INTRO
Today's lovely guest poster is Cherie from That Blog Where Cherie Moves To Germany. Cherie moved from the US to Germany after meeting her husband online and falling in love and choosing to head off with him to Europe. She left her country to live in his, and shares her adventures and discoveries as she sets up house in a new land.
Today Cherie is sharing a little snippet of her life that reflects the ups and downs of establishing her home in Germany. I'm sure you'll enjoy her post and make sure you pop over to her blog to read her very interesting love story.
WHEN YOUR HANDYMAN ISN'T BEING HANDY
We moved into our apartment in August of 2017. Today we are half way through the month of May, 2018. My little kitchen is still not finished, and I have come to the realization that it will never be finished. Really, why bother at this point? It is a functional kitchen, everything works. I really am OK with this.My husband is a very handy man. He can build, fix or repair most things, even electrical or plumbing issues. (This borderlines on magical abilities as far as I am concerned.) But, he does not like to build, fix or repair anything. (Unless it is a tattoo machine, then he will spend hours doing that). I am OK with this too, I am able to do a lot of things that I would not want to do in my spare time either. (Put in an NG tube, start an IV, splint a fractured appendage, clean butts til the cows some home. None of these are things I enjoy doing, but I am very capable. OK that is a lie, I do LOVE to start an IV).
MAKING DO
So, here we are. A kitchen minus a few important things, like cupboard space and counter space, oh and cabinet doors. It does make cooking an adventure. (often it is an adventure through hell when there are multiple steps needed for the dish). But, I have managed to make do with what I have, I am handy that way too.For instance, when washing the dishes, I have been laying a kitchen towel across the stove top(while off of course) and laid my dishes there to dry. Although as I write this, it seems like the dumbest thing in the world to do, I have been doing this for the past 9 months without issue.
THE "MINOR" MISHAP
Until yesterday. Yesterday we had a minor mishap, an issue. I set the kitchen on fire. Well, more like made a smoldering and smokey mess than an actual fire, really. There may have been a few flames, but I put them out rather quickly.You see, I accidentally bumped the knob for the stove with some of my freshly washed dishes, thus setting the dish towels on fire. I put it out very quickly, and only had to throw out three dish towels. Didn't even set the smoke alarm off. (Thank the GODS for that! Although, I do LOVE to see firemen in full gear. Just not firemen coming to MY house.) We opened all of the windows and ran the fan to get the smoke smell out of the house.
THE OUTCOME
I did share the story of my little mishap with my husband. He was concerned. Very concerned really. I was a bit surprised by his reaction. I had handled the situation well, and efficiently. No injury, or destruction. (Unless you count the dishtowels).Turns out, he felt badly that I did not have enough counter space to properly do the dishes. He decided we should go buy some cabinets, and counter tops. He would install them this weekend.
Amazingly enough, I said no to this plan. We should not spend the money now, and we need to wait until we find a house more suited to our needs (as we had already planned).
He felt he needed to do something. Fix something, make something right. So, after 9 long months, he hung my magnetic strips. It may not seem like much to you, but this meant the world to me. All is right in my world.
Cherie and where you can find her:
Cherie is a woman who writes about her daily life and adventures with her family. She and her family moved from Michigan to Germany in the summer of 2017 and she tells the tales of how she and her husband met online, fell in love, and then moved across the big pond to start a new life in a new country.
Blog: https://thatblogwherecheriemovestogermany.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thatblogwherecheriemovestogermany/
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Blog: https://thatblogwherecheriemovestogermany.wordpress.com
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Wow! Good on you, keeping a clear head and putting it out quickly. My kitchen mishaps tend to be broken glassware. That's not a big problem.
ReplyDeleteWe have had tiny kitchens with no counter space for the past 2 years, after moving to Asia. Our remedy is to eat out most meals, since food is cheap here.
I think that's what a lot of countries do Red - small kitchens tend to encourage eating out (especially when the food is cheap). In Australia we tend to home cook a lot of our food so our kitchens sound a lot more spacious than yours and Cherie's (and less prone to mishaps hopefully!)
DeleteIt was a very surreal experience. I stood there for a brief moment just thinking "Holy Crap, my kitchen is on FIRE!!" But , then I did move to action, thankfully!
ReplyDeleteyou handled it way better than I would have. But your right the magnetic strip does mean something.
ReplyDeleteYes, it really does. It means he loves me.
DeleteLove has many faces doesn't it Cherie? A magnetic strip, a diamond ring, taking out the rubbish - lots of different aspects :)
DeleteGood on you for your quick thinking Cherie! I've had a few close calls too, when I've forgotten that I've put something on the stove and then a while later noticed the dreaded smell of burning. Never flames, but plenty of smoke as something has boiled dry and burnt. The worst one was when I was an exhausted new mum trying to get a newborn and a 3 year old off to sleep one afternoon, fell asleep with them and woke to the most awful smell of burning rubber - I'd boiled the dummies dry trying to sterilise them. Ooops!!
