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In My Makeshift Kitchen … November 2015

Here I am, back for another In My Kitchen hosted by ever baking friend Celia, from Fig Jam & Lime Cordial. Unfortunately, my kitchen doesn’t exist this month. It is now history. Kicked the bucket. It is an ex-kitchen! The long awaited renovation has started which means I am left without a kitchen as we live in the top part of our house. Everything on the bottom level has been packed and moved into the garage or spare bedrooms upstairs. This has been a little tricky and somewhat challenging but our eyes are firmly on the prize of a new kitchen, entertaining area and some very expensive steel beams.

In my November kitchen…

Maksehift kitchen set up in Laundry

…there’s not a lot of complex cooking happening. Still, we’ve been able to set up a couple of camp kitchens that cater to our needs. In the laundry we have our fridge, freezer and a makeshift washing area in the laundry tubs and on top of the washing machine. The top of the dishwasher doubles as a small staging area.

Makeshift kitchen in a bathroom

The second area is in a bathroom. If there was one thing this house has in quantity, it’s bathrooms. The kid’s bathroom is a former bedroom in the pre-federation part of the house so it is a fair size for a makshift kitchen. The microwave is on the bench, the cutlery at the end of the bath and the day to day needs neatly stacked in piles beside the bathtub.

As there’s not much happening in my kitchen, I’ll leave you instead with some photos of the beautiful Jacaranda blooming all over Brisbane.

Jacaranda trio

They were a little early this year due to the dry weather but are now in their prime. Look at that carpet of flowers behind the local kindy! There is a saying about blooming Jacarandas and heavy grey skies means it’s too late for uni students to open their books and start studying. The skies are certainly grey here in Brisbane and we have had quite a few destructive storms already. Not good when half of your roof is off and the water comes flooding through the ground floor. But what’s a girl to do? Wander the neighbourhood taking photos of Jacarandas of course.

What will be happening in my kitchen next month? We all wait with bated breath.

34 comments… add one
  • Mandy November 3, 2015, 6:51 pm

    Exciting times Fiona! Can’t wait to see your new kitchen. Here’s hoping the rain stays away though.
    Have a beautiful day.
    🙂 Mandy xoxoxo

  • Tania | My Kitchen Stories November 3, 2015, 8:35 pm

    You look very organised. I am so happy for you. Soon you will be cooking up a storm. I love Jacarandas.

  • Tandy | Lavender and Lime November 4, 2015, 12:41 am

    You’ve made do really well. I love the jacarandas Fiona 🙂

  • Glenda November 5, 2015, 12:37 am

    Love the Jacarandas, they are beautiful in Perth too. Good luck with the renos

    • Fiona Ryan November 6, 2015, 4:28 pm

      The Flame Treese are coming into their own as well now.

  • Cassandra November 5, 2015, 4:23 am

    Small kitchens turn chefs into MacGyver.

    • Fiona Ryan November 6, 2015, 4:28 pm

      And really, is that plate dirty or can I just brush off the crumbs and use it later?

  • Ania @ milktoastandhoney.co.uk November 6, 2015, 7:11 am

    That’s a top notch arrangement in times of need. Really excited for you and looking forward to next month already 🙂

    • Fiona Ryan November 6, 2015, 4:27 pm

      Every day when I get home, something new has happened. A wall here, a beam there… it’s all happening!

  • Gretchen November 7, 2015, 12:17 am

    The trees look beautiful. As for the lack of a kitchen you seem to be coming up with clever ways to work around it. I can’t wait to see the finished kitchen.

    • Fiona Ryan November 9, 2015, 5:34 pm

      We’ve been lucky as far as a few invites out for meals so we still have plenty in the freezer. I am keen to get those new ovens installed though.

  • Amanda (@lambsearshoney) November 7, 2015, 1:25 pm

    It looks like you are all over the whole temporary kitchen thing, but I don’t envy you having to make do at all.
    I was without a kitchen for just 2 weeks when we last renovated and really struggled – especially as the kids were all quite small – but I’m sure it will be worth it!

    • Fiona Ryan November 9, 2015, 5:35 pm

      It actaully hasn’t been too bad as we are now in a routine. Having a tray at each end of the stairs is a must. Woe betide the person who forgets to carry a laden tray up or down the stairs or even worse, forgets and we end up with two at one end!

