Post by pooka on Jul 24, 2019 16:57:11 GMT -5
My fortunes have been good & bad lately, but as someone else has said, "it could be worse". I've plucked a few plums from the thrift store piles.
First, A while back I saw this copper pot rack at the Goodwill at the counter where someone had changed their mind & they hadn't carried it back to the shelves yet. It one of those cases where you can't move fast enough. I'd wanted one for a long time but never found one that sparked my fancy. The solid copper one sealed the deal. I'd had it temporarily hooked on the I-beam near my basement kitchen, so it was there prodding me to install it. I got motivated the other day to put it up by going out to get the hooks. Got the ones to screw into the ceiling, but had no luck finding any pot rack hooks, even at Bed Bath & Beyond, though they said they could order them. Frustrated, It took a few more days before I tackled it. I know it'll get some adjustments, & the pans will get rearranged, but it's up there. I used hooks from cargo tie downs temporarily. I ordered some pot hooks off of eBay, so it's already been rearranged.
I hung some of my more photogenic pans, & most used ones. I've been trying gather my pans together & get them sorted out & edited. The idea was to have two sets of most used sizes. One set for upstairs & one set for downstairs. For someone like me who doesn't cook a lot, I've got way to many, but I'm a practical collector. I may not get full use of what I have, but I try to only buy the best. But only if it's a bargain.
This is the bulk of my pans, though not all of them. There's some bigger pots in the cabinets bellow. & roasting pans in the cabinet over in the corner. I recently cleared this off of things that should have been tossed a long time ago. One of these days I'll finish that darn cabinet. It got built because I wanted something to fill a specific spot, & could not find the size I wanted. It got pressed into service before I got around to painting it. It was made from scraps I got for free here & there. The only thing I bought was the screws & nail, & discount bin hardware. I did find some old new stock chrome handles at the thrift store recently for a buck. In the pic, it has one old & one new.
The upper part is two pieces. The bigger is just a box basically I made so I could have a microwave & a coffee maker & have a shelf above. It needs to be tossed or reworked. I'm not sure what. The top piece is some sort of shelf, though I'm not quite sure. It caught my eye because of the scroll work, & that it was exactly the same size as my cabinet. I think its meant to hang on a wall, though I can't find evidence of any hangers. It may be part of something else, I just don't know. Here's a closer look of part of it cleared off to show the pierced work. I don't know if this is hand made or from a factory. It could be either. It just intrigued me on first site, plus it was the perfect fit for my cabinet.
Last week I found another perfect fit. At the same place as the pot rack I found a synthetic stone slab that I think was an insert for a coffee table. I almost missed it, because they had a toaster oven & some lamps on top of it. I wasn't sure if would fit, so I measured it & hoped it was there the next day. After confirming the size, I went back & got it for $15. I still need to edit the clutter, but it's better than the collection cutting boards I had there. The piece is part of an old desk someone threw in the trash. One drawer is missing it's front. I just use it for a cubby for my cast iron skillet & griddle. The stone is a perfect fit with a 3/4" overhang on the sides, & 1/2" in the front. I couldn't come closer if I had it custom cut. It may not hold up to hard use, but I have cutting boards for that.
A small thing I've found was this magnetic backed timer. I'd seen them in the past, but never had one crossed my path. It looks like the dial on a safe. I'm still on the fence on how it looks on the stove. The big empty space above the oven seems to need something. The Imperials & the first version model 7141 have a dial there to adjust the broiler. I don't know. What do you think? A black one might look better, but I buy what I find.
THe last thing I'm going to feature here is an old 1930s tall narrow cabinet. I missed out on another one I saw the other day. It was a little crude, & was hand made, but it was solid, & very serviceable. I passed with indecision but went back the next day & it was gone. This one I got I jumped on. It may not have the crusty primitive look i like, but it is untouched 1930s vintage, complete with Art Deco stencil work.
I don't know who made it, but it was probably one of the several companies that made Hoosier type cabinets. I've got a similar, but older 1920s one door one like this. Someone had thrown it out. It needs to have some work done, but it works.
My kitchen is a muddled collection of the unusual & the practical. Some of it just because it pleases me. If you haven't seen enough already, there's more hanging from the rafters above the stove.
There's the tale of a toaster too, but that'll be a post all it's own. It starts out with a factory mechanic who was tired of burnt toast in the cafeteria.