Inspired by Quince Tree 65, I decided it would be a good thing to make a list of all the provisions we have in our food cupboards, fridge and freezer. I especially like how QT65 used a different colour for protein, carbohydrates etc. I was full of good intentions, but after eating dinner and washing up, I have managed only to turn out the tea and coffee shelves and the small dry goods cupboard.
I do this periodically anyway as it is good to know exactly what you have and haven't got lurking in the back of your cupboards, and I like just being able to check my spreadsheet to see if I have the right herbs and spices for a particular recipe rather than having to go and check. I like the feeling of everything being shipshape and catalogued neatly - a relic of so many years spent working in libraries coupled with the autumn feeling of squirrelling away stores for cold weather.
I am so tired this evening I can barely keep my eyes open, so I am signing off to go and snuggle in bed and fall asleep listening to Radio 4. Tomorrow evening I am going to tackle the larger dry goods cupboard, and the fridge and freezer. The next part of the plan is work out which things that I like to keep a stock of need replenishing (tinned tomatoes, lentils, arborio rice etc) and which things I need to use up (frozen meat etc).
Then is is just a case of working the latter into a menu plan, and seeing how well I can do with the Storecupboard Challenge that I mentioned last week. I have How To Feed Your Family for £5 A Day by Bernadine Lawrence to read to get some ideas. I think my Mum used to have an older edition of this when I was a little girl, so I am hoping to discover some forgotten childhood favourites in there, as well as some new ideas.
Heaven forbid that either of us should ever be in a situation where we start the day with our jobs, but end it without, but I like to think that should that happen, or should we be snowed in, or whatever else, we could not just survive for a few days, but eat well.
What are your favourite store cupboard items?
Love
Mimi
xxx
Showing posts with label Domestic Bliss. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Domestic Bliss. Show all posts
Monday, 1 October 2012
Monday, 24 September 2012
Food Stamp Challenge
It seems that menu planning is never far from my mind, recently. Perhaps it is because of the change of season and the foods coming into their best, the anticipation of apples and pears in abundance, or perhaps it is because there have been several lovely new cookery books, magazines and tv series recently. Whatever it is, I have been thinking more and more about What To Cook.
It is a tricky balance for me, as I am working long hours, and it is very easy to fall into the trap of having no time to plan, so you end up having to get something on the way home from work, which really isn't very satisfying. Somehow it seems impossible to come out of a shop with change from a £10 note, but then again, perhaps part of the problem is that we so rarely pay with actual money nowadays.
This time last year we were adjusting on living mainly on one salary; the spectre of another restructure and another possible redundancy beckons. The idea that there won't be as much money seems very real again. Even without that, I found myself walking out of the shop the other evening, tired and worn to a ravelling, having paid money for food that wasn't particularly inspiring, but was easy and quick, thinking 'surely, for the money I have, I can do better than this'.
For the budget I have for food, I should be able to provide tasty healthy seasonal meals. I can, I know I can, from experience. But it has felt a bit more of a struggle recently. And then in a timely way, I came across this post over at The Quince Tree: http://thequincetree65.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/store-cupboard-challenge.html I quickly totted up how much I would have to spend...there are two of us, so two times four is eight, seven days in a week, seven times eight is fifty six, which isn't bad at all, and isn't that different to what I have in my budget now. Until you realise that is dollars not pounds, so I would actually have £34.58 which really isn't so very much after all. I don't want to throw myself into doing this right away, I want more time to think. But the seeds are planted, and I am thinking away, ideas bubbling.
A few months ago, I noticed that a food bank had just been started, and was appealing for donations. I had a tumble of feelings - good that something is being done to help people who need it, sad that there are people who need it, and vaguely horrified by the list of foods requested, tempered by the realisation that when the wolf is at the door you will of course eat whatever there is. It isn't that I wanted to donate caviar or lobster, but UHT milk, instant mashed potato and tinned meat just isn't very inspiring. I pray that I will never have to find out what it is like to need a donation of food just to keep going, and I know that if I did I would be grateful to have something to feed my family with, but reading through the shopping list, I couldn't help but think surely there is a better way of feeding your family cheaply, than this? And just because people are in straightened circumstances, that doesn't mean that you stop liking nice food. And nice food to me doesn't necessarily mean expensive food. I had a thought flitter through my mind that it woudl be lovely to get together with some of my friends to share our favourite thrifty end-of-the-month recipes, that are so tasty you would be happy eat them any time of the month, even on payday! And then I thought that we could print that little booklet and put donate it with the food boxes. But then I thought, surely that would be a bit patronizing. Yet then again, if you haven't been taught to cook from scratch, it must be bewildering to suddenly have to do it. And it never fails to amaze me how many people don't know. Just the other day, we walked through the park, round the pond, and noticed a couple who were feeding the ducks with entire flatbreads, bagels, and fresh from the packet Kingsmill bread...hopefully they will never have to cut back, and maybe I am judging them harshly, but I can't imagine that there is a lot of cooking from scratch in their kitchen!
It is a tricky balance for me, as I am working long hours, and it is very easy to fall into the trap of having no time to plan, so you end up having to get something on the way home from work, which really isn't very satisfying. Somehow it seems impossible to come out of a shop with change from a £10 note, but then again, perhaps part of the problem is that we so rarely pay with actual money nowadays.
This time last year we were adjusting on living mainly on one salary; the spectre of another restructure and another possible redundancy beckons. The idea that there won't be as much money seems very real again. Even without that, I found myself walking out of the shop the other evening, tired and worn to a ravelling, having paid money for food that wasn't particularly inspiring, but was easy and quick, thinking 'surely, for the money I have, I can do better than this'.
For the budget I have for food, I should be able to provide tasty healthy seasonal meals. I can, I know I can, from experience. But it has felt a bit more of a struggle recently. And then in a timely way, I came across this post over at The Quince Tree: http://thequincetree65.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/store-cupboard-challenge.html I quickly totted up how much I would have to spend...there are two of us, so two times four is eight, seven days in a week, seven times eight is fifty six, which isn't bad at all, and isn't that different to what I have in my budget now. Until you realise that is dollars not pounds, so I would actually have £34.58 which really isn't so very much after all. I don't want to throw myself into doing this right away, I want more time to think. But the seeds are planted, and I am thinking away, ideas bubbling.
A few months ago, I noticed that a food bank had just been started, and was appealing for donations. I had a tumble of feelings - good that something is being done to help people who need it, sad that there are people who need it, and vaguely horrified by the list of foods requested, tempered by the realisation that when the wolf is at the door you will of course eat whatever there is. It isn't that I wanted to donate caviar or lobster, but UHT milk, instant mashed potato and tinned meat just isn't very inspiring. I pray that I will never have to find out what it is like to need a donation of food just to keep going, and I know that if I did I would be grateful to have something to feed my family with, but reading through the shopping list, I couldn't help but think surely there is a better way of feeding your family cheaply, than this? And just because people are in straightened circumstances, that doesn't mean that you stop liking nice food. And nice food to me doesn't necessarily mean expensive food. I had a thought flitter through my mind that it woudl be lovely to get together with some of my friends to share our favourite thrifty end-of-the-month recipes, that are so tasty you would be happy eat them any time of the month, even on payday! And then I thought that we could print that little booklet and put donate it with the food boxes. But then I thought, surely that would be a bit patronizing. Yet then again, if you haven't been taught to cook from scratch, it must be bewildering to suddenly have to do it. And it never fails to amaze me how many people don't know. Just the other day, we walked through the park, round the pond, and noticed a couple who were feeding the ducks with entire flatbreads, bagels, and fresh from the packet Kingsmill bread...hopefully they will never have to cut back, and maybe I am judging them harshly, but I can't imagine that there is a lot of cooking from scratch in their kitchen!
