Almost Finished...

Pantry when we purchased the farmhouse in 2016

This is the pantry that caught my eye when we first came to see the farmhouse when it was listed for sale. I fell in love with all the storage space and the tip-out bins on the left side. Those cabinets were only 24" tall. My uncle came to paint the interior of the entire farmhouse before we ever moved in, so I ask him to paint all this woodwork white while he was at it.

Pantry sink cabinet in 2016

Self-explanatory. This is the cabinet that Shelly and her brothers crafted to hold the sink and cleaning supplies. This cabinet was 33" high.

Pantry in 2023

Over the seven years we've been here, our pantry evolved into this. The lower cabinets served to hold our coffeemaker, mixer, and more recently our (really) compact dishwasher.

Pantry in 2023 - Sink cabinet

While the sink was certainly functional, we were used to having larger sinks and taller cabinets in our previous homes, and there were days that doing the dishes at this sink was a backache waiting to happen (for either one of us). I drew a photo for Handsome with my vision for a "half remodel", because I still love all the storage space we have on the rest of the pantry. 

We contacted Jeff, shared my drawing and he soon came back with his more professional rendering and a price we could live with. We scheduled this job to commence after the holidays, and in spite of the recent weather, we're on track to finish up the job this week.

Pantry in January 2024

Even though it's not complete, I had to share updated photos with you. We still have to go and get the drawer and cabinet hardware, fashion a new window sill that's more suitable against the counter, and install the outlets, switches, and lighting fixtures. That's happening today.

Pantry sink cabinet in 2024

Our new sink is a full 7" wider than the original one, which means that even my biggest pots will fit flat in this one. Heck, it's large enough to bathe a Corgi (although I won't here)!

Our new counter is a beautiful white quartz with the lightest of beige and pale gray veining. The faucet is also new, and we now have a cold water line that is fed directly from the well, bypassing the water softener. The hot water line remains softened water. Now, cold water from the faucet will taste sweet and delicious, rather than having a "conditioned" taste, which I have always been able to taste. (I know. Princess and the Pea vibes.)

This gives you a glimpse of the new, next to the original. At some point we'll switch out the original cabinet doors for the kind that sit on top of the framework - like the new - rather than inset. No matter how we sand or adjust, as soon as the weather gets humid, the doors stick. Mounting new ones outside the framework will eliminate that. They're fine as is for now, though.

I cleaned and reset all the spice bottles (which I'd boxed up during construction). The mug rack also stayed on the wall, but the mugs had been removed to keep them from being broken, too. My baking and cooking aprons hang on hooks right now, but I'll probably move them elsewhere to keep a clean look in here.

I'm also going to get a quote for luxury vinyl plank floors throughout the kitchen, main entry, pantry. a back hall areas. Those will be next on the list to bring the floors up to par with this remodel. I'm hoping we can have that done by the end of the year. 

If you followed my blog when we lived in Florida, I actually laid a plank floor myself in a spare bedroom. My knees still twinge whenever I think about that job. I'll let someone else do it next time!

Oh, and the compact dishwasher will go down on the very end of the counter - to the right of the sink - as soon as the electrician leaves today. I wanted to keep it out of the way until after he did his work. 

Thanks to Jeff Voelker, our master carpenter (St. Cloud, WI) who worked his magic from my primitive drawings. Jeff was the lead carpenter when we built our home in Campbellsport, WI, which was our home for seventeen years before we moved to Florida. Thanks also to Paul Schneider, our plumber from Silica Plumbing and Heating, Silica, WI; Jim Reimer who owns All R Electric from Plymouth, WI; and Tim Twohig and his counter installers from Quest Interiors of Fond du Lac, WI.

So, what do you think? Feel free to ask any questions, and I'll do my best to answer them. I just keep walking into the pantry now, leaning on the counter in front of the sink and counting my blessings. I'm one truly lucky girl.

Enough Already!...

 
The early morning trip to pick up the heating pad for the barn girls never happened. By first light, there was already fresh snow on the ground, and flurries so thick you couldn't see our neighbors' homes on the corner. The blizzard had already arrived.

