learning2leftovers

Today I want to write a post, but not really sure yet what it will be.  Sometimes when I write I have a specific subject in mind.  But not today.  Today I just want to write.  I guess it must be a creative thing.

I remember in college ‘creative writing’ was mentioned.  I really don’t remember what that was, just remember the phrase.  So I checked Wikipedia.  After glancing at it, it decided I will just leave it a leftover phrase in my mind.  It went into much more detail than I want.

So, today I’m just meandering.  It seems strange that I have such a need to write when I really have nothing to say, but that’s just how it is.

Most of the trees have lost their leaves here, except some of the oaks that tend to hold onto them.  Further south there are still lots of leaves, colors fading but still pretty.  I love the fall.  I remember a book I used to read to the children about 4 puppies that grew through the season.  It told of the changing seasons and how the puppies grew.  For fall, I remember the phrase “leaves crisp as cornflakes covered the ground”.  It also told of a brisk wind.  So many times when I go out in the leaves I think of that story.

I love the look of winter, but the older I get the less I enjoy the cold.  I have thought about going south, but aside from the cost, I think I would miss the season.  I do love seeing the snow, playing in it, and even enjoy shoveling.  Reflecting on it I realize that I expect to be cold when I go out in winter.  It’s the being cold inside the house I don’t like.

Part of the problem is I don’t want to spend so much for heat.  I know that if I covered the windows with heaver drapes or shades it would be warmer.  But I love looking out at the stars.  I even like looking out from different rooms when I wake up in the night.  So, as in most things, I realize it is a trade off.  At present I have chosen to dress more warmly, covering myself with a throw while I’m sitting and enjoy the outside view.

As I sit here I see the wall beside my piano.  I wish, as I often do, that I was good at building things, like my daughter.  Then I would put up some floating shelves to hold my music.  I might even have room for a hanging guitar stand.  I get many ideas, but mostly they just remain ideas.

I like my house, and especially so with the remodeling that my daughter has done for me.  I always have more projects.  But in a way it is good that she doesn’t get at them quickly.  Cause I often change my mind after thinking about it for awhile.

At present we have cut an opening in the wall between the living room and kitchen.  That really helped the kitchen feel more a part of the house and a much more spacious room.  She removed a pantry and I put a new fridge where it had been.  She then built a new, smaller pantry on the other side of the opening.  I’ve removed some of my upper cabinet doors.  I like that look.  Also repainted them.  I love the little recessed pantry she put in one wall.  It is just the right size for my spices and quart jars of beans and grains.  Is’t amazing how much I can get in there.  She was able to use the doors from the old pantry for the both the new one and the recessed one.

Now I’m thinking of  having her add another double door recessed one under the opening.  I could use the doors that were on the upper cabinets.  We still have to make a shelf extending over stove and to upper cabinet over fridge.  But for that one I need to wait until I get another microwave.

I love my present microwave–it is a Sharp.  I think it is a convection micro.  It bakes, broils, and toasts as well as microwaves.  I don’t use the broil or toast much but use the bake all the time.  The only time I use my range oven is when someone comes and we bake a large amount.  However, it has a few drawbacks.  It is getting old and takes a lot longer to cool down.  The wattage is lower than the newer convection micros I’ve checked out.  Also it takes up counter space and I don’t have a lot.

After the range exhaust fan and light quit I started looking for a replacement.  I like the micro-hood my daughter has.  As I looked, I found convection micro-hoods.  I have almost decided on a GE one.  The local Sears store had carried one, but I didn’t see it the last time I was there.  They are still on the website.  So as soon as I save up some money I hope to get one.  With the micro-hood and the recessed pantry and shelf, my kitchen remodel will be finished.

That probably won’t be until after the first of the year, because I need a camera right now, so that takes priority in the money department.  Also I tend to take trips in the fall and early winter.  Although there are always trade-offs, I love having the options.  I even love planning ahead and deciding which projects I want the most.  How boring life would be if we had all the money in the world and didn’t have to plan and choose!

As I said, I love my house.  Sitting here in my living room, covered with a throw, laptop on my lap, I can see out the windows of four different room.  I love this open feeling.  But strangely enough, my house lot is nestled with woods around.  I like that too.  I have small open areas, but the woods around give me a safe, comfortable feeling.

Just now out my living room window to the left, I see a mockingbird in my magnolia tree.  Beyond is the road, with the woods on the other edge, continuing down the hill.  Traffic goes by, but I’m snug in my own little world.  Looking right, through the dining room sliding doors I see my deck, open lawn, with woods to back.  I have an old apple tree in the corner just this side of the woods.  Behind me, beyond the carport are my woods.  (The woods on all the other sides belong to others.)  Ahead of me to the right I can see the trees beyond my bedroom window.   I can see through  into my kitchen, another window, but that view is just of the house siding where the laundry area juts out.  I do like to see plants on that windowsill, the sun catchers in the window and the wine glasses overhead framing the window.

Just now, after previewing this post i realized that I should add pics of my remodeling.  Then I had a better idea.  I will change photo page to the title of Featured Photos.  I will add categories.  One will be remodeling.  I;ll probably have another be garden.  I can always add other categories as the need arises.  That way all the photos will be in one place.  I’m not really good yet at inserting photos into my posts anyway.  I’ll be adding the photos soon.

Well, I have meandered quite a bit today.   Just a walk through my scattered mind   Looks like I’m going to have to put this post in more than one category.  And I must remember to add the tags.

Tags: landscape, reflections, remodelIng, seasons