Sunday, 2 September 2012
Sunday Evening Simmer
Sundays remain my favourite day of the week, even though for the last 5 months I have been lucky enough not to work Saturdays (after 11 years of working Saturdays, up to 3 a month). Sunday evenings, right about now, are possibly the best part of the best day of the week. I have had most of the pleasures of Sunday, dinner is simmering on the stove, and I still have a few Sunday pleasures to partake of before bedtime.
We started the day with a short drive over to Hylands House, as we love to walk around the grounds (and I must confess, yes I do often murmur to myself 'of all this I might have been mistress!' in the manner of Lizzie Bennett!) and on the first Sunday of the month they have a farmers market. My Pride and Prejudice fantasies were fuelled further today, because for the first time, we were there at the right time for a carriage ride around the grounds, pulled by a Suffolk Punch named Holly.
On the way home, we took a little diversion to the farm shop to pick out the first of the early season apples. They have a table with apples on and a sharp knife, so you can sample them before you buy them. We like to pick 7 different varieties and take home 2 of each, as that way we can try a different one each day. This time a pair of pears made their way into my basket as well! I love it here, but haven't been for a while. I also picked up some frozen blackcurrants, blackberries, cherries and gooseberries (separately, not in a combination!) so that I can stir them into porridge for breakfasts.
Then we came home, and enjoyed a pot of tea before Carl got to work on a document he is writing for work, and I put all my clothes back into the wardrobe-closet, having got rid of a lot, and sorted them seasonally. It is really lovely to walk in and see everything so organized, and I discovered a few dresses which had worked their way to the back and I haven't worn for a while.
We then took a walk into town together; I bought the new issue of Craftseller to read in the bath later, and a black gel ink pen. We picked up some coffee from Starbucks (have I mentioned that the Pumpkin Spice Latte is coming to the UK?!) and took a walk around the park. I never get tired of walking round the park with the trees and the lake-pond. We spotted a squirrel today, and a lot of ducks.
And now Carl is serving the dinner that has been simmering on the stove top...a little something that I put together without a recipe, just a gentle potter around the kitchen... Sunday Evening Simmer
In a heavy saucepan, soften an onion, then throw in a carrot or two, cut into coins. Tip in the end of a bottle of white wine, and sprinkle with some dried tarragon. Top up with some good chicken stock, and add a shake of frozen peas. Shred the meat leftover from a roast chicken earlier in the week, and add to the pan. Remember a packet of pearl barley you have, and shake a little of that in too. Then while it comes up to a simmer, whip up some simple dumplings with 4oz self raising flour and 2oz of suet, a good shake of dried mixed herbs, and enough cold water to make a dough. Divide into 8, pop into the pan, place the lid on, and simmer gently for about 20 minutes. Perfect Sunday evening eating...
The rest of Sunday evening is going to involve writing out my pattern for the owl mug hug...I plan to do it in the manner of Susan Branch, and is the reason I bought the new pen earlier. Then a bath with Craftseller, and early to bed...
I hope your Sunday is as blissful as mine....
Love Mimi xxx
We started the day with a short drive over to Hylands House, as we love to walk around the grounds (and I must confess, yes I do often murmur to myself 'of all this I might have been mistress!' in the manner of Lizzie Bennett!) and on the first Sunday of the month they have a farmers market. My Pride and Prejudice fantasies were fuelled further today, because for the first time, we were there at the right time for a carriage ride around the grounds, pulled by a Suffolk Punch named Holly.
On the way home, we took a little diversion to the farm shop to pick out the first of the early season apples. They have a table with apples on and a sharp knife, so you can sample them before you buy them. We like to pick 7 different varieties and take home 2 of each, as that way we can try a different one each day. This time a pair of pears made their way into my basket as well! I love it here, but haven't been for a while. I also picked up some frozen blackcurrants, blackberries, cherries and gooseberries (separately, not in a combination!) so that I can stir them into porridge for breakfasts.
Then we came home, and enjoyed a pot of tea before Carl got to work on a document he is writing for work, and I put all my clothes back into the wardrobe-closet, having got rid of a lot, and sorted them seasonally. It is really lovely to walk in and see everything so organized, and I discovered a few dresses which had worked their way to the back and I haven't worn for a while.
We then took a walk into town together; I bought the new issue of Craftseller to read in the bath later, and a black gel ink pen. We picked up some coffee from Starbucks (have I mentioned that the Pumpkin Spice Latte is coming to the UK?!) and took a walk around the park. I never get tired of walking round the park with the trees and the lake-pond. We spotted a squirrel today, and a lot of ducks.
And now Carl is serving the dinner that has been simmering on the stove top...a little something that I put together without a recipe, just a gentle potter around the kitchen... Sunday Evening Simmer
In a heavy saucepan, soften an onion, then throw in a carrot or two, cut into coins. Tip in the end of a bottle of white wine, and sprinkle with some dried tarragon. Top up with some good chicken stock, and add a shake of frozen peas. Shred the meat leftover from a roast chicken earlier in the week, and add to the pan. Remember a packet of pearl barley you have, and shake a little of that in too. Then while it comes up to a simmer, whip up some simple dumplings with 4oz self raising flour and 2oz of suet, a good shake of dried mixed herbs, and enough cold water to make a dough. Divide into 8, pop into the pan, place the lid on, and simmer gently for about 20 minutes. Perfect Sunday evening eating...
The rest of Sunday evening is going to involve writing out my pattern for the owl mug hug...I plan to do it in the manner of Susan Branch, and is the reason I bought the new pen earlier. Then a bath with Craftseller, and early to bed...
I hope your Sunday is as blissful as mine....
Love Mimi xxx
Saturday, 25 August 2012
After The Storm
We have just had a thunderstorm which rumbled on for nearly an hour, the lightning flashes feeling as though they were getting more violent and the thunder louder and louder. The rain came down so very fine at first, it was almost a mist, and then hard, really pelting down. We kept our window open throughout, and now the air is cool and scented with the rain, which is now falling just occasionally, almost as an afterthought.
A stormy summer afternoon is a nice time to be home, and I have spent it designing a mug-hug patterned with owls in cable stitch - the first time I have designed and made a piece of knitting, rather than following a set pattern, drinking tea, watching an old Bond film, and pottering about on the internet, visiting favourite sites and discovering new ones.
I have always like the idea of paper dolls, and imagine my delight when I found this website http://www.thebleudoor.com/betsymccallhome.htm and then this one http://tpettit.best.vwh.net/dolls/pd_scans/betsy_mccall/1952.html I love the combination of a little bit of story and the paper doll together. It has given me thoughts for future projects. I seem to have a lot of those swirling round in my mind at the moment!
