The Countdown Continues

Except in the kitchen, my housekeeping style is more "tidy" than "clean."  Our family is proficient at picking up, and cooperates well for the regular daily and weekly chores.  But we don't dust.  Or wash windows. Or wipe baseboards.  You get the idea.

With the wedding coming up (8 days!!!), it's time to clean a little deeper than usual.  I proposed a housecleaning list, but never got around to writing one.  Who did?  Bingo--my marvelous husband. 

This dry erase board in the kitchen is our central spot for doodling, reminders, and announcements.  (The whole board was once marked off with auto striping tape to make a deluxe--and EPIC FAILURE--chore chart, but that's a tale for another day.)

He may not have great handwriting, but his ideas and work ethic are second to none.  =)  Len wrote down dates and areas, and every evening has led the charge.  We're not covering regular work, but decluttering (the mudroom), wiping walls and baseboards (the bathrooms), etc.  Our home will never be magazine-perfect, but it will soon be both neat and clean, ready for our biggest hospitality event so far.

Pantry Tip

I can usually tell the difference between Vidalia (sweet) onions and standard yellow ones, but my kitchen helpers aren't always successful.  To make life simpler, I label my onions as I put them away.  With a permanent marker, I write an "S" for sweet or "R" for regular.  Sometimes I only mark the sweet onions.

Works for us!

Dinner With My Girls

Planning and preparing meals is supposed to be a monthly homeschool event, but we haven't been on our game for a good long while.  Marianna and Rebecca each spent time cooking with Mom these past two weekends, however.

First up was Marianna.  Her dessert required the most effort:  tin roof ice cream.  One day we made the fudge ripple sauce, chocolate covered peanuts, and custard base.  On the next we froze the custard, stirred in the peanuts, and layered it with the ripple.  That's a lot of work for a heaping quart of ice cream, but it was delicious and satisfying; a little goes a long way.

Marianna also prepared what we call "super supper salad", Italian bread (a blend of different recipes), and pasta carbonara, which I had never made before.  I've always been somewhat nervous about tossing the raw eggs with hot pasta--would that really be enough heat to cook them safely?  We combined the cream, eggs, and cheese, and warmed them slightly in the microwave before tossing with the linguine.  I checked the temperature with an instant read thermometer.  I don't remember the exact number, but it was high enough to satisfy me (so over 140).

Marianna and I enjoyed our planning and cooking time, her best friend stayed for dinner, and we all tried a completely new (for us) dish.  A successful event!

On Saturday Rebecca and I worked on her meal.  I knew she had picked a labor intensive menu, so we were supposed to begin our preparations on Friday.  That never happened, so instead we spent hours (and hours and hours) cooking (and cleaning and cooking and cleaning and cooking and cleaning) on Saturday.

The most unusual and effort intensive dish was meat pasties from The Narnia Cookbook.  We mixed and rolled a boatload of pastry.  The filling required us to saute onions and garlic, blanch tiny potato cubes, and finely chop meat in the food processor.  This was put into circles of dough for individual pasties.  By the time we reached this stage it was obvious that time and energy needed conserving, so we made a few individual pies and then created a family-sized one. 

Also on the menu:  veggies and dip, pesto pasta salad, and crepes (something else I'd never made before).  We made ranch dip.  We prepared several fillings for the crepes, including fresh fruit and homemade whipped cream mixed with homemade lemon curd.  (Nutella was also available, although we didn't make that!)  By the end of the day I was exhausted!  We had a great time, though.

Rebecca cut and arranged these vegetables, and took the picture.

The pasta salad was delicious.  As the crepes were flipped out of the pan one by one, people filled them with the myriad of toppings displayed on the island (sorry, no pictures).

The Garage

Apparently, I'm not the only one with the urge to reorganize.  Len will be moving some items to the shed and disposing of others while he changes the garage set-up.  Everything on the right-hand side will move to the left so we can pull the van more easily in and out.

And along the lines of giving a mouse a cookie:  if you're going to move a boatload from one side to the other, you might as well remove all the shelves, sand some spots, and paint the whole place!

Progress

 Setting up the sewing center

 Sew pretty     ;-)

Although the transition is a bit messy . . .
And yes, that rug is at my front door.  This is definitely a public undertaking!

