What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Tuesday, October 5, 2021

Tuesday 4: Kitchen Dreams

Monday night:  I realize this post is supposed to be about Kitchens, but we had this beautiful rainbow show up in our sky this afternoon, and it wasn't even raining here.  I believe it is a sign of God's promises to us and it was especially wonderful today.

You see, on Saturday morning, our beautiful 17 year old niece Shannon was in a very bad automobile accident, and for a while it looked like her injuries to her hip, pelvis, and back were quite severe.  They first thought they would have to put multiple rods, pins, etc., in her to hold everything together.  But when they got into surgery they found that they only needed to put one small rod in the back of her pelvis, and the rest they felt would heal on its own.  However, she will have to stay in a wheel chair for 4-6 weeks, without putting any weight at all on her legs until it is healed.  That in itself will be a major challenge for this very active young lady.  But we deem it to be somewhat of a miracle that this was the extent of her injuries. She took a direct hit in her driver's side door from a driver who ran a red light. Truly God had His angels surrounding her and protecting her from much more serious harm.  We give glory to God and praise Him for what He has done on her behalf.


However, I would still appreciate your prayers for this lovely young woman...physically as well as emotionally and especially spiritually.  May she fully realize that God has saved her life for a very real purpose.  Too often we don't get that second chance in life.  We thank the Lord that He has spared her. Oh, and as of this evening, because she did so well on her physical therapy today, they are releasing her to go home tonight.  It will be a challenge for her and her family, so again, your prayers are appreciated. 
Thank you, and Thank YOU, Jesus!


Tuesday morning:

So now we can move on to today's Tuesday 4 topic of "Kitchen Dreams"...

Kitchen Dreams

Welcome to Tuesday 4 in memory of  our blogging friend Toni Taddeo!

This week's questions were provided by Pamela Steiner who has the Closed Doors Open Windows blog.
Hey, that's ME again!! Thank you, Annie of Cottage by the Sea for putting this together for us each week.

So here we go:

1. They say the kitchen is the heart of the home...tell us about YOUR kitchen. 

Those of you who know me know that I believe in the adage "a picture is worth a thousand words".  So here are a few pictures of the basic parts of my kitchen...the sink, the stove, and the refrigerator.  I do spend a lot of time in my kitchen, and for the most part I enjoy being there.  At least in this house I can hear the activities in the living room, which is just around the corner, and I am not so isolated from the rest of the house as I was in our last home.  The kitchen actually is in the center of the house.  Probably the only thing I don't really like is that I don't have a good view out those three big windows. They look out front to the street, and the sun is really bright on that side for a good bit of the day, so I have to keep the blinds shut, and besides, I don't want people watching me in my kitchen as they drive by. If I could redesign this house I would have put the kitchen on the back side of the house, with windows looking out at the pond.  But other than that, I am content and happy here in this kitchen.
 
You can click on the pictures to enlarge if you wish.



What is your favorite part of your kitchen?
    
Where do I begin?  The wonderful part of this kitchen is all of the added little nooks and places that make it homey and cozy and a pleasant place to visit or just sit and read while I wait for something to cook... 

This is the coffee/tea area, where I fix our morning tea and coffee every day...

This is the tea/coffee cup cabinet just above, that we use for every day.  If you want fancy tea cups, you have to go into the other room where the china cabinet is to find them...but that's a subject for another day.

If you noticed the island where the sink is in the pictures above, well, this is what you see on the other side of the island.  There are plenty of seats if you want to come and visit with me while I am cooking...

 Or, you can "Come into my kitchen and chat with me while I prepare a pot of tea."

My paternal Grandmother did this needlepoint many years ago, and it was on the wall in her kitchen for as long as I can remember. I was quite honored and thankful to receive it when she passed away.  She also had done one for my mother that said, "No matter where I serve my guests it seems they like my kitchen best."  I don't know what happened to that needlepoint after my parents died and their estate was settled.  No one seems to know who took that home with them.  That makes me sad. But, I digress. I am very happy to have this one.