I also found a new website about being a housewife (although I have a full time paid job outside of the home, I do still very much consider myself a housewife, as well) http://talesofaretromodernhousewife.blogspot.co.uk/p/about-me.html
Visiting Attic24, an old favourite, a while ago, she talked about the idea of thinking about 'home blessing' rather than 'chores' or 'jobs'. I have been working a lot of hours at work recently, so took Friday off, and devoted much of it to 'home blessing' and really enjoyed it. I did a great deal of decluttering and a fair amount of cleaning, took some donations to the charity shop, and ended the day feeling pleased with my efforts. Our home always feels lighter, somehow, after that kind of activity. Carl told me not to use a day off for cleaning and housework, and to do something for myself, but I actually really enjoyed having a good chunk of time to devote to some jobs which have been niggling at me for a while, but I find myself too tired to tackle in the evenings. I was most happy at conquering Magazine Mountain and now having carpet which had been hidden for a while! I did go into town afterwards for some lunch (a very late lunch, at 4:00!).
Next on my list is to go through my clothes, bring out the more autumny ones, look at what I haven't worn for a while, and think about what I might like in the future. I love the feeling of the changing of the seasons, the setting aside, the bringing out anew. I am really starting to get that back-to-school feeling already. Next time I am at the market I want to look for a big bunch of sunflowers to bless our home with, or a bunch of bronzey chrysanthemums which will make me want to read Mrs Miniver again.
Now I am going to sit and write up my owl mug-hug pattern. Wherever you are, I hope you dodged the raindrops!
Love Mimi xxx
A stormy summer afternoon is a nice time to be home, and I have spent it designing a mug-hug patterned with owls in cable stitch - the first time I have designed and made a piece of knitting, rather than following a set pattern, drinking tea, watching an old Bond film, and pottering about on the internet, visiting favourite sites and discovering new ones.
I have always like the idea of paper dolls, and imagine my delight when I found this website http://www.thebleudoor.com/betsymccallhome.htm and then this one http://tpettit.best.vwh.net/dolls/pd_scans/betsy_mccall/1952.html I love the combination of a little bit of story and the paper doll together. It has given me thoughts for future projects. I seem to have a lot of those swirling round in my mind at the moment!
I also found a new website about being a housewife (although I have a full time paid job outside of the home, I do still very much consider myself a housewife, as well) http://talesofaretromodernhousewife.blogspot.co.uk/p/about-me.html
Visiting Attic24, an old favourite, a while ago, she talked about the idea of thinking about 'home blessing' rather than 'chores' or 'jobs'. I have been working a lot of hours at work recently, so took Friday off, and devoted much of it to 'home blessing' and really enjoyed it. I did a great deal of decluttering and a fair amount of cleaning, took some donations to the charity shop, and ended the day feeling pleased with my efforts. Our home always feels lighter, somehow, after that kind of activity. Carl told me not to use a day off for cleaning and housework, and to do something for myself, but I actually really enjoyed having a good chunk of time to devote to some jobs which have been niggling at me for a while, but I find myself too tired to tackle in the evenings. I was most happy at conquering Magazine Mountain and now having carpet which had been hidden for a while! I did go into town afterwards for some lunch (a very late lunch, at 4:00!).
Next on my list is to go through my clothes, bring out the more autumny ones, look at what I haven't worn for a while, and think about what I might like in the future. I love the feeling of the changing of the seasons, the setting aside, the bringing out anew. I am really starting to get that back-to-school feeling already. Next time I am at the market I want to look for a big bunch of sunflowers to bless our home with, or a bunch of bronzey chrysanthemums which will make me want to read Mrs Miniver again.
Now I am going to sit and write up my owl mug-hug pattern. Wherever you are, I hope you dodged the raindrops!
Love Mimi xxx
Monday, 9 July 2012
Tea and Crochet
I was trying to think of a lovely title for this post, as it is a post about lovely things, but inspiration seems to be lacking today! Perhaps I should have called it lovely tea and lovely crochet!
Today is the first day of our week off properly, as we would have had the weekend off anyway. The Grand Prix yesterday was amazing, and as spectacular as the driving was, there was also a display by the Red Arrows which was breathtaking. The rain held off for the race, and we had amazing seats, but afterwards it did rain a lot and was very muddy, but it all added to the experience!
It took twice as long to get home as it did to get there, as a National Express coach had broken down on the M1, so we arrived home rather tired, and decided that today we would have a gentle day.
We had lunch together in town, and then got coffee to take away and took a long stroll through the park. The park in Chelmsford is really pretty and seems to go on forever. There is a small part near to the town, which is where the crocuses blossom each year, and then you walk along the river and under a bridge before you end up in the much larger park, where there is a really big pond. It is too small to be a lake, but too big to be a pond...I wonder if there is a name for it?! There were lots of ducks wandering about, some baby Cootes were peeping away, and the scruffy grey looking cignets we have been watching growing up are almost full sized swans now. We sat by a weeping willow and breathed the slightly cool, slightly damp air, and just felt really relaxed.
On the way home, we noticed new shops are springing up along the railway arches. We popped into the new delicatessen, and I was really excited to see they stock Tregnothan Tea. I enjoyed a pot of this a few years ago when we went to Claridges for afternoon tea, and I wanted to buy some to bring home, but they didn't have any. When I looked online, the postage and packing was more than the tea, so you can imagine how pleased I am to have a local source of it! At £3.75 for a little box it isn't a tea to drink every day, but is really, really lovely. It is refreshing and light, and is the only tea grown in the UK. We are enjoying a pot right now. It isn't quite raining yet, but it feels like it soon will be, so it feels like the perfect cosy afternoon.
While I was watching Three Go Mad, the new programme from River Cottage the other evening, I felt slightly at a loss as I have run out of wool for my crochet ripple blanket, and although I ordered more it has not come in yet, and although technically I am knitting Noah's Ark still, I have hit a dry spot for inspiration. I have been thinking that I need a small project to keep me amused, just something quick and easy that I can work on, but wasn't sure what. I finally visited www.themakingspot.com and downloaded a free pattern for a crochet necklace. One of my friends had made a crochet collar earlier in the year that I thought looked really nice, and I have some background thoughts about buying or making the same dress in a variety of colours, and then customising with different buttons, trims, etc, so I am going to sit and drink tea and crochet a collar necklace this afternoon.
I have also discovered a lovely new blog, and plan to make this for dinner tonight http://tastyherbalist.typepad.com/modernhousewifevoli/2012/01/smokey-meal.html with a few tweeks, as I have spinach but not kale at home today, and some River Cottage flatbread. That seems like the perfect overcast Monday food to me.
Blogger seems to object to putting paragraph breaks in at the moment, so apologies if this comes out as one big clump of text. I have tried telling it in html but it definitely seems to have its own mind!
I hope that it isn't raining where you are, and that you have a delicious pot of tea to drink, love Mimi xxx
Today is the first day of our week off properly, as we would have had the weekend off anyway. The Grand Prix yesterday was amazing, and as spectacular as the driving was, there was also a display by the Red Arrows which was breathtaking. The rain held off for the race, and we had amazing seats, but afterwards it did rain a lot and was very muddy, but it all added to the experience!
It took twice as long to get home as it did to get there, as a National Express coach had broken down on the M1, so we arrived home rather tired, and decided that today we would have a gentle day.
