tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48821216930038172322024-03-13T23:30:11.454-04:00The Happy DomesticA wife and mom shares relationship and parenting challenges, tips for success, and great meal ideas for the average family.The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-53351831322251833542017-10-23T11:42:00.002-04:002017-10-23T11:42:57.851-04:00A Fresh Start!Hello friends and readers! How time has flown.<div>
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Life has continued in all it's ups and downs since my last excursions into blogging. Our family is now six! Fostering is now a distant memory, and our own children are growing quickly. Having four girls ages 5-10 is sometimes a challenge, but mostly a lot of fun! We live a simple, hearty life, homeschooling and being entrepreneurs.</div>
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I am now an ESL teacher with VIPKID, and am finding much joy and fulfillment in teaching children in China (from home, thanks to the internet)! It is making me a better mom and teacher to our own children here too. </div>
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Boo is 10 this November, and she has started her own blog as well, which I'm trying to encourage her to use as a regular creative outlet. Once she gets in the habit of posting regularly, I hope to link to her from my blog. She is such a funny girl! Cutes is nearly 9, and still loves sneaking snacks. ;)</div>
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DJ is 7, and is working hard at earning the title of "the good child". She is a real people-pleaser! Pacy is 5 (going on 12...lol) and she is a little firecracker. I really need to take more photos, so that I can remember these crazy, fun, wonderful days!</div>
The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-47453563743249077892011-10-13T13:51:00.000-04:002011-10-13T13:51:45.831-04:00Purging and ProcrastinatingI do not like housework. I like to cook, bake, even iron clothes, when my house is clean & tidy, and above all QUIET. Which pretty much never happens. I still make an effort to cook and bake when I can muster the fortitude, because the payoff is so worth it! I do love food. But then, I do not like housework. And cooking and baking have the unfortunate side effect of creating more of it.<br />
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Another blogger mentioned amongst her radical purging that she kept only enough dishes and utensils for one meal, and enough clothes for 7 days. Although I have considered such measures for clothes, it never occurred for me to do the same with dishes! I usually thank God I have so many dishes, so I can get through a whole day of meals (and then some, depending on the meals and who is home) without having to do dishes. But after sitting crusted with food from breakfast until late evening, cereal bowls get harder to clean. Forcing myself to use fewer dishes in a day - what a fantastic idea! I feel all pumped to do some purging, but first I need to wash the dishes that are currently dirty.<br />
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I also badly need to purge the kids' clothes (they have more than they will ever wear!), but first I need to wash all the clothes that are currently dirty. And I desperately need to purge my mismatching tupperware pieces! But first I need to find, wash and sort the tupperware that is currently dirty.<br />
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So, to help me get ready to purge our unnecessary belongings, I think I'll spend the afternoon looking for quotes from Molly Maid and competitors. ;) I need help.The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-62952147905922613632011-10-04T13:27:00.000-04:002011-10-04T13:27:10.636-04:00How Much For Groceries?I must confess I have been doing much more blog reading than blog writing! One of the many blogs I have been sporadically following made the following comment on budgeting for groceries:<br />
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"If you are on a particularly tight budget, it is realistic to spend $100-$150 per family member for the month."<br />
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The author also noted that this includes toiletries, diapers, etc. as needed. So, for our family of 6, not counting the 3-4 times a week we are feeding an extra 2 people, we should be spending... $600-$900?? I realize that this is highly subjective depending on what area you live, cost of food, etc., but this blog post was from July 2008! Here we are in 2011, and when I spend $600 a month for groceries, we are definitely over budget! Is my budget unreasonable? I do cook at least a few meals a week from scratch, and I don't buy pre-made meals. My "fast-food" dinners are things like hotdogs or spaghetti. I also have 3 kids in diapers (one almost done toilet training) and one still on formula.<br />
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Let me ask you, how much do you spend on groceries per month? How many people are in your family? Are there special reasons why you would spend significantly more or less? Why do you spend the amount you do?The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-60257827996292260642011-07-04T13:47:00.000-04:002011-07-04T13:47:42.193-04:00De-slobificationI came across a great blog last week, on a side trip from <a href="http://www.orgjunkie.com/">I'm An Organizing Junkie</a>, of a mom who describes herself as <a href="http://www.aslobcomesclean.com/new-here/">a slob on a journey</a> of de-slobification. She talks about her difficulty maintaining (isn't that always the kicker) a clean home, and how her ability to see/solve/be-motivated-to-tackle small to medium size messes differs from what she calls "normal people". This strikes a chord with me, even though I have been doing fairly well with keeping my kitchen and dining room in order and nearly keeping up with the laundry recently.<br />
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The fact is, my poor husband grew up with a normal mom whose house was always neat and clean, except perhaps for brief interludes in a particular room when her kids were playing indoors. Andrew naturally enjoys order, and notices when things are NOT in order. This is not to say that he always picks up after himself (after all, he was the only boy in a good Dutch family with four girls - he had many things done for him) but I must admit that his own tendency to tidyness has slipped slightly since sharing a matrimonial home with me.<br />
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It's inevitable, really, when you live with a slob, that one starts to lose a proper perspective on a "clean" house. In fact, the state of our home has been the primary source of any ongoing arguments in our marriage. There have been pleas, raised voices, recriminations and tears over towels on the bathroom floor, no clean clothes, yesterday's dishes on the table, last week's pot on the stove... and while I have worked hard to make improvements in my housekeeping skills, there is always inevitably a time when the house is yet again an embarrassing mess.<br />
