Just a chance to show off the interior of the oven with the first attempt at cooking in it. All going well so far...love the green enamel pan and the blue enamel oven.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Cooking in the new Kitchen
I really wanted to try the oven out today, and couldn't decide what in the world to cook. Finally I thought of am old favorite from Mastering The Art of French Cook...Julia Child of course.
It is Carbonnades a la Flamande, the famous Belgian beef and onion and beer braise. If delectable smells coming from that over are any guide it will be delicious. I think I will even steam the potatoes in the microwave...why not? I feel like a novice cook again after not cooking for three months, and now with all this new stuff...but it sure feels good.
This photo also shows a bit more of the backsplash...which seems to be disappearing as the counter becomes more populated.
Still having problems photographing toward the windows, but will try as the night creeps in.
The bottom rack in the oven is fantastic...I opened it once to check on the Braise, and it just glides out holding that very heavy pot perfectly.
And now the chimes are at it, signaling that the dish is done and ready for it's vinegar.
I won't actually eat it until after the Vampire show...if I am hungry after that gory affair!
It is Carbonnades a la Flamande, the famous Belgian beef and onion and beer braise. If delectable smells coming from that over are any guide it will be delicious. I think I will even steam the potatoes in the microwave...why not? I feel like a novice cook again after not cooking for three months, and now with all this new stuff...but it sure feels good.
This photo also shows a bit more of the backsplash...which seems to be disappearing as the counter becomes more populated.
Still having problems photographing toward the windows, but will try as the night creeps in.
The bottom rack in the oven is fantastic...I opened it once to check on the Braise, and it just glides out holding that very heavy pot perfectly.
And now the chimes are at it, signaling that the dish is done and ready for it's vinegar.
I won't actually eat it until after the Vampire show...if I am hungry after that gory affair!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Fall out the Kitchen Window
WEll that title looks funny...so perhaps it should read...."Fall from the Kitchen Window"? Still sounds funny, but I was standing at the sink around 6 tonight and finally saw the random plum had turned, and my maples are beginning.
I also alerted a huge group of turkeys, which was good...they fled to the field instead of roosting in our little stand of oaks.
The kitchen looks fine, but there are little nic and knacks that are annoying, or rather I should say jarring, but since I am pretty adaptable these days, I am sure I will survive them. All in all, I am happy and relieved to have this last major install done. Now to get ready for the big electrical event. I am so happy that I am doing that. Tonight when I tried to toast some bread to go with my lovely salad, I had no power. Sure enough, a circuit had been thrown, and I had to go out and do it all over again. How that happened I don't know but they did have to do work around the outlets. A tiny bit scary.
I also alerted a huge group of turkeys, which was good...they fled to the field instead of roosting in our little stand of oaks.
The kitchen looks fine, but there are little nic and knacks that are annoying, or rather I should say jarring, but since I am pretty adaptable these days, I am sure I will survive them. All in all, I am happy and relieved to have this last major install done. Now to get ready for the big electrical event. I am so happy that I am doing that. Tonight when I tried to toast some bread to go with my lovely salad, I had no power. Sure enough, a circuit had been thrown, and I had to go out and do it all over again. How that happened I don't know but they did have to do work around the outlets. A tiny bit scary.
VentilaTION!!! 3 Months + a day!!!
What a very frustrating day. I clearly didn't understand just how long this back splash business would take and it is taking a very long time. It is also messy, messy, messy. I had been warned by the cabinet maker, but I hadn't realized what all this entailed.
They are having to cut each and every little notch, opening for the electric outlets and any other adjustments HERE! I thought that all those measuring trips were to do all that...I do feel sorry for these two guys, but sorrier for me.
I was shocked when I turned around from my deadheading and spotted the faucet pulled out of the sink...my heart dropped.
I think this was just one installation too many for me...and of course it isn't done yet...they have been here six hours and still have one window area to finish.
Phew...the cat has gotten in twice and the dogs have been in a wild uproar all day.
And the driveway looks like a fresh snowfall has just occurred.
I don't think that the Caesar stone will show up well in a photo...it is pretty subtle, but I will try after they leave...
They are having to cut each and every little notch, opening for the electric outlets and any other adjustments HERE! I thought that all those measuring trips were to do all that...I do feel sorry for these two guys, but sorrier for me.
I was shocked when I turned around from my deadheading and spotted the faucet pulled out of the sink...my heart dropped.
