So, How Did That Metamorphosis Work Out?

Welcome to the 645th Metamorphosis Monday, a blog party sharing fabulous Before and Afters!

Still very badly missing my main computer. You get spoiled quickly when you normally work with two large monitors.  Once I get my new computer, I should have three monitors–looking forward to that. In the meantime, I’m still working from my small travel laptop.

 

So, I got an idea last night. I was thinking that for the weeks when I don’t have a new Before and After to share for Metamorphosis Monday, we could take a look at a previous metamorphosis and see how that change or update is still working today. Sometimes it’s fun to revisit a previous update and share what I’ve learned or maybe updated, yet again.

The little update I’m sharing this week is one I made here in the kitchen in November 2011. Before I share that update and how it has worked out, what do you think about this view of the kitchen? This is one you don’t often see.

 

I’ve shared photos of the screened porch from the deck on this side of the porch many times and you may have noticed that there’s a bay window on the other side of the porch.

Screened Porch Lit at Night with Lamps

 

A few nights ago, I was outside bringing in the bird feeders when I glanced back and was surprised to see how the kitchen looks in the evening. Funny that I’ve lived here for 31 years and I rarely ever notice it from this view even though I bring the feeders in every night.

The kitchen looks larger than it really is, viewing it through this big window. To give you an idea of how big this bay window is, the center window is 60 inches wide and the side windows are each 32 inches wide, so it’s pretty big.  Anyway, I thought you might enjoy seeing how the kitchen looks peeking inside from the deck on this very rainy Monday morning. The reflection in the window makes it look like I have a pergola in my kitchen. lol

 

Okay, so about that change in the kitchen…several years back I shared a little “movie tour” of the home in the movie, It’s Complicated. (See that tour here: Tour the Home in the Movie, It’s Complicated.)

In the movie, Jane, who owns her own bakery, has the neatest little baking center in one corner of her kitchen. It looks like the no-nonsense baking center you would expect in the home of a real baker!

 

Back in 2011, inspired by Jane’s baking center, I added a tiny, three-canister baking center to my small kitchen. At that time I filled the canisters with flour, sugar, and oatmeal. Back then, I was still lightly sweetening the iced tea I made and eating oatmeal on a fairly regular basis, so those canisters were used a lot. The flour was rarely ever used since I don’t bake that often.

 

How has this little baking center worked out? It has worked out great! I’ve changed what I store inside the canisters but I do very much love having them here. Currently, I’m still storing sugar in one of the canisters, though I rarely add sugar to a pitcher of tea these days. I’ve come to enjoy it unsweetened over the years. I’ll probably have my “southerner membership card” revoked after making that statement! 😉

 

The other two canisters currently hold cereal. I removed the flour since it was just sitting there, rarely ever being used. I will probably change out one of the cereals for oatmeal when autumn returns with its cooler weather.

So, I still very much like this little “baking” center I set up back in 2011, though it’s more about convenience than baking these days.

 

Vision Computers just called and my computer is ready! You can just imagine what I’ll be doing for the rest of the day. I both look forward to and dread the job of setting it all up and hooking up the 3rd monitor this afternoon. Hopefully, the next post will be created using it!

 

Looking forward to all the great Before and Afters linked for this week’s Metamorphosis Monday!

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Metamorphosis Monday

Metamorphosis Monday is a party that’s all about Before and Afters. Please link up your Before and After projects like DIY projects, room makeovers, craft projects even recipes. Any Before and After is great! Please do not link up Table Settings, save those for our Tablescape Thursday party on Thursday.

If you are participating in Met Monday, please link up using the “permalink” to your MM post and not your general blog address. To get your permalink, click on your post name, then just copy and paste the address that shows up in the address bar at the top of your blog, into the “url” box for InLinkz when prompted.

In order to link up, you’ll need to include a link in your MM post back to the party so the other participants will have an opportunity to receive visits from your wonderful blog readers.

 

This party has ended, click button below for the links to all who participated.

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Comments

  1. Good luck with your new computer ! I always loved seeing our kitchen from the screen porch…it looks so different than when you are in it! Love your baking center – I recently bought new “keepers” for my flour and sugar and they are more practical looking so I keep them underneath in pull out shelves. Same here…no longer have sugar in tea. Tried to use sugar subs in baking and don’t like it…so I rationalize by not having sugar in my tea! Happy New Computer !

    • Thanks, Ann! I’ve got it up and running. It’s amazing how long it takes to get everything back just as you like it.
      You’re so right, it was like I was seeing it for the first time. I like how it looks at night lit up better than during the daytime. lol
      I so agree, gotta use the real stuff in the baking.
      I’ve always heard that it’s best to not “drink” your calories so I’ve been trying to avoid sweet drinks during meals…have them more as the occasional treat.

  2. Oh I love that kitchen view through the bay window! It’s so cozy and warm! And SO glad you got your new computer! Hope you have a productive and not too annoying afternoon! 🙂

    • Thanks, Barbara! There was one tense moment hooking up the monitors but it was surprisingly simple after that. Even my printer worked right off the bat…that was shocking! lol
      Have an awesome week!

  3. SharonFromMichigan says

    Your kitchen looks so cozy & inviting! It makes me want to knock on your window & visit (lol).

