Saturday, June 7, 2008

The Pantry comes to Fruition




I don't know if I've mentioned it in passing, but for Mother's Day, Mac had a pantry built for me. I have complained for years that I never have room for anything in any house we've lived in. Mainly it's the myriad pots, pans, cooking gadgets and canning apparatus that have been the troublemakers. It got to the point that when I saw a new cooking gadget (like my wonderful rotisserie ) I get questions like "and where do you plan to keep that, under the bed?" or statements like "just what you need, another piece of equipment that doesn't have a home". But you must understand, these are not just things I need, but things I must have. Like my wonderful KitchenAid food processor with the multitude of attachments and my kitchen aide mixer with just as many plus the juicer...well you get what I'm saying. Anytime I wanted to bake a cake, prepare a fancy salad, or roast a nice fat hen it became a production as big as Oklahoma...I hated it when Mac would say things like "where are we keeping the chips this week?" I think that was the statement that sent me off on a tangent. I remembered the pantry in the house in England and longed for the days when everything had a place and everything was in it. I pointed out the cabinets that were few and far between and the cupboard that really didn't qualify as a pantry...no matter how much it had been touted as the "pantry of tomorrow". If that's what I have to look forward to tomorrow, then as Gilda (Radner) would have said..."never mind." So on Mother's Day the plans were laid for the pantry. The back porch is 12 feet wide and 30 feet long. We closed in the last 12/12 area where a back door leads directly into it. It has lots of shelves and plenty of floor space underneath the shelves for the large items that up til now had to be left in the shed til I needed them (and so much trouble to dig through the crap that had accumulated in front of it that I seldom felt the need for their use). The work began on Friday after Mother's day and was finished last weekend. I stayed up til past midnight loading it in. And as I took stock of what all it contained, wondered at my filing system for these things , bp (before pantry). I had to have been pretty darned creative to have found space for all this stuff in my small kitchen area. The next project on our list was the Ridge Vent roofing project which was completed yesterday...more on that later...right now I'm going to go play in the pantry.


45 comments:

Hadriana's Treasures said...

Hi Sandi - congratulations on the new pantry. What I love (or seem to know for that matter - I may be wrong) that in your wonderful country...you have to bother less with planning laws. You have lots of space and you can build.

What a joy to have your own extra kitchen space at last! (Maybe one day my dream will come true to have an office/study/library...I'll make that wish!)

Lee said...

Congratulations, Sandi! What a nice Mother's Day gift for Mac to have given you. I know the heartache of not having the space I had when I lived on the other side of town. My whole laundry room was two walls of pantry shelves. There was always space.

Nice pictures.

Hugs!

Mima said...

Oh Sandi what a wonderful pantry, one of the houses that I lived in as a child had a larder that worked in a very similar way, it was just fantastic to explore when you were hungry, and it had a wonderful slate shelf which my Mum used to put things on as it kept them cold. Maybe that should be your next wish list. It was also full of the gadgets, but funnily enough I remember much less about them!

The only time I think it was ever a problem was when the time came to move house, it wouldn't all fit in the new kitchen!!

(From David's, busking is when a street performer performs, can't think of a better way of saying that!)

Mima said...

Something I realised I had completely forgotten to say to you at the time, and was just thinking about, but what a result in Idol - I really thought that the other David was going to get it after the comments, and because of the cute factor, but Cook won - brilliant!

Vee said...

Oh how pretty! And wonderful! Exciting, too! You were creative to figure out how to store everything as it appears that the pantry is full!

It must be fantastic to have some kitchen space freed up, too. What are you going to do with all this room?

windycorner said...

What a wonderful gift! the gift of a place for everything and everything in it's place. Your sweet husband is so thoughtful.
Holley

Sandi McBride said...

