Monday, July 04, 2005

Does not compute....

The idea of actually finishing our kitchen proper (the pantry won't be done for a few months perhaps) just doesn't fit with my reality. Steve put the toe kicks in today, adjusted the stove height, adjusted a faulty cabinet from Kraftmaid, and we put the shelves in place.

We can't actually put anything on them for a few days until the stain really cures at which point I will post photos. We like them though, thank God. The room needs some pictures on the walls too to break up the green, yellow, and oak color palatte in there.

I am planning to get some cool reprints of cookbook covers from The Library of Congress archives. If you've never checked it out, you can get real prints from negatives in their database, which is vast. This is a great way to get some affordable art on your walls.

They have a huge collection of Edward Curtis photos as well. There are plenty of options as to how you have them printed (archivally or not for example).

We keep our house pretty clutter-free. For one thing, it is only 1200 square feet and clutter makes rooms look smaller. Plus, we still are generating dust, and it just makes more to clean.

I look forward to the day when all my books can come out of the basement and be put onto the wall of bookcases that Steve is going to make for the den. That will be a very happy day.
My books are like old dear friends that I can never seem to part with. I firmly believe that one can travel to many distant places and meet all kinds of people reading books.

My BIG dream (and hopefully no one will stomp on it here) is to finish our house and have a "writing room" for myself where I can write those books I know I have in me. Do any of you have dreams deferred for after you finish your restorations? I mean I know, "we'll never be finished really, but things do die down after a while."

Happy 4th of July. We're skipping the festivities this year in favor of the comfort of home and peace and quiet.

6 comments:

Ms. P in Jackson said...

I'm just about to dig in to the current dream which is getting myself and my daughter moved up north and settled in before the school year begins. In the hopefully not too distant future I would like to have a career in working with/installing systems for alternative fuel sources. Preferably working out in the field as I like moving about and being active in addition to computer work. Lofty I know but I am an eternal optimist.

Scott in Washington said...

Does wanting to get the house liveable so I can start working on my studio/shop/gym/scottspersonalspace building count? Does that fall under the home renno heading? Has fixing up our house burned out of the ability to dream about anything non-renovation oriented?

Actually, I'd love to start traveling again - when all our time and extra money doesn't go towards this project.

K said...

I feel the same way about books. Writing a book is my dream, too ... I'm actually halfway done with a novel now. Eeek.

Anonymous said...

Hey Jocelyn! Thanks for the great comment at my place! I can't wait to see pictures of your completed kitchen! We've been working on ours for months and we still have a ways to go! I share your love for books, even writing one. And I love your idea of a writing room, but with three kids, I'm afraid every room here would become a writing room...trying to escape the (beautiful) chaos! Have a great one!!!
Maria

Lynette said...

Great idea to use the cook book covers as artwork. Hmmm... We found some hand-drawn illustrations from an old Mrs Beeton cookbook in a junk shop a few years back that we've squirreled away to use, but you've given me the idea to supplement them with covers. thanks!

Anonymous said...

Great post, Jocelyn. I love the idea of prints from the Library of Congress. It will be a good place to dream about what our finished kitchen may look like! I can't wait to see the pictures. I think Nick would love a writing room and I'd use it for reading. I'm thinking a separate little studio on the back corner of our property, up on the hill. I wonder what the smallest, but usable, size would be...