What's been happening here

Good morning Folks ~ It's hard to believe it is Thursday already. This week has zipped by so far. I work at my job today through Sat. so won't be doing much around here then. My boss told me yesterday that I'll probably be working most of next week too.

My back is so much better, thank you. I'm feeling back to normal. If you can call being normal, me. :-)

Let's see, Monday was errand day. I have been reading online about small chest freezers for a year or more, looked them up online again, and both Home Depot and SAM's had them. Since we buy bulk items at SAM's the fridge freezer just isn't big enough,plus I want to do more freezing of recipes I make so that all I have to do when I get home from work on days I work, is to get something out of the freezer. So, we stopped at HD first, and their price was $168. We then checked it out at SAM's and it was $154.98. It's a GE 5 cu ft, a little sweetie, just the right size for our tiny cottage. We bought some groceries but didn't buy the freezer right then. We went back and forth as to where to put this until we came up with a plan, and now that it's in place, I'm very happy. DH said this is part of my birthday that just passed, since it's still so close to my bday. Thank you DH.

It is next to my wonderful handmade chopping block table that we bought at a yard sale many, many years ago. I love this table, it's solid and great for rolling out dough, etc. Now I have an island consisting of the table and the freezer.

Here is how it looked the first night. I had put a nice embroidered scarf (not made by me) on top to keep it from getting scuffed up.


I didn't want to mess up the top, and DH thought of covering a piece of plywood with formica and attaching it to the top. We had some curbside shopped 3/4" plywood and also curbside shopped, two different kinds of formica. We chose the lighter formica, like a blond oak and I love how this turned out. He made the piece yesterday morning, and also made the clips that go under the lip of lid, and are screwed to the bottom of the top to hold it in place. My new counter space is 20 1/4" x 30". Living in such a tiny space, we have to go with the flow. I know it wouldn't work for everyone but it does for us.




While DH was making the counter top, I moved the pots on the backside of the picket fence so that I could paint it. Then I set it back up and I'm happy with the results. Thank you all for your comments on the picket fence.

Front side.
Back side.
Still more work to be done behind where I'm standing to take this picture. I'll show before, during and after pictures, after the project is complete.

Here is an unknown orchid, given to me by one of our customers where I work. I love it and look forward to the blooms. This year it has lots of buds and I'll take more pictures as more open. I think it's doing so well this year because I moved it to a sunnier location and I spray it when I hand water.
Now that I have this new freezer, and since we buy so much in bulk I told DH I wanted to do a spreadsheet with grocery items so that I can see how long it takes to use things up and the costs. He had already set me up with Open Office in my computer, so now I'll be learning how to set up my info. I look forward to learning how to do this and being a better keeper of the home.

I am so thankful to DH who does so many different things and is a computer geek too.

***

Continuity gives us roots;

change gives us branches,

letting us stretch and grow

and reach new heights.

Pauline R. Kezer

***

Zone 10 ~ s.e. FL