In Search of the Kitchen Counter....

I usually tend to it on Saturday mornings, but this past weekend, I had to work. And so, I went in search of it this morning, on my day off….

I start every work week with a clean kitchen. It is important to me. And I end every work week with a messy kitchen, and cleaning it again is equally important to me. That messy kitchen counter represents something to me: I have been gone, tending to other things, and have left my counter, and myself, for another day.

I like to cook. I like to eat home-cooked meals. Simple foods that are inexpensive but rich in taste. Satisfying, nourishing simple foods. And most nights, that is what I do. I have been working on a crock pot full of pinto beans for three days. Beans and tortillas, then beans and tacos, and to end it all, chili con carne. Three nights’ worth of suppers from one crock pot full of beans.

And this morning, I was greeted by last night’s supper dishes. It always happens: I get home from work, tired and hungry, and I use the last of my energy to fix supper. I do manage to put any leftover food away, so it won’t spoil, but the dishes have to wait.

As I stood at the sink this morning, washing up all those dishes, and loading the dishwasher, I took a journey back in time. I know, I do that a lot. But I am alone, and they are easy, inexpensive journeys to take. No luggage needed. No passport. No itinerary. Just me and my memories.

I remember when I had small children at home. We had a really nice kitchen. I could look out the window over the kitchen sink and watch the kids play in the front yard. I had plenty of cupboards to store things in, and plenty of food in the refrigerator and freezer.

Many Saturday afternoons were spent in the kitchen, preparing a meal for my family. Baked beans to go with whatever my husband barbequed for supper. Or a cake, or two, for special events. Or fried chicken before it was passé to eat such things. Homemade mashed potatoes. Or hot potato salad.

I was thinking about how complicated every day was back then, with kids and work and a husband and meals to fix and clothes to wash for five people. And how simple my life is now. And yet, the kitchen counter was always clean, back then. And now it has become a landing zone for all sorts of things. Mostly food items, but other things, too.

This morning, I put away a tire pressure gauge, a lock and key, a six-pack of Comet cleanser (yup, went to Costco), the cereal box that was out all week, and a stack of folded clothes. And then the fun began: I cleaned the surface thoroughly, rearranged the kitchen canisters and stood back and admired my work.

It’s only a kitchen counter, but it’s Home, to me….