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So Nony's de-slobification blog is inspiring me to add some small steps to my routine - or maybe, simply to have a routine! - that will slowly build "normal" cleanliness as a habit and eventually turn even this messy mommy into a competent housekeeper.The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-38932091738115508522011-06-07T12:35:00.000-04:002011-06-07T12:35:38.084-04:00Learning In Every FormToday I am in Belleville taking a course on therapeutic relationships and the effects of complex trauma. I find that no matter how much study, research, and real-life experience one is exposed to, there is always something more you can learn or improve upon. Sometimes when I am in the position of being taught by someone recognized as an authority, I find myself interposing my own values and philosophies and questioning a lot of what I am being taught. Do you? Is this a bad thing?<br />
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I have heard quite a lot of people say that it is wrong or disrespectful to question authority, but I think I disagree. We should take hold of what anyone tells us (in person, in writing, or through whatever medium) and turn it over, examine it closely, critique it, take it apart and assimilate what is true and useful, then discard or store away the rest. In doing so, we take ownership of what we know and believe, and can better appropriate / apply it to our own circumstances.<br />
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In this case I am learning a lot of psychology and child development theories that conflict with my own deeply held convictions and start from a completely different worldview, but still I am finding truths and strategies that are incredibly useful for my success in parenting and relationships. I believe in absolute truth, and truth can be found in many places. We know that the most deceptive errors are those that contain some truth, and if we can clearly discern where the error lies we can still recognize and glean the grains of truth from those things.<br />
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My encouragement, then, is to search for truth wherever it can be found. Be open to learning something new and useful even from sources that are less than ideal. After all, a prophet named Balaam once received a divine message from an ass. Seek wisdom, love learning, discern truth.The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-56301248259333066712011-05-09T09:50:00.001-04:002011-05-09T09:53:16.532-04:00Beautiful AbundanceOur family has grown so quickly over the last three and a half years that most days feel like a little corner of chaos. My three youngest children are in diapers, and my two oldest are excessively hormonal teenagers! We are in the midst of renovations to add space for another child, and my darling husband is trying hard to balance two different jobs with the demands of our family life.<br />
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Yesterday, notwithstanding the usual chaos, I had my most enjoyable Mothers' Day yet. In the morning I had Cheerios and Earl Grey tea in bed, while I read my favourite blogs and enjoyed a half hour of quiet time. After church I had a lovely and relaxing visit with my mom-in-law and sisters-in-law while the children played outside, and later we enjoyed a walk around our quiet neighbourhood in beautiful sunshine before a quick leftover dinner and bed. After the children were asleep I laid down for a catnap and then played a game on the computer for a little while, and my husband brought me a McD's late-night snack. What a treat! Each of my girls (and each of my mothers!) made me feel loved and appreciated, and my sweetheart really stepped up to the plate to take on the responsibilities of childcare and chores so I could enjoy an easy day.<br />
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For many people our family life would be overwhelming. Not many would wish to take on three children under the age of 4, let alone the demands of foster care and the added mess of renovations, but for me each of these have been very rewarding. My little ones tell me every day how much they love me, my older girls are each proving what a difference a loving family structure can make, and our new basement is looking fantastic (not to mention increasing the value of our home). I am learning by trial and error how to manage a household and to keep order in our home. I am learning how to be wise, self-controlled, and resilient. Somehow I doubt that a "normal" life - having 2.5 children and working outside the home - would have these kinds of results. Thank God for the beautiful, chaotic abundance we have in our home and our hearts!The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-29343880237457978832011-04-07T21:49:00.001-04:002011-04-07T21:55:18.674-04:00Perfecting The PerfectionistAnyone who has known me for a long time can tell you I'm FAR from perfect. I'm messy, disorganized, chaotic, spontaneously irrational, a procrastinator, and frequently just plain lazy. I yell when I'm angry, I am inconsistent, and my housekeeping skills are poor. I don't take time every day to enjoy my children. I binge on fatty, salty, and / or sugary foods when I'm stressed or depressed. I don't intentionally exercise. I speak before I think. I don't keep in touch with friends and family. I don't take enough care of myself. And, I'm not very humble. ;)<br />
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As it happens, I also have a lot of great qualities, which I prefer to focus on. Sometimes though, every one of us sees (or reads / hears about) someone out there who succeeds in all the areas we fail. Maybe it's a blogger mom who is super organized with an orderly house and great time management skills. Maybe it's a friend who has the perfect marriage (whatever that means to you). Or maybe it's just someone in your family who sticks to budgets, saves their money, and has paid off their mortgage. Do you, like me, sometimes feel discouraged by these paradigms of domestic virtue? Do you feel like you will never measure up? Let me share a few words of wisdom that have encouraged me.<br />
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First, get a proper perspective. You can only see other people's lives from the outside, while you have an insider's knowledge of all the down and dirty parts of your own. Each person has their own struggles and weaknesses, I assure you. This goes along with the old adage, the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Or, as the late great Erma Bombeck humourously put it, the grass is always greener over the septic bed.<br />
