Thankful for a Stove

We have made tremendous strides since I first took a circular saw to the floor and a crowbar to the cabinets, but were we ready to put in our new stove this week?

No.

And yet, what were we to do, make turkey in the toaster oven and mashed potatoes in the microwave? Sometimes you have to do what you're not ready to do. While Leah was at a class, I got our friendly neighbor Kevin to help me lug the used stove from the garage and place it on our new slate tile floor, away from the walls so I can paint the parts that need painting, tile the parts that need tiling and put a cabinet in the spot that... well you get the point.

And suddenly we were able to cook our turkey breast, mashed tatters and cornbread stuffing. And eggs on a frying pan and mozzarella sticks in the oven. We have both really missed having a stove over the last six weeks and when Leah got home the first thing she said was: "I never thought I would be this excited to cook something."

Here is what the kitchen looked like before we took it apart:



To be honest, Leah and I both think this picture makes it look better than it was. The cabinets were old, poorly painted and falling apart. The floor was linoleum on linoleum on top of linoleum. The dishwasher was falling apart.

Here is what it looks like now:


We installed recess lighting and the upper cabinets. The slate tile is in and Leah smoothed out the messed up drywall. We updated the electrical and the plumbing. I bet we are about half way to the finish line.

We still have so much work to do. We need to install the base cabinets and paint them. Get the butcher block countertops in place and tile the back splash. We have to make the bar and secure it to the floor. We have to find a way to get the fridge back in the room (that makes me tired just thinking about it.)

But before we get back to work, we are going to pause and take a deep breath and be thankful for the little things, like the ability to cook a nice meal together.