Dining room revamp

 It's probably social media's fault that I got a wild hair and decided I wanted to do some aesthetic remodeling in the dining room. Our breaker box sits at an awkward height on our dining room wall; that space used to be our garage, and the floor used to be lower. When we remodeled, the general contractor arranged to have our cabinet maker craft a door to go over the box, and that was fine. But then I saw reel after reel of people adding different wainscotings to their walls, and it got me to thinking. I mulled over my options for a long time and came up with a solution to the obvious and awkward box cover that would also enhance our dining room: bead board wainscoting. I knew this was a project too big and technical for me to handle, so I told my dad what I wanted to do. Boy, did he deliver. 

We spent several days on this project which proved to be more complicated that I realized: In order to cover the box with bead board, we had to build the wall out about an inch so that the bead board would fit over the box's cover. With some plywood from Home Depot (and another sheet or two from his shop because my plywood wasn't thick enough to give us the clearance we needed), we were able to do the job. Dad was patient and thorough (both trademarks of his), and I learned A LOT about this type of project as I worked alongside him. Not only do I have a gorgeous dining room, but I also have a new-to-me table saw that he gifted me when we needed one on-site. (He had bought it from Goodwill because "it was too good a deal.")

The "before picture" taken on Wednesday, February 4. Dad came over this day so we could take some measurements and go shopping for supplies. You can see the door over the box next to the left window.

Dad giving Peach some love. Peach was on her way to hang out in the laundry room (like we let her do sometimes when it'd cold outside), but Peach deemed in necessary to stop by and get pets from one of her favorite people before settling down.

After removing the wallpaper, cupboard door and all the trim. Thursday, February 5.

The start of the plywood being cut. Thursday, February 5.

The north wall patched and painted after the wallpaper ripped up the finish. Tuesday, February 10.

Measurements and starting to cut plywood. We also added insulation around the windows because our builders (cough, cough) neglected to do. Tuesday, February 10.

Dad cutting wood in our shop. Tuesday, February 10.

More cutting and starting to attach plywood. Wednesday, February 11.

Me using the table saw for the first time. I took shop classes in middle school, but students weren't allowed to use the table saw. Thursday, February 12.

Dad smoothing out the layers of wood. Thursday, February 12. You can see both layers of plywood and then the layer of bead board on top.

All plywood and bead board attached. Thursday, February 12.

Bead board around the box cut back. Outlets extended and reattached. Tuesday, February 17.

Window trim and baseboards reattached. Top piece on top of bead board added. Tuesday, February 17.

Coving above bead board on the west wall attached. Box cover cut and fitted. Most of the trim caulked. Wallpaper installed on west wall. Friday, February 27.

Finally finished! I installed the rest of the wallpaper, Dad and I installed the trim piece that goes under the picture shelf. I finished caulking and painting everything. Then it just took me a while to get the frames, put our pictures in them and place them all. I learned the hard way that the frames will tip and glass will break if you just set them on the wall. (The door to the garage is on the same wall, so closing the door can tip the pictures.) All of the pictures are now secured and going nowhere.

Winter concerts/competitions

Thursday, January 29: Winnie in the BYU-Idaho Honor Band

Winnie was nominated by her director to participate in this band. She was the only female tuba player.

Talking to Grandma and Grandpa Scott in the Snow Building following the concert.

Wednesday, February 25: Winnie in the RMMS 2nd trimester concert

Getting her seat ready before playing. Seth was on a work trip during this concert, so I was in charge of recording Winnie's songs. Because of that, I only have this grainy picture of her in the back that I took with my phone.

Saturday, February 28: Miriam at the BYU-Idaho jazz band festival

Miriam plays the vibraphone with her jazz band. Seth was still out of town, so I flew solo on this as well. I picked up Grandma Hendricks so she could watch.

Monday, March 2: Winnie at regional National History Day

Winnie posing with her 3rd place ribbon following the regional NHD competition at Rocky Mountain Middle School. Winnie made a documentary about Beatlemania for her project. Only first and second place advance to the state competition, but Winnie was happy to be finished with the project. In fact, she could have advanced anyway because either first or second place couldn't go to state. Winnie politely told her teacher that she didn't want to go. 

Tuesday, March 17: Miriam (and Winnie) at the BHS 2nd trimester concert

Miriam playing the piano with the concert band.

Miriam playing the marimba during a percussion ensemble number.