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Next, ask yourself if you are comparing apples to apples. The couple who have their mortgage paid off and are debt free may be phenomenal money managers, or they may simply have had 15 years longer to get established. Too often couples with young families feel like they are poor if they don't have the same standard of living as their parents' generation. The reality is that the older generation has had more time to pay off debts and save money, especially once their children became independent. Here is another example: Your mother-in-law may be the best housekeeper that ever lived, but was she so proficient when she was your age, with children underfoot? (Unfortunately mine was, so that excuse doesn't work for me!) <br />
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Remember that lasting change takes time. If you want to be a better spouse, parent, homemaker, employee or whatever, set realistic goals and identify small steps you can take on the way to achieving them. I want to highlight <i>realistic</i> goals, because too often those of us with perfectionist tendencies can get caught up in the "best or bust" mindset. It is so tempting to just give up when you set goals that you know or suspect you cannot reach, or if you expect perfection and experience a minor setback. Celebrate every small step as getting you that much closer to your destination. Know when to say "good enough for now."<br />
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We are ALL far from perfect. All of us are also valuable. We are worthwhile. I believe God made each one of us - you and me - as entirely unique individuals with our own strengths and weaknesses, each for a very special purpose. I may not know the whole purpose of my life, but I can discover parts of it in each day: to love my family, to cheer someone who is sad, to encourage someone who is despairing, to celebrate Truth, to give glory to God. Don't be chained by your limitations. Know that what seems impossible to you is entirely possible to God, even perfecting the perfectionist.The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-56840150909737947262011-03-29T12:41:00.000-04:002011-03-29T12:41:49.547-04:00By RequestHello dear readers! It has been several months since I last posted on this blog, since the life of a large family has consumed much of my time and resources. From time to time I have thought of The Happy Domestic blog, as issues have come up on which I felt I had something of value to say or share, but mostly these have been shelved for a more opportune time.<br />
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In recent days, however, I have had a number of people ask me when I will put up another post, and tell me that they miss reading my day-in-the-life stories, encouragement, and recipes. So, dear readers, I will try to set aside some regular time (weekly, perhaps) to blog about things that I hope will be helpful or humourous for you to enjoy.<br />
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Stay tuned to get the latest on some great new recipes that I have discovered, and some life lessons I have learned in the last year! I look forward to renewing my creative outlets here, on The Happy Domestic.The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-65684461973588271832010-08-30T00:28:00.000-04:002010-08-30T00:28:49.158-04:00Pursuit of HappinessA <a href="http://laurensheil.blogspot.com/2010/03/liberty.html">blog</a> I read recently about the misguided idealization of "Liberty" has coincided with some family issues going on in my life, and got me thinking about the American dream of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Sure, I am Canadian through and through, but let's face it, Canadian culture is greatly influenced by this ideal. Our own Charter of Rights & Freedoms essentially strives toward the same goal, at least in the ways the Charter is being interpreted in courtrooms across Canada today. The focus today is not as heavily on true equality as it is on the assurance of individual rights.<br />
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This cultural idea that every individual has the fundamental right to do as they please and pursue their own happiness is so ingrained in our society that mere children are being molded into this image of individual entitlement. You see it in the 8 year old throwing a tantrum in WalMart because his mommy said "no" to a new toy... and too often she ends up giving in. You see it in the imbecilic teenager who recklessly careens down the freeway, careless of all fellow drivers. You even see it in the ignorant jerk who sits in his car at the gas pump, fiddling interminably with his radio and cellphone and giving rude gestures to the long lineup of cars waiting to fuel up.<br />
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When children are brought up being taught that they have Rights, Privileges, and Freedoms... without being taught just as emphatically that they also have Responsibilities, Duties, and Obligations... we create conditions that cultivate sociopathy as a way of life. And that, dear readers, does not cultivate happiness.<br />
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Happiness is found in giving, not in getting, according to an <a href="http://www.odemagazine.com/doc/46/giving_makes_us_happy">80 year study</a> started in the 1920s in California. Apparently it really is better to give than to receive. Unfortunately, studies have also shown that greater wealth results in greater ability to give, indicating that perhaps money really can buy happiness. The reality is that not all of us will be wealthy. Some may never even have enough material wealth to give at all... does this mean that happiness is unattainable for the poorest of the poor and downtrodden?<br />
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For most people, happiness is circumstantial: A person is happy about receiving a gift, making a friend, or achieving a goal. But what about when circumstances, frankly, suck. You lose your job, your investments fail, your husband leaves you, your child is killed, and you ask yourself "how can I ever be happy again?" Some of my most beloved authors, including John Milton and C. S. Lewis, have found themselves at the end of their rope, or at the bottom of the barrel, and there nonetheless have been (as Lewis puts it) surprised by joy.<br />
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Joy, that inexplicable sense of calm and contentment <i>despite</i> circumstances, is available to anyone, anywhere, any time. In the book of Habakkuk, chapter 3, the writer says<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i>Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: left;">While happiness is fleeting, joy lasts. Our society doesn't want you to have it, because it wants to sell you happiness which has a short shelf life, something you'll have to buy again and again. Maybe that's why the American Constitution guarantees not "happiness" but "the <b>pursuit</b> of happiness"... because happiness is an elusive prey... and don't forget, a capitalist economy depends on endless expenditure in this pursuit. The propaganda of dissatisfaction is big business! But joy cannot be quenched by misfortune or tragedy, and cannot be bought with credit or gold. It can't be found in a mall, a cruise ship, or a mansion; it's priceless and it's free. So as for me, forget happiness, I'm pursuing joy.</div>The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-38827030605779876482010-05-18T13:33:00.001-04:002010-05-18T13:36:02.612-04:00Landfill To Veggies, One Boxspring At A TimeMy facebook status this weekend generated some curiosity among friends and acquaintances, so I thought it might be beneficial to post details and photos of my latest project. As many of you know, I am very concerned with reducing our eco-footprint, and saving items from landfill. I'm also all about frugality, health, and making things from scratch. And, I love food. I have wanted to have my own veggie garden for the last two years, but have been stuck in ruts along the way.<br />
