When I was younger, before children younger, I could work and carry on a conversation at the same time (without making mistakes), somewhere along the way, I lost that ability. I noticed this big time the last few "get togethers" I hosted.
People will come over, pull out a chair, sit down and talk...which is great, but I can't seem to function when I feel I need to listen to what they are saying, give back some sort of comment and finish what I'm working on. I get flustered...But, if they offer to help, I seem to be able to both carry on a conversation and finish those last minute preparations with no problem. Hmmm, anyone else have this problem???
Before Andy (my chef son) moved to Cincinnati, I helped him prepare and make four luncheons for
Noel at Noon Christmas concerts at our church. Back then, I still had to word my questions and comments just right so he wouldn't take them the wrong way and start an argument, so I was a little nervous attempting to cook with him. I found that my nerves were for nothing, he nicely told me what he needed help with and nicely offered suggestions to make the task easier. Whew, what a relief. After a while I got over the fear of possible arguments and let myself be Me. (this may sound a bit strange, but there was a period of about 3 years where we did not have a good relationship, and barely talked. I am very thin skinned, taking most comments the wrong way, and he liked to challenge and argue and always get the last word in. I finally figured out to stop talking when he started nit picking and it worked. Sort of like a reverse time out. I've always said he would have made a great debator. We have gotten over that horrible phase, thank you God for answering my prayers, and he has figured out a lot since he's moved, about why his Dad and I did the things we did the way we did...what makes us tick.
Anyway, the kitchen is the heart of the home, so people say, and I have to agree. It's comforting to hang out in the kitchen.
We used to have upper cabinets hanging over the peninsula, but I always ended up leaning on the counter and peering under the cabinets at who ever was sitting at the bar. I finally suggested taking them down and using them in the breakfast nook as a sort of hutch. We cut old spindles from our staircase railing and used them for short legs, I took the doors off the back and put in painted beadboard, took off two doors on the front and use that side for my cookbooks and finally I put on a painted top with some trim.
(We are so Green around here it sometimes gets depressing.)
Now I no longer have to lean so far down on the counter, although I do still lean on it.
This kitchen looked totally different when it was my Grandma's kitchen, but we remodeled it when I was pregnant with Andy, because it didn't have a good flow, or enough cabinets, the flooring was very strange, etc. If we were remodeling it now, I would do things much differently, but kitchens are very expensive to remodel and I can live with it the way it is. But, if we ever move, I want a large open kitchen with a huge center island that we can eat at. One like most of you have!
Here is the heart of my home...
you might be able to tell that I love tins...
I have lots more-
in my work room
and on the wall going to the basement
good thing my hubs doesn't hate them ;-)
this was my dinner Wednesday
peanut butter on apples is way better
than peanut butter on toast
I had to share with Annie
Stop and visit these lovely ladies and take a look at their kitchens or what they chose for the word kitchen
