Folly Beach

A few weeks ago we took a week long vacation to Folly Beach, SC. I've been too lazy/busy to post about it...so, here we go.
We had to go to a wedding at the beginning of our trip, but the rest of the time was all surfing (I still suck) and seafood (I can still eat shrimp like no body's business). I started to enjoy, and now I kind of miss, the taste of the saltwater and how it burned my eyes...I don't know...makes me feel alive.

This is the view north east off the balcony of the condo we rented for the week. Stay off the dunes!!
My favorite subject in front of a pineapple fountain in Charleston...they are nuts about pineapples down there...nuts I tell ya!!

Giant agave plant. I'm sure this used to look quite spectacular before the house it decorated was turned to rubble. I thought about making my own tequila...but, then I just kept on living my life.

This was my favorite beach house. Modest, simple, teal, beach house.

Fishing boats on the salt marsh. That green one is for sale if anyone is interested in selling everything, moving to folly beach, and becoming fishermen. Seriously, let's go right now.

Buff

Last week's weather was nice...really nice. I spent every day after work preparing the boat for spring riding. Job #1 was buffing away chalky oxidation to reveal the lustre of this classic beauty. I like the way it turned out.

Before

After

Ode to the Microwave

Invented by accident in 1946 by self taught engineer Dr. Percy Spencer of the Raytheon Corporation, the "RadarRange" was initially 6 feet tall, 750lbs, and cost around $5000. The first counter top model arrived in 1965 at a cost of under $500. By 1975, sales of microwave ovens surpassed that of gas ranges and shortly became more common than household dishwashers. 10 years later, radarrange technology arrived at the Augustyn household and lunchtime would never be the same. The 1985 GE space maker model you see below is the first microwave my parents ever bought and it has followed me everywhere I have lived since. 25 years of outstanding service and still works as well as it did when new. Bravo. Retired as a result of my recent kitchen renovation, this little unit arrived at it's final resting place in hillman last weekend. As a reward for 25 years of service, it shall serve the rest of it's days heating sandwiches and popcorn for generations to come.

Melted ham and cheese
Made well for twenty five years
Retire up north

Kitchen (#8)

Basically done. There are a few little things to do still, but kitchen blogging will end with #8. Caulked all the non-grouted tile joints, outlet covers, shelves, trim, yadda, yadda, yadda. I'm taking a break now.

Bingo.
Bingo.

Bingo.

Kitchen (#7)

Read like Astronaut Jones.

Right.

What??

Word.

Dig.

Kitchen (#6)

Just when you think you're almost done, you realize the floor had been cut out around the old cabinets and there are two unsightly holes where sub floor would be visible. Nice. Fortunately the laminate floor is really easy to take up and put back down...and I had an extra box of planks in the garage. Endeavor to persevere.

Floor Up and everything moved. Let the expletives fly.

An hour later everything was back together and the doors were on the cabinets and the microwave was installed. See, I told you laminate floor is really easy to take up and put back down.

Microwave. Boo-Ya!!

Refrigerator side with doors installed.

Kitchen (#5)

Saturday's progress. Old sink base cabinets and dishwasher out, new wall cabinets installed. Albot happened to be in town and came over later in the evening to help me celebrate the Chinese new year. Sunday's progress was excruciatingly slow...