In My Home This Week: The Last Week of July

I think this photo dates from the mid-1940's.  It is a very compact kitchen.  I don't believe it is an Armstrong kitchen although there is definitely a linoleum floor used in this room.  It's the absence of other linoleum elements that makes me think it's by a different company.  That floor pattern though has been around forever hasn't it?  I think they recently reintroduced this particular pattern in brick color waves.  I suppose some might say it's timeless.  

Quick analysis of the kitchen for you starting on the left.  Obviously there is a bumpout wall here at the far left, and we can just see the food scales on that counter.  It seems rather far from the food prep area to me and it's not near the refrigerator either.  I'm a little confused about what that cupboard is there at all except to serve as extra counter space in a kitchen that has at best, a very scarce amount.

I don't think I've said before how I feel about the dining 'nook' for breakfast but we've seen this design element in several kitchens.  I think it would be awkward and skimpy.  Perhaps it's meant mostly for children rather than adults?  Or it's deeper than I might realize from this perspective?   The vlogger Old World Home has a similar set up in her kitchen where a large work surface is set away from the wall and her children do eat at that counter which is separate from the other kitchen cupboards.   

Look at that end wall in the breakfast area.  It appears there is a desk at the end of the space.  There's a radio and what appears to be a typewriter.   There are cabinets above the shelves but you'll note that it's a very shallow cabinet.  I think that is a good use of that wall space but how frustrating to have to squeeze in behind the chairs or even to remove them in order to get to the area at all. 

I suppose these counters that back up to a sink or stove are convenient for morning and lunch service.  Note that the breakfast bar wraps the end of the sink cabinet and gives a nice bit of counterspace for the toaster.  I always wonder though...did they remember to put an outlet there?  Because without an outlet that toaster is useless isn't it?   I like the shelves where the two sets of canisters are but with small children around, those would be mighty tempting to little hands.

There's a nice work surface either side of the sink but it's still not a lot of space for say, stacking wet dishes to air dry.  You'd definitely be a wash and dry right away housewife if you wanted to keep the visual clutter down.

There's a nice set of drawers on the lower cabinet either side of the sink and the ventilated cabinet space under the sink.  Also two nice storage cupboards either side of the sink cabinet.  Then another narrow cabinet under the window.  I do have to say that I admire the way these narrow cabinets were tucked into these kitchens in what might well have been just flat wall space.   Again, I know from experience in an older house I lived in that the narrow cabinets will hold quite a bit of canned goods.  They might also store glasses.

There's our fridge right in that small work space...and next to it the stove.   I remember how thick and heavy those old fridge walls were.   No need to worry that they would warm too much with the stove next to it, unlike our modern day appliances.  Next to the stove is a built in butcher block and yes, that is a meat cleaver there on the side in a built in knife block...Again, not sure I'd want that accessible to small folks!

I know I've not been very complimentary of this kitchen and you might well ask why I shared it if I like it so little.   I love the soft green of the walls.  I love the windows.  I love the strawberry print fabrics and the strawberry canisters.  Or maybe they are radishes, but I LIKE them a lot whatever they are.   This kitchen feels fresh and airy and I like that about it.  Yes, it was color that drew my eye and made me like this kitchen despite the many drawbacks I see.  

In My Home This Week:

Hard to believe we're nearly done with July.  I know...The past three months I've been completely astounded at the fact that the months have flown past but it does seem they are determined to speed us through the rest of the year.  It will be August before we can turn around good this next week.  

As always, the idea of a fleeing season makes me just a little sad.  I noted golden rod and mallow flower were both up and while not yet ready to bloom were standing tall and that was two weeks ago, which is earlier than usual.  I fully expect we're going to have an early autumn this year only because the weather has been so very mild and per all the almanacs I've looked at it should remain so even through August and September which are some of our hottest months.  

But it made me very mindful yesterday as we were walking through the grocery store and I saw the peaches that for all intents and purposes, our state peach season generally winds up mid-August.  And that is just three short weeks away.  I'd determined I'd not pick up a bag of peaches but went right back and got them anyway, once I recalled that this too is a fleeting season.   Give me Georgia peaches while they last.  I will regret NOT buying them far more than I'll ever regret getting them!

Work:

Put out weed mat and mulch at the house in town.  Done!

Zone 4:  Kitchen, Back Entry and Laundry  I've gotten far more accomplished this month than I'd hoped I'd might at the start.   The changing up of Zones and when I work them has been refreshing and I've learned rather quickly this month to fit in what I can where I can and that's meant I get far more done than I have in a couple of months time.  

The kitchen cabinet doors are looking dingy.  Ideally I would like to paint them with chalk paint but I've got a new 'job' coming up next week and that won't allow for painting of any sort.  I'll settle for cleaning them well.   The laundry is looking a little cluttered and dusty so I'll try and tackle that as well.

My new 'job' I mentioned is keeping Caleb days for at least the next few weeks.  I hope in time we can get him placed at the Montessori nursery in town once again, but in the meantime, Katie starts a new job working from home, and she needs someone to watch Caleb.   The Montessori school runs on the same schedule as the public schools in the county and then close for all of July so, Gramma will be keeping little boy.  I'm looking forward to it and yet am smart enough to know that it shall be exhausting and quite a strain, too.  I'm going into this with my eyes wide open.

So you'll understand if my plans for this week are kept light.  I figure anything I get done in Zone or routine work and suppers made as well is going to be more than enough.

Kitchen:

I finished off last week with a fresh lot of Gathered Fragments.  I'll be curious to see what we have left after the weekend meals.  I have tentatively planned meals, trying to keep them easy or easily prepped ahead early in the day.   I'm not planning any big baking days, just our usual loaf of bread.

Chicken and Dumplings no fear...I make my broth with loads of vegetables and then add still more when I make the 'stew' for the dumplings.

Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagna, Garlic Bread, Salad

Gramma's Fried Chicken, Potato Salad, Mac n Cheese, Green Beans, Sliced Tomatoes

Kid's Favorite Casserole, Fruit Salad, Muffins or Biscuits

Calico Chicken and Rice, Lime/Pineapple Gelatin Salad vintage recipes from my 1960s BH&G cookbook

Mongolian Chuck Roast, Broccoli, Rice,  Green Salad 

Leftovers Night?  

Leisure/Personal:

Reading and playing my computer game will likely be as far as I get with leisure this week.