Saturday, August 6, 2016

Saturday, Saturday.


I was pleasantly surprised this morning when these two guys showed up. I had no idea they were coming over but I was so happy to see them. Their papa is here helping Boppy clean out some stuff in the Garage Mahal which is Mr. Moon's garage which is huge and which is sort of on the edge of hoarderdom. A very old pick-up truck was recently found on the Craig's List which was in excellent shape and already painted and everything but which appears to be ready for delivery, mostly in buckets. So, in order to make room for the buckets and truck pieces and a space to put them all together, it's obvious that the garage needs to be cleaned up and cleaned out. At least a little bit.
So far an old cache of eggs was found (I knew those hens were laying somewhere else) which the boys had the pleasure of throwing into the woods (ooh- gross! that's disgusting!), the real and working truck is being filled up to go to the dump, and Mr. Moon has cut himself on an appropriately named Razor scooter.
That was a bit traumatic.
I pasted over it with that medicinal super glue which stings like hell and Mr. Moon yelled, "AAAGGGGHHHHH!" and then, "Paint it again!"
Then we laughed.
The cut is right on the meat of the hand below the first finger and I have no delusions that it's going to stay together, edge-wise, but we're tough around here. We don't need no stinking stitches.

Anyway, after tossing rotten eggs into the woods, Gibson was hungry for eggs and so I made him a small one-egg cheese omelet.


Sort of messy but delightful. That's my tiniest cast iron skillet. It's a skillette, perhaps. 
Then I made myself one and ate it with a piece of toast. 
Yum!

So that's what's going on here in Lloyd today. I have no real plans. It looks like it's going to be raining off and on here for the next week so it would be awesome to work in the garden when it's not and get that ready for fall. I was thinking about mopping the back porch and that may actually happen. We shall see. I'm in good spirits and feel as if just taking things as they come may be the way to go. 

Oh! Can I ask a favor of you? Since this house in Apalachicola IS going to be a reality and since I suppose I need to start thinking about a few things like, uh, kitchen design- could you please tell me if there is anything about your kitchen that you love and adore and that makes your life easier and more workable? 
I've never designed a kitchen and have always simply worked with whatever was there. The designer we have hired had put a sink in the kitchen island which sounds ridiculous to me. Water everywhere. I mean, if all you do in your kitchen sink is rinse off plates and get glasses of water, I suppose that would be fine but my kitchen sink is used for everything from washing the dirt off vegetables to being a place that young'uns play in. So I nixed that idea but beyond that- I'm sort of at a loss. Even the idea of planning where the trash can will go is daunting. 
So. If you have any ideas about this, let me know. 

Thanks, y'all. 

Love...Ms. Moon

52 comments:

  1. I really don't know about kitchen design, but I think I would like a under mount sink, it seems like a nice idea not to have to clean around the edges. Oh, I do like my over the stove microwave. I am feeling pretty badass this morning. I fixed my computer, actually took it apart and installed a new battery and power cord. My neighbor who knows about stuff like that told me what i needed to order. I knew he had my back if I messed it up, but I still did it myself. Gail

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    1. That's awesome, Gail! I would never dare to take my computer apart. Ever. you ARE badass.
      What's an under mount sink? I'll check it out.

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    2. It goes under a solid surface countertop, also the farm sinks look nice. I don't have either, just dreaming. Gail

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  2. I've heard about the Work Triangle in a kitchen. That's the shape between fridge, stove, and sink. If they all make a nice triangle without any of the corners being way far away from the others, it makes food prep easier. (I haven't commented in a long time, but I come to visit you here every single day. XOX)

    -Amna

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    1. First- thanks for coming by and thanks for comment, Amna. I've heard of that triangle too. I'll consider that in my planning.

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  3. Since you asked--in the old kitchen on cupboard opened to a slide out rack with with standard trash cans, one for trash, one for recycle. I like that. Don't have it in the new kitchen. In the new kitchen, the microwave is over the stove. Problem: we are all so short we must be on tiptoe to reach stuff out, and that can be problematic. No one has spilled hot stuff--yet. We are all in the five two range. May not be a problem for you (all).