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Two years ago I bought a bunch of seeds, and never got around to planting them. Last year I bought seedling starter pods and had my wonderful husband till a plot of ground in our backyard for me to plant. Unfortunately my seedlings damped off and failed to thrive, and the tilled ground required more prep work than I had the energy to do (breaking up lumps, removing stones / grass / weeds). Finally this year I discovered raised bed gardening, which eliminated the tilling issues, and "lasagna gardening" which cheaply produces great nutrient-rich soil and inhibits weed growth.<br />
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This year my husband's job was to pick up a boxspring and mattress I found on Freecycle, and I also managed to score some landscaping fabric and plastic hardware netting at yard sales, to make my garden even more weed and critter proof. Here are the basic steps I took:<br />
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<b>Step 1</b>, rip fabric off top and bottom of boxspring. (Remove any springs...but in this case cheap boxsprings that are mere wooden slats work best.) <br />
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<b>Step 2</b>, choose a location with full sun, position mattress on ground with boxspring on top (slats down) to form a raised garden frame. (At this point I laid landscape fabric down around the perimeter to smother weeds and grass, and also used a staple gun and more landscape fabric to cover the somewhat ugly frame.)<br />
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<b>Step 3</b>, layer the following materials in this order: grass clippings / weeds / dew worms, leaf mulch / pine needles, fresh unrotted compost, wet newspapers (thick layer), rotted compost, leaf mulch, topsoil or potting soil.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmh0c8YHkfbT3LwgCUqdlQv1rcr0q9EKnpPlKQxiG4HWbLEJflx7YQ3PYAGRzkVWrV2CIJchMhNeIxDeVG5St0iQtMgP7ToEeMgXccNodfBPeemQPb-tq5-PWnRNuTfyoD3JNROgFINg/s1600/IMGA0027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbmh0c8YHkfbT3LwgCUqdlQv1rcr0q9EKnpPlKQxiG4HWbLEJflx7YQ3PYAGRzkVWrV2CIJchMhNeIxDeVG5St0iQtMgP7ToEeMgXccNodfBPeemQPb-tq5-PWnRNuTfyoD3JNROgFINg/s640/IMGA0027.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZzgr6CxshYdmIO3pjjBbS4eMs_BgK1EW0g-ikcYy5u-gxe2vUoKVE2VId-66q3kLVCSnq6LvUULBkbixFkXUKfohapnd94hOFKrb9dMCdPh6wWGzYjZmv6rFBlWS914sSgCLBMGK2dk/s1600/IMGA0034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZzgr6CxshYdmIO3pjjBbS4eMs_BgK1EW0g-ikcYy5u-gxe2vUoKVE2VId-66q3kLVCSnq6LvUULBkbixFkXUKfohapnd94hOFKrb9dMCdPh6wWGzYjZmv6rFBlWS914sSgCLBMGK2dk/s640/IMGA0034.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<b>Step 4</b>, plant seeds or seedlings. (I also staked netting around the garden to discourage critters from nibbling on my freshly planted seedlings.) Watch them grow, with high yields and little or no weeds! :)<br />
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I planted 4 cherry tomato plants, 4 beefsteak tomato, 2 broccoli, 3 cauliflower, 4 celery, 4 head lettuce, and 4 mesclun greens, and needed to buy 4 bags of black earth topsoil. My total cost for the garden was $27 and change, including tax. Keep an eye out for updates on how our garden succeeds!The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-85871833807616746832010-05-15T20:38:00.000-04:002010-05-15T20:38:17.163-04:00Recipes: Quick Loaded Baked Potato SoupThis recipe was born of urgent necessity. A lazy Saturday turned into evening without any plans for dinner, and hungry kids waiting on mom. This mom put on her improv hat and pulled out a pot... a short time later everyone was slurping this delicious soup happily. <i>Eater beware: No claims are made regarding fat content. Hey, this is convenience comfort food!</i><br />
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<b>Quick Loaded Baked Potato Soup</b><br />
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<b> </b>3 cups chicken stock or broth<br />
4 cups water<br />
4 medium potatoes, peeled & finely diced<br />
2 handfuls finely chopped green onions (reserve 2 tbsp)<br />
1 generous handful real bacon bits<br />
1 cup milk<br />
1/4 cup cream<br />
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese<br />
3 tbsp corn starch (mix with cold water to make slurry)<br />
<br />
salt to taste<br />
<br />
Bring chicken stock and water to a boil, add potatoes and green onions (reserving 2 tbsp for garnish). Boil rapidly until potatoes are tender. Turn down to medium-low, add bacon bits, milk, cream, and mozzarella. Stir well until cheese is melted. Add corn starch slurry, stirring briskly. Bring back to a boil, stirring rapidly until soup is thickened. Add salt to taste. Cool slightly before serving.<br />
<br />
Serves 6.The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-81390732704932859822010-04-28T11:55:00.003-04:002010-04-28T12:08:47.618-04:00The Truth About Maternal HealthWell girls, here I am coming out of blogger semi-retirement after such a long lapse. My own family life has consumed so much of my energy these past months that I have had nothing left over to give to the blogosphere... until now. The issue of maternal health is a pressing one, both nationally (in Canada) and globally, and there is much posturing and politicizing on both ends of the spectrum. If you care about women, if you care about humanity, READ THIS.<br />
<br />
The recent discussion of the G8 agenda for child and maternal health has reopened (at least in Canada) the debate over abortion. I have friends both "pro-life" and "pro-choice", but I have yet to find one person who thinks that abortion is evil but should be permitted. Generally supporters and opposers of access to abortions fall into two categories: 1) those who think it's wrong (usually based on religious beliefs), and 2) those who think it's sometimes the right choice for a woman (based on ethical and compassionate humanitarian values). I don't think even the most avid supporters of abortion access are saying that women should be forced to have abortions. The point is that women need to be protected and to have the ability to protect their own interests.<br />
<br />
