My Spring Cleaning is coming along nicely. My unplugging from Facebook and Fox News has left me lots of extra time to get things done!
Last week I was perusing Pinterest when I saw a Doris Day photo with the movie title Pillow Talk that struck a memory that someone had mentioned that movie to me before. I sent a text to the friend that I thought had mentioned it and, sure enough, it was her. We started chatting a little because we rarely get to see each other anymore (we used to work together as well as go to church together but we've since moved on). Anyway, she suggested we should get together, which we've tried numerous times over the past year or so and never seem to get it to work out. I told her I would be free on Thursday (yesterday) and she said she thought that would work for her.
Fast forward to yesterday I hadn't heard from her again so just assumed lunch wouldn't work out this day either. Much to my surprise as I was heading home from Kroger at 9:00 am I got a call and B asked if I was still free for today. Of course I told her yes! I was so excited to see my dear friend! We haven't seen each other in so long. So many things to catch up on, so many things to talk about! One lunch wouldn't be enough but I'd take it!
I got home and looked around the house and much to my surprise and delight my finding better use of Facebook time had really paid off! The house was in good shape so I didn't have to fly through like a maniac spending the next several hours trying to get the house presentable for a guest. Instead, I was able to try two new recipes from Pinterest! Yay!
I ended up making Raspberry Cheesecake cookies and a salad made with chickpeas, tomato, cucumber, peppers, and onion with a cilantro lime vinaigrette. They were both delicious!
We spent the next several hours catching up with each other's lives and it was wonderful!
If I have any praying readers I would like to ask you to pray for B's son. He's 25 and grew up with my children and is such a sweet boy (man ;) ) and he has Lymphoma. He is married and has 3 precious boys. He's been fighting this for over a year now and I'm not sure what the long term prognosis is because I can't bring myself to ask, but I don't know that it's good. We comfort ourselves with the knowledge that only God knows the day and the hour He'll call us home and it could be today for any of us!
Today I plan to move along with my cleaning and I've actually added some things to my list. In addition to the added little things there's also daily cooking, dishes, and laundry that need to be done. There are so many things to fill a homemaker's day. I just don't understand the "what do you do all day?" questions from people when they find out I am a homemaker. But, I suppose that's a post for another day. ;-)
Friday, March 8, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Spring Cleaning
By nature I am a list maker. I enjoy making a list and I get a sense of complete satisfaction when I'm able to cross something off my list. If I can "see" my work completed on paper then I feel more satisfied than just knowing it's done. Sometimes a homemaker has those jobs that no one will notice but her. You know the ones, dusting the ceiling fan and wiping the window sills. That's why I enjoy a list and marking off each completed item. It also helps my family to see what I've been doing. Nana hasn't been sitting around eating bon-bons all day. ;-)
I thought I'd share my list here. Some of the things are pretty self explanatory but others may not make sense if you've never been in my home. And, because I'll be working on these tasks as I have time I also broke them down into smaller increments so I can mark them off as I complete them. For example I broke down cleaning windows into each room. That way if I only have time to do one room I can go ahead and mark it off. It also helps me keep track of what's been done and what hasn't. I don't have to try to remember if I cleaned all the windows or just a few.
I don't think my list is complete. I'm sure as I walk through the house I'll see more things that need doing. And, this is only the upstairs main living area. We also have a finished basement that has a large family room and two additional rooms. I haven't included those on the list. Also, the list isn't in any particular order. I may have a kitchen item, a living room item, and then another kitchen item as I was jotting things down as I walked through our home and as things came to mind that I know need doing.
Here goes for anyone who's interested!
