Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Let’s hope this will work :-)

Hello Folks ~ I am in my lap top. It will be awhile before my BIL can get here to install more ram, that I  have still in the pkg. from when I ordered the two parts of so many RAM each. I don’t remember what I ordered, 2 GB’s each I think, but I’m not sure.

So, here I am in lap top and I just installed Open Live Writer which I love. It is modeled after Window’s Live Writer which was fantastic, but for some reason, they did away with it. OLW is great also though and I have been happy with it for a few years now. DH told me about it and installed it in my computer way back when.

Thanks again for all of your thoughts and prayers for SIL, Sue. She’s in therapy, using a walker, hopefully in 2-3 weeks she will have graduated to a cane. We would appreciate continued prayers as she exercises and recuperates.

Ok, I did order the Oster Convection/Toaster oven TSSTTVSK01. I got it from Best Buy. They had a 20% off on small appliances promo code, so I got it for around $63, instead of $80. It arrived via UPS last evening around 5. UPS usually delivers around 8 p.m. so I was happy this came early.

It is nice!!! I’ve not used it yet. I’ve got to wash the rack, drip pan and crumb tray as suggested in the manual. I’ve also got to heat up the oven on a high temp for 15 minutes to burn off any residues that might be in there from processing. I hope to do that tomorrow.

01-30-new-oven

Now I had to make a space for this oven as it is quite a bit bigger than my old one, which was a little red Oster convection/toaster oven. I can do so much more with this oven and am excited to have it. But, let’s get back to the ‘make room’ story.

I had a 4’ high x 36” wide bookcase filled with books, cooking, gardening, health, etc. I decided it had to go so started weeding out books. I am proud of myself for getting rid of so many. I only kept what I really wanted. Back when I was collecting, we were setting up and selling at a local flea market and would see books CHEAP, so we bought on all kind of subjects. That is how our library grew to the size it is. Smile

01-29-bookcase

Monday morning I headed out to look for a piece to set the new oven on. I had a loop of shops/stores to check out, Salvation Army being the first one as it is close to home. I saw a piece there, but thought to myself, let me see what anyone else might have. I went to Big Lots, GoodWill, Target and Walmart, zilcho, nada. So I went back to Sal. Army and the piece was still there. The size was good although could have been bigger or so I was thinking. It is 27 1/2 inches wide x 16 inches deep x 32 inches high. The price $29.99. I had looked online before heading out on this shopping expidition and nothing was this inexpensive. This piece is like new. It’s not real wood, but it works for me in this little cottage of mine.

01-29-cabinet

Well, after I got home I looked at my space again, and decided to move the butcher block counter with a green serpentine marble top on it, to where the bookcase had been. I knew that would be the right size for the oven especially when the door was open. Marble top is 25 inches deep x 39 3/4 inches wide.

The oven would not go on the new little cabinet I had bought after all. But, I love how this has all worked out on a limited budget and mostly using what I already had.

Here is kitchen before. A wreck as I was moving things around, etc. We bought that solid square butcher block table many, many years ago when we had our antique shop at a yard sale near us for $100. I love it! It was hand made by the young Finnish man we bought it from.

01-29-kitchen-before

The little floor freezer is under the a.c. DH made a formica top for it so that I could use it for a counter, as tops of those things are dentable. ( I miss my dear husband so much, for so many different reasons. I want to encourage you to love and appreciate your husbands and let them know how much all that they do you are very thankful for. Let petty stuff go, love, encourage, forgive, laugh and live peaceably as much as possible.)

01-30-kitchen-after2

Putting the new little cabinet this way gave me more access to the oven and the kitchen feels so much bigger.

01-30-kitchen-after

This morning I ‘thought’ about going to Home Depot to see what I could get for some kind of top to go on top of the little cabinet, to protect it from hot items taken from the oven. Well, I decided to check out our slowly depleting marble stash again, and lo and behold I found one I was using on a plant stand, and it is the same green serpentine marble as what is under the oven. The size would work, not a perfect fit, but good enough. I cleaned it top and bottom, then used double stick tape to stick on pieces of felt on the bottom. In the pic below the dark areas were still drying from when I had cleaned it. This side is unpolished.

01-31-marble-bottom

Here is the top all cleaned & on top of the cabinet.

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Here is a view from the scullery. Excuse the living room in the background which is a total wreck as remodeling is being done, but on hold, you know how it is, stuff gets stacked here and there until you are done. All in good time. Framing needs to be done around the a.c. also.

01-31-view-from-scullery

Below is a small cuboard that I have in the caravan, just being used for storage.  It is 33 inches wide, by 18 inches high x 12 inches deep. I’m hoping to put it, have dear Todd put it, over the oven. In the picture below, it is upside down, so that I had a flat surface to lay things on.  Anyway, after it’s cleaned up it will look better and give me more storage.

01-31-cupbd

This room still needs tweaking. I’m on a roll now though. It’s a new year, new & old projects are being worked on. I am thankful to God for leading me to a promo code, for getting rid of books, for the strength to rearrange (these pieces are heavy), for curbside finds to be used, and for marble in our stash. I’m also thankful for this beautiful and wonderfully scented rose, Mr. Lincoln.  It is 5 inches across. Picture taken with my smart phone instead of my Canon PowerPoint, as were all of these pictures, so to me they are not the best quality, (but I can send these pictures to myself via emal and then save them to this computer. It’s how I figured out to be able to have photos to post.) I sure do miss my desk top. Doing without will make me appreciate it all the more when it is up and running again. For now, I’m thankful for this laptop that I’ve not really used in about three years. We bought it so that I’d have a good computer where I worked. I had 99 windows updates to do the other day, and that took a few hours. Anyway, I hope it keeps working.

