We're Cooking with Gas!

Yes, it's true, the gas line is fully installed and functional. The cooktop is installed and everything passed inspection!

Thinking about Drawer Pulls and Knobs

We need to pick hardware for the kitchen or once we have drawers and doors we won't be able to open them!

Here are some I like. The big question is do we match the other metal in the kitchen (all stainless steel) or go with something lower contrast? The finish on the wood is pretty dark... and stainless is hard to keep clean (at least the front of our refrigerator is turning out to be my nemesis in that department).

I like this antique nickel knob

but am not a fan of the matching pull:

Here's a Brushed Nickel pull I do like:

Check it out here.
Overall Length: 5-3/8 in. (136mm)Projection: 7/8 in. (22mm)
It echoes the handles on the appliances.

Similar one that is rounder/smoother:

Overall Length: 5 in. (127mm)
Projection: 1 in. (25mm)

Bar Stools

After much discussion (including here and here), the bar stools are ordered. Check them out here.

• Thick padded 15 in. diameter high quality vinyl seat in many colors
• 360° swivel & non-marring foot glides
• Seat Height: 26-30 in.
• 17 in. W x 17 in. D x 30 in. H

They don’t come any tougher than this Chrome Frame Classic Retro Swivel Stool with Double Foot Ring. Two rings encircle the chrome-finished steel tube metal base for added stability. The swiveling vinyl seat is available in your choice of colors. 

with this color (garnet) on the seat.

Thinking Aloud about Rugs for the Kitchen

Not entirely sure exactly where we'll need/want rugs in the kitchen but here are some I like.

I like the colors in this one from Overstock.com and at 8x10 it's probably big enough to go under the table but it has a 1/2 inch pile so it might be harder to clean. It also comes in a 5x8 size so it might be good for a side area

This rug is in a similar color palette (also from Overstock):

For inside the back doors and in front of the refrigerator, we need heavy duty rugs that can stand getting wet (and dirty, especially coming in from outside). Here are some indoor/outdoor options:

This one comes in a set of three 2'4x4'4 rugs (and also in a little bit larger size 3'6x5'6)

This set is the little sister of the set above:

This 3'11x5'7 rug is a little more subdued but I like the pattern:

This one has lots of pattern and is (although it doesn't look it) also indoor/outdoor. It's 3'x5'

What do you think?

Our Island Is Now Pretty!

Friday we got the first three of our drawers (not much to see there!) and the panels installed on the island.

The lighting in this photo is not great but doesn't it look great?

Here's another angle:

The shine on the finish is making it look like the color isn't solid but in real life it is. I'll try to take some photos today in natural light (the ones above were taken with the flash).

Volunteer of the Month

Since I am the volunteer of the month at DeSoto Trail Elementary School for the month of May I thought I'd share a little bit about the things I do at school and share the fun prizes that go along with the bragging rights.

There are 4 main things I do at school: Mile Club, Monday Mom, Popcorn and chaperoning field trips.

Mile Club is from 8-8:30am each morning before school. Before school, kids who want to can walk laps around the soccer field. Each lap is 1/6 of a mile. Each child has a big index card that's marked each time he/she completes a lap. When they complete 30 laps (5 miles), they get a little prize; then another at 15 miles. At 26 miles they earn a Marathon t-shirt, then another prize at 35 miles and at 50 miles. Every day, weather permitting, Thomas and I pick up two kids from the ESE classroom and take them with us to Mile Club. We walk for half an hour, take the kids back to class, and then I sort all the kids' cards back into the box for the PE coaches. I feel like they are giving up their time each morning to make this great activity available at the school, and it's the least I can do to help out.

Almost every class at school has a Monday Mom (or parent) who sorts all the work the kids did in the last week and then puts it in each child's Monday folder along with any handouts that need to go home that week.

Every fourth Wednesday I help the Red and Gold Club with their popcorn sales. Mostly this involves supervising the kids (while they make, bag and sell the popcorn) and then cleaning up the popcorn machines and the whole area. It's a pretty messy enterprise!

Chaperoning field trips is always fun, even if it is a little exhausting. This year the 4th grade has had 3 trips - in February we went to Goodwood Museum & Gardens and the Riley House Museum as part of the Blended Lives program; in April to St. Augustine; and this Thursday we're going to the Florida Historic Capitol and the Museum of Florida History. I also help out at school functions, like manning a booth at the Book Character Festival, helping out at the Book Fair, etc.

Prizes: In honor of my service, the PTO donated this book to the school's Media Center. It's great because I love baseball. Louis Sockalexis was the first Native American to play major league baseball - and he played for the Cleveland Spiders. Enjoyed it a lot.

I also got this pretty plant and a nice certificate! 

Friday morning, as long as T cooperates, he and I will be on WDTS, the school TV station, during morning announcements when Ms. Kelly, the Media Specialist announces the PTO's book donation to library. She wants the kids to all understand why some books have special stickers inside their covers, which is great. 

Cabinet Shelves

Oh the little things make me happy... and today the little things are shelves in the cabinets!

And these are the doors that will go on the buffet (after they're stained and have glass). Hard to tell in this picture, but they look really great!!