One of the things I'm learning to do in order to achieve my goals is not to get ahead of myself. It's very difficult to cook more, and perhaps even experiment with fancier dishes, when the kitchen is not completely organized. I'm still trying to find room for things; a buffet would be great, but it's not in the budget so I need to work with what we have. In the meantime, I shouldn't feel badly when the best I can do is just getting a dinner on the table for my family.
I also need to pace myself better with regards to sewing. I often look at the project as a whole and get overwhelmed, instead of breaking up into tasks. Maybe one day to find the fabric (because a lot of it is still in boxes.) One day to trace the pattern and cut it out (if it's a big project.) Then get the pieces cut out. Then the sewing. One of the hot ideas in accomplishing goals (at least looking at the Android apps) is simply taking, say, 25 minutes to work on something. That way, you've made progress, but the task doesn't bog you down.
I'll admit it's difficult not to be impatient to get a project done. Especially when there's a deadline you've created for yourself. For example, I really wanted to get the living room cleaned up more before the Musician's birthday party, and before Christmas. We have no attic and no basement in our current abode, so there are lots of boxes with no place to go. However, there was enough room for the Musician's friends to enjoy her party, and enough room for the Christmas tree to go up, and for the family to sit around it. No use beating myself up over it not being better.
Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Saturday, September 24, 2011
How the Other Half Lives
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week, I spent a lot of time away from home because of various responsibilities. I wasn't a working mom, but I did feel a lot like it--the extra stress, not being home to do chores or cook meals, less sleep. We did eat out and eat take-out. When no one is home to cook, you have to eat somehow. The dishes we did use at home piled up. By the end of Thursday night, I couldn't think straight. I missed casual times of talking with the girls. I even missed running the dishwasher! I don't think juggling a 40-hour work week would be for me.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Baking Bonanza
The Dancer is in the mood to bake. Yesterday it was cupcakes, and blueberry muffins made from scratch, using some of the blueberries from our picking expedition in July. Today it's crescent rolls and Pillsbury ready-to-bake cookies. She's also making glaze for the Italian biscuit cookies that were made earlier. The Dancer can work the calories off with all of her dancing. What will I do? :)
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Cooking... Or Not
Yesterday we went out to eat with friends for lunch. For dinner, my daughters made homemade pizza (with pre-made dough.) Today, there was a luncheon at church in honor of our new confirmands. Tonight, I browned the meat and my youngest daughter is making the pasta for our meaty pasta dinner. You can't beat that!
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Winter Blues
I really wanted to go ice skating today, as I need to get out of the house badly. However, somehow my ice skates got lost when we moved, so I can't. I'm going to go insane.
I don't know that I've ever got "cabin fever" before, but this winter I seem to have it in spades. I'm bored with everything, including working on my pay-it-forward contest gift for Charity. Not to mention something for Debbie. I *am* working on the Italian wedding soup we're taking for the Lenten supper at church tomorrow, but as that currently involves boiling chicken in a giant pot, it's not very exciting.
What do you do when you feel cooped up and bored with life?
I don't know that I've ever got "cabin fever" before, but this winter I seem to have it in spades. I'm bored with everything, including working on my pay-it-forward contest gift for Charity. Not to mention something for Debbie. I *am* working on the Italian wedding soup we're taking for the Lenten supper at church tomorrow, but as that currently involves boiling chicken in a giant pot, it's not very exciting.
What do you do when you feel cooped up and bored with life?
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
House and Home
Since what we're doing is mainly school-related lately, I'm going to share this picture of an ancient Israelite house the girls have been working on as part of our study of ancient history. The floor is sandpaper, to simulate dirt, and it contains an oven, two bowls, an oil lamp, and a grinding set. My husband's former college roommate, who has his PhD in Old Testament studies, and who has been on an archeological dig in Israel, approved of our design. :)
We're using this book right now. Overall, I like it, even though it is written from a secular viewpoint. The author's unwillingness to believe that Baal worshipers of the time committed some horrific acts, even though it was documented not only by the Israelites, but also by the Greeks and Romans, is interesting.
It's sweet that even though we spend so much time together, family dinner is still important enough to Wildchild that she cleared the table off so we could have it. To put this in context, Wildchild usually needs to be told (and told) to do household chores, so for her to put in the effort to clear the table says something. The girls both pitched in with making the meal tonight, too. I like that they have an interest in cooking, and the time to pursue it.