- Dust ceiling fans
- Dust all pictures
- Wash light globes
- Lemon oil desk
- Wash all dishes on dining room corner shelf
- Clean/lemon oil corner shelf
- Lemon oil mirror/shelf in foyer
- Clean off book shelf in sun room
- Wash sun room ledge
- Wash sun room windows
- Clean tops of door frames/knock down cobwebs if any
- Swiffer and polish all wood floors (under furniture)
- Clean out spice and organize cabinet
- Clean out and organize lazy Susan cabinet
- Clean out and organize baking dish cabinet
- Vacuum couch cushions
- Vacuum love seat cushions
- Clean refrigerator
- Clean pantry
- Clean out and organize laundry room
- Clean washing machine
- Clean dryer
- Clean toaster oven
- Clean microwave
- Wash kitchen windows
- Lemon oil sills
- Wash Bedroom windows
- Lemon oil sills
- Clean living room French doors/ wash windows
- Wash screen door windows
- Lemon oil baseboards
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
One Step Closer
Well, I did it! I deleted my Facebook account. Actually, I deactivated it. I will probably go back at some point because I do like to stay connected to friends and family but for now I already feel a sense of relief! I think the thing I'm having the most separation anxiety about are the photo's I have on there. I think at some point I will either put them on my laptop or maybe go to CVS where I can print them off. Many of the pictures are mobile uploads and are not on any camera or computer and not even my current phone since I've recently gotten a new one.
I went out to breakfast with my Mom this morning and we decided to run into the dreaded Walmart while we were out. I picked up a bottle of lemon oil and I can't wait to lemon oil all of my furniture and cabinets. It's going to smell so good in here! There's just something about a clean smell that makes you feel happy and content. I really love for my house to be clean and I love it even more when it smells good! If you haven't tried lemon oil you really need to give it a shot. It gives the furniture the most beautiful sheen and actually repels dust. And, of course, it has a lovely smell.
Maybe I'll get into the kitchen and bake something before my husband comes home. A clean lemony fresh home and something baking in the oven just scream LOVE! He really enjoys having homemade bread. Unfortunately, our waist lines don't enjoy it as much. Although, I'm hoping as I get closer to my goals of being less electronically connected and more connected to my home I'll burn more calories!
Speaking of baking I've planned my Sunday Dinner menu. As I was thinking about it last night it occurred to me that my oldest daughter has a birthday coming up so I decided to make this Sunday's meal a birthday dinner for her. I asked her last night what she would like to have and she said Cornbread Casserole and This Strawberry Cake by Ms. Paula Deen. The cornbread casserole is basically a soup based chicken casserole with a cornbread topping instead of the usual crackers, chips, bread crumbs, etc. that are normally used. I'll also make a green salad and maybe some roasted asparagus or roasted carrots to go along side. It's going to be lovely!
I hear lemon oil calling my name so I better strike while the iron is hot!
I went out to breakfast with my Mom this morning and we decided to run into the dreaded Walmart while we were out. I picked up a bottle of lemon oil and I can't wait to lemon oil all of my furniture and cabinets. It's going to smell so good in here! There's just something about a clean smell that makes you feel happy and content. I really love for my house to be clean and I love it even more when it smells good! If you haven't tried lemon oil you really need to give it a shot. It gives the furniture the most beautiful sheen and actually repels dust. And, of course, it has a lovely smell.
Maybe I'll get into the kitchen and bake something before my husband comes home. A clean lemony fresh home and something baking in the oven just scream LOVE! He really enjoys having homemade bread. Unfortunately, our waist lines don't enjoy it as much. Although, I'm hoping as I get closer to my goals of being less electronically connected and more connected to my home I'll burn more calories!
Speaking of baking I've planned my Sunday Dinner menu. As I was thinking about it last night it occurred to me that my oldest daughter has a birthday coming up so I decided to make this Sunday's meal a birthday dinner for her. I asked her last night what she would like to have and she said Cornbread Casserole and This Strawberry Cake by Ms. Paula Deen. The cornbread casserole is basically a soup based chicken casserole with a cornbread topping instead of the usual crackers, chips, bread crumbs, etc. that are normally used. I'll also make a green salad and maybe some roasted asparagus or roasted carrots to go along side. It's going to be lovely!
I hear lemon oil calling my name so I better strike while the iron is hot!
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Grandma's Sunday Dinner
I didn't grow up in a home where we had "Sunday Dinner". My mom worked, my parents didn't go to church (not that that's a requirement for an old fashioned Sunday dinner), and Sundays were a day to watch TV and get ready for Monday. We didn't have family close by and even if we had I don't imagine any of my relatives had Sunday dinner either. Sundays were a day for something quick like burgers or sandwiches so mom could finish laundry and rest for Monday.
