They get you coming and going

Beth and I had a chat about the difference between a Cafe Americano and my pour over, and why they had different prices.  Last time I was into the coffee store, I asked. Cafe Americano is a full shot of espresso (regular or decaf)  into which is added hot water, to soften the strong flavour.  My pour over is a full shot of espresso (decaf) placed in a filter drip, and then hot water poured over.  What's the difference, you ask?  Well it's in the labour and skill necessary to use the espresso machine to produce that regular espresso shot, and then to use the espresso machine to produce the hot water.  The pour-over doesn't require using the espresso machine at all, getting it's hot water from the regular coffee maker.  That's their story, and they're sticking to it.

While Beth was here, we visited a local thrift store, and David and I bought a new kitchen table.  We've been looking for one since we had the kitchen updated, but pedestal tables without corners are just not available, unless you have one custom-made at an appropriate price. It's now in the kitchen, and the old one gone.  It arrived filthy, as we knew it would.  It has now been thoroughly scrubbed, a chore that required the kitchen floor to be washed not once but twice.
 Here we are during the washing.  The pedestal was very, very dirty.  I think they must have been smokers, as everything, even the bottom of the pedestal, came away as dirty brown staining on the paper towel we used.

Here it is upright and the leaf in.  We both think it must have been a very good table when first purchased.  It has good weight and is sturdy.

And here it is ready for use.  I'm quite happy with it.  As you can see, David can even push his chair all the way in--something he couldn't do with the old one.

Yesterday the items were delivered to the gift shop.  What a kurfuffle!  Took far too long, and they were busy, which meant that we were being pushed to get the job done.  But it's all looked after for the next four months.

As for how I spent today, check the other blog.