Building shelves where the refrigerator was… SO MUCH STORAGE!
Paul is home alone, because I am off gallivanting with my brothers.
I assume he’s having the most fun ever, because he gets to do this project with zero input from me.
I’m beginning this post on Sunday, at the airport, on my way to New Mexico… my baby brother is getting married next weekend!!
Matthew is everyone’s favorite, and Chris and I fully support this; because he is OUR favorite too! Like, if Chris or I were the favorite, we would wonder what was wrong with mom and dad!
LOOK AT THIS FACE!!!!
Just as exciting, for me; (EVERYTHING IS ABOUT ME, as you know): I’m going early, to spend a week with JUST my two brothers beforehand.
We are road tripping randomly, with no goal other than to spend ALL OF OUR TIME MOCKING EACHOTHER, vomiting with laughter, and generally basking in being alone with the only humans who share some version of our brain.
This experience defies words.
My brothers are my favorite people on the planet, (apologies to anyone else who might have expected to hold that title,) and they are also the only reason on earth that I would voluntarily leave my house overnight. *shudder*
We are going to party like the deranged animals that we are!
We are going to lie on the floor, crying… immobilized and shrieking with laughter, while Matty mimics my father: asking my mother if she has seen his shoe trees, (not something I made up, shoe trees are an important Dad accoutrement).
Fast forward to Wednesday, I need to say to my mother, (because, let’s be honest— my mother sacrificed her entire being at the altar of her children; and Dad got to enjoy the benefits of that blood ritual, while drinking a cup of coffee and offering pointers… NOT THE SAME.)
So.
Dear Mom,
MY BROTHERS ARE THE BEST THING ON EARTH.
Jazz Hands,
Your annoying female child.
Ok… now kitchen stuff.
Now that we are moving the refrigerator, we have access again to the basement stairwell; read this post to understand why the fridge was there, etc.
So now we have an unused space… so we are going to build a wall here, and extend the kitchen counter across this wall.
But what I’m writing about is what is going to happen on the OTHER side of the wall– the side that faces the interior of the basement stair landing (where the ladder is.)
We are going to build floor-to-ceiling shelving for shoes, and all the other nonsense that floats around your home near the front door.
I’m now unable to sustain interest in this post… just look at the photos!
I would have liked to skip writing anything until I am home/regain some space in my brain; but Paul will be WAY past this; I assume the wall will be finished.
And I have realized this about myself: if something non-fancy is happening with the house; blah, blah, details, blah, blah, boring, blah, blah, construction… if I don’t blog about it immediately, I lose any kind of interest… and I just skip it because it’s too boring to write about.
But this irritates people because they WANT TO SEE CONSTRUCTION!
So here you go!
Random note of clarification on my refrigerator dilemma: I’m getting lots of different suggestions (thanks!!!) but a good percent of those suggestions are for 36″ panel ready options, and I get the feeling that some of you are like, girl– did you even google this?
YES! I did! I promise! BUT my entire fridge dilemma is based around 36″ of refrigerator, being 36″ MORE INCHES THAN I WISH TO SEE.
And if I spend nine million dollars, I can get the same cubic feet of 36″ storage, at 30″ of actual refrigerator… and this BUGS ME… just because I am poor, I must have an extra 6″ of ugly?
Ok. This is over now! I’m hitting publish EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT A WELL-EDITED POST WITH GOOD PHOTOS AND CLEAR EXPLANATIONS.
If this bothers you, you will have to take it up with someone else because I DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR YOUR JUDGEMENT.
November 8, 2017 @ 2:53 pm
MEOW WOLF. Go to Meow Wolf while you are in Santa Fe! Look it up first in case it looks like a thing you will hate, but I want to go to Santa Fe and it’s SOLELY because of Meow Wolf.
November 8, 2017 @ 4:41 pm
YES! Do this! Meow Wolf is freaking amazing and full of secret tunnels and rooms and whatnot.
November 8, 2017 @ 5:38 pm
Yes! Absolutely Meow Wolf!