I used to be under the illusion that in order to have a grand Sunday dinner one needed a grand home, grand furnishings, and yes, grand food! Not having grown up with a traditional Sunday dinner I only knew what I saw on TV. You know the shows. Everyone gathered around a 20 person dining table eating perfectly cooked pot roast and potatoes. A beautiful crystal butter dish would hold the butter that was spread on golden delicious rolls that would be passed ever so gracefully around the table.
I have a friend whose mom cooks Sunday dinner every week for the entire family. Children, grandchildren, and any friends who may stop by. Do they live in a big house? NO! Do they have a large dining table? NO! My daughter's best friend is the granddaughter to the "Sunday Dinner Cook" and she's had the privilege of sitting around their table.
It's a regular table (seats 6 or 8, maybe?) that has seated as many as 15 or 20 people all crowded in on lawn chairs, stools, even boxes if necessary! Sally puts on a wonderful pot roast. I've never had the honor of eating her pot roast, but I do know it's delicious because once my daughter told me how wonderful it was I asked Sally for the recipe! She makes several sides of mashed potatoes, green beans, creamed corn, rolls and even chicken crunch. It gets topped off with banana pudding and cake! I mentioned that I didn't think a chicken casserole was a "side" and K said, "It is if you're serving 20 people!" Ha ha! I suppose she's right!
The thing I especially enjoy hearing about is not the food (although, I have to admit it sounds divine!) but the fact that an entire family gathers together every. single. week. and sits around a table and fellowships together. Now, these are my friends and I know them all very well so I can imagine the fun and laughter that goes on around that table!
Why don't I have my own Sunday dinner? I'm glad you asked! Actually, we do have one occasionally but it seems I just can't get a firm hold on having it every week. My son in law is a police officer and works every other Sunday. And, even my own husband, who owns his own business is occasionally called away on Sunday. Maybe I should just plan it anyway and even if there are only 2 or 3 of us we'll still do it.
A terrible habit I've fallen into as my nest empties is thinking that if the entire family isn't here than it's not worth cooking. What kind of message is that sending to those who are present? Am I making them believe their presence isn't as valuable? Sort of like the makeup I mentioned yesterday. We'll spend hours dressing up for strangers but not our own families? Why will I cook for all but not a few?
So, that leads me right to the first thing I think I'll work on. Planning and then implementing a good old fashioned Sunday dinner. Every week for one or 10!
I have a friend whose mom cooks Sunday dinner every week for the entire family. Children, grandchildren, and any friends who may stop by. Do they live in a big house? NO! Do they have a large dining table? NO! My daughter's best friend is the granddaughter to the "Sunday Dinner Cook" and she's had the privilege of sitting around their table.
It's a regular table (seats 6 or 8, maybe?) that has seated as many as 15 or 20 people all crowded in on lawn chairs, stools, even boxes if necessary! Sally puts on a wonderful pot roast. I've never had the honor of eating her pot roast, but I do know it's delicious because once my daughter told me how wonderful it was I asked Sally for the recipe! She makes several sides of mashed potatoes, green beans, creamed corn, rolls and even chicken crunch. It gets topped off with banana pudding and cake! I mentioned that I didn't think a chicken casserole was a "side" and K said, "It is if you're serving 20 people!" Ha ha! I suppose she's right!
The thing I especially enjoy hearing about is not the food (although, I have to admit it sounds divine!) but the fact that an entire family gathers together every. single. week. and sits around a table and fellowships together. Now, these are my friends and I know them all very well so I can imagine the fun and laughter that goes on around that table!
Why don't I have my own Sunday dinner? I'm glad you asked! Actually, we do have one occasionally but it seems I just can't get a firm hold on having it every week. My son in law is a police officer and works every other Sunday. And, even my own husband, who owns his own business is occasionally called away on Sunday. Maybe I should just plan it anyway and even if there are only 2 or 3 of us we'll still do it.
