My family’s house has lived a good long life, and our kitchen sink is proof of that.
Our simple one-story house was built on a cul-de-sac in 1947 — in what were then the happening suburbs of Sacramento. This was back before someone built shoulder-height fences to make good neighbors. Back before an enterprising owner added on a couple of extra bedrooms and rolled carpet over the top of beautiful hardwood floors. Back before a homeowner constructed a shed (or man cave?) in the backyard. But thankfully, a few traces of the original house remain relatively untouched, so that we don’t have to imagine what it looked like way back when.
The most original part of home has got to be our kitchen. The cabinets and pantry all have solid, heavy wood with hardware that is totally out of style…I mean, “vintage”. The tile on the counter tops and backsplashes are blue and white, and sealed with masonry grout. You can even spot a few of those tiles in the background of the photo here, just above the sink.
Speaking of the sink, I spend a lot of time here. My wife and I cut a deal before we married, agreeing that she would do the cooking and I would do the dishes. We’re still sticking to our agreement 10 years in (which is great news for me, since my wife is a great cook). So on any given morning or evening, you’ll find me at the sink, running the kitchen faucet to rinse off our dishes with a view not unlike what you see here.
I took this photo as part of a rainy afternoon exercise to capture some still life photography in my kitchen. Strangely, this is one of my favorites (never mind the fact that this isn’t really a still life photo). Maybe it’s the contrast of the blurred tile background against the biting sharpness of the faucet. It could be scratches and dings on a weathered surface that has been around longer than me. Or maybe I like the tiny droplets of water scattering around the running water. Maybe I’m just easily amused.
Whatever the case, I hope you enjoy this portrait of my faithful friend: the kitchen faucet. I’ve got to get back to the dishes now…
Pop quiz: How many gallons per minute flow through my faucet? Friends outside the U.S. are welcome to answer in litres if they choose. Answer in the comments below.
4 comments
2.5 gallons
If my eyes aren’t failing me, I think it says 1.5. You’ll have the chance to redeem yourself with future pop quizzes, I’m sure! 😉