{Don't miss the update about my book set, The Summa Domestica, in the bits & pieces section below!}
The meeting will come to order!
Old business (i.e. quick responses to comments from my last post):
Instant Pot hot tip: Put a folded cloth of some kind (clean rag, old kitchen towel, thick washcloth) loosely over your valve when you quick release it. That way, the grease and intense steam will go into the cloth and not under your cabinet/shelf and into the room in general!
A dear reader in a comment: “Can you please give us a picture of all your bookshelves or a closer look at the next to the curing squash? I need to be inspired to have all the bookshelves in all the places in our new to us house with no built-in anything!”
She means between the kitchen and the pantry — the squash is tucked away but I still have a basket of sweet potatoes curing on the radiator!
That door on the left opens to the back stairs, upon which I had to sit to take these pictures! So please forgive the bad lighting etc…
Here you go:
A place for travel books and nature guides — need to quickly access the bird books! The feeder is right outside my kitchen window.
And the bannetons are handy there; the basket holds our tea. Those things need to be a tad closer than the pantry! In my opinion!
Those are just old wine crates on their sides, and a bookcase from Habou's room that I painted when I did the other bookcases for the upstairs hall and my sewing room (which got moved from the pantry to the playroom/”rec room”/Rosie's bedroom of previous iterations, right above the kitchen, up the back stairs).
(Do peruse the other comments in that post — lots of good discussions! And by the way, I just refuse to promote my accounts on Instagram and so on, so you will note that my followers count over there is quite low, compared to that of others. I don't even love posting reels on IG, just because of how reels work — you watch one and then you are sucked into the reel vortex! I don't like enabling that, even though it would increase my following. I really do rely on you sharing my posts here and elsewhere to offer what we have here to them!)
We turn now to new business!
The electrician came and worked his magic, and I sweet-talked a kind contractor into fixing the corner-where-the-bricks-of-obstruction used to be! (You will understand if you have tried to get work done. Everyone is crazy busy!)
The floor: Trim will be placed where the two planes meet. This house is full of patched floor areas just like this one; I will try to remember to round up some photos at some point. It was built in 1860 and people were just not OCD about such things back then! When the kitchen is done, the floor will be refinished and this will all be something your eye smooths over!
How about that little shelf? His idea, since the wall behind is concrete, was to make this as a box that fit into the space, taking advantage of the few extra inches that I was thinking we'd just cover up with a piece of bead board. I did get the bead board in, though! I'm not sure how I will use it, but I do like it a lot. Any ideas for what could go there (I can add little pieces of trim to keep dishes, for instance, safe)?
Here is the before, as you will recall!
He's coming back to finish the drywall up, and some of the final details won't be taken care of until the whole kitchen is done (e.g. fake beam left hanging haha), because might as well do it all at once. (If you go to my IG you will see my highlight about this part of the project, which includes a video comparing how you used to come in vs. how it feels now! And befores and afters.)
More kitchen design principles:
Another pattern from Christopher Alexander's book (I will continue to post them occasionally):
Pattern 129: Common Areas at the Heart
“… Place [the common areas] on the sunlit side to reinforce the pattern of Indoor Sunlight (128)…
Fortunately, the kitchen is one room deep and so has light on both sides (east and west).
Unfortunately, this window is too small, and in fall and spring I get no direct light at all.
We will try to rectify that with a larger window, but I think the angle will still be tricky as to direct sunlight during certain seasons (in part we are on the eastern side of a small hill and have large trees all around our property — there are good and less good aspects of these circumstances, of course).
[This pattern has lots of thoughts about placement of these common areas, some of which are not kitchens — skipping… ]
“It is crucial that it [the common area where people gather] not be a dead-end room which one would have to go out of one's way to get to.
Not a problem in my kitchen, which has four paths!
… It must have the right components in it [mentions kitchens here]… at least some comfortable chairs, so people will feel like staying. It should also include an outdoor area — on nice cays there is always the longing to be outside — to step out for a smoke, to sit down on the grass, to carry on a discussion.
Here is the western side, and I do dearly love that we can just step onto the big deck and from there onto the grass. Light + easy access to the outside.
Every pattern has a summary at the end: Therefore: … “most basic of all to common areas are food and fire.
I never even knew about fireplaces in the kitchen until we saw this house. Now you would have to wrench it out of my cold, dead hands!