Oh thanks all...Hadrians, so far I've had no problems with building on...
Lee, thank you so much. I'm loving it, as is Hound since it gives her all kinds of new places to chase her toys
Oh yes, Mima, my Larder in England had that, too and I have just now thought about it...you're right, I must have one (and the right David won, don't you think?)
Oh Vee, I'm sure I'll be filling in that new space...I bought some new dishes I've been admiring for some time to fit in my kitchen dish cupboard! Very pretty!
Hugs to you all
Sandi

Lib said...

Hi Sandi,
What a wonderful gift!:o)
Hope you have a great wk.end!
Blessins',Lib

Woman in a Window said...

HOw do I look in green? Is it showing through...just a little envy...

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

Such a loving and thoughtful gift and I am sure a most appreciated one...Mary

Jeanne said...

Ooohhh that's so cool. Now a man that will build you a room, he's a keeper. I'll keep my fingers crossed for your Cubbies as long as they don't step on my Mets to get there..hehe. Seriously, they do deserve their shot after all these years.

Jeni said...

Boy, now I am really envious! A PANTRY! I'd give my right eye tooth (if I still had it) to have a pantry, indeed I would. I had the kitchen redone about 19 years ago and I still don't have near enough counter space, cabinet space, storage space! Always, there is stuff laying around, looking for a "room of its own" ya know. I did have the shelf units along the wall in the cellar way, but have lost 1/3 of my storage space there since the middle shelf broke in half a couple months ago now. Actually, I think Mandy and I both are way to much on the "pack-ratty" side -like mother, like daughter and that goes back to my Mom too! LOL If Mac has a brother, uncle, friend in my age range who thinks like him, who is single and generous, hook me up with him cause that's the kind of partner I would need!

Jamie Dawn said...

How wonderful!!!! What a great present from Mac!
You don't know this, but when we lived in CA on a 43 acre mandarin ranch for fifteen years prior to our move to AR. We lived in a mobile home and my parents lived in "the big house" up the hill from us. It was a great place to raise our kids, but the mobile home was quite cheap and nothing fancy. When we moved here, we bought a gorgeous, new home with four bedrooms and three & a half bathrooms. It really is a dream home for me, but... it has a tiny pantry. I certainly don't complain since it is such a joy to have this beautiful home, but I'd kill (well maybe just maim) for a large pantry.
:-)
Enjoy yours to the max!!
It is marvelous!

Akelamalu said...

What a great mother's day present! Ooooh you'll be able to use all your gadgets now!

i beati said...

tis the season for pantrying !!Congrats sandy

Kari (GrannySkywalker) said...

Nice! My pantry is a closet with shelves. Good thing I'm not fond of "creating in the kitchen". I'd go mad with the lack of storage space. Did ya'll do the work yourselves or hire it out? (I'm wondering if I need to come up with a horrible illness that would require you guys to visit...WTIH your tools. lol)

Love ya'll,
Sissy

Alison said...

That's such a nice present! I make do with a tall cabinet for right now-- but in my next house I will definitely have a big pantry.

smilnsigh said...

Yes M'am, pantries rock!!!

When we had this house built {40 years ago}, I had 2 thing I wanted incorporated in the plans... A Pantry and A Laundry Shoot!!! Got 'em! :-))))

~Smilnsigh~

Terri Steffes said...

Wow! THat is lovely! What are you going to do for FATHER's DAY????

Unknown said...

Wow sandi! That is really nice! I love it.. that will be really nice when baking season arrives.
My hubs put shelves in my hall closet a couple weeks ago so I have more room to put things.
Sorry its been a while since I dropped in, been busy enjoying my baby :)
Happy Sunday!

bj said...

OMGosh...what a FABULOUS pantry. So HUGH...I would LOVE to have something so large! I do have some wonderful shelves in a wide back hallway that is full of paint cans and just STUFF right now. My next couple of projects, after finishing up the kitchen is to clean the shelves so I'll have more room for FOOD and clean out my freezer ! Ug...I just dread both but....needs to be done.
Glad you have such a lovely space now.
bj

Theresa said...

