Kitchen Chaos, Almost in Order

Here's just a sneak view of how my kitchen has been progressing. I am not finished setting it up and cleaning up the mess. And there are still a few things for the "kitchen guy" to complete or tweak.

But the great thing is that it already functions. Yes, I have a stove with four burners, including one large one with a double flame. And I have two large, by Israeli standards, ovens. Actually, the outer size is considered standard, needing a 60 centimeter cabinet, but I got Electrolux, because the actual oven capacity is a bit larger than the other lower priced ones. My previous ovens were tiny, like the size of a large microwave. I had always had a small, about 57 centimeter "one piece" stove that had double-ovens.

When we moved into our Jerusalem apartment in 1971 that was standard and considered very modern. Unfortunately, our "old kitchen" was planned around those stove measurements and there was no way to upgrade to a larger stove/oven without redoing the entire kitchen. It took quite a few years of misery on my part until enough of the old kitchen deteriorated to warrant these major renovations.

The sinks are also a teeny bit larger than I had before and much prettier and better quality. I have almost no upper cabinets compared to our previous kitchen, and the lower ones have drawers, except for those in the "island" for Passover.

Before the new kitchen had actually been built and until I started putting things away, I kept vacillating between confidence that there would be plenty of room for everything and fear that there wouldn't be enough room. As a consequence I had decided that if there isn't enough room I'd just give things away or throw them out. In the end, I've discovered that I have tons of extra space, especially the high shelves, which we didn't need to build at all.

Gd willing, next week I'll blog more about the kitchen with pictures and explanations.

PS I must say that thank Gd we survived the two weeks sans kitchen pretty well. It was easier than I had thought it would be. The first week I was in shock and had trouble functioning, but after a few days I did better. My neighbors were very helpful and generous. We also spent an entire Shabbat with our daughter and her family in Ofra.

Kitchen Chaos, First Success, B"H

As you probably know by now, we've been renovating our kitchen. There are lots of ups and downs and even some unpleasant surprises. On the whole it  has been an enjoyable experience, and even the small crises have turned out for the better. We're at the "tail end" I hope, and Gd willing, by the end of the week, I really hope and pray that our kitchen will be not only gorgeous, but fully functioning.

There's lots more to be done, even though the kitchen guy had hoped to be finished by Friday. But the "lots more to be done" are really the smaller jobs, like the electric outlet "frames," tweaking some of the carpentry, installing the ovens and hooking up the gas.

I also have to get a few new kitchen accessories like new dish drainers, stools, step stool etc. I also had to get some sort of basket or tray for the drawer where the onions and potatoes are to be stored.

 On Friday, I found myself with a bit of time in Jerusalem before the stores closed. It may sound a bit crazy, but the first thing I looked for and considered most "urgent" was the "potato basket." I checked out the FOX Home in the Ramot Mall, and I found something nice, but it wasn't on "sale." The full price was too high. Then since I was dropped off in Pisgat Zeev, I went to that mall. Golf and Co. also had something nice, if not nicer, but it was also full price. I almost bought it, since it was better than the one in FOX Home. But I decided to check out a couple more stores. Home Center didn't have anything suitable. Davka in the Naaman Outlet I found a wooden tray that seemed to be the right size, and since it was 80% off making the reduced price less than NS20, I bought it.

The kitchen still isn't ready, but the onions and potatoes and garlic seem very cozy in their new home.

Precarious Cooking, Kitchen Chaos

Last night I really didn't feel like schlepping the food out to a neighbor for cooking. Being that it was the last really full day of work in the kitchen, every few minutes I was called in for something.

These were good "somethings."

Wall tiles needed my input, and there were other questions the "kitchen guy" had for me. So I couldn't disappear for half an hour or so.

So I decided to see where I could set up the two-burner hotplate I'd been cooking on for almost two years. I managed to find a "safe" surface within read of an electric outlet. The truth is that the place on the laundry room sink was more "precarious" than "safe."

So I cut up an onion, potato, carrots and a nice sized sweet potato. On top of that I placed two pieces of filleted frozen fish. Then I added some oil, covered an placed it on the burner.

Once it began cooking, I lowered the flame a bit and kept checking until the potatoes were soft. White potatoes take longer to cook than sweet potatoes and unlike most other vegetables, they are awful when not totally cooked. Only eggplants, which are a "cousin" to white potatoes need even more cooking.

I'm glad I decided on that fish meal, because it was nice, filling, tasty and so easy to make, even under the difficult conditions we have right now for cooking.