A terrible habit I've fallen into as my nest empties is thinking that if the entire family isn't here than it's not worth cooking. What kind of message is that sending to those who are present? Am I making them believe their presence isn't as valuable? Sort of like the makeup I mentioned yesterday. We'll spend hours dressing up for strangers but not our own families? Why will I cook for all but not a few?
So, that leads me right to the first thing I think I'll work on. Planning and then implementing a good old fashioned Sunday dinner. Every week for one or 10!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Hair and makeup and earrings! Oh my!
There is something to be said for getting up early, getting dressed, putting on makeup and doing your hair. I always dress first thing having never been one to lounge around in my gown all day, but doing hair and makeup is something else altogether. I figure I'm not going out anyway so what difference does it make? And, makeup is expensive. Do I want to wear it while sitting around the house all day? So recently I've decided the answer to that question is YES! Why not fix up to be home all day? Wouldn't my husband appreciate not looking at someone who is unkempt? Why is it that we ladies tend to pull out all the stops to get ready for church or a dinner engagement with friends but we slob around the house all day giving our poor families our very worst?
So this morning first thing I went straight into the bathroom and got dressed and put on makeup. Unfortunately, I don't have the kind of hair that can be easily managed straight out of bed so I wet my hair, brushed it out and continued on with my morning while it dried. Later I went back and ran the curling iron over it a little and I was ready for the day! I'm even wearing the Sabika earrings my daughter gave me!
I also started this morning off with Devotions which I've been neglecting lately. Laine over at Laine's Letters teaches a lot about getting up early and starting the day off with the Lord. I couldn't agree more. It just sets the tone for the day and usually He shows me something in His Word that speaks to my heart. I've been terribly slack concerning this area lately.
I am usually an early riser since I keep my grandchildren a few days a week, but I can while away time in the morning like nobodies business! Fox News, feeding the dogs and cat, getting coffee, The Weather Channel, maybe catch an episode of I Love Lucy while I sip coffee and before you know it it's 10:00 am! I've been pondering lately about the time wasters in my life. Oh, I can't possibly get all of those things finished in a day! In recent years I've found myself lacking in the areas I used to excel in. Technology has brought along way too many time wasters.
When I was raising my children I didn't have a cell phone or a computer. Oh computers were around but one only had them if they were rich and they were just becoming popular in the business world. And, cell phones? Forget about it! Only rich people had cell phones! We didn't even have cable for many years! Not because we couldn't afford it but because it wasn't even available in our rural area. So, while my children were young I did the things most housewives did. I washed laundry, dishes (yep no dishwasher), and dirty faces. My children played with play dough and crayons and built dirt roads under the pine trees in the backyard. Those were the days! The days I'm hoping to recapture. Not because cell phones and computers are bad but because cell phones, computers and cable TV can suck hours and hours out of my day. Hours that we never get back. Think about that. The hours spent on a computer, texting on a cell phone, or watching TV are spiraling out into the vortex that claims our time and we will never get that time back. It really puts all those hours spent on Pinterest into perspective.
Don't get me wrong. Computers certainly have a place in a homemakers life. I have found some of my family's favorite recipes on the Internet. I've come up with inspiration for decorating our home. And as far as cable goes, my family has never been happier since I discovered, and fell in love with, Paula Deen! I just need to get these things in their proper place. A tool to be brought out and used occasionally. Not a monster looming in the corner. Bulging it's eyes out at me calling me over. Just one minute. It'll be OK. Really. Just pick me up for one little minute. You can put me right back. And, so, I get sucked into the vortex and emerge hours later and worse for the wear, too! Guilt ensues causing me all manner of distress. Why??? Why did I fall for it again? I was only going to do it for a minute and now it's 2:00 pm and I'll have to really pick up the pace if I want D to see that I've accomplished anything today!