What fun- I too am a "everything must have a place" type of girl.
It made me smile thinking of you staying up past midnight organizing your stuff- that is something I would do too.
It looks so homey and comfortable, enjoy, enjoy, ENJOY!!!

Jan said...

Holy cow! Now that's a great pantry! Lucky you! We end up just adding shelves in a spare room and that room is now full! What're ya gonna do? LOL!
Enjoy your new room!!

Jan

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

WOWZER~ I wish I had a pantry like that! There is no room in my house for one - or a porch that I can turn into one :-(. I have pantry envy Sandi...
xo
Penny

david mcmahon said...

I always ask the hard question - so let me ask you if your patry (nice one, Mac!) has a jar of vegemite in it?

No? Then I ain't visiting. So there.

And by the way, re: your moose/meese comment. You're a mindreader. About eight hours earlier I was struck by the same thought and wrote a Verse and Worse segment auto-posted for Tuesday. Check it out ...

Carol said...

Hi Sandi - what a great panty or larder ! I have always wanted a walk-in larder. I can see you busily stacking and packing all your stuff....I would have loved that bit.
Carolx

Donna said...

Goodness!! Is there a bed in there?? LOL...How Wonderful!!hughugs

Anonymous said...

Wow Girl..now you sure can't say a word about my pantry.Little miss got yourself all organized. I love it. I need a space for my large things too.

Pam said...

That's fabulous!

Christine Boles said...

Niice!

VP said...

Hi Sandi - apologies for going off topic, but I just had to come over and apologise for your confusion over at my place. You've probably guessed that I'm setting up a new blog, and of course I realise now I can keep it private whilst it's in development, rather having it in public view! I'm still learning, so do forgive me. As a result you've made me complete the introductory piece that I should have done last week. I've also explained why it's dated next year! Thanks for visiting both of my blogs and leaving comments - it's been lovely to have you pop over :)

Unknown said...

Lucky girl. My pantry is not very big so I envy you, everything that doesn't fit flows out into the garage. Your Mac is a handy guy to have around.

Jules~ said...

Yeah I am so happy for you. You have every thing organised and decorated so nicely. Does all fo this new space give you more freedom of space in the kitchen to do the things that you obviously love?

Georgina said...

Well done Sandi and what a great assett to your home. There's an award over at mine for you and Miss Digby. Debs x

Grit said...

that is so splendid! such a great and needed space! and now i want a scullery! i want a scullery!

Anonymous said...

Oh Sandi, I am thrilled for you. I have a tiny dinky pantry that's more trouble than it's worth. In my old house I had a big walk-in pantry that was just heaven. What a wonderful Mother's Day present for you. :)

Country Cottage Chic said...

Oh that is so cute! I'm envious - I also long for a proper pantry.

Jayne

Merisi said...

A kingdom for a pantry.
a pantry for the Queen!
Congratulations! :-)))

The best asset of our apartment here in Vienna is a butler's pantry/laundry room. When Thanksgiving or other large family gatherings roll around, it fills my heart with joy.

kari and kijsa said...

What a great new pantry! A perfect space for all your goodies!! What joy!

blessings,
kari & kijsa

PAT said...

Sandi your new pantry is fabulous!

Pat

Heather said...

Oh, that's so exciting!! It's so nice when everything is all in one place. What a nice Mother's Day present.

CatHerder said...

OH BEAUTIFUL!!!! Im so jealous, i can never find anything!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Hi Sandi,
Me again....come see my beige wall post today - lol. I really did have them...
Hugs,
Penny

Jules~ said...

Good morning Sandi, I went to your niece's blog and looked around. New little Kara is so adorable! Your niece seems like a wonderful blessing of a girl.
I loved looking around. I could recognize some of the backgrounds in her pictures and it brought back memories of when we lived there.
Thank you for sharing that with me.
Have a blessed day.

Susie Q said...

Now THIS is a pantry! Your Mac is something special, but then, you already knew that huh?
What a joy this must be for you.
Didja have fun playing in there? I sure would have...you lucky duck you!!

Love,
Sue