Is it December already? Time flies when we are having fun. And I have had fun this year. Not as much travel as I would have normally done, but we did have a nice visit to New York, and a quiet away from people week at Lake Tahoe. I have had lots of fun at home, I love to cook, and I have had lots of time to do that. I read cookbooks, not just look up a recipe - I look for books that have a narrative and I read them. Then I get randomly inspired to create something. I have had some nice walks, read some great books. Work has been busy, we were short handed early in the year with someone leaving for a new opportunity, it has taken some time to get the new person up to speed, she is an incredible addition to our team, I hope she stays.
We are starting the process of planning a kitchen replacement. Gut the room to the walls, move things around, all new cabinets, flooring, appliances. The only thing that stays is the washer/dryer I bought last summer. It will be late spring before the work starts, it will take 2-3 weeks. The bids are already more than I paid for my first house 40 years ago, and we haven't picked out appliances yet. We are maximizing what can be done, in the rather limited space we have to work with. Only once have I ever had a custom kitchen, the last house I built for myself in Florida. And every time I worked in it, I enjoyed things being where I wanted them (even if the cabinet guy did mess up and forget two-feet of cabinet and countertop.) We are dreaming of a prettier and more functional space, and YES it WILL HAVE UPPER CABINETS.
I talked with my middle brother last week. He retired last February. He sounded good. He has adjusted to being in charge of his time, to changes. It sounds like he has a new routine, a different day to visit the doctors, once a week driving across town to his favorite fast food restaurant for lunch. We all thrive on routine, and Gary especially does. He sounded like he is finding ways to manage his own. He reminded me that he is still storing a large framed family tree from Dad's house for me, I need to drive to Florida someday.
Oh boy a kitchen remodel! I did one for two guys I know, and it wrapped in August, what a planning and undertaking that was during a pandemic...it was my first kitchen for an interior design project...and it went easy, because for them price was no object. I've been meaning to post the finished project. And they went the complete opposite...no cabinet above!!! They wanted wood craved open shelfing to showcase their dinnerware collection and crockery.
ReplyDeleteI need easy access and to fit the most into a limited space, I don't bend over very well, so lower cabinets need drawers and pull outs. We had a bit of a difference with the first contractor, and are getting a second opinion.
DeleteWe've put in three kitchens from scratch and generally they all worked well. This one now was a remodel and it is fine too. Take before and after photos please.
ReplyDeleteI guess Gary lives alone. I initially found some guilt at doing little other than pleasing myself with what I did, but no guilt now.
Since I moved out in 1982, Gary has lived alone.
DeleteThe before pics might be too embarrassing to post. The kitchen is untouched from when they built the building, full 80's kitchen fashion! 😫
DeleteI think a lot of people forget to take care of themselves and do the things they enjoy. We do need to put ourselves first, especially these dyas, or else we're no good to others either.
ReplyDeleteWe are also planning a kitchen redo, though we love the way the room is arranged. We won't moved any water or gas or those things but new cabinets and counters and floors and counters and backsplashes.
And we will have some open shelving, but most will be closed ...and uppers!
This is about the most intense of a December I can remember in decades
DeleteA new kitchen would be a wonderful gift! I recently found a folder where I had saved a magazine spread of a beautiful kitchen. It was from a 1980 magazine. It was fun to see how out dated it was and to realize it was my dream kitchen at one time.
ReplyDeleteIf it is good, wait long enough and it will come back into style
DeleteHey, if you like outdated 80's we'll sell you our current kitchen! 😊
ReplyDeleteHahahahahahahaha
DeleteA custom kitchen will be fantastic! Something to look forward to!
ReplyDeleteIf I don't die from the price
DeleteYou best keep some smelling salts at the ready toots.
DeleteThe penguin may have to loan me the pearls to clutch.
DeleteGood luck with the kitchen reno. We had ours done a few years ago and, while it was hell in the process, we love it and it was well worth it.
ReplyDeleteSassybear
www.idleeyesandadormy.com
Not looking forward to the process, the result
DeleteGood luck with the kitchen; we are long overdue to do ours.
ReplyDelete