That's where this blog comes in. I hope to write about my daily adventures in homemaking instead of my daily adventures of sitting on the computer reading about someone elses homemaking day. As a matter of fact, yesterday I tried my hand at homemade cheese crackers! They were a success as D took a big baggie full in his lunch today. :)
Tomorrow more "meat" of my days! I hope you'll join me in adding more meat to your day and then maybe starting a blog of your own, or commenting here, and sharing what you've accomplished throughout the day. How was that new recipe? Did that cleaning product work as well as you'd hoped? Was your family surprised when you put on makeup and earrings this morning? Do tell!
So this morning first thing I went straight into the bathroom and got dressed and put on makeup. Unfortunately, I don't have the kind of hair that can be easily managed straight out of bed so I wet my hair, brushed it out and continued on with my morning while it dried. Later I went back and ran the curling iron over it a little and I was ready for the day! I'm even wearing the Sabika earrings my daughter gave me!
I also started this morning off with Devotions which I've been neglecting lately. Laine over at Laine's Letters teaches a lot about getting up early and starting the day off with the Lord. I couldn't agree more. It just sets the tone for the day and usually He shows me something in His Word that speaks to my heart. I've been terribly slack concerning this area lately.
I am usually an early riser since I keep my grandchildren a few days a week, but I can while away time in the morning like nobodies business! Fox News, feeding the dogs and cat, getting coffee, The Weather Channel, maybe catch an episode of I Love Lucy while I sip coffee and before you know it it's 10:00 am! I've been pondering lately about the time wasters in my life. Oh, I can't possibly get all of those things finished in a day! In recent years I've found myself lacking in the areas I used to excel in. Technology has brought along way too many time wasters.
When I was raising my children I didn't have a cell phone or a computer. Oh computers were around but one only had them if they were rich and they were just becoming popular in the business world. And, cell phones? Forget about it! Only rich people had cell phones! We didn't even have cable for many years! Not because we couldn't afford it but because it wasn't even available in our rural area. So, while my children were young I did the things most housewives did. I washed laundry, dishes (yep no dishwasher), and dirty faces. My children played with play dough and crayons and built dirt roads under the pine trees in the backyard. Those were the days! The days I'm hoping to recapture. Not because cell phones and computers are bad but because cell phones, computers and cable TV can suck hours and hours out of my day. Hours that we never get back. Think about that. The hours spent on a computer, texting on a cell phone, or watching TV are spiraling out into the vortex that claims our time and we will never get that time back. It really puts all those hours spent on Pinterest into perspective.
Don't get me wrong. Computers certainly have a place in a homemakers life. I have found some of my family's favorite recipes on the Internet. I've come up with inspiration for decorating our home. And as far as cable goes, my family has never been happier since I discovered, and fell in love with, Paula Deen! I just need to get these things in their proper place. A tool to be brought out and used occasionally. Not a monster looming in the corner. Bulging it's eyes out at me calling me over. Just one minute. It'll be OK. Really. Just pick me up for one little minute. You can put me right back. And, so, I get sucked into the vortex and emerge hours later and worse for the wear, too! Guilt ensues causing me all manner of distress. Why??? Why did I fall for it again? I was only going to do it for a minute and now it's 2:00 pm and I'll have to really pick up the pace if I want D to see that I've accomplished anything today!
That's where this blog comes in. I hope to write about my daily adventures in homemaking instead of my daily adventures of sitting on the computer reading about someone elses homemaking day. As a matter of fact, yesterday I tried my hand at homemade cheese crackers! They were a success as D took a big baggie full in his lunch today. :)
Tomorrow more "meat" of my days! I hope you'll join me in adding more meat to your day and then maybe starting a blog of your own, or commenting here, and sharing what you've accomplished throughout the day. How was that new recipe? Did that cleaning product work as well as you'd hoped? Was your family surprised when you put on makeup and earrings this morning? Do tell!
The Beginning of a Journey
I'm so very excited to be starting my own blog. I am not a writer by nature so this blog won't be filled with grand writings, but rather a diary of things I hope to accomplish in my homemaking.
I am not new to homemaking. No, not at all. I'm a wife, mother of two grown daughters, mother in law to one (so far), and grandmother to two of the most gorgeous grandchildren ever! If I do say so myself. So, homemaking is something I've been doing for quite a few years.
