I am interested! Though what I would me most interested in is some cold weather! It's still ridiculously warm here in MA. Though when it does get cold I know I'll be missing the warm haha. Thanks in advance! How close are you to your goal?

WOW !!! Can I find my house the same way you showed yours? How do you do that? please let me know. I'm not fortunate enough to have a church with permission to use their land behind me. The backyard neighbor I have is such a lazy character he only mows about once a month and sometimes not even then in the summer. He did no fall cleanup and I expect the leaves to all end up in my yard over the winter. Maybe the long grass will keep some of them in his yard. We have lived here into our 18th. year and I have only seen his wife 3 or 4 times. The last time in '06 when I asked her husband to tell her to come walk through the garden before I had a grarden walk. Thank goodness their very scary German Shepard dog died as I couldn't be in garden when he was out. They did have one of those underground fences to keep him in but once he came over anyway and I never trusted the fence again. We can't pick our neighbors can we. Connie

I never put my lunch in the fridge. Other then something with raw eggs sitting in the sunshine it should not spoil in 4-5 hours. Packaging is just as important as what to eat. I use lots of the plastic semi-disposable containers. Chili, spagetti, beans, soups, and rice all reheat in a microwave. Does he have a microwave? Salad I eat right out of a ziplock baggie... pour the dressing in the bottom and don't mix it until before eating so everything is crisp. Sandwiches I wrap in wax paper and then slide them in a baggie... they heat up in the paper nice and it makes a plate. Regular hamburgers and cheese burgers make a fine lunch... put the cheese and other toppings in a baggie on the side. For me it ain't lunch without some salt and pepper. Nothing wrong with a good pb&j! Pick good bread. Butter both slices of bread for better sandwich. Figure out where he is going to eat and what is available like microwaves. A bowl of stew is no good if he is riding his bike to practice but would be fine if he has a microwave and place to sit down. Get him some of those little plastic teeth flossers. Nice to look good after lunch... just in case some teenage girls happen to be around ya know. : ) lyra

The Maytag fridge you found will look very nice in your kitchen. : ) I don't blame you a bit for wanting to stick with induction, and had to laugh at you cursing an old stove twice on cleaning days. If you decide to keep the hoosier and original pantry cupboards, I think it makes the a lot of sense to switch to an induction range with the oven underneath it. This gives you the most counter space possible, which you could really use. I think your plan on Sun, Nov 30, 14 at 21:41 is a pretty good layout in terms of counter space and placement of items. I'm a bit nervous for you in how you'll feel working in the corner by the fridge, especially if for some reason you put in an even deeper fridge later on. It could feel constrictive, like you are working in a deep dark hole. : ( Is it possible to sink the fridge into the hall wall a bit so that the fridge doesn't stick out quite as much? That would help things. I'd replace the 24" drawers next to the stove with an 18" cabinet and edge the stove down toward the door those 6" just to get a wee bit more space between the stove and the fridge. I don't think the person standing at the stove will collide with back door users if the stove is just a few inches closer to to the back door. The big sink with 2 faucets helps with handwashing and such, but it doesn't put a sink closer to your prep area. You'll still be carrying dripping, wet veggies and meat (if you eat it) back and forth to the stove. You'll still be crossing the path of someone coming in and out of the door while you're carrying boiling water to drain, those types of things. Sometimes that's the nature of old houses we know and love, just make sure you are ok with the compromise. Now, if you still want wall ovens, a prep sink, and some landing space for the fridge, you could do something like this, but it's at the loss of the Hoosier, and maybe even the ironing cupboard turned spice cabinet. (Boo-hooo-hooo! I really like those features.) I think you can get a similar flavor and feel with newer cabinets made to the same style, though. ...I'm not sure how the door to the dining room will mix with the door of the fridge, either. This plan doesn't have is a dedicated pantry. Hmph. It does give you lots of work counter, a prep sink that's safer to use, and no giants hovering over you while you cook (No fridges or ovens in your head, shoulder, or elbow space.) And no island. ; ) Are you ok doing all of your work facing a wall, especially as your kids get older and are helping you more in the kitchen? T