Diary of a Homemaker's Week: Let's Just Enjoy it All!

 

Saturday:  Yesterday was a lovely rainy cooler interlude in a long string of hot days.  I listened to the weather report yesterday and they said "Oh this holiday weekend will be HOT!  Hang on everyone!" and they showed a great swatch of deep maroon colors all across the South.  

Well, what a pleasant surprise to discover that HOT per the weather channel is apparently 83F...It was LOVELY!  No complaints from us.

We went out to our favorite restaurant, Longhorns.  I was much amused as I scanned the menu.  For years we've longed to go out and order just what we wanted and for the most part we now do.  Only here I am trying to watch what I eat...and calories count, so now I'm limited once more on what I might eat.  Sigh, lol.

We drove along the back roads over to the restaurant and back again.  Goldenrod peeked out here and there, but not too much to be seen just yet.  It was just a lovely day to ride.  

When we got home, we found Katie and the children still hadn't returned so we had the house to ourselves.  I shared with a friend how odd it felt to once again sit in my own living room without a little voice saying "Gramma?"   I remembered for a moment what it was like when it was just us two at home.  Not saying I don't enjoy these days, but it smote my heart a little bit to think that one day I'm likely to be sitting here all alone once more.  It was kind of like trying on an old favorite shirt or coat and it still fits but feels odd because it's been so long since you had it on.

I'm sure I explained that poorly, but some one of you will know just what I mean.

They were all home by 6pm.  Caleb was so excited to share about his day.  Boy was he tired.  Taylor must have been wearied too because she had little to say.  

Sunday:  I swear I set my alarm last night!  I even noted exactly how many hours it said I could sleep, which wasn't nearly enough in my opinion.  Well, this morning, John got up and showered and I groaned and moaned and thought, "I didn't hear his alarm go off, I'll bet he just got up early," which indeed was exactly what he had done.  But then I dozed back off, thinking I'd wake when my alarm went off.  Not at all.  The alarm never went off.  I was awakened by John at 7am saying, "Hey, you know it's 7o'clock."  "No!  But I set my alarm!"  He told me not to worry about it, but I hurried anyway.

We managed all the usual things before leaving for church.  I was able to drink my coffee and make breakfast, get ready, etc. and we got to church on time, too.

We went to the grocery after church.  It wasn't too crowded, and I was able to focus on the few items I wanted to pick up.  When we came back outdoors, they'd set up a grill and were cooking ribs and playing music.  That smelled so very good!  And the music was the sort that made you want to dance.  I actually bounced across the pavement in front of the store and then smiled as a woman coming towards me was bouncing along as well.  

We came home and rushed to the dinner table to eat with Taylor and then it was time for her to go.  This whole weekend literally flashed right by me with the children gone so long yesterday and then this short day today.  

I took a brief nap this afternoon while the house was quiet.   When Katie came back, she said Caleb had a nap in the car on the drive.  He was in a very good mood when he came in and was so amendable to everything, we asked him to do that I was rather surprised at him.

It's been a restful peaceful afternoon and evening.  Tomorrow, John says we must labor, but I'm not going to do that at all.  I'm going to go visit Mama.  He can labor all he likes!  I told him I've worked every Labor Day for years now because he did and I'm going to consider it a holiday.  

Monday:  It was still fairly pleasant outdoors when I left home this morning.  It's hard though to strike the balance between the hoped-for season ahead and these last days of summer, I find.  

Mama and I treated ourselves to a small Peach ice cream at one of the Orchard markets we have in our area.  I haven't had a peach ice cream at all this summer.  It was lovely to get one today.  I noted that the market is also selling butter pecan ice cream, which will be a nice treat sometime in the fall.  The market had no fruit at all today but was fully stocked with pecans.

Then as a crossover to autumn pleasures, I stopped and got an Iced Pumpkin Chai Latte on my way to Lowe's after I dropped off Mama.  It wasn't bad...but I probably will just stick with the plain Iced Chair Latte or coffee in the future.  At Lowe's I looked for autumn bedding plants but only asters and mums were in stock today.  I noted that they had moved a lot of plant stock out and loaded those shelves with Halloween decorations and flowerpots, respectively.

The afternoon sun was quite warm, and temperatures hit the mid-90's.  I looked at yards on my way home and you cannot deny the rusty sort of look things get come end of the season.  Plants are blooming less, leaves are drying, and even the grass has that dusty green look, now, despite the rain we've had.

I came home to find that Katie had removed all the computer equipment from the back entry.  Now to herd John into getting the two boxes of books to be donated into the back of my car and help me relocate the boxes of flooring stacked on the bench at the back entry.  That will clear that space out nicely and feel a lot less claustrophobic as we come in the backdoor.

Tuesday:  It was a hurry up sort of morning this morning, since I had a chiro appointment.  My shoulder has been very sore all week long and became a constant ache.  It's not actually the shoulder but the soft tissues from the spine to the shoulder blade that hurt.  

I went alone to the chiropractor today because it's hard to keep a 3-year-old entertained in the car for 45 minutes or so.  It was pleasant to be out alone once again.  I don't often get two days back to back all to myself in the car.

At home, I made lunch, (hadn't I just made breakfast before walking out the door?!).  I had packages arrive.  The black jeans have little tiny shiny dots all over them...My word!  I'm not wearing anything that looks like that!  I'll be returning those pants. I'm just going to call it enough with what I have from this point onward.

After lunch, when Caleb was down for quiet time, I went outdoors and started cleaning up the heat damage and watering.  I got pretty doggone hot and ended up feeling extraordinarily tired, so I stopped pruning and deadheading and transplanting and just focused on getting everything watered instead. 