And then there is this wonderful old painting of the two old ladies sitting in their rockers and knitting or just visiting.  The caption that used to be legible on the frame said "The Gossips".  That wore off in time, but you get the idea.  This used to hang in my maternal Grandmother's home, and so I am very honored and thankful to have this as well.

Over in this corner I have my rocking chair. This is the rocker my parents bought for me when I was expecting our first baby,  so I rocked all three of my babies in this chair. It is very very special. It is also a good little corner to sit and read a book while I cook. Or you could sit there and visit with me, if you prefer!

Or you could visit with Lily Grace and her little friends while you wait on me.  They are having a perpetual tea party here, while Lily Grace entertains them with songs on her guitar.  They can sometimes be heard singing "Jesus Loves Me", or "This Little Light of Mine, I'm going to let it shine...", or just some other fun little song.  Never a dull moment in this part of the kitchen!



Speaking of Lily Grace, she has already shown you parts of the kitchen all decorated for autumn


I love this cabinet with it's open countertop where I can decorate for each of the seasons.  I know, it looks kind of cluttered. I realize that, but I have such fun decorating it that I sometimes don't know when to quit.  I guess that is part of what I love about this kitchen too...



I also love these little Scripture cards that I can change often. They are good reminders of God's promises to us.


Perhaps you've seen this before?  



2. If money were no object, what would be your "dream kitchen"?

Wow,  I don't really know.  I  might expand this room a bit so I can put the Hoosier Cupboard in here, and have a little more open space and open counter space.  This kitchen is a bit crowded when we have a group of people,  and the cooking area is definitely a little tight when we start trying to cook, wash dishes, etc. with more than one or two.   And I would definitely situate this room to have the windows overlooking the pond or some other such view.  

3. Tell us about a favorite memory from your kitchen, or from a kitchen in your past, perhaps your mother's kitchen or your grandma's kitchen?

Out of all my memories in many different kitchens throughout my life, this picture and memory is perhaps my very best and happiest.  Having all three of my precious little boys in the kitchen with me, baking cookies, and licking the batter off the beater.  There can be no more precious memory than this, especially since one of these dear boys is now in heaven...the one in the forefront, Matthew. 

And you can read more about this old house in the following post: https://pamelasopenwindow.blogspot.com/2010/06/alarms-sirens-whistles-bells-and-things.html

Here is a link to cookie baking time with our boys many years later. More precious memories in our kitchen...

4. If you could invite anyone in the world (either past or present) to come visit with you in your kitchen, who would it be, and why?

I don't know why I wanted to ask this question, because there are so many people, mostly from the past, that I would just love to have sitting with me in my kitchen again.  Of course, those three little boys above, just like that once again, would be marvelous...and then of course my mother...Here she is in her kitchen, doing what she did best...making something wonderful for her family, most likely a pie or some cookies...
And here in this link is a picture of her visiting me in the Interesting old house and kitchen we had in Maine , many years later.

Also, I would love to have my mother in law, "Nanny", visiting with me again in my kitchen. 

 Here is a link to a recent post about her visits to my kitchen.  We made many memories together while she was staying with us.

Here is a Link to a post about my previous kitchen, which was probably my most favorite kitchen ever, except for the fact that it was so isolated from the rest of the house.

I hope you enjoyed this little journey down memory lane in my kitchen memories. I know I added a lot of links, but those are also for me so I can find them again more easily.  Also, if you click on the word "kitchen" in my labels, you will find a lot of stories that came from my kitchen memories.  