I think this was just one installation too many for me...and of course it isn't done yet...they have been here six hours and still have one window area to finish.
Phew...the cat has gotten in twice and the dogs have been in a wild uproar all day.
And the driveway looks like a fresh snowfall has just occurred.
I don't think that the Caesar stone will show up well in a photo...it is pretty subtle, but I will try after they leave...
Friday, October 17, 2008
Lettuce Harvest
I just had to add this photo to the blog...partly because the whole kitchen thing made me think about really good food a lot, and partly because tonight at the Farmer's Market, I realized that I had a lot of stuff at home to cook, so for the first time, aside from the tacos, I didn't buy anything.
But the music by Blue Moon was great...lots of Gillian Welch songs and they did a great job.
But that isn't just lettuce!
But the music by Blue Moon was great...lots of Gillian Welch songs and they did a great job.
But that isn't just lettuce!
WATER, Three Months minus ONE day.
While I was gallivanting all over the Napa Valley yesterday, buying little special items for the kitchen, Stuart was working on hooking up the plumbing so I would have water in the sink again after three long months. He managed everything as I knew he would. The directions to hook up the water filtration system were a bit weird, but he puzzled it all out. And now I have WATER!
It was a pleasure to do the dishes last night, and to get all the dish washing crap out of the bathroom this morning.
I just spoke with the stone people, and they will arrive between 8-9 in the morning. I will tamp down my excitement by heading off to work at the last Farmer's Market of the season this evening. I am feeling a bit like a farmer myself this afternoon, after harvesting some beautiful lettuces and my first batch of Swiss Chard. When I come home I will have a wonderful little salad to finish off my meal of Cactus Grill Taco's at the FM and watch Bill Maher.
It was a pleasure to do the dishes last night, and to get all the dish washing crap out of the bathroom this morning.
I just spoke with the stone people, and they will arrive between 8-9 in the morning. I will tamp down my excitement by heading off to work at the last Farmer's Market of the season this evening. I am feeling a bit like a farmer myself this afternoon, after harvesting some beautiful lettuces and my first batch of Swiss Chard. When I come home I will have a wonderful little salad to finish off my meal of Cactus Grill Taco's at the FM and watch Bill Maher.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Birthday Present from Luke
Just had to post this latest art work for my collection, and who knows, it might end up in the kitchen too!
Luke also send another of Horner's etchings which I will frame with the one I bought up there last summer. I was just thrilled to receive these great prints today.
Early this morning Gary of MGI came and took the finally measurements for the back splash and announced very casually, that he didn't see any reason why we didn't put in the water!!! Sheeeesh...I could have had water last Thursday!!!. Oh well, Stuart will do that on this Thursday when I go to Vallejo.
Finally the electrician arrived this evening...and it will be a full on job requiring a permit from the City of Clearlake, and involving PG&E...it will be a whole day without power so I will have to plan carefully for the freezer and meds. But finally I will feel a bit better about the darn wiring in parts of the house.
Mike also gave me a quick tour of his iPhone...what a trip! I must have one.
So...by Sunday, I should have water, and the back splash all installed and I will call it good! Although there will be other details, like lights, trim, and probably other stuff that will come up...I will be happy to have the bulk of the work done. Then we can concentrate on the land!!!
Luke also send another of Horner's etchings which I will frame with the one I bought up there last summer. I was just thrilled to receive these great prints today.
Early this morning Gary of MGI came and took the finally measurements for the back splash and announced very casually, that he didn't see any reason why we didn't put in the water!!! Sheeeesh...I could have had water last Thursday!!!. Oh well, Stuart will do that on this Thursday when I go to Vallejo.
Finally the electrician arrived this evening...and it will be a full on job requiring a permit from the City of Clearlake, and involving PG&E...it will be a whole day without power so I will have to plan carefully for the freezer and meds. But finally I will feel a bit better about the darn wiring in parts of the house.
Mike also gave me a quick tour of his iPhone...what a trip! I must have one.
So...by Sunday, I should have water, and the back splash all installed and I will call it good! Although there will be other details, like lights, trim, and probably other stuff that will come up...I will be happy to have the bulk of the work done. Then we can concentrate on the land!!!
Monday, October 13, 2008
We Advance!!!
Oh my...for the first time someone called me back before I call in, and glory be, could come right out today and do the install. In this case, Mike's Cabinet's came out and framed the windows. They are beautifully done too. They were also able to level the rolling cabinet up to the fixed counter.
