We're in!

The level says it's perfect, just as we expected.
From left, Jerry, John the Plumber, Max

It's complicated

Max the Apprentice joined our crack plumbing installation team today, helping Jerry and John for the finale of a week-long ballet of equipment,  complex installations and mud and paint drying times.
Today John put nipples on the copper and connected the gas, joined the dryer vent to the dryer, connected the water lines to the washer, installed the drain pipe and connected the steam hose to the dryer and. . . plugged 'em in. Spaces are tight, and John made the most of it. We're very pleased with the fit, which maximized a limited space, adding functionality to the layout.
We're washing and drying laundry as this is written, Wanda (washer) and Dora (dryer) like their new spaces and hopefully will perform these important duties without flagging for another decade or so.

Sosie, meet Wanda and Dora

We truly hope the walls and floors need never be seen again.
There's still plenty of work left to do to finish the room, but we're taking a break. Our company's here.

Cooler on the river. . .

Stan's kayak, Jennifer's feet, Cannon River, lazy morning.
(What are you doing with your phone in a tippy kayak, Jennifer? Oh yes, the river isn't deep so you don't have a life vest on either, right? We'll try not to worry.)

Now arriving, Humphrey Terminal 2

Last April, Sosie brought her son, Zachary.
Here they are stepping out onto the Gurthrie Endless Bridge.

Stan's sister Sosie arrives today from California to spend a week in Minnesota, just in time to enjoy what may be a record heat wave for August. This is State Fair Week and the 10 p.m. weatherman isn't sure if we'll have the hottest stretch ever for the Fair, but he's going to look it up, because he thinks so. Sosie will spend blocks of her time with her mother in Bloomington, but we have some events planned  as well. . . most all of them air-conditioned. We'll keep you posted, of course.

Ready for final installation

Washer connections in the box on the left, dryer vent
and gas line in the middle, pass-through on the right.

New walls cover the new plumbing in the laundry room, just in time for Monday's installation plan. The washer and dryer will fit into this cubicle, with a scootch left over on the right for a laundry pass-through from the master closet.
The appliances are almost five feet high, eye level for Katie, so a shelving system will be mounted above.
John the plumber, at right, will make the gas and dryer connections around noon tomorrow. Alas, none of his lovely work will ever be seen --- nor will most of the mudding and taping and painting done by the homeowner.
Monday is wash day, right? We'll be ready.

Have a look at Briggs and Lynn's new apartment in D.C.

Our niece, Briggs, and her husband, Lynn, have just posted a brief tour of their new apartment.
Click here for the walk-through and commentary.

Laundry Room project update

The plumbing is buttoned up, the sheetrock has been taped and mudded, the new floor cut up and screwed down, painted and urethaned.
Tomorrow, more mud, grout; Sunday, paint, Monday the plumber comes back at noon to hook up the washer and dryer.
A good thing. We're running out of underwear.

Hey Look! Kathleen's at The State Fair!

Where's Kathleen in the audience? Look above Pat Evans in the photo. She's peeking out over the center of Pat's head. She dropped by the KARE11 Barn today to see the Midday show, which included a compelling interview with a vendor who makes bacon and candy cannolis (photo at right ) and another in-depth interview with the inventor of the "new" sausage and pancake breakfast on a stick with a syrup cup.

Art Barn favorite. Welded stone and steel.

Knee deep in our plumbing

John the Plumber

Construction update:
John and Jerry finished the laundry rough-in at 3:30 today, leaving a note and a pressurized gas line for the inspector, who will be here tomorrow at 9.

Aaron the Nephew

We think John the Plumber reminds us a lot of our sweet nephew, Aaron.  Maybe it's just his polite, unassuming manner, but we both had the idea.
Tom, our wise neighbor, says he was told by a plumber relative that plumbing is easy. You just remember three things: that the hot is on the left, water runs down hill, and don't ever chew your fingernails.
John and Jerry had heard that old joke before, but chuckled anyway, and added their own version. They'll be back next week for final hookup.

Before. . .

Big day in the Rolfsrud laundry today.
Master plumbers will arrive mid-morning to rough-in the washer and dryer connections so that we can reorganize our mud room into a more functional space.
Barry and his brother will do the honors, a complicated re-arrangement of pipes and ducts. Stan pulled the cabinets and opened the floor and walls for their convenience. They will move hot and cold water, the dryer vent, the floor drain and roof vent as well as the gas connection. The 20 amp electrical is already in.
Functional space can be a lot of work. Barry says they'll be done this afternoon and ready for the inspector. (The official one from the city.)

So far. . .

Drain to the basement, stack through the attic 12:15 p.m.