Eric thinks he can lift a 4000 lb dumpster (just an inch)! (Plus Days 220-224)

Things are moving along in the new Dattolo house, though not always as fast as we'd like.  That's how this stuff goes, right?  Big renovations always take a little more time and a little more money than you originally plan but you just have to hope that in the end you'll be left with something beautiful.  Meanwhile, when things aren't going at the pace you hoped, it has to be okay to have a little fun along the way and make light of the situation. :)

Umm... yeah.  Not gonna happen, Eric!

Notice the yawn??? Sure sign of a not-so-productive day. LOL

Was it unplugged the WHOLE time??? :)  Goobers.

I started the week with some great grilled meatless meals.  Check out my grilled vegetable tostadas from Monday and my grilled zucchini paninis from Tuesday night.  Wednesday (Day 220) we had grilled chicken quesadillas.  On Thursday night we ordered pizza and my sister-in-law brought over a delicious blueberry coffee cake!  Friday night Randy and I had an impromptu date night and we went to the Pub 99 and then to a martini bar in downtown Fitchburg (only a 2 minute drive from our house).  Saturday (Day 223) we fired up the grill again for a hot dog lunch and then I made barbeque chicken and grilled potato packets for supper. (Recipe follows.)  It's demolition weekend here so by dinner on Saturday, we literally didn't have a kitchen:

So you can see, no sink, no stove, no countertops.  I now use the "office" as my kitchen so that's where I prepared the potato packets. 

I wash dishes in the bathroom sink, so we have to be extra careful to throw away all food particles before dishes get washed.  The day-to-day will become more tedious before it gets better, but I can see the dim light at the end of the tunnel!!!  I'm so thankful for the help we've received and for having an incredibly awesome husband working so hard on this place and even stopping to take me out on dates. 

We don't always see eye-to-eye on projects like this, but by pushing each other, I think things come out better in the end.  It's also so important for us to remember to take time out for each other so we get a break from the stress and a chance to reconnect.  Sometimes I'm envious of couples who seem to work so well together when it seems like such a chore for Randy and I to get along at times during large projects like this.  But I think we're learning how to strike a good balance.  :)  I'm grateful for a strong marriage on a strong Foundation and for the fact that despite all the stress, we haven't gone to bed angry with each other once during this process.  (It may help that we've each been able to wield a sledge-hammer at some point during the day while we demo!) ;)

Barbeque Chicken & Grilled Potato Packets
1 package chicken legs & thighs

1/2 cup barbeque sauce
olive oil
Tastefully Simple's bayou bourbon glaze
Tastefully Simple's sweet & smoky BBQ seasoning
4 large, red potatoes (1 per person)
1/2 onion, finely chopped
2 tsp stone-ground mustard (1/2 tsp per person)
salt, pepper

In a large ziploc bag, combine the chicken parts, the barbeque sauce, a drizzle of olive oil, the bourbon glaze, and a few sprinkles of the BBQ seasoning.  Close the bag and mix all of the ingredients together with your hands.  Let the chicken marinate in the mixture for an hour or 2 before putting them on the grill.
For the potatoes, set out 4 pieces of aluminum foil (1 piece per person you want to serve).  Dice the potatoes and place 1 diced potato on each piece of aluminum foil.  Equally distribute the finely chopped onion and mustard.  Season each serving with salt and pepper and a drizzle of olive oil.  To fold, make a tent with the foil and roll down the top.  Then fold in the sides.  Place the packets on the grill with the chicken.  If you don't leave room for steam to escape from the foil, the potatoes will cook faster as the steam will help soften them.  Serve with a salad on the side.