I've been good about walking, and fairly good about eating, although we've made a couple of batches of chocolate chip cookies this past week. But I haven't been a pig with them, and at least homemade are better for you, right? :) I also can't give up the carbs like Kate has been able to. For example, the delicious beef stew I made tonight contained not only tender beef, but also potatoes and corn. And of course a dinner roll or two with the stew really tasted good! Right now, I'm trying moderation in my meals, and exercise. We'll see how it goes.
We're using this book right now. Overall, I like it, even though it is written from a secular viewpoint. The author's unwillingness to believe that Baal worshipers of the time committed some horrific acts, even though it was documented not only by the Israelites, but also by the Greeks and Romans, is interesting.
It's sweet that even though we spend so much time together, family dinner is still important enough to Wildchild that she cleared the table off so we could have it. To put this in context, Wildchild usually needs to be told (and told) to do household chores, so for her to put in the effort to clear the table says something. The girls both pitched in with making the meal tonight, too. I like that they have an interest in cooking, and the time to pursue it.
I've been good about walking, and fairly good about eating, although we've made a couple of batches of chocolate chip cookies this past week. But I haven't been a pig with them, and at least homemade are better for you, right? :) I also can't give up the carbs like Kate has been able to. For example, the delicious beef stew I made tonight contained not only tender beef, but also potatoes and corn. And of course a dinner roll or two with the stew really tasted good! Right now, I'm trying moderation in my meals, and exercise. We'll see how it goes.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Youth Movement
Gotta love the kids. In preparation for the playoffs, and since we have a doubleheader today against the Seattle Mariners, manager Eric Wedge is resting some of our everyday players and playing some of our second-string. We're currently up 9 to 2 in the first game. Veteran Victor Martinez is the only one on our squad currently without a hit, although he has drawn a walk, and has an RBI. In the "odd" category, we are the "home" team in this first game in Seattle, to make up for that last snowed-out game back here in April.
In a somewhat-related-in-my-own-head story, myindentured slave labor daughter made the mashed potatoes for dinner completely on her own. Well, her younger sister did help a little with putting in butter and mashing. I love having kids old enough to help with stuff. I've always hated making mashed potatoes, but I LOVE eating them! The Scientist also made cookies today, another thing I love to eat. :)
In a somewhat-related-in-my-own-head story, my
Saturday, June 09, 2007
A Little Sparkle
Hey ya'll! I've been down with a cold the last couple of days, feeling achy and sniffly, and coughing. Tonight the weather was cool enough that we had a fire outside. We also cooked dinner in it. Throw some marinated chicken in a foil bag, place the bag in the fire, let cook for 30 minutes or so, and voilá!, yummy dinner! With some coleslaw on the side.
Before and after dinner, we had fun with sparklers. We tested out some colored ones, but they weren't that exciting. The only colors were red and green, and they smoked a little and didn't give off sparks like the regular ones do. It was still all fun.
Before and after dinner, we had fun with sparklers. We tested out some colored ones, but they weren't that exciting. The only colors were red and green, and they smoked a little and didn't give off sparks like the regular ones do. It was still all fun.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Hurrah for the Pumpkin Pie!
DH and the girls made a couple of homemade pumpkin pies today. (Okay, the shells were store-bought.) To begin with, here's part of a pumpkin, after the squishy stuff and seeds have been taken out, and after it's baked in the oven for a while.
Next, mashing the innards. And mashing. And mashing.
An interesting collection of pie ingredients.
That looks better.
Et voila!
50 Pumpkin Points for anyone who can tell me where the title of this post comes from.
Next, mashing the innards. And mashing. And mashing.
An interesting collection of pie ingredients.
That looks better.
Et voila!
50 Pumpkin Points for anyone who can tell me where the title of this post comes from.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Modern Life
So, I get these ideas, but I hesitate to share them, because I don't have solid data to back it up. I base my thoughts on observing those around me, and on my reading, which hasn't been prolific for a long time. But I'll throw an idea out here that I've been pondering and see where it goes.
Even though there currently seems to be an increase in the popularity of being a stay-at-home mother, at least while children are young, I'm not sure that we will ever see moms staying at home with children again at the level of, say, a hundred years ago. Now, I would like to see mothers staying at home with their children, and, horror of horrors, maybe even staying home just as wives to maintain the home with no kids around. I don't want to thrash out here all the reasons it is best for moms to be at home, just that why I think many moms still won't do it.
