We have a friend named Bill. He used to install kitchens. His wife, Mary, is my dear friend too. These lovely people took pity on Jay and me, learning that Jay was about to install our kitchen cabinets at our new river house, all by himself.  

Because of Bill and Mary, we really do almost have a kitchen. Really, the cabinets were almost all installed, until they realized where the spice cabinet had to go. It meant unscrewing half the cabinets to get it in where it belonged. It is not a normal cabinet.

Jay went to our cabinet people’s showroom (LCN in Windsor–great people), and looked at how to install the spice rack cabinet (which even our cabinet company says the installers hate, it is so difficult).  

Last night, Bill and Jay (and Mary) installed it. I mostly tripped over the floor outlets for the island cooktop. They do not invite me to help installations. I am the Home Depot errand person.

After the spice rack was installed they tackled the installation of our oven. It is a 30″ wall oven. Our cabinet guy, Norm at LCN says it will fit.  Our sales person, Donney, at Sears both think a 30″ oven will fit into a 30″ base cabinet, with a little creative woodwork. Jay wasn’t sure.  He measured once, he measured twice, he measured thrice. Admittedly, it’s a tight squeeze.    

Now the 30″ base cabinet is cut out and ready.

Jay still isn’t sure, but Bill says it will work.

It is very, very close and requires major surgery on a $300 base cabinet.  And, when I say surgery, I mean there is now a base, and 1/8″ on each side, no back and a 12″ hole for the electric wire. But, hey, if it can hold the 30″ oven, it has done its job! If it works, we can get countertops soon.

That is the soon we have all been waiting for…as in “almost a kitchen.”  

Tonight will tell the tale. It is going to be very interesting.

I considered a 33″ cabinet (six more weeks of waiting for a kitchen);

I considered a 27″ oven (I really like making pizza and cookies–so no small cookie sheets and pizza pans for me!). Jay loves pizza and cookies.

We will see. It is going to be very interesting, very, very close. Oh, I said that.

Pictures tomorrow. Here’s a prayin’ and a hoping’! The river house needs a kitchen–soon.