My kitchen is torn to pieces. Everything is a mess.
Before you worry, I'm having a great day! Thanks to the kindness and generosity of people who have never met us, I was able to get brand new kitchen cabinets. Yes, it's true, and it is today.
When I was young, my maternal grandfather built and installed cupboards in the house my father built for us.
After 24 years, my children helped me vacate the house and used the empty space as a hiding place. When my cousin Josh and his family came over one evening, the children were nowhere to be seen. When I didn't tell them where I was, they started looking for them. Soon, I heard the muffled voice of 3-year-old Joshua. “Josh, we're here!'' Doors opened one after another, and satisfied faces peered out at the guests.
As of last night, all of those cupboards have been removed, the floor where the cupboards were has been polished, and today we have a fresh start.
When I got a call last fall from a furniture store in Indiana about having cabinets made for me, they asked if I could come in the next day to pick out what I wanted. what? Is this true? I called for a driver and was going to take my three little boys.
It was a memorable day of thinking, talking, and debating, but today was an even better day. Early this morning, small children in pajamas peered out the window and watched curiously as two boys carried one package after another from the trailer to the house. The children's handprints on the wall and my note to Daniel will be hidden in the cabinet, but that's okay. we know it's there. I told the kids that someday I might be able to show them the handprints if I ever needed to replace the cupboards.
I'm counting down the minutes until I can fill my cupboards with kitchen utensils. I've never had an island before, so there should be plenty of space. I always try to reduce the number of dishes I store in my cabinets. You have some favorite dishes, but if you rarely use them, what's the value of them? Dust buildup is natural and occurs on everything that is stored. Who doesn't love cleaning up excess stuff?
A few years ago, Daniel and I chose a rustic gray flooring that looked like glued wood planks. Now, we were debating the cabinet color to go with it. I like dark, woody tones, but I didn't want anything that would show fingerprints or water stains too much. After all, our kitchens are used frequently every day. I ended up settling on a medium gray/brown piece of hickory wood with knots.
When the first of those pieces came being towed home this morning, I was amazed at how well their color and style worked with the flooring and the pink rose wall (somehow, my love affair with pink… (I couldn't go beyond that, so Daniel cheered me on.) I painted the kitchen my favorite color. ) I smiled today. I knew Daniel would also be happy that his wife was enjoying her new kitchen. Isn't that something? While we wait for heaven, there are many things along the way, many cruelties, many complexities, but of course there is also the joy of thanking God.
When Mr. and Mrs. Lehman and my parents came to help remove the old cabinets, my mother prepared a comforting stew for all of us. Here are some recipes you should try tonight!
cheese chicken stew
3 cups chicken soup
1/2 pound diced chicken
1 medium onion (chopped)
2 1/2 cups diced potatoes
16 oz mixed vegetables
2 cans of cream chicken soup
1 pound melted cheese, such as Velvita
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon garlic salt
1 teaspoon seasoning
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
In a 4-quart kettle, cook soup, onion, and celery together for 10 minutes. Boil the potatoes in a separate pot until tender. Add to soup mixture, then stir in meat, chicken broth, and cheese. Serve warm.
Adjust the amount of liquid according to your preference to make it more soup-like.
Scratches and dents for sale: I am selling a slightly damaged Amish cookbook. The inside of the book is in good condition, but the cover is a little blurry, faded, or slightly torn. These were printed for Christmas. It would be a waste to throw it away, but I can't sell it at the regular price. These are popular. Bundle titles include the books “The Ultimate Amish Recipe Collection Vol 2,'' “The Original Amish Cook Cookbook,'' “Amish Christmas,'' “Amish Recipe Project,'' and “Everything But the Kitchen Sink for Amish Cooks.'' Masu. Price is $49.50, plus $9.50 shipping. Send $59 to Oasis Newsfeatures, PO BOX 157, Middletown, Ohio 45042. Or order at Amish365.com/books. The order link will no longer be valid and your email payment will be refunded if it arrives after these sets are gone.
