What I've Been Up To

You know when I go missing for a while I'm usually crazy busy. Not only at home, but also at work. 

Yup, I'm one of those bloggers who has a full time job. 

I miss being here, but there are only so many hours in the day. 

I've been taking a bunch of photos every day so I can share my life on the Mountain Top with you. 

Today I'm going to share the side of the kitchen I never show you. 

Nope, not that view. I share that one often. I love that side. 

The other side. The side I hate. 

There it is, in all its glory. 

Granted, it's messier than usual because I was preparing to do a project. 

But it never really looks good. 

For one thing, I detest those railings. They don't suit the house even the tiniest bit, and someday they will be gone. 

This is what I envision to replace them. Perhaps with a combination of closed and open storage, so that I can store spices, canned goods, etc in there. 

But today is not that day.  Nor will it happen this year, as the new floors downstairs were far more pressing of a project. Unless, of course, I hit the lottery. 

However, there was something else I had been mulling over pretty much since I bought the house. 

And that was this. 

What is it, you ask? 

Well....does this give you a hint? 

If you guessed a pot rack, you would be one million percent correct!!

I have wanted a pot rack pretty much forever. And in my tiny kitchen, the only other location that would work would be to hang one over the island. 

But that would mess with all the sunshine I get from the skylight overhead. 

Nope, not happening. Don't touch my sunshine. 

I searched high and low for the perfect one...not too modern, could hang upside down, and a dark finish to match all the other accessories in the kitchen/dining room. 

I found this one on Amazon, and it was inexpensive and just the right size to buy TWO! 

Yes, please, thank you very much!

Of course, I was worried that once I had it up there and hung the pots I would hate it. 

Because apparently as I get older I have issues with change. I'm a weirdo. 

But you know what? I loved it immediately!

It really feels like a true cook's kitchen now, at least to me. 

And I don't hate looking at that side of the kitchen any more. 

It's utilitarian, for sure, but that can't be helped. 

I have no proper entry, and since we use the kitchen door as our main entry there's a boot tray there to catch our dirty shoes, and a hook to hang our jackets when we come in. 

That's my gardening jacket....isn't it pretty? 

I love having all my pots and pans right where I can see them. And I've cleared out an entire cabinet, so I can move some of my small appliances into the kitchen where they belong. 

Instead of the guest room closet. And the linen closet. Oh, and did I mention the downstairs laundry area?

The struggle is real, folks, being a foodie in a small kitchen. 

That's my plaid down blanket hanging over the railing....that's the one I use when I'm out on the deck, by the fire pit. It lives there permanently, to be grabbed easily when heading outside in the evenings. 

There's often laundry hanging on the railing to dry....like the cushion for the deck swing which is hanging next to the blanket drying...after I washed the bird poop off it. Yup, that's how my critters repay me for keeping the feeders full. 

But I don't see any of it any longer....I just see my super cool pot rack that I installed all by myself. 

Did I mention how much I love my new drill? Seriously, this thing is awesome. Best I've ever had, without a doubt. 

There's always a project in the back of my mind, and little by little I'm gaining the confidence and skills to tackle these things on my own. 

What's the next project, you ask?

This. 

It's planting time, folks!

Spring has finally come to the Mountain Top! 

Guess who's doing the happy dance?