Next up is the back splash, and while I was promised a visit this evening to do the finally measurements and an installation on Friday or Saturday, no one has arrived yet and it is 6:00pm. It wouldn't bother me much, but a phone call would help if someone can't make it here.
And then there is Gossett Alarm who was also supposed to arrive late this afternoon...and nope, not a peep out of them either. Actually one of them was supposed to call or come over last week to check on the dangerous circuit boards. Hummmmm!
I am still hopeful that the backsplash will go in this weekend...that will be the end of the messy part, and then Stuart can do the water hook up.
Trying to be optimistic...well at least the wind died down.
Next up is the back splash, and while I was promised a visit this evening to do the finally measurements and an installation on Friday or Saturday, no one has arrived yet and it is 6:00pm. It wouldn't bother me much, but a phone call would help if someone can't make it here.
And then there is Gossett Alarm who was also supposed to arrive late this afternoon...and nope, not a peep out of them either. Actually one of them was supposed to call or come over last week to check on the dangerous circuit boards. Hummmmm!
I am still hopeful that the backsplash will go in this weekend...that will be the end of the messy part, and then Stuart can do the water hook up.
Trying to be optimistic...well at least the wind died down.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Circuit Board with smoke damage!
We SURGE on! I guess we sure do, don't we? Oh my...I called the alarm company to see what the best course was for the connections on the kitchen windows before we start facing them etc. next week. I was planning on have a wireless motion detector installed.
When they opened the box...what we thought was a dead battery turned out to be fried circuits. Very scary indeed.
And it took two hours, the removal of the last of the electric heaters in the bathroom and an appointment to have a bid made to replace lots of circuit breakers out in the main box. Water damage.
Dang blast, as I am getting fond of saying. Doesn't seem to offend too many people so far.
So now we have wireless in more places then not, and an evaluator coming to check out the myriad other electrical mysteries this house holds. It is pretty dang scary, considering we have had two electrical fires down here in less than a year and my next door neighbor has had to have a huge rewiring job done at her place. Golly, what next?
OH wait, don't tell me...the stock market is crashing again!!! Holy Shit Fire!
I think I will have to start a new blog on where to park your money in the meantime, called Back to the Land, AGAIN!!!
When they opened the box...what we thought was a dead battery turned out to be fried circuits. Very scary indeed.
And it took two hours, the removal of the last of the electric heaters in the bathroom and an appointment to have a bid made to replace lots of circuit breakers out in the main box. Water damage.
Dang blast, as I am getting fond of saying. Doesn't seem to offend too many people so far.
So now we have wireless in more places then not, and an evaluator coming to check out the myriad other electrical mysteries this house holds. It is pretty dang scary, considering we have had two electrical fires down here in less than a year and my next door neighbor has had to have a huge rewiring job done at her place. Golly, what next?
OH wait, don't tell me...the stock market is crashing again!!! Holy Shit Fire!
I think I will have to start a new blog on where to park your money in the meantime, called Back to the Land, AGAIN!!!
Basilico, last of the season
While I am enjoying the kitchen even unfinished, there are some huge downsides to trying to cook with out water and everything at hand.
To tell the truth, while it was worth it to cook the pasta and then run into the bathroom with the pot to drain it...it was very stressful and I decided to spare us all the image of the big pasta bowl etc. in the bathtub. Whew...that was a bit much. And while I don't want to use fasta pasta except in an emergency, I can see that it is really really useful...or I wouldn't have had pasta all summer long.
To tell the truth, while it was worth it to cook the pasta and then run into the bathroom with the pot to drain it...it was very stressful and I decided to spare us all the image of the big pasta bowl etc. in the bathtub. Whew...that was a bit much. And while I don't want to use fasta pasta except in an emergency, I can see that it is really really useful...or I wouldn't have had pasta all summer long.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
It works!!!
I bought the rice cooker knowing I would be out of the kitchen for a while, but it was so big, and my temp space was so small that I never used it. But tonight was the time..and while it was a bit intimidating to try to decipher the instructions, I finally managed.
It was eerie to not put in a time, but the dang things brain was pretty good.
Dinner was a great variation from the last three months.
And now I promise this is the last post of this very long Saturday.
It was eerie to not put in a time, but the dang things brain was pretty good.
Dinner was a great variation from the last three months.