  • Jan (A gluttonous wife) November 8, 2015, 1:45 pm

    How exciting Fiona!! Can’t wait to see the end results – hand in there!! Jan x

    • Fiona Ryan November 8, 2015, 6:32 pm

      They worked yesterday to getthe roof on before the storms. It’s on its way.

  • Liz November 9, 2015, 12:03 pm

    It’s very exciting to watch a renovation in progress. Take lots of pictures as we are starting our own and I will enjoy watching yours. Sounds like you have the temporary cooking well in hand.

    • Fiona Ryan November 9, 2015, 5:37 pm

      I have been taking pictures but most nights I am home when it is dark. I will certainly be doing a post about what I have learned.

  • EllaDee November 9, 2015, 3:34 pm

    Your organisation and adaptation is impressive. If it were us we’d be barbequing & barbequing… and I know the G.O.’s go-to solution to dishwashing would be a hose-off in the backyard from which I’d dissuade him, barely.
    Sydney is awash with purple as well. Jacarandas are my favourite tree. I love the bright hued local streets and I can see 4 and a bit purple treetops from my office window view over the botanic gardens 🙂

    • Fiona Ryan November 9, 2015, 5:38 pm

      We have done some barbequing but that means you have to clean it so we have been having lots of mezze platters and the like. All of this rain has nearly knocked the flowers off now. Still, they were lovely whilst they lasted.

  • Veganopoulous November 9, 2015, 6:34 pm

    such a beautiful purple carpet– jacarandas are so lovely! I will use your kitchen reno to give me strength as I put my own kitchen reno plans in to the too-hard basket or the “when we win the lotto” basket (I never buy a ticket, so…)

    • Fiona Ryan November 11, 2015, 5:28 pm

      The flowers are all but gone now and that gloriously large tree is now mainly twigs. I’m glad I took the time to photograph it. I can see the light at the end of the kitchen tunnel now.

  • Liz (Good Things) November 11, 2015, 4:14 pm

    Just think how wonderful it will be when it’s all finished! Love those Jacarandas! Stunning.

    • Fiona Ryan November 11, 2015, 5:24 pm

      We are edging closer. Kitchen guy came to mark up the location of benches on the floor yesterday.

  • sherry from sherrys pickings November 12, 2015, 11:21 am

    i have really enjoyed the jacarandas this year. so beautiful. your nonkitchen photos bring back memories of our reno years ago. we had an electric frypan borrowed from the neighbour and a microwave (I think). many a dish of baked beans and sausages went down our gullets.

  • Emily (Cooking for Kishore) November 15, 2015, 1:10 am

    Hi Fiona, Wow the Jacaranda is beautiful, love the colors. Good luck with the renovations! 🙂

    • Fiona Ryan November 15, 2015, 6:42 pm

      They are all finished now Emily. The Flame Trees are in season now and soon the Poincianas will be flowering.

  • Kari @ bite-sized thoughts November 15, 2015, 11:00 pm

    I love jacaranda trees – thanks for the peak at yours 🙂 And, how exciting about your new kitchen! It all sounds rather challenging at the moment but I am impressed with your makeshift areas and am sure the new kitchen will make this process worthwhile. I can’t wait to see it in time!

    • Fiona Ryan November 17, 2015, 8:50 am

      I suppose you don’t see many jacarandas at your end of the world…

  • Kim | a little lunch November 22, 2015, 8:24 am

    Fiona, this was probably one of the “funnest” kitchens I’ve seen since joining IMK. Your sense of humor and willingness to keep your eyes on the prize (NEW KITCHEN… repeat after me… NEW KITCHEN) will carry you though. Very clever use of existing space and bathrooms! 🙂 I’m also glad you posted photos of the Jacaranda trees. Tandy featured some marmalade from “Jacaranda House” in her post and you saved me from Googling it later. First time I’ve seen one — what a feast of color for the eyes. Thanks! xo!

    • Fiona Ryan November 24, 2015, 8:16 pm

      Thanks Kim. I’m guessing it’s a bit to chilly for Jacarandas at your end of the world. They are definitley a southern hemisphere thing. The kitchen is coming along nicely (well the shell at least). It’s supposed to be ready by Christmas but we’ll see…..

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