Happy Thanksgiving!

A wonderful turkey dinner with friends and a generally lazy day at the Kelly-Wally household. This weekend we're cooking turkey for Brandon's parents....and the turkey we ordered from a local farm grew somewhat larger than we wanted....so for the first time ever, I have to figure out how to cook a 20lb turkey....oh boy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

A wonderful turkey dinner with friends and a generally lazy day at the Kelly-Wally household. This weekend we're cooking turkey for Brandon's parents....and the turkey we ordered from a local farm grew somewhat larger than we wanted....so for the first time ever, I have to figure out how to cook a 20lb turkey....oh boy!

Explorers Club

Thought i'd share this UMaine news link - http://umaine.edu/news/blog/2013/11/18/umaine-marine-scientist-joins-elite-international-group-of-adventurers/

I just found out i've been elected into the Explorers Club as a fellow....:)

Finishing touches!

The weather has finally got cold here, though no snow as yet (even though they've had snow in Cape Cod!). We closed down the garden and cleaned up the leaves, which meant we finally had enough time this weekend to put the finishing touches on the hallway floor. We're still another week away from being able to turn on the underfloor heating (you have to leave it 3-4 weeks), but we're looking forward to it. Next step is to paint the walls, trim and front door....but those are going to probably be spring or summer projects, so for now, we're happy with out entryway! 

Grouting! 

Meanwhile Phantom has settled in. Yup, she's enormous, and we're pretty sure she's not partially deaf, she's completely deaf. The dogs can bark right next to her and she doesn't stop snoring. 

Phantom took over Brodys bed, which means he and zoe sometimes share. Neither is too thrilled about that though.  

With all the beds taken, Barkley has become a lap dog. 

And i've been booted to the rocking chair. 

Brody is still in LOVE with his chicken. His nasty smelling chicken at this point, but I daren't wash it in case it breaks....

and finally, the trim and thresholds! 

Finishing flooring!

Well, we're not quite there yet, but close. This weekend we FINALLY got around to tiling the entryway. Came out pretty well, just need it to dry (without animals crossing over it), grout and we're done - then on to trim and paint!

Laying down the heat mat. We decided to tile here not only to protect the floor in the entryway, but also to dry snowy boots in the winter. So we're laying an electric heat mat under the tile - really hoping it works! 

Tiling! I laid the tile, while Brandon cut tiles in the basement.  

Tiling! 

Phantom seems to have settled in well. We finally did turn on our heating the other day (2 days short of November!), and the propane fireplace has been a really welcome addition! 

The almost finished product - and our improvised pet barrier. Works for dogs, not so much for cats...

Back!

Yes, i'm sorry, i've been remiss in posting since I got back....and suddenly i've been back for a month already. Between hectic meeting after meeting at work, a cold, brandon's cold, Barkley chewing another hole in her tail, Pumpkinfest and acquiring a new furry friend, it's been a bit hectic. So here's the update, in photos.

Heading in to Damariscotta on a sunday morning to grab coffee and see the sights of Pumpkinfest.

For one week in October Damariscotta is littered with GIANT pumpkin carvings, and full of people from out of town. 

Yes, it's a pumpkin. 

And another pumpkin. 

And another pumpkin. 

And another pumpkin...probably one of my favorites. 

Miss Barkley got socks. She's been struggling with our new wood floor, slipping around, so I thought i'd try slipper socks. Low and behold, they work, and she keeps them on. Mostly. 

Halloween cupcakes. 

Pumpkin carving at the McNaughtons, always a fun event. 

And our new bundle of fur. The 10yr old, deaf, Siberian Forest Cat, Phantom. We'd been idly looking around online at the local shelters for an older cat to keep Zoe company (she'd never been an only cat and had been acting lonely). Phantom appeared earlier this week, and came home with us yesterday. She seemed like a good fit for our brood of slightly disfunctional pets, and has made herself right at home in my ikea chair. 

Did I mention she's also enormous?

Chile Pictures!

Still not home, in Puerto Montt after a successful, if eventful, dive program. Here's some pictures for you to see while I head on home - more when i'm back in Maine!

Sitting is some local hotsprings in the Comau fjord

Loading the dive boat on a frosty morning. 

The local cat, Jofrey, enjoying some beverages with us. 

The Comau fjord

Ready to go! 

Diving at Lilihuape

Purple starfish! 

Heading over to the dive site on a stormy morning

Self portrait at 100ft depth. 

Corals!

In Chile

Arrived in Chile safe and sound and now at the Huinay Scientific Field Station. Unfortunately internet is rather flaky - so check out posts over here - http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/author/rwaller/ - and i'll update here when i'm back to a more reliable connection!

Happy Birthday Barkley!

On friday we had a little celebration of Barkley, and she dressed for the event. Happy Birthday Barkley - 13 years young!

Before and After!

Building project done! The builders took 5 days - 3 more than expected, but they weren't in a hurry and they were well within their budget too, which makes us happy! Painting is a winter project, so for now, all the furniture is back and we're getting resettled!

Living room before. Cigarette stained laminate. 

Living room, before. 

Living room after. Engineered hickory. 

Living room back together! 

Living room entry and closet, before. 

Knocked through. 

Floor done and furniture! The middle piece there will be tiled, Brandon and I are going to do that part ourselves. The door has also been turned around, so you enter onto the tile, instead of into the clock. 

The biggest change. Office before. 

Office after - engineered hickory. 

Office after - archway cut into the corridor to match the one between the kitchen and living room. 

Office after and entryway. 

Let the demolition begin!

Originally we thought we'd get the building work done over the fall.....but the builder called last week and said he could do this week......eeek! I just got my promotion bonus too, which is what we were going to use to get this done.....so we said heck with it, let's get it done! Well, at least the builders part....painting the walls will have to wait until later in the year, or at least when I get back from Chile (I leave in 3 weeks!). 

Living room before. It's the wall behind the stairs there we're having knocked through into our green office space. 

Living room before, looking the other direction. 

This closet is going! Creating an archway into the room next door. 

The corridor will have the new flooring - which i'm excited about, as it's really scuffed and stained under those carpets! 

Before - doorway into the green office. 

Before, green office - and storage space for new flooring. 

The wall that is going! 

Cleaning out.....which included our liquor cabinet beneath the TV! 

Refinding of fun things.....Barkley's glow in the dark horns....her halloween costume a few years ago! 

Living room cleaned out - as not only is the wall going, but the cigarette stained floor is headed out too, so it all matches on the first floor! 

Brandon's grandmother's clock and the fireplace - they'll move these around as they do the floor.  

It'll be fun to have a full walkway around! 

The kitchen.....I hope this doesn't last too long! 

Demo Day 1 - yesterday....

Demo Day 1 - yesterday....

Demo Day 1 - yesterday....

Maybe the couch should stay in the kitchen......

All the floor is up and the archways done! 

Closet no longer! 

And we have an open plan living space! 

The archway into the corridor - same shape and size as the one from the kitchen to living room!