DIY Projects

Kitchen Island Ideas

Here are some ideas to consider before installing an island in your kitchen.

A kitchen with an island should have at least 42 inches of clearance on each side of the island. Why so much? It is meant to be a work area. If you were only walking past it, 36 inches would suffice. But you’re not installing an island in your kitchen, so you can simply pass it by. So, 42 inches is minimum.

When answering the question, “kitchen island or not,” consider your budget. Adding a kitchen island adds costs for cabinetry and countertop, plus any appliance or sink and fixtures you’re considering. Using custom cabinets will save you money from the outset, but still—you need to crunch the numbers and see if you have room in your budget, in addition to room in your room, for a kitchen island.

The advantages to a kitchen island are many: You get more counter space, more storage, an eating area, and possibly room for an appliance or small work sink. In short, you can easily convert an L-shaped kitchen into a U-shaped one with the addition of an island! With an open concept plan, you also get to interact with people not in the kitchen with you while you’re cooking or keep an eye on kids doing homework while seated at the island.

There are ways to add some of the functionality and design elements of an island without incurring the cost or messing with your mojo while cooking. You could use a table instead. With a table, you get additional cooking surface, plus it becomes an eating area that everyone can use. With an island, you only have seating on one side so there’s less togetherness about the meal. Also, a table can get moved out of the way and pushed up against the wall, if necessary. Another alternative is a cart on wheels. With the cart, you get a work surface plus storage and—as with the table—you can push it out of the way. Or you can use a piece of furniture that wasn’t meant to be used in the kitchen but looks glorious there in the middle of your room, adding fashion and flair as well as a place to get dinner ready.

Landscaping

Country People Landscaping Art (I am one)

First of all not all country people are rednecks. They’re people that don’t give a damn about high society. I have seen some that do sport mullets, wear the plaid shirts with the cut off sleeves, have their cars upon blocks, eats from cool whip bowls and live in trailers. Whats wrong with that? They are mostly good down-to-earth people. They express themselves in their own backyard art.

Funny Garden Moments

Can a Gardener Go On Vacation

Can  a gardener go on vacation in the summer time?  You depart, however, with a heavy heart, full of fears and cares for your garden; and you say, “Look here. There is nothing to be done in the garden and flowerbeds, if you come and look once in three days, that will be quite enough.”

So, when I leave, having laid my garden upon the heart of an obliging neighbor or friend. Next day the fellow-creature receives a call from me: “I forgot to tell you that the garden has to be checked for moisture every day, the best times for doing it are five in the morning and toward seven in the evening. It is practically nothing, you only fasten the hose to the hydrant and water for a few moments.”

“Will you please water the new planted apple trees and thoroughly, and the lawn as well? If you see any weeds, pull them out. That’s all,

oh I forgot the perennials, which are now in flower, ought to have a good deal of water. Withered stalks must be cut off! It would be a good thing if you loosened all the beds with a hoe; the soil breathes much better then. If there are aphids on the roses, buy a systemic insecticide and spray.”

The third day: “I forgot to tell you that the lawn must be cut; you can do it easily with the mower, and what the mower does not take, you cut with clippers. But beware! after mowing the grass it must be well raked, and afterwards swept with a sweeper! Otherwise the lawn gets bald patches! And water, plenty of water!”

The fourth day: “If a storm comes, will you please run and look at my garden? A heavy rain sometimes causes damage, and it is good to be on the spot. If mildew appears on the roses, sprinkle them early in the morning while the dew is still on them with flowers of sulfur. Tie high perennials to sticks so that the wind does not break them. Don’t forget to water every day the hostas near the house, it is too dry for it there. I hope that you have already mowed the lawns.”

The fifth day: “I am sending you a box of plants, which I dug up here. They are various wildflowers, wild lilies, Pasque flowers, bugworts, and others. Immediately you have got the box, open it, and damp the seedlings, and plant them somewhere in a shady place! Plant immediately and water three times a day! Please cut the spent branches of the roses.”

The sixth day: “I am sending a box of plants from a nursery . . . They must go into the ground at once . . . At night you are to go into the garden with a lamp and destroy slugs and hornworms. It would be good to weed the paths. I hope that looking after my garden doesn’t take up much of your time, and that you are enjoying it.” “I hope that you have already mowed the lawn. You needn’t do anything else.”

And in the meantime, I wonder with uneasiness of the flowers and lawns, sleep badly, curse because the garden caretaker is not sending me reports every day on the state of the garden.

I have not even mention taking care of the dogs and cats which no one is trusted to do!  Guess I will stay home!