I love things of old. As a matter of fact, my all time favorite blog, The Apron Revolution, is about a lady who started in 2009 living as a 1950's housewife. She truly encompasses the 50's housewife and brings her to life. I love it! I also love the Amish. I am not an Amish wannabe, I could never live without electricity. And let's be honest, makeup and curling irons, but I love the Amish simplicity. I love that they get up in the morning and they work and live. They aren't glued to TVs, computers, and cell phones all day. (Although, while visiting Holmes County I did see an Amish man with blue tooth! True story!) I think my fascination with yesteryear isn't that I don't enjoy the modern world more than I want to step back to real living. Not virtual living. I think of the commercial where the girl is speaking of her parents not living, all the while they're out on some adventure, and she's on Facebook. "I have 600 friends on Facebook. Now this is living." And even though that is supposed to be funny, it has become sadly true of so many, including myself. Yes, I'm a Nana on Facebook.
Throughout the day I find myself wanting to check my Facebook over and over. I'll make the bed then get on Facebook and see what's happening. I'll start the laundry then see if anyone updated their status. It's sad, really.
One of the things I hope to accomplish through this blog is to hold myself accountable and document my progress for how I'm going to take my life back to real living. No more watching Little House on the Prairie episodes and wishing I could be Ma. No more watching I Love Lucy and drooling over crinoline and pearls. I'm going to live those dreams of mine instead of watching them and wishing!
Donna over at The Apron Revolution shared a post on scheduling. She mentions a NEEDS list and a WISH list. It's a very detailed post and I learned so much from it and I plan to implement something similar. I think it would help so much with losing many hours in my day to frivolous TV watching and endless texting and computer time. I may be a Nana, but I can keep up with the electronic savvy youth of our day! Although, I'm not so sure that's something to brag about!
So, while I ponder how I shall begin I hope I pick up a few readers along the way who will encourage me and maybe even learn a thing or two from this Wife, Mom, and Nana.
I am not new to homemaking. No, not at all. I'm a wife, mother of two grown daughters, mother in law to one (so far), and grandmother to two of the most gorgeous grandchildren ever! If I do say so myself. So, homemaking is something I've been doing for quite a few years.
I love things of old. As a matter of fact, my all time favorite blog, The Apron Revolution, is about a lady who started in 2009 living as a 1950's housewife. She truly encompasses the 50's housewife and brings her to life. I love it! I also love the Amish. I am not an Amish wannabe, I could never live without electricity. And let's be honest, makeup and curling irons, but I love the Amish simplicity. I love that they get up in the morning and they work and live. They aren't glued to TVs, computers, and cell phones all day. (Although, while visiting Holmes County I did see an Amish man with blue tooth! True story!) I think my fascination with yesteryear isn't that I don't enjoy the modern world more than I want to step back to real living. Not virtual living. I think of the commercial where the girl is speaking of her parents not living, all the while they're out on some adventure, and she's on Facebook. "I have 600 friends on Facebook. Now this is living." And even though that is supposed to be funny, it has become sadly true of so many, including myself. Yes, I'm a Nana on Facebook.
Throughout the day I find myself wanting to check my Facebook over and over. I'll make the bed then get on Facebook and see what's happening. I'll start the laundry then see if anyone updated their status. It's sad, really.
One of the things I hope to accomplish through this blog is to hold myself accountable and document my progress for how I'm going to take my life back to real living. No more watching Little House on the Prairie episodes and wishing I could be Ma. No more watching I Love Lucy and drooling over crinoline and pearls. I'm going to live those dreams of mine instead of watching them and wishing!
Donna over at The Apron Revolution shared a post on scheduling. She mentions a NEEDS list and a WISH list. It's a very detailed post and I learned so much from it and I plan to implement something similar. I think it would help so much with losing many hours in my day to frivolous TV watching and endless texting and computer time. I may be a Nana, but I can keep up with the electronic savvy youth of our day! Although, I'm not so sure that's something to brag about!
So, while I ponder how I shall begin I hope I pick up a few readers along the way who will encourage me and maybe even learn a thing or two from this Wife, Mom, and Nana.
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