Cherry Harvest

Harvest Time

Last October, I was pleased with myself for uprooting my basil before it froze.  Unfortunately, I didn't soak the dirt with enough water, so much of the harvest dried and fell off before I actually made a few measly bags of pesto.

This weekend my helpers and I picked a big bag full of leaves, ready to process.  Then the basement freezer died, I got distracted, and our basil waited in the fridge.  I pulled it out Monday afternoon, thankful that it looked no worse for the wear.

It was time to assemble some pesto!

I wanted to run the batches through the food processor without delays, so I set up an assembly line.  Each pile of basil needed 8 cloves of garlic, 1 cup of walnuts, and 1/2 cup olive oil. 

I had my helpers peel and crush five separate piles of garlic.

After it's cut, basil turns brown (or at least khaki) right away (one reason I try to make all my batches quickly), so I preserve its color with "Ever Fresh", a combination of sugar and ascorbic acid.  I didn't have enough this time, so we supplemented by crushing vitamin C (ascorbic acid!) tablets.  Easy and cheap--the way to go . . .

I was so focussed that Rebecca was a few minutes late to her nature class, but gosh darn it, we finished the job!  All except the clean up, that is.  Oh well, the mess managed to wait for us to get home.  ;-)

Can you see in the close up how ugly the basil gets if it isn't packed up airtight right away?

So here's my happy news:  ten tiny bags of pesto, frozen flat and tucked away in the freezer.  This will last us till next year's harvest.

Bon appetit!

Almost Organized

You know how if you let the bathroom sink get yucky and then you finally clean it, the improvement can make you cheerful for several days?

No? Um, okay. Good for you, then . . .

Anyway, that's how school is feeling to me right now. Last week we worked in a winging it/freeform/seat of our pants/"we've done this for 15 years" style. It turned out well enough, although the children kept asking me for their checklists (which were not even created, let alone filled out!).

So this weekend I buckled down and made some decent progress. I packed away old papers to make room for new. I set up (not completely, I admit) an "order of subjects" for the day (to make sure everything actually fits). I figured out how much Latin (a lot!) and history (5 measly pages) Joe needs to cover every week. I started a written "to do" list (SO much better than the ethereal version!) and organized driving, etc. And I settled our school lunch menu cycle.

There's plenty left to do. I need to finalize the order of the day. Then I will finally set up new checklists. These lists are really handy, even if they're not filled out until after some of the schooling is done. I need to update my dinner cycle, which, yes, does affect the classroom/teacher availability. Etc. Etc.

I'm feeling cheerful because even though it's not all set up, I have enough figured out to give today a good start. And I've done enough to keep me motivated to finish--it's no longer so daunting a project that I'm afraid to get started.

Sometimes the littlest thing can make a big difference. Last night after I settled the lunch menu, I discovered that this Monday we were to eat tuna or egg salad. Instead of deciding and preparing it today, I had time to make egg salad so that Len and Daniel could pack some this morning. And now it's ready for the homeschoolers, too.

I could have been discouraged and angry with myself about how much organizing I left for the last minute (and still haven't finished). That's often my reaction to my failings. I'm grateful for the limited progress this weekend and that this time, at least, my attitude is positive. I pray I can keep that outlook . . .

Sometimes Good Things Come in LARGE Packages

Our everyday dishes are as old as our marriage--25 years this coming March. :-)

Some of them still look pretty good,
but most are worn out,faded, scratched, and tired.For several years I've considered replacing my dinnerware. Enjoying something fresh and pretty has warred with the desire to not waste.

After all, these plates and bowls are still functional. And they're Corelle--incredibly durable. Eight of us over two decades have managed to break only a few, and the dingsand chipsare also rare.

So every now and then Len and I went back and forth regarding need vs. want, aesthetics vs. materialism. The difference this last time was that some children overheard.

What to get Mom for her birthday became clear . . .They wanted to surprise me, but thought better of it, thank goodness. Lauren did some initial research, and I spent many hours online as well.

I quickly narrowed my search to Corelle again. It is thin and light, easy for children to stack and carry and load in the dishwasher. It is durable beyond belief. It is bargain priced compared to other casual dinnerware.

