We’re nearing the end of our kitchen remodeling project. We’ve replaced the floor and counter tops, added a backsplash, and reworked several of the cabinets. When we first started planning the makeover late last year, I was afraid of “scope creep.” My fear was that once we upgraded some of the things in the kitchen, everything else would start to look bad and need replacing too. We’ve lived here for over 10 years now, so it’s not like anything is exactly new. As we near the end of the project, it turns out I was at least partly right.
finished kitchen
First off, we decided to replace the microwave oven. It had issues with the control panel anyway, and we couldn’t justify repairing a 10 year old appliance. Next, my wife decided to replace the hardware on the cabinets, which were looking a bit worn and dated. Then she replaced the switch plate covers. And we decided we need new paint on the walls, in a color that better matched the floor and counters.
old gardening clothes
But then we started hanging things back on the walls, including a rack that hold our gardening clothes. The kitchen door leads to the back yard and garden areas, so it’s convenient to keep them there. We keep light jackets and hats hanging there, and mine are getting quite old and frayed. We’ve been joking about my old jacket for years, but now it looked really out of place in the ‘new’ kitchen. It’s an old L.L. Bean denim Shirt-Jac, lined with flannel, and quite warm and comfortable. It was so old I was reluctant to wash it very often, since I was afraid it might fall apart. In places it already WAS falling apart!
tattered sleeve
I finally decided to replace it with another similar one that was in much better shape. But then, I noticed my wide-brim Sloggers hat was in bad shape too. We gave it a good washing, but it still looked dirty. I wear it when it’s rainy outside and I have to make a trip to the greenhouse or garden. The wide brim keeps the rain off my head, and it also serves as a sunscreen on hot summer days.
old gardening hat
So I found a new hat to go with the jacket. The brim isn’t quite as wide as the old one, but it should get the job done. And it’s sort of color-coordinated with the jacket too, not that I’m a slave to fashion. Just look at the old jacket if you don’t believe me!
new garden hat and jacket
I couldn’t bear to throw the old hat and jacket away though. We’ve been through a lot of good gardening times together, so I stashed them away in the closet. Maybe I can take them out occasionally for old times sake, sometime when the fashion police aren’t looking! At least they aren’t on full display in the kitchen anymore. Am I the only one who likes comfy old clothes to wear in the garden?
Whew! You had me nervous when I read the title. Not another favorite blogger saying goodbye to blogging!? But no, thank goodness.
Old and comfy is the rule in my garden and these days it tends to be clothes that I’ve retired from the trail. Except for the hat. I’ve got an old favorite wide brimmed lightweight gardening hat that is literally falling apart and I can’t find a decent replacement. Too big, too tight, too floppy, narrow brim, doesn’t breathe well enough, all the replacement hats are just not right. The search continues.
I’m glad my gardening togs hang out of sight, they are a sorry looking bunch indeed. And I’m even more glad that my garden is very private, I look like a vagabond out there.
I used to wear the old jacket out in public until it got worn and then it was relegated to garden use. I also used to do that with my running shoes – they went from running to general use and finally to wear out in the garden, at least when I didn’t need something sturdier.
By the way, the kitchen looks great!
Like Michelle I read your post with some trepidation Dave!!!!
We are also in the throes of home renovation work, although not new kitchen appliances, just everything else. De-junking has been great but a lot of excellent “comfortable” items just have new homes, not gone completely. I hope your new jacket and hat grow into the job lol
We have done a lot of ‘dejunking’ and re-organizing in the kitchen too. That has made tasks more enjoyable for sure!
Love your post. I have a heavy denim shirt from the Gap that I have had for at least 20 years that I garden in. I will hate it when I have to pitch it. It is the perfect gardening shirt. Your kitchen looks great and I made your spinach cottage cheese pie today for lunch. What are terrific recipe. When are you going to be on TV again?
I suspect my old shirt is probably that old. I’m glad you enjoyed the pie! I don’t have any TV appearances scheduled. I need to pitch an idea to them, possibly homemade kombucha or sauerkraut. They already have a ‘garden guy’ who comes on a couple of times a week, so I tend to leave the gardening stuff to him since he is very knowledgeable.
The kitchen looks great but I had to smile about having to replace your old gardening gear as it wasn’t good enough for the new kitchen. My gardening garb lives in a cupboard. I often wonder what people think when we leave the house for the plot – probably look like a couple of vagrants.
Thankfully our garden is behind the house and mostly out of sight, so I don’t have to worry about what I wear. I concentrate on comfortable and functional instead of fashionable!
Ha – I thought the exact same thing as Michelle – you sure gave us a scare!
Your kitchen reno looks fabulous – congrats on getting it finished! And yes, I think we all do the same thing – it’s the domino effect of a renovation. I also have to comment on your coat hooks – they are awesome!
I’m the opposite of fashionable and ALL about the comfort – and not just in the garden either. I still have a flannel shirt that I wore constantly in university (apparently those are back in this year??) and my go-to shoes are Sketcher party-mate oxfords (on my third pair!) which, apparently, are the epitome of unfashionable since most people think they belong to my husband despite the small size 🙂
I asked my wife and the coat hooks came from Big Lots, which means they were not very expensive. Funny, I also have some Sketchers I wear out in the garden, though I usually wear Crocs or Sloggers unless I am doing some digging or other foot work.
The kitchen looks good! Aw, it’s difficult to give up favourite clothes when they’re worn out and can’t be repaired. I definitely look rather ‘down and out’ in my allotment and gardening gear, comfy shoes with holes in, and pulling along my old shopping trolley with tools poking out the top!
It must be handy having your outdoor clothes by the back door too 🙂