(Note for the eagle-eyed: the new board on the left is plumb. The side of the fireplace is not, a little hiccup that is exaggerated by the mortar repair that is not yet lime-washed to match the rest, and also by the wide angle of the camera. The former will be finessed later during the finishing process!)
bits & pieces
- A Facebook friend shared this sweet recording of children (a good boys' choir to be fair) singing Brother James' Air. The children's choir at our parish, led by my good friend Molly, often sings it just as sweetly, and your children could too! (I think this is a good link for learning the choral setting — someone can correct me if not.)
- Laurel Bern has a fun post about unfitted kitchens in case you missed it! I think a lot of people start sharing kitchens that actually are not that different from fitted kitchens, so you have to keep reminding yourself of what it really means. But as she points out, it does not always mean “open shelving” at all. To understand the design principle, we really have to get over the worry that everything will have to be out in the open. On the other hand, it's good to remember that having our pretty things in view adds to the cozy, charming feeling we are looking for.
- The Wall Street Journal reports that UTIs are becoming resistant to antibiotics, and that drug companies are working on a remedy. (If you don't subscribe, that's basically the story.) Why is this problem so rampant? We have to look at root causes too. I do go over a lot of it in my post (and chapter in my book!) that covers my cheap and effective remedy. (Spoiler: hygiene and also what kind of underwear makes a difference, can't help thinking that some of the trends are really unhygienic!)
- Another little video of a religious foundation (if you liked the one about the Fairfield Carmelites!).
- This video about why “strong female characters” in contemporary movies (and books) are unconvincing and boring is surprisingly on target!
liturgical living
Saint Philotheus, St. Bertilla
November is a real gift, not to be squandered. The Church in her wisdom connects the natural world, and its movement towards the death of winter, with our own consciousness of death. We are gently urged in the liturgy to pray for the dead and to ponder our own last end. The world wants us to forget this necessity, and the truth is that we know we ought to be mindful of the hereafter, but we put it off. It's good to have a time given to us for this purpose. Let us be docile to these reminders.
from the archives
- Saints and how to get them into your family devotions without stress
- A small act of faith for the here and now
- Detailed instructions for how to *really* get ready for Thanksgiving!
By the way, all these posts are edited, expanded, and organized in my book, The Summa Domestica: Order and Wonder in Family Life!
Which is now available from Sophia in paperback! The hard cover version with slip cover should be available in time for Christmas shopping, but maybe the soft cover version is what you are interested in that!
follow us everywhere!
My book, The Summa Domestica: Order and Wonder in Family Life is available now from Sophia Press! All the thoughts from this blog collected into three volumes, beautifully presented with illustrations from Deirdre, an index in each volume, and ribbons!
My “random thoughts no pictures” blog, Happy Despite Them — receive it by email if you like, or bookmark, so you don’t miss a thing!
My new podcast can be found on the Restoration of Christian Culture website (and you can find it where you listen to such things) — be sure to check out the other offerings there!
Stay abreast of the posts here at LMLD, when they happen:
Consider subscribing to this blog by email. In the current situation, if we can’t meet here, it would be good for us to be connected by email!
We share pretty pictures: Auntie Leila’s Instagram, Rosie’s Instagram, Deirdre’s Instagram. Bridget’s Instagram.
Auntie Leila’s Facebook (you can just follow)
The boards of the others: Rosie’s Pinterest. Sukie’s Pinterest. Deirdre’s Pinterest. Habou’s Pinterest (you can still get a lot of inspiration here! and say a prayer for her!). Bridget’s Pinterest.
Katie says
Can you tell us more about curing potatoes, squash, onions, etc?? It’s something about which I’m completely clueless.
Leila says
Onions and garlic need to be dried before you store them. I do that in my garage (I tend to post about that sort of thing on IG).
Potatoes and squash need to cure at a rather high temperature (which I can’t really manage) — ideally you’d put them in your greenhouse for a week or two! That’s why farmers around here leave them in the field. I put them on my porch steps where they will get the strong southern sun even on a fall day here in New England and/or on my radiators. Then they can be moved into the pantry. They keep well that way, just on the cooler pantry shelves.
Katie says
Thank you!
MA says
It seems that lovely new shelf could hold your serving platters, with a piece of trim to hold them in?
Rebecca says
I agree!it’s of blue and white platters and plates there would be so beautiful!
