My garage kitchen is evolving, much has happened.
Where do I start?
Can I just say that things never work out the way I think they will, but then, weirdly they kind of do.
So, here’s how I made a kitchen, without the why. (I may get to that)
First of all, there are the big pie-in-the-sky things like plumbing and electrical. Just finding one and getting on their busy schedules, then coordinating our schedules so we can all be here, was a whole thing. Oh and trench digging.
It’s kind of a lot. I made a friend at the restore Habitat place. I’ve become a wiz at negotiating some of these over-stock discount everything stores, but I’ve endured my share of disgruntled employees along the way.
Then there are the little things like paint and lamps and light fixtures. There are medium things like flooring and shelves. Not to mention, meeting people, tons of bad news, figuring out the configurations and getting all of us on the same page.
I’m making it up as I go, so it’s all backwards. I apologize if this is mind boggling, but sometimes, when you want to make progress, you have to work with what you have already. And reverse the direction things typically go in. In other words, I didn’t start with a plan, but I may end with one.
Originally, we got approved to build a mother-in-law type structure on the side property. This was good news last winter after going back and forth with plans and ideas with the town and each other, for months.
When the town then refused water to the additional, not attached building, we were sidelined.
One day I was tired of hearing no, so I started clearing the garage area and rearranging some things. G put in a butcher block counter for a neighbor who gave him the extra peices he cut to fit it. I retrieved them from the yard and found ways to use them. I was trying to make something useful for now, while we figured out what to do next.
Each step with my garage project has felt significant. The space is transforming. G and his mom were not sure what to think initially, but slowly got excited (in their own ways), so much so that we started talking about running water from the house.
As of today, we have an electrician coming to install a few more sockets and lights. We have located the main and the drain, but no plumber has agreed to help.
I found a sink at the restoration store. I accidentally purchased a Hosier cabinet that fits the sink and the area perfectly. A Hoiser is a somewhat famous antique. I saw some online for thousands, (when I googled about the metal drawer which in mine is mostly rust), my piece is in rough shape, but perfect for my purpose. We bought enough flooring on sale at the discount place to do the whole area. I’m on a roll.
It’s all cute, a work in progress. I have to wait for this before we do that. A lot of that kind of thing.
All, between yoga, work, baby birds, record cold, rain, gardening, and just navigating life here so far from home. It’s been freezing and now it’s hot, I’ve been chewed up by tiny flying bugs. It’s muggy and gray. I’m itchy and uncomfortable, homesick, missing my kids and my friends, G has been working an hour away…but…well, I’m kind of doing ok.
Projects are magical, this one has been super fun for me. What can I say, I’m loving the challenge!
Focusing on my little project has been a huge exercise in expansion, and in enthusiasm, also in focus. I assure you, things haven’t changed, but then, they kind of have…
Believe it or not, this has required more of me than I knew I could give. I have had to be more confident, more courageous, more creative. Except for putting up the shiplap, I’ve single handedly done most of it all myself. I found plumbers, electricians. Listened to their projections, absorbed their bad news and financially impossible quotes. revamped, re schemed, and pushed. Water is still pretty unlikely at this point, but we might get a pump.
Today it’s, of course, raining.
I recently heard this:
We humans can find peace by looking at the bigger picture, seeing the vastness of the universe, observing from the perspective of consciousness
Or
by focusing in on our smallness. The tiny microcosm of what is right now in front of us. Little moments, influencing our own vibration. Both can take us out of fear and of worry.
The news online and on tv these days is scary. Making things happen is still a fine distraction for me.
I had a big mess of disorganization waiting out there.
Much has come together but there are still many more puzzles to solve.
Peace Kit 