A true home is one of the most sacred of places.
It is a sanctuary into which men flee from the world’s perils and alarms.
It is a resting-place to which at close of day the weary retire to gather new strength for the battle and toils of tomorrow.
It is the place where love learns its lessons, where life is schooled into discipline and strength, where character is molded.
Few things we can do in this world are so well worth doing as the making of a beautiful and happy home.
He who does this builds a sanctuary for God and opens a fountain of blessing for men.
Far more than we know, do the strength and beauty of our lives depend upon the home in which we dwell.
He who goes forth in the morning from a happy, loving, prayerful home,
into the world’s strife, temptation, struggle, and duty, is strong–inspired for noble and victorious living.
– J.R. Miller
Since moving to Prince Edward Island, earlier this year, our family has been very busy settling the homestead, animals and gardens outside. Now that the cozy, cool weather is settling in (a season near and dear to my heart!), we can focus a little bit more on the inside of our home. My kitchen has been bustling with sugar cookie baking, tea drinking and lots of homeschool-filled mornings. One friendly reader asked if I had a pantry – and I realized I should probably share a little about my kitchen.
Now, while I’d like to show before photos, I feel that is also rather disrepectful to the previous woman who ran this kitchen – she lived here for 40 years and I am sure she has beautiful memories from this home. She was a baker and a mom of a little girl … I know this cozy kitchen was well used. I have changed it to fit my style, however, and hopefully this is still in respect for previous full lives lived here within these walls.
Recently, a historian of Prince Edward Island came to talk to us about the history of our home – it seems as if it was built sometime around 1840. Perfect. I don’t think I could live in a modern home – 🙂 …
This morning, the light was a bit brighter than the usual December morning; therefore I took a few photos to share here. This is not a set up kitchen for photos – this is real living and things are not perfect. I would like to change the sink (I have found the most beautiful vintage sink but I’m not sure if it will fit), eventually, but in time …
I’m so thankful for the help my husband has given to change it ever so slightly to appease his wife’s notions …
I love to wash dishes while listening to music in my little pantry-room – my favourite music is old time crooners (such as Dean Martin and Bing Crosby), opera music, and big band music. I have put bird feeders outside this lovely little window and I am seeing so many seasonal birds … it’s very joyful.
and yes, with a thankful heart, I have a pantry! I am so grateful!
{dried teas for the winter months}
The Man of the House’s coffee station area … his favourite spot each morning …through this bigger window we can view our field …
This sweet cookstove is gas, not wood fired, but I still love it. We found it on a used site and my husband brought it back from Ontario. The stove door says “Cook’s Delight”. Isn’t that sweet? And what’s even better is the thermostat does not work – just like my last stove. It makes me feel right at home. 🙂
I was so happy to find such a cute stove for our home …
However … let me introduce you to our other stove … a German stove, called a Kachelofen … yes, it is a strange stove.
Yes, it is a strange colour (although it does not bother me anymore – since green IS my husband’s favourite colour, and he just LOVES this stove). At first, I was determined this should go; it did not suit my style … but we, as a family, have grown to love it and actually, I personally quite like the style now, knowing it is from the old German days! We have seen it twice in older movies and that made me a little interested in this stove (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Sound of Music). It is also very unique. I don’t think you can find many of these in the modern world… there is a side portion to the stove that is, what I would call, a warming drawer. We, in fact, have two of these stoves the house and I am able to cook in both stoves. So I am still able to cook with wood – that is a good thing!
It really cozies up the kitchen! You will always find little people — and big people – sitting right here, staying cozy and drying mittens, reading and living regular every day life …
{Do you spot Rip, the faithful Basset Hound, sleeping under the table? Also, note the flour on the flour by my Hoosier – I was in the process of making dough for sugar cookies …}
We brought the antique kitchen lamp with us – I just love this light.
All kitchens should have a walk in pantry!
Do you love to look through kitchens as much as I do? It can be such a cozy space. I’d love to see photos of your kitchen … if you are willing to share your sacred spot of cooking and preparing meals … we could do a kitchen share post …
In the meantime … I hope you are staying warm and cozy and creating lovely meals for your family! xo
If you have been afraid that your love of beautiful flowers and the flickering flame of the candle
is somehow less spiritual than living in starkness and ugliness,
remember that He who created you to be creative gave you the things with which to make beauty
and the sensitivity to appreciate and respond to His creation.
―
by Gigi
no comments