Instead, Handsome and I aired the dogs (poor Tag couldn't negotiate the snow at all), put out feeders with birdseed, and took care of the barn ladies. Within two hours, this is the snow that had accumulated on the feeder and birdhouse in the sheltered section of our yard. You're looking at nearly 5" of snow on the feeder. By the end of the day the weather widget in my iPhone said that our area recorded 11.75" of snow, but, hey...let's just call it 12". What's a 1/4" at this point? Another 2" was forecast for overnight. I haven't checked that yet.

When the plow comes to clear out our road, the driver typically plows up our road to the farm lane. He pulls into the lane enough so he can turn around and put the plow down adjacent to our mailbox. From there, he plows back down the other side of the road on his way out.

Thursday, he overestimated the "safe zone" on the farmer's lane. He drove too far out and got stuck. Thankfully, he had a load of sand in the dump truck, so he moved further into the lane, dumped a bunch of sand, and created enough traction to extricate himself from the lane. Sadly, not before tearing up the gravel and part of the farmer's field. We just hoped he'd learned his lesson. Not so fast...

When he showed up today, guess what? Yep. He did it again. Due to the ruts from the previous situation - and the fact that he again went too far out onto the lane - we watched in disbelief when he got stuck yet again. I realized I was standing slack-jawed that he would have managed to get the plow in trouble the. very. next. day. 

Getting out this time took a bit longer, but he finally dumped more sand and after a lot of effort, hand shoveling, and rockin' that plow truck, he finally managed to again extricate himself. We walked away from the dining room windows shaking our heads. Let's hope he's learned his lesson.

Needless to say, the road conditions were slippery, snowy, and with little visibility. We stayed put all day. I'm hoping that the wind with lie down so we can run a few errands, most of them involving the barn cats. We shall see.

The counter company confirmed that they'll be here Monday between 1-3 pm to do the install. Right on schedule! Today, however, once we get home from running errands, you'll find me in my studio. I have work to do!

Last Sunday...

Last Sunday, we went to our elder son's home and found our younger son's family was also there. They all gathered to celebrate Handsome's Birthday, and for the last of our family Christmas gift exchange. Illness kept all of us from getting together for the actual holiday, but this was a perfect rain check.

As we drove into their driveway, we were greeted by the neighborhood wild turkeys. Our son and his family live right across from a marsh and wildlife area, so they have lots of visitors. We've been there in the past when a dozen turkeys just march through their yard. Quite a sight to behold when you consider they're within mere feet of the house. 

 

This trip, not only were we greeted by turkeys, but we were treated to a trio of deer that grazed their way through the backyard, too. In fact, they're quite tame for city deer. Our son's Golden retriever sat on their back deck as the deer sauntered past. We were told that the dog and deer are quite chummy. These deer weren't more than fifteen feet from the deck.

So, I have a little bit of news to share today, too. We have friends whose daughters we've known since they were teenagers. They're now grown with families of their own, and we are quite proud of the women they've become. The younger of the two ladies manages a gas station/restaurant/convenience store just three miles from our farmhouse. 

Handsome and I stopped for lunch one day about a month ago, and she was telling me how hard it is to find people who want to work, which started a whole discussion. At the end of our chat, I allowed as how I'd be happy to come up and help out for 10-20 hours a week, but that I didn't want weekend or late night hours. She handed me an application and we were off to the races.

I worked a week ago Friday answering the phones and taking orders for their delicious Friday night fish (fish fries are a big deal in Wisconsin, in case you haven't heard...second only to our supper club brandy old-fashioneds.) It was a fast-paced three hours of work, and I had fun.

Yesterday was my first day of actual training to use the register, as I took more food orders on the phone, and generally learned the ropes. I worked six hours on my feet, and because we had another snowfall the night before, I wore my boots. Next time I'll carry my Rockport™ shoes - meant for comfort - and change into them once I get there.

I sure don't intend to be there full-time - and I am still preparing for the show in February - but when Handsome goes to Florida for four months at a time, I can go weeks without leaving the farmhouse. The fact that he's staying home this year means that I don't have to fret about having the dogs crated the whole time I'm gone. They stay out with him, and I have a reason to get out at least once a week.

