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Entries in Feel Good Kitchens (6)
Dance In Your Kitchen!
Ok, I'm feeling the weekend coming on!
We were "this close" to going to New Orleans this weekend for the JazzFest. We've gone 6 times since 1995. We MAY even go for a quick one nighter next weekend. Instead, this weekend, our daughter her husband, and their dog (who's afraid of our cat who gets into the tiger stalking stance at the sight of his rustling tail) are coming out for the weekend. I have declared this weekend, JazzFest weekend on the blog, and we will definitely have the music cranked up ALL WEEKEND, while we are all cooking together, with wine flowing, and as I have it on right now on my computer, as there will be LIVE programming from the Fest!
Here's where you go to take part in your own version of dancing in the kitchen while you're cooking this weekend! Go to WWOZ!
To me, that's when a kitchen really lives up to its full potential...loved ones, music, wine, good food, pets, what else is there?? Enjoy!
Susan Serra, CKD
in Feel Good Kitchens
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Happy Thanksgiving!
Bar none, even Thanksgiving day itself, I'd say Thanksgiving eve is my most favorite day of the year. It's all potential at this point! The kids come home, we all begin to cook, chaos abounds, wine flows, the cat attacks the visiting dog, we get in each other's way, make the list for take-out, make a grand mess, and it's all good.
It all happens in the kitchen at a fever pitch. Nowhere else in the house does the combination of working together and relating, occur, except the kitchen, together with the sensory pieces of food, colors, music, and so much love floating around, too, of course. My daughter and I, since yesterday, and probably before then, have been exchanging emails with multiple exclamation marks. Me saying "Come Home!!" multiple times, and she (having an otherwise very responsible job in the city), with equal doses of enthusiastic responses. It WILL be an invasion in just a few hours from this moment.
It's 12:44 as I write this. I guess I should start planning the menu. I picked up the turkey but that's all I've done. I use Thanksgiving as a metaphor for life's issues. When I haven't done a thing, by late afternoon, and I have 20 people coming for dinner, sometimes more, but much less this year (I do Thanksgiving every year, and I do completely it from scratch) I say to myself..."I'm not sure how I'll get this done, but somehow there will be food on the table tomorrow." I just don't sweat it....um, to a fault, I'd say.
At this moment, I'm the only one home, and the quiet is interesting, knowing what's to come.
So, yes, the kitchen really is the heart of the home, and not just on Thanksgiving. My kitchen seems to work quite well for me. Maybe a few tweaks could make it function a little better. I could be more organized with storage...where "categories" of items are stored for logical access. Maybe I'll work on that next. Other than that, it serves me well.
Are you planning a kitchen renovation? Do yourself a favor and try to be aware of how you work in the kitchen. What is a habit, and what is a preference? How is your access to food and cookware items? What is stored too tightly together? What items are in the "other room" because there is not room in the kitchen? Who is working where, and do you need more work "stations?" How is the lighting? Try to notice what is working and what is not working in a curious way instead of a frustrated way. Make notes.
But, in between, enjoy every moment. I hope your Thanksgiving is wonderful. Please tell me about what you're doing, and how your kitchen works for you for Thanksgiving! I'd love for you to share your thoughts.
Enjoy!!
Susan Serra, CKD
in Feel Good Kitchens
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Kitchens Around The Blogosphere
Today, I present kitchens to put a smile on your face.
First up is the fabulous Fabulon. I swear, Fabulon is obsessed with kitchens. I've had other great material from this blogging kitchen fan. Oh, and please turn up your speakers when you visit.
Jo and Kim from Desire to Inspire never ever disappoint, with frequent forays into the kitchenworld. Did you ask for more from Desire to Inspire? Ok, you have it, then go here to a beautiful kitchen and here to another beautiful kitchen.
And, also, check out Terramia, for inspiring PINK kitchens...you'll need to exercise your scrolling pointer finger to seek out two kitchens in this post, but it's worth it!
And, a nice idea for a sink/countertop from my colleague Peggy, at Kitchen-exchange.
Enjoy!
