Lets Talk...About My Kitchen

Welcome to my kitchen!

Welcome to the very heart of our home. This is where it all happens, the arguing, the laughing, the cooking, dancing, negotiations. It is where people come for comforting hugs, sound advise, great food, good wine, and fun times. This room and this picture tell an awful lot about our lives.

Live well, Laugh often, Love much Those are the words on the bulkhead - the family mantra.

The tiny sign just above the sink says "Families are Forever" I keep it there as a reminder to the person mad as heck at the rest of the clan for making such a damn mess that we're not going anywhere.  

You may notice the knobs are missing from the stove. That's us too. 3 dozen kids have been raised in this kitchen and not one managed to turn on the gas not even accidentally. Nope it took a curious cat a few weeks back to begin filling the house with gas. Now we keep the knobs in the drawer beside the stove.

On the right, that is my beloved dishwasher. It has been through the war in our home, a little battered and shaky but we talk nice to it and it keeps performing.

In the corner is my favourite small appliance - my Kitchen-aid mixer; sturdy, reliable and dependable. Next to it sits my not so favourite appliance, our  fancy shmancy new toaster that sometimes toasts bread, usually burns bagels, refuses to cooperate without being plugged in and ignores the lift toast request on a regular basis. I should throw it out the window but I'm determined to work through the growing pains to a place of toasted understanding. 

The sign on the wall beside the toaster is "A Recipe for a Happy Marriage" it has been hanging in my kitchen for 20 years and hasn't failed to produce great results year after year. 

Difficult to see is the monstrosity hanging on the window. It's a little bit Martha Stewart, a little bit Hannibal Lecter. Its a wire hanging vase of sorts with everything but flowers hanging in the vials. There is a shoe shaped cookie cutter and a butterfly one. At the top is a stuffed bumblebee gifted to me by KJ many years ago. There are also 6 years worth of Thanksgiving & Christmas Turkey wishbones drying in the sun. We are saving them up for a really big wish, so far we haven't had to make a really big wish, I'm hoping we never have to. 

Also in the window ledge are Michael's tea timer and a little Mexican Lego Man with a poncho and maracas. One day we are going to take him back to his homeland.

On the ceiling are memories of grape juice and hot sauce. The hot sauce was me the grape juice I have never gotten a clear answer about. Every time I bring it up the kids bust into laughter so hard they can't speak.

We keep butter on the counter because I detest holes in my toast.

Some things you can't see in this picture are the calendar and the telephone and the I give blood sticker stuck on the wall. You might not be able to read that the rooster says "fish tacos" although it usually say 'Kate is a Butt' if we forget to hide the chalk from E-man. There is a candle buring on the table because we did have fish tacos for diner. You don't see the ever present broom tucked behind out industrial size garbage can or the leaning tower of cookbooks that don't fit in the cupboard. The fridge is magnet free because magnets don't stick to stainless steel...but fingerprints do! Everyday I ask myself "what were you thinking?"

The other thing I should probably mention about our kitchen is that it NEVER looks like this! I hid the wine bottle, put the recylcing out to the garage and I swept the floor. Oh I suppose it does somewhere under the dishes, empty cereal boxes and toast crumbs look like this, but we rarely see it. Then every once in a while I loose my patience and do a kitchen teardown. This usually has the effect of terrifying the kids into cleaning up after themselves for a few days.

Gratitude courtesy of Michael today who is very grateful that he is still walking upright after asking if I was going to do the same thing to our bathroom

Today is Let's Talk Day (Bell's Mental Health Awareness Campaign) - I hope you enjoyed my kitchen, there is less hidden in there then the post I'm working on. Talk about Mental Health. 

Gratitude, Hope and Smiles are meant to be shared.

Michelle

Wednesday's Example of Domestic Bliss

First of all, I Stopped numbering Wednesday's Bliss posts, for a couple of reasons...1) I lost track 2) It highlights how infrequently I get that post up and 3) Is anyone else keeping track?