Anyway, it was fun to see new faces, earn a little mad money, and most of all, help a friend for a few hours a week. Plus, on the days I work, I place a food order before I leave and arrive home with a hot meal in hand. I don't have to put thought into what I'm going to make once I'm home. Bonus!

Today, we're running out so I can purchase a heated pad for the barn girls. If we're going to have a deep freeze, I'm going to do something extra for them to make sure they're toasty warm in the barn. They have an electric wax warmer (sans wax) in their insulated dresser up to now, along with a body heat-reflecting pad, but I'll lose sleep worrying if that would be sufficient in -13ºF weather. They'll be better off with the electric warming bed, so that's what I'm going to get for them. I'll have it all installed and ready for them later this morning. 

We're going early because we have another winter snowstorm warning (up to 6") today, and I've been told I probably won't have to go into work for three hours tonight either because of it. We'll be back home before it starts to really accumulate, and then hunker down until it passes. My cats have developed nice thick coats, so I'm sure this purchase is more for my peace of mind than their necessity, but I'm not taking any chances. Then I'll be sewing by this afternoon, as long as my girls are okay outside. 

I've read all your wonderful comments on yesterday's pantry update, but Blogger glitches on me from time to time, and I can't reply. I promise I'll leave comments during the day to answer all of them. Thanks so much for all your kind words. I'm glad you like what we're doing as much as we do. You're the best!!

I have to run now before the weather gets too crummy to be on the road. See you again tomorrow, and thanks again! 

Another Pantry Photograph...

 

Here we are so far. I painted the walls and ceiling on Monday, so Jeff hung the overhead cabinet yesterday. He trimmed and shaped the shelf cutoffs from the kitchen install near the range, too. We had enough of the board left to create two shelves for the pantry. That's what's sitting over the drawer cabinet. They'll go to the left of the window, hung off the side of the cabinet. I oiled them yesterday so he can hang them today. They look a little more red than they actually are. They'll work great with the cabinet.

I know that the wood uppers, green painted lowers, and white for the remainder gives it an ecclectic look, but I love it. So much so that some time over the course of the next year, I may strip down the paint I put on the range cabinets to take them back to match the doors I left unpainted. What do you think? Do you love this look or hate it? 

Jeff will hang the shelves today, and then I think we're on hold until Monday when the countertop comes. We'll have the electrician hold off until last, perhaps bringing him in on Wednesday. Then, it would all be finished and ready for me to "move in".

We still have to go out and get the cabinet hardware to match what's in the kitchen. The finish is the same as the existing cabinets in the pantry, but the shape is a bit different. At some point, we'll change the handles on the original cabinets to match, though, too. 

 

I'm also going to get the flooring guys in to give us an estimate to put down luxury vinyl plank throughout the kitchen, pantry, 1/2 bath and entry to cover the current linoleum. I'm over it, and I think it needs to be budgeted in so we can complete the whole reno in fine fashion.

The next update will be on Monday, and then the big reveal Wednesday. In the meantime, we'll get the last of the prep work accomplished. Then we wait. See you tomorrow!

Weekend Update...

 

The cabinet installation began on Saturday, rather than Friday last weekend. The electrician's task was a little more involved than anticipated (of course it was), so Jeff came back on Saturday to bring the cabinet bases into the pantry.

After having the shorter cabinets for the past seven years, having the taller cabinets (which we've had in the past) took a minute to get used to. Now, we're really looking forward to everything being done so we can enjoy them.

 

 

Jeff was wise to caution me not to fill them yet, as I absolutely would have had he not said something. These are the exact same color as the cabinets we put in the kitchen area, and now my decision is whether or not to paint the bases all the way around the room, leaving the tops white.

 

There is one more cabinet to install - an upper from the set that we used to flank the range in the kitchen - and I'm anxious to see that one up. I love the wood so much, that I'm inclined not to paint it at all. I'll share photos once it's up for your opinion, but for now, I have other things to attend to.

 

This wall is going to need to be repainted. Jeff will repair the drywall where the electrician had to open things up to run lines. Then I'll have to wait a day for everything to completely dry. I'll paint on Tuesday and he'll come back to hang that cabinet when I'm done. Once that happens, the electrician will be back to install the fixtures for us. 