For me, it's all about how people will avoid everything they possibly can. As humans, we take the easy way out, even if the harder route is better. That's a duh moment, really, but I think it is behind so much. Take cooking. Lots of people don't like to cook. I'm not particularly fond of it. If I could ever afford it, I'd hire a cook before I'd hire a maid. Now, my husband is a born cook. He loves to tinker around with recipes and flavors. I've increased my cooking skills because of my husband, which gives me more enjoyment, but I'd probably scarcely do it all if I didn't have to do so. But I do cook because it is healthier and less expensive. With today's options, however, people don't have to cook, so many don't. That is, unless you call warming something up in a microwave, "cooking."
Or take sewing. Did you know that Laura Ingalls Wilder did not like sewing? And neither did Ma? But in those days, unless you could afford a seamstress, you did not have a choice. Ma had a family of six to clothe, and so she had to sew, and she taught her daughters to sew, because they would need to clothe themselves and their own families someday. Some writers, like L. M. Montgomery, decried the sewing machine as impersonal, arguing that clothes were more special when made by hand, that one could imbue the garment with loving thoughts as one made each stitch. Ma, on the other hand, was thrilled with acquiring a sewing machine, because it made the process easier and quicker. She looked at it purely from a practical viewpoint. Today, people don't even need a sewing machine, and of course many people don't know how to sew. Any type of garment today can be purchased, at all price and quality levels.
Just as new advances enabled people to give up household tasks they did not wish to perform, women today can almost completely give up the household. I don't pretend to know all the reasons why women working out of the home became such an approved option, but most of the mothers of today I personally know who are working, do so because they prefer it. Yes, they also enjoy the bigger home, the newer cars, the fancy vacations and so on. But many women just don't seem to want to be at home. I do think many could be happy at home just the same, if they chose to be. That sounds sanctimonious, but I think it's true. I don't believe women of yesteryear always enjoyed every task they had to perform, but at that time, most of them had no choice. If you were going to be happy, you had to decide to do so in spite of circumstances.
But today with so many more options, we women (and men) don't often have to live with things that we don't enjoy. I'm guilty myself, of course, of wanting to avoid unpleasant tasks, and not being content with the incredible gifts I have. I do enjoy staying at home, and it's what I've always wanted. In a world of fallen humans, however, I'm not sure that enough women either want to do it, or will choose to do it.
Even though there currently seems to be an increase in the popularity of being a stay-at-home mother, at least while children are young, I'm not sure that we will ever see moms staying at home with children again at the level of, say, a hundred years ago. Now, I would like to see mothers staying at home with their children, and, horror of horrors, maybe even staying home just as wives to maintain the home with no kids around. I don't want to thrash out here all the reasons it is best for moms to be at home, just that why I think many moms still won't do it.
For me, it's all about how people will avoid everything they possibly can. As humans, we take the easy way out, even if the harder route is better. That's a duh moment, really, but I think it is behind so much. Take cooking. Lots of people don't like to cook. I'm not particularly fond of it. If I could ever afford it, I'd hire a cook before I'd hire a maid. Now, my husband is a born cook. He loves to tinker around with recipes and flavors. I've increased my cooking skills because of my husband, which gives me more enjoyment, but I'd probably scarcely do it all if I didn't have to do so. But I do cook because it is healthier and less expensive. With today's options, however, people don't have to cook, so many don't. That is, unless you call warming something up in a microwave, "cooking."
Or take sewing. Did you know that Laura Ingalls Wilder did not like sewing? And neither did Ma? But in those days, unless you could afford a seamstress, you did not have a choice. Ma had a family of six to clothe, and so she had to sew, and she taught her daughters to sew, because they would need to clothe themselves and their own families someday. Some writers, like L. M. Montgomery, decried the sewing machine as impersonal, arguing that clothes were more special when made by hand, that one could imbue the garment with loving thoughts as one made each stitch. Ma, on the other hand, was thrilled with acquiring a sewing machine, because it made the process easier and quicker. She looked at it purely from a practical viewpoint. Today, people don't even need a sewing machine, and of course many people don't know how to sew. Any type of garment today can be purchased, at all price and quality levels.
