Jaci Dawn

Not quite a “spree” as I move rather slowly these days, but-

I attacked the kitchen a week ago. We bought the house already remodeled: the cupboards came from our neighbor’s house. The windows had vinyl Venetian blinds. We have done nothing to change the kitchen in the 17 years we have lived here: it’s too small, there’s little storage space, it’s too dark. I’ve threatened to paint the wood-stained cupboards to lighten it up. I hate the Formica countertop even though it is a blue shade (my favorite color). There’s no tile back-splash behind the sink (and, indeed, there’s probably dry rot in the countertop wood). We won’t discuss how I felt about the Venetian blinds.

Those, at least, are gone. I climbed onto the countertop and took a flat-head screw driver to them. And I am amazed at how much light those windows let in!

I will have to buy hardware and install normal kitchen curtains before summer, but that is beside the point. I actually like the dark cupboards with the natural light!

Well, and a new countertop and stainless steel sink. That’s a project for down the road – once I start pulling out that sink, I may find there’s dry rot in there and that thought is scary. Our son-in-law the plumber declined to even look at the sink because he’s worried about dry rot. My husband is not “the handyman you think I am” (his words to me – except I already knew that. You don’t live with someone for nearly 40 years and still have very many fantasies about their superpowers left).

Some tips: rubbing alcohol removed dried on grease & dirt (we don’t have a range fan installed & the range is against an inside wall – venting would have to come through the floor of my studio. NOT.) I use Amway’s LOC to clean walls, a trick I learned ages ago as a young woman. You don’t need to use very much & it cleans cigarette residue as well. I mean years of cigarette residue. I do not sell Amway & this is the only product I purchase. I use very little of it.

And never, ever, install vinyl Venetian blinds in a kitchen. Please.