Working on the Pantry - A Little Progress

 

At the time of writing this post, I have not got to any preserving as I had hoped today.  That is not to say will not get to any this evening, but it is what it is at the end of the day, especially with me desperately trying to get into the Pantry and really get it sorted out.  My Pantry is a mess and is only half full - loads has been used up and I still have loads left to use but it is not in the Pantry.

Today I have cleared a bit more of the kitchen which in turns means that I will be able to get into the Pantry to start clearing it tomorrow.  Whether I will get it cleared out this weekend realistically is another matter, but it is a start.  The cupboards in the actual kitchen are mostly sorted apart from my baking pan cupboards (two upper cupboards) which need re-arranging again because I have had stuff out and not popped it back in properly.  They however can wait until later on when I can fidget about with things.

I suspect in reality that the clearance of the Pantry will begin again tomorrow but that actual preparation work will probably start on Sunday/Monday next week.  I am intent on getting this done but am also not going to knock myself up in the process. G is going to help with the actual decorating which is a bit of a relief to me although I can decorate.  I do have other stuff I can do in any event.  You know me always up to my neck in things.  I do not like sitting around when I have the energy to do things.

I am out for a day out on Tuesday and I am hoping to get everything to the position where G can get stuck in, and give a first coat of paint in my absence and without interruption. Hoping to get filling work done on Sunday evening so that it has time to dry. It will probably need a couple of coats of paint as will the wooden shelves we added in as extras.  Just white paint that is all nothing too fancy but I do want the storage practical and the Pantry full of the stuff it should have in it rather than them being in other rooms that I have notably the Dining room.  That should free up quite a bit of space.  I am hopeful if things go well to get it sorted by the end of the week.  The Pantry is the first main cog in three rooms planned for decorating for some while but have not got there.  In all honesty I think filling it up is going to be like a serious game of Jenga!

I have always been one to have a packed Pantry and I have the under-stair preserves cupboard and hope to also have one of the shelves in the Fireside cupboard for preserves as well.  So my space has been expanding a bit.  I already have a pole (a metal one that came off an old hanging rack) which I intend to use between the shelves for use in dripping dairy produce to make soft cheese or indeed for jellies.  I can close the door on the Pantry and the cat cannot get in.  I do have various jelly stands, but for the quantities I am going to be dealing with I need a bigger bowl than the stands allow for.  Therefore will be used alongside each other.  It should enable me to do a double batch of anything as well.

The more I am doing the more I am finding to do. It all needs sorting somewhere down the line, but I am getting stuck in as best as I can and when I can.

I have also put a load of the jars I had put in the dining room into a big carrier together with the jars and bottles from the other day so that they are all together.  I am going to need these with what has been planned but it is satisfying to re-use and recycle the jars for my preserves and saves a very useful item from Landfill.

I do have a big pile of washing to do as well though!  It will be a matter of working everything in together.

Hope everyone has a lovely evening.  Am so pleased to have made so much progress although still a heck of a lot to do.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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