Yes, I do believe the kitchen is the "heart of the home".  It is amazing how many happy memories flow out from that one place, no matter how humble or how modern...it is where you can find love in the home.
My Little Kitchen Prayer
"Bless my little kitchen, Lord
I love its every nook
And bless me as I do my work,
Wash pots and pans and cook.
May the meals that I prepare
Be seasoned from above
With Thy Blessings and Thy Grace,
But most of all, Thy Love.
As we partake of earthly food,
The table Thou hast spread,
We'll not forget to thank Thee, Lord
For all our daily bread.
So bless my little kitchen, Lord
And those who enter in,
May they find naught but Joy and Peace
And Happiness therein. "

Author Unknown

Now let's go see what our other friends are sharing from their kitchens: http://tuesdaysplace.blogspot.com/2021/10/kitchen-dreams.html

37 comments:

  1. Where do I begin?? Your kitchen is so inviting. I would grab my mug of tea, find a seat and never want to leave!! Thanks for sharing!! Happy Tuesday!

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    1. Thank you, Jodi! What a blessing to have you visit. I'm not sure you've been here before! I would love to fix you a mug of tea and have you sit and visit while I work in the kitchen...or I just might sit down and have a cup with you so we can get acquainted. Thank you so much for coming. I hope you will come back again!

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  2. You know I will continue to keep precious Shannon in my prayers, Pamela. Like you, I believe God has spared her for a reason that she will one day realize in full.
    And thanks for the tour of your kitchen and the memories shared. Kitchens, to me, are the heart of the home.
    Blessings!

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    1. Thank you so much Martha. yes, you are so very right in your thoughts about what God is doing in Shannon's life. One day at a time. Oh, I am glad you enjoyed the kitchen tour. And yes...the kitchen is the heart of the home...so much love comes out of that space, no matter how big or little it may be. Blessings to you as well.

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  3. Enjoyed your memories and I think I would enjoy sitting in your rocking chair chatting with you in your kitchen. Have a blessed day Pam.

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    1. Oh please do come and visit with me while we enjoy a cup of tea or coffee together. That would be so much fun. I look forward to these visits here in blogland, but in person would be so much more fun! Thank you. Hope to see you again soon!

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  4. Good morning, Pam! Thank you so much for inviting us into your kitchen ... so warm and welcoming! I didn't realize it was so large! Love the etched glass fronts on your cabinets ..... your coffee 'cove' ..... especially, the old women "Gossips." I'd love to pull up a stool and visit! Still praying for Shannon!

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    1. Come on down! Pull up a stool, or rock in the rocker! I'd love to have you visit anytime. Thank you for your kind words and prayers for Shannon too. She will definitely need all the prayers she can get to get through this time of healing and resting her body while it heals. Not easy for an active 17 year old! Thank you again for visiting. Please come again!

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  5. Your post touched my heart. Special prayers for your niece's recovery and also for patience for her as she continues her healing journey.

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    1. Thank you so much, Anne. Your prayers mean a lot. Yes, she is going to need patience, as will her parents. It is going to be a difficult time of waiting on the healing to take place and not being able to be out and active as she wants to be . May God do a great work of healing in every way. Amen.

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  6. Pam: This is a neat post. My kitchen is not as delightful as yours. Our house was built about 1926. It is small. Our kitchen is an eat-in kitchen. We have an island in the middle of the floor. I need to find time to re-organize the shelves and in our cabinets. Not quite found the energy or the time to do that. Peace and blessings of you and yours.

    PS, Praying for you and for Shannon.

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    1. I bet your house is neat and cozy. How interesting that it was built in 1926. I am now wondering what style of architecture it is. I love older homes no matter what size. The important thing is to love the ones in the house, no matter how big or small the house is. Where there is love, nothing else really matters. Thank you for your prayers for Shannon. I know God is working in her life.

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  7. I'll keep this beautiful young lady in my prayers. What a lot to go through! Hugs!

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    1. Thank you, Diane. I know your prayers will help! It's going to be a difficult struggle to stay still and let her body heal. She is young and very active, and I know she won't want to stay down for long. So I pray she will be patient and let God do the work that needs to be done in her body, soul, and spirit. Amen.

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  8. I always love seeing pictures of your kitchen (and the rest of your home). Everything looks so cozy and welcoming. You have a gift for creating interesting and beautiful little scenes all over the place! I will admit, I envy you that long, long counter space...what a great place to set up a buffet! Thanks for the questions this week. I've added your niece to my prayer list. Thank you, Lord, for your protection! It could have been so much worse. Please touch her with your healing hands and have back to good as new.

