Time for a coffee break

I picked up this enameled cast-iron calf at Tractor Supply

Time for a little update as to what's going on around here.

Our electrician sent out a team to install the round back-lit bathroom mirror that was sent to replace the one that broke after five months.

The fake fall foliage is distributed for maximum effect

They were here for about fourteen minutes.

It's one of those things that's not the least bit complicated if you know what you're doing.

So we are in business again -- until we aren't. Forgive my skepticism but once burned ... you know the rest.

My salt and pepper shakers are for looks only

The extra-large battered-looking round green metal clock in the TV room is back on the wall. Up and running, as it were. So far, so good.

We are back to frothing heavy cream, too, for our coffee. Every day. Singularly satisfying, that froth on top of the Joe.

To celebrate, we're planning a party not only for this coming Friday night, but for the next Friday night too.

These wooden crates come out every year

And the week after that is Thanksgiving, and boy will we ever have a houseful.

For the first time in our married life, TG and I have had to make arrangements with one of our children and their family to stay in a hotel when they are here for the holiday.

My Thanksgiving table runner features pumpkins

There's just not enough room for everyone. Audrey hosts a few of her nieces, who love hanging with Dagny, and one of the subject family's children will stay here with us (in our room, on the floor), but that puts us full up.

Erica offered to keep some folks as Elliot is still sleeping in his bassinet in her room, meaning that she has a guest room until that room becomes Rhett's room. But we decided that with the new baby still less than two months old, we'd spare her the extra work.

This little fox was picked out by Dagny a few years ago

Not to worry. It will be fun for everyone.

The next two Friday-night dinner parties will be with church friends. We are looking forward to these fun-filled soirées and I am busy planning menus.

I'll give a full report after the fact.

Gnomes hanging out on the ledge

Meanwhile, at the end of last week I put all of the October decorations away and brought out simply every autumnal doodad and whatnot and layabout and knickknack and so forth, along with fake foliage, that I possess, and scattered thoughtfully placed everything around.

Mostly in the eat-in kitchen, but there are accents in the TV room too.

It's hard to believe that in a few weeks, I have to put all of that away for another ten months, and haul out the Christmas stuff.

If you come over, one of the first things you'll see is this little house

How can this year have evaporated in such a way? Ah. Just like every other year has done. That's how.

At any rate, there is another new addition to my kitchen: a coffee bar.

TG is rolling his eyes somewhere. He does not drink coffee so is not the least bit simpatico with those of us who do. However, he is sweet about the quiet clamor that tends to develop around this particular beverage.

These towels hang on the oven door

He endured my "having to have" a Keurig coffee maker -- since time out of mind I had used one of my collection of French presses to prepare my daily coffee, and a percolator when we had guests -- when, back in early September, I used my son's new Keurig and was red-pilled to the concept.

That necessitated me buying my own Keurig (which was on order before we even returned home from that trip), and my introduction to the world of K-cups, and all that goes along with that.

My cake stand is holding pumpkin trinkets until I make a cake

Side Note: I think I've asked you this before, but do y'all have a CostLess store? We do and we're all crazy about it. I really believe ours is the only one, though.

It's wildly successful. Becoming more crowded every time we go. And they have a rewards program!

Audrey told me the other day that at CostLess they have boxes of 72-count Donut Shop K-cups for twenty-one dollars. I haven't seen it with my own eyes but when I do, I will be buying some of those.

This turkey holds up his end of the table

Never mind that I just bought a box of 100 Donut Shop K-cups for thirty-nine dollars at Costco, thinking I was pretty smart for getting the price-per-cup down to thirty-nine cents.

If Audrey is correct (and I'm sure she is), the cost per cup of the box at CostLess is twenty-nine cents.

My coffee bar

And yes, I do realize that I am paying lots more for cups of coffee these days, than I did when I bought the ground coffee and brewed it in a French press, one cup at a time.

Or even in the percolator, ten cups at a time.

The backlit mirror was replaced and has been installed

But in my own defense I no longer order coffee in restaurants and certainly not in the popular coffee shops, where it costs anywhere from three to five dollars a cup.

It's all relative.

And soon, our relatives (and other guests) will be enjoying the latest addition I alluded to above: my new coffee bar.

We got beaucoup candy at our church's harvest dinner

How it came about was, one, as slim and space-saving as the five-inch-wide Keurig is, I was beginning to get nervous about the crowded-ness of the countertop (workbench, my late mother-in-law always called it) where said machine resided.

It was encroaching on a main Crock Pot location, which becomes pretty important this time of year.