01-31-mr-lincoln

Ok, that’s it for now. I do believe I am caught up. I have been out working in the gardens too and that has been good therapy for me and I see forward progress there too. I do hope you are all doing well. Keeping warm, safe, and healthy.

Now I’ll hit the publish button and see what happens.

FlowerLady

19 comments:

Junkchiccottage said...

Sounds like things are going really well with you getting ready for all the new changes. I like the cart you found. I am glad to hear you are out working in the garden too. There is nothing better for your mental and physical health. I cannot wait for Spring to come and summer flowers. Oh how I miss being out side in the garden. Have a great week.
Kris

NanaDiana said...

How nice to see a post from you. My old computer died a long time ago and I have now used a lap top for about 5 years and think I would have a hard time going back to a regular computer.

Your kitchen is shaping up nicely and I like your new oven. I bet you will get a lot of use out of that. The living room can be worked on when you get time.

You know, I gave at least 1000 books away when I started purging to downsize. It was kind of sad when I started but as I moved along it got easier and easier. It was freeing to get rid of those that were just 'books' and to keep those that I love. I still have too many books, I suppose, but I love the ones I have. lol

That rose is just gorgeous. God has certainly provided beauty for us to enjoy in nature and you are a good caretaker of His promises of beauty.

I hope you have a good night- xo Diana

Ruth Hiebert said...

WOW! You have a lot going on, all at once. Changing a few things around in a room can make such a difference.I totally agree that those who still have their partners need to take the time to love and laugh together. cherish each moment.

Nancy J said...

Your lap top and Open Live Writer, blogging will take on a whole new life now. Love the marble top, and the way the new oven fits in so well. You manage to achieve so much. I marvel at your ability to do it all.XXX from a wet ( in some places very wet and very windy, not us)NZ.XXX

A Whole Lotta Magic said...

Love the new toaster oven, it looks great on the counter.

Debbie - Mountain Mama said...

You've been one busy lady, Lorraine!! Your kitchen looks great, and so cozy! I love a cozy little cottage style kitchen filled with things you love - that's the best kind!

L. D. said...

You really have improved the kitchen. It looks great. I like our toaster oven. I at first didn’t think it made good toast but it does. It just does it in a different way. It sort of roasts and toasts it at the same time. If you don’t read the directions you could have blackened bread.

Terry said...

Hi Lorraine,

Everything looks wonderful! I am taking your advice and being grateful for my husband and all that he does for me. Thank you for reminding me. I only work on a laptop at home. I am going to install Open Live Writer as I hope to get back to blogging in the near future.

Take care.
Love,
Terry

Darcie said...

You are on a roll!! Yay for you. As I was reading your post(before you even mentioned that you missed your husband), I missed your husband for you!! I felt it as I read your post, so thank you for reminding me to love and appreciate mine more!

Thanks for the hint on Open Live Writer as well. I think that is great that you can do it offline. That is what I need. Thank you, Lorraine!

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

That little oven is so cute - a real retro style that I love! You did a good job finding the little cupboard and the marble top, too. It's nice to use what you have. Marble is such a wonderful thing....I don't have any, except one very heavy rolling pin that I found at a thrift store for a few dollars. I saw a similar one for $100 in a catalog - so I think I got a bargain. It's nice that you are getting some remodeling done, but always a mess to deal with. Your comments about appreciating our husbands really pulled on my heartstrings. Lovely to get out in the garden -sunshine always lifts the spirits. Glad to hear your SIL is recovering from her surgery. Sending hugs your way. xx Karen

sweetbay said...

I have not tried Open Live Writer but I think I will look into it, as writing in blogger is such a pain. I hope you like the new toaster oven, it looks very nice!

Rebecca said...

Oh, I love seeing the photos of how you are making your small space more functional AND attractive! You are a hard worker and your reminder to appreciate my/our husband(s) is taken to heart. Enjoy the progress you're making and take time to smell the roses ♥

Anne Payne said...

You are working hard! It looks good. I like the little cabinet you put under the a/c. I need to get an island for my kitchen but it will need to be fairly skinny. Hope you have a great week!

Thistle Cove Farm said...

Thanks to my convection oven and slow cooker I almost eat with regularity and healthfully...so says the woman who had cheese and crackers with a big glass of milk for supper. I heated the cheese/crackers so that makes it a meal...right?

Cathy @ My 1929 Charmer said...

Wow, your tweaking seems to be paying off in the kitchen. The oven is cute. It's must feel good that you are getting some remodeling done. But it can be such a mess. I'm glad you could get out in the garden and I can't wait to be able to. So enjoy it for both of us. Glad to hear your SIL is recovering from her surgery. Hugs

Deborah Montgomery said...

That rose is gorgeous, and huge! Love garden roses, they sure beat the supermarket roses :) Isn't it funny how one purchase or one decluttering project can turn into a huge project, and major overhaul? But feels so good to clean out, reorganize, and make things work better for you. Everyone I know who has a toaster oven loves them. As you know, I'm in the middle of major decluttering, too. Winter here is a good time to do it because it's just too cold to go anywhere. 23 with a low of 12 today, normal for Michigan. xo Deborah

Janneke said...

Your shiny beautiful little oven is a real gain. I enjoyed reading the story about your changes in your cozy cottage, you did some good buys too and the best thing is it keeps you going and gives pleasure.
Regards, Janneke

M.K. said...

I think pushing that "publish" button worked!! What a lot of good work you've gotten done in your kitchen. That new little cabinet is just darling. The rearranging really does give you more room, and that 2nd marble is very nice. Spring is coming! Time to spruce up and tidy up. Great job, FL!

A Joyful Cottage said...

It was so fnn to see your cottage kitchen, Lorraine. Your changes not only increase the functionality, but they add to the charm. Love it all! Hugs.