Showing posts with label Coffee. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Coffee. Show all posts

25 April 2010

The BAKW.....

Well,
here she is....
the 
Big A@* Kitchen Window.



She's a she,
because of her prominent curves....
and 
they are BIG,
like mine.

She is the defining feature of the 
kitchen in our condo.

We have lived here for almost 
5 years now....

When we saw her for the first time.
I nearly cried.
She (the condo)
had been badly neglected.
Her carpet was torn and stained.
Her tile was cracked and loose.
Her cabinets were, original 
(she was built in 1972)
She looked decrepit.

We have replaced carpet 
in bedrooms,
put hardwood on the main level
painted every surface.
 Really.
When we gutted the kitchen,
we made it clear to the contractor,
that we had priced a new window,
and that he would probably want to be 
very careful around it, as the custom window 
would run around $9000, 
no kidding....

So,
the kitchen is wonderful now.
And as mentioned previously, 
I am blessed with women in my life,
that come by for conversation,
and tea, or coffee, or sweet tea....



And
we 
sit at the kitchen table
in front of the 
BAKW.

Sometimes,
conversations that are difficult,
are easier when 
there is something to look at
outside of ourselves.
Something that allows us 
to say the unspeakable....
I have noticed this affect 
on people that sit in front of 
the BAKW.

They "Blurt out all over the place".....
as one of them explained to me....
She was amazed that 
things that seemed to be locked in 
her head forever....
jumped out....when she sat there 
with cup in hand.

Maybe it's magic....


It is coated with some sort of 
UV protective film, not 
really reflective but which 
that tends to make looking in
difficult, unless it is night ,
and the lights are shining bright
inside.


There is a bird feeder 
and a hummingbird feeder
right there within 3 feet of the window.
The birds rarely notice those inside.
Only if we move, or are too loud...

This is also my favorite 
place to photograph
products,
food,
jewelry,
vintage finds,
treasures found,
and 
treasures kept....
and 
Tomatoes!

Again,
I know how lucky I am 
to have this BAKW...
she makes me smile.

24 April 2010

A cupa tea...


I am blessed....
I have women in my life that remind 
me how very lucky I am .....

Each week,
one or two of them will come
by my house after work,
or on their way to play,
and we will sit in the 
BAKW
(Big A@# Kitchen Window)
drink something hot,
tea, coffee, hot chocolate
and talk.

We do not discuss politics
(ever)
we do not discuss children
(well, occasionally)
we do not discuss men
(now that's a lie!)

But we are 
regularly
aware of how 
blessed we all are.
To have good health,
friends, family,
food (especially food!)

And now,
I am blessed in a new way...
Bloggy friends.
(hope they don't mind that name)
I am so amazed
at the talent,
the kindness and
the sheer joy of writing...

Thank you Anne!
smiles

12 January 2010

Brrrrr.....

I am rarely cold....
Hot Flashes are de rigueur these days...
Even my sweetie, who has always run hot...is cold...
Only in the last week have I
 started to wear slippers AND socks around the house.
And I have cut a slit in the sleeves of a "felted" wool sweater
that I had sitting on my sewing desk, and have tugged them onto my
forearms in an attempt to keep my
wrists and joints warm.
(Am I sounding pitiful enough yet?)

You would absolutely laugh at me
if you knew what the temperatures were like
here where I live....
in the sunny south....
(head hanging down...)

But I am coping well
(I know you are relieved)
and
I have adopted a routine
that helps.

I make
many
cups of coffee for
me and my sweetie...
I love a good French Press..
which in itself sounds
slightly sexual...
it's not.

Here is what it actually is...


You start with
the carafe, coffee
and hot water.
Simple is good.



Stir it up..



Put the lid on...


Wait...


While waiting...you can prepare your cups....



Once you have waited about 3-5 minutes,
press the plunger down..
and pour out that hot brown goodness..



Add additives as needed..



And enjoy...
warm..
actually, hot...
cradle that mug close and
enjoy the snuggly warmth..
and
feel the little
pick me up that the caffeine
imparts...
smiles.

Oh, yeah...
that is a cozy that I made out of
left overs from Christmas projects..
it keeps my French Press warm.

16 September 2009

We make do....


Isn't it funny,
how we "make-do" when things aren't quite right?
Sometimes....I don't even know what is
wrong...what doesn't fit....
what is slightly askew....
But I move toward making it right
by sticking a wedge in...
propping up a corner....
bring out the
WD-40...
or the
Duct-Tape...
or the
Perma-Bond...
or the...
Coffee....
yep, that's right
Coffee...
along about
3:56 pm
my mind clicks on to
COFFEE!!
It may not be the answer to the
health care crisis...
world peace...
education reform...
or
a flat tire....
but it props me
up for just
a
little
while...
so that I can make it
to
bedtime.

23 February 2009

Afternoon Sunshine....


I love the afternoon sun!
Specifically I love the "winter" afternoon sun,
the way it slides subtly into my kitchen and rests on the platter that holds all the coffee additives....
By the time this happens, I am usually pooped, tired, distressed, or cranky.
The sunshine reminds me that I have choices today.
I can continue to race around getting things done, or I can leave it until tomorrow,
and enjoy a good ol' cup o' joe....
Well, you can probably guess that the coffee wins out most of the time.
Life is just too short to push yourself.....
No one notices if you do anyway....
So....I have given myself permission to do as the civilized Englishmen (and ladies) do,
I take an afternoon break, right about 4pm.
I am then my more likely to last the evening without meltdown.
If you haven't tried this, do it!!
Especially young mothers, just put them into their beds,
and let them cry for awhile.
They will get tired, and fall asleep, promise.
Enjoy!

28 April 2008

Favorite things......





I am spoiled beyond belief.
My husband makes my coffee EVERY morning.
He meets me at the bottom of the stairs, smiling....and hugs me, kisses me and tells me he loves me, and asks (as though, he doesn't know) if I would like a cup o' joe.
"Yes" says I.
And off we go...
He to the coffee station, in our smaller than the average kitchen, and I stumble to the living room, hoping to wake sometime this century.
Soon, really soon, he rounds the corner with a steaming cup of heaven, and sweetly deposits it within reach, but not too close, as I am clumsy before noon.
I love all this attention.
I am a Leo after all.
Eight O' clock coffee (brand) is the freaking best. We buy the beans and grind them every morning. We are so adamant about this, that we take our own "coffee stash" with us when ever we travel.
Did I say that I am spoiled?
I love roses. I really love yellow roses, that climb. These are the first that I have picked this year. They smell like sweet butter.
I love Honey. Not in my coffee, but in my tea.
I love spring, not just because it puts an end to winter, but because things start to grow again. Take this Basil for instance, it is so fragrant that I can smell it as soon as I come down the stairs. Summer is on the way and basil will be growing like crazy in my garden. What is better than a fresh ensalada of tomato, mozzarella, basil, olive oil, and balsamic vinegar?
I love my life.....