THE AUTUMN KITCHEN...

 

If you were to go through my cupboards rooms, 

you would find a story as old as time itself. 

Too much stuff and no place to put it!  

I am not a hoarder, 

at least not as defined

 in the well known TV series, 

but I do like to collect stuff

 and to that end, I do a great job!

 The getting rid of stuff is where the problem comes in,

and it certainly doesn't help matters 

when a good size storage place 

goes out of business, 

so to speak...

...now it wasn't your typical storage place, 

it was our motorhome.  

We got rid of it and, believe it or not, 

all that clunking and tinkling as we 

drove down the road 

wasn't loose fittings - 

it was cabinets filled with

 glassware, china, 

and a lot of pretties...

...you see, 

I don't like using paper products 

as far as eating and drinking goes,

 except maybe on an occasional picnic, 

and that goes double

 when we were on "vacation".

All the cupboards in the motorhome 

were filled with 

pretty glassware and dishes,

 none expensive because 

when I am on "vacation" 

my joy is spending time at

 Home Goods, Ross's or thrift stores

 along the route 

where I always managed to 

find a few things!

Nothing was more fulfilling to me 

than relaxing, sleeping and dining 

in a pretty space.

But, what happens when that space 

no longer belongs to you

 and you might be a bit of a "gatherer",

 and you have to unload

 all that stuff?...

...we looked at each other and 

He said: 

"Remember that old

 pantry/pie safe cupboard 

that we have had forever

 out in the garage"?

  She said: 

 "But, that is so ugly 

and where would it fit in the Cottage"?

So, as collectors often do, 

we dragged that old derelict cupboard

into the kitchen 

and, by golly, 

we made it work.

There aren't too many walls in the Cottage 

equipped to take on

 an old derelict cupboard 

and who needs an eight foot window

 in the kitchen anyway? 

So it took up residence.  

With a little bit of paint 

and a wire to hold it straight, 

and a bunch of pretties 

to camouflage the rest, 

I now have a place to put 

my seasonal dishes, 

and that freed up room in other places 

to put all the extra stuff. 

 Where there is a will,

 there is always a way!

I have been a long time follower of

 the Susan Branch Blog. 

 I love her style, her spirit and

 her kind and generous soul. 

 I also love how she

 punctuates her words 

with her illustrations. 

 It is all pure magic. 

 In her latest post 

I learned something that I wasn't aware of. 

 Evidently there is a fast moving

 new trend in decorating going around. 

 Her description of it, and I quote:

  

"It's a world like your grandma's house 

where life is more whimsical and magical

 in an imagined past full of good things". 

 

She gives it the name of

 Granny Chic or Cottagecore. 

 While I have been decorating like this

 for a long while,

 I am so glad that it has caught on...

It is speaking my language!

So now the kitchen is dressed for fall 

and the project I told you about 

has been accomplished. 

 Remember, I said it wasn't a big deal, 

only something a bit old and sweet

 so I hope you aren't disappointed.  

Come along on the tour at your leisure. 

 You have seen it enough times by now

 that no words are needed:

We have had this cupboard 

for about 40 years. 

 It looks to us that it was

 a homemade piece. 

 It is made of redwood and the stain 

put on it made it very dark. 

 We always thought we would do

 something with it 

but all those years ago 

it was not a good thing to paint old wood 

so it got lost in the shuffle.

The original cupboard

 had screen in the doors. 

 It was shredded 

so we replaced it with

 two faux tin panels.

Another little inexpensive thing 

we have added, 

gives a bit of ambiance

 to the kitchen at night.

  I know most people use these little under the counter lights for task lighting,

 but I am only here for the pretty

 and that's what they do for me...

...they are so cute

 and I ordered them out of a catalog

 for just $13 for six.

You have heard me say before 

that I am not a fan of LED lighting, 

but I added some lamp light into the mix 

and they don't look as harsh and cold.

Who knows how long they will last, 

but they will have done for me

 just exactly what I expected them to do.

Now I have managed to fill

 a few rooms with autumn 

and I hope that you enjoyed seeing them. 

 There is still time to 

sit back and enjoy them 

before everything changes again.  

I might not like to admit it

 but you know that is going to happen 

and I am already fantasizing 

about seeing a gingerbread house 

under those little lights.

Hope you are having

 wonderful fun filled 

autumn days.

...Judy...

Tea for two

 in an autumn kitchen.

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