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    1. Thank you, Stacy. I would love to have you come and visit with me in my kitchen...and I would love to visit you in yours! You are blessed to have your sweet little grandkids so close and to be able to enjoy teaching them so many wonderful things. Thank you for praying for Shannon. She will need a lot of prayer to get her through this time of healing. Her parents will need a lot of patience too. But yes, Thank YOU, Lord, for Your protection. It could have been SO much worse is right. WE are very very thankful. God is good.

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  9. I would love to sit and chat in your Kitchen. My kitchen got a new paint job earlier this year and I love the bright and airy feeling.

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    1. Oh, I wish you could come and chat with me too. That would be such fun. Oh, isn't it great to have a fresh coat of paint? I know that just makes everything feel so much brighter and cleaner and happier! Your whole house got a makeover, if I recall. What a blessing!!! Thank you for visiting. Let's go bird watching together, okay?

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  10. I definitely will pray for your niece. I already lifted one up for her. That will be a hard few weeks for a young one, but pray that she heals.
    I love your kitchen and all your thoughts. I too would love to join my maternal grandma for making biscuits again. She had a magic touch with them. You know I would like to peek in on a future kitchen to see if my grands carry on a family tradition or remember me when they eat a certain dessert or casserole.

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    1. Thank you, Sandy, for your prayers for Shannon. She is going to need them...and her parents too, while she heals and tries to stay put until she IS healed. And thank you for your kind words. Oh, I bet your grandma made the best biscuits! Those ladies of that generation just had such a knack for baking biscuits! Oh, wouldn't that be fun to see what our future descendants remember about us from our kitchens and meals...You are blessed that your grandkids are close by. My one and only grandson is so far away he has rarely ever been at my table. But he sent me a video of the fall leaves in Maine today as he traveled down the road. That was the best gift of all. He knows I love them. His birthday is tomorrow. He'll be 22. I wish I could bake him a cake. But Maine is a long way away. Oh well...hopefully we will be able to talk to him on the phone and sing to him. I hope you are all doing well. Thank you again for visiting.

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  11. There's no way I could fault your current kitchen. It's cozy and homey.
    For us, it would be nice to have more cupboard space. Ours is teeny tiny. At least it keeps me from buying machines I'd probably never use. *lol* (Steve does all the cooking. I clean up.) I enjoyed your photos.
    Blessings. xx

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    1. Oh, I bet your kitchen is cozy and homey too. Tiny is still cozy. And yes, I know what you mean about all those machines we never use. Like my bread machine. I do use it occasionally, when I think of it in time. You are blessed to have Steve do the cooking. I do the cooking and Scott and John clean up. That works for me. Thank you for visiting. Y'all come anytime.

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  12. Oh my goodness, keeping Shannon and her family in prayers, Pamela! As for your kitchen, I would love to come by and spend time with you, smiles.

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    1. Thank you for the prayers, Linda. It's going to be a long time for her to sit and heal. She will need a lot of prayers for patience and strength. (her family will too). And you are ALWAYS welcome in my kitchen!! Just let me know when..."cause if I knew you were coming I'd a baked a cake..." LOL.

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  13. Well, I was doing alright until I hit that precious little poem at the end...and then the tears came. But good tears, I think. If I had the luck to visit you, I would be torn between your rocker and sitting with Lily Grace and her friends! Your kitchen is just lovely and homey. "Love Lives Here," as I have seen on some plaques. What a lovely photo of you and your 3 boys. Who knew, back in the days of snapshots, how very very precious just a little snap could be in the future? I am glad to hear of your niece's prognosis. I hope she will realize that God had a really good reason for that accident happening, and not be angry at God. We can't know His reasons during our earthly time. I was so glad to see your post and I wish you a wonderful rest of the week!

