July 22nd through July 28th

July 22^nd through July 28^th 2019:  Monday Chris went to work and I went and bought new stair parts for the remodel.  I tore out the old handrail and installed new newel posts and made the two sides of the stairs the same.  I had to order the new handrail online, so I was not able to install the balusters and handrail, something to do next week.  I also installed wainscoting in the entryway and hall.  

Newel posts and stairs rebuilt. 

New wainscoting and crown in the entryway and hall.

Tuesday with Badger and Moose’s help we got the particle board sub floor removed from the laundry and the new bath.  These floors had only been in a few weeks.  John and Jill decided that they wanted to tile the floors in these two rooms and not have the vinyl be in every room of the main floor.  I then installed concrete board where the particle board had been.  Mom worked the afternoon and evening.  

Particle board coming out.

Particle board removed from the new bath.

Cement board installed.

Cement board installed in the bath.

Wednesday I got up and mudded the sheetrock and then we went into Salt Lake and met Alex and Charlotte’s family, Bryce and Kate’s kids, and John and Jill’s family and we hiked up to the top of Ensign Peak.  For many years it has been a family tradition to hike to the top of Ensign Peak on the 24^th of July to celebrate our pioneer heritage.  I worked the rest of the day getting the curb for the washer drain built, the rubber pan installed, and the concrete poured for the bed for the tile.  Chris and I went to dinner and I had a great rib eye stake and then we met some of our kids and grandkids at Bountiful park for pie.  

This is our group that hiked to Ensign Peak.

Beautiful view of the Salt Lake valley from Ensign peak.

Rubber pan installed for the washer drain.

Cement bed poured for the washer drain.

My steak was delicious.

Thursday mom went to work and I spent the day installing crown molding in the entry, and making all the parts for the paneling on the ends of the cabinets and installing some of the paneling.  

Cement board installed on the curb of the drain.

Moulding installed around the fireplace.

Panels installed on the bar and ends of the cabinets.

Friday we got up early and drove to American Fork and picked up President Faundez and his lovely wife.  They finished being mission president and companion in the Coban Guatemala mission the first of July.  We became good friends serving together for 2 ½ years. We first went to breakfast and then we drove to Manti and went on a session.  I then asked the recorder if he could give us a tour of the temple.  He was very accommodating and took us up the circular staircase to the top of the temple and showed us the attic and the upside down boat that was the roof of the temple.  The story goes that the man put in charge of building the roof did not know how to build such a large roof, but he did have experience building ships.  So he used his knowledge of ship building to frame the roof like a ship only upside down.  He also showed us the priesthood solemn assembly room and some of the sealing rooms.  The Faundez’s really enjoyed the temple and the tour.  We then had lunch in the cafeteria and President Dyreng and his wife came over and sat and talked with us for 15 minutes about our experiences in Guatemala.  Then on our way home, we stopped in Mt.  Pleasant and had a short visit with Mike and Merlene Ellington.  They let us pick apricots and black raspberries from their garden.  We then drove the Faundez’s back to their daughter’s home in American Fork.  We got home about 7:00pm.  It was a great day,  filled with sweet memories of our shared time together in Guatemala.  

Carlos and Therasita Faundez with us at the Manti temple.

Mom picking black raspberries in the Ellington's wonderful garden.

Mike and Merlene Ellington and the Faundez's and their apricots. 

Saturday mom went to Kirstin and James’ home to spend time with their kids.  She is going to tend them for 4 days next week, while they take a short trip to California.  I worked all day and finished installing the paneling on the ends of the cabinets and installing the last of the cabinets in the music/craft room.  John and Jill came home with some tile that they decided will be great in the laundry and new bath.  I laid it out so everyone could see what it will look like.  I have the go ahead to install it this next week.  

Panels on the cabinets installed.

More new panels on the cabinets.

Last of the cabinets installed in the music/craft room.

The tile they picked out for the laundry.

They are going to use the same tile in the new powder room.

Sunday we went to church and had a very quiet and relaxing afternoon working on this blog and taking a nap.