November 8, 2017 @ 5:48 pm
We went to Meow Wolf this summer (we being me, my sister, and my daughters, ages 13 and 10) and it was amazing. It was a bit overwhelming for some so that’s worth considering, but there is nothing like it anywhere.
The capitol is pretty amazing. It’s a round building with an unbelievable art collection. Totally worth stopping by, especially as it costs nothing.
The Loretto Chapel has a staircase you will love (I think). It’s referred to as the Miracle Staircase. And the nuns hated it.
If you get hungry, go to Cowgirl and get the baked potato dessert. (It’s ice cream that looks exactly like a baked potato. Order it but don’t explain it to your brothers ahead of time.)
November 8, 2017 @ 2:55 pm
let’s be honest— my mother sacrificed her entire being at the altar of her children; and Dad got to enjoy the benefits of that blood ritual, while drinking a cup of coffee and offering pointers… NOT THE SAME.
I wish I could think of better words to say I LOVE YOUR WRITING.
November 8, 2017 @ 3:01 pm
The vibe/design of the restaurant at the La Fonda hotel in Santa Fe is amazeballs. Look it up. Check out Canyon Road for artsy gallery hopping stuff.
November 8, 2017 @ 3:03 pm
Chimayo is just north of Santa fe- a beautiful quaint northern New Mexican town which is famous for its Santuario with the miracle dirt. While there eat at Rancho de Chimayo and ask for Christmas chile (red and green). It is usually fairly hot so they can leave on side. Friday evening (maybe other evenings)at Casa Sena where the waiters perform show tunes inthe bar area. A lovely courtyard and patio there also The La Fonda dining room has the prettiest windows -each pane is painted differently. I like it best at lunch for the light. In fact the La Fonda itself has fabulous art all over. La Fonda is wonderful for sitting in the lobby. Bar at Inn of the Governors is fun I hear but dont know myself. Just look at the authentic rugs at Maloufs on the plaza, location of the oldest trading post. Walk up Canyon road and stop in any gallery. Oh and there are some cool consignment shops on Guadalupe. Have fun !
November 9, 2017 @ 9:52 pm
It’s been many years but I always remember Rancho de Chimayo as having the best straight-up Margaritas I ever had.
My mother lived in Santa Fe for many years and she (and I) loved perusing through American Country Collections (ACC). I believe thy have a store on the Plaza as well as one on Guadalupe.
November 8, 2017 @ 3:05 pm
Lol. This isn’t a good blog for judgers to follow… it would be a huge waste of their time. 😉
November 8, 2017 @ 3:07 pm
You and your brothers shall/are having SO MUCH FUN!
https://www.kakawachocolates.com/
November 8, 2017 @ 3:12 pm
Sisters of Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe – a must see for anyone visiting. https://www.lorettochapel.com/info/history
“At the end of the Old Santa Fe Trail stands the Loretto Chapel. Inside the Gothic structure is the staircase referred to as miraculous, inexplicable, marvelous and is sometimes called St. Joseph’s Staircase. The stairway confounds architects, engineers and master craftsmen. It makes over two complete 360-degree turns, stands 20’ tall and has no center support. It rests solely on its base and against the choir loft. The risers of the 33 steps are all of the same height. Made of an apparently extinct wood species, it was constructed with only square wooden pegs without glue or nails.”
November 8, 2017 @ 4:31 pm
This! This is a must-see!
November 8, 2017 @ 3:25 pm
Visit my x sister-in- law, Ruthie at [email protected]. Maybe you can even buy a beaded gift for your new sister.
November 8, 2017 @ 3:30 pm
Check out Ojo Caliente mineral springs spa one hour north of Santa Fe. Used to be an old-fashioned, hippie kind of place when we visited 10 years ago but looks like they’ve updated & remodeled. Lovely & peaceful, it was the highlight of our trip. Day passes are available & affordable ($20-$38) to access the mineral springs, mud pool, steam rooms & saunas or you can stay overnight.
https://www.ojospa.com.