Susan Serra, CKD
in Feel Good Kitchens
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Normal Room - The Best Kitchens!
Many of you have heard of Normal Room, the website where people from all over the world upload images of the rooms in their home, just to show others how they live and to see how others live. A great concept to make the world a little bit smaller and to understand a little bit better how other cultures do what we do, cook.....and, think about what's the same, what's different....it's all good, right?
So, as a dutiful editor of a kitchen design blog, I went through the entire category of kitchens and chose the ones I thought were most interesting to me.
The rest were, well....normal, not that there's anything wrong with that! :-)
The first image IS a kitchen, a typical kitchen somewhere in Africa...the 2 just below, I did not take note of, the 3rd image on the left is from the U.S., the 4th image on the right is from the UK, and the bottom image is, of course, from Finland. Oops, the one with the postcards before Finland is Germany. And, check out my friend, Peggy's post too on an unusual kitchen. Enjoy!
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Susan Serra, CKD
in Feel Good Kitchens
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Kitchens In The Blogosphere
Kitchens are popping up like spring flowers around the blogosphere. All sorts of good stuff I am finding on kitchen design, kitchen products, kitchen remodeling too.
I was almost blown away when I saw images of Julia Child's kitchen on The Happy Living Blog. I suppose the kitchen is pure function! I remember hearing about the pegboard somewhere being in Julia's kitchen. Here is a link to the exhibit at the Smithsonian of Julia's kitchen. Thanks for this reminder of this interesting kitchen! And, what is this about a kitchen consultation you were at, as seen on your blog? Keep me in the loop!
A great segue to The Kitchen at Apartment Therapy, filled with not only recipes, but lots of stuff for the kitchen, including tips on products, cooking methods, and more.
What really blew me away this morning were the images on Desire to Inspire. The kitchens! They're filled with soul, and earthy textures. Eclectic, with pieces of this and that, thrown together, yet, warm and welcoming, which is what a kitchen should be, right? The image is from Desire to Inspire, by Elle Decor.
Luxist is talking about this new product from LG Electronics. It is a combination toaster/microwave and toaste/coffee maker in two different models I suppose there is something to be said for saving space, and the toaster is wide enough for bagels, a good thing. They are not overly wide in width either, compared to other microwaves. Makes you go hmmmm....
All around good stuff too in Appliance Notes. This blog is authored by my friend, Peggy, and I think she'll be coming up with all kinds of interesting pieces of good information in this new blog of hers. Take a look.
Susan Serra, CKD
in Feel Good Kitchens, New/Cool Products
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Everyone ends up in the kitchen
Our daughter and son in law are out for the weekend, along with their dog, Max. We're trying to introduce our new cat to their dog, and we can't figure out who's scared of who. The cat hissed once, the dog barked and barked (but his tail wagged, so did he want to play?) This was the weekend's excitement. Luckily, the dog is a small 25 lbs so they're on fairly equal territory. Random kitchen images follow (not of this weekend).
I think the best times of the weekend are definitely centered around meals and cooking. Cooking dinner, we break out the wine, always. Someone is at the (indoor) grill, someone is chopping something, and someone else is hanging out at the table chatting, casually on a laptop, whatever. The music is on. After a super busy week of demanding jobs and obligations of various sorts, I'm convinced that there are pieces to our kitchen design that help dissolve those working stresses real fast.
See family and friends VERY relaxed!
A recipe to de-stress in the kitchen:
- large windows to bring in nature and soothing sights
- a heavy duty, wide, pull out butcher block (from a drawer) to easily expand counter space as well as allow two people to work together, one on each side
- something soft - we have a raised up sofa as part of our eating area, wonderfully cozy, conducive to hanging out
- speakers to bring in the music
- variety of lighting, including a dimmer over the table
- room to roam, not a crowded or cramped plan
- large enough dining area to, again, not feel cramped
- good food, good wine, good conversation
- love
I'd LOVE to know what makes your kitchen people friendly, conducive to relating. Please do tell!
Susan Serra, CKD
in Feel Good Kitchens
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