Miriam in a dog onesie during a silly percussion number. This concert was a tribute concert to Mrs. Bull, the middle school band director Miriam had for 2.5 years. Mrs. Bull had to step down as director partway through the school year last year due to health reasons. Mr. Bull (Miriam's current band director and Mrs. Bull's husband) put together this concert so she could have some closure. So the high school percussion ensemble performed a song that Mrs. Bull had had the middle school students perform a few years before. Miriam got to perform both times.

Winnie with a bunch of tuba players in the final song of the night. Mrs. Bull was called up to conduct this last number which included high school students (mostly BHS but some HHS joined), middle schools students, past students and colleagues. Once again, Winnie was the only female tuba player.

Skiing

 It was the worst winter in 80 years. As far as snow goes. And we bought season passes to Kelly Canyon in March 2025. We made the best of it.

We skied as many times as we could. Kelly's opened late in the season and closed early in the season. There was one run that never opened (Moose) and some that never had enough snow to be groomed (Bear). It was rough.

And (sob!) I didn't go cross-country skiing even once. Harriman never had enough snow to be groomed for classic skiing. The golf courses never had enough snow. Have I mentioned how little snow we had this past winter? (By the way, it's mid-April now and Idaho has already declared a drought emergency.)

But here's proof that we made it up the mountain a few times:

Riding the chair lift with Ana on Monday, January 12.

Winnie and Andrea on January 12.

Seth and Andrea on January 12.

Winnie and Kelsey on the lift on Friday, January 30. Winnie thought it was hilarious if she stared at me.

Winnie being silly with her hood and walkie talkie in the lodge on Friday, January 30. Winnie and I brought our lunch, but Kelsey bought hers from Big Jud's in the lodge. There were (I think) six busses in the lower parking lot that day, so it took an hour for Kelsey to order and get her food. 

Andrea, Winnie and Kelsey on Friday, January 30. Kelsey and Winnie didn't have school, so we picked up a cousin and brought her with us. Winnie often abandoned her coat during this ski season.

Seth and Winnie on Saturday, January 31. Winnie went up two days in a row. 

A wide angle shot of Andrea on the ski lift on Friday, February 14.

And one of Seth on the same day.

And one of Winnie. Kids these days think the wide angle shots are hilarious.

Seth skiing with his parents at Snow King in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, on Friday, February 20. Seth and his parents all bought season passes to Soldier Mountain on a Black Friday sale. The season passes included a couple of days skiing at a few other mountains. This was the one time Seth was able to use that pass since the snow was so scant this year. On his first run, Seth hit a chunk of ice and fell hard on the groomed trail. He sprained his AC joint on his shoulder and ended up calling it a day earlier than expected because it hurt so badly. His parents were certain he had torn his rotator cuff, but luckily it was just the sprain. It took a few days to feel better during the day and a few weeks to feel better at night (he's a side sleeper), but it's better now.

Andrea and Winnie night skiing on Friday, February 20. Seth got home from Snow King before we left for this ski trip, but (of course) he was in no shape to ski more that day.

The family eating Big Jud's together in the lodge on the final day Kelly's was open this year: Saturday, March 7. Seth, Winnie, Ana and Andrea had skied the morning, and Miriam planned to meet us for lunch. The roads had been bare and dry when we were driving to Kelly's, but it snowed the whole time we were there so that by the time Miriam was driving up, they were slick. She was driving the van and would have been fine getting up to the parking lot except a car ahead of her had stopped on the road and couldn't gain any traction, causing a chain reaction of cars having to stop and some not being able to gain purchase on the slick road. Seth got a phone call at the top of the mountain from a terrified 15-year-old who kept spinning out and slipping so that the van ended up on an angle. I'm forever grateful for the three people who stopped and asked if they could help her: The first was an older gentleman who listened patiently and lovingly as Miriam (still crying because she was scared) told him that she was a young driver, but her dad was on the way. This man listened, sympathized, and made certain her dad had the tools necessary (four-wheel drive and a tow strap) before saying goodbye. The other two also prove that there are good people in the world. The last one who stopped was a teenage boy; the younger generation will do just fine. 

So Seth and I tore down the hill as fast as we (I) could go, hopped in the truck, drove 30 seconds down the road (she was so close!), turned around, parked in front of her, attached the tow strap and hauled the van into the parking lot. Then we enjoyed our lunch together.