Every year I haul the cardboard banana boxes and dollarstore banker boxes out of the basement and we decorate for the holidays. Every year I struggle to identify the correct cardboard cartons, sometimes I bring up Michael's 'Box o Bachleorhood' in error or the 'carton of crap' that used to be the toddler craft box. My basement is a mecca of corrugated surprises. So this year when it came time to pack up Christmas I decided that I would try my hand at Martha Stewart-esk organization.

I went to the store, I bought some fabulous bins, I packed up Christmas and here they are...

Sitting in the livingroom right were I packed them up. If I take them downstairs they are going to be the beauty queen at the ogre's banquet. That's assuming I can find them a place to live in  boxboard haven.

Advance gratitude today for my lovely husband and his patient diligence this coming weekend, as we sift through the sea of boxes, bringing order and organization to the storage quarters in the basement.

Gratitude, Hope and Smiles are yours to share.

Michelle

Recent Lessons in Domestic Goddess

I have done some pretty amazing things in the pursuit of domestic goddess status. I say pursuit, because we all are very aware that 'Momma got no skills'. Okay I can cook, but it is safe to say that all of my domestic talents are wholly invested in this single ability. Thank goodness an exceptional pot roast has the ability to erase the horror of perpetual basket diving for matching socks and that if you are eating a cookie you are blinded to the smeary nose and finger print covered sliding door.

The job of a family is to encourage you and challenge you to improve your short comings. My family is exceptional in this regard, they develop scenarios continually to exercise my domestic muscles. They get gum stuck in their hair, spill nail polish on the bathroom counter, draw notes on the bathroom mirror with chapstik and lipstick, launch entire jugs of grape juice skyward in the kitchen (purple rain is not metaphoric in our house). There are the hunting expeditions fit for blood hounds as I attempt to locate lost lunches and missing water bottles. There are chemistry lessons in stain removal and tests of mending...everything from zippers and pant seams to shoes and bicycles. When it comes to improving a mother, my family excels, and I owe them a world of gratitude. I have learned that I am more capable than I believe, that the impossible should at the very least be attempted and that you can surprise yourself with the results.

This week I also learned that when the cat pees in the Lego bucket it's not the end of the world. (as long as someone tells you) I also learned that my family still needs me. (their solution to this problem was to bag up $500 worth of feline christened Lego for the garbage! Ok, once upon a time that would have been my solution too.) This week I learned that I can trust my internal domestic goddess guidance system. This week I learned that you can wash, dry and fold Lego. Ok so I washed it in a bucket of disinfectant soap and water, I let it soak for a few days in disinfectant water (I didn't say I wasn't completely grossed out) on Friday I poured the Lego into a couple of pillow cases, tied the tops shut with broccoli elastics and threw the sacks into my clothes dryer with a couple of old pillows. 20 minutes on perma-press netted me clean wrinkle free Lego.

I knew that I had done well, when I unloaded the Lego back into the disinfected bin and E-man said "Ahh, it's so toasty and fresh." For a moment I thought perhaps a little domestic guru does live within me, for a moment I thought about how grateful I am for all the lessons my family has put before me, they unknowingly set me up for a moment of Domestic Goddessness. Next up...I'm going to move the appliances and face what lurks beneath...while I still feel domestically powerful and capable.

Gratitude to the voluntold family member with the bravery to help me with this challenge, I can teach you what I know about Domestic Goddessing.

Spend some moment everyday in reflection of gratitude and happiness. Even if the time found is standing in line for coffee...use is wisely.

Michelle


Did this post brighten your day? make you smile? If so I'd be ever so grateful if you shared it on Facebook or Twitter. Someone else might be in need of a smile - Thanks

A Needle in a House-Stack

Lula arrived home Friday night from work with news that she split a smallish hole in her work pants, during what I can only imagine, was some daring feat of grocery store heroics. The very instant she said "look what happened." I got that familiar prickle up the back of my neck. This it the only event I fear more than being asked to locate scotch tape.

