Notes from Maine - 2024/04/28
April 28, 2024
In the kitchen, I’m about to put down the mesh for the heated floor. Before I can do that, I have to finalize the layout. It shouldn’t be difficult. Two walls will have cabinets with counters on top. For those walls I can just put down a line of tape 24” (61cm) from the wall and call it good. The cabinet on the end will hold the double ovens. Although the specifications say they’ll fit in a standard-depth cabinet, I’ll probably make it a few inches deeper just to cap off that end.
The refrigerator will be freestanding. I’ve lived in plenty of houses where the refrigerator was surrounded by cabinets, making it pretty much impossible to clean behind or under without a major hassle. When dog hair starts to affect the function of the device, I want to be able to pull it out and vacuum. Or when a bag of frozen peas splits open, I want to be able to clean them up without having a friend over to help me move the fridge.
I taped off a rectangle on the floor to represent my current refrigerator, but I’ll probably replace it. It has betrayed me in the past. When Dad was living here and I had a bunch of company, the refrigerator would ice over constantly. Food packed onto every shelf was inhibiting the flow of air. I’ve also had to replace the control board twice and the defrost circuit and heater. It’s just not a trustworthy appliance. I remember sitting on the floor with a heat gun, desperate to make the thing work as healthcare workers and family milled about the house. My sister offered to help me find a new fridge, but I wouldn’t hear of it. I knew that I was going to remodel the kitchen sooner or later and I didn’t want to get a refrigerator that I would have to replace again in a couple of years because it didn’t suit my evolving needs. Here we are a few years later and I’m finally getting around to thinking about a replacement. My history has deeply colored my judgement. What I want most is a refrigerator that I can unplug and roll out into the street on a whim. I don’t want to be restricted by width, depth, or the swing of doors. All future refrigerators take note: betray me and you’re gone. I won’t think twice.
The big decision is where to put the island. It’s supposed to be at least 42” (107cm) from the nearest counter. If I follow that rule strictly, I’ll end up designing out all the coziness that I’m trying to find in the new kitchen. I’d like to integrate the seating at the center island so you’re not across the room from people working. In my old kitchen, the peninsula was a barrier between observers and cooks. One side was completely uncomfortable for sitting because there wasn’t enough overhang on the counter. It drove me crazy.
In another part of the house, I’m still dealing with the damage from the beginning of the month. Heavy snow and wind toppled a tree and it punched through my roof in several places. At the moment, it’s patched with repair tape. Insurance will cover some of the cost of replacing that side, but I’ll get the whole thing done so I don’t have a mismatched roof. The roofing people estimate they can get out in here in July. I just have to keep everything patched until then. It would be a good opportunity to put a dormer on one side of the attic up there, but I don’t know if I want to take on that project right now. I might have to though. If I don’t do it now then I’ll have a bunch of new metal blocking me from doing it in the future.
I bartered with my neighbor to help me clean up the yard. I drove him into town so he could go to Target and in exchange he brought his tractor over and we spent a morning cutting and hauling. The tree is gone. The fence still needs repair. Later this year, if I can fit it in, I’ll barter again to get him to do some welding. I want to put up a metal railing for the balcony.
All this construction and remodeling is overwhelming. There’s too much change and too much stress, but what are you going to do? I just have to keep moving forward, one foot in front of the other. I’m sure I’ll find light at the end of the tunnel eventually. Outside, we’re getting a little sprinkle of rain. The pasture needs it. I’ll check on the attic in a bit to make sure the patches are holding. Maybe the horses will get washed off a bit. They’ve been seeking out the last of the mud in order to coat themselves as the first black flies have appeared. Big, strong Earl never used to lower himself to the ground outside. In his stall, he would sleep and relax but outside he was always vigilant and on his feet. In the past year, he has finally decided it’s okay to roll outside if Maybelle stands guard while he does it. I can’t help but wonder what he’s going to do when she dies. She’s over twenty and he’s just seven. If we’re lucky, she’ll have another decade? I need to be ready to find another companion for him at any moment. When his brother died, Earl was a mess. Most horses don’t do well on their own.
That’s a concern for another day, I hope. For now, I just need to worry about the kitchen and the roof (and the balcony, basement, washer/dryer, etc.). I have this dream that next winter everything will be done and I’ll be able to relax. I’m sure my list will contain a few dozen more items by then.