Two, as a result of mental ruminations on that subject, a few Saturdays ago I decided to relocate the Keurig to the kitchen desk and make a coffee bar there.

The popcorn machine has gone around the corner into the front room

The desk features four cubbyholes attached to the cabinets above, which cubbies have traditionally held baskets, which held all sorts of things.

I cleaned out the cabinets and put the baskets up there out of sight, and moved many of my coffee mugs to the cubbyholes.

The mugs are in the desk cubbyholes

Put the Keurig on the desk (it had to be at an angle, which I did not like), and drove that arrangement around the block a few times.

It was imperfect in that, the kitchen desk is just that: a desk. It's not a coffee bar. There's a chair there.

I've had fun decorating the Origami coffee cart

The pirate was not happy.

I began searching on Amazon, and even went to a few stores, looking for some ideal (but inexpensive) piece of furniture to sit where our popcorn machine has been sitting for many years, to serve as a coffee bar.

Have you tried Donut Shop Snickers K-cups?

The popcorn machine was wheeled around the corner into the front room, which may sound offbeat to you but it's actually going to be fine. The room (intended as formal living/dining) is not used all that much by anyone but me.

And the popcorn machine can easily be wheeled right back into the kitchen when we make popcorn.

My friend Marsha gave me this little loaf pan and matching spatula

(Whenever I start rearranging things I often think, someone will think this is weird. Odd. Strange. Eccentric.

(And then I think: It's MY house. I'll put stuff where I want to put it.)

(I mean, if someone doesn't like it, they can always leave. But they will be missing out on a good time.)

Pumpkins are nestled everywhere

So that left the wall space to the right of the kitchen desk, for a coffee bar.

I summarily ordered a small baker's rack that would hold the Keurig without having to set it at an angle, and would also hold all of the other coffee stuff.

Minus the mugs, which I really liked in the cubbyholes above the desk.

My friend Marsha gave me this butter dish too

They look cute there and with a coffee bar a few feet away, it is a wise use of those spaces.

So the little baker's rack arrived and I attempted to put it together. I wanted to spare TG the hassle.

Owls and a squirrel and giant acorn

Only, one, I couldn't do it alone and two, I could tell that even all put together, it would look just like what it was: a piece of cheap Chinese junk.

Sorry but it was not up to my standards. I was just trying to save money but in the end, I had wasted money.

We'll be eating lots of pie on these plates

I boxed it all back up exactly the way it had come, and returned it.

Back to Amazon, where I located and purchased just what I needed: a sturdy, heavy, attractive rolling cart by Origami.

So named because it arrives already assembled and folded. I only had to unfold it, set a latch, and put the wheels on the bottom.

This is a mini gnome mug from Hobby Lobby

It's so heavy that the process proved slightly difficult, but I prevailed because I was determined, and have been rewarded with what I consider a primo coffee cart.

That did not have to be put together, piece by piece.

Y'all ... this cart is the bomb. I would say without hesitation, if you need a rolling cart for any reason, either decorative or utilitarian, or both, this is one you should consider.

More gnomes are nestled on the two-tiered tray centerpiece

It's solid -- both literally and figuratively.

This piece of furniture will be listed in my will. It's what I call an instant heirloom. Somebody is going to want it and I will specify who gets it.

So now the coffee bar is in place and I love approaching it every morning to make my coffee.

This little cow is cast iron and very heavy

Lots of counter space and cabinet space (where all the coffee mugs used to be) has been freed up, and I've been enjoying that too.

Then came the flurry of decorating for Thanksgiving, and acquiring of thematic paper dessert plates and napkins for the upcoming festive meals.

That was accomplished at Hobby Lobby, where all such supplies were fifty percent off.

This tiny gnome was a gift from a friend

I'm determined to have the tree up, and all of the Christmas decorations waiting in the wings, to be lit and placed the minute that Thanksgiving is over.

These days I have to get out in front of things.

Soon it will be time to say goodbye to fall

And since Thanksgiving is a tad bit earlier in November than usual, the Christmas season will be that much longer.

What a happy thought.

Tell me the stage of Thanksgiving planning where you are today, a little more than two weeks before the turkey goes into the oven.

May your holiday season hold many blessings

Will you be traveling for your pumpkin pie?

Is your Christmas tree up? And if so is it lit, or waiting to be lit?

I want to know your thoughts on the matter. Spill it.

And that is all for now.

