I’ve been thinking about what room of the house might best describe my blog. As I thought of the images each room in the house evoked, I realized I have set my blog up more like an office or a study. It seems I come here with a specific task in mind or an idea to track down. Most of the time there’s a goal I’m after. I’m not sure these are bad characteristics of a blog. They just don’t really capture who I am or motivate me on days when I’d really just love to hear what’s on other people’s minds.
I’d rather this blog be more like a kitchen. A place of nourishment, productivity, and creativity. A place where the odds and ends of the day are tossed onto the counter. A place where you can pull a chair up to the table for a meal, or just open up the fridge for a snack. Mostly, a place at the end of the party where everyone gathers because they don’t want to leave.
I’m not sure how this new metaphor will change what I do here (though I hope it does influence me somehow). Mostly, I just want to assure those who come that you are welcome. And if I seem a little distracted or too close to task sometimes, just help yourself to some iced tea and a cookie. I’ll sit down with you in a minute.
Christianne and Stacy — I don’t mind my small kitchen TOO terribly much. In fact, I don’t think it’s the size that bothers me at all, just the wasted space. I am trying to be content, though. This is the only kitchen I have!
I do really enjoy cooking, though I do it far less than I would like. Some of my earliest memories are having a chair pulled up the kitchen counter in my childhood home and helping my mom cook.
Hi Christianne, nice to meet you!
My husband thinks it’s pretty funny, too, so I’m used to it. ha! I’m busy now, but I’ll have a look around your site before long.
Have a good day!
The image of Stacy, at 5’1, climbing up on a stool or counter to get the up-high things made me laugh. (We’ve not met before, Stacy — hello there!)
I had to chime in on the small kitchen thing. The one in our new house is absolutely TINY. Maybe I should do a post about it because everything is in miniature — I’m sure people would get a kick out of our mini dishwasher, mini stove, and microsized pantry. But I love it. Very cozy, like Stacy said. Of course, neither Kirk or I cook that much (but we’re getting more in the habit of it now!), so the small size doesn’t cramp us much. If you do much cooking, Charity, and you strike me as someone who probably loves it, I can see how a cramped kitchen could be cumbersome.
Thank you for your kind words about me and Kirk.
Your kitchen looks about the same size as mine. I like it! It’s nice to work in the close space. It’s just bad when the kiddos start crowding in to see what’s cooking. That’s why I like the breakfast bar. 🙂
I completely relate with the cabinet issue! I’m 5’1″, and I’m constantly needing to climb up to get things up high. It doesn’t matter how you arrange things, there will always be SOMETHING up there a few days a week. ha!
Your kitchen looks cozy.
Christianne — I feel sure that there will be many wonderful conversation in that library nook if you and Kirk are there! You both seem to be the epitome of thoughtfulness.
LL — I’ll be back soon! (Hopefully later today, in fact.) I’ve been struggling with a summer cold on top of trying to get a few big tasks off my to do list! The cold is improving, and the to do list is shrinking!
Craver — Yes, I can see how your blog would be like a front yard. Good analogy. I think most of us present ourselves in various ways like a front yard, being careful of those first impressions, as you mentioned.
Stacy — Yes, this is my little kitchen. Someday, I plan to remodel to rearrange the space in a way that makes more sense to me (there’s actually very little counter space, and a good deal of the cabinet space is so high or tucked so far back in the corner that it’s nearly useless.) But, for now, this little kitchen works, and it’s connected to the dining room, so it feels plenty spacious.
I like your concept of a litchen or kitching room! Two great rooms to have together!
Spaghettipie — I like to think that community happens in my kitchen too. The real kitchen, that is. And it seems that when I have people in my home, it usually involves food and drink of some kind, to all hospitality starts there.
You know, I’m in here with my peeler. Washed my hands. Ready to chop. But I’m waiting for you… 🙂
I love visiting your “kitchen,” Charity. It feels like a really safe place where real conversation happens at the same time the real world is chugging along (meaning, the food is still getting made and eaten and eventually cleaned up after, but not by being the focus of attention the whole time!). It’s been really interesting, this whole conversation you and Laura have gotten going about what room in the house we would liken our blogs to. I’d have to go with the living room myself, since that is the room of the house I’ve almost always been in with friends (either their house or mine) where all the real good conversations happened — the kind that change your entire perspective or world or hope. Of course this poses a problem since our new house doesn’t really have a living room! But I’d like to think the library nook is where those intimate, caring conversations will happen again someday . . . once we get it furnished! 🙂
Is that your kitchen? You have a nice little work triangle there. 🙂 My kitchen is really small, but I like it. Not a lot of walking around to get things done.
In our house, I think it would be the breakfast bar. The kids hang out there and talk to me while I’m cooking. Plus, it is part of the living room as well. Our house is two rooms, on top of two rooms, on top of two rooms. So we tend to stay in the bottom two and hang out.
What would you call that? The litchen? Kitching room?
I was thinking about this on the drive home, and for me, I think my special place would be the front yard. It’s not only groomed for first impressions (like a blog), but I love to hang out and shoot the breeze with my neighbors or house visitors while we stand out front. I get the impression that people feel more free to be themselves outside. Plus, I have had two neighbors pray to receive Christ out front. One at this house, and one at my old apartment in Chicago.
I think if I were naming my blog a room in the house, I’d choose the kitchen also. That’s the place people always end up. It’s the place where we have the real heart to heart conversations. The foyer and the living room are nice, but for some reason, to me, community happens in the kitchen.
I like your kitchen…
Awww…
Thanks for your encouragement, everyone! I’m glad you stopped by the kitchen. If I’d known your were coming, I would have baked a cake! 🙂
LL — I do love to chop and talk, though I have to admit that a lot more talking than chopping usually gets done. I’m much better at staying on task when it comes to cleaning up! And because I don’t really like cleaning up, I always like the company!
Craver — Ok, so here’s my first rule for the kitchen: NO FOOD FIGHTS! Now, here’s the broom. Clean up after yourself!
More food. Me like.
…
FOOOOD FIIIIIIIGHT!!!!
Love your cheery kitchen and how inviting and warm you are…i have always felt how “real” you are and always feel refreshed!
How well you describe yourself and your methods! I love your ability to be so accurately self-reflective. (I suppose this is part of what makes you a good writer.)
And I’m always up for chopping vegetables with you. Just a quiet side by side activity. (Or are you the talk and chop type?)
I love your kitchen — warm, inviting, nourishing. There’s an intimacy to the kitchen that other rooms lack. I like it.
Charity, You do give good food for thought on your blog, and I guess for me that’s good and what I like. And you have that sense of being kind and hospitable. So I think those are kitchen traits, good for every gathering (of course!).
I do always find nourishment when I come by so thanks for welcoming me in (a fine, cheery looking place at that).