A Medieval Must Have

So, it must be said that the kitchen in the Schoolhouse is dismal at best.  It's definitly of a medieval persuasion.   You know: dark, stone walls, dank... you get the picture.

It lurks in the basement, with a few measly metal cabinets trimmed in rust.   We've purchased a few temporary cabinets to tie us over until the remodel, but storage and work surface is almost non-existent.  I feel that while I may be the only one with a sketchy basement kitchen (ok, not the ONLY one, but I must be in the minority right?) I can't possible by the only person with storage/workspace issues. 

I stumbled on a product about a year ago that I bought it to display in one corner of our kitchen in the old house.   While I always knew that kitchen was a nice size, in my current state that kitchen seems EXPANSIVE at this point.  All of my cute display pieces are neatly packed away, waiting for brighter days, all but one...

In our current 'kitchen' my once display item has come to REALLY great use and I thought I should share.  This fabulous set of stacking mugs from World Market was inexpensive and endlessly functional.   The entire set stores in one little tower, neatly on a counter, or even in a cabinet.    The "tower" buys back a lot of cabinet real-estate that might otherwise be lost to a sea of "#1 Dad" mugs and the like.  


I bought the white in both large and small, but of course they released a charming colorful set like five minutes later.   The large mugs work as soup bowls, cereal bowls, a great place to reheat leftovers, etc. 

If you are short on space like I am, check them out!  :)

A Note About Chronology

So I’ve felt as though I couldn’t move forward with posts until I caught everybody up in chronological order.   It’s also occurred to me that I might never find the time to do that so I’m going to proceed with the posting and fill you in on the back information as time allows.   In the mean time, feel free to ask if you wonder what the heck we are doing here!

Be Careful What You Wish For

So for those who know me, its no secret that since my husband and I got married I've been plotting, planning, wishing and hoping for a way to "get back to the country".  

While we were dating my husband -being the fiscally responsible man that I love- got his 'real grown up job' and shortly after he took the next big step of purchasing a house.   The home is lovely, and just on the edge of a historic distrcit - walking distance to our cute local downtown area, our favorite local brewery, ideal for a young couple - well, most young couples.

I am what you might consider a "country mouse"  I grew up in a rural area that, while just a short drive from all the amenities of "the city", offered all of the comforts of country living:  privacy, great neighbors, knowledge of how things grow, and my favorite all - the sounds of the crickets and frogs to sing you to sleep at night.  

After we were married I moved "to the city" (a ten minute drive to be fair) to the lovely home that Brian and I shared.   Together we fixed up the house and made it a wonderful little nest.  A nest with close neighbors and strangers that walked by, but a nest none the less.

So that's how it all started.  Despite the terrible tanking real estate market, and the ease of living in a house that was "done" we've been working toward the impossible and aiming to 'get back to the country' for most of our marriage.   It's been many many months, but here we are... I am proud to announce that I am typing this first entry from our comfortable bed which happens to be crammed in the only 'compelte' room in our new country house. 

I know I've left a lot out in the middle of that story, but I plan to fill you in.  (On the fun parts anyway.)
We've been through a lot to get to our "hippie hovel in the woods" as my husbnad likes to call it - and why should I keep the hilariously painful details to myself?   I hope you keep reading.   :)