Some late afternoon sun. It may be cold but I can handle it when we have a sunny day like yesterday. And today.
This will seem like a little thing to you, but to us? Big. When we moved in here there was a black microwave – a big one – from the previous owners. Since it worked perfectly well, we kept it. You might remember that the previous stove was black and the dishwasher is black. The refrigerator is white. Go figure. I never liked the black stove and we all know that Stella has taken its place. The dishwasher has never worked so we use it as storage and one of our goals this year is to buy a new one and have someone hook it up correctly. (The very first time I used it 12 years ago, it leaked onto the wood floor.)
So. We’ve had this microwave for 12 years – it still works – but it takes up so much space and ends up being a big black hole on our counter. And counter space is something we have very little of. Fast forward to Don and me in NYC last week as we realized that there was no microwave in the apartment and Don definitely needed one. We bought a small Sunbeam microwave in white from a local hardware store. Perfect size for that small apartment and, we thought, perfect size for us at home! I tried to buy another one from the hardware store before I left for home, but they weren’t open. So I found one online via Wayfair and it was delivered yesterday. It’s not particularly exciting looking, but I have more counter space!
Once we get a working dishwasher, we can get rid of this black one and the dish drainer that lives on the counter and we’ll have even more counter space! Whoo hoo!
Now I have to lug the heavy black microwave out of here and take it to the recycling center.
Also bought this the other day:
It’s another Rae Dunn piece and I hadn’t planned on buying any more of them, but I saw this crock at Home Goods. I can’t resist fonts and graphics. This one is larger than the previous crock we had been using, which is a good thing. And I’ve repurposed the other crock as a pot for the ZZ plant I have upstairs.
I’m trying to figure out when I’m going to the city. I have to be here if the temperatures dip, which they will be doing on Tuesday. So I could go in for the weekend, right? But I’ve just heard from Anastasia and they want me to check in on the show next week. So I may hold off and go in Tuesday or Wednesday. Then I have to be back by Friday as it’s due to snow.
I can’t wait for Spring when I won’t be tied here due to weather. We’re both frustrated by it, but it’s the reality that comes with living where we do.
Happy Friday.
I feel the same way about the microwave being a necessary evil and especially annoying when the only spot for it is on the counter.
When we moved in our dishwasher was broken but instead of replacing it with a full sized one we got a dishwasher drawer which is a little over half the height of a regular dishwasher. We (and by we I mean my husband…) put a shelf in over it and it is just the right size for the microwave. Two birds, one stone!
Since it is just the two of us the half size dishwasher is plenty big enough for us. If we ever sell the house the new owner can easily pull out the shelf and install a regular sized dishwasher if they want.
Oh, good idea! We may have to think about that for our house! Thanks!
Microwave envy here; we have a big ‘ol stainless steel microwave I want to ditch; seems like it’s 20 years old although I know it’s not; left over from my mom. I’ll check out that nice little Sunbeam! I think most of us are probably always wanting more counter space unless you’ve got one of those big kitchens in a McMansion. My dream would be a walk-in pantry with a lot of shelves; sigh…
We don’t need a big microwave. We use it for oatmeal in the morning, warming up coffee and the occasional frozen lunch.
Your new microwave is the perfect size for that corner…and it brightens it up, too. I just noticed that shelf to the right of the corner…I’m sure I’ve seen it before, but I really noticed it now. I have a working dishwasher…yet I still have a drying towel on the counter for air drying. Just can’t seem to break some habits….yet, every inch of counter space is valuable in my kitchen.
I know you’ll figure out your traveling schedule…the weather just complicates things. Come on Spring! ;)
I would still use a drying towel, but a dish rack just takes up way too much space! I’m so tired of it!
yay about the microwave! looks perfect there, especially with that pretty blue bowl on top.
i, too, love fonts and graphic designs on things. glad you found some for you.
and yes, you will figure out a time to get to don and nyc in between the lower temps/home chores. it’s supposed to be 56 degrees here today. soon enough that will be heading east for you. enjoy!
kathy in iowa
It will be 50 here tomorrow. And warm on Sunday. Then it will get cold again! And so it goes.