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    1. We have trash and TWO recycle containers. Still, I'd like them to be a bit more organized than they are in this house. Not sure about the over-the-stove thing for a microwave. Husband is about 6'8" and I'm about 5'4".
      No kitchen is really going to work for both of us though. And honestly- he never cooks.

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    2. Danielle once said he wanted a kitchen that was raiseable - they make them! Brilliant idea but probably costs the earth.

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  4. I think you would like a sink in the island plus a regular sink. It makes prep so much easier, and the kiddos can wash their hands there instead of the big sink. We have a sink in the island that is close to the stove, does help with filling pots and pans...lucky you getting design your own kitchen.

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    1. Hmmm...
      Hadn't thought about that. Two sinks? Wow. Okay.

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    2. I thought the same thing. I think two sinks would be great for you!

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  5. 3 favorite things in my kichen:
    Big deep pull out drawers for lower cabinets, all my plates and bowls fit, you can see all your stuff and never have to reach up.
    Pull outs in the pantry so you can see and reach stuff.
    Corner cabinets with lazy Susans for pots and pans.
    On yesterday's post, mother's little help prevents that 19th nervous breakdown! Love from crazy south Florida!
    Xoxo
    Barbara

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    1. Yes. I love the corner lazy-susan cabinets. They are great. Pull out cabinets sound good too. So much I do not know.

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  6. deep drawers (instead of shelves) for pans is something I've heard is wonderful but don't have myself

    a trash can that you can open with your foot is nice - my grandparents have always had trash compactors. no one actually compacts it ever but it closes tight and can be opened by foot. my trash is out in the open which makes it easy to throw stuff in but you have to see/smell whatever's in there

    I like the two sink idea from Vicki

    I like my five burner stove but have never actually used more than 3 burners at one time.

    A walk-in pantry with not too deep shelves is a fantasy of mine :)

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    1. Definitely going to have a pantry. For sure. First one of my life. My trash can now is foot-operated in theory but mostly I just use my hand to open it.
      Yeah. Not sure I'd ever use a five- burner stove to its maximum usage.

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    2. Ok, I should have read the other comments first. And clearly I mean pantry, not larder :)

      I've seen a stove with a built in griddle for pancakes on the hob that was pretty cool.

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  7. This isn't necessarily kitchen design, but a whole-house vac is wonderful. As for the kitchen, get a little thing installed under the sink that opens up and sucks in all the stuff you used a broom for. And a pantry...with lots of shelves!

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    1. I HATE vacuums! I don't even own one now. Do I have to get one?
      Pantry. YES!

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  8. A pantry is heaven - pots and pans, appliances you don't use every day, and cans and boxes of food can stand out on shelves where they are SEEN rather than forgotten.

    Drawers or shelves that pull out are super for under counter storage.

    We were doing over the kitchen and a wily carpenter sized me up (I'm tall) and told me I needed counter tops higher than usual. I mentally thank him every day.

    Architects deal with "normal" and "average" not YOU - don't be afraid to overrule him/her.

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    1. Oh, not afraid to over-rule anyone. This will be my kitchen and as such, built for me. Thanks for reminding me! I just don't even know what I'd like best, having always just had such standard kitchens. You know? Built before Jesus was weaned?

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  9. We just got our kitchen redone from its 1940's splendour to present day. Here's what I love: drawers for your pots, drawers for your mixing bowls / baking requirements, a big drawer for all the utensils I used to have crammed into an upright container on the countertop (wooden spoons, spatulas, etc.), a microwave over the stove so you don't lose counter space, proper little racks and a pullout drawer specifically for spices, a double sink, a built-in floor to ceiling cupboard that is not terribly deep but it is where I hang my broom, dust pan, keep my potatoes in, cat food, etc. It makes it look like the fridge is built right in to the cabinetry. Oh, speaking of fridge, get one with the freezer on the bottom (the idea is that you are in the fridge part more often than you are in the freezer, so you don't have to bend over to get stuff out of the fridge) and I LOVE the water in the door feature, and the ice maker. I know it sounds stupid getting water out of the fridge door, but there is a little filter that the water goes through and it seems to taste so much better! It's also handy to have ice cubes at the ready for ice water, or white wine! Ahhh, too much information, I'm sure. (Can you tell I was ready for a new kitchen?) -Jenn

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    1. I already have a refrigerator with ice and water in the door. I do like that. And I've heard that the freezer on the bottom is much more energy efficient too. My daughter and her husband have the spices in a pull-out drawer thing. I'm not sure I'd like that. Maybe? Double sink a must. Have always had one of those. I like the cabinet/broom closet idea. THANKS!