Annie says
I’ve enjoyed reading your discussion of kitchens. We’re in the process of building a new kitchen and took quite a bit of our inspiration from A Pattern Language. I’m not sure anyone we know understands why we’re trying to fit a sitting area with a fireplace into our new kitchen, so it was encouraging to hear you say how important you’ve found that pattern to be in practice. I just wanted to recommend two books that were really helpful to us in our kitchen design process, which I haven’t seen you mention. One is The Art of Kitchen Design by Johnny Grey. I *think* he invented, or at least revitalized, the concept of the unfitted kitchen in the 80s and 90s. The other is Kitchen Think by Nancy Hillers, a cabinetmaker.
Leila says
Oh, thanks for these recommendations! I will look into them!
Victoria says
My grandmother’s kitchen had a fireplace, dining space and sitting area, it was so cozy and had a different feel from “open concept” since there was a door to separate the living room, office and utility room end of the house. The kitchen workspace itself had a very small footprint, but she fed 10 children and 30+ grandchildren with it! So many happy memories in that house!
Jen A says
Thank you for posting pictures !
Leila says
You’re welcome! As we renovate the kitchen, I’m hoping to find a shallow hutch of some sort for this space. But my mind is reeling with hutches!
Sarah says
Oh the shelf looks really good Auntie Leila! You could make it really pretty with china plates. Or if you wanted it to be more functional, could you put your pretty spices or oils, salts and pepper, maybe even tins of tea or coffee there since it is near the stove?
Leila says
Thank you!
We plan to switch the place of the stove — and of the tea zone.
So I will be pondering what to do with this space — but I love all the suggestions!
Emma says
I think this is your perfect opportunity to have the all-important tea closer to hand! With a few mugs right there also, and jars of honey and cream pitchers, and maybe a tiny square table to set it on while grabbing the kettle off the woodstove.
Amelia says
Pretty cups hanging on hooks can be a beautiful way to utilize the vertical space between shelves, too; I can’t stand how some kitchens end up with an entire cabinet shelf stuffed with mostly-inaccessible drink ware. Good place for a jar of spoons as well. Tea stations are useful and lend themselves so well to looking charming.
Emily says
Tea stations are the best! I have an entire TEA CABINET. 🙂 It brings great joy.
Mary Ann says
There is a phenomenal book called “Kitchen Think” published by Lost Art Press. Definitely check it out for philosophy of design, historical layout and modern necessities. It’s right up your alley. (I think you’d like their other books too!)
Cami says
I’d like to know what colander you have on your wood drying rack and what drying rack as well. Seems hard to avoid plastic colanders but the last enameled steel ones I bought rusted within months.
Leila says
The drying rack is from amazon — it’s bamboo. It’s fine, but because I use it all the time, the lower parts of it do get a bit discolored and even mildewy. Every once in a while I have to scrub it, bleach it, and put it out in the sun.
The colander is some thrifted find. There are some spots where the enamel chipped off, but it doesn’t bother me. You do have to be careful not to knock enameled things around! (And with pots, don’t subject them to sudden changes in temperature — don’t put cold water in a sizzling hot enameled pan. That’s how you get chips.)
But if they chip, it’s fine. These older ones had thicker enamel, I think.
At Marshalls I have found nice stainless colanders. I have one larger one in my cabinet and I like it a lot — I just use this one more, as it hangs on a nail by my sink — easier to reach!
I hate plastic colanders!!
Lorelei says
Haha, now I have a name for the way my kitchen looks!
Beth says
Wait… Curing sweet potatoes? Is this some housewifely voodoo I am not yet aware of? Why and how does one go about it?
Beth says
Ahh, I see that another commenter already beat me to it. Understood.
Sarah says
The shelves are beautiful! They look like they were always meant to be there, which is the test in my mind. Your beautiful rocker has inspired me to get a cushion for the much-loved rocker in our kitchen.
Also, I’m realizing how much of an influence this wonderful blog has been in just a year or so! Quilt on bed and handwork bag ready to go. Giant, blessed haul of Landmark books. Mini-pocket of friends also reading Summa Domestica. Thank you so much! I learn so much here and enjoy every bit.
Leila says
🙏🏻
God is good!
Catherine Dybicz says
I’m only 2 (3?) weeks late on which kind of posts I like. Mostly all of them, including this one. 🙂 My absolute favorite are sewing posts, wanted to recommend Bobbie Lou Fabric—it’s a small, curated collection but excellent prints and the sales are quite good. (I go to the sale section, sort “price low to high” to build up my stash.)
Also, again late in this comment, have you thought of fridge in the pantry? I saw this on the blog Grit and Polish, they have a whole post on it, thought it was interesting!
