About Me

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Recent retiree--35 year's experience teaching reading, English, adult basic education and volunteer leadership skills. Started this blog to exchange ideas and commentary with friends and others having an interest in joining the discussions. Greatest life accomplishments include: 1.organized my 3rd grade class to check out library books for me to get around librarian's weekly limit--Amazon.com, the Mullins Elementary 3rd Grade Class of 1956 is still waiting for "thank you" notes; 2. volunteered in the Peace Corps, island of St. Kitts, West Indies; 3.taught adults to read, earn their GEDs., and speak English as a second language; 4. bought a border collie puppy for $6, got evicted rather than give him up, and began a life-long love affair with all things "Dog"; 5. joined a physical fitness boot camp in my mid-50s--don't mess with someone who's been doing regulation pushups in wet grass at 5:30 a.m.; 6. walked across Northern England with best friend Sally--over 80 miles from the Irish to North Seas; and 7. travelled to many foreign countries for pleasure and work.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Kitchen Counter Tour

(Our host for this week's Fun Monday is Ari over at Beyond My Slab . She wants us to share a photo of our kitchen counter. The big question--can we resist doing a little straightening and staging before taking the photo? Well, since I'm not trying to sell my kitchen and originally titled this post "Good Enough", I'll follow Ari's directions.)


I redid this kitchen a few years ago, replacing the flooring, appliances, and countertops. Also painted the cabinets and walls in my favorite color range black-brown-tan. Joe the Remodeler referred to the countertop selection as "poor man's granite." I have the fabric to make some cafe curtains(brown checked)whenever I get around to it.

In keeping with the minimalist approach throughout my house, you'll not find much in the way of gadgets and appliances in this kitchen. I'm satisfied to do most food preparation and cleanup chores by hand. Notice the white bowl in the right hand sink. That's the garbage bowl trick that I learned from Rachael Ray. As I'm cooking any vegetable trimmings, empty cans, etc. go in this bowl until cleanup time. I don't need a garbage disposal. Nor do I need a dishwasher. It's good enough to handwash dishes and let them drain on a rack by the sink.

Moving on to the left, you can barely see some fruits and vegetables in green bags. These bags are the Debbie Meyer's fruit-vegetable keepers of infomercial fame. They actually work. I can keep bananas for over a week, cutting out expensive runs to the grocery store. Those bananas and some frozen fruit and yogurt can be thrown into the little blender with some ice cubes to make yummy smoothies when I'm trying to eat healthy.

Eating healthy comes and goes. Proof of that is the mixer and baking supplies at the ready on the counter. I've been baking cakes and bread the past few weeks. Last week it was oatmeal cake which I had every morning for breakfast. Before today is out I'm making pumpkin bread with cream cheese filling. Does that sound like the cure for the winter doldrums?

Well, this is probably the most boring kitchen tour you'll do this Fun Monday. Be sure and check out other more inspiring kitchens from Ari's place.

17 comments:

Gattina said...

At least your kitchen doesn't look like out of a catalogue ! I didn't range anything either. It's a nice theme today, I love to see other people's kitchen, lol !

m (the misanthrope) said...

Mmm...pumpkin bread...*drool* Could you make some for me too? I actually love fruit smoothies and other such healthy items, but don't make them nearly enough. I do make my own granola though! However, dinner-wise, if it weren't for a certain Mr. Frank Perdue and his ready-to-eat chicken breasts, I wouldn't eat :-(

Hootin Anni said...

I don't think I'd could stand not putting things away....LOLOL, obsessive, isn't that what they call my compulsions?

My Fun Monday is HERE

Living Life said...

I have always wondered about those vegtable bags. So, they do work? I just may have to try some. Don't you just love R.R and her "garbage bowl" idea? Happy FM!

Karen said...

I have always wanted to try the Debbie Meyers bags too... and I wondered if they really work because they are quite expensive to use if they didn't work.

Thanks for sharing your kitchen with us all!

Jan n Jer said...

It looks like you have everything you need at your finger tips. Your baking is making me drool, I only bake during the holidays or special events. The vegetable bags got my interest, I have heard of them and your the first to say they work, may have to give them a try, especially for bannanas. I keep forgetting about the RR garbage bowl. Thanks for sharing Faye.

Dr.John said...

I see a very, very practical kitchen with a very frugal owner. But I love gadgets.

Jientje said...

Your kitchen is not boring at all! I love the colour! I 've never heard of those vegetable bags before, I don't think they exist here?

Aoj and The Lurchers said...

Pumpkin bread and cream cheese filling!!?? That sounds heavenly!!

ChrisB said...

Your kitchen is very well organised. Pumpkin bread and oatmeal cakes sounds very good.

Sayre said...

I like your colors - this Fun Monday is giving me some ideas for when I redo my kitchen (hopefully next year)!

BS said...

I like your kitchen AND all the things you do in it !

Pamela said...

My kitchen was neglected and I decided not to show it.
BUT, you can see my dishwasher if you watch my Mario spends the day with Grandma video. ha ha.

Alison said...

can you mail me a piece of pumpkin bread? it sounds delicious!!

your kitchen looks very warm and inviting.

Ari_1965 said...

I like your kitchen.

Lane Mathias said...

I like the sound of those 'saver' bags. I love bananas but they turn so quickly, I always end up making banana bake, which only I eat:-)

storyteller said...

How fun to see someone else who keeps things out and handy on counters like I do in MY kitchen (and other rooms too). I try to eat healthily for the most part but occasionally fall off the wagon in that regard ... getting back in the healthy groove as soon as possible.
Hugs and blessings,