It makes it so much easier in spring and summer to plan even a day when you want to do something. Someone calls to ask to do lunch or dinner, and I always say “sure, depending on the weather”. Even to plan a day to shop is hard if you want to do it more than a few days out. Just another thing to make us a bit grumpy at this time of the year.
The microwave looks great! I know that I am way outnumbered, but I am still a fan of white appliances. Our dishwasher broke 2 weeks ago and we needed a new one. All of my appliances are white. Everyone told me to go w/ stainless and then replace the others as we need them. I did think about it. I pondered and looked and bit my lip a lot, but we went with white again. I was surprised when they told me the white was more $$ than the stainless, but in the end they did give us the same price. I don’t regret the choice even a bit.
Don’t hurt yourself hauling out the old one. They surely were a lot bigger years ago, weren’t they? Hope you have a great Friday!!
I prefer white appliances, too! When we’ve replaced ours, we’ve always chosen white. I don’t care for stainless steel.
I’m so glad I am not alone in still liking white appliances. Sometimes I feel like everyone is tsk, tsking at me about it!!
i prefer white appliances, too (easier to keep clean/hide fingerprints, adds brightness …)! grateful to have them in my new-ish place.
kathy in iowa
Exactly what I think. My kitchen isn’t huge, and although I have 2 windows, because of pine trees I don’t get sun much at all. I think the stainless, or that new darker granite stainless would have just darkened it too much. I also like the white because they look clean!!
I love white appliances. Not a fan of stainless steel, which was all the rage, but isn’t such a hot item anymore. I like white, especially in our kitchen which is so sunny. I took the microwave – it was heavy – to the recycling center where they told me to dump it in the ‘scrap metal’ dumpster.
Validation!! 3 others who don’t make me feel badly for being out of step with the trend. They truly seem to brighten my kitchen, and it was funny to say I wanted white when the salesperson just automatically was showing us stainless. My kids and friends all said I should go stainless. Oh, well. “When I am old I shall wear purple” and buy white appliances, I guess!!
Trends are flashes in the pan. Go for what you like. I like white!!
Like Andrea Jane, we got rid of the dishwasher that was in our house as soon as we moved in. We did not replace it at all, though. For us, washing dishes isn’t onerous and we preferred putting in shelves. If you’re used to not having a dishwasher, you may prefer the storage space.
Also, our wholistc Family Physician agrees that not using a dishwasher helps keep our microbiomes healthy!
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2015/03/11/allergy-dishwasher-use.aspx
Hope you get to see Don soon.
I’ve never found washing dishes onerous. But I do love a dishwasher, which frankly, cleans the dishes much better than we do by hand. we are getting one, for sure. And I’ll be thrilled for more counter space, which is currently taken up with a dish rack and a drying towel.
More counter space is always a good thing. When we had some work done in our kitchen last year, we had the contractors take out the two small cabinets above the stove and install a microwave there instead. That freed up the little bit of counter space to the right of the stove where the old microwave was, but we got a toaster oven! I have to say, we use the toaster oven a lot more frequently than the micro. I think the only think I really use the microwave for is to heat up my coffee when it’s in my mug and gets a little cold. My mom, aunt and a couple of friends don’t have a microwave (by choice) because they think think they’re dangerous (how they heat up your food), but I’m not sure I agree with that, from the things I’ve read.
Finally a warm-up (low 40’s) and sunshine here, too! It’s so welcome.
We used to have a toaster oven when we lived in San Diego, but we found we rarely used it. I don’t think microwaves are dangerous, though that was a fear when they were first introduced. We use ours frequently, but not for preparing big meals or anything. That’s part of the reason we wanted a smaller one. It’s warming up here tomorrow, Melanie. That, and some sun, makes me happy.
I always enjoy your cottage photos.
