SUMMER SLOSHING 2

There was a bit of a hole in the alleyway door. My son made it worse by ripping it open when half locked, and something had to be done. I looked at the materials that I might be able to use to fix it with...

 

Hmm...wooden panels would last longer, but the whole door was not in great condition, so ... maybe patch it up with a chunk of linoleum that had been used for muddy boots and consider buying a new door in a few years time.

I gathered my tools and got to work. The result was quite successful and continues to hold - I simply tacked the linoleum in place on any wood that was still not rotten and voila!

I also fiddled around with the kitchen windowsill some more....

SUMMER SLOSHING 1

The windowsill. Looking at this every morning when I went to make my coffee was not pleasant. Looking at this while making dad's soup, cooking, feeding Mr Monk through the window - was not pleasant. I might have replaced the grotty soap dish with a nice new white one - and the filthy scrub brush too - but.... it was not a pleasant, neat, clean site to greet me.

Although I had tidied up this end of the sill somewhat, it still was not quite right. Fruit in a pitcher, for example...

So, I got to work - removing most items, wiping the sill itself down, then replacing most things while exchanging others. I think you will agree that the new look right and left views are a little improved - which is the best I can do with what I already own. It really needs to have the blender near the kettle up one end and the rest of the stuff down the other - so I need to be less lazy and lock the openable window and unlock the other then rearrange again - some day. But hey, it is summer - I get lazy!

SPRING CLEANING 12

It was time to defrost the freezer as spring rolled towards summer. This only needs doing twice yearly - so dad says - but I prefer to do it 3-4 times.

On removing the frozen foods to the fridge compartment and turning it off - there was enough ice to make it a requirement IMO...

There, that is better! Time to re-fill.....

Next....

 

Well, the pantry only just got sorted out - but I decided to group all my foods in one area and dad's in another - rather than mix and muddle... so, time for a resort! My favorite chore....

...accompanied by a glass of red and baking a vegetable pie. Let us begin...

I have a lot of stuff - but, it just fits back into the pantry! Leaving me free to wonder what to do during summer this year....maybe the windowsill...?

SPRING CLEANING 11

Spring is almost over. It is already the last month. Not much happened in the first half, housewise, as I was busy looking after my father who was alternating between suffering from infections and taking excursions. I did buy an exercise mat...

 

... for use in the kitchen do to Yoga while baking, though. Dad paid for two panels of fence to be replaced in the outside alleyway/lean-to/side-piece and I tidied up my 'bedroom bar'.

 

I also used the newly surfaced kitchen table to create a few yummy meals, such as a vegan rocky road.

SPRING CLEANING 2013: 10

The old bulky chunky table outside, the new slimline oak piece within, left the kitchen with a lot of space! Sigh, yes, the floor needs cleaning again, doesn't it? As does the carpet...

 

I purchased a waterproof tablecloth to cover the table top. It looks better than a pair of black garbage sacks - and is much easier to wipe clean. However, I am not entirely satisfied by the color or design. Both are nice - except, they do not fit in with the kitchen decor.

However, they are much easier to use!

 

SPRING CLEANING 2013: 9

Yes, the table was soon in use. I covered it with black garbage sacks so as not to spoil it until I can find and purchase a waterproof table runner - something like a small yoga mat. The table area now looks..... ok. Only ok? Yes... I object to having a wall design that is badly blu-tacked into position forcing me to know which foods contain which vitamins and elements, and my coriander plant is almost dead.

I poured a glass of wine before cleaning the cutlery and placing it into the 2 drawers. Dad's old filthy cutlery holder did not fit - (YES!) - so I had to use plastic trays. On the left you can see my sushi mat, chop sticks, spoon, kitchen knife and peeler. The empty white tray was filled with a nut cracker, cork stopper and tin opener soon afterward. The righthand drawer is for Dad's dining cutlery.

Now, what became of the old table, you ask? Well, shall we check in the garden? As soon as my son arrived home from his grocery expedition, he had the table in his arms asking where it had to go - bless him for his premature enthusiasm. I explained what needed doing and we did it - almost. I just have to mallet-in the table a bit firmer in a day or two when it has settled and get it to the right height for Dad to use his garden tubs from a wheelchair...

SPRING CLEANING 2013: 8

It was a fairly simple job once the rounds had been loaded onto the screw. I just had to screw the 8 loaded screws into the 8 holes after inserting the leg lumps into the table top piece. This blurry photo is how my hand and wrist had to bend to use the little metal-screw thingy. 

...& this is how one side looked when done! Tables do look funny when shot upside down, don't they?

It was soon put into its new home. The old grubby thing removed to the sink-side for a while - awaiting my son. The new table looked so slim, posh, fancy, wooden, clean, NEW!

It was soon laden with my granite chopping board and mortar/pestle, nuts for the squirrel and a bottle of wine for me to tuck into.