In my home this week, do you remember the song by Herman Hermits, "Henry the VIIIth I am"? After the first verse is over, the singer says, "Second verse, same as the first." That's how I feel the entire month has been thus far. It's more about what I didn't get done than about what I actually accomplish. It's about what I keep thinking I'd normally do but don't have time for or patience enough for or mental space to give. I attempted to order one, the only one gift I was going to order, but John disliked every single version of the gift I found. Each had something he disliked about it. I gave up.
Never mind.
Work:
Cookies. Three of four of the adult kids like one certain cookie I make each year and I've already been asked if I'm making them this year. My mind came to a mental halt at the question. "How? How can I find the time?" I asked myself, but you know what, I'm going to make the time somehow. I thought about how John only wants one cookie for Christmas, the one cookie that his mom and stepmom both made for him each year and to which he looks forward. Dadgum all this being overwhelmed and no gifts, and the bah humbug attitude. At some point the lack of Christmas spirit is just wearying. It's too much effort to continue carrying that attitude. I'd rather give in and push through.
Grocery shopping. Without accompaniment. Not sure what I'll buy nor where we'll end up going but I'll do the best I can keeping in mind what we're going through the heaviest at the moment and trying to remember that Christmas is next weekend! Done
I'm going to be real here. Beyond that my goals are simple. I have an appointment on Tuesday I must go to and an errand that is associated with that. Just found out I might need certain papers to go to this meeting. I'm hoping like heck I've gathered what is necessary. I've emailed the party who might inform me of this fact. Now hoping she replies before it's too late to retrieve things.
I need to stay atop my checkbook better. It's a mess. I know about what we have but nothing lines up correctly and I haven't had time to get it straightened out.
Just keep up the routine indoor housework.
Put up the Cwismas Tree.
Kitchen:
I'm finding it very challenging at the moment to make three meals a day. As you all know, I cook from scratch. We seldom use any convenience food except for the occasional box of mac and cheese or pack of hot dogs. In fact, I generally refer to our leftovers as 'convenience' food. Here of late, there are fewer leftovers.
I have seldom planned for lunch. John would prefer a steady supply of sandwiches. I seldom buy sandwich meats. In the past I've had roast or chicken, hamburger, tuna, eggs, cheese. One family member can have no cheese, so that's off the list. Roasts of the sort that I'd typically slice for sandwich meat are no longer cost effective to purchase. I want to use quiet time this week to figure out how to make a suitable budget-minded lunch. Hot soups suit me but for a little one they can be difficult to eat. So, it's all about figuring out what's going to work for us and insuring I have those things on hand.
Bake Cookies. I'm going to try to do this during midday quiet time just to avoid the 'help' that is always forthcoming. Little hands are just not quite ready to be in the kitchen just yet.
Meals:
Homemade Chinese: Sweet and Sour Chicken, Rice, Oriental Vegetables, Mini Pot Stickers, Egg rolls
Chuck Roast, Roasted Cauliflower, Salad, Biscuits
Brenda's Slow Cooker Smoked Sausage and Au Gratin Potatoes, Peas, Sliced Tomatoes
Beef Enchiladas, Rice, Green Salad, Fruit. I don't know if I'll use leftover roast beef in these or if I'll thaw and use ground beef.
Chicken Parmigiana, Pasta, Zucchini, Green Beans, Toast. John isn't fond of zucchini, so I'll give him green beans.
Salisbury Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Steamed Broccoli
Potato Soup, Broccoli/Apple, Cranberry salad
Personal/Leisure:
Read.
Listen to seasonal music.
Journal.
7 comments:
My oldest daughter always served soup over rice to her kids when they were small and they loved it.
You know Lana, I always served chili over rice for my kids when they were little. I don't know why it never occurred to me to do soup the same way. I don't know that I'd do potato soup that way for a little one, but a peanut butter sandwich always goes over very well for that one, so I'd planned to serve that on soup night. However, I have leftover roast broth so the potato soup might get moved to another week.
I've been making thick, chunky soups for my grandson. I do use some beef, but not a lot--either hamburger or bits of meat, chunks of potatoes, carrots, diced onion, maybe celery, maybe green beans, and either home made broth, water with boullion, and a little canned tomato. At the end, I put in a couple of frozen cubes of my basil pesto from last summer's garden (basil, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper and a little parmesan cheese--no nuts of any kind). Because it's mostly large chunks of veggies, and very thick, he can poke the chunks with his little fork, and he really eats that up! Chicken or turkey-rice soup works, too, especially if I put more rice in than normal. He loves them both.
Hi Terri,
I was going to suggest instant potatoes for the soup as an option. They should mix into the hot liquid and thicken things up. Would he drink the broth from a mug and then eat the solids? I do feel for you. I provided a lot of care for two grandchildren while my daughter recovered from a nasty divorce. It’s not easy, but that season did eventually come to an end … certainly, not without a few major bumps along the way.
Merry Christmas!
Becky I never considered thick and chunky soups as being easier to eat for littles. I'll keep that in mind as well.
Casey, This little one will eat soup but thickening would make it easier. When my oldest was about the size of this one she spilled a bowl of hot soup in her lap and I've been leery of serving a little one soup ever since. Thickening and allowing it to cool might also be a way to go.
Anyone want to trade places with me?? Temperature this morning here in Northern Alberta, Canada is minus 46F and with wind chill it is minus 60F... Not at all pleasant.
I'm making beef stew for supper tonight. We're in a winter storm watch and wind chill warning for a couple of days, and stew just sounds right.
Everyone already commented what I was going to say for the soup, except, I have just scooped out the solids and put them on a plate for a little one, rather than giving them the liquid. My mom used to crush up saltines in our soup to thicken them, and I still like it like that sometimes if I have canned soup.
Hope you get some time to just rest, breathe and find peace, even if just for a few minutes. Remember to ask for help if you need to. ♥
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