Subj : Bits & Bobs [1]
To : Dave Drum
From : Ruth Haffly
Date : Tue Jan 14 2025 14:50:52
Hi Dave,
DD> When I call it a "Pullman" kitchen people think I'm joking. It's not a
DD> joke. In many ways it resembles the dining car galley on a
DD> ctoss-country rail-car.
RH> When we did our last Alaska cruise (the one with the rail trip to
RH> Denali, then a couple of days in Fairbanks), we had lunch on the train.
RH> We were seated right near the entrance/exit to the kitchen; our seats
RH> were so that we could see in when people went in/out. I could see
RH> basically one counter where it looked like they were assembling the
RH> sandwiches. Menu choices were quite limited, mostly soups and
RH> sandwiches, but the train was a limited run. I understand the old time
RH> dining cars on cross country rail trips were quite impressive with what
RH> they turned out.
DD> My first long rail trip - Here to St. Louis thern switch to the Twin
DD> Cities Rocket bound for Faribault, MN on the CB&Q/Rock Island. The
DD> dining car was all linen tablecloths and napkins and stemware. Quite
DD> upmarket. And, for my supper I chose Roast Duckling a l'Orange. My mom
DD> and the waiter both tried to steer me to something else. And I should
DD> haver listened. With the rocking of the train and the slipperyness of
DD> the orange sauce on the duck I would up with almost as much on me as
DD> in me. Bv)= But it was good. Comiing home on the reverse route I had
DD> a nice, easy to maneuver Roast Beef Manhattan.
Chalk it up to a learning experience. Got to have those to help you grow
up. (G)
RH> You didn't realise when you bought the house that a small kitchen was
RH> going to be a problem?
DD> Truthfully, I didn't even think about it. It didn't look obviously as
DD> inconvenient with everything except the appliances out and the swing
DD> down long counter on the inside wall in the raised position. I made a
DD> But the kitchen more than makes up for it. Bv)=
RH> We looked at several other houses, was less than impressed with the
RH> kitchens. This one has more counter space and drawers than the rental
RH> house; we'd bought a "butler" for extra counter space and storage so we
RH> took that with us. It takes up a bit of floor space but does give that
RH> extra bit of storage. It's also stationed right below our pot rack so
RH> we don't bump our head--too often. (G)
DD> My pot hangers (for the wok and paella pan) is over the sink. Nowhere
DD> else to hang them and the paella pan is to big to fit in any of the
DD> cabinets. Bv)=
We've got 3 free standing cabinets with stuff in them too. One is
basically for appliances that don't get a lot of use, one is zip bags
and wraps on the top, vitamins, etc in the middle and Tupperware on the
bottom. The final cabinet is part pantry, part disposable stuff, and a
good part of what doesn't fit elsewhere or needs to be kept in a central
location stuff. Some pots/pans (with no way to hang) are in a cabinet
but the majority of the cookware is hanging.
RH> Savannah was in brand mew housing but not designed for a serious cook.
RH> Best part of that one (other than all new appliances) was a counter
RH> with cabinet space below and above that ran the length of one of the
RH> short walls, maybe about 6 feet. Other counter space was severely
RH> limited.
DD> I've never had a home with a dishwasher other than the two at the ends
DD> of my arms. If I get my dream place that will change.
First one I had was in the rental in Copperas Cove (bedroom community to
Fort Hood). Then we moved on post, had one there. Moves to Frankfurt,
then Berlin, then Fort Devens, MA were all with no dishwasher. Finally,
moved to Fort Huachuca and have had a dishwasher ever since. When we
moved up to WF, that was one of the criteria on our list in our search
for housing. Only one area of seminary housing had dishwashers but we
decided early on, to live in the community.
square DD> feet. But muich better laid out, Plus it had a pantry about
half the DD> size of the kitchen with plenty of shelving to stash
extra pots DD> and/or counter top appliances.
RH> Layout is important. In Savannah there was a small room right off the
RH> kitchen, going to the garage, for the washer and dryer. It had some
RH> shelving so we were able to stow extra kitchen stuff there.
DD> An attached garage is a n ice warehouse for all manner of excess
DD> baggage.
We also had a useable attic and a 2,000 s/f house. Moved to rental house
up here with no garage or useable attic and only about 1,000 s/f so did
a major reduction of what we had. Bought this house, again no garage but
a useable attic and about 1,250 s/f. It also had a small shed that was
upgraded to a larger one last spring; that's Steve's exclusive space.
RH> I stopped reading "Boy's Life" when I left home, probably for college.
DD> I stopped when I quit the scouts. We had a scoutmaster who really set
DD> off my "gay-dar". I didn't know that's what it was called at that
DD> stage of my life. But he really made me nervous. Read about him a few
DD> years later in the local newspaper after he was attacked and severely
DD> thrashed by a scout's father. That set off an investigation and he was
DD> "outed". I showed the article to my folks and told them "You always
DD> wondered why I quit the scouts? There it is."
RH> AKAIK, none of the scoutmasters my brothers had leaned that way.
RH> They were all dads of boys in the troop, and most were WWII vets.
DD> My friend Laszlo is a scoutmaster - despite having no chirrun of his
DD> own. Well, now he's sort-of on emeritus status. Another runs the
DD> monthly meetings. But Laszlo leads and counsels the boys in gardening,
DD> crafts,
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Catch you later,
Ruth
rchaffly{at}earthlink{dot}net FIDO 1:396/45.28
--- PPoint 3.01
* Origin: Sew! That's My Point (1:396/45.28)
