This and That This Week #2

I did a little updating in the kitchen

Summer's heat has kicked in and I'm inside trying to stay comfortable.  Of course I can't sit still so I have to putter with something.  I came up with a new idea for the new bread basket I got a little while ago and had shown it in this post back in April "here".  I saw a picture the other day with a container filled with some everyday things like oils and spoons and such and it gave me the inspiration to fill my basket with a couple of items.  Perhaps I'll find some nice looking oil bottles to add in later.

The ceramic containers were purchased at a store that sells local hand made pottery.  The one pieces a small colander and the other is a crock.  I was drawn to them by the blue color and design on them and felt they'd work well with my seashell plate.  I added some of our daughter's jams that she made last year.

  

 A year ago I had one Polish Pottery coffee cup (center one).  Then I was gifted with two more (far left).  I ran across this small metal pot rack holder that was mounted on a wood board but I saw it as an opportunity to have a mug rack.  I had Dan remove the wood board it because I wanted it more simplistic.  I recently added the two coffee cups on the right to complete the ensemble.  It was another way for me to add some blue in the kitchen.

A while back I emptied and re-organized my dishes and everything that shows in the glass is pretty much all white now.  The red glassware is over in the right cupboard now and the other glassware has been mingled in other cupboards.  I always feel good when I organize things and then it works better than before!  

 It's been 20 years since we remodeled the kitchen and added on the big living room to the house.  These cupboards are all solid hickory and are holding up beautifully.  They have a piano hinged door in each corner cabinet.  Since the kitchen is fairly narrow I didn't want the traditional angled cupboard so it would help keep it looking as wide as possible.

 These drawer pullouts are handy.  I have my small appliances in the top so they're easy to take out.  I organize it so the most used are nearest the front.  

 The drawers by the stove were called pots and pans drawers and that's what I use them for.    We had bright brass knobs on the cabinets and switched to dark bronze a while back to update them.  The range I chose has a flat front and no handle that sticks out.  That was part of my plan to make the room seem more spacious too.

The stainless appliances came along about 8 years ago.  The end cupboard which I chose to frame the side of the refrigerator is 12" deep and I use it like a pantry.

The main reason I like plain white or nearly all white dishes now is they're a good basic that work with for so much.  If I had to get rid of all my other dishes these would never leave.  

We added Corian countertops a while back at a time that granite was at his most expensive so we couldn't afford it.  I like the solid surface it offers and its holding up great.

I saw this cow creamer at Pier 1 not long ago and had to have it.  I added it to the etagere with my pig salt and pepper shakers.  The fleur de-lis plates are from Sur La Table (last year).   They sell them as a tray but I like them to use for soup and a sandwich. They are blue and white but it's doesn't really look that way in the picture.

Because it's a hot day I went out early to water my gardens.  As I came back up on the deck I noticed the sun shining on this hydrangea and captured it.

This is how I get my back gardens watered.  It's a bit too much to hand water.  

We treated ourselves to a new patio dining set early this month.  I was able to sell our other set within a week of purchasing this so I was tickled about it and hubby was impressed with the extra moolah!  The umbrella is 11 ft. wide so we get good coverage.

It's a granite look table top.  

We got the umbrella half off because the manufacturer didn't make it right.  When you would crank it closed the ribs would come out of the little pocket that they're supposed to stay in.  I came up with the idea to rivet them in place and that evolved into drilling a hole, then using a small washer and a short screw and hooray it stays together and works perfectly.

My view out of the kitchen window.

Well that's it for my This and That This Week!