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  10. The only thing I would dislike is not to have a window where I do the washing up (no dish-washer)... Even though my garden is more of a mess than my house, I just gaze at the sky.
    I live in social housing and when they fitted the new kitchens about 12 years ago, I had to choose from several samples which worktops/cupboard doors to have. I asked them could they please leave the samples and I would let them know in a few days ... No, they wanted an answer there and then. I was panic stricken :)
    Your previous post and comments made me feel so much better about not doing my cleaning again today.
    "Just taking things as they come may be the way to go"... I like that.

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    1. Yes. A window over the sink is so very, very important, I do believe. I don't have one now and I wish I did.
      I would have been in a panic too, if someone demanded that I make such decisions right then and there. Ugh!

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    2. Oh yep. Forgot that in my comment below - I have my sink in a corner with two windows. I love that.

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  11. My hubs won a microwave at work, weird I know, and so after years of him wanting one I let him bring it into the house. I have a tiny house (900ft) so the kitchen is small but he had to hide it somewhere! We ended up putting it under a counter, hiding it with a curtain. It's really hardly ever used.

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    1. Well, out of sight, out of mind?
      I use mine frequently but mostly for heating up leftovers, melting butter quickly, things like that.

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  12. Hmm. I can't say there's anything special about my kitchen that I adore, though I have a built in plate rack that I love. If I were designing it from scratch I would have the kind of selves that pull out from the unit so you can see everything and reach it. You know what I mean? http://im-3.eefa.co/rv-448-tp43-8-1-s3.jpg I would also like a larder. And a special baking cupboard. And a sofa and wee table for coffee and chats.

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    1. Larder, pantry, what's the difference? Yes. I like those pull out shelves a lot. A special baking cupboard would be nice, perhaps underneath the mixer? And I have ALWAYS wanted a sofa in the kitchen.

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    2. Sofa and table, or breakfast nook! My kitchen, still original CA bungalow style, has a breakfast nook with bench seats on either side, next to a south facing window and we have loved it for 30 years. Great place for kids to snack or help while you cook. The top is covered with linoleum which makes a great surface to roll out cookies, knead bread, etc, and the height is lower than the counter height, so better leverage for all that.

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  13. although I do not have deep pull-out drawers for pans and such, they would be wonderful to have! A window over the sink is a must, and I *do* like the 2 sink idea. The most important thing to me would be a very nice, long, unbroken counter space. Love the pantry idea too! I bet it is mind boggling to try to think of these things for your new kitchen!
    Susan M

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    1. I am completely overwhelmed. Completely. I...just...can't. God.

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  14. I have no suggestions for kitchen design. the only thing I have ever wanted is an eat-in kitchen and neither the city house nor the country house had/has one.

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    1. Well, the "dining area" is going to be just beyond the kitchen and there won't be a wall so it's sort of eat-in, I guess. But I hear you.

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  15. Ooooo, we should go to some kitchen stores and have some look-arounds for some ideas. Maybe even go to Ikea. I think we will have some fun with this house.
    What I love about our kitchen is all the drawers. I wish we had enough room to hang our pots and pans, but we don't. We used to hang our most-used pans on the wall in front of our stove in Asheville, and I really liked that. So convenient.
    I really love our stove (griddle in the middle) and I don't like our stupid refrigerator because of the ice and water always miss the cup. It's a terrible design. But I do like the side by side doors.
    Well, we can talk more about this later.
    I'm glad to hear that Papa started cleaning out his garage. Sorry he cut his hand.
    Love you!!

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    1. Oh god. Ikea would kill me. But yes, we need to go look at stuff. You'll be home in a week! A WEEK! I've had griddles in the middle of my stove before and I never really used them, Jessie. How many pancakes do y'all eat?
      I do love the idea of hanging pots and pans. How to incorporate all of this?
      And by the way- Daddy did a great job on the garage. Unfortunately, besides cutting his hand, he also broke at least one toe. His foot is relatively black. Or, purple to be more exact.
      Sigh.

