A thing of beauty

This may not look like much to you, but to me. . . .

On particularly good days in past months, I'd turn to Ref, point to the work done, and say with a big grin, "A thing of beauty." And this drywall -- here screwed tight by Nate, under Arnold's eagle eye -- is just that. It's in the kitchen, and tomorrow the side walls there go up, in pine paneling. Then I can get the kitchen remeasured, and the cabinets ordered. It's a giant step.

Among today's other steps ahead: We are now the proud renters of Space 401 in Old Town Self Storage, so we're ready to receive the three sofas arriving Thursday from North Carolina.

Also: I picked up the last of the bathroom tile today, the cobalt blue for the master bath. I showed a piece to Arnold, who whistled, pulled out the opalescent accent tiles and the slate floor stones, held them all together, and called the other guys over to look. "You should open a decorating business," he said.

I would, but I have nightmares about clients like Robert and me.