We had lunch together in town, and then got coffee to take away and took a long stroll through the park. The park in Chelmsford is really pretty and seems to go on forever. There is a small part near to the town, which is where the crocuses blossom each year, and then you walk along the river and under a bridge before you end up in the much larger park, where there is a really big pond. It is too small to be a lake, but too big to be a pond...I wonder if there is a name for it?! There were lots of ducks wandering about, some baby Cootes were peeping away, and the scruffy grey looking cignets we have been watching growing up are almost full sized swans now. We sat by a weeping willow and breathed the slightly cool, slightly damp air, and just felt really relaxed.
On the way home, we noticed new shops are springing up along the railway arches. We popped into the new delicatessen, and I was really excited to see they stock Tregnothan Tea. I enjoyed a pot of this a few years ago when we went to Claridges for afternoon tea, and I wanted to buy some to bring home, but they didn't have any. When I looked online, the postage and packing was more than the tea, so you can imagine how pleased I am to have a local source of it! At £3.75 for a little box it isn't a tea to drink every day, but is really, really lovely. It is refreshing and light, and is the only tea grown in the UK. We are enjoying a pot right now. It isn't quite raining yet, but it feels like it soon will be, so it feels like the perfect cosy afternoon.
While I was watching Three Go Mad, the new programme from River Cottage the other evening, I felt slightly at a loss as I have run out of wool for my crochet ripple blanket, and although I ordered more it has not come in yet, and although technically I am knitting Noah's Ark still, I have hit a dry spot for inspiration. I have been thinking that I need a small project to keep me amused, just something quick and easy that I can work on, but wasn't sure what. I finally visited www.themakingspot.com and downloaded a free pattern for a crochet necklace. One of my friends had made a crochet collar earlier in the year that I thought looked really nice, and I have some background thoughts about buying or making the same dress in a variety of colours, and then customising with different buttons, trims, etc, so I am going to sit and drink tea and crochet a collar necklace this afternoon.
I have also discovered a lovely new blog, and plan to make this for dinner tonight http://tastyherbalist.typepad.com/modernhousewifevoli/2012/01/smokey-meal.html with a few tweeks, as I have spinach but not kale at home today, and some River Cottage flatbread. That seems like the perfect overcast Monday food to me.
Blogger seems to object to putting paragraph breaks in at the moment, so apologies if this comes out as one big clump of text. I have tried telling it in html but it definitely seems to have its own mind!
I hope that it isn't raining where you are, and that you have a delicious pot of tea to drink, love Mimi xxx
Thursday, 22 March 2012
Another Spring Evening
Today it was warm enough for me to slip outside at lunch time, and leave my coat behind. I had a few errands to run, and it was lovely breathing in the spring air, and feeling it against my skin. One of the lovely things on my list of lunchtime jobs was to deliver birthday cards and gifts to two friends who work in the library. I went to the market and chose bunches of orangey pink tulips and mystery daffodils for them. I love it when daffodils are so tightly in bud, that you have no idea what they will be like when they are open. Often they are traditional yellow, but sometimes you get those beautiful pale ones, and then there are the kind with the bright egg-yolk orange centres.
I finished in the office late afternoon and came straight home. Oh, how I love being at home! I have got bed linen laundering, all the windows open, and a pot of tea that I am working my way down. Sometimes I find being home alone a little quiet, so I have Little House On The Prairie on in the background. I have turned out the freezer, made a note of what I have got in there, and reorganized it. I have also made a note to find some interesting recipes for mince...it is something that I quite often pick up when it is on offer, and I hadn't realised I had quite so much!
In a little while I am going to go into the kitchen to make Tuesday Tarts from Attic24 (even though it is Thursday!). There will be enough for dinner, and then some left over for lunch tomorrow.
Walking home earlier, seeing so many branches frothing into blossom, I remembered a fact that Mum told me the other day - apparently it takes two weeks for spring to travel from Lands End to John O'Groats! I like that kind of useless information!
I found out my decopatch glue earlier. I don't think I am in the mood for it this evening, but I want to start decopatching some little plastic eggs. As Easter gifts for our family this year, I have brought some small baskets which I am going to line with shredded tissue paper in Easter colours. For each member of the family I am going to blow an egg, paint it and then paint their name on it. I am going to put in a few small decopatched eggs, and a handful of tiny foil wrapped chocolate eggs. The idea is that each year from now on I will give a new egg or two, so they will build towards an Easter Tree collection.
Perhaps this evening is more an evening for some gentle knitting. I have so many things I want to work on at the moment! I think perhaps I will either do a few rows on the red bolero I started a few weeks ago, or add another stripe to my ripple stitch crochet blanket. All I really want this evening is to light some candles, watch The Apprentice that I recorded last night, eat dinner and drink tea.
I don't know if I mentioned earlier this week, but I counted up and realised I have 5 jobs. 5! And I am in the middle of working 9 days straight. They aren't all whole days and it won't kill me, but I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to waking up on Wednesday morning!
Tomorrow I must remember to buy some cumin, cayenne pepper and paprika, as I want to make the cover recipe from this month's Vegetarian Living Magazine. They are halloumi spring rolls with a roasted cauliflower dressing and look really delicious. I will let you know how they go.
I seem to have strayed into rambling and musing rather than proper posting so I will leave you with my love for a beautiful spring evening,
love
Mimi
xxx
I finished in the office late afternoon and came straight home. Oh, how I love being at home! I have got bed linen laundering, all the windows open, and a pot of tea that I am working my way down. Sometimes I find being home alone a little quiet, so I have Little House On The Prairie on in the background. I have turned out the freezer, made a note of what I have got in there, and reorganized it. I have also made a note to find some interesting recipes for mince...it is something that I quite often pick up when it is on offer, and I hadn't realised I had quite so much!
In a little while I am going to go into the kitchen to make Tuesday Tarts from Attic24 (even though it is Thursday!). There will be enough for dinner, and then some left over for lunch tomorrow.
Walking home earlier, seeing so many branches frothing into blossom, I remembered a fact that Mum told me the other day - apparently it takes two weeks for spring to travel from Lands End to John O'Groats! I like that kind of useless information!
I found out my decopatch glue earlier. I don't think I am in the mood for it this evening, but I want to start decopatching some little plastic eggs. As Easter gifts for our family this year, I have brought some small baskets which I am going to line with shredded tissue paper in Easter colours. For each member of the family I am going to blow an egg, paint it and then paint their name on it. I am going to put in a few small decopatched eggs, and a handful of tiny foil wrapped chocolate eggs. The idea is that each year from now on I will give a new egg or two, so they will build towards an Easter Tree collection.
Perhaps this evening is more an evening for some gentle knitting. I have so many things I want to work on at the moment! I think perhaps I will either do a few rows on the red bolero I started a few weeks ago, or add another stripe to my ripple stitch crochet blanket. All I really want this evening is to light some candles, watch The Apprentice that I recorded last night, eat dinner and drink tea.
I don't know if I mentioned earlier this week, but I counted up and realised I have 5 jobs. 5! And I am in the middle of working 9 days straight. They aren't all whole days and it won't kill me, but I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to waking up on Wednesday morning!