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    2. No way, we used the griddle at the Short Street house at least once per week. Bacon, pancakes, whatever - I feel like we used it all the time.

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  16. I think a pot filler behind a range is a nice work saver, especially as you get older and things like that get so heavy. Work triangle is really important-as is convenience of drawers to appliances. I have drawers for everything and love them. I especially like those with a sunken in spoon holder so they don't sit out in the counter! Outlets in the cabinets so you can tuck appliances there. And hinges! We have the ones that allow the door to come off easily for repainting/etc-they are expensive, but seem to last and are sturdy. One more thing-I have a huge sink-not a double that's divided, but one the size of about 3 sinks-farmhouse style. I love it more than anything-whatever I need to wash, it fits.

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    1. I had to look up pot filler! I had no idea!
      Yes. Lots of outlets. Hadn't thought about hinges at all.
      So let me ask you this- if you only have one sink, although it's large, where do you drain the dishes you wash by hand?

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    2. On the side. It's very small -enough to hold a few Dutch ovens. I wonder if draining dishes that are hand washed in the other side of the sink is a FL thing? I am in TX, and I've never known anyone to do that. I have a dishwasher, which is about to be upgraded to a Bosch, but I love washing by hand-I just have a little mat and go to town. My kitchen is wild-red cabinets, some granite (not worth the $, it chips!!) and a cool, almost commercial style stainless custom counter. When we moved here, I thought I hated the stainless-but I love it. No trivets, no worries, clean it up, buff it out. The granite, I feel like I have to baby it. I am really short, and cook 3 meals a day with heavy things (Dutch ovens, usually-hence my pot filler suggestion), and I took a few chunks out of the granite on the side of the bar.

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  17. I know you hate vacuums, but I'm telling you, I have a central vac and the biggest use of it is when I sweep the floor (main floor is all hardwood, not great in a kitchen!) I open the chute under the sink on the island and it sucks it all up. No dustpan required. The grandies call it my magic vacuum. Best invention!
    If you go with dark cabinets or a dark countertop, give yourself the gift of under cabinet lighting. Deep pull out drawers for pots and pans are a gift too. I have my dream kitchen more or less, I just wish my cabinets were cream colored instead of dark. I love a bright kitchen!

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  18. My kitchen favorites are my bottom cupboards which all have roll out shelves, the outlet on the end of the island so I can have my toaster on a roll out shelf and plug it in when I need it but roll it back in when I don't, under cabinet lighting. And my cleaning lady :)

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  19. Omg! So many of us are on the same page re kitchens. Must haves : a big pantry. A window over the sink is another . A lot of us spend heaps of time in the kitchen . I also love island benches with stools at the end . So you can cook and feed kids and people directly as they sit at the end of the bench . Another informal eating spot . I also work from home for 60% of my work and I sit my laptop on the island bench and work there as we have a combined kitchen, living and dining area that opens onto a large back deck. I also have multiple power points on the island bench for appliances and chargers . That works for me . I can cook and have the tv on as well and watch it.

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  20. MY mom and dad built almost every house we lived in. I learned a few things along the way.

    My mom was 5'2 so had her counters and cupboards 1 inch shorter than standard counter. I realize Mr. Moon is super tall so maybe this would be a bad idea but he has to stoop anyway but 1 inch shorter for a short person is a huge difference.

    I had a stainless steel fridge and do have granite counters in my bathroom. I hate them. Both look filthy all the time. Go with white or black.

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  21. This isn't a kitchen suggestion but it is about washing dirt off vegetables: are you having a mudroom or a laundry room in your new house? If it will have easy access to your garden you could install a very deep sink-- great for washing off the veg, muddy boots, small boys and all sorts.

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  22. Honey, a dishwasher is the best invention in the entire universe except for my cuisinart. I'm also angling for a kitchenaid but they're expensive. Let's see how much my kids love me... Lots of counters, a magnetic strip for knives and take a look at Julia Child's kitchen. Peg board to hang all your pots and pans and gadgets!!! I found metal ones on Amazon and they come in all colors.

