First of all, Happy New Year! I have been fairly busy with the painting around here, and haven’t kept up the blog. At least I remembered to change the copyright notice date to the current year. Hopefully, I can remember to write the correct year on all these checks we keep writing.
As for the past, current and future, I admit, not sorry to see 2016 go away. To us, 2016 brought Medicare, Social Security and lots of other reminders of getting older. Like realization that bad weather is worse when you aren’t a spring chicken anymore. Last year’s blizzard and tornado proved to be problems for us. In minor ways, but still problems.
We learned that we had to change things. Make things more accessible. Eliminate possible accident sources. Update bathroom, kitchen and other interior spaces. All these things are disruptive. Sometimes I think even more so because we are retired and here most days. We didn’t get to run away to the office and come home to the chaos only at night. Or, have the luxury like those on-HGTV people who could stay elsewhere while their houses were under renovation. I understand why people resist doing renovations. It can literally stress you out to the point of wanting to give it up. Yes, the results are nice, but living in complete disarray gets to me.
Every item from my pantry is in bags and boxes on my family room floor. Cooking is difficult.
Add to it, the sheer shock factor of going to a bright yellow.
Let’s just say I really like it. My better half? He’s still adjusting to the major color change.
We at least had New Year’s Eve dinner even while working around it all. I have to say that this recipe is a keeper, and it was a simple meal served with an excellent bubbly.
Emeril Lagasse’s Oyster Stew. Recipe from online. Oysters from the Jessup Seafood Market. A side salad. Champagne savored from beginning of cooking through to a glass just before we gave up and crashed around 11:30. Yep, we couldn’t make it until midnight.
Here’s to a better brighter 2017! At least my kitchen will be bright and cheery.
AnnieRie Unplugged 
I have been doing infrastructure projects on my 100+ year home – I STILL have items in boxes to be put back after the electrical re-wiring job – not to mention holes in the lathe/plaster walls, and such – – LOL – All I can think is, “thank goodness I’m single – I’ve heard these kinds of projects end marriages – – ” – LOL Happy New Year, Annie! May 2017 bring us a once-more organized, efficient for us kitchen! 🙂 (I’m just so pleased to be able to run the toaster oven AND the induction cooktop at the same time without throwing a breaker – buuutttt, still throwing stuff in the crockpot in the a.m. OR making do with crackers and cheese when I forget the morning ritual…..sigh….)