Tomorrow I must remember to buy some cumin, cayenne pepper and paprika, as I want to make the cover recipe from this month's Vegetarian Living Magazine. They are halloumi spring rolls with a roasted cauliflower dressing and look really delicious. I will let you know how they go.
I seem to have strayed into rambling and musing rather than proper posting so I will leave you with my love for a beautiful spring evening,
love
Mimi
xxx
Tuesday, 20 March 2012
New Domestic Routines
Earlier this year, I treated myself to The Art of Homemaking programme over at Brocante Home, and I am so glad I did. I have always enjoyed Alison's writing and programmes, but this one seems to really click with me somehow. Maybe it is because it is the one that I need right now? Who knows...but it is all about housekeeping as a way to prime your canvas for homemaking. It helps you to develop your own routines, so your home runs like clockwork, and you have the pleasure of knowing that everything is taken care of.
With going back to work full time, and this short time of having 3 jobs, and it being spring, which always makes me want to start fresh, it really is a good time for me to get some good routines going to support me. The other evening, I found myself alone, so I sat down with some notebooks and got scribbling.
First I made a list of all the jobs that have to be done in each room every day, and then every week, and then periodically, perhaps monthly. Then I took the 'every day' tasks, and tried to put them together into a morning and evening routine, so they will be done on automatic pilot. One small tweak I have made is rather than taking the rubbish and recycling out in the evening (Carl often used to do that after one of us had done the washing up) I am taking it out on my way to work in the morning. It is only a tiny thing, but it means I am doing it when I would be going out anyway rather than one of us going out in the dark. Early days yet, but the new daily routine seems to be working nicely for us.
The big decision I had to make as far as cleaning went was if I wanted to do a different room each day, a different task each day but in all the rooms, or do everything on one day. For now, I have opted for the latter. The plan is to do it on a Monday when I come home from work, unless I am working late, or we are going out or having company for dinner, in which case I do it on Tuesday. Then if I have done it on Monday, on Tuesday I choose one 'periodical' task like defrosting the freezer or cleaning the oven (I wipe it out after every use so it doesn't need doing more often!). If I have done the cleaning on Tuesday, the periodical task moves to Thursday. Friday I write a menu plan and do the grocery shopping online, and clean out the fridge ready for the grocery delivery. Sunday is the day for fresh bed linen. Carl likes to have a hand in some of the tasks, so the laundry tends to be his, although I do put it on from time to time, but in general I have not included it here, as he takes care of it.
I got home from work yesterday afternoon, and felt a little tired. I didn't really feel like cleaning..it was a beautiful afternoon, and I would rather have sat and read. But I looked around and realised that it would be so much nicer once everything was clean and in order. I also realised that I couldn't do it on Tuesday because I am working late. So I put on some music and got down to it..and I am really glad I did. I finished just before Carl got home, by which time everything was clean and neat, and I had candles burning in the living room, and lavender oil in a diffuser burning in the bedroom. The kind of home you would want to come home to. I hope the routines will help keep me on the straight and narrow and not be tempted to put things off! I think that having a regular day for menu planning and ordering groceries will be a really good thing too. Over the last few months I have found it harder to settle down to doing it regularly, so of course I end up buying some milk on the way home, something for dinner, something for our lunchboxes, which really adds up. So I think this way will save us some money as well as being more organized!
Talking of being organized..I did want to post about our Mothering Sunday, but I want to go and get dinner ready now, so when I come home from work this evening, it just needs to go in the oven to reheat, so I must away to that.
I hope that spring is smiling on you today
love
Mimi
xxx
ps I have taken to using a lot of natural cleaning products based on vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and lemons. I am really pleased with how efficient they are, and I was also thinking that I know a lot of friends with children who have bought all kinds of cupboard locks to make sure their little ones don't drink their Cillit Bang or the like...it made me realise how wrong it is to use chemicals that could kill us to clean with. Ok, if the baby drinks the vinegar it isn't going to do it any good, but it isn't going to do it as much harm as if it gets into the bleach bottle. As well as being good for the purse and the environment, homemade natural cleaning products are just better all round! They make sense...and with essential oils, you can choose how they smell, as well!
With going back to work full time, and this short time of having 3 jobs, and it being spring, which always makes me want to start fresh, it really is a good time for me to get some good routines going to support me. The other evening, I found myself alone, so I sat down with some notebooks and got scribbling.
First I made a list of all the jobs that have to be done in each room every day, and then every week, and then periodically, perhaps monthly. Then I took the 'every day' tasks, and tried to put them together into a morning and evening routine, so they will be done on automatic pilot. One small tweak I have made is rather than taking the rubbish and recycling out in the evening (Carl often used to do that after one of us had done the washing up) I am taking it out on my way to work in the morning. It is only a tiny thing, but it means I am doing it when I would be going out anyway rather than one of us going out in the dark. Early days yet, but the new daily routine seems to be working nicely for us.
The big decision I had to make as far as cleaning went was if I wanted to do a different room each day, a different task each day but in all the rooms, or do everything on one day. For now, I have opted for the latter. The plan is to do it on a Monday when I come home from work, unless I am working late, or we are going out or having company for dinner, in which case I do it on Tuesday. Then if I have done it on Monday, on Tuesday I choose one 'periodical' task like defrosting the freezer or cleaning the oven (I wipe it out after every use so it doesn't need doing more often!). If I have done the cleaning on Tuesday, the periodical task moves to Thursday. Friday I write a menu plan and do the grocery shopping online, and clean out the fridge ready for the grocery delivery. Sunday is the day for fresh bed linen. Carl likes to have a hand in some of the tasks, so the laundry tends to be his, although I do put it on from time to time, but in general I have not included it here, as he takes care of it.
I got home from work yesterday afternoon, and felt a little tired. I didn't really feel like cleaning..it was a beautiful afternoon, and I would rather have sat and read. But I looked around and realised that it would be so much nicer once everything was clean and in order. I also realised that I couldn't do it on Tuesday because I am working late. So I put on some music and got down to it..and I am really glad I did. I finished just before Carl got home, by which time everything was clean and neat, and I had candles burning in the living room, and lavender oil in a diffuser burning in the bedroom. The kind of home you would want to come home to. I hope the routines will help keep me on the straight and narrow and not be tempted to put things off! I think that having a regular day for menu planning and ordering groceries will be a really good thing too. Over the last few months I have found it harder to settle down to doing it regularly, so of course I end up buying some milk on the way home, something for dinner, something for our lunchboxes, which really adds up. So I think this way will save us some money as well as being more organized!
Talking of being organized..I did want to post about our Mothering Sunday, but I want to go and get dinner ready now, so when I come home from work this evening, it just needs to go in the oven to reheat, so I must away to that.
I hope that spring is smiling on you today
love
Mimi
xxx
ps I have taken to using a lot of natural cleaning products based on vinegar, bicarbonate of soda and lemons. I am really pleased with how efficient they are, and I was also thinking that I know a lot of friends with children who have bought all kinds of cupboard locks to make sure their little ones don't drink their Cillit Bang or the like...it made me realise how wrong it is to use chemicals that could kill us to clean with. Ok, if the baby drinks the vinegar it isn't going to do it any good, but it isn't going to do it as much harm as if it gets into the bleach bottle. As well as being good for the purse and the environment, homemade natural cleaning products are just better all round! They make sense...and with essential oils, you can choose how they smell, as well!
