While we were gone, we had left our cell numbers with Greg, the project manager, just in case there were any problems. What we didn't count on was that we only got intermittent cell service while we were out there. We called in to check on things and there was a problem. Something had been mismeasured on the cabinets and we might have to reorder some of them.

When our plane finally landed in Los Angeles, we were pretty anxious to get home and see what the problem was. We got home about 10:30 a.m. and walked into a house that smelled like fresh Maple. That was a nice greeting.

The bottom cabinets are all in. some of the top ones are, too. but that's where the "problem" lies. They were mounted a little higher than Greg and I had planned, so there is a six-inch gap from the top of the cabinets to the ceiling. It's a useless space and looks really funny with the glass-front display cabinets above the windows in the back, which go clear to the ceiling. What Greg and I had planned was a 12-inch gap that could serve as a shelf where I can put out some of my antiques. This will be OK against the other cabinets, since it will look more like a shelf than a gap.

So, to sum up, the upper cabinets have to be moved down on the wall. This also will give us enough clearance to paint the ceiling that, right now, is about three shades of white.

This morning, Efrem, the guy installing the cabinets got here about 7:30 a.m., which normally would have been before I was dressed, but Gabe is still on central time and woke up about 5 a.m. So, he got started putting plywood on top of the base cabinets in preparation for installing the countertops. They guy who will be cutting the countertops will measure everything on Wednesday.

The crew putting in the floor arrived about 10:30 a.m. and started putting down the backer board on the floor. It's now 3 p.m., and they have all but three or four pieces of the tile down and will be preparing to put in the grout.

I just asked and they'll be finished today. I have to say it looks pretty good with the cabinets. It's really starting to shape up.