ReplyDeleteI also admire your amazing patience with your unfinished kitchen - our kitchen renovation took almost a year, and I struggled with limited space, limited appliances (no oven), and an "alfresco" stove all through the winter, but I survived and am now incredibly thankful for a new kitchen and plenty of bench space!!!
Thanks. Oh yes,I remember the very sleepy mom years too.
DeleteI was not very patient at the first, more frustrated. But now, it seems silly to invest anymore money into this kitchen when we plan to find another place relatively soon. We can spend the money on that kitchen (and hope I don't set it on fire!)
Oh Sue I can actually see that picture of you and your weary mother brain being confonted with your minor disaster - everything seems so much bigger and more traumatic when we're sleep deprived and in mother mode! Kitchen fires always freak me out a bit - the panic of fat, fire , cloth etc is a nightmare waiting to happen. I think you and Cherie escaped fairly lightly fortunately!
DeleteOh my...that was almost a disaster! But I'm glad your hubby made you very happy with what he did for you! Sometimes it's the little things that mean the most. I love your writing style, Cherie, it's a pleasure to read!
ReplyDeleteHe does make me very happy. He is always doing little things like that for me. Thank you so much, that means a lot!!
DeleteI love Cherie's little anecdotes too Candi - it's always fun to have a little glimpse into someone else's world - especially when their life is so interesting!
DeleteCherie -- great post! As one who always seems to have an ongoing house project (we moved in Aug 2007 - yes, 2007), I understand. We make it work! But I am more of the project person - currently had a plumber change out shower pipes so need to replace the wall and tile, removing wallpaper and painting in three rooms. I am giving myself to July 25 when I need to take a week-long road trip! I don't know what I'd do in a fire!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you Janet.
DeleteThat sounds like a lot of projects!
Enjoy your road trip!!
Wow Janet - I love clever women who can manage all that decorating and scheduling tradesmen etc. I tend to do it as a team with my husband - or I start second guessing myself! I hope you're going to do a blog post on the finished project :)
DeleteHi Cherie, I remember setting fire to my kitchen years ago. We were renting and I put something on the stovetop then completely forgot about it until my young son ran downstairs and told me the kitchen was on fire!! We are also looking at a new kitchen for our apartment and although my husband is handy I think after building houses etc he is over all of the 'handyman' stuff. Your magnetic strip looks great!
ReplyDeleteThat's just it, isn't it? Dirk has spent a lifetime building, fixing and such. He doesn't want to do that when he comes home, and I totally get that.
DeleteI am so very happy to have my little magnetic strip up. Now my stuff doesn't get jammed up in the drawer!
The thought of kitchen fires freaks me out Sue - mum tells me that she had one when we were young so maybe I was mentally scarred from it??? I'm hoping when Cherie gets her new place that it comes with a lovely kitchen where there's no need for teatowels on the stove :)
DeleteCherie I do like to read your blog and your adventures. Leanne this was a good post for your Saturday.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much Victoria. Glad you enjoy them.
DeleteThanks Victoria - it's lovely having a little sneak peek into Cherie's life isn't it? I really enjoy reading her adventures as she adjusts to a new country too.
DeleteWhat an experience Cheru
ReplyDeleteThat takes guts leaving home and heading to a new country. WOW. I'm a bit jealous as I love Europe so much history and opportunities to explore.
DeleteRitu, it was a crazy day!
DeleteBrenda, it has been an amazing experience. There is so much to explore here. I am just in awe whenever we go somewhere, just how long some of these places have existed. It's wonderful!
I can't imagine what it would be like to live in a country where they speak a different language and have different ways of doing things - stepping so far out of my comfort zone would be a huge challenge and I'm enjoying learning how to do it vicariously through Cherie!
DeleteThese little mishaps can turn out real nasty and big....great that you have everything under control....
ReplyDeleteYes, it really could have been a terrible disaster. Luckily, I was able to think with a clear head. (we also have a fire extinguisher in the kitchen, but didn't have to use it). Things turned out fine.
DeleteDid you hear him making Tim the Toolman Taylor grunting sounds while he was putting it up?
ReplyDeleteLOL, nope. Usually when he is fixing something I just hear a bunch of German cursing.
DeleteThis was a bit of a close call Cherie, I’m so glad you’re happy with what you have - it makes a nice change to hear that😊. Always enjoy your posts, and thanks Leanne for sharing Cherie as one of your guest bloggers.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Debbie!
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