2007 Hall of Fame
…making it all the more surreal.
I have to admit, though, I’m a little disappointed in the appearance of the layouts. I think we all are. The scans really don’t give them any justice. The colors look REALLY dull. So, in that case, here’s mine in real color…
This one was probably my most graphic layout in my entire entry. It really focused on journaling, which, needless to say, you cannot appreciate at all on the website. Hopefully no one will hold that against me. LOL. I used this one as one of my extra layouts; originally it was for the color assignment (gray for old, orange for bright and new), but I substituted it for something else. So, why a layout about my coffee pot? I know, it seems so cliche at this point. But when you understand that our friends actually defined us by our old coffee pot, then it becomes more appropriate. People talked about it all of the time, commented on it, and even remember how fun our birthday parties were because of that darn coffee pot. The Barista was a work of art, was different in every way from any other coffee pot in the world, and it became a conversation piece at our house, much like any piece of artwork might. So, when it broke, it was a big deal in our house. When people come over and see the new coffee pot, they look almost heartbroken. We just laugh. So, that’s why a layout about a coffee pot. When I decided to put it into my entry, others liked the idea that I was able to use a color scheme that is traditionally reserved for Halloween and make it my own. But the big thing was the journaling, and you simply can’t appreciate that on the website. That makes me sad. I like to use an easy, relaxed voice in my journaling, much like how I talk every day, and that’s how this layout was composed.
That being said, so that hopefully it can be appreciated a weeee bit more, here is the journaling. Hope you like it!
Journaling:
It’s really hard to lose a coffee pot.
I became so attached to our little Barista. Working somewhat like a percolator, the coffee was fabulous. So was the entertainment. Yes, I could brew a pot in that baby and the adults at our party would crowd around it just to watch. Then they would suck down their coffee just to watch it again. What Pin the Tail on the Donkey does for the kids, this pot did for the adults. And despite its rather odd appearance, it was actually quite simple to operate.
However, a few months ago, Chris and I started to realize that perhaps our trusty friend was reaching the end of its life span. First it started with the cleanliness factor. Granted, this pot was never easy to clean because of the small hole at the top; I’ve never been able to reach inside of it and effectively scrub it. Yet I could always do a very thorough job with some strong vinegar water. Suddenly, however, that didn’t work. No matter what I tried, (vinegar, bleach, even denture cleaning tablets), it wouldn’t come clean. We accepted it; it still made good coffee.
But then came the fateful day in October. After Dad left to go home, (and, well, let’s face it, the coffee maker always gets the most use when Dad is here), I was cleaning the counter and noticed a puddle of coffee under the pot. That’s odd. Dad is usually quite the tidy guy. I didn’t think much of it, though. Until two days later when I was wiping the counter after brewing my own pot and noticed a puddle again. I lifted up the pot; lo and behold, somehow coffee had gone through the bottom of the carafe into where the electrical apparatus was. THAT’S not good. But that sealed the Barista’s fate; it had left my kitchen for that big coffee shop in the sky.
Of course, knowing a few months ago that this day would come, Chris and I had been planning a coffee maker purchase. As much as we loved the Barista, there was no way I was going to spend $200 to replace it. (I had purchased it on clearance for only $80 when we first got it.) We knew that if we ever lost our beloved Barista, we wanted one like TJ and Dad’s. No pots. Just stick your coffee cup under it, and presto, drink away. So off to Target we went. Initially, for $40, we found the Brewstation that we had seen in the others’ kitchens, but Chris quickly realized that he would not be able to fit his travel tumblers under it. Not to mention that there was no gold basket, and I don’t do paper filters. Dern. But wait, what’s this heavenly little toy??? A Brewmaster DELUXE??? More buttons? A clock? (which I soooo don’t need, but it sure is pretty) A gold filter? AND it will fit Chris’ tumblers?? AND it is on sale for only $45!!!! SOLD! Oh no…there aren’t any boxes of them. Quick, grab that Target man. Can we have the display one? SWEET!!!! Off to the register we go.
While it sure was hard throwing out the loyal Barista, it sure is nice being able to actually clean the coffee pot again. Welcome home, our little Brewstation Deluxe.
At least, not yet. I’ll be saying daily prayers that Ella gets to remain in that home - she belongs there, and Tana was so amazing to watch with her. 
So excited to see them again, hit the Mall of America, Cheesecake Factory, pedicures…you name it.
