Homemaking

the best made plans...and all that junk...

Julie Blair Lane — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:08:00 GMT

I "planned" to get up at 5:30 on Monday....I actually got up at 7:30.

I "planned" to get up at 5:30 this morning....sigh, reality was 6:15 (although I'm not sure I was fully awake until 8).

I "planned" to hang some mirrors the other day....but I was out of drywall anchors because I messed up the last four I had while trying to hang up a quilt (they should tell you where metal is located in your walls)...finally got some more anchors but ended up needing to paint walls/ceiling/trim/doors instead because the delivery company called saying the girls' beds were coming earlier than scheduled....which is why, after two solid days of painting...

I "planned" to have the girls' beds completely set up last night....BUT the second set of bunks* were lost in shipping (that's what the manufacturer is claiming anyway). So we decide to put together the set we did get at least....but they only sent one set of slats! If this isn't frustration enough, the bedding company (PBteen) sent a set of pillow cases instead of DD#3's gingham sheets.... while I wait for all of that to get ironed out...

I "planned" to see AF on Thursday....but I'm sure you've guessed it, yep she's already here of course.

Now, I was "planning" to do a ton of laundry on Friday should our washer/dryer set show up on Thursday as scheduled but I'm starting to wonder if I should do any more planning right now.

No, I haven't even seen a glimpse of the “normal routine“ I was hoping to get back to this week. Yes, I am tired and still feeling MILES from being done "setting up house" (recent move).

Hmm, probably ought to forget my plans and go talk to God about all of this...

Update: The afore mentioned furniture company is claiming that they sent us enough slats - they claim there were two sets of slats in the box we found ONE set in. The box itself isn't even big enough to hold two sets of slats.....wishing I had a padded room to go scream and flail around in for a few minutes. Speaking of screaming and tantrums, my three-year-old has specialized in both since Friday. She's taking the “Theatrical Threes” to a whole new level of excitement. We're supposed to see the “Fantasic Fours” next month but I don't think she's gotten the memo.

Yeah, I need some more one on one with God for sure! Help me, Jesus, I need You to change my day...or at least my attitude about it!

*it was cheaper to order two sets of bunks rather than one set and a separate bed. And yes, we're really second guessing going “cheaper” lol.

Changing Categories

Julie Blair Lane — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 12:08:00 GMT

I've decided to revamp my categories some. This will not affect you unless you subscribe to specific categories. If you have no idea what I just said, you can go ahead and ignore this post. For those who do subscribe to the following categories - they will be merging with other categories and you will need to change your feed address accordingly to keep receiving the posts in your aggregator:

2005 Goals
2006 Goals
2007 Goals (all goals will merge into a new category: Goals)
My FlyLady (merging into Homemaking)
TiVo (merging into Misc)

This change will take place sometime during the next week.

The Food Processor!

Julie Blair Lane — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 09:00:00 GMT

I did another session of Freezer Cooking yesterday. I've been doing this almost monthly since February and the more I do it, the better I get at it. Gradually we've purchased tools to make the process easier. Since I've never been interested in cooking, my tool selection was quite pitiful. I've learned that it really helps to have the right items.

Well, several of the recipes I've been doing call for things to be pureed. I had a blender and it was less than adequate. Is there such a thing as a blender that actually works? I don't think mine ever did. I borrowed my mom's and it worked slightly better. She said she never used it and I could have it. Last week I attempted to puree some cauliflower with it (to make mock mashed potatoes). It didn't do much and I became quite frustrated. I told my husband who asked if I'd be interested in a food processor. I really didn't want to spend the money on something I'd never tried - what if it wasn't any better than the blender?

Sunday afternoon I was so tired that I laid down when the little kids did and took a nap. While I was asleep, Erik and the older kids went to the store and purchased me a food processor. It was a lovely surprise. I couldn't wait to try it. So, yesterday morning I intended to just do prep work (chopping, slicing, browning meat...etc). However, when I tried the processor I was amazed!! The speed at which it took care of tasks that would usually be so time consuming, inspired me to see what I could finish yesterday.

I was able to prep and assemble 39 dinner entrees yesterday! What typically would take me a minimum of two days was finished in ONE! My new favorite kitchen appliance is the food processor! I'm sure those who have known the beauty of this tool will find this post somewhat comical. I'm just glad my husband took the initiative to provide me with one!

Note: Maria asked for a list of the entrees and some recipes. I can't post the recipes due to copyright but you can find some of them at 30DayGourmet. If you purchase the book you can get access to the entire site but even the free version has a lot of information.

Country Chicken Pot Pie
Soup'erior Meatloaf
Lazy Day Lasagna
Jerk Pork Chops
Quiche in a Bag
Cheeseburger Quiche
Cheddar and Broccoli Soup
Chicken in a marinade
Grilled Chicken Parmesan

Learning to Knit!

Julie Blair Lane — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 09:06:00 GMT

I posted the other day that the “how to” booklet on knitting was “greek to me”. Well, yesterday I sat down with the yarn and the set of needles from the kit. I popped in the instructional DVD and watched the gal “cast on”. I had it down fairly quickly (the kids were cheering me on) so I moved on to the English Knitting Method. That too began to click and before I knew it I knitted about 5 rows of neat little stitches. I couldn't watch the DVD during quiet time to figure out the other methods (kids napping in that room) so I plopped into the recliner with my yarn, needle and instruction book.

