Just came back from the Coast, where it was foggy and overcast and felt downright good after the 100º+ temps we have been having. The Rhododendrons are breath-taking, the many colors and varieties creating fantastic vistas from every path. Joann took a lot of pictures, we hope to be able to have enough good ones to post. The food-bank got a lot of food, a very nice selection. For our lunch purchased items at the Harvest Market, they have a truly large selection of food to take out, from salad to deli items to hot dishes, so we had a gourmet picnic. I brought some sushi and some excellent cheese home for tomorrow. We ran into a friend not seen for a long time, since she moved to the coast and we met up with a woman from our town who walked a little terrier, turned out to be a cousin of Taschis. A very nice day indeed. Came home to 90º, turned the cooler on, stripped the warm clothing off, put cool clothing on, fed dogs, cats, chickens and goats, watered what needed water and now I can coast.

I will eat almost everything but I have a DH who just has to be the pickyest person in the world. This means I have to cook two different dinners on many nights. DH won't eat anything with onions, garlic, oregano, mayonnaise,salad dressing, cabbage, broccoli, spinach (or any other greens),fish of any kind,and no tropical fruit. He wont eat any type of casserole, pasta or potato salad.He won't eat things where one food is touching another. He will eat hash browns and french fried potatoes only, no other kind of potatoes. When we want to have spaghetti, I have to make two sauces, we like the traditional Italian type while he wants some ground beef, some tomato sauce and some chili powder for spice. He will never try anything new. He lives on chicken, pork chops, beef, peas, corn, green beans, chili beans,french fries and bread. It is such a shame as he is missing so many good foods. I get a headache just thinking about what I can't feed him. If the day comes and we aren't together(after 49 years of marriage), the first thing I will ask a suitor,is what do you like to eat.LOL

rtwilliams - Yes, we added the great room, kitchen, a master bedroom with his and her baths, and a large garage. We also remodled some of the rest of the house. I plan to post some bath and laundry room pictures. fouramblues - you made me laugh. labbie - my husband bought the commercial grinder and coffee pot several years ago, and installed them in my itty bitty kitchen where they took up very valuable real estate. They are a dream to have to make coffee, as the water is plumbed in and everything is automatic, but they are large. It was those two pieces though that inspired me to create the whole beverage/butler pantry idea. Ginny20, ppbenn - hey maybe I will start a whole new trend on double refrigerators. walking chick - I am so glad you delurked to comment. You will get great advice and ideas here. Oldbat2be - thanks so much. I am so glad you noticed that picture. My pantry will have a little memorial space for my grandmother. Her picture has been in my kitchen since she passed away. She is the one who taught me to cook and garden. I have her old kitchen dishes in the top shelf of the pantry, and I use her old measuring cups every day. aliris19 - I love the stools, too, and I actually built the island to go with the stools ( I bought them before I built the kitchen), but they may not stay, as they block the view. We will keep them for now, but I don't know that they will make it for the long haul. They are really comfortable and they swivel. Oh, and I do have one more, lol. I decided 4 was too many. camphappy - materials were a real issue here. I just could not get some things I wanted - like soapstone. The granite I originally wanted would come in and get shipped to everywhere but here. I finally went to St. Louis and picked out an in stock granite and the fabricator had to go pick it up. Our fabricator was an hour and a half from us. The internet was my friend for a lot of things. Plumbing and light fixtures were mostly all ordered from the internet. As were many of the appliances. biochem101 - yes, it does feel like heaven. For I while I was rather embarrassed that it turned out so large and grand, but I got over that and now I just enjoy it. gr8day - I am so glad you saw this. I probably would not have posted this kitchen if you hadn't asked about it in another post. Thanks to everyone for all the nice compliments. In regards to being so organized - it is truly easy to be organized when you have a place for everything. The things that tend to create clutter are those that you don't know where they go, or don't have room for them.

Yes, my ceilings are 8 feet. I would have to leave off the glass part at the top. We are opeing up the wall which is where the penninsula will be, then a few feet out from the penninsula my ceilings raise to 16 feet in the living room with 2 skylights in the celing and lots of natural light. I really thought this would prevent the darks wood from becoming to heavy, also combining it with the lighter elemtns it helps brighten things up. I do want to put in handscraped hickory hardwood floors. This would be throughout the kitchen, dining room, and living room. I like the tile but I want the flow of having the floors all the same. I knew there would be people who don't like this kitchen. It's definitely not for eveyone, and I respect that. It makes a very strong statement. You can correct me on the eclectic if you like. I call that mixing the different elements, details, finishes, and embellishments. I do agree it's tuscan, antique looking. I am worried about using it in "my smaller space" That is why I posted here to get ideas. I appreciate all suggestions and all thoughts negative or positive. I do think not having enough space is a huge concern. One reason I thought this style would work is because we are opening this space up and removing a wall. Our living room is large. There are only two of us living here. Empty nesters. I can't see the expense of expanding. Not in this econmic climate and the area I live in. I was hoping by opening up the space it would give us a nice entertaining area. It is a load bearing wall so a support column is needed at the end of the penninsula. For this reason I really can't have an island. I am limited, I do have to be realistic. That's not always easy!