We live in an old old church. Built 1935. The basement and addition was added in 1950. I think. Anyway, it's your basic basic church kitchen. I have two large sinks, a gas stove, huge cupboards with sliding doors and some without doors at all. It's all mismatch throw together. Did I mention I hate being down there?
We live on the main floor - tv, school room, office and library, dining room (yes, my kitchen is in the basement and the dining room on the main floor). Oh and the fridge is on the main floor too! So I run lots of stairs!
The tough thing is that because the kids are mostly upstairs it's hard to make meals and do clean up! I have to make everyone come down with me or deal with mess and or discipline issues while I'm out of the room and on another level! IT IS SUCH A PAIN.
Well, today dh went down (and I went with him) to cook some eggs. He seriously couldn't find a clean spot on the counter to put down the carton of eggs and the sausage. There wasn't a clean pot and the stove is a mess. He lost it and so did I.
We are in such a transition (he was off work since mid-January and he got a new job). Transition is so hard for me to begin with. And he's going back to work - mostly nights. And I'm newly pregnant. So that's two big changes in the last two weeks. Needless to say, I haven't been keeping up with anything.
Well, he went out for a smoke to settle down and I got the bigger girls helping me. We had the kitchen in shape in less than 20 minutes. He came back in and offered me a drinkable yogurt.
He said, "if you work at keeping this kitchen clean, I'll work at getting the kitchen in upstairs. In fact, I'll go talk to Mo right now and see what we need to do to get it done." (Mo is a cabinet maker!!!)
It's a HUGE job. Right now it is full of dh's tools; it's his work room and our front entrance. The walls are insulation (not even plasticked over) and then the outside world! lol. There is no electrical, no plumbing, no gas lines. There is no drywall. There is some outdoor structure that has to be done. It is a HUGE and expensive project.
I know that those two things - huge and expensive - are two reasons it kept getting moved lower and lower on the list. I was looking at 5 -10 years before I had a real kitchen.
So, he's gone to speak with Mo. I have to keep up my end of the bargain. I have to keep that kitchen that I do have in decent shape. I think I can do it.
My plan is to in the evening, put one of the older girls on bath / baby duty and I'll get the kitchen clean. If they'd rather trade, I can do the baths and the baby care and they can do the kitchen, but my main goal is to have the kitchen in shape every evening.
Striving to learn and live God's purposes,
3 comments:
Great plan. Keep at it and it will be worth it. Even if the new kitchen is a long way off, it will be a great satisfaction to have your basement one spick and span. I love being in my own kitchen.(Not fancy) It is the hub of our home. I always say that is where I put my love into action!
I hope yours will be the same.
P.S. Any possibility of putting a small table down in your kitchen to save some running up and down, and feed the kids there when dad is not home?
And congratulations to you and hubby on the good news! I think I missed the pregnancy annoucement. When is your baby due?
This exciting...I hope it all comes together for you! I can relate to the dungeon kitchen feeling, mine is in the middle of our house and has no windows and it really isn't open to the other rooms so you feel all alone while you're in there. We did redo the whole thing last year and that helped make being in there a little more appealing. I'm sure it won't happen over night but it will be lovely when it's done!
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