=0=0=0=

Happy Wednesday

Comments

[Skunk (aka Mike Bay)]

My stage of Thanksgiving planning? I haven't begun to yet. The pet rock is planning on waiting to see if I am going to try to cook or not. He has a Scot air pak on stand by...

[Carla TePaske]

I love all your Autumn decor. The salt and pepper shakers make me smile, they are so cute!!!
We will travel over the fields and through the woods to my parents farm for Thanksgiving. We all play UNO after dinner. We will take Ernie for a walk in the woods. And come back to warm up with tea and pumpkin pie. :-)
xx oo
Carla

[Lori]

I love that cart. I too only buy sturdy pieces of furniture after learning the hard way in the past. Your coffee bar looks great. We have a beverage cabinet with our mugs, coffee, cocoa, tea and all of the things you may need for a beverage. The coffee pot sits on the counter under said cabinet. It works for us. I'm not a coffee drinker but the big guy is so he appreciates it.
It will be the two of us this year and we will celebrate with a traditional feast. I'm just hoping he is feeling better by then.
3 celebrations in 3 weeks, you are a rock star. Enjoy every one of them.

[Jennifer]

@Skunky ... Seymour is a wise old soul ... I certainly hope the Scott Air Pak is not necessary for him, though. Now, it may be for YOU if HE tries to cook. And you can tell him I said so, haahaa xoxo

@Carla ... That sounds as near to idyllic a holiday as I think you can imagine in this lifetime! xoxo

@Lori ... Well after reading of TBG's ordeal, I sure hope he is feeling better by then too! I love the sound of your beverage cupboard. Yes I did learn my lesson in "cheaping out" with that dumb China-made baker's rack. How could I have been so dumb? Ever the optimist, apparently. BUT it led me to my Origami cart, and who knows, I may not have gotten there by any other means. All's well that ends well! Wishing you a lovely holiday season. xoxo

[Donna G]

My turkeys have been out and about for several weeks now-I collect them, especially old ones. They came out a bit early as I am having cataracts “done” this month-#1 done and good-#2 the Monday after Thanksgiving, so I’m staying close to home, will gather up the fixings’ soon.
Love your new little cow, your sturdy coffee cart, and the little reading gnome!
Enjoy the fellowship with church friends, and the coming Thanksgiving gathering of family! Blessings!

[Mari]

Where to begin?
You know TG and I have this not liking coffee in common. But Bon is with you and would be all about that coffee cart. It looks great and even though I wouldn't use it, I really like it. You could add hot chocolate k-cups too. :)
I'm so glad that mirror is back in business and fingers crossed that it lasts longer than 5 months.
Your house full for Thanksgiving sounds wonderful. It's a joy to have then all together, and it doesn't happen enough. I do know that you'll be tired when they all leave though.
We do holidays every other year - one year with us, the other with the in laws. So this is the off year. I'm not as on top of things as you are and Thanksgiving snuck up on my. We'll see, but I told Bob it might be just us two this year. He said he could put up with me. :)
I have all my Fall things out, hanging on and not putting up Christmas until Thanksgiving. But - I have my sisters Christmas shopping trip going on Sat and Sun, so that will put me in the spirit.

[Jennifer]

@Donna G ... well thanks for dropping by! Your turkey collection sounds cuuuute!!! TG had his cataracts done in 2019 and everything went so well. I wish and pray the same for you! One down, one to go! Aren't those drops you have to put in, so annoying though? Of course I had to do TG's, haha. We certainly will enjoy the gathering of family and I think I'm going to have to get that little cow's mama. She only costs $13!!! Why did I leave her there? But they are so heavy! xoxo

@Mari ... Just you and Bon on Thanksgiving Day? I don't understand that!!! Surely you'll see your darlings for a meal sometime that weekend. However, that kind of Thanksgiving does sound cozy. I hope there's snow, hahaha! YES to hot chocolate K-cups and to be honest I didn't even know that was a thing until you said it. So much to learn! I just have to get that Christmas tree up before Thanksgiving, ready to light up that night. Last year I waited and it was difficult for a few days there. I am a control freak, hahaha! xoxo

[Jeanette]

I am hosting about 15 people this year again like I've done the past 3 years. I bought a couple plastic tablecloths but that's about all of the planning I've done so far. It will be last minute because our bedroom painting has to come first! Anyway, I love your coffee cart. It's perfect! All your decorations are!

[AC]

Wow! There is a whole lotta stuff going on there. The Christmas season is slowly beginning here. It will be a slow process with baby (I mean senior) steps this year. We are expecting snow and freezing rain overnight here, so it is not too early to begin. We are getting the snow tires put on tomorrow.

