This Week In My Home: A New Pattern

I'm happy to report that last week was a success.  I had a bit of struggle and I realized that the very nature of our lives at present is just a constant interruption.  Like Sarah, I shall just have to do what I can, even if it means doing tasks in 10-15 minute jots.



I have two options.  I can get up earlier on the 'off' work days rather than lie abed until the late hour of 7am or I can really settle myself to actively planning meals, all three of them, and prep ahead what I might or simply accept that breakfast will not be on the table before 9am any morning.  I dislike having to jump right into eating each morning and that's the truth.  I like that one leisurely cup of coffee and I sorely missed it when the boys were here and they had to eat when they awoke because they were 'literally starving' as Josh told John one morning.

I am happy to report that we stuck to the menu plan five of the seven days planned.  I did not have leftovers to eat on the last work day.  I forgot to check my menu plan for Friday and had thawed a chicken on Thursday to roast whole for Saturday.  Then John insisted we'd have a date on Saturday (and we have had a lovely date) and so I baked the chicken for Friday and Sunday meals.   Not planning supper though has caught me out nearly every single day this past week.  I must remedy that!

I did a nice deep cleaning on the living/dining rooms and front entry this past week.  Windows were washed, blinds were dusted and edges of carpet were vacuumed.  I dusted furnishings and repaired a picture that had slipped in the frame.  I did not tackle the toy box, but I'll try to get to that next month when I am again in this zone.

For project work I managed to clear up the empty pots in the flower beds and get things placed more neatly on the back porch.  It's still  crowded with outcast furniture but it looks neater than it did and that was my goal.  I also scrounged up enough pieces of concrete to go around the forsythia that John keeps skimming with mower.  I poured sweat that day, just doing that one little task.  It's ridiculous how hot it's been and it October!  No kidding it's hot and has been hot and will be hot for at least 7 more days.

Now that I've been accountable for last week, what shall I do in the week ahead?

Menu Plan:

 

I haven't done it yet, but I will sit down this week and plan for seven breakfasts and seven suppers and see what I can do towards prepping ahead.  If left up to John we'd eat eggs every single day...and he's as likely to add a bagel and cream cheese and hash browns which is all a bit much really both calorie wise and financially speaking.    One supper is planned but only tentatively.  Josh and Isaac will spend time with us on Monday afternoon and John promised Josh we'd eat pancakes for supper next time he came.  I'll see if he's still interested in that plan.  It's not so good for Gramma as the higher carbs are more easily handled earlier in the day, but I'll eat light that day to balance it out.

Kielbasa with Potatoes au Gratin and peas, Green Salad 
This is the only planned meal I didn't make last week.  Moving it forward won't hurt a thing.

Cranberry Chicken, Creamed Cabbage, Baked Potatoes

Beefy Pasta Bake, Green Salad, Garlic Bread

Black Beans and Yellow Rice, Pico de Gallo Salad and Cornbread

Twice Baked Potatoes, Chef's Salads

John works X2  Not that I won't eat these two days but I'll be out with Mama on one of those days and I sincerely hope to have leftovers for the other.

Zone work:

I will be in the kitchen this week...Not just cooking and planning meals but cleaning.  I noted that the cabinets have been wiped down repeatedly but there's ground in dirt about the door handles.  As an experiment last week, I put a little liquid dishwasher detergent on an old cloth and wiped it over one door.  That grime came right up.  It did such a good job that I had to stop myself working on that task instead of the planned area this past week, lol.

I will not be focusing on the laundry but solely on the kitchen and back entry.  Definitely will be cleaning windows and dusting shades this week as well as cleaning cabinet fronts.  Oh and I shall get the freezer defrosted.  It's past time to do that task.

Project work:

I'm a little hesitant in choosing a big heavy task this week because (a) it's hot and (b) I expect the kitchen work to take up plenty of the time I have to spare.  I do, however, have several smaller projects on my list that I might work on.  While it's hot I'd like to try to finish washing the rafters and railings of the back porch.  I must buy bleach to finish up that part of the back porch project, then we can contemplate painting at last.


I won't plan further though I'm tempted to do so.  I know full well that my week will be disjointed.  It's Harvest week so there will be bills to pay and groceries to be bought.  John has volunteered for a biggish short of job in taking down shrubbery at Katie's and she will be gone that day.  I'm pretty sure I'm volunteered to do the clean up in her absence.  We are getting the boys that afternoon.  I have a day out with Mama planned, too, so it will be a short sort of week for all that I have my plans.

That's my week planned...what do you have on your schedule this week?