Always something...

 It's been awhile since I took time to talk about life's goings-on.  Other than the election, it's been just normal every day stuff for the most part.  The election was a disappointment - not so much that I didn't get "my way" as much as a disappointment in "the human condition". It seems human decency be damned - what's really important is the money in our pockets and to get these assholes that want to live the good-life in America the fuck out.  

Yes, I like it when the economy is good.  I like it when a dollar goes further.  But no, I do not think that the economy is Biden's fault.  Everyone on the other side seems to forget that when he took office, we were coming into a pandemic that royally fucked up EVERYthing, including the economy and that kind of thing doesn't right itself quickly.  But now that it's been improving, guess who will take credit for it?  Everything was great when Obama left office, but did he get credit for it?  Nope... Trump took credit for THAT too!  But it doesn't matter... I just need to adjust my thinking like what appears to be the majority and realize that the almighty dollar trumps decency and decorum.  (See what I did there?  Teehee...)

And yes, immigrants need to come here LEGALLY.  Duh!  No one disagrees with that.  But can we agree with that AND have some empathy for those who want to escape evil dictators, horrific crime, a life of poverty?  This bullshit that they are taking our Social Security... only under very specific circumstances can non-citizens get SSI and you have to have a legal social security account and pay into it to draw SS eventually.  Trust me - there are more Americans sucking on the system than non-citizens.  Why don't we go after THEM?

But here we are, another four years of the obnoxious Orange One.  I'm going to get through it by continuously reminding myself (and this IS absolutely true) that the universe (or God, if you prefer) is looking out for us and all is well.  It may not appear that way, and we may not understand it, but it will all turn out ok. And on a positive note, the late-night comics will have lots of fodder for their routines!

In the column of "things that have NOT pissed me off"...  😄

At long last, I got the kitchen fixed up.  Back in 2013, after we had the main bath completely re-done top-to-bottom, I asked my very excellent painter what it would cost to paint the trim in the kitchen.  This consisted of two doorways and two windows.  Of course, as with any old house, there was s some prep work.  The doorway going to the basement had had a door on it for many years.  We didn't use it much and it was always in the way, and I always wanted it gone, but Mark wanted it to stay.  I eventually won and we got rid of it, so now I wanted that doorway to look like there had never been a door there.  So doorstop wood gone, indents where the hinges went filled in, hardware where the latch went into the woodwork removed and filled in.  He quoted me $2000.  YIKES!  Of course, he had gotten into some serious legal trouble that year and was facing a trial and probable jail time for making illegal fireworks (it was his second offense) and I think he was quoting high to add to his legal fund! To I did a hard pass and decided I'd wait.

So in 2015, we had the tile floor put down in the kitchen.  Then in 2016, they did the backsplash and new counters.  By then, the wallpaper was probably near 20 years old and loose in a couple spots, but also damaged a bit from the new counters/backsplash.  But by then, things were getting a little hairy with Mark's health and I really didn't want to deal with work being done in the house.  I continued to put it off and the kitchen felt "half done" for the next several years. I finally said I've waited long enough!  I'm going to bite the bullet and spend the money to get it fixed up and done!  

At long last, it's done (except for a few finishing touches I'm working on).  This is the east wall with the slider that goes into the GH:

One of the "in the works" finishing touches is a macrame valance that will go at the top of the bamboo shade.  I'm waiting on color samples - it's going to be made by someone on Etsy.com who is from Greece.  I hope to have it in a few weeks.

This one is showing the south wall (which goes into the dining room).  This one shows the best view of the wallpaper.  That wall hanging is something Wes made for Mom back when he was going to college and living with her.  When she came to live with me, I wanted it to have a primo spot because she really loved it.  The copper really works with the gold in the paper!

I think the very subtle teal is kind of hard to see in the photos, but it's just enough to accent the colors in the backsplash, which also (BTW) has little flecks of gold.

This one is looking at the west window and the doorway to the basement:

 

I think the painter did a truly outstanding job of matching the color with the golden oak of the cabinets.  And I really hadn't thought about it until I saw it done, but the color also highlights the gold in the wallpaper.  That clock I've had for nearly 45 years - we brought it back from Guam.  It's very heavy and thankfully, the wallpaper guy didn't mind putting it back up for me.  I managed to get it down, but it's a challenge to get it lined up to rehang, especially when it's so heavy!

And last photo is of the north window that looks out over the back yard:

That corner shelf was in the original kitchen, and that's about all that is original in there!  In the kitchen, my plants seem to thrive despite not get any direct sun.  Many of them even bloom.  And since my massive tree has been gone, it is SO much brighter in there!

The other two "finishing touches" I'd like to do... I want to switch the faucet from chrome to oil-rubbed bronze - I love the old fashioned look of that finish.  And I'm considering one of those more modern single-hole sinks, maybe in white porcelain.  I'm trying to decide how well that would work with not having a dishwasher.  Would it work to have a dish-drainer in one end of it?  Or is it better to have two separate sinks?  I have to do some research and thinking on that one...

Anyway, I'm very happy with how it turned out!  Both painter and wallpaper guy did excellent jobs!

My winter project will be to clean out my cupboards and cabinets, get rid of stuff I don't use.  In fact, I already cleared out the upper shelves of my pantry.  There was LOTS of stuff up there I decided to put in the donate box - like a big turkey roaster.  I can't remember when I bought it, but I think I used it once and haven't since. What's the point of having something that size taking up that much room when you can buy a disposable once every decade?  Silly!  And some stuff that came with Mom.  A Pampered Chef chopper.  I like to cut by hand - it's cathartic.  So I've never used it.  A mini food processor.  Don't use that, either.  A tea kettle, a pretty bowl... A glass cake/casserole pan with a wooden tote.  Gone, gone, gone.  

Today, I took Mom's biggest travel suitcase to the Stephen's Center (a homeless shelter) full of clothes, shoes.  I've got a smaller one I will now fill and take there as well.  I need to go through all my drawers and closet again.  I still have way to much shit!

More to come...