

hit the mtn bike trails before the end of summer.

Part I: To Sundance, WY and Devil's Tower at sunset (8.30.2018)

Drove along I-90 toward Sundance, WY.

One memorable moment was driving past the geographic Center of the Nation in Belle Fourche, SD. Other than that, the best sights came in WYO. (We skipped the Badlands and Black Hills d/t time; we checked those places out on our road trip while moving from Portland to Duluth).

We went for a ride in Sundance - and the thin mtn air hit us real good!

Sundance ride: 7.7 miles (1,108 ft elevation gain; Max elevation: 6,433 ft)

On the way to Devil's Tower.

Dinner and beers at Cowgirl Pizza. Really tasty after a real, long day!

Part II: To Laramie, WYO to hang with the Vigens (8.31.2018-9.2.2018)

Met up with Molly at their home along with Brent's parents, Doris and Randy. Lunch at The Crowbar before heading to Jake's football game.

We went up to Happy Jack with Nate for a mtn bike ride. Nate was such an excellent guide!

Laramie ride: 8.8 miles (836 ft elevation gain; Max elevation: 8,879 ft)

Quick trip through the Brown & Gold outlet for game-day gear as well as a drive-thru liquor store:

Saturday in Laramie = GAME DAY!

WYO vs Washington State

Tailgating to the extreme!

From the box seats with new friends! What a view!! Thanks for the awesome experience from Cebe & Tracy!

View from the ground

Sitting with Molly and Lindsey

Height contest between Sam and Jake... so close!

Part III: To Fort Collins, CO, the Kohan ranch & Red Rocks concert (9.3.2018-9.4.2018)

We pull up to the Kohan's to Pat, Ed and Libby (Emily's parents) preparing ribs and chicken to be smoked in a barrel. Smelled so good!

Then, while the meat cooked, we headed to campus to watch Emily's team, CSU play TCU.

Coach Kohan with the W!

Back to the Kohan ranch for the after-party! Clay shooting, spikeball, Quillie Nelson the hedgehog and s'mores as the sun sets on the Front Range.

Emily's sister, Elise, schoolin' everyone on shooting clays! Super impressive!

Quillie Nelson.

Next day, Monday 9/3, started out with a mtn bike ride in Lory State Park.

It was beautiful! (all of the pictures are on Sam's phone, though, and he hasn't contributed to my Google Album yet).

FoCo ride: 9.7 miles (1,489 ft elevation gain; Max elevation: 6,736 ft)

We cleaned up, then hit up the Old Town of FoCo.

Amazing brunch at Ginger & Baker, then a walkabout town. Beers at Odell's Brewing, then off to Golden for a beer before the concert at Red Rocks!

(Jason Isbell; openers: Amanda Shires, Amy Mann)

So great to meet up with Rachel and Marc!

Gorgeous night to watch Jason Isbell rock out at the best outdoor venue!

Part IV: To Steamboat Springs, CO (9.4.2018-9.6.2018)

The drive from Fort Collins to Steamboat is really awesome; filled with deep, rocky canyons as well as mountain meadows and fields.

Aspens in the fall :)

Checked out Orange Peel Bicycles, went to grab a beer at Mtn Tap, then back to pick up my new bike: Skelley. #newbikeday

From there, she crushed her first ride on Quarry Mtn!

Quarry Mtn Sunset ride: 10.4 miles (1,335 ft elevation gain; Max elevation: 8,032 ft)

Next day, breakfast at Freshie's (so delicious; restaurant with the MOST choices of meals including avocados that I've ever been to. And, I keep track).

Quick shuttle ride down Spring Creek trail, where we met Corey, who agreed to help us shuttle an epic course the following day!

Spring Creek ride: 6.4 miles (170 ft elevation gain; Max elevation: 8,402 ft)

We washed up then met up with Connor and Hannah! Dinner and drinks at Mtn Tap, then we made our way to Strawberry Springs for an evening soak. It was perfect!

Our last day in Steamboat was an epic one.

We shuttled up to Rabbits Ears Pass (thanks, Corey!) and rode every type of terrain, then crushed the downhill trails at the ski resort. Soo amazing - and we out-biked the pending thunderstorm!

Rabbit Ears Pass EPIC ride: 25.0 miles (2,112 ft elevation gain; Max elevation: 10,358 ft)

Lots of pictures, so here are the highlights...

Dumont Lake, to start the epic ride.

After an amazing and well-deserved lunch (see above right), we hit the road again, our trip essentially complete. The drive through the mountains toward Laramie was beautiful; lookin' like fall in the mountains!