I just sat and watched the wasps getting drinks of water, the myriads of butterflies flitting about and listening to the absolute quiet beyond the hissing water hose.  I really need to get busy doing my fall plantings but not today.

I have resigned myself to doing nothing at all in the kitchen today, either.  Perhaps tomorrow...

Wednesday:  I slept wonderfully well last night and until nearly 9am this morning.  It felt luxurious to get a good night's rest.  I think the cooler night temperatures are helping a bit with the resting.

After breakfast Caleb and I went outdoors.  He was so excited over the playhouse that Katie had brought home from the dump.  "Gramma, Gramma, look at my house!" he kept shouting, lol.  I hope he and Millie both enjoy playing in it.

I puttered around the yard until it got too warm, and I felt energy draining hard.  Then I sat on the front porch, sipping iced lemon water and watching the myriad of butterflies flitting around the yard.

Indoors I've been playing gently about the kitchen.  I'm not getting great things done, but I did finally sort out the trouble with the ice bin in the fridge freezer.  The original piece that goes with the fridge has never kept ice contained, so I dumped it months ago and then put a plastic shoe box in its place.  that worked well enough but recently it too was dumping ice everywhere.  The plastic had gone brittle and broken badly.  I debated yesterday what to do with the mess, so I started by clearing out the freezer and wiping it clean.  I put another plastic box in the space to hold ice, but I knew it wasn't a permanent solution.  And then my eye lit upon the enameled refrigerator box I'd picked up at the antiques store many months ago.  It's a little larger but fits the space, and its metal so it's not likely to break.  I placed that in the freezer this morning.  I think I may have finally found my solution!

It's been a trying day.  Not anything hard or unhappy, just lots of little moments when my temper flared or I was impatient.  I finally admitted to myself that again, the day after the chiro appointment is just not a great day for me, even if I sleep well.  I hate sounding like a shrewish woman, but I certainly gave a pretty good imitation of one today!  UGH.  Next week, when I have my next appointment, I'm going to remember this and plan to take it easier on Tuesday (appointment is on Monday).  I was a lot better when I made myself stop trying to work hard.

Comfort food for supper tonight: Chicken Pot Pie...Caleb didn't appreciate it at all but the rest of us were excited about it.  It was pretty warm outdoors and too hot to even have the oven on, but I turned it on anyway.  And while it was on, I went ahead and mixed up some peanut butter cookies.  Caleb was happy to taste test one with me and happier still after supper (he ate other things on this plate) when I told him he could go get a cookie.

The week is flying past...I feel I've lost days this week.  Is it just the holiday or that time truly has sped up?!

Thursday:  Millie arrived bright and early this morning.  She was in a whinier than usual mood.  Glad to know it's not just the little boy who gets that way.   The two children soon settled down together and played nice enough...But I feel compelled to repeat yet again, as I did to John this morning, "There's no way one person should be keeping a roomful of 3-year-olds at nursery!"  It's all we can do to sort out the troubles these too encounter as they negotiate being social.

Sam stayed long enough for a cup of coffee and a nice long chat this morning.  That's always pleasant to me.  I sincerely enjoy him and like to hear what he's got to say.

I took the children outdoors to play.  They both were so excited to play in the little playhouse and that was the first time they were agreed on any play today.  Glad Katie brought it home.   I was surprised to hear Caleb tell Millie to 'come into my shop...' 

The morning went along with lots of refereeing and potty visits and polishing nails.  John isn't happy that Caleb got his nails polished, too, even though Caleb requested 'Hulk Green'.  I know that John's attitude is consistent with his age.  I just don't think a 3-year-old boy cares about that sort of thing.  He just saw Millie getting her nails polished and wanted his done, too.

I looked out the bedroom window earlier and saw a perfectly golden leaf from the Sweet Gum lying on the ground underneath.  I glanced out over the yard and noted that the seasonal change has occurred, even if the weather isn't quite cooperating just yet.  The grass and leaves that were green and fresh all summer long now look a bit dry, bronzed with heat and dull.  

It's so hard to believe that tomorrow is the last day of this week and time for us to finish up the weekly cleaning.  I feel I've accomplished so little this week, but I did what I did.  I can't do more now and try to make up for the lack of what I didn't do.  Here's hoping next week will be a better week.

Friday:  A busy and productive morning behind me.  I still didn't accomplish all those things I wanted to do but I got more done than I'd thought I might.   Whatever is leftover will wait until another week.

Last night, I was feeling restless and wanting to do something.  The game, reading and puzzle had palled.  I was 'bored' which just means I hadn't satisfied my urge to accomplish something.  So at 7pm I went into my bathroom and gave it a Friday morning blessing on Thursday night.   Then I sorted out my clothing drawers and set some things aside for donation or to move to the shed.  I only worked about an hour, but I got a lot done in that hour.  

This morning, I busied myself in stripping the bed (freshened the bathroom linens last night) and then socked right into cleaning up the rest of the house, putting things to rights.  Then I cleaned the back porch a little, nursed some plants that were looking the worse for the heat, watched Caleb play until a grasshopper scared him.  

Back indoors, I made up our bed with fresh sheets, put away the laundry John had done, and started bread dough.  I cleaned the coffee maker with vinegar, shined my kitchen sinks, cleaned the drains and made tuna salad and fries for lunch.  I put a roast on in the crockpot for supper.  I cleaned out the ratty tatty old dishcloths and put in a set of fresh things that I'd had tucked away waiting on the kitchen renovation.  It feels good to get rid of those old items that had become even less than rags.

After lunch, I puttered around doing still more until Caleb lay down.  Now I'm ready for my quiet time.  It's been a full, fast week.  I hope net week will slow down!

How did your week go?