    I LOVE my new kitchen. And you, of course.

    ~B

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  23. I have done three kitchens in the last 15 years, and all of them have these features which I can't live without: Two sinks, both stainless steel, one a large basin sink close to the dish washer to collect dirty dishes until you are ready to rinse and load the dishwasher; the second one divided in two sections, with one section being desiginated for a strainer, the other for just washing hands and foods. I hand wash my pottery and older dishes and air dry them in the strainer part. Both sinks have disposals. Each sink has a trash can underneath.
    I like the faucets to have a pullout spray handle. Also, a dish soap dispenser pump next to the faucet.
    I have a gas stove top. Underneath I have spice drawers which are deep enough to to handle all my large spice jars. Under that drawer, I have two pull out drawers for my pots. I put the lids to those pots in another deep, smaller drawer designated for the lids alone.
    I have a designated deep drawer for "tupperware", and another for the lids. BTW, this is the hardest part of my kitchen. The fucking "tupperware" issue. HATE IT.
    I have a drawer for incense, matches, small candles, essential oils.
    Oh, also, a magnetic strip for knives and scissors which can be mounted anywhere.
    We also have two pull out fridge drawers, which cost more than our fridge, but are so worth it because we juice everyday, and need a place to put our fresh veggies solely for juicing. Speaking of fridges, I vote for the freezer on the bottom, with a single door, not a double opening door on top.
    And, if you can't have a window over your primary sink, put a mirror there. I have never had a kitchen without a mirror over the sink.
    I have two stacked electric convection ovens. They are so efficient and perfect when all the kids and grandkids come over. They cut the cooking times down and are not so different than conventional ovens, just quicker.
    I have a tiny microwave that fits under the smallest cupboard, just big enough to melt butter or warm up leftovers.
    All my cupboards above the counters are open shelves, without doors. All else have doors and drawers. It gives my kitchen a more open look.
    I will email you pictures, because I keep thinking about more I can tell you and don't have the words. It's the small things that will make your life heaven. Kathleen Kelly

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  24. People are leaving great ideas in their comments. I think a window over the kitchen sink is important. We like our two sinks in one unit stainless steel sinks. You will never chip or damage them and they look nice.

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  25. The two things that I love about my kitchen is the big pull out larder cupboard, a very small front and lots of deep storage all the way up high to pull out, a bit like this one:
    http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2703512/pull-out-pantry-vs-individual-slide-out

    and the window above the work area. I know kitchen islands are super but I just love looking out into the garden when I chop and knead and I also love looking in from outside watching someone else doing the stuff.

    The other thing I want to do - due to age - is to move dishwasher and oven above the counter so that I don't have to bend down etc. so much. I can think of a million things that can get shoved below the counter instead.

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  26. The only things I can think of to tell you are the things that save me a lot of work.

    Dishwasher. But you already know that.

    Make the upper cupboards go all the way to the ceiling, or if they don't, then wall off the area above the cupboards all the way to the ceiling (called the bulkhead). I know some people like to put stuff on display on top of their cupboards but it's such a dust and grease collecting area. If you build a bulkhead you don't have the horizontal surface to clean - ever.

    If you are using vinyl/cushion flooring, get a pattern that is light so it brightens the room but has some pattern so it won't show every speck of dirt.

    Other than that, I just add my vote to the many already cast for a window over the sink, a double stainless steel sink, a pantry, and the small work triangle. My work triangle is extremely big and my already short legs are getting shorter by the day :)

    Good luck, Mary. If I may offer one last piece of advice - go simple. There is less to learn, less to break down, less to clutter up your life. It might reduce your stress a bit.

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  27. Lots of great ideas here. My best suggestion, apart from drawers instead of cupboards for pots and pans and Tupperware, is watch the Property Brothers on HGTV. They do kitchens I drool over.

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  28. I don't have any kitchen ideas, I must admit. I am not a kitchen person. Dave might have some, though, in which case I'll e-mail you!

    I'm glad you found out where those crazy chickens were laying! I remember you writing ages ago that you knew they had a secret egg stash somewhere. (They probably have more!)

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.