Insulation is out, and... a possible snag?

First, a big thank you to my friend and neighbor (chronologically, in that order) Ross, for coming over and helping out, and giving Sarah the night off.

He tore the insulation out of the walls, while I removed the final pieces of the soffit frame that were nailed to the ceiling joists, and then we cleaned up even more from the previous nights' demolition.

Inspector Cat examines the work that was done

Without those last framing pieces, it finally looks like a kitchen without a soffit.  I'm sure I'll say the same thing once it's drywalled. 


!!!Possible Snag!!!

Dear diagonal board, why are you right where we want a window?

On the other side of that wall is a wonderful feature of our house, an 18x20 screened in porch.  Our plan was to put a small window, 12-15" high, between the countertop and the upper cabinets, to let light into the kitchen, and to be able to see out onto the porch.  Where we want the window is riiiight about where that outlet is in the middle of the picture.  I need to do more research to determine if, and how, we can safely cut through that board to add the window.  Initial research shows that it's called a "shear stud", or a "let-in", and is used to add strength to the wall, to keep the vertical studs from leaning to the left or right.  Internet tells me modern houses use OSB or plywood sheathing on the exterior, but that doesn't help me.  If we can't put the window in, it's not the end of the world. The window has always been an optional, but very much desired part of this renovation.

I'm pretty thankful that the non-stop heavy demolition work is finally over.  I'm just not cut out for that much manual labor.  There is still plenty of hard work to come, it'll just hopefully be spread out a bit.