Within minutes I figured out the Continental Method of Knitting. After several rows of that, I decided I liked the English Method better. While the Continental Method was supposed to require less hand movement, it required more left hand movement than I was comfortable with. It began to feel like carpal tunnel waiting to happen. So, I went back to practicing the English Method and found a smooth groove. Encouraged, I moved on to the English Method of Purling. I picked this up fairly quickly after deciphering the instructions. Since I wasn’t a fan of Continental Knitting, I passed on Continental Purling.

Things I learned yesterday:

o Casting On

o English Method of Knitting

o Continental Method of Knitting

o English Method of Purling

o You must count the stitches as you are “dropping” the old one or you’ll end up increasing/decreasing without realizing it.

o If you use the same piece of yarn over and over, it will begin to fray and make the process more difficult each time (I kept pulling it out and starting over and over and over to practice)

o It takes a bit to figure out tension and rhythm, so be patient.

o The Garter Stitch generates by repeating multiple rows of the knit OR purl stitch.

o The Stockinette Stitch is produced by alternating one row of knitting and one row of purling (this is actually pretty cool looking).

o I need to watch the instructional video to figure out the “Bar Increase” (attempted it but I don’t think I got it right)

So, I spent a few hours studying the art of knitting yesterday and I’d say it was a fairly productive venture. The plan is to eventually knit a pair of mittens (it’s a kit).

"Hey Cookie, that's mighty fine grub!"

Julie Blair Lane — Mon, 23 Jan 2006 13:32:00 GMT

Those who know me know that I am no Betty Crocker. For whatever reason, learning to cook wasn’t a priority of mine growing up. I think part of me believed I wasn’t any good at it, so why try (yes, I’m a perfectionist). My sister loved to cook and create all kinds of concoctions in the kitchen. I personally, would rather wash the dishes than plan, cook and serve a meal.

When I was single and in the military, I loved that I could just go to the mess hall and eat. It also made it easier to eat healthy. Of course, last I checked I don’t have a paid cook on staff. So as the home’s homemaker, I wonder who is typically responsible for that. Erik really doesn’t mind cooking so much but it’s not very practical for him to take that on. My kids really aren’t old enough yet to do the amount of cooking we need (although don’t think I’m not strategizing already lol). So, that leaves me.

I’ve tried different things to motivate myself. The common theme has been that I need to change my attitude toward this. I don’t think it’s possible to force myself to like it. As I think about a perspective change, the word “serve” keeps coming to mind.

Have you ever looked up the word “serve”? I did today and it was rather interesting. Here are some of the ways Webster has defined this word:

: to be of use: to be worthy of reliance or trust
: to prove adequate or satisfactory
: to help persons to food : to set out portions of food or drink
: to furnish or supply with something needed or desired
: to answer the needs of

Can my family trust me to care for one of their basic needs? Can they rely on me to serve them in this way?

If I can have a servant’s heart in this area, perhaps I wouldn’t loathe it quite as much. Serving my family home cooked meals not only shows them they are a priority, but it can also save our household a lot of money. At the same time, since cooking isn’t a passion of mine, I must find a way to provide this service that works for me.

When I came across the 30 Day Gourmet website, I immediately thought, “oh, I could do that!” Well, in the last few weeks I have purchased their book, taken inventory of and cleaned out my pantry and fridge, written up a meal plan, purchased groceries and today I am working on the “prep” step toward placing two weeks worth of dinners in my freezer. My darling husband cooked a whole turkey for me yesterday while I was sick so I would have it for today’s prep work (what a hunk). Tomorrow will be “assembly day”.

I have no idea how these meals will actually turn out. I’m praying that the Lord will bless my efforts greatly. I’m also praying that my family will be blessed by my willingness to do this despite how inadequate I may feel. I know God has placed me in this role as a Homemaker and since part of the job description is food preparation, I believe He will equip me for the task at hand…if I’m willing to be His servant.

The Homemaker's Hats
“So if I get this job, what’s the pay?”
“Hey, where’s the maid? My socks are dirty!”
"Twenty-four, seven"
"The Butler did it!"
"Hey Cookie, that's mighty fine grub!"
"Is there a doctor in the house?"
“TIME OUT!”

Zone 3: Kids’ Bathroom, Kids’ Bedrooms & Kids’ Closets

Julie Blair Lane — Wed, 16 Nov 2005 11:38:00 GMT

Here is my altered FlyLady Zone 3:

Zone 3, Day 1	Done?
	Yes	No
Kids’ Bathroom
Cobwebs
Clean Door
Clean Light Fixture
Kids’ Bedrooms
Cobwebs
Clean Doors
Polish Furniture
Clean Under Beds

Zone 3, Day 2	Done?
	Yes	No
Kids’ Bathroom
Wipe Walls
Wipe Switchplates
Check Air Fresheners
Dust Baseboards
Kids’ Bedrooms
Wipe Walls
Wipe Switchplates
Check Air Fresheners
Dust Baseboards

Zone 3, Day 3	Done?
	Yes	No
Kids’ Bathroom
Straighten Cabinets
Wash Area Rug
Clean Tub/Shower
Kids’ Bedrooms
Empty Closets & Clean
Straighten Drawers

Zone 3, Day 4	Done?
	Yes	No
Kids’ Bathroom
Shower Plants
Detail Clean Floor
Kids’ Bedrooms
Detail Clean Floors
Dust Blinds
Wipe Window Sills
Clean Windows

Daily Routines/Chores:

Monthly Zone Work:

Zone 1
Zone 2
Zone 3
Zone 4
Zone 5

For more information on the FlyLady way, check out her website at http://www.flylady.net