Here are the facts.<br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.who.int/healthinfo/statistics/indmaternalmortality/en/index.html">World Health Organization</a> defines maternal death as "the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy, irrespective of the duration and site of the pregnancy, from any cause related to or aggravated by the pregnancy or its management but not from accidental or incidental causes." The organization also states that "Maternal death is, from an epidemiological perspective, a relatively rare event".<br />
<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maternal_death#Associated_risk_factors">Wikipedia</a> provides some interesting statistics from a range of medical and sociological studies, showing that <br />
maternal death is closely linked with infections, low birth weights, and lack of medical staff, facilities and supplies. What these facts indicate is that maternal health hinges on nutrition, sanitation, and access to prenatal and postpartum medical care - not on access to abortions.<br />
<br />
And of course, to state the obvious, abortions are counter-productive to infant and child health. (Duh, abortions kill unborn children.)<br />
<br />
Pregnancy is not inherently dangerous to women. Face it, women's bodies are designed to bear and birth new life. The midwifery movement has been saying this for years: pregnancy is a natural process, NOT a medical complication. Women are incredible in their power to produce young. Women who are malnourished and abused will have difficult pregnancies - but then, these women would have less chances of survival even WITHOUT being pregnant.<br />
<br />
Let's get real, folks. Women's rights are important - as basic human rights. All people should have access to good food, safe shelter, good sanitation, and good medical care. The same goes for children, as was emphasized in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The same goes for the disabled, the poor... in fact ALL people everywhere.<br />
<br />
Abortion has no positive impact on these issues. In fact, it has a number of <a href="http://www.abortionfacts.com/effects/effects.asp">long-term negative impacts</a> (both physical and psychological) on women who have had them. So, whether you believe in God or not, whether you believe in Christian morality or humanitarian ethics or both, let's drop the issue of a woman's convenience (and that's really what it is) from the discussion of child and maternal health as a global initiative.<br />
<br />
And that's my two cents.<br />
<br />
P.S. I happen to be a follower of Christ who takes the Bible as my guidebook... and I am encouraged to find that in all circumstances, the laws of the Kingdom are the way the world / nature / society / life works best.<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maternal_death#cite_note-0"></a>The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-15377699465545482922010-02-07T01:20:00.000-05:002010-02-07T01:20:11.643-05:00Mainstream Is A Big Step BackwardA friend of mine with whom I was sharing the burdens of housewifery and parenting this week made me realize how far I have departed from mainstream North American consumer culture. Shocked by the thought of me spending 2 - 4 hours a day cooking, and trying to help me alleviate some of my time-stress and work load, she suggested I buy more prepackaged meals and convenience foods. This suggestion appalled me, and suddenly made me realize how much I have changed in 5 years.<br />
<br />
It's not just the fact that nearly any prepackaged food from the grocery store costs four times as much (or more) to buy as to make from scratch; as I ardently protested over the phone, the true costs are much higher, and certainly not worth the savings in time.<br />
<br />
Consider the ingredients of even a "healthy" prepackaged meal. The list is longer than your fifth grade essays, and half the ingredients are unpronounceable without a graduate degree in chemistry. Then think about the interactions of all those additives and preservatives in your body, and the cumulative effect of them over the years. What do you think your drug costs might be in the next 10 years? Maybe you have a great drug plan, but you're still going to end up paying for your health care through taxes and insurance premiums.<br />
<br />
And then there's the environmental costs. Prepackaged food travels farther to your grocery cart, meaning more carbon emissions and higher fuel costs. All that packaging is being created to contain the food, and often ends up in landfill. Even if the packaging is recyclable, it still takes energy and resources to create (creating pollution), to transport (more pollution), and to process for recycling. Do we pay for that? You bet we do. And so do our children, and our grandchildren... if the earth lasts that long.<br />
<br />
Even if I could be making $20 an hour (which I'm not) for those 2 - 4 hours a day, is it really worth it? Not in my books. And if I was a gazillionnaire... would it be worth it then? If I was the only person on the planet, maybe. But I'm not, and the earth, it's resources, and our own social resources are shared by billions of other people - other human beings, just like me.<br />
<br />
Five years ago I put things like jalapeno poppers and bagged chicken alfredo into my shopping cart without a second thought. Today I would rather eat my shoes. I just can't do it without massive guilt. Who would have known that in five short years I would go from being Average Joe Consumer of mainstream culture (scoffing at my Trent U influences), to being one of those green-frugal-alternative nuts I so disdained.<br />
<br />
All things considered, I consider this to be a sign of personal growth. My new lifestyle is rich, intentional and meaningful. I don't want to go back to being mainstream, and I want to bring as many others as I can down this path. Next stop... a visit to the <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/Complete-Tightwad-Gazette-Amy-Dacyczyn/dp/0375752250/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1265523560&sr=8-1">Complete Tightwad Gazette</a>.The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-31115348419437718612010-02-01T10:30:00.000-05:002010-02-01T10:30:49.092-05:00Stretching Dollars, Stretching GroceriesLast week, I took the plunge. Pushing aside my habitual procrastination, disorganization and impulsivity, I sat down and created a weekly meal plan. Breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, dessert or evening snack, and all beverages for each day meticulously planned out to the smallest detail, I then wrote a grocery list based on that plan. I estimated the cost of groceries required. And I had a fit.<br />
<br />
Here's the thing. My meal plan was based on exactly how much every member of our household eats on a daily basis, and was made up of foods we regularly prepare and consume. Everything was to be made from scratch, and sales and discounts were taken into account. My total came to just about $140. Our weekly grocery budget is $80, but allows for an extra $20 a couple times a month for diapers.<br />
<br />
How is this possible? I know for a fact that we have not been spending anywhere near $140 a week on groceries. I haven't been eating as much lately due to pregnancy sickness, but I certainly haven't been starving myself, and all three of our kids are eating well. My oldest daughter often eats more than she should, in fact.<br />