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Dishcloths and Bunting
Good morning!
I hope later today to have time to write out a little post about my Easter weekend adventures, and also my Jingle Belles post, but this morning I am thinking about dishcloths and bunting!
I am sitting in bed with a cup of tea at my side, Radio 4 is in the background, and I am surrounded by a little pile of happiness. There is Swept Off Her Feet, the new Hester Browne novel, and a selection of recipe books ready for me to make my shopping list from for my Royal Wedding Tea Party on Friday, and also knitting needles and a ball of dishcloth cotton.
Yes, really! Dishcloth cotton that I bought yesterday on my way to work. There was a choice of bright white, or a coffee cream colour, and I was drawn to the coffee cream shade. Not just for practical reasons, after all, that bright white won't stay bright white for long, but somehow the coffee shade just sang out to me. Now I know that there is a good reason to wonder why on earth you would knit your own dishcloth when they are so cheap to buy that they are virtually disposable, but you know, I really think that when you spend time and money on this kind of thing (the cotton was only £1.50 and will make 2 cloths, each which will take about 2 hours of continuous knitting, or an evening or two of knitting interspersed with other things) you are not spending these things for the end result, but for the experience of making them.
There is something lovely about taking a bit of time and effort to focus on what is really rather a lowly household item. Something really satisfying in lifting the steaming kettle from the hob with your own made dishcloth to protect your hand from the heat. I can't help but think that a few of these, with some homemade cleaning products would make a lovely housewarming gift too.
Not only that, but there is something very comforting about knitting a simple pattern which is quickly finished, for very little outlay on yarn. A sense of accomplishment, the ticking off of something finished. My favourite pattern to use is 'Chinese Waves', and if you click on the title of this post, there should be a link to take you to it. If not, just ask google and it will take you right to the pattern. It is a delicious little pattern, one row knit alternated with a knit one, slip one row. Like riding the soft waves yourself, knit, slip, knit, slip, and the clicking of your needles soothes you and lulls you into domestic bliss.
One of my little jobs for later on is to sort out my bunting and perhaps give it a quick press in readyness for the tea party on Friday. I love bunting, for its sole purpose is to cheer and look beautiful, and imbue a sense of festivity and frivolity to any occassion. Now I think about it, dishcloths and tea towels can be a kind of bunting in the kitchen. Imagine a drawer from which you can pull a fresh dishcloth and a fresh teatowel every morning, like a magician pulling a string of handkerchiefs from his sleeve! They can be pretty or practical or both, but a joy to produce with a flourish, to decorate your kitchen for the day.
I have my eye on a new set of tea towels decorated with tea pots and the Union Jack. I am waiting to move into my new kitchen, but as I move from this one, I am going to take time to retire those that are past their best.
Wherever you are, I hope you are having a lovely Wednesday!
I hope later today to have time to write out a little post about my Easter weekend adventures, and also my Jingle Belles post, but this morning I am thinking about dishcloths and bunting!
I am sitting in bed with a cup of tea at my side, Radio 4 is in the background, and I am surrounded by a little pile of happiness. There is Swept Off Her Feet, the new Hester Browne novel, and a selection of recipe books ready for me to make my shopping list from for my Royal Wedding Tea Party on Friday, and also knitting needles and a ball of dishcloth cotton.
Yes, really! Dishcloth cotton that I bought yesterday on my way to work. There was a choice of bright white, or a coffee cream colour, and I was drawn to the coffee cream shade. Not just for practical reasons, after all, that bright white won't stay bright white for long, but somehow the coffee shade just sang out to me. Now I know that there is a good reason to wonder why on earth you would knit your own dishcloth when they are so cheap to buy that they are virtually disposable, but you know, I really think that when you spend time and money on this kind of thing (the cotton was only £1.50 and will make 2 cloths, each which will take about 2 hours of continuous knitting, or an evening or two of knitting interspersed with other things) you are not spending these things for the end result, but for the experience of making them.
There is something lovely about taking a bit of time and effort to focus on what is really rather a lowly household item. Something really satisfying in lifting the steaming kettle from the hob with your own made dishcloth to protect your hand from the heat. I can't help but think that a few of these, with some homemade cleaning products would make a lovely housewarming gift too.
Not only that, but there is something very comforting about knitting a simple pattern which is quickly finished, for very little outlay on yarn. A sense of accomplishment, the ticking off of something finished. My favourite pattern to use is 'Chinese Waves', and if you click on the title of this post, there should be a link to take you to it. If not, just ask google and it will take you right to the pattern. It is a delicious little pattern, one row knit alternated with a knit one, slip one row. Like riding the soft waves yourself, knit, slip, knit, slip, and the clicking of your needles soothes you and lulls you into domestic bliss.
One of my little jobs for later on is to sort out my bunting and perhaps give it a quick press in readyness for the tea party on Friday. I love bunting, for its sole purpose is to cheer and look beautiful, and imbue a sense of festivity and frivolity to any occassion. Now I think about it, dishcloths and tea towels can be a kind of bunting in the kitchen. Imagine a drawer from which you can pull a fresh dishcloth and a fresh teatowel every morning, like a magician pulling a string of handkerchiefs from his sleeve! They can be pretty or practical or both, but a joy to produce with a flourish, to decorate your kitchen for the day.
I have my eye on a new set of tea towels decorated with tea pots and the Union Jack. I am waiting to move into my new kitchen, but as I move from this one, I am going to take time to retire those that are past their best.
Wherever you are, I hope you are having a lovely Wednesday!
Sunday, 20 March 2011
Looking Back...
Suddenly, it is Sunday evening! The afternoon has melted into a darker sky and cooler air, and I cannot pretend it is afternoon any more! Half past six, time to think about dinner, and then a bath, and then my first day back at work after what has been a wonderful week off.
I have had more adventures than I have had time to blog about! I had the most amazing massage and facial at a day spa, which involved orange oils and herbal pommanders, have been to London for Stitch and Craft at Olympia where I bought the wool and pattern for a new tea cosy, and was given a pattern for a 'keep calm and carry on' cross stitch, which I hope to start later on. I have had dinner at my in-laws, and a day at the zoo. Today I have been to the cinema, and had brunch at Cafe Rouge.
After a slightly wibbly start on Monday and Tuesday where I felt the solitude stray into the 'lonely' area once or twice, I really hit my stride and have enjoyed filling my days. I have not watched as much Ballykissangel as I hoped, nor knitted as much as I thought, and I still have not got round to properly pinning down my ideas about menu planning, but I have had a lot of lovely adventures, and also discovered some lovely new blogs along the way. We have decided that we are definitely going to move this summer, and although we will be renting rather than buying, I feel really excited about that. We have outgrown our little flat and are ready to move on, and I am glad that I feel like this, because I was afraid I was going to be terribly sad! I have started to look at potential properties and places on the internet...isn't it a wonderful tool?!
I suddenly feel very 'homely'. I think that perhaps before my week off my mind was too much on my job and the uncertainties there. I feel like a bit of balance has been restored. All I want to do at the moment is create and care for my home, do my job at work, have happy quiet moments with friends, read, craft, cook, breathe, enjoy life.