We had a blizzard and a foot of snow fell on Monday; schools were closed on Tuesday because the roads were fullof drifts. Today it is sunny and will probably hit 50 degrees! I just returned from a wonderful morning of cross country skiing. The forecast for next week is below 0 highs and maybe -15 for lows. Go figure.
Isn’t that the way? A blizzard and then 50 degrees. We had that happen earlier this winter.
We had a huge built-in microwave when we first moved in. It was only 3 years old, but over the course of the next 10 years, kept conking out on us. After two expensive repairs, the nice third repairman sold us a small bag of fuses. Way cheaper to change the fuse ourselves, since that was the problem. When blown fuses were no longer the problem, we bought a small microwave that lasted a few years it stopped working. The built-in held the pet food and bowls. By then, my daughter graduated from college and brought home the cheap microwave her Dad bought from a store that was going out of business (it was the microwave in the staff eating space), for $10. It’s been going strong for over 7 years, with almost daily use. For the kitchen remodel, we decided against a wall oven/microwave combination. No more combo appliances for me. When one breaks down, one has to replace the entire thing.
There are only two of us most of the time, but we run the dishwasher twice a week. When daughter is home from college, it’s run three times a week. I would love two drawer dishwashers, but they are too expensive for me to afford.
I agree about combo appliances – never a good idea! I don’t think we could afford a two drawer dishwasher, either!
The plants are looking so good. I love the way the sunshine lights up your home. I still haven’t found a piece of Rae Dunn to buy. I have a $25 gift card to use but with Christmas and then medical stuff I haven’t been shopping much at all. I do love the tools crock. I still want a mug and will find one I’m sure. Small microwave is perfect and counter space is such a premium in my little kitchen also. My microwave is built in and so far works fine. I did get a really nice counter top oven as a present from Ashleigh and I love it! Since I don’t have a ‘Stella’ I use it more then my big oven.
That’s a nice present from Ashleigh! I hope you’re feeling a little bit better each day, Linda.
Sometimes little changes are refreshing. Funny how we overlook our daily landscape and then suddenly see a new idea. Your photos are lovely and your home charming. I enjoy every post, but am loving those about this exciting time for Don and your trips to the city. I have only been to NYC once and find it fascinating. I love to read anything set in the city and always wonder what it must be like to live there. I can do that vicariously through your blog ! Who knows maybe I’ll be lucky enough to come see Margaritaville.
So true. Why did we put up with the big microwave for so long? Go figure.
I hope you CAN come see Margaritaville, Sherry!
I love your little microwave! I have never liked stainless steel appliances.
but then I never fell in love with the ‘granite countertop’ fad either!
suddenly EVERYBODY had to have granite counter tops? !!!
this apt has the black and stainless fridge and the stainless steel and black glass top stove.
I am going to ask the complex manager if she would change the stove for me. they thought
it was such a wonderful selling point. NOT!
just give me a simple stove. the glass takes FOREVER to cool down.
and I’m so afraid I will scratch it. it’s like a mirror. no thank you!
I’m so glad you have sunshine!
The black stove we had before Stella was glass and I hated it. It kept getting scratched and things would spill and cake on and I could never get them off.
I am getting pop up ads for Margaritaville which I love! In one was a video tour of backstage and I spotted Don!
I hope not on this blog! There aren’t supposed to be any popup ads here. But elsewhere? Cool!
Your plants look so good. There is no doubt that you have a green thumb.
Marilyn
Aw, thank you, Marilyn!
I’m enjoying the new varieties of plants you’re finding. I have a ZZ plant on my list to find. I really enjoyed seeing downtown NYC and a fun photo of Don in front of his theater! Very exciting! Just don’t let the Scientologists get a hold of him! LOL! I’m a parrot-head so his play fascinates me. Enjoy the weekend! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
We were walking by the Scientology building on a Sunday morning and they had a sign out asking people to come to their “church service.” In other words, come in the door and we’ll try to get you to sign up for expensive courses that don’t do anything and get you into our cult!
Thanks, Teresa!