Better Use of S P A C E

 Hola!

 I've rec'd some emails asking questions about the vacant corner in our kitchen ...

the upper corner (left of the sink) had this cabinet ...

 ... it was such poor use of space ... I couldn't see what was in the cabinet ... 

(and if you're like me)

"OUT OF SIGHT -- OUT OF MIND"  

So we ripped it out when we saw this picture ...

Debra's Kitchen in NY

it completely opened my little world to a BETTER USE OF SPACE

(all those glass jars make my heart go pitter-patter)

living in a cozy cottage ... you HAVE to look at space different

it has to look pleasing to the eye BUT every nook and cranny 

MUST BE FUNCTIONAL!

Thus, the corner will become my baking nook

jars will hold dry goods like flour, sugar, cornmeal, and various grains ... fun!

the corner under the shelves-to-be will house the Kitchen-Aide Mixer

see the two drawers ... they are filled with measuring spoons, 

rolling pin, pastry cutter, ect.

the upper cabinets hold baking supplies like vanilla, baking powder, 

baking soda, cocoa, thickeners, tapioca and mixing bowls 

the cabinet below left houses vinegars, oils, and a big ol' tub of shortening 

the cabinet below right has this new feature ...

a trash can nooked away

:O)

Dan and I won this at Kitchen World's Grand Opening Night

I LOVE free! 


I love a bargain ... but "free" has to beat all.

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Wanna see more inspiration of open-shelving in the kitchen?

I'll keep you posted on the baking nook ... for now sweet cornbread is being

baked weekly to go with that yummy fall favorite ... chili!

Note:  I hope to post more pics about Debra's Kitchen in NY ... it is amazing ... she taught

            me that you can have the kitchen you want ... just think outside the box ... and don't 

            do what everybody else is doing. 

Happy Fall my friend!

Sundays are for Resting

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

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rest in Him my friends ...

So What Do You Do When Life Runs So Fast You Can't Catch Up?

Well, my dear friends.  To say life got a little busy ... is a complete understatement.  Wow.  One minute we were on vacation at the lake house in NH ... the next minute we were into a back-to-school routine.  And once that moment comes ... you gotta hang on hard to your britches ... time flies!

Davis (our oldest son - will be 10 soon) was suppose to have surgery (his twelfth ... but who's counting?!) in August ... but due to circumstances that could not be controlled ... it was rescheduled for December.  He was relieved ... and it really did work out because he would have missed out on the several weeks of summer fun.  This way he can still play flag-football!  It is all about sports for him :O)

So I say all of that because I think to myself, "Gina, are you nuts for trying to do a blog about your cottage-thang when your life is so busy?"  And then I answer myself, "Yes, you are completely nuts ... you've got two small (medium) boys that have their own medical issues (nothing life threatening -- just a part of our life journey), and a wonderful husband who loves to eat home-cooked meals, plus I'm trying to work a part-time job at the school the boys attend, also serving in a couple of ministries at our church and attempting to do a kitchen re-do on top of it all."

Wow ... when I write it all out ... it does sound like a lot.  

:O)

I hesitate to show you pictures ... because I can only see the stuff that still needs to get done

 ...sigh ...

but I'm among friends ... right?

So after weeks of filth, dry-wall dust, sub-flooring, no-running water in the kitchen, and missing counter-tops ... we have something to show for our work ...

 Do you remember what it looked like before?

  

before ...

 

after ...

before ...

after ...

 

before ...

 

after ...

what you see below was the toughest part of the whole project ...

Dan says, "there should be a rule that says ... the operator of the sink should weigh less than the sink!"  

it is sooooooooo   H  E  A  V  Y  !

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Mom, what do you think? 

Mom was with us during the grit the grime and the muck!  

Thanks mom for all the tomatoes you canned this summer in a kitchen that 

really didn't even exist ... we love you!

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So ... my hope is that I can blog about all the fun things that happened along the journey ... the sink, the faucet, that new dishwasher ... and did you see the frig?!  CRAIGSLIST FIND!  Amazing ... can't wait to share all the "wow" moments.

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What still needs to happen?  

Subway Tile Back Splash

Bar Stools

Hardwood Flooring

Pantry Re-do

Mud-Room

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So good to be with y'all again!

Happy Fall!