Other preferences helped, too. No square plates! No designs in the center of the plate, just waiting to be scratched up by years of knife and fork use.

Finally I had 8 patterns selected. How to choose? How to choose?

(Yes, this story is long and probably dull. You're welcome to just scroll through the pictures and wait for a more interesting read some other day.)

That's when I looked more closely at the place settings that were available: big plate, little plate, bowl, and mug. I didn't really need or want more mugs, but whatever. What stopped me in my tracks was the little plates--they were the tiny bread and butter plates, not the mid-sized luncheon ones we use every day. Argh! Now what?

More online checking to see about adding single plates led to the great discovery of the perfect (for me), super-size set. At a steep discount, it had 12 each of three plates,and three different bowls,plus two serving bowls and platters! With NO mugs! It was available in only one of the patterns I had considered, making that decision so much easier . . .

So my sweeties have given me a gift I'll see and use nearly every day for decades. THANK YOU Lauren, David, Daniel, Joseph, Marianna, and Rebecca.

And in the spirit of "waste not, want not" I'm packing up the old dishes to save for David. He thinks the new ones are too girlie, but the flowers on the heirlooms are faded enough to be inoffensive. ;-)

Foolproof Recipe for Grit

No, I am NOT talking about breakfast food... Ingredients
1 dog with long fur and short legs

tall grass, sprinkled with dew (puddles are optional)1 unpaved trailProcedure

1. Walk with dog along dew-lined trail.
2. Return home.

Yield: One belly coated with grit.Hosing off is highly recommended before serving (allowing back in the house).

This dirt cannot be removed with just a towel! It's entwined in Dusty's fur and fastened by dampness. Left alone, it falls/rubs off as he dries, sometimes in a pile where he's resting. He doesn't like being rinsed, but resigns himself once I step on the leash.

The other day, as Len watered the garden, he wondered why Dusty ran away as soon as he picked up the hose. That was one question I knew how to answer. :-)

In Praise of Tablecloths

Our kitchen table has grown with our family. It's now a 4' x 8' sheet of particle board (coated with polyurethane, edges rounded) lying on top of the original table. We can easily seat 12, so there is usually room to spare. :)Even when our tabletop was more attractive than it is now, I used tablecloths. Why? Two reasons: they look better and are easier to clean than a bare table.

I'm sure you agree that the cloths are attractive. The table looks dressier whether it's set for a tea partyor an ordinary dinner.And, oh my goodness, it's so much easier to tidy the table than it used to be!

Old Way:

1. Get everything off the table.
2. Wipe off the crumbs.
3. Soap up the surface, or at least the grubby areas.
4. Wipe off the soapiness (the worst part!).
5. Put back candle, napkins, etc.

New Way:

1. Get everything off the table.
2. Roll up the table cloth.
3. Shake off crumbs.
4. Put cloth back on the table, or trade out for a clean one if necessary.
5. Put back candle, napkins, etc.

Okay, it's the same number of steps, but shaking a cloth and putting it back is a hundred times easier than wiping the table, especially a big one that's hard to reach across (even for a grownup!). My children all prefer the "new way."

Are you convinced now?And please DON'T cover your cloth with plastic! It doesn't look better, and you'll have to wipe that thing off just like a plain table. Get some linens and toss them in the laundry when they get grubby. You're doing laundry, anyway, aren't you?Yes, this qualifies as grubby. ;-)

A pattern on the cloth keeps it looking fresh longer. I find most of my tablecloths at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. They've got expensive ones, but most of mine were $20 or less (60" x 120" !). Remember those awesome 20% off coupons!*

I do use a fuzzy cloth/vinyl liner between the table and the linens. It cushions a little bit and protects nice tabletops, only needing wiping after massively messy spills.

*I've never seen this advertised, but the BBBs around here will allow you to use one coupon per item, and they don't enforce the expiration dates. I keep a stash . . .

One more thing: I don't know if you noticed the candles, but we have wreaths and novena candles in the appropriate liturgical color of the day. You can read about that project here.

Air Conditioning on the Fritz?

You might want to check the capacitor. This blowout was so dramatic that even the repairman took a picture of it! :-)

Vacuum Losing Power?

You might check the hose for clogs:

Just a thought...