<br />
With a great deal of difficulty I managed to pare down the grocery list to about $120, by stretching what I had on hand, planning some recipe substitutions, and doing without a number of items. I convinced my husband that I needed an extra $40 on the grocery budget. Then I went shopping. Without diapers, my total came to less than $100, and I ended up getting most of the things I had crossed off the list anyway. I realized that the only way we have stayed on budget every week is that we have been fortunately favoured with getting unexpectedly amazing deals on groceries and making great finds on the grocery clearance racks regularly. Thank God.<br />
<br />
The second big challenge over the last few days has been addressing some greedy belly issues in our home. One of the reasons we usually end up scavenging barely-meals on Wednesday and Thursday every week (Thursday evening is when I grocery shop) is that certain people are frequently eating food that was intended for other meals / uses, and I am not on-the-ball enough to realize it. Now when someone asks for food, I refer them to the meal plan. Did you eat your lunch? Make sure you finished all your leftovers. You did? Then you'll have to wait for afternoon snack time. What can you have? The schedule says veggies and dip. You don't feel like having veggies and dip? Too bad. That's all that's available for this meal.<br />
<br />
I'm not the mean mom, I'm just sticking to the meal plan. This is how I make sure the food I bought for the week LASTS for the week.<br />
<br />
This is a whole new approach to life for me. It requires discipline I have never had before. But my goodness, do I wish I had done this a whole lot sooner. Goodbye mealtime battles, hello happy (less stressed) mom!The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-38911979042445600572010-01-09T16:25:00.000-05:002010-01-09T16:25:11.214-05:00Recipes: Asian Cabbage SaladI'm posting this recipe because my mom unexpectedly mentioned how much she had loved this salad one time when she was over... I can't even remember when I served it to her, that's how long ago it was, and I'm shocked that she remembered it. Anyway, mom says she's been waiting and waiting for me to blog it, so here goes. Please note that "Asian" in the title refers to the dressing and style, not to the cabbage.<br />
<br />
<b>Asian Cabbage Salad</b><br />
<br />
1/2 head of green cabbage, shredded<br />
1 pkg ramen noodles with Oriental or Chicken seasoning*<br />
1 small handful of sesame seeds<br />
1 tbsp vegetable oil<br />
2 tbsp soya sauce<br />
2 tbsp white vinegar<br />
1 1/2 tsp brown sugar<br />
approx. 1/4 c vegetable oil<br />
<br />
Prepare cabbage in a large salad bowl and set aside. In a heavy bottomed pan or wok, heat 1 tbsp oil over medium heat. Break up ramen noodles into small pieces and add to pan, along with sesame seeds. Heat together while stirring frequently with a wooden spoon, until noodles and sesame seeds are golden brown and aromatic. Remove from heat and add to cabbage. In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together soya sauce, white vinegar, brown sugar and contents of ramen noodle seasoning packet. Add oil to make between 1/3 and 1/2 c of dressing, whisk together until thoroughly blended. Drizzle over salad, and toss well to coat. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, and toss again before serving. This salad tastes better the longer it sits. (If you need to serve immediately, increase soya sauce and white vinegar amounts to 3 tbsp for a quicker flavour boost.)<br />
<br />
* Ramen noodle seasonings contain significant amounts of MSG, a flavour enhancer, and known carcinogen. MSG has also been proven to be addictive, and a contributor to both obesity and ADHD. Although the Oriental seasoning packets are both tasty and convenient, I have developed a somewhat similar and much healthier substitution:<br />
<br />
1/2 tsp garlic powder<br />
1/2 tsp ground ginger<br />
1/4 tsp mustard powder<br />
1 tsp white sugar<br />
1 tsp lemon juice<br />
<br />
May I suggest if you are making this salad that you double the entire recipe, as it disappears very quickly.The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-9751263110575195752009-12-26T01:12:00.000-05:002009-12-26T01:12:34.402-05:00A Bloggerific TimeWell folks, it's Christmas Day. Actually, night. And here I am in fine Christmas spirit, exorcising my humbugs on Blogger. I should be catching up on mountains of paperwork, which, actually, I have been doing to a certain extent already, but it's just so hard to concentrate on work with a belly full of treats, a house full of opened presents, and a brain full of notes to self (tinged with a smidgen of hormones).<br />
<br />
It may not be New Year's Eve yet, but I feel like summing up the year, or at least the month, in review. December has been... interesting. Other possible adjectives include strange, perplexing, frustrating, promising, sickly, busy, predictable, difficult, exciting, and full of change. I have a hard time keeping up with my own life. At least I'm not puking every day, which is more than can be said for the first few weeks of December. At best, my girlies are the highlight of my life, particularly when they're not driving me up the wall. And Thank You God for my husband. We don't always see eye to eye, mostly because there are kids in the way, but when occasionally we get to take a deep breath together and be alone, I'm reminded that love covers a multitude of sins and two are better than one because they have a better return for their work. (Please don't ask me to cite those bible references right now.) Another brief point of interest has been our ongoing discussion of adding a fourth minor and how this might impact our family harmony. <br />
<br />
2010 should be exciting. Stay tuned for more details. But don't hold your breath. ;)The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-72397170543292951352009-12-17T14:27:00.000-05:002009-12-17T14:27:36.420-05:00Why Christmas?I have heard several couples declare they don't celebrate Valentine's Day. These are loving, well-adjusted couples who give a lot of attention to their relationship and their partners, every day of the year. Valentines Day, in comparison, seems like such a cheap, commercial version of the real thing, that they don't see the point in celebrating it. Sometimes that's how I feel about Christmas.<br />
<br />
One day 2000-ish years ago, Jesus Christ was born. He lived a remarkable life, and then he died. Three days later he rose again, and he has profoundly impacted the world and my life ever since. We celebrate him every day. We live life with him every day. So decorating a tree and buying presents for others and stuffing ourselves with treats seems so meaningless in comparison. And so much pointless effort.<br />
<br />