We also enjoyed the lush gardens during a stay at the El Rey Court motor Inn, built in 1936 along the old route 66.
http://www.elreycourt.com/photos.php
November 8, 2017 @ 3:34 pm
My brothers are my favorite human beings on the planet too. Then one of them started making babies and I found that the minis also have our brains and senses of humor. Yay! More weirdos to hang out with!
November 8, 2017 @ 3:36 pm
I have no suggestions whatsoever, but Sweet Mary Sunshine, sugar, these have to be THE.BEST.SENTENCES. I’ve ever read here on your blog:
“Ok. This is over now! I’m hitting publish EVEN THOUGH IT IS NOT A WELL-EDITED POST WITH GOOD PHOTOS AND CLEAR EXPLANATIONS.
If this bothers you, you will have to take it up with someone else because I DO NOT HAVE TIME FOR YOUR JUDGEMENT.”
You have won the Internet today1 (Well, as far as I am concerned!)
November 8, 2017 @ 4:35 pm
Thank you Savannah, for saving me the time in writing the very same thoughts!
November 8, 2017 @ 3:39 pm
I’m jellie! Would love to visit Santa Fe someday. We passed thru it year ago on our way to Tucson, but never got to see much.
Sweet of Paul to get the job done while you get to have fun!
November 8, 2017 @ 3:41 pm
For an easy half-day jaunt: Frijoles Canyon. Just imagine getting a fridge in there.
Cool bookstore and views: St John’s Canyon
Great Japanese-inflected spa high in the mountains with outside private hot tubs: 10,000 Waves.
November 8, 2017 @ 4:59 pm
HIGHLY recommend Bandelier and Jemez Springs.
November 8, 2017 @ 3:46 pm
Grammar police gotcha: judgment
November 8, 2017 @ 3:58 pm
I think both are “technically” correct?
November 8, 2017 @ 8:41 pm
In American English, judgement is generally considered a misspelling of judgment for all uses of the word, notwithstanding individual preferences. In British popular usage, judgment was traditionally the preferred form, but judgement has gained ground over the last couple of centuries and is now nearly as common as judgment.
Pay no attention to the myth, widely repeated on the web, that judgement is the original spelling and that judgment is a 19th-century American invention. This is simply untrue.
I am from Canada (don’t know what that has to do with anything) and I spell it judgment.
November 8, 2017 @ 3:47 pm
Just want to say, “Nice harvest.”
Oh, and enjoy the nuptials.
November 8, 2017 @ 3:49 pm
Yay, someone else who casually whips out a laser level in the course of daily life!
November 8, 2017 @ 3:53 pm
I think Paul should be your favorite person on earth – it’s amazing what he can do. I’m sure the kittens supervised in your absence!
November 8, 2017 @ 3:53 pm
As an older (70+) home fixer-upper, I have a suggestion. Put plug ins everywhere high and low. Bookcases, cupboards, walls, etc. You might want to charge a phone on a shelf, put an alarm clock to use, nanny cam your dog, slow cook stew etc without taking up counter space. They are cheap to do when remodeling, but expensive to after market.
November 8, 2017 @ 3:57 pm
A lot of really good suggestions already given, so I second (or is it third or fourth) the Chimayo visit. Oh, and if the chile is too spicey, order sour cream on the side. That’s what I always do. Love that you have such a great relationship with your brothers.
November 8, 2017 @ 4:10 pm
Taos Pueblo. you MUST go.
and yes, lots and lots and lots of outlets. and for your counter top appliances, for the love of kittens, mount them under the cabinets with a brick mould box so your backsplash is smooth. A light rail will hide these, and your under cabinet lights, nicely. If you dont know what I am talking about, just tell Paul. Paul will know. Paul is probably already planning to do this. Paul should be your favorite.
As for the refrigerator, have you given any thought to my idea of a bump out in the wall over the bilco doors? or moving the window over them, and putting the bumpout where the window is? you could then have beautiful doors that open to the space holding the ugly refrigerator. and yes, it is an extra set of doors to open, but at least it will be pretty.