{ Peak at the Kitchen }

(The chair pads are not staying, I'm going to crochet some padded cushions instead)

I know a couple of you have been asking to see the finished table and chairs.  I have waited to show any pictures because it's not yet complete.  Honestly, I need to give the yellow bench it's second coat but we've had rain the past few days and I've held of doing that.

Nevertheless, I've decided to go ahead and give you a peak anyway.  I still need to get my bunting up, but for the most part my kitchen is pretty much finished.

For a long time, and I mean, the past 16 years or so that we have been renting while in the military, I have shied away from painting any wall, because first, we weren't allowed to.  Over the past few years, they have started allowing it, but with the condition that you repaint it back to it's original state once you leave the house.....and I didn't want to have to deal with all that.

Problem is that it really kept me from having the kitchen I've always wanted, I made do with what I had and tried to keep things very simple, but it never was what I wanted.

This time, I've decided to throw caution to the wind and just go with it.  I want to walk into my kitchen every morning and smile and know that it is just how I want it.

It's very close to feeling that way, even though I'll admit it already makes me extremely happy.

The past few days I've been busy working on this wall. Another something I've wanted for years but never did have the nerve to do it in a rental. It still needs a little touch up on the sides, but I will deal with that later.

I am using an enamel mug to hold the chalk, and it will stay right there in that spot.  If need be, I may moved it behind the basket, but for now it's fine where it is.

Am smitten with the wall, and already envision so many ideas for it. It really does make the kitchen for me. MY kitchen, which is light and bright and airy and cute and Cath Kidston and just full of joy.

I am not happy with the curtains or the curtain rod at the moment, so I will be changing that up very soon.  I am trying to talk my hubby into building me a shelf above the window, it will be painted white and I will display all my mason jars up there.....or  my Cath Kidston goodies.  Either one.

He did build me one many years ago, matter of fact let me see if I can find it.

This is the only picture I could find, you can kinda see it up on the left hand corner.  I still kick myself over this shelf because when we moved to Arizona, we didn't take it with us, matter of fact we left it up on the window and the houses were torn down soon after.  UGH!!!

Anyway, I'm hoping for another one here soon.

This project cost me nothing at all, as we had a can of chalkboard paint back from Arizona, that was still unopened....and now that I've opened it, I can't seem to stop chalkboarding everything in sight. Oh boy!

I have a few jars that I am planning to paint labels on, it does make it so much easier to change up what the contents are, and I think it looks cute to boot.

I am also working on chalkboard painting something on my video cabinets, I'll show you once that's done.

Since we're on the subject of paint and my kitchen, I thought I would show you my little plant box that I mentioned the other day. It was something hubby had started building a long time ago and then lost interest and said I could throw it out or keep it. Being the frugal thrifty gal I am, I knew exactly what I wanted it for.

The spinach and lettuce are quite happy in there....and it's painted red, to match the pops of color in my kitchen.

When I was done getting the pictures taken, I headed to base with my husband.  He had to go get some work done at the commissary and I decided to go along and go hang out at the library.  I hadn't been to this one since 2007, actually it's not even where it used to be anymore, it's in a new location and it's pretty big.

I don't know what it is about libraries.  The fun thing?  I was able to keep my very old library card, all she did was add me back into the system.  It shouldn't make me giddy with excitement, but for some reason knowing that I'm using the same old card I used all those years ago, just makes me happy.

Really, I'm quite a sappy girl aren't I?  Hahaha

I was there for about an hour, just walking around, getting to know the new library, checking out books, and I even sat on a super comfy couch for 30 minutes and dug right into one of the books I got.

Afghan Lover's Collection
America's Women:  400 years of dolls, drudges, helpmates and heroines
Staking her Claim
Grandma's Wartime Kitchen
A Thousand years over a Hot Stove
The Glass Kitchen
Blessing the Hands that feed us

The book I dug into, was "A thousand years over a hot stove", and I'm intrigued by it already.  The book author follows the different eras and different women through the years and talks about their role in the kitchen and the home, and also shares recipes from those eras.  I am really enjoying it already, and I think I may share it with you all as I go along.  Lots of interesting facts in there, such as what to pack for the journey out west. 

Also, sitting on my kitchen counter I have the book that came in for review.  I have a few recipes I want to try from there, things that I've cooked before but different versions so I want to try these recipes.

So there you go, just a tiny peek into my kitchen, I will share more as I add things and finish things up.

Do hope you enjoyed it :)