Then I think about how I saw Christmas as a kid. The lights, the tree, the mysterious packages, the delectable smells and tastes, all these gave me a sense of greater magic than the things themselves, a belief in miracles, if you will. I want my kids to believe in miracles. I want them to imagine that there is more to life than the mundane rituals of survival and society. Christmas, with all it's trappings, also gave me a sense of belonging, a sweet familiarity of home. Now, a mother myself, can I give my children any less? Although my understanding of Christmas has changed, I need to allow my own children to go through the process themselves, to enjoy the magic, and pursue their own search for the meaning. We each need to own Christmas for ourselves, just as we each need to own Christ.<br />
<br />
This year, that's why I'm "doing" Christmas.The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-87886647179363733022009-11-13T12:39:00.000-05:002009-11-13T12:39:28.864-05:00I Can Count To Six, But Will They Listen?I have six kids. Seven if you count my husband. Are they all mine? Thankfully, no. But this kind of craziness explains in part why blogging has taken a backseat to real life in the past ...weeks? month? Anyhow.<br />
<br />
My girlies are turning 1 and 2 in a week and a bit, and I am going to be 28. For some reason I feel like I've been 28 forever and I should be turning 31 by now. We just found out that we have a foster child being placed in our home full time, and she is already staying with us. This is exciting, and so far things have been going well. All (3) of our girls are getting along great and enjoying each other's company.<br />
<br />
On Tuesday some friends of ours were able to get last minute flights to Alberta to pick up some belongings that have been missed for some time, so we are also looking after their three school-aged children. Despite my initial panic, life has continued on at a manageable but very busy pace. I love to be creative in the kitchen, but cooking for eight (me and hubby included) has forced me to get serious about meal planning and frugal shopping. Eight breakfasts, eight lunches and eight suppers, five days a week. Twenty four meals of dishes to clean up, every day. It's a good thing hubby and I work well as a team. Division of labour is good for everyone. The only hairy part is trying to supervise all six children at once, and make sure each of them is clean, fed, does their homework or chores or is kept busy, and refrains from injuring any other child or themselves.<br />
<br />
"I'm going to count to five, and I want all of you dressed and out of the house!" Sure, but then someone has to pee. Someone else just knocked down another. And one of them forgets their bag in the hall. Meanwhile my toddler is clinging to my leg urgently calling "MommyMommyMommy!" and the baby is crying in the living room. Both of them are still badly teething. Over the din I shout, "Don't forget your sister, don't break anything, don't run down the stairs, and if you don't do what you're told..." Um, what do I say? You'll be in big trouble? I'll yell louder? Oh my.<br />
<br />
My hubby and I talk on the phone after the kids are in bed - he in the house down the street with 3 kids, me in our house with 3 kids - and discuss the ups and downs of trying to hold it all together while still getting our own work done. We come to the conclusion that we're making some mistakes along the way, but this week is making us better parents. How many people get a crash course in parenting preteens before they try it on their own kids? We'll come out of this one with years' worth of experience.The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-74629881010472427752009-11-02T15:51:00.002-05:002009-11-02T16:21:38.512-05:00What Swine Hyped This Flu?<h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was sent an email from the agency I work with today containing a presentation of <a href="http://download543.mediafire.com/mxozjytq1ybg/wxmlz4gjgcj/H1N1+-+slide+show.pdf">Fast Facts on H1N1</a> by a qualified medical doctor. I found it extremely interesting, from the charts and tables to the statistics quoted. </span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">I particularly enjoyed doing the math. According to the presentation, nine to twelve out of every hundred people get the flu, or up to 42 in 100 if they have young children (in school or daycare). 11/1000 of these got REALLY sick, enough that they went to their local emergency clinic and sat waiting however long it took for someone to actually take them in and examine them. So now we have around a tenth of a percent of the normal population (0.132%) really sick. Got that? Now 7/10,000 of THOSE people died (in the U.S.)... putting us at an expected 0.0000924% rate of death in the population. That means that in Northumberland, Hastings, and Prince Edward Counties (a combined population of 236,933) there may be 0.2 people who die... in their worst case scenario.</span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="font-family: inherit; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'll take those odds, thank you.<br />
</span></h3>The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-55109307013147758342009-10-19T16:59:00.000-04:002009-10-19T16:59:17.836-04:00In Living ColourI went for a walk today with our girlies, savouring the breezy autumn air and the riotous falling leaves. The colours, if you take a moment to gaze at them, are overwhelming, supersaturated hues of gold and scarlet and tangerine with hints of lime, deep-dark purples and blackish greens tinged with crimson. Colour is everywhere. Soon the azure skies and ice cream scoop clouds will flee before wild, dark and stormy skies when the setting sun gilds the world under a heavy slate horizon. I love autumn.<br />
<br />
All the blustery, chaotic, colourful changefullness of the season tells me I'm alive, so very alive!<br />
<br />
Maybe that's why I don't mind a little messiness, chaos, unpredictability and drama in my world. Life is full of both glee and heartache, pleasure and pain, and I'll take them both together for better or worse... I'll take it all.The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-9889376314088371902009-10-08T10:59:00.000-04:002009-10-08T10:59:35.260-04:00Forms And Figures Of SpeechThis past spring I blogged about my intent to set <a href="http://thehappydomestic.blogspot.com/2009/03/get-serious-lighten-up.html">healthy habits</a>, and to fit into my pre-preg pants. Now that it's autumn, I thought it was time for an update on my progress, goals, etc.<br />
<br />
Confession time. I have not been drinking 8 glasses of water a day. Some days I have forgotten to drink at all, and other days I have struggled to get in 4 or 5 glasses of water. This is partly because I have been drinking coffee, milk, and occasionally juice. From time to time I feel incredibly fatigued and headachy, and then I know I am dehydrated and immediately get some water. Sometimes being dehydrated has made me feel hungry, and I snack unnecessarily without thinking. I don't get 30 minutes a day of straight exercise, but I do get that at least 3 times a week. Carting children around helps.<br />
<br />
