Operation "Replace the Floor"

Labor Day at the Houghtons is frequently interpreted a little differently than in most other places.  Old habits die hard, and when Denise thinks of labor she likes to have a project. And a couple of weeks ago this one jumped into our awareness, so there was no escaping.  It seems that some smallish pests had crept from their subterranean lairs to feast upon the fine Birch floor in the kitchen.  So labor day weekend finds Tess and Levi seeking revenge, tearing up the hollow floor boards that had squashed when sat upon.

 Of course to make the project go a little faster required the introduction of power tools.  

Six or seven cuts and the floor was history.

 In head to head competition, Levi's slam and stomp on the small pry bar beat out the team of Mom and Tess with a large wrecking bar, and Dad working alone with the other pry bar.  Kind of scary to discover that we have so many tools for demolition.  But the result of the application of blood, sweat and power tools was total removal of kitchen floor in one day.

 Here's is where we store the world's most expensive fire wood.  

Yes that would be the wood shed!

 Wood all removed, we decided to take out the slate entry left at the end of Saturday.

Sunday was a painful recovery day, but Labor Day morning we were back at it, pulling out the french doors in the entry to check for any more little snacking spots.  Found some, but nothing damaging so we started with the rebuilding phase.  New slate finish laminate was the flooring of choice and chief installer, Denise, went to work.  By 4:45, with much assistance from the faithful Tess, she had half of the kitchen floor covered.  (Did we mention Eliza and Marta worked guarding the lake on Saturday and Monday?  

Smart girls!)

Denise would have finished the floor on Monday but we were saved 

by an invitation to the Spangler's big Labor Day bash.  

So we were forced to take a break and let Denise finish up over the next few days....

(the healing of sore muscles and knees, and picking 10 boxes of peaches, 

along with keeping up with the weekly activities slowed progress just a bit).

.

By Thursday the floor was complete sans the missing trim

(which will go back in next week)  

So with substantial completion, Mark, Eliza and Levi decided to take a couple of days off for a road trip to Tahoe. They left at 4:30 on Friday afternoon and drove to Tahoe where they camped for the night.  Saturday morning, and after a leisurely breakfast of fresh peach scones, hot chocolate and omelette they headed for the trail-head.  The goal was the summit of Mount Houghton (named after the famous--or infamous--Houghtons of the Donner party).  Unfortunately, the combination of altitude stricken stomachs, sleeping in, and Saturday night party commitments, precluded a successful summit celebration.  However, the trip did provide Dad with a much clearer vision for what will be required to climb the mountain next time.

 Yes, and while we were tripping around Tahoe, Denise was tripping around Modesto with Tess and her water Polo team.  Unfortunately for Tess, Mom didn't take any pictures, so the picture of Marta's team will have to suffice.  Tess did score goals, make great steals, get sunburnt, and be a great defender on her "Frosh/Soph" team!

 And after some soul searching and shuffling of classes, Marta found herself playing in the Golden Regiment band for the opening home game of the Sonora Wildcat football season.  She did get home in time on Friday night to get a good night's sleep before travelling to Modesto for her ACT test Saturday morning!

Sunday evening we had our weekly video chat with Luke, who still hasn't learned to close his closet before he turns on the camera.....He's surviving at school, although his "care package" requests indicate he believes he is living in Siberia.

Overall a busy week, which kept everyone running, but left us all in good spirits, ready to take on the next one (sort of...)!

Mark (at the behest of Marta, with editing by Tess)