I have cleaned my house and kept it up pretty good-no show place but not embarassing most of the time when someone drops by. I have been cooking more than I use to which was easy to do since I only cooked on the occasional weekend, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. I have been watching the Food Network and love Paula Deen, Ina Garten (Barefoot Contessa) and Rachel Ray. I've made mac and cheese from scratch, salisbury steak, peach cobbler, ribolitta soup and shepherd's pie is next on the menu.
Just to put my cooking in perspective, my son has made several comments on my cooking. The first was "Mom, you can cook! Now I don't have to lie when I tell everyone at school you do the cooking." He thought it would be embarassing to let everyone know his Dad cooked. I reminded him Chefs are men and I am sure they cook at home. The next comment was "Mom, I hate to admit it but you are a good cook." Shocking that he would be so surprised! I also surprised him with homemade chocolate chip cookies fresh from the oven after school one day. He liked that and said that was how after school should be. He has commented on liking me being home and his teacher even stopped me to say she had noticed how much happier Tanner seemed this year. I think a lot of it has to do with no daycare which he hated.
My husband has also enjoyed my being home since our house is clean more often. I have also started doing more of the cooking, laundry and dishes which he doesn't have to do. He did struggle with staying out of the kitchen at first. He would be right beside me while I was trying to cook and I kept bumping in to him. I finally just asked him if he wanted to cook? He said no do you want me to get out of the way? I said yes, that would be good. He still hangs out in the kitchen but doesn't try to help as much. He will ask if I need help at times which is good. I really like to cook by myself.
My husband took a weeks vacation to install all of the plumbing and wiring for a wood furnace. It is a little shed like building that sits outside and burns wood to heat the whole house. We are buying one that will heat not only the house but 1-2 out buildings as well. He thinks it would be great to finish the garage and heat it, I think a nice out building for crafts is still in my future-we will see. On Monday, as he was digging the ditch, he cut the phone line around 10:15. I called the phone company and they repaired it Tuesday afternoon. No phone or internet for over a day-what was he thinking! He also laid the concrete foundation and hooked everything up to the hot water heater. He spent quite a bit of time in the basement this week-YECK!!!! We have so many cobwebs down there and it is musty smelling. I told him I would come to the top of the stairs every so often to make sure he was okay, but he shouldn't expect company. We have lived here for 8 years and I have only been on the 3-4th step going down into the basement once and that was the day we looked at the house and before I knew how bad it was. I have no idea what the basement actually looks like but know on that day the webs were thick looking down the stairs and the floor and walls were dirt. I haven't been past the door since then and don't plan on it. He only has the thermostat to install and that is is until the furnace arrives. With any luck that will be next week. It is very cold in our house, we are not buying propane this year and will be calling them to come pick it up next week. We haven't even built a fire in the wood stove and believe me it is cold. Our house is so cold I was dressed for winter inside while Don was in short sleeves outside.
I am very much enjoying being at home but do want to get out some. I volunteered to help out in the office at my son's school when the office staff is out of the office and begin training Tuesday. I will be on an as needed basis and I am looking forward to it. I am also going to volunteer at the nursing home where my father is. He has Alzheimer's.
My craft room is still a mess but I still have it on my to do list. Today I am working on the projects for class tomorrow, at least I am getting it done earlier than usual. I am usually up until 3-4 in the morning or getting up early the day of and getting them done. I also have the computer corner in our room to clean out so my new desk can be taken upstairs. Mom bought it at an auction and then didn't want it. It is larger than the one I have now and will help keeping it more organized in that area.
Well that is is for now. There is so much more to add but will save that for another time.