  4. Where did you get the glass canisters? Those are very nice looking plus functional. I’ve been looking for some to store flour and sugar and having trouble finding anything that will work.

    • I found those in Walmart. They are called the “Anchor Hocking Montana Jar.” I think the ones I have are either the 2-gallon or the 2.5-gallon size. You can see them here: https://bit.ly/3vaAoTT
      I like these over the kind with glass lids because glass lids are prone to chipping and I didn’t want glass shards in my sugar or oatmeal/cereal. These have metal lids so that works great. They also seal off nicely.

  5. I hope that you are amazed by how quick and easy the computer set-up turns out to be; you are due some good luck! When drinking iced tea with food, I now choose unsweetened.

    • There was one hiccup hooking up the first monitor but after that, it went great!
      Me, too…save the calories for the good stuff–the food! 😉
      Thanks, Mia!

  6. Thank you Susan, I hope setting up your new computer goes smoothly!

  7. Susan, I love that view. I always like the look of warm lamp light in a home in the evening while walking or driving by. It always seems so welcoming. The kitchen looks very pretty from that vantage point, and your lights have that ‘amber’ glow which is so much nicer than the blaring white/blue of Led.

    Okay, glad your computer is ready. I know you’ll be having fun with that!

  8. I just had to switch themes and that’s enough mental anguish! Hope all goes smooth with the computer 🙂

    • Rachelle, you are not kidding! I have it all up and running now, but not without a few hiccups. That was exhausting! I think I need a Gin and Tonic now. 😉

  9. Thanks for taking the time to host this charming party every week! I appreciate the time and effort that you put into it! Stay safe, healthy and happy!!
    Hugs,
    Debbie

    • Thanks, Debbie! You always leave such a lovely comment and it’s much appreciated! Hope you have a wonderful, productive and safe week!

  10. Catalynn says

    Susan…I remember when you added that little baking center and I loved the idea, I went out and bought similar canisters and did the same thing…. I’m not sure if the sliding measuring spoons were in the same post but I also ordered 3 of them because they just looked so perfect in the canisters!
    You’re an endless source of great ideas.

    • Thanks so much, Catalynn! I still really like the sliding measuring spoons. I love it when something is practical and pretty at the same time. Seems like that rarely happens. 🙂

  11. What a beautiful view through your bay window you have and your porch is so warm and inviting! Enjoy your 3 monitors, Susan! I have 2 and would love to get another one! Thanks for sharing and for hosting this week.

    Hugs,
    Tee xo

    • Thanks so much, Tiffany! It’s taking a bit of coordination, learning to get to and away from that third monitor. I’m starting to get the hang of it. It’s amazing how much more productive and fun it is to work with two monitors, so I think three will be even better. If you’ve thought about adding a third, I say, go for it! I’m obsessed with the monitors I’ve purchased on Amazon–they have the best quality and truest colors of any monitors I’ve ever used.
      XXX

  12. Cyndi Raines says

    Happy for you that the hook ups went together without too much stress and glitches! I remember when you added your special corner! I do like just a touch of sweetness to my ice tea, but was just thinking the other day, I should see if I can get used to not having it. May have to think a bit harder on this, ha!

    • Sometimes I add a teensy bit, but once you’ve been drinking it without, sweet tea will taste waaaay too sweet and you’ll wonder how you ever drank it before!

  13. Brenda Lawrence says

    I love this view of your kitchen and eating area! So cozy and homey feeling. I too have a baking center. Just didn’t know that is what it was called. With a family of 8, I baked all the time. Not as much now, but still bake some. Making pizza crust for my 25 year old is what uses my flour up. So I have a sugar, flour and oatmeal for my baked oatmeal I like to eat year round. Hope all went well hooking up your monitors and computer!

    • I bet you did some serious baking when you were feeding 8! 🙂 Homemade pizza sounds amazing!
      Thanks, Brenda! It’s all good now–took me a day or two to get everything I use back onto the new system and figure out the best monitor set up. I just ordered a new bigger monitor and it will arrive tomorrow. I’ll share my new setup in a post sometime soon.

  14. I’m so impressed that you bring your feeders in each night! Wow. We should do that, but are too lazy – that’s why we have to use the “hot” seeds. Still, we can never have suet because it is always eaten overnight. I’m going to think about bringing them in.

    And, love the view of your kitchen from outside! So pretty and inviting.

    • Thanks, Leah! I didn’t used to do that but the seed I buy is soooo expensive, around $32 for a 20 lb bag, so I just can’t afford to feed the birds and the raccoons that raid feeders every night if I don’t bring them in. It’s not too awful to do since the feeders hang from very long hooks off the deck. I wish I could have feeders in my yard but I wouldn’t be able to see the birds from inside since I have a basement underneath. This way I can see the birds coming to the feeders when I’m in the kitchen. The birds can see me, too–and they have me well trained. lol The bluebirds come and sit on the deck rail and STARE in at me until I bring out the mealworms I buy for them during the spring months when they are nesting.
      To help me remember to bring the feeders in, I have set an alarm on my phone that goes off around 8:50 PM each evening. That’s just before dark. I try to leave them out until it’s almost completely dark because cardinals love to feed really late just before dark when all the other birds are back home tucked into their nests. I’m amazed how late they feed some nights! I’ve only missed bringing them in one night for the past several months and that’s because I was away from home that evening when the alarm went off.

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