The Kitchen, Infamous Though It May Be

Here it is, in all its non-glory. What it needs?  New counter tops, a new backsplash, a new cook top, a new vent hood, a new floor, the cabinets need to be painted inside and cleaned well on the outside. I'd also like a new (non-mullioned) window with a deep sill, so I could keep herb plants there. The color green on the walls needs to be changed to something a bit sunnier and I could really use a new, stainless-steel microwave.

I got an email from the woman who first contacted me about showing my photo on TV and when they taped the show yesterday, they did use my photo. However, there is no assurance it will remain when they do the final edit of the show. She is going to let me know if it survived the cut and when the show will air - and I will let you know when I do. Meanwhile, if there is any show that would like to re-do my kitchen to show on TV - they are more than welcome!

A Very Good Day

Mr. kenju left on Saturday morning with three friends for a pipe and tobacco show in Richmond. I spent the remainder of the morning packing the van with another load of stuff to donate (I think 3 more loads to donate and 2 going to the local landfill will just about clean out my garage.....YAY!!)

My daughters and two of my granddaughters showed up shortly after lunch and spent the rest of the day with me. They helped clean out a bit more from the garage; my older daughter took some stuff and her girls found a number of things they wanted, which made me happy. I still can't find any takers for the five bridesmaid's dresses. Wouldn't you think someone would want them for Halloween?

We ended our day together by going out to dinner. It was fun to be with most of my girls today. Too bad my daughter-in-law and her two girls couldn't have come too. I really enjoy being with all of them, and the girls are growing up so quickly that every time I see them, they appear to be 3 inches taller than  they were on the last visit.

In my quest to get the garage cleaned out by winter so that I can park in it for the first time in 27 years, I was just about ready to hire someone to haul off an old refrigerator I don't use any longer. Lo and behold, yesterday we got a letter from the power company saying they will pay $50 for old refrigerators and they will come and haul it away!! Now, I ask you, how great is that?  Here I was about to pay someone to take it.....LOL.  Another silver lining....

Edit:  In response to some of the questions raised in the comments:  There are many thousands of men (and women) who smoke pipes and have great interest in trading, buying, selling, talking about and smoking pipes and various types of tobaccos. There are expos and conventions of them all over the US.

An empty garage party? sounds like a good idea (after I paint the walls and clean the floors...)

The power company will take old refrigerators and recycle many of the parts from them and dispose in a safe way the parts that cannot be recycled.That is why they are offering to pay to take them away - so that many of the toxic parts will not end up in the landfill.

What's New?

My new ovens finally came today!! And the best thing was that the installer didn't have to do any electrical work other than hooking it up and he didn't have to cut on the cabinets, as the new set was (were?) a perfect fit!! We don't usually have that kind of good luck, so we were very happy about that!

A great way to keep cool on Father's Day; five of our nine grandchildren enjoying the pool. Our upstairs cooling system malfunctioned yesterday, so when we went to bed last night, the temperature was 81* and muggy. Needless to say, we didn't sleep well. The repairman came early this morning and now we are cool, calm and collected - finally!!

This photo was taken Friday. Storm loves to lie on the bridge from the deck to the pool. Doesn't she look right at home here?

That sweet Jamie Dawn made good on her promise to send postcards from her trip to California.

I got mine Monday.......THANKS, Jamie Dawn, it will make a very nice addition to my growing postcard collection!

I've added a photo I took in 2001. Mr. kenju wouldn't mind, but Miss kenju does not want her photo on the blog (mom rolls her eyes)- so I blocked it out. I really wish I had taken this photo without the people, since it would be a great picture! I love the color of the water and the angle we got by walking down almost under the bridge.

The day we were there, a lot of guys were surfing just to the right of this area, and there are very large rocks and boulders at the water's edge. I don't know how they kept from being crushed on the rocks - or eaten by the sharks we were told inhabit that water! Yikes!

/////\\\\\

We had to buy a new refrigerator today. Our 24 year-old one started peeing all over the floor; the plastic line carrying water to the ice maker has sprung a leak. Since we don't care to walk through great puddles every time we come into the kitchen (and the cats really hate it), it was imperative that we buy another. So we have signed our monetary life away to Se*rs for a stainless steel, bottom mount freezer.

In my garage, I have 2 old refrigerators with the freezers on the bottom and I loved every minute of having them. As tall as I am, using a refrigerator with everything at or near eye-level is wonderful. But for the past 24 years, we have had a side-by-side, with water and ice in the door. About 10 years ago, the water line broke and our repairman decided he wanted nothing to do with replacing it. He suggested that we buy a new one then, but I couldn't see replacing a perfectly good unit. It was fine, as long as no one attempted to get water from it. The ice line worked fine, until last week. That was also about the time that the old green Am*na in the garage, the one we have had since 1975, bit the dust. Wouldn't it be wonderful if every appliance lasted that long?! The other one was my parent's, a coppertone fridge (so you can imagine how old it is) and it is still working well.

You may be asking why I have 2 refrigerators in the garage. Good question. I use them in my business. They are perfect for storing candles and flowers, along with beverages and the occasional large soup pot when there was no room for it in the kitchen fridge. I also have a 2-door florist cooler, which is only turned on when I have wedding flowers to keep cool and hydrated. Mr. kenju is anxious to get rid of it, since running it results in the electric bill raising sky-high.

So when the delivery men come to install my new stainless unit on Monday, we will have them move the old one to the garage, and the other old green Am*na will be consigned to the appliance graveyard, wherever that may be. Rest in peace you old Am*na, you have served us well!