it was an easter MIRACLE!!

March was rough: our dishwasher broke which I turned into an opportunity for a full kitchen renovation but then I got shingles and didn’t move for a week which was followed by a debilitating stomach virus. To top it all off, Dan came down with the same virus on the same day I finally started feeling better. What could have been a project completed in 2-3 weekends turned into something lasting longer than a month and I wasn’t able to cook for about 3 straight weeks … I was in hell. As a result, I channeled my inner Bob Villa, flashed back to the old times with Brucie in the garage, picked up Dan’s power tools and got to work! In no time, I was using the T-square to make perfect corners, laying down masking tape guides for the jigsaw, and putting in our new countertop all by myself (well ok, Dan helped lift it into place). I also got to play with the drill, belt sander, little sander, pliers, socket wrench, dremel, battery-powered screwdriver, crowbar, hammer, various other tools and my personal fave: the rubber mallet.

It is such a wonderful feeling of accomplishment; I installed a countertop and a sink! I sanded down all the cabinets and other wood using the belt sander with an 80 grade then 120 grade paper to finish them and make them all smooth. Then I got to work painting and painted from first morning’s tea until the last big girl glass of the evening. As of right now, the kitchen is about 96% done from a painting aspect and the counters are 33.3% done. We still have to put the counter top in under the stovetop and put the cabinets back together (the ones I decided I didn’t want sitting out in the middle, cutting my kitchen in half any longer) over on the other side of the kitchen. But all of that can wait and I won’t scream or cry or stomp my feet. Why? Because the most important part is done: the sink. Who knew the sink was so pivotal to the rest of the kitchen?? You can’t run the dishwasher without the sink so we were stuck on paper plates and plastic utensils. You can’t boil pasta without water, and I’ll be damned if I fill a pot of water in the bathtub and carry it into the kitchen; I barely have enough balance to make it from the sink to the stove. You can barely do ANYTHING without your kitchen sink properly installed and in place.

To celebrate my hard work and triumphant return to cooking, I promptly made dinner using the oven, stove, microwave and yes, of course, the sink. It was so nice being able to use my kitchen again for more than just reheating one of the many meals I’d cooked and frozen (and nearly ran out of). My stove was turned on, 3 burners at once! I think I heard my stove wheeze a sigh of thanks, he feels more useful when he’s cooking a real meal vs. just heating up the tea kettle. My oven definitely felt appreciated and used this opportunity to express his gratitude by filling the house with the wonderful smells of deliciousness that, for the first time in a week, weren’t the result of yet another Totinos pizza. Side note: if you ever have a really bad stomach virus, little bites of Totinos 4 cheese pizza with little sips of ginger ale keep the nausea at bay.

Sunday morning, I awoke to an Easter miracle. I’d gone to bed the night before, utterly exhausted and worn out from my hard work and manual labor; so tired that I actually hadn’t bothered to clean up the mess I’d made, something that never happens. Dan awoke Sunday morning to let the dogs out while I slept and, wait for it, waaaaaaiiiiiiiiiit for it … cleaned!!!!! I was able to go into my (halfway done) new kitchen, go straight to the fridge, and without having to dodge random tools strewn about or watch my step so I didn’t put a nail through my foot like the night before, I was able to cook! I decided to rejoice in the beauty of my half-finished kitchen by baking a strawberry French toast casserole to take to Easter brunch at Sam’s house. I carefully whipped my egg whites, creating soft peaks, before adding the buttermilk and slowly blending in maple syrup, brown sugar, granulated sugar and hot-oil cinnamon by hand, enjoying every last minute while the oven preheated. I then took a loaf of whole wheat French bread and sliced it into 1-inch cubes and placed it all into a deep casserole. I dusted the bread with more cinnamon, added a few dollops of the strawberry jam I’d picked up at the farmer’s market, then poured in my egg mix. After setting atop my new countertop for about 20 minutes (covered) letting the egg soak into the bread, I popped it in the oven for 40 minutes of blissfully aromatic baking. The house smelled amazing, the brunch dish turned out fabulous, and I had a very Happy Easter indeed.

We still have quite a bit of work ahead of us to finish the kitchen completely, but I was happy that for one day, I was able to cook!