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    1. Thank you so much Holly...for your prayers for Shannon and your very wise and good words. Yes, I agree with you wholeheartedly. She needs to know more about God who loves her so much that He would give her a second chance at life. Please keep praying! Romans 8:28 is so true. And if you ever come to visit, you can sit in the rocker and visit with Lily Grace and her friends at the same time, because they are sitting right beside the rocker! So you can play along with them while you rock! Since I never had any little girls to play with, just cute little boys and their trucks and cars and boy things, I now have dolls and little girl things to play with. It's just how life is sometimes. LOL. And yes, I guess the reason I take so many pictures is because I know how quickly time flies and how short this life is. Sometimes pictures help us to remember our memories and smile again at the joy we felt at the time. God is good. All the time, God is good. (((hugs)))

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  14. Prayers for your dear Shannon! Please keep us posted! Pam, you created a fun Tuesday 4 for us and it has been fun reading everyone's answers, including yours! Love ya! xo

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    1. Thank you, Terri. I do appreciate the prayers for Shannon. Today she is home and in pain, but apparently some of her friends came by to cheer her up. She will definitely need a lot of prayer to stay in the wheelchair until she is healed. I enjoyed your post today too. Thank you for playing along!

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  15. Oh Pamela I just added your niece to my prayer app. I love your kitchen words and photos. I am sad I do not have a good photo of my mom or grandma in the kitchen. But the memories are as vivid as if we were all still there together. I think of you often and am slow getting aroudn to comment but think of you and hope your son and DIL are all doing well too. My friend Monica is getting over the virus. She is so kind and it knocked her flat on her back. Grateful she has a good man because Carlos takes such good care of her. She could use some prayers too. Please take care. I hope to see you here again very soon. HUGS and LOVE

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    1. Thank you so much. I will be praying for your friend Monica to regain her strength soon. My son and his wife are both doing so much better. God truly has blessed them and restored them to good health, and we are so very thankful. Thank you for your prayers for my niece Shannon. She has a ways to go and is in a lot of pain...but she is young and strong and I am sure she will be fine in time...it's just going to take some time and patience. Thank you for your kind words. God bless you and yours.

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  16. So sorry to see this about your niece Shannon. She is a lovely girl. I am praying she does, indeed, realize God's wonderful love for her in sparing her life and keeping her injuries from being any worse than they are.

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  17. Hi Pam, I will keep you niece in prayer. That needlework picture reminded me of my maternal grandmother who one at her house that I liked. I think my cousin end up with it. I did get an oil painting that was my grandmother's, passed to my mom and then me. I love that picture of you with your boys in the kitchen! I also have the rocker my husband gave to me for our kids. I have also rocked my grandbabies that share singing Bible songs I learned in Sunday school. Thanks for the memories!!1

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    1. Thank you, Susan, for the prayers for our niece. She is actually doing much better I just found out tonight, and actually back in school, but in a wheelchair. She is determined to keep up, which is a good thing, but I hope she doesn't overdo it. Thank you for sharing your happy memories too...Yes, I loved singing Bible songs to my babies too. It was such a blessed time...it just went by much too fast. God bless you dear friend. Thank you for visiting.

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  18. I love this post and your photos! So fun. Joining in for the first time.

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    1. Welcome!! So happy you joined in! I just went and visited you at your blog! I look forward to getting better acquainted as the days go by! I hope you'll come back again any time!! Always love to make new friends!

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  19. Such a lovely blog - so glad I found it today (through some twist or turn). I love your warm and inviting kitchen and that photo of you and boys baking is precious! I will pray for your niece. How wonderful that she is already being allowed to go home!!

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    1. So happy to meet you here today, Jennifer. I just went over and checked out your blog as well! I look forward to getting better acquainted with you! Thank you for the prayers for our niece. She is already back at school, in a wheelchair, but determined to keep up. She could still use those prayers, however... I am glad you enjoyed this post. It was fun to do, and the memories can sometimes be overwhelming, but I am thankful that we had the opportunity to make those memories. God is good. Please come back and visit again soon!

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