Now, I am off to cook some dinner (chicken in a light curried sauce with vegetables, topped with a savoury oaty crumble, courtesy of the WI market!) and then it is a long hot bath for me, with the new edition of Sainsbury's magazine. Wherever you are, I hope you are having a lovely Sunday evening!
Love, Mimi xxx
I have had more adventures than I have had time to blog about! I had the most amazing massage and facial at a day spa, which involved orange oils and herbal pommanders, have been to London for Stitch and Craft at Olympia where I bought the wool and pattern for a new tea cosy, and was given a pattern for a 'keep calm and carry on' cross stitch, which I hope to start later on. I have had dinner at my in-laws, and a day at the zoo. Today I have been to the cinema, and had brunch at Cafe Rouge.
After a slightly wibbly start on Monday and Tuesday where I felt the solitude stray into the 'lonely' area once or twice, I really hit my stride and have enjoyed filling my days. I have not watched as much Ballykissangel as I hoped, nor knitted as much as I thought, and I still have not got round to properly pinning down my ideas about menu planning, but I have had a lot of lovely adventures, and also discovered some lovely new blogs along the way. We have decided that we are definitely going to move this summer, and although we will be renting rather than buying, I feel really excited about that. We have outgrown our little flat and are ready to move on, and I am glad that I feel like this, because I was afraid I was going to be terribly sad! I have started to look at potential properties and places on the internet...isn't it a wonderful tool?!
I suddenly feel very 'homely'. I think that perhaps before my week off my mind was too much on my job and the uncertainties there. I feel like a bit of balance has been restored. All I want to do at the moment is create and care for my home, do my job at work, have happy quiet moments with friends, read, craft, cook, breathe, enjoy life.
Now, I am off to cook some dinner (chicken in a light curried sauce with vegetables, topped with a savoury oaty crumble, courtesy of the WI market!) and then it is a long hot bath for me, with the new edition of Sainsbury's magazine. Wherever you are, I hope you are having a lovely Sunday evening!
Love, Mimi xxx
Wednesday, 16 February 2011
A Blanket and a Brooch, Or What I Did On My Wednesday Off
I love my Wednesdays off work. Please don't misunderstand me, I do love my work, and look at it as my joy rather than my job, but equally I love my home and my life here, and loving one does not seem to diminish the other! I know I have been writing a lot recently about the stresses of work and the pleasures of home, but I just wanted to be fair, and say I do still love my job!
But a Wednesday off work now, that is a real treat. Especially a Wednesday off work when my diary pages shows no appointments, just a lovely free day! It was almost a lovely spring day this morning, but all of a sudden, as though it were too much effort, it seemed that the day gave a sigh and gave up, and without warning, it was a cool February day again. I am glad that I did not go out as I had been tempted to, but instead threw open all the windows, and enjoyed the day at home.
I have had a pile of 40 crocheted squares for some time now. Half are granny squares, and the remainder are fancy squares, and if only I had the time to put them all together, they would be a blanket. I started this task last weekend, and today I settled down to finish it. To begin with, my progress was sloooow, because I thought I would watch a film at the same time. However, 8 Women turned out to be in French with subtitles, so it made for rather slow progress! It was a gorgeous film, very French, with beautiful colours and cinematography. It is true though, that once it was over, my crochet speed increased somewhat! I am pleased to say that as I type, I have my new blanket over my knees. I am really pleased with it, and felt a real surge of satisfaction at having completed it. I already have plans forming for my next blanket, this time to be a ripple stitch blanket inspired by the grey-blues-creams of a walk along the Cobb at Lyme Regis a few years ago!
While I still had my crochet hook in hand, I spent a happy half hour crocheting a cherry brooch, which I just need to buy a brooch back for. It was meant to be done in 4ply, but I used scraps of dk instead. I would like to make another to wear in my hair, but I think I must get some 4ply to do that with, as the cherries made from dk are rather on the large side!
Towards the end of the day, I flicked the tv on for company, a bad habit I know, but sometimes I like to hear another voice when I have spent the day alone. Tamasin Day Lewis came on, with a programme about Classic British dishes. I love her cookery and her writing, and the programme was a real treat. In some ways, superficially, she reminds me of Nigella, but where as Nigella is polished and smooth and her hair is always neat, Tamasin is...well, its like you have just wandered into her kitchen. I like them both in different ways and for different qualities, but Tamasin just fit my mood today.
Inspired, if I have time tomorrow after my trip to a craft show with some friends, I plan to turn out my dry goods cupboard, make a list of spices and herbs and the like that need replenishing, and make out a menu plan for the week. To go back to my earlier comment, I do love my working life, but sometimes I wish I was a housewife, and had more time to devote to running my house, checking my stores, planning my cooking! That I could I have a routine of work, Monday wash day, Tuesday ironing day, Wednesday baking day, and the like. Sometimes, it is hard to fit it all in, and fit it in mindfully, so I can really enjoy it all. (Yes, I know that sounds utterly demented, but really, in the summer I love pegging a fresh wash out on the line to dry!)
Wherever you are, I hope you have had a wonderful Wednesday, and enjoy the rest of your week!
But a Wednesday off work now, that is a real treat. Especially a Wednesday off work when my diary pages shows no appointments, just a lovely free day! It was almost a lovely spring day this morning, but all of a sudden, as though it were too much effort, it seemed that the day gave a sigh and gave up, and without warning, it was a cool February day again. I am glad that I did not go out as I had been tempted to, but instead threw open all the windows, and enjoyed the day at home.
I have had a pile of 40 crocheted squares for some time now. Half are granny squares, and the remainder are fancy squares, and if only I had the time to put them all together, they would be a blanket. I started this task last weekend, and today I settled down to finish it. To begin with, my progress was sloooow, because I thought I would watch a film at the same time. However, 8 Women turned out to be in French with subtitles, so it made for rather slow progress! It was a gorgeous film, very French, with beautiful colours and cinematography. It is true though, that once it was over, my crochet speed increased somewhat! I am pleased to say that as I type, I have my new blanket over my knees. I am really pleased with it, and felt a real surge of satisfaction at having completed it. I already have plans forming for my next blanket, this time to be a ripple stitch blanket inspired by the grey-blues-creams of a walk along the Cobb at Lyme Regis a few years ago!
While I still had my crochet hook in hand, I spent a happy half hour crocheting a cherry brooch, which I just need to buy a brooch back for. It was meant to be done in 4ply, but I used scraps of dk instead. I would like to make another to wear in my hair, but I think I must get some 4ply to do that with, as the cherries made from dk are rather on the large side!
Towards the end of the day, I flicked the tv on for company, a bad habit I know, but sometimes I like to hear another voice when I have spent the day alone. Tamasin Day Lewis came on, with a programme about Classic British dishes. I love her cookery and her writing, and the programme was a real treat. In some ways, superficially, she reminds me of Nigella, but where as Nigella is polished and smooth and her hair is always neat, Tamasin is...well, its like you have just wandered into her kitchen. I like them both in different ways and for different qualities, but Tamasin just fit my mood today.