 

Jeff and the counter tech, Zach will be here today. Zach will take measurements for the new counter. Jeff will be here to ask the tech a few questions about the small end cabinet at the far end of the pantry, and to do the drywall repair. We're supposed to get a doozy of a snowstorm, so it will be perfect weather for me to paint and then work in the studio. 

 

We got snow for Handsome's Birthday, but this may dump as much as eleven inches. I guess we're due for it, though, as we've hardly had any white stuff so far this winter. It's just that I'd prefer a little at a time, rather than that much all at once. I know. I'm a whiner. lol

I'm headed to the kitchen now to wait for the guys to get here. Tag will be back tomorrow to carry on (as usual). I'll be back on Wednesday!

Day Two...

 

 

Our plumber, Paul arrived at 8:15 yesterday morning, planning to just do a little roughing in. Open the wall in a hundred five year old house, and you just never know what you'll find. Oh. Before anyone asks, that's not mold on the wall. It's old, old plaster that has decades of dirt. The location on the wall is behind where the two wooden tip out cabinets were. I used one for plastic storage containers and the other for recyclables. I don't know how there were used before. Just out of curiosity, I'll ask Shelly next time I see her.

 

I was going to try to clean the walls with soap and water, but Jeff said I should probably leave the old plaster alone. I'm going to look in the basement, because I think I have some Kilz that I can use to paint over it. He said that would be okay.

 

Back to the plumbing...Everything was going along like clockwork when Paul cut off a line that should have been dead. He had done all the disconnecting before cutting it, but apparently it was being fed from a source he didn't know about. 

 

Handsome went downstairs to the basement for something and there was water running all over the floor. It took a while to tease out the source, and even after Paul stopped the water and capped off a line, none of us can figure out how that rogue line was fed and where it ultimately went. All we know is it won't leak again and the job was back on track.

By the end of a long work day, he'd stubbed in the drain line for the new sink location, and had the water line for the hot water rerouted. The cold water line will come straight from the main line coming into the house, so he'll do that when he connects everything on the 16th.

I wanted to share this perspective to show you the light fixture on the ceiling, because that's going to change, too. The new fixture for that spot is much more to our liking and will really cast a lot of light. We also have a fixture that will go right above the window to shine down on the sink.

That little end cabinet is staying so that we don't have to rework the end cabinets to accommodate a height change. Jeff took the formica counter off it, and we haven't determined whether or not we can squeeze the thickness of our new counter in the space vacated by the old one. We'll find that out on Monday when the counter guys are here. If we can't, Jeff will likely build a butcher block to fit in there. I'm happy either way.

So, we're still on schedule. Jeff will be here in the morning while the electrician, Jim is here, and then he'll install the base cabinets when Jim leaves. I can't wait to show you how things will have changed when you check in tomorrow. 

Sinkless...

 

I snapped this photograph before I ran out the door yesterday morning for a haircut. Our friend (and master carpenter) Jeff arrived at 9 am and began the tear out of our pantry cabinets. By the time I got back home, he was finished and ready for our plumber to come today to rough in the plumbing for the new sink and faucet (to be located in front of the window).

We're having the cold water rerouted to bypass the water softener, so that it will become drinking water fresh from our well. The well water is clean and sweet and I can definitely tell the difference between that and the softened water. We currently trek up the road to a local public artesian well and cart home gallon bottles of well water. Every once in a while, Handsome tries to test whether or not I can tell the difference by filling my glass from the faucet rather than the bottles from the well. I can always taste the difference. It will be wonderful to pull that same delicious water straight from the tap after our remodel is complete. We won't need to haul well water anymore, which is bonus.

The sad news is that with the tear out, we're without a kitchen sink until the plumbing is hooked into the new sink and faucet. That can't happen until after the new countertop is installed on January 15th. The cabinets have to be installed before the guys can measure for the counter, and then we wait a week for them to come back for the install. The plumber will be back the day after to hook everything back up. We'll make that schedule work, but I'll be opting for paper plates to offer a little break from having to cobble up a wash station in our little half bath around the corner from the pantry.