Managing Sans Kitchen, Thank Gd For Friends

We're close to two weeks without a kitchen. Before then, we've been almost two years with a very problematic kitchen including a year without an oven. It took a long time to plan and find a crew to renovate my kitchen, and as of now the work isn't over.

I've been able to have my morning coffee without any real problem, but I can't cook, and during the first week, the dust was so awful I couldn't even cut a vegetable.

I don't need a kitchen for my coffee as you can see, but meals are something else.

As you can see, we moved the fridge into the livingroom and plugged it into the airconditioner socket. We have a fan blowing, which has been fine most of the time.

Thank Gd our wonderful neighbors have invited us for some meals, and I've also heated and cooked food at neighbors. Besides that I've eaten more sandwiches than I've had for decades. And we had a couple of meals at a local restaurant. Normally I'd consider eating out a waste of money, but it's nothing compared to the price of the kitchen.

At this point we're in the "home stretch," Gd willing. It shouldn't be too long, if all goes as planned. So, stay tuned.

Kitchen Chaos- Unexpected Delay, But Keep Smiling 😁

I'm glad I'm not doing more than just the kitchen.

OK, after living with a barely functioning kitchen for almost two years, if not longer, and not having a kitchen at all for over a week, do another couple of days really make a difference? I've been working very hard on myself not to get hysterical over things. Not long ago, a close friend died from cancer. A couple of weeks ago was the yartzeit, death anniversary, of neighbors, half a family, three children and the father who had been killed in a horrific car accident almost thirty years ago. So, I'm not going to allow myself to freak out over the kitchen. Fishtande vu?

Yesterday, when I was on the bus to Jerusalem and we had just left Shiloh, while there was still phone reception, I got a phone call from our kitchen guy.

"There's a problem. We need you."
"I'm on my way to Jerusalem."
"Oh, call when you get back."
"Why?"
"The countertop you ordered no longer exists. It's no longer being produced."
"But we double-checked."
"Yes."
"OK, I'll call when I'm on my way back."

Now for the backstory:

When I was choosing the wall tiles, sinks and faucets in a large Jerusalem store, I had with me my formica samples etc and also chose the countertop from samples on display. It was similar to what I had previously chosen, but more interesting. Then I discovered that it didn't appear in all of their "catalogs."
So I called my kitchen guy and had him check if it was really available or no longer being produced. He called the local guy who was doing the carpentry and counters who called his supplier, told him the model number and was told that there still was a supply. So we ordered it.
Then yesterday morning, as the counter guy took the dimensions/model of my new kitchen counters and was about to do my counters, he discovered that he didn't have enough. And then the phone calls were reversed in perfect chiastic structure until I got the call.

That's why yesterday late afternoon, I had to re-choose my countertops. We carefully compared the samples to the formica, sink color and the wall tiles which are to be just over the counter. And surprisingly, ended up with my first choice from a few months ago.  Davka, then I had a slightly different color scheme and very different formica...

That's the wall tile on the "naked" countertop.

I must keep my sense of humor and put all this in proportion. Right?

Kitchen Chaos Meltdown → Happy Ending

Yesterday was "Kitchen Chaos Meltdown Day." I'm pretty sure that almost every renovation project has at least one day for the homeowner when things hit a crisis mode and hysteria reigns. I got there yesterday afternoon when due to a misunderstanding one of the necessary "pieces" of my new kitchen wouldn't be available at all.

The exact details aren't important, but my first reaction was "mild" hysteria and then that I'd have to make an unplanned trip to Jerusalem to buy a replacement. Then all of a sudden I remembered that in the Shiloh Industrial Zone there are two stores that sell the product. OK, maybe not the exact one or the fantastic price I had expected to pay, but if I could buy it here and have much easier delivery logistics, too...  Also, the missing product wasn't something that needed the "wow factor*," so once I had calmed myself a trip to Jerusalem seemed totally unnecessary.

So, I quickly called my "kitchen guy," the one whom I hired to do this daunting project and told him about the unexpected complication and my solution. That solution meant that he had to quickly drive over to my house from whatever/wherever he was, drive me down to the two stores and help me pick out the missing product.

Apparently crises like these are part and parcel of renovation projects like mine, so he wasn't phased by the little emergency. And I was perfectly calm by the time he walked in. He drove me down.