[Jennifer]

@Jeanette ... whoa girl, you are going right to the edge this year, hahaha! Good thing you got those tablecloths. I hope you take lots of pictures of both your freshly painted bedroom AND your Thanksgiving feast and guests! xoxo

@AC ... I am fascinated with weather so I have added Carleton Place to the collection of places on whose weather I check nearly every day (children who don't live here, far-afield friends and blogging buddies, plus London, England, because I'm a car-carrying anglophile, hahaha) so that I can picture it and, if necessary, commiserate with you and Sue. I see you do indeed have a snow and ice warning today! Ooooh I love weather like that IF I can spend the whole day either snuggled in my chair, reading, or else in the kitchen, cooking. Enjoy! No heroics! Just take it easy. xoxo

[Jim and Barb]

You are going to have a busy couple of weeks! As a non-coffee drinker, I don't understand it, but like TG, have a spouse that cannot go without her daily cup. Love all your autumnal decorations, you have quite a few there!

[Judee]

The mirror looks great and so do all of your autumn decorations. I have to admit that I do not decorate for Fall or Thanksgiving. It is just too much bother to put it all out, take it all down, and store it all. I do buy some fall paper plates and napkins. But that's about it. We do not have a Cost less but I wish we did. It sounds intriguing! It's funny. I'm also having company two Friday nights in a row for dinner.Enjoy your parties-sounds like fun!~!

[Donna]

One of my trees is...Up! The skinny tree in the TV room. We have two grandsons in the Air Force that won't be with us...my excuse anyway! Lol
LOVE your cake stand!! And all the other trinkets!
Have a super sweet week!
hugs
Donna

[Jennifer]

@Jim ... Yes indeed! I wouldn't change much about my TG, but I would like to have been married to someone with whom I could enjoy a cup of coffee! Only coffee drinkers would understand that. But I'm glad Barb enjoys her cup of Joe nonetheless. Yes the decorating is threatening to get out of hand, haahaa! xoxo

@Judee ... thank you! I fully understand your reluctance to do all the decorating. My mom didn't do much of that either even though, like you, she had a lovely home. Plates and napkins will do the trick. I wish you had a CostLess too! One party down, one to go! We had a blast on Friday night. xoxo

@Donna ... I'm sure it's lovely! You have a super sweet week too! xoxo

[Robert Bruins]

A coffee bar! I’m drooling over here. Wish we had room for that. My Keurig sits on the tiny cabinet between the stove and the fridge. I have been buying some new K-cups form a place called Angelico’s, very good, I get the dark roast decaf.

[Jennifer]

@Bon ... I know right! It's so awesome! I will check out Angelico's but I'm here to tell you that once I get it down to $.29 per cup I may be loath to go back up! Hahaha xoxo

[Barb]

I am tickled by your pleasure in the new coffee cart. We are coffee drinkers and actually dedicated two whole shallow kitchen drawers under where the Keurig sits for our assortment of coffees - always dark roast whether caffeinated or decaf. No flavored coffees for us though I did buy gingerbread syrup for Bob and have a frother to make him foam (I always drink black). We even have spacers for the drawers to keep our coffees organized and tidy. I love your cups in the desk cubby - very creative. Now my big pet peeve is my coffee getting cold immediately after I make it. I have some wonderful mugs, but they sure don't keep the coffee hot. Since I'm writing this after Thanksgiving, we are already decorated for Christmas. I'm sitting in front of the lit fireplace right now gazing at my (small) tree with white lights and watching the flickering flames of candles around the great room. Since it's wintry outside (and very dark), inside feels extra-cozy. Enjoy this season with your family, Jenny.

[Jennifer]

@Barb ... I wish I were there, enjoying that warmth and coziness with you! After a few chilly days, we are back to typical tank-top-and-flip-flop weather, hahaha! SO South Carolina. I hope we have the occasion to wear a sweater by Christmastime. I can't stand for coffee not to be hot enough.SO what I do is, I heat my heavy cream, then froth it, then make the coffee from the Keurig, then pop the cup back into the microwave for twenty seconds. That way, if I drink it diligently -- which is no problem since first thing in the morning, I need for my coffee ritual to be heartfelt -- the last swallow is still pleasantly warm. As a rule I don't like reheated coffee, but those twenty seconds in the microwave after brewing don't do it any harm. It's so delicious and heartening! Yes I have enjoyed my coffee cart SO MUCH. Your setup sounds both practical and charming. xoxo