 

Tomorrow the electrician will be here to add another outlet and switch above the location for the baking cabinet. He'll also add a connection for an undermount strip light for the same spot. We're not putting in a full-size dishwasher, but he'll add a box under the sink in the event someone wants to do that in the future. We're changing out the overhead fixture for a new one, and adding a light above the sink, too.

After the electrician does his magic, Jeff will install the new cabinets so they're ready for the countertop guys on Monday. I can't wait to show those to you. It's all so exciting!

I'll be back with more updates and show you what I'm working on next. See you tomorrow! Have a great day.

 

Today I Paint...

I spoke with our carpenter yesterday and he told me that our cabinets are built and the doors have arrived! That means it's time for me to paint. He knew we'd be painting these cabinets, so he choose his wood accordingly (no oak or maple will be harmed in this process).

I've chosen "London" All-In-One Paint, which is a gray-green from Heirloom Traditions. This is the same color I chose for our cabinets in the main kitchen. This paint is awesome, and really stands up to daily use. If you're interested in checking out all their available colors and products, you can click on their company name above. (I'm not getting any compensation for mentioning or linking to them.)

Once these are installed, Handsome and I will decide whether or not I paint the lower cabinets all the way around the pantry. We'll see how the darker color affects the light and mood of the room first.

No time to waste today. I told him I'd be there by 10 am, and I have to take care of the barn girls and help with the doggers first. I promise I'll snap a few pictures while I'm working so I can give you a little peek at the cabinetry by Saturday. I'll see you tomorrow Friday!

OH, MY GOSH!!! I just realized that Tag didn't get his two-cents worth in this week. I'll make sure he gets to post tomorrow. Sorry, Tag. My bad. 

 

 

How We Spent Friday...

You're probably sick of seeing photos of our pantry, but there's a reason I'm sharing it again today. We're planning a small remodel in here to begin after the first of the year. 

Study this image a bit and you'll notice a sink up here on the left side. It's in a corner. There's a doorway coming into this pantry, so the wall is just a little deeper than the cabinets. The counter is the standard 33" height. Then, it steps down to 24". It was great for canning because I could lift the jars out of my electric canner a bit easier, but I have two "wants".

Number One "Want" is to have the sink in front of the window. Number Two "Want" is to have the counters all set at 39" as Handsome and I are both tall and it would be much more comfortable for us. We had done this in the home we built before moving to Florida and loved it.

So, here's a bit of the plan...the cabinets are already custom-built by the carpenter (artist, really) who was lead carpenter on the home we built over twenty five years ago. He's retired now and lives about five minutes from us. Where the sink is now will be my baking cabinet, with an overhead that was part of the set we installed near the range in the kitchen. There will be a drawer unit where the opening is, plus part of the current drawer area, then a 36" sink base centered on the window, and a smaller 18" pull out next to that for dog food containers. The very last cabinet in the current photo (before you get to the end cabinets) will stay in place. That way we don't have to modify those original end cabinets so we can still open the doors on the uppers.

Here's a better shot of the sink corner. We also bought that great little countertop dishwasher that sits where the coffee pot is in this photo. That will go to the right of the sink in the new installation.

We went yesterday to choose a sink (stainless steel) and faucet, and then we went to look at countertops. We planned to go either with a marble-look formica or the same hickory we have in the kitchen. Then I saw a quartz counter that I fell in love with. Handsome and I are currently negotiating, as there's a significant difference in cost between the three options. I think he's drawn to hickory - and I obviously love that option, too. I'll leave our ultimate decision for the final reveal.

I've chosen to paint the base cabinets to match the gray/green cabinets in the kitchen, and the overhead will remain the fruitwood stain with no additional paint. I have a few more things to do prior to the tear out, but none of that will happen until after Christmas or New Years. Then it will be a flurry of activity to get it all done so I'm not without a sink in the kitchen for too long. Isn't this exciting?

Needless to say, I didn't get my sewing done, so I'm going to be in the studio today...and likely early next week to finish. I have a Christmas party to attend in Portage on Sunday, so there won't be any studio time. It's always a busy time of year for me! I'm working on a few other surprises for the new year. Those are going to have to wait to share but I promise it won't be long.