I went through one store's showroom, and although I easily found a perfectly suitable replacement, the prices were too high. So we went to the other store. Again I quickly found something nice, and there the prices there were extremely reasonable. I definitely recommend the large hardware/building supply store in the Shiloh Industrial Zone. There's no need to go to a city to shop. That is one thing I've learned now. The product was ordered, and we're on track, B"H, thank Gd.

Here's how my new kitchen looks as of right now:

*To be honest, if you have a good eye for design and color you can easily "wow" from this simple local store.

Kitchen Chaos Break for Shabbat

Ever since my friend treated me and some other friends to a day at the spa on Wednesday, I've had renewed energy, and have gotten out of the paralysis caused by Kitchen Chaos aka the necessary renovations to make me a new kitchen.

Thursday morning I woke up extra early and began rinsing all the dust and grime from the floors, Israeli style, before the workers came in. And then on Friday before Shabbat I took the dust-filled covers off of the couch, laundered them, dusted the leather couches and then oiled them. Afterwards I recovered them, changed the filthy dusty tablecloth, swept and washed the floors all over the house even better than the day before.

That way as Shabbat began the house felt more like a home. We were invited out for Shabbat meals, which was great. I spent most of the afternoon with a neighbor. And the two of us attended the special Shiloh 40th Anniversary events together, which was fun.  Gd willing the kitchen renovations will be finished by next Shabbat. Before using the new stove I will need to get it attached to the gas canisters. I'll keep you updated.

Bye Old Kitchen, You're History

Kitchen Saga

I may be terrified, but I'm not sad about getting rid of my old kitchen. We've used it well for over thirty years. Kitchens aren't people. They are just kitchens, things.

I'm excited about getting a new kitchen. I'm terrified of the mess, the chaos.

I've been talking about getting a new kitchen for years. That's ever since I realized that there is no way I could get decent sized ovens in the old one. And I need two ovens.

The last time I bought a new refrigerator it was almost impossible to find one that could have the door hung from the other other side.

And did I mention that things got moldy in the corner closet and wet under the meat sink?

Yes, this old kitchen had paid its dues. Over thirty years is a nice age for a kitchen to be retired.

That phrase "get a new kitchen..." It's not very accurate. Because you don't "get a new kitchen," like getting a new coat or set of dishes. A kitchen must be planned, planned very carefully. And it isn't cheap. And the old one must be emptied and taken out. It's a process. It is neither easy nor cheap.

Gd willing in a couple of hours, we'll be on our way...

Shelves Cleared, Books Out, Almost Gone

When we had our house built and kitchen planned thirty-five years ago, cookbooks, diet books, childcare books etcetera were very important to me and read a lot. In recent years I haven't opened a single one of them. So, even though in the new kitchen, that wall of closets where the shelves are will remain, the books are going. The shelves will be used for my coffee accessories, the French Presses, mugs, whatever fits.

A few months ago when I first advertized that I had cookbooks and others for the taking, some neighbors took some. But now I'm still stuck, so I took them all down, put them in a box and advertised that they're near my door.

 Now, barely twelve hours later, the box is emptier.

Gd willing more books will find customers/readers. Whatever doesn't will be taken to be placed next to the paper recycling box in the neighborhood. 

Nowadays, when I need a recipe, which is rare, I just look on the internet. Even my recipes can be found on the internet, on this blog!

Pre-New Kitchen Chaos #1

No doubt that over the next two weeks I'll be posting lots of pre-kitchen chaos posts. This entire undertaking is terrifying, and I can barely keep track of the things I must do, buy etc.

I hired someone who is responsible for dealing with all the professionals, from the carpenter to the painter to the plumber, electrician, plasterer, general workers etc. He even does a lot of the dirty-work and professional stuff himself. Besides that, he tweaked the plan I had come up with with my son-in-law, sketched it professionally enough to bring it to the carpenter, etc, etcetera.

I'm keeping a wall of old cabinets, so the colors we've chosen all have to tie in together.

When he said that next Sunday he's planning on coming with the sledge hammer to break up/down the old kitchen, I could barely breathe. Yesterday I picked up a few boxes from the grocer and filled some. I emptied a few closets and threw out lots of stuff. This is only the beginning.

Somehow by Sunday I must get the place ready and set up a temporary kitchen around the house. We are grateful for invitations and excuses not to be home. We'll move the fridge to the AC outlet. There's a full-size sink in the laundry room. We are anyhow using an old electric cooking thing and no oven. It will be chaos, and then...

Updates to come, Gd willing.