A whole in your pants means sewing! Sewing doesn't scare me, I can sew. I used to make the kids cloths and Halloween costumes, curtains and home decor items, a dress or two even a few things for Mike. Sewing is easy, we have 3 sewing machines in our house, thread, scissors, notions all the tools of the trade so to speak. A small hole in the crotch of your pants however requires a sewing needle. I know how to use one of those too, problem is I have to locate one first!

Sewing needles are just like scotch tape; always missing, always impossible to find and always desperately needed. The sewing needle, I say needle - singular because that's all I require (despite the dozens that are hiding in our home) should be in the sewing box, a logical storage place for such an item. The sewing needle however is not and never is 'in the sewing box.' No, I have kids (hence the need for mending with a sewing needle) Kids use everything, kids never put anything back. Kids require you to use things, mostly at break neck speeds of multitasking proficiency; there is no time allotted for returning things to their proper place.

So, we need the sewing needle....and this is the first place I know to look.

This is the catch all cup by the phone, or rather the contents of. I spy...3 teeny pencils, 5 pen caps, 41 cents, a spring, a broken hair clip, a lego man and a camping spoon, a poker dice, a button and an eraser. All of this...but no sewing needle. See why my head is throbbing?

There is no sewing needle, so I put everything back in the cup.

I know, not what Martha would do. I'm pretty sure Martha's home also doesn't have catchall cups or junk drawers or do-dad baskets... all places next on my list in the Sew needle treasure hunt. I won't post their pics; its all the same, just in bigger quantities.

The sewing and sanity gods must be shining on me today. On the very brink of domestic induced cranial implosion I remember this...

The solution from my last mending crisis, that I cleverly tucked away in my purse so that I would always know where it was.

My next challenge was trying to thread the darned sewing needle!

Extreme gratitude expressed from today from Lula, who went to work with mended pants!

Spend some moment everyday in reflection of gratitude and happiness. Even if the time found is standing in line for coffee...use is wisely.

Michelle


Did this post brighten your day? make you smile? If so I'd be ever so grateful if you shared it on Facebook or Twitter. Someone else might be in need of a smile - Thanks!

Wednesday's Example of Domestic Bliss #5

This is a healthy plant in our home.

White roses and it's less healthy twin, Pink roses, have lived with us for 2 weeks. They came to us healthy, green, vibrant and flourishing. I followed the tag; watered moderately, exposed to full sun and a balmy 22 degrees C. I did everything right and they died. They died before it got warm enough for me to put them outside for mother nature to take care of.

I can't help it... clearly  a case of nature vs. nurture. I'd love to have a green thumb. I'd also like to have the voice of an angel, the sparkle of a motivational speaker and the looks of a runway sensation.

On the plus side I don't have to eat like a rabbit, deal with the paparazzi, or find hanging space for platinum albums. I also don't have to spend time watering, pruning and transplanting.

Gratitude today for the time nature has spared me to do handle more important matters.


Spend some moment everyday in reflection of gratitude and happiness. Even if the time found is standing in line for coffee...use is wisely.


Michelle


Did this post brighten your day? make you smile? If so I'd be ever so grateful if you shared it on Facebook or Twitter. Someone else might be in need of a smile - Thanks!

The Dr.'s Waiting Room Got Nothing on Me

There are things we take for granted everyday. Items we pass by, Things we live with that take up space but not much of our attention. Items like family photos that hang on the wall. They hang there, you pass them 12 times a day as you travel up and down the stairs delivering laundry and running to the washroom but would you notice if someone drew a mustache on Grandma Betty? No, not until a visiting friend inquires about when Grandma stopped shaving. (I promise at that moment you will also notice that it's been awhile since you dusted the tops of those photo frames).

Our home is an extreme example, every room looks like a "find 12 things that are wrong with this picture" page. Every once in a while I catch something myself. Like the magazines you will find in my powder room should you find yourself in need of "reading material" Wow! that's neglectful, even for me!

Today I am grateful for the many friends and family members who have used this room since 2003 and have never commented on my domestic ineptitude.