Necessities.
What do we really need?
Preparing for a move I am contemplating this question not because I seek each day to be philosophical, but because our move is requiring this of me. Our family of five will be moving into a space that is going to be very small. Yesterday we purchased a 30-foot motor home and will be moving into it the first weekend in March. I imagine each moment of the day what living in this space will be like. I try not to fain romantic. With three small kids to care for, cook for, and educate, a husband, and a remodel to finish, I am working daily to prepare my mind for the level of stress that will be upon me everyday for at least a portion of the day.
But spring is coming. This fact will make all the difference.
So what does our family really need?
Well here is a list of things that I plan to bring just to make our kitchen, I thought some one could find this useful someday. I know I will appreciate the record of it when I am looking at these days as far behind me. The list:
1. My biggest pot with it’s lid and the strainer basket that fits inside it. I will be able to use this for everything from soup to frying bacon.
2. Medium-sized pot with it’s lid.
3. Medium saucepan that uses the same-sized lid.
note: my pots can function on the stove top and in the oven because they have no plastic parts, this will be super nice.
4. 2-3 wooden spoons.
5. Silicon spatula.
6. Flat metal spatula.
7. Our knife set (steak, paring, chef, and bread knives).
8. Measuring cups (I will use my hand for spoon measurements).
9. Rolling pin (a flour tortilla must-have, and good for breaking nuts and things).
10. Kettle.
11. Scissors.
12. Can opener.
13. Faithful pastry blender. I can’t get fluffy, fluffy biscuits without this. Ooh, or these scones.
14. Peeler. Though I could use a knife, I will bring this because it will save time.
15. Box grater.
16. The all powerful whisk.
17. Parchment paper—this has changed my cookie baking life!
18. Small baking sheet.
19. 13 x 9 casserole dish, I may change my mind and bring a 9 x 9, for brownies.
20. Cutting board.
21. Three nesting mixing bowls.
22. Seven washcloths and ten towels. I will wash these by hand regularly and line-dry them and then machine wash them when I can.
23. Vintage multi-roll dispenser for wax paper, plastic wrap, and aluminum foil. A thrift store find.
24. Matches (propane heats and runs this motor home).
25. Soap (and my two hands, joining the Hand Wash Your Dishes Club again).
I have not included things to eat on or with, this will consist of: all our silverware (eight settings), eight salad plates (what we eat 90% of our meals on), two big plates, six cereal bowls (four large and two small), eight glasses (four short, four tall), and four mugs (two big, two small). I will also bring all of our napkins, I prefer cloth over paper. I will definitely have a small store of paper goods, for tired days and when we entertain. The other thing I will use frequently will be our barbeque. I suppose I may need a few utensils for this as well, but I will keep them outside with the grill. I’m looking forward to grilled pizza, vegetables, meat, and maybe even some peaches.
Well I have been saying it and I will say it again, the adventure continues. God has provided for us vividly once again. I hope to bring a smile to his face in this season of tight-living and hard-working. Honestly, I will rejoice to the point of weeping the first night I am sleeping beside my husband in our new room in our new house, along with so many other things we will do there. I long for these hard stressful days to end but they are continuing. However, I am ever so thankful for the Gardener that prunes the vines to produce more and more fruit.
Trailer life, here we come.