So Hard To Say Goodbye

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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?