Appliance Compliance

Well folks, here they are. The latest state-of-the-art fancy-pants kitchen appliances we've all been waiting for. Looks like a million bucks, if you ask me. Looks like a magazine kitchen. Or a Food Network Studio Kitchen. If only I had a video camera with which to film myself cooking up a storm. I used to play "Cooking Show" a lot as a kid, stirring a bowl of cookie batter with gusto, all the while smiling out into the empty den at the invisible cameras.

Sp we skipped spring here in Oxford. Went from 35-degree nights in early March to 91-degree days in late March. Came in like lion and out like bowl of two-alarm chili. But, I am looking forward to the blistering summer because for the frist time, we can enjoy that Gulf Breeze I keep hearing about on the front porch of 626.

Have a swell weekend, dedicated readers. I'll be in touch.

Counter Culture

God created the world in seven days. This house has taken a little bit longer. But, I think it's safe to say that we have rounded third and are headed into home. Baseball season is upon us and I really had no choice but to use that analogy.

Today's pictures are pretty cool. The countertops have been installed at 626! Dad says they're so strong you could tap dance on them. Now who wouldn't love to see that! It took all those big guys to bring them in. Once guy had to get in the sink so they could fit it in right. Fascinatin'!

Next I hope we can see some sink pictures, then maybe some appliances. We're getting so close I can already taste the trout amandine.

May the force be with you.

Stair Thee Well

Greetings loyal readers. I hope you are all warming up wherever you live. Just when I thought spring was up and rolling, Oxford has managed to have a few chilly days, but if my allergies tell me anything it's that the bees in the trees are gearing up for my favorite season. Spring Break is just around the corner, the Easter Bunny is working overtime to have all his eggs decorated in time, and my sweet tooth is ready. (I gave up sweets for Lent this year and it's proving to be much more difficult than I had anticipated....) Come April 8, bring on the Cadbury Eggs.

Of course, springtime not only brings April Showers and May Flowers, it also brings a big blue house on Second Street. So, without further ado, here are the pictures of the day.

The stairs. There have never been stairs in the Cassady house. Unless you count the pull-down variety that folded up into the attic. I'm diggin' the cubbyholes under the stairs. Reminds me of Harry Potter's "Cupboard under the Stairs" on Privet Drive.

The kitchen. The kitchen ceiling is the coolest thing about the whole downstairs in my opinion. The "pressed tin" panels harken back to the old downtown shopping days of yore. When we still bought our shoes at Gryder's Buster Brown and our clothes at Salloum's instead of horrid places like Shoe Carnival and Cato. Around Oxford lots of the shops still have these kinds of ceilings. All the cabinets have doors and hardware now.

Lastly there is Molly, the Official Adopted Cat of the Post-Katrina Era. She sits on a newly recovered chair that belonged to my grandparents. Lookin' sharp Molly! Show me love!