A Kitchen to be Thankful For

After having my dear friend Rosemarie say she was missing my blog posts, I figured I'd better get back to it. (how nice to be missed!) I also realized that in waiting for my house to be spotless to take pictures of it to post, I'd be waiting forever...so here's the kitchen in all of it's getting-ready-for-Christmas glory! I guess that's just the way it is in a real home...there are always dishes in the sink and things on the counter. I have to say, when we first looked at this home I loved almost everything about it--but I was worried about this small galley kitchen. That was one of the things from my old house I really wanted improved upon, and although the actual kitchen size here is quite large and it has beautiful new cabinets and granite countertops, the working area is smaller than I had. Hence the lovely kitchen island that you actually have already seen in a previous post. It's funny tho, so far I haven't even worked on the island top as I thought I would. I am able to do what I need to do in my little galley, but the island has been indispensable as far as extra storage goes. Of course it's a fun place to sit too, and has become the place to eat breakfast and lunch, and do homework.

I LOVE having my desk here in the kitchen. Of course my desk was in my kitchen in the old house, too, but the desk was actually our eating nook. Now I can really spread out and I have a place for everything. (but sadly, not everything is not always in it's place!) I'm still figuring out my work space, I think at some point I will probably put some shelving up above on the wall. It looks very bare right now, I haven't wanted to hang any pictures there yet until I get it all planned out. I'm just happy to have a place to call my own! Plus thanks to my ever-luvin' I've got my music going in my computer with some kick-A speakers, of which I can control with a remote from over at the sink. Nice!

Another thing I love about my kitchen is the view. Out the window in the galley area or the sliding glass doors by the island I can watch the deer go in and out of my wooded back yard. Out the sliding door is a deck, which we haven't been able to use much since we moved in just as it was getting pretty chilly. Eventually we'd like to re-do the deck--it looks kind of precarious and could definitely use a staircase down into the yard. All in good time. What would a person do if there weren't updates to make on their house??

And speaking of kitchens, whether you spent a lot of time in yours or not I hope you all had a very nice Thanksgiving. I only had to make a couple of pies and the infamous candied yams to take up to Connie's in Park Rapids. It was a lovely holiday indeed that we spent not only with her but also with my brother and his son Miles. We even got to cut down our own Christmas tree from the Wenger's lot--thank you Nikki and Arnie! Christmas has indeed officially blown up in our house already. I guess I'm finally feeling ready. Are you?

Everything Rocks

Kitchen Nirvana, that's all I can say. Not only do I have my very own desk in my kitchen, but I now have a glorious center island to call my very own. (okay, I guess I will share it with my family...!) A big thanks to Greg, who took time out of his busy Saturday to come over for a few and help Cory with a few of the final touches he needed to get it done. It actually still needs a back piece, but no matter to me since this was what was required in order for me to start getting my stuff in it. yeah! All of the kitchen boxes are finally unpacked and the things inside them in their rightful places. (well, of course there could always still be one lurking in the garage...but one thing at a time here.) Kitchen Nirvana, and Organizational Nirvana. I LOVE organizing. At one point Coreman started to put a pot in a drawer which immediately warranted a finger up from me...no one touches my kitchen drawers/shelves in an organizational capacity but me. One could say I am a bit anal about such things, or maybe a kitchen control freak?! But there it is. (quite honestly I don't think the Coreman cares much if I take this job over...!) Having a ROCKIN' center island that one can store, prepare and sit around, well, rocks. I'm loving it.

And speaking of loving it, here's our back yard. Sullivan is sitting on our deck which overlooks it--can you say Rivendell??? I swear, yesterday morning as I listened to the Lord of the Rings soundtrack whilst watching leaves fall in the sunlight that was peeking through the trees, I really did fancy myself an elf for a few short moments. My back yard rocks.

My husband rocks, too. Not only is he working like a crazed IKEA fool, putting all of this stuff together--the center island, bedroom furniture for the kids, 2 desks, a TV stand--but upon moving in he also surprised me with a brand-spankin' new Nano as a house warming present! He asked me for a potholder, and there it was, sitting in the drawer. You'd think I would have asked him why in the world he needed a potholder, but I didn't--that's why I fall for this stuff so easily, I guess. I love my new Nano. I have to say it is quite the improvement from the already ultra-cool one I had before this. I like the shape better, the color screen is phenomenal, and even the controls work better. Plus I have a coolest of cool jazzy red one, of which the purchase of it helps to fight Aids in Africa. Gotta love that.

I'd have to say, right now everything rocks. That's a good thing. Speaking of that, I'd better get rockin' and rollin' and get to more boxes....