Hosive

reflecting on our home in the city…………

in the book series, not so big house, the key to getting the most out of a small space are niches. even in big homes, what makes a home “homey” are the small little places that feel cozy and safe. where memories are made. so good architects, builders and home makers build little spots into a house or apt to make the space memorable and alive. i’ve been blessed to live in a few places with little nooks and spots that radiate with life.

we bought one of the not so big house books because we were moving from a 2400 sq/ft md house into a 1100 sq/ft nyc apartment. but it turns out the not so big homes in the not so big house books were not so not-so-big. they were huge places! we have different definitions of not so big house!

in these features, i’ll detail mundane little spots around our apartment…..the spots where we live…and life is made.

the kitchen used to be the heart of the home….where nourishment, refreshment flowed out to the family. the aromas of good food, good coffee would waft into the rest of the home giving life. just like a heart pumping blood to the rest of the body.

this has dwindled because people don’t cook anymore and the kitchen has lost its primacy. people eat out 3,4,5 times a week…sometimes all their meals are from restaurants! but in the tsang home household, we’re trying to fight that. theresa is taking more cooking lessons from the french culinary institute….the stove and oven will be her domain. i’m really happy for her. so much of her life is sacrificed living my life and the life of the church. whenever she can do something for herself, i’m thrilled.

my domain is this little niche. tucked around the corner of the fridge is this place where so much happens. not big things and not even exciting things…..but life things.

coffee is stored, ground and brewed here….in a few ways….i have two french presses, both wedding gifts of course. in fact, the majority of our kitchen was pimped out thanks to our friends’ wedding gifting generosity. if there is a gadget, appliance, plate, bowl, utensil, whatever you see in our kitchen, it was likely a gift.

i did buy the electronic coffeemaker to cut down on the amount of french pressed coffee i drink….theresa read a health threat article a few years ago and used it to threaten me into drinking less of the good stuff. we received a few coffeemakers for our wedding as well…my mother in law scavenged one and we returned the others until we could figure out which one really worked for us and serving groups.

in the early morn, before i go to work or to prayer, i make coffee or tea here. prayer and caffeine start my days.

coffee is not the only scent that comes out of this corner. two staples of life…rice from the rice cooker and bread, bagels are toasted here. for theresa, rice is life; a big part of our diet. so a few years ago, giving up rice during lent for her was near torture. i love rice too but i also dig toasted breads.

in this space, i also make shakes here: fruit smoothies for breakfast and dessert. protein shakes after lifting or for a meal substitute.

see? nothing exciting. but so much of our life starts here. maybe this corner and what happens here is a telling parable for our existence.

regardless, i love lingering here. with that coffee or that shake. nibbling on some bread. reading…waiting for something to finish being made. its a homey little niche that pumps life often.