Inspired, if I have time tomorrow after my trip to a craft show with some friends, I plan to turn out my dry goods cupboard, make a list of spices and herbs and the like that need replenishing, and make out a menu plan for the week. To go back to my earlier comment, I do love my working life, but sometimes I wish I was a housewife, and had more time to devote to running my house, checking my stores, planning my cooking! That I could I have a routine of work, Monday wash day, Tuesday ironing day, Wednesday baking day, and the like. Sometimes, it is hard to fit it all in, and fit it in mindfully, so I can really enjoy it all. (Yes, I know that sounds utterly demented, but really, in the summer I love pegging a fresh wash out on the line to dry!)
Wherever you are, I hope you have had a wonderful Wednesday, and enjoy the rest of your week!
Wednesday, 27 May 2009
Household Routines
One of my favourite books (well, series of books really) when I was younger was Little House on the Prairie. I still have the set now, for those times when a comfort read is the order of the day. In one of the early books, Laura describes the rhythm of life in the little log cabin which she lived in with her Ma, Pa, and sister Mary:
Wash on Monday
Iron on Tuesday
Mend on Wednesday
Churn on Thursday
Clean on Friday
Bake on Saturday
Rest on Sunday
The lovely Alison over at www.brocantehome.co.uk has often blogged about her housekeeping rhythms and rituals, and I love to read about them. I have been trying to get into some rhythms and patterns over here in our dear little flat, particularly with our shopping and cooking.
You see, dear Carl works up in London and is not often home before 7:30pm in the evening, and I am working quite long hours commuting to my own little library- add into the mix that I don't drive, and you have a little housekeeping challenge. How to keep on top of the shopping without using up too much of our precious puttering time?
I did go through a period of doing our grocery shopping online, but I always felt vaguely irritated by it...I still had to do a menu plan, write out a shopping list and sit down to order it, as well as try and book a delivery slot.
Well, no more! We have been changing our eating habits slowly over the last few months, and all of a sudden, everything has come together. We have always taken the view that we would rather eat a little bit of meat that has lived a good life than a lot of cheap nasty meat, and gradually, gradually, we have got to the point where we are eating very little. I have found a fantastic WI market near where I work, and there is also a Co-Op right next door, a prime location for lunch hour shopping.
So now the shopping-and-cooking rhythm is like this. Once a month, I do a big online shop for staple provisions- everything from loo roll to tinned tomatoes, risotto rice to stock cubes. Then, each week, I pick some dishes to make- 2 vegetable soups (made in my wonderful vitamix machine) 2 vegetarian dishes, 2 fish dishes, and 1 meat dish. I then go to the WI market and the Co-Op to buy perishables such as milk and eggs, and any ingredients that I need for my weekly meal plan.
I am making a lot of things which really are more delicious than they sound- smoked mackerel pate, lentil dahl and veggie curry- and saving leftovers in the freezer. I have taken to making batches of spelt-and-pear muffins, and homemade yoghurt too. Later today, I am going to try my hand at home made hoummous later!
One of my favourite domestic pleasures is my monthly turn out of the fridge, freezer, dry goods cupboard and provisions cupboard. I like to make a list to see just what I have got, and then sit down to make my big once-a-month-shopping-delivery-list. I have been doing that today, and when it is all done, and the monthly shop delivered and put away, I always have a glow of domestic bliss about me!
Another thing that I like very much to do in the kitchen is to decant nearly everything into pretty storage jars. I have those hexagonal glass jars with screw on lids for my various kinds of flour, and a kilner jar of vanilla sugar. There is a beautiful bulbous jar for tea bags which somehow always reminds me of the Taj Mahal, and a little vintage tea caddy for my herbal tea. Somehow everything looks more organized once it is decanted! One little project that I do have in mind for future days is to find a source of pretty spice jars, and have a good turn out of my spice cupboard. At the moment they are all of a hodge-podge of different style of jars, depending on if I have bought Schwarz or the shop's own brand, and even a few plastic bags where I have bought them from the market. Most of them have nasty plastic lids, and I would so like a nice set that matches. I forsee a little internet shopping in my future!
I really like how this new little domestic routine feels like it has 'clicked' for me. I feel like it is my routine...perhaps that is why it is so satisfying? Anyway, I must away to my kitchen and start decanting, for the monthly shop has just arrived!
Wash on Monday
Iron on Tuesday
Mend on Wednesday
Churn on Thursday
Clean on Friday
Bake on Saturday
Rest on Sunday
The lovely Alison over at www.brocantehome.co.uk has often blogged about her housekeeping rhythms and rituals, and I love to read about them. I have been trying to get into some rhythms and patterns over here in our dear little flat, particularly with our shopping and cooking.
You see, dear Carl works up in London and is not often home before 7:30pm in the evening, and I am working quite long hours commuting to my own little library- add into the mix that I don't drive, and you have a little housekeeping challenge. How to keep on top of the shopping without using up too much of our precious puttering time?
I did go through a period of doing our grocery shopping online, but I always felt vaguely irritated by it...I still had to do a menu plan, write out a shopping list and sit down to order it, as well as try and book a delivery slot.
Well, no more! We have been changing our eating habits slowly over the last few months, and all of a sudden, everything has come together. We have always taken the view that we would rather eat a little bit of meat that has lived a good life than a lot of cheap nasty meat, and gradually, gradually, we have got to the point where we are eating very little. I have found a fantastic WI market near where I work, and there is also a Co-Op right next door, a prime location for lunch hour shopping.
So now the shopping-and-cooking rhythm is like this. Once a month, I do a big online shop for staple provisions- everything from loo roll to tinned tomatoes, risotto rice to stock cubes. Then, each week, I pick some dishes to make- 2 vegetable soups (made in my wonderful vitamix machine) 2 vegetarian dishes, 2 fish dishes, and 1 meat dish. I then go to the WI market and the Co-Op to buy perishables such as milk and eggs, and any ingredients that I need for my weekly meal plan.
I am making a lot of things which really are more delicious than they sound- smoked mackerel pate, lentil dahl and veggie curry- and saving leftovers in the freezer. I have taken to making batches of spelt-and-pear muffins, and homemade yoghurt too. Later today, I am going to try my hand at home made hoummous later!
One of my favourite domestic pleasures is my monthly turn out of the fridge, freezer, dry goods cupboard and provisions cupboard. I like to make a list to see just what I have got, and then sit down to make my big once-a-month-shopping-delivery-list. I have been doing that today, and when it is all done, and the monthly shop delivered and put away, I always have a glow of domestic bliss about me!
Another thing that I like very much to do in the kitchen is to decant nearly everything into pretty storage jars. I have those hexagonal glass jars with screw on lids for my various kinds of flour, and a kilner jar of vanilla sugar. There is a beautiful bulbous jar for tea bags which somehow always reminds me of the Taj Mahal, and a little vintage tea caddy for my herbal tea. Somehow everything looks more organized once it is decanted! One little project that I do have in mind for future days is to find a source of pretty spice jars, and have a good turn out of my spice cupboard. At the moment they are all of a hodge-podge of different style of jars, depending on if I have bought Schwarz or the shop's own brand, and even a few plastic bags where I have bought them from the market. Most of them have nasty plastic lids, and I would so like a nice set that matches. I forsee a little internet shopping in my future!
I really like how this new little domestic routine feels like it has 'clicked' for me. I feel like it is my routine...perhaps that is why it is so satisfying? Anyway, I must away to my kitchen and start decanting, for the monthly shop has just arrived!
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