Yes, yes, yes, I have certainly fallen out of love with the build process (but, at the same time am really falling in love with what's finally starting to look like a home). Our tile install is taking forever -- we're on week 9 I think, and I'm only having three and a half baths and a laundry room tiled. I admit that the glass tile in the master bath isn't easy to install, but they just started that this week. I have no idea why the subway and octogon & dot tile took so long in the upstairs baths. I picked it because I thought it would be easy. It absolutely wore me out to visit the house and see mess up after mess up on the tile, or worse, to see no progress at all. The trim guy/cabinet maker is at the house too now, and he's working super fast and doing beautiful work. It's now fun again to track his progress nightly. I got so worn out on the build, that I've stepped out of the build process and am taking a "vacation" from it. For the next 8 weeks, DH is in charge of communicating with builder and subs. I just get to visit the house and tell DH what I like or dislike. We broke ground in October, were supposed to move in in May, and the most optimistic completion date is now early October.

Emagineer sez: "Did I high jack this thread?" Hmmm, not so that I noticed. It is sort of a morning hello thread, right? But until I get around to grocery shopping again, something I don;t enjoy much when shopping for one, I must pick up some coffee filters. I usually brew in my 4-cup electric Mr. Coffee. I really do not appreciate instant coffee. Today I used for the first time a French press individual contraption that I bought about two years ago at the boat store. It was a fine cuppa j. When I get a gas range, I will probably use the antique Cajun "biguns" which do the French style coffee akin to espresso. I have 3 of those tiny pots, make a cup each. Their style so reminds me of my days along the bayou, during the years I worked in the oil fields of coastal Louisiana. I can smell the coffee and the salty marshes now.

I know the feeling, Shades- I'm enjoying an adult beverage right now. One of the first things I planted at our new place was 2 daffodils. That's right- two. The little church I visit up there had a sermon which related to daffodil bulbs, so each person got one in a little kit with fertilizer and instructions. I wasn't going to take one, but the cutest little boy ran up and was SO excited to give me one! Then folks I insisted I take two; one for me and one for my wife. In the spirit (pun intended) of the thing I felt obligated to plant them. We visited in February, and they were up and had buds. Alas, we weren't there for the actual flowers, but I was still excited. Two down; about 500 to go. I want to naturalize them all over the place.

Thanks for this thread! I am pleased to report that I hosted 9 adults and 4 kids for Christmas eve. We are an Italian family so we cook a seafood dinner on Christmas Eve. I have hosted a few times in the past but have never gotten the timing and all the dishes right (I have always had trouble timing the seafood to be done at the right times).... This year was a first. My kitchen held up to everything I had hoped (and more). I had all six burners of my 36" Electrolux ICON range running at the same time! It was soo much fun. We started with a Lobster bisque - that was a lot of work and I'm not sure I would do that again but it was soooo good I don't think I will have a choice!!! We then moved onto crab cakes which were amazing. That was a bit of a challenge because I was able to prepare them ahead of time but they needed to be fried just before serving. Then we moved on to Shrimp Parmagiana and Scallops in a white wine butter sauce (both prepared by my guests but heated up in the new oven) as well as stuffed lobster tails. We were able to get everything on the table at the right times and keep everything moving - including keeping the kids happy! We also served the main course from the Peninsula so that the table was not too crowded. I can't say how happy I was to cook in my new kitchen. Everyone was comfortable (although it was a little crowded at the table because my dining room is small) and was able to move around the kitchen with ease. We had the kids at a small table off the end of the peninsula. I made pasta and chicken nuggets for the kids in between there too. Clean up was a breeze since we could put all the dirty dishes on the peninsula until the dishwasher was ready for them..... It was a great time for everyone and we really put my new space the test! I am happy to report that it passed with flying colors! I am also happy to report that my new wood floor (prefinished brazilian teak) really held up well too. I cleaned it up on Saturday morning and it looks great! I have two more events to host (Friday and Sunday). I am looking forward to both! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!