Thanks for the posting and the pictures and the writing and the books. love it all! And I do recommend you right and left to friends. 😉
Leila says
Thank you!
I will look into that site. Good to know. I never really know how many readers sew — but I am returning to that craft after a hiatus, and hope to have more updates about it all!
I did give LONG consideration to fridge in the pantry. But my pantry is quite a few more steps than the Grit and Polish one or any of the others I’ve seen, where the pantry is so close to the kitchen as to be all but in it. Mine is on the other side of the fireplace and back stairs, and a fridge wouldn’t fit without modifying some aspect of it (wouldn’t even fit through the door!). In the end we decided against it. Truly the fridge is the problem!
Mrs. Bee says
I’ve had a lot of fun with the Laurel Bern blog this past weekend, thank you for introducing her to your readers! I’m sure you’ve seen everything kitchen-related there already, but I thought her friend/client Mary solved her fridge-as-elephant-in-the-room problem very beautifully: https://laurelberninteriors.com/2021/07/11/an-iconic-wallpaper-farrow-ball-calke-green-kitchen-heaven/.
The fridge is still clearly huge for the room, or at least so it seems to me, but by being exactly framed by small cabinets (not jotting out), it looks more like a feature in harmony with the room, not something that parachuted from outer space. And as someone who struggles to find the right place for vacuums, dusters, broom, stepladder, etc., I thought the solution was very clever. It may be too “fitted” for your taste, but it may inspire you to think of ways to “hide your fridge in place”.
Leila says
Yes, ideally we would do something like this, with a smaller fridge. I would have tried to get it in the pantry in that kitchen. My pantry is just too many steps away, unfortunately. But it’s okay, it’s a good pantry!
Catherine says
This is so interesting—in my head all these years, your pantry door has been right across from that new shelf, on the way to the mudroom. I’m sure I should know better, thorough Auntie Leila follower that I am! But I guess it’s different when you don’t ever see the whole all at once.
Do give us all the sewing updates! I can’t be the only one who’s stuck on sewing despite the trendiness of sourdough and gardening. 😉
Anamaria says
Random but I thought readers might be interested in these Christmas cards, with photos on one side snd Christmas images on the other https://zeliecreativeco.com/pages/semi-custom-christmas-cards
I have always done one side with photos and the other with an image in the public domain, printed at Walgreens, but this is another option for those who like to send a sacred image but also like to use Christmas cards as a family update (im not on social media but do like to keep in touch with college friends!)
Brad and Kari Brane says
That wonderful new little shelf could be for dishes for sure, but also spices if that’s not too many steps from where you’d be using them. Free up some cabinet or pantry space …
Jeanine Juth says
I just saw that Sophia Press has 30% off orders over $25 with the code Advent2022. Score!
ringofendlesslightblog says
That beautiful new rack calls for spices to me. Though I do like someone else’s suggestion of tea and tea things too. But maybe it’s too far away from counter space for spices. That was just the first thing that came into my head.
You’re giving me kitchen dreams. My current kitchen is very unjoyful. No natural light except at certain times of the year and even then only for a couple of hours. And title counters with the grout gone. It’s so gross. I can never get them clean and I’m not a very clean person to began with. I really do miss my old kitchen which was much more homey and joyful. But it is what it is. But I’m also considering paying for new counters because it’s nasty. Advice on doing something like that in a house you don’t own and won’t (God willing) live in very long anyways? I’ve already here longer than I thought I would be. One positive is the kitchen does have open cabinets on the top, which I do like.
Mrs. T says
I’m late to the party, but I am glad you emphasized the importance of November.
It’s not even Thanksgiving and everything screams “XMAS!!!!!!” (spelling intentional). It’s as if we are incapable of slowing down and thinking, that we must jump from one form of entertainment to the next like untamed children. Constant noise, glittering lights and distractions. The poor souls left further behind and forgotten.
I like that you compared the change of seasons to the reminder of death…you can feel it. November has always felt solemn to me.
Anyways, I hope I don’t sound like a party-pooper, it’s just that ignoring the the poor souls and skipping Advent irritates me to no end.
Madeleine says
I love that other readers also recommended Kitchen Think — you are my people!!!! That book helped us a lot with a kitchen project last year. We were leaving a lot of things in place but also trying to make our kitchen family-friendly (it had been designed for 1 elderly woman who didn’t cook, and had many nice features while still wrong in many ways for a family with four young kids!). I loved how the book isolates so many elements with design details so that you can see what a difference a few changes can make.