There is a chance I may be looking to go back to work in an office full-time. I don't think I want to talk about that prospect - there's a lot of baggage tied up in it. But for the time being, I'm a work-at-home mom, and the "at-home" part has kept me particularly busy in the last few days. I'm determined to try different ways of doing simple things. I already do a lot of cooking and am easing into more baking - the kitchen is definitely where I feel most at ease. Not just in terms of confidence, either. The kitchen makes me feel like an adult in the way few places do, while being really familiar and comforting at the same time.
To that end, my Susie Homemaker adventures in the last few days have more or less centered in the kitchen.
1 - Making baby food. Pears last week, this week it will be sweet potatoes. I'm thinking about making teething cookies, too, though the rice husks work for now. I'm also going to let the Padawan have banana slices, see if she prefers that to the puree.
2 - Homemade pesticide. We're growing tomatoes and squash this year (though the squash isn't doing as well as we'd hoped), and of course we now have a host of weird bugs in the garden. I want my tomatoes to survive, so I'm trying hot peppers, garlic, and water. It's steeping tonight so we'll see how it works later this week!
3 - Tomato sauce. So many tomatoes, what to do?! We're growing cherry tomatoes, which I use all the time (they make an awesome snack, especially with a little balsamic vinegar). But we have bigger tomatoes, too, which are harder for me to incorporate. So, sauce! First batch on the stove. I'm hoping to eventually have enough tomatoes to can my sauce. Mom didn't can, but she did make up batches and freeze them for later use - and she never used fresh tomatoes that I can recall, so I'm stepping out a little here. Yay me :-)
Next up, some short-term projects and long-term ones, not all kitchen-centered.
1 - Vinegar/dish soap solution for the weird grime in my tub that isn't coming up with 409 (or anything else for that matter).
2 - Sewing lessons at some point. I finally got my mom's sewing machine from my sister, and I want to learn to use it properly.
3 - Once that's accomplished, my first project will be curtains for my dining room. Then, I want to make some clothes for Annalise. Mom made a lot of our dresses and even some everyday clothes when we were little, and she also made Barbie clothes occasionally. There are a lot of other reasons I want to master the sewing machine - I have a load of adorable skirts that I don't want to get rid of, and would rather alter on my own to get more use out of them.
4 - Practice making kolaches. This is a baking skill I want to master, because I think it would be very cool to be able to do it.
I feel useful and happy when I'm doing these kinds of projects - even just cleaning my house can make me feel good (unless it's dusting - I hate dusting - or cleaning the toilet). Something about the productivity, I guess. Anyway, I have no intention of taking advantage of modern conveniences if they don't add value to our lives. If I'm happier making sauce and sewing dresses, so much the better (and less expensive!).
To that end, my Susie Homemaker adventures in the last few days have more or less centered in the kitchen.
1 - Making baby food. Pears last week, this week it will be sweet potatoes. I'm thinking about making teething cookies, too, though the rice husks work for now. I'm also going to let the Padawan have banana slices, see if she prefers that to the puree.
2 - Homemade pesticide. We're growing tomatoes and squash this year (though the squash isn't doing as well as we'd hoped), and of course we now have a host of weird bugs in the garden. I want my tomatoes to survive, so I'm trying hot peppers, garlic, and water. It's steeping tonight so we'll see how it works later this week!
3 - Tomato sauce. So many tomatoes, what to do?! We're growing cherry tomatoes, which I use all the time (they make an awesome snack, especially with a little balsamic vinegar). But we have bigger tomatoes, too, which are harder for me to incorporate. So, sauce! First batch on the stove. I'm hoping to eventually have enough tomatoes to can my sauce. Mom didn't can, but she did make up batches and freeze them for later use - and she never used fresh tomatoes that I can recall, so I'm stepping out a little here. Yay me :-)
Next up, some short-term projects and long-term ones, not all kitchen-centered.
1 - Vinegar/dish soap solution for the weird grime in my tub that isn't coming up with 409 (or anything else for that matter).
2 - Sewing lessons at some point. I finally got my mom's sewing machine from my sister, and I want to learn to use it properly.
3 - Once that's accomplished, my first project will be curtains for my dining room. Then, I want to make some clothes for Annalise. Mom made a lot of our dresses and even some everyday clothes when we were little, and she also made Barbie clothes occasionally. There are a lot of other reasons I want to master the sewing machine - I have a load of adorable skirts that I don't want to get rid of, and would rather alter on my own to get more use out of them.
4 - Practice making kolaches. This is a baking skill I want to master, because I think it would be very cool to be able to do it.
I feel useful and happy when I'm doing these kinds of projects - even just cleaning my house can make me feel good (unless it's dusting - I hate dusting - or cleaning the toilet). Something about the productivity, I guess. Anyway, I have no intention of taking advantage of modern conveniences if they don't add value to our lives. If I'm happier making sauce and sewing dresses, so much the better (and less expensive!).
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