And now I promise this is the last post of this very long Saturday.
Starting the stew!
And now it is all cooking away happily...and I am happy. I have to force myself out of the kitchen and deal with other aspects of life now. Happy happy happy!
Finally a cooked breakfast
I think the caption says it all. I just couldn't wait for the back splash to start cooking a little bit. I even braved the light rain and power outtages at Ray's to go all the way to Safeway to get what I needed to make the stew.
Friday, October 3, 2008
The Long Strange Trip Continues
It is almost three months since I started out, and after this morning's consultation with Gary I find that I will pass the three month point after all without finishing the job. Even in my wildest imagining, I didn't plan for this!
The funny thing is that nothing has really gone wrong, it is just all taking so long when everyone has to finish and then the next person has to measure.
The new change involves doing the wood trim around the windows before the Caesar Stone goes on the back splash. After much discussion this morning, we came up with a good plan for the windows and the back splash which will work out. And Gary brought a sample of the material with him and it is just perfect, color and texture wise...so that is good.
On Monday Mike the Cabinet man will be out to do the measurements for the windows and once he gets those done, it will be another three days, minimum before Gary can come back to do the stone work.
And somewhere after that, Stuart will do the plumbing...we are lucky there...the faucet will fit with the backsplash. Now I see why one might just need an architect and or an experienced contractor. Some of these things only occur to me the night before they are to happen. But hej, it has been a great learning experience.
On the most positive side, this afternoon, Harvey came and hooked up the stove top again, so I can now cook.
With the rainy weather, I hear a stew calling out to me for tomorrow. I won't cook tonight as my friend Susanne and I had huge burritos for lunch, and I have enough leftover for dinner along with a salad.
But tomorrow is another day.
Since no one is coming tomorrow perhaps I will forget all about it and sleep sleep sleep all thru the night...but not on the kitchen counter!
The funny thing is that nothing has really gone wrong, it is just all taking so long when everyone has to finish and then the next person has to measure.
The new change involves doing the wood trim around the windows before the Caesar Stone goes on the back splash. After much discussion this morning, we came up with a good plan for the windows and the back splash which will work out. And Gary brought a sample of the material with him and it is just perfect, color and texture wise...so that is good.
On Monday Mike the Cabinet man will be out to do the measurements for the windows and once he gets those done, it will be another three days, minimum before Gary can come back to do the stone work.
And somewhere after that, Stuart will do the plumbing...we are lucky there...the faucet will fit with the backsplash. Now I see why one might just need an architect and or an experienced contractor. Some of these things only occur to me the night before they are to happen. But hej, it has been a great learning experience.
On the most positive side, this afternoon, Harvey came and hooked up the stove top again, so I can now cook.
With the rainy weather, I hear a stew calling out to me for tomorrow. I won't cook tonight as my friend Susanne and I had huge burritos for lunch, and I have enough leftover for dinner along with a salad.
But tomorrow is another day.
Since no one is coming tomorrow perhaps I will forget all about it and sleep sleep sleep all thru the night...but not on the kitchen counter!
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Stainless in Place.
OK!!! We are moving right along with the stainless installation. I must admit it was by far the most traumatic of all the stages to date. The sink hole had to be cut out, and the stove hole had to be cut in the stainless...the noise, the smells, the possibility of damage was very intense.
Of course it was messy to the nth degree, but it all cleans up nicely...Tim is coming back in the morning to remove clamps on the sink end of the counter and put some sheetrock back in place. Thank god I had some small pieces left over from Monday's work on the heaters.
I guess I should photo that and blog it too, but not tonight...I am pooped out. But gosh it does look beautiful, even if I can't quite capture it...I am happy now that the noise etc. is over.
I wonder just how messy the Caesar Stone will be???? Can't be this intense!
There are few more photos on the flickr site, and some of the family reunion for you family members or art lovers.
Of course it was messy to the nth degree, but it all cleans up nicely...Tim is coming back in the morning to remove clamps on the sink end of the counter and put some sheetrock back in place. Thank god I had some small pieces left over from Monday's work on the heaters.
I guess I should photo that and blog it too, but not tonight...I am pooped out. But gosh it does look beautiful, even if I can't quite capture it...I am happy now that the noise etc. is over.
I wonder just how messy the Caesar Stone will be???? Can't be this intense!
There are few more photos on the flickr site, and some of the family reunion for you family members or art lovers.
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