The good news is... I fit into my old pants! So it would seem that part of the problem was simply my abdomenal "muscles" (I can hardly use the word without sarcasm) still contracting after being stretched from pregnancy. Mind you, there's still this unflattering fold of what I would like to call skin (but a critical person might call flab) that hangs over my belt... I suspect my body may never be the same shape again, no matter how disciplined I might be. And don't get me started about stretch marks and sag. *Sigh.*<br />
<br />
Writing this brutally honest update has made me want to go do some crunches and count how many calories I've eaten today. Except I don't know how to count calories. And I don't have time to do crunches because I have to go shopping for dinner tonight. And there you have it, folks. Getting back the body of a 20 year old after having children is no walk in the park. But healthier habits, one step at a time, can be reached by anyone - even me.The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-83384300325172328012009-10-02T14:27:00.000-04:002009-10-02T14:27:41.643-04:00One Potato, Two PotatoMy one girlie loves playing with Mr. Potato Head. She also likes playing "Mr. Potato Head" with her sister.<br />
<br />
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</div>The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-90081114181281541332009-09-30T20:28:00.000-04:002009-09-30T20:28:53.165-04:00I Can See Clearly Now, The Mess Is Gone...Today, finally, my house is clean, Clean, CLEAN! I am flabbergasted by the sheer productivity of my time this morning, that and the fact that the girlies slept for 3 whole hours, allowing me to get it all done. The usual stacks of dishes all got washed, pots and pans scrubbed and sparkling, counters made spotless, and even my sinks and faucets were scoured until they shone. Floors were vacuumed, baby clothes were sorted and <i>put away!</i> and laundry was gathered up from all over the house. Bathrooms were cleaned. Garbages were emptied, and beds were made. Windows were opened and rooms aired out. And this was all by lunchtime!<br />
<br />
My bedroom is unrecognizeable. This carpet... this dingy, stained, disgusting old carpet, that we meant to replace when we first moved in but never got the time or money together... is such an eyesore now. Now that you can really see it, I mean. But the rest of the bedroom looks pristine. It makes me want to paint the walls, like I intended to do over a year ago. And order new carpet, like we intended to do two years ago. I can't wait to turn on the fireplace, snuggle up with my beautiful duvet, and go to sleep in my luxurious bed tonight.<br />
<br />
But, most of all, this spotlessness makes me want to KEEP IT UP. Now that the really hard work is done, I want it to stay this way! As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It was so amazing to be able to watch a movie this afternoon, and lay on the sofa with my feet up, and not feel a drop of guilt. Knowing that everything was done, I enjoyed making dinner, playing with the girls, and doing next to nothing all afternoon. And my husband was so happy with the state of the house that he cleared the table after supper and did the dishes <i>cheerfully</i> on his own initiative.<br />
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My mind feels so at ease, that I can think about things I would like to do, projects I would like to tackle, without the slightest stress or chagrin. It's a wonderful life. :)The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-26765439698254341752009-09-27T10:42:00.001-04:002009-09-27T10:43:39.717-04:00Hear The Engines RoarLast night we went out on a date to the Brighton Speedway. Now, I'm not normally into the whole stock car subculture, but this weekend we had a good friend racing and a few of us went out to cheer him on. The noise was, as I remembered from the one previous time I'd gone, painful and deafening. The air was a miasma of exhaust fumes, flying dust, and cigarette smoke. But the races were <i>awesome</i>.<br />
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The skill of these drivers really hit me while watching these pure stock cars skidding and sliding through curves, then screaming and bumping their way down the straightaway. Serious skills are required. The sheer adrenaline that drives these races is contagious, and although at another time I would probably say it's just a bunch of dirty, smelly, polluting machines going in circles a gazillion times, up close I could not help being in awe and cheering at the top of my lungs for a favourite car. While I can't understand people wanting to poison their lungs, damage their eardrums, and risk their lives, I can certainly understand the thrill that draws people back to the speedway week after week.<br />
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So today I'm not going to talk about green issues - the environmental concerns raised by automotive racing are obvious. And I'm not going to moralize about health - we all know of unhealthy activities that each of us have taken part in from time to time. Today all I'm going to say is "Good for you!" to the people who have skills and passions, and who use them to the best of their abilities. I'm looking forward to cheering on a friend in the next racing season!The Happy Domestichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15826265145650040793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4882121693003817232.post-20140875003518956992009-09-22T09:36:00.000-04:002009-09-22T09:36:23.499-04:00Recipes: Thai Red CurryGet out of your meat and potatoes rut with this delicious Thai stew. Despite the name, this does not contain curry - Thai curries are actually based around a chili spice paste. It is not too hot, about equivalent to mild chicken wings at Kelsey's. It is also bursting with sweet, sour, and salty flavours! What's not to love?<br />
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<b>Thai Red Curry</b><br />
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1/2 pkg Asian Home Gourmet "Thai Red Curry" spice paste<br />
5 tbsp sunflower oil<br />
1/2 can coconut milk<br />
4 medium raw potatoes, diced<br />
1 medium yellow or red bell pepper, diced<br />
1 1/2 cups zucchini, diced<br />
1 pkg button mushrooms, coarsely chopped<br />
1/2 can diced tomatoes<br />
3/4 cup pineapple tidbits, with juice<br />
4 tbsp fish sauce<br />
1 1/2 cups baby spinach, washed<br />
a handful of chopped cilantro<br />
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Heat oil to medium-high in a large and deep skillet. Add spice paste and stir well. Add half of the coconut milk, followed by potatoes, bell pepper, zucchini and mushrooms, and stir well. Let cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add tomatoes, pineapple and juice, and fish sauce, and stir to combine. Let cook 2 more minutes. Add spinach, stir well, and cook for 5 more minutes. Finally add cilantro and stir briefly before serving. Garnish with slices of lime if desired.<br />
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Serves 4 - 6.<br />
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