No pictures today. Just some ponderings and another video.

You guys have given me much to ponder concerning my wee kitchen nook, which unfortunately is the only eating area we use for, well, eating.  By some quirk of nature I was blessed with 6 kids, 2 kid-in-laws and a big black Bogart....and a budget for the size house we live in.

I'm not really any closer to a decision, and heck, we've lived with the room like this for a year and half so another month or two spent organizing my thoughts and saving moola for a table won't hurt us none. :)

I should mention that given my druthers, I'd be moving walls and bulkheads and cabinets and, and, and.....

....but our family is trying hard to be content with what we have, get out of debt, and not spend too much energy on this house as we don't plan to stay here forever.  Changes are more along the lines of what we can afford while we dig ourselves out of debt, and what will update the home enough to get a good return when we do sell later down the road.

I also constantly remind myself that I am BLESSED for no other reason than the fact that I was born in the US to a middle class family who could afford nice home, married a man who is a genius and can work a well-paying job that he loves, and have the aforementioned 6+2(+1 hairy) kids who have zero health issues.

Our time is precious to us as a family.  Big reno's aren't going to be part of our lives very often.  My hubster decided long ago that his children would have a PRESENT father, both physically and emotionally....and those of you with teenagers know how much sheer energy that takes.  I admit I get miffed at times when my 'honey-do' list takes a back seat to Hubs reading to the boys or playing a video or board game with them....or having yet another heart to heart with his teenage girls, or an impromptu phone convo with one of our adult children struggling with the responsibility of being a grown up.  What a gift he is.  I never want to take that for granted, nor do I want my children to remember mom cracking the whip over dad every spare moment to make our house "just so".

Now don't get me wrong.  I want a beautiful home as much as the next shelter blogger.  But lately, my focus and priority are needing to be directed toward functional.  As in, function first: beauty second.  Money spent on our home must first be functional.  For instance, and in random order:

• I need a table to fit anywhere from 4 to 10.  
• I need shelves for homeschooling books
• I need cupboard space for dishes to serve anywhere from 4 to 10. 
• I need a cleaning schedule, a menu plan, and to deal with the 25 years and 6 kids worth of pictures laying in piles in the middle of the upstairs playroom. 
• I need to weed out the things that don't bring joy...and organize the stuff I need and want to keep. (spent lots of time over at Leanne's last night.  That girl has organizing skillz!)

So....back to my kitchen nook.  We won't be doing anything structurally to the space except to remove the railing separating the family room from the nook.  Hubby spent time in the attic checking for the joists and found it isn't a load bearing wall.  I spent time looking at PB, Ballards, and furniture store sites for table styles I liked, could afford, and would fit the needs of our family in the space we have.

Here's a some options that have caught my eye so far:
JCPenney's table set
World Market #1
World Market #2
Value City Furniture #1
Value City Furniture #2

We also just found out we could possibly get up to 6 solid wood chairs from Hubby's work as they're renovating their cafeteria.  Get this: $5 ea.  They're first come first serve, so we'll see.  Then I might be able to spend a bit more  to get a big ole farm table and a bench. 

Here's yet another silly video of one of my daughter's wedding showers...she works at the same place as hubby...and you can see the spindle chairs as the camera goes around the room.  BTW, the voice at the end is mine saying...."she does not need that!"  It's an espresso machine. *grin* 


Thanks so much for all the input....it's certainly helping me weigh the options and define what I need!  I'll keep ya posted :)