Ya do what ya gotta do

As soon as we had this house under contract, we started filling up a storage unit with the boxes that got packed and ready and the furniture we wouldn't be needing for a month.

I also spent time seeking out the perfect long table for our new dining room.

I found one - an 8 seater - for $200 (I think) and we stashed it in the storage unit as well.  I was so excited that our family could fit around ONE table with non-folding chairs.  Yeah, our dining room used to be that small.  

This is how it used to be.  8 great seats, a little worn, just right for us.

Well, stuff happens.  We beat up on the table and chairs pretty good.  It was old to start with, but we made it look REALLY old in 2 years' time. 

This summer Strider refinished the table top for me.  He did a fantastic job.  The newest problem was the chairs.  Oh boy.  One broke.  Then another.  

See, with 8 chairs we had one to spare, but losing two was no bueno.

I shopped around on the classifieds (because I buy nearly nothing new that I can get used) to find a set of chairs.  But who has 8 matching, wonderful, affordable, black chairs for sale?  

No one.  But wait - how about 4 chairs?  

That's precisely what I did.  I found 4 chairs that I thought would coordinate well enough with our current set, and I bugged the seller enough that she lowered the price into my range just to get me to shut up about it, and now I have an eclectic mix of dining chairs that totally works.

Voila!  Maybe someday I'll recover the seats so they all match.  And maybe I won't.

Wanna know a secret? I think I like it even better than the original matching ones.  Shhh.  AND I still have 2 extra.  Insurance policy.

Room by room: kitchen

I realized I never showed you my kitchen.  It's one of the biggest blessings of this home.  

So right off the main room of the house is the doorway to the kitchen.  Yes, people coming to my front door can basically see my sink.  Eek!  But hasn't proved to be too much of a problem. Yet.

The storage space is 3x+ what I had in my last little home.  Not an exaggeration.  

See the cinnamon rolls cooling on the stove?  Mmmm.

This last week as I stood at the sink I have been watching the buds on the peach tree swell.  They'll be open by the end of the week.

Spring is so pretty!

Standing in the opposite doorway, the one leading into the laundry room.

I moved my baking items out of plastic rubbermaid canisters and into glass.  They look nicer, are more accessible, and hold more.

My workhorse, aka Kitchenaid. 

Most of my prep work is done right here.  Pans are below, fridge to the left.  Most of what I need is in reach.

And those cinnamon rolls!  Oh, sorry.

Bonus cabinet.  Wonder what it is?

It's the original ironing board cupboard, turned shallow spice rack.  Cute huh?

One day this room will get a new paint color.  Maybe even the cabinets stained a richer color.  I'd love to paint them white, but with the counters and tile all beige I don't think that's best.  But none of that is at the top of the priority list.  I'm too busy being happy in my new house.

So there's my spot.  I spend SO much of my day in here.  What a blessing it is to me.

Counter space!

I hinted the other day that we changed something in the kitchen...

Our gift from my parents this year was an over-the-range microwave.  What an important thing in a tiny kitchen!

Strider raised the cupboard 4 inches to accommodate the micro.

Once he was able to run a wire to the top cupboard for an outlet, the rest of the install was pretty easy (or so he says).

Now I have a counter for my important papers file, my toaster, bread box and baking canisters:

And one that is all open for....ANYTHING!  What a wonderful work space:

We love it!!!

Measuring cups organized

I have wonderful OXO measuring cups that I really do like.  I have gone thru various sets during my marriage but these have lasted the longest.  One problem, the painted measurement markings have worn off and I have to guess what size they are.  I'm pretty proficient in the kitchen and can eyeball things well, but when I'm in a hurry I don't want to stop to make sure my 1/2 cup isn't really a 2/3 cup by mistake.

I saw some blogs recently that have made a rack for inside their cupboard door to hold/label their cups and I knew it would be great for me.

Here is the cupboard where they are kept.

Step 1:  Fit a piece of wood to the inside cabinet opening

Step 2: Line up your cups and place a pencil mark where each hook will go

Step 3: Screw in your cup hooks.  Make sure they're big enough.  (My first ones weren't).

Step 4: Try it out

You may wonder why I don't have a spot for my 1 cup measure - it's because it's kept in the sugar canister.  I have another 1 cup in my flour.  It's just convenient that way.

Step 5: Label!  This is a great excuse to break out the label maker.  I love my Brother P-Touch.

Ta-da!  Hang with foam mounting squares and you're done.

 

Huge, big, massive OOOPS

On Sunday Strider and I tried to catch a tiny nap after church.  It wasn't working.  The kids were making Ramen noodles for lunch and squabbling over it the whole time.  Finally I just got up and came downstairs.  I shooed them away and tried to salvage the overcooked noodles so they could eat and I set the pan on my counter next to the sink  for about 30 seconds.  I held it with one hand while I grabbed bowls to dish it into with the other.  Something smelled funny and I picked up the pot.  I had burned the counter. 

One side of the pot burned the edge while the other burned the interior.  I have lived in this house (with the same 80's laminate countertops) since 1997 and I put my hot pans directly on the counter ALL THE TIME.  I have never had any discoloration or even the hint of a burn. Until Sunday they looked identical to the day we moved in.  My best guess is that our new flat top stove cooks hotter than I am used to, and that it no longer comes off the burner at a temp that's okay to put on this surface.

I am still absolutely in shock and I am totally sad, mad at myself and devastated.  Now don't get me wrong, I don't like the counters.  Last spring, when we had a little tax money we got estimates on granite and manufactured stone renovations.  We choked at the $$$$ prices.  There is no way on earth we can replace these.  And the laminate wood grain surface means I can't paint it, cover it, or replace just a section. 

I can't even bear to go in the kitchen without getting depressed over it and playing the "if only" game.  Here is a close up of the worst spot.  It's completely bubbled up here and a few pieces have chipped away already.  Since it's not just a cosmetic eyesore and the integrity of the finish is compromised anyway I am thinking of sanding the spots.  I know it's just particle board underneath, so I guess I'd have to put a lacquer on those areas to protect it.  I don't know.  At least from across the room people wouldn't be glaringly reminded of my mistake.

Tell me honestly - what would you do?  I'll go back to crying and wait for your suggestions.