Just as new advances enabled people to give up household tasks they did not wish to perform, women today can almost completely give up the household. I don't pretend to know all the reasons why women working out of the home became such an approved option, but most of the mothers of today I personally know who are working, do so because they prefer it. Yes, they also enjoy the bigger home, the newer cars, the fancy vacations and so on. But many women just don't seem to want to be at home. I do think many could be happy at home just the same, if they chose to be. That sounds sanctimonious, but I think it's true. I don't believe women of yesteryear always enjoyed every task they had to perform, but at that time, most of them had no choice. If you were going to be happy, you had to decide to do so in spite of circumstances.
But today with so many more options, we women (and men) don't often have to live with things that we don't enjoy. I'm guilty myself, of course, of wanting to avoid unpleasant tasks, and not being content with the incredible gifts I have. I do enjoy staying at home, and it's what I've always wanted. In a world of fallen humans, however, I'm not sure that enough women either want to do it, or will choose to do it.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Luuuuuuuuuucy!
I'm posting this pic especially for Lutheran Lucy, but anyone else who's interested can look of course! I took it at my sister-in-law's house; we call it her "Lucy shrine." The image is not that great because I took it with my cell phone, but you should get the idea.
Watching the process of pasta making was neat. Not as complicated as I thought it would be, although you do need the pasta maker.
Going to a Mom's Night Out tonight! It's made up of several homeschooling moms from our church. I like getting quiet time to talk with other adults!
The Indians got the sweep yesterday, woo hoo! It would be fun to get to a game or two. My husband won't let me get a Mrs. Sizemore shirt though. ;) Some of those guys are pretty darn cute! But so's my husband! Maybe I'll get a Pronk shirt.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Tired But Good
Today (Saturday) was a pretty good day. I sewed a skirt for my youngest daughter and a top for my eldest daughter. I really enjoy sewing clothes for them. Often I can make things for less money than store-bought, and my things are better made than most store-bought clothes. My youngest daughter is especially hard on her clothes. Plus, the girls can design exactly what they want. They are really getting spoiled by that!
I find sewing to be a great hobby. I can whip out some easy things for quick gratification, as I did today, or I can make something more complicated and special. My husband, my eldest daughter and I are all long-waisted and have short legs, and it is nice to make things that really fit. I like it that I produce something "practical," plus I can always say, "Honey, we need more clothes; I need more fabric!" :)
This week I have to make Easter dresses. My eldest daughter's dress is fairly straightforward; she's not into girly frills. Fortunately for me, my youngest daughter is! Her dress will be more work, but not too bad. I also would like to make a hat for myself. Maybe after I make all this stuff I'll post a "fashion show" here!
The Indians won again today; that's good. Going for the sweep tomorrow! It's nice to get off to a good start in April.
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, of course; my daughters and I are all singing in the choir. Then after lunch, we are going to Youngstown to make pasta with my Italian in-laws. That should be pretty fun. I'd like to make more food from scratch, but cooking is not one of my first loves. Maybe now as the girls are getting old enough to help more....
I find sewing to be a great hobby. I can whip out some easy things for quick gratification, as I did today, or I can make something more complicated and special. My husband, my eldest daughter and I are all long-waisted and have short legs, and it is nice to make things that really fit. I like it that I produce something "practical," plus I can always say, "Honey, we need more clothes; I need more fabric!" :)
This week I have to make Easter dresses. My eldest daughter's dress is fairly straightforward; she's not into girly frills. Fortunately for me, my youngest daughter is! Her dress will be more work, but not too bad. I also would like to make a hat for myself. Maybe after I make all this stuff I'll post a "fashion show" here!
The Indians won again today; that's good. Going for the sweep tomorrow! It's nice to get off to a good start in April.
Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, of course; my daughters and I are all singing in the choir. Then after lunch, we are going to Youngstown to make pasta with my Italian in-laws. That should be pretty fun. I'd like to make more food from scratch, but cooking is not one of my first loves. Maybe now as the girls are getting old enough to help more....
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Breaking Bread
Soooooooooo tired. Spent most of the day buying food and preparing a meal for a church dinner before Lenten service. Very enjoyable. My husband and I like to aim for high quality when buying food for a meal to share with others. We went to the West Side Market for fresh fruit, bratwurst, and sauerkraut, then went to Little Italy for sandwich rolls and a big tray of cookies. I fried close to three pounds of bacon for German potato salad and baked beans. All worth it though. I enjoy eating good food, I enjoy serving people I care about good food, and I enjoy breaking bread with friends.
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