Traditional Homemaking Fall/Spring 2009! - Page 6

[artparent]

do you think i could make chicken stock in the oven? maybe if i bring it to a boil and then pop it in a warm oven overnight? i don't feel very comfortable having stock on my gas hob all night, and my family isn't very fond of the smell either ...anyone do this? i don't have a slowcooker.

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[artparent]

was i talking with you folks about using stock bones after, to make bonemeal? you just throw them on your fire (would that i had a fireplace) and later put the ash on your compost. well, here's another step you could add!!

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[RetroMom]

subbing... what an awesome thread!

[Katico]

Black bean brownies!!!!!! I love that, I'm so making a batch tomorrow!

MyLittleWarrior: I love to take food to people-it makes me feel so neighbourly and awesome. Houses with new babies, or sickness, or people moving into a new house....I love to drop off something homecooked. What sort of things do you all make and take?

My standards are baked vegetarian ravioli (a casserole with tomato sauce and mozza with the ravioli), chicken soup, biscuits, muffins, etc. I'd love some new ideas! I have a friend who recently fractured both her elbows and couldn't really lift anything for 6 weeks and I was trying to take something over every week but by the end of it I was running out of ideas!

[MyLittleWarrior]

I ended up doing two chicken tetrizinis. One for us, one for them. It's easy when you can just make a double batch of something so you have an extra. Recipe review on the brownies: they came out kinda dry and chalky and not sweet or chocolaty enough. There are several recipes out there though, so next time I'll try a different one. My 2 and 4 year olds gobbled them up though.

On the chicken stock, I know some people will simmer it on their stove top all day, then just turn it off and place a lid on it over night, and bring it back to a boil in the morning and then simmer the rest of the day. I would think bringing it back to a boil would kill off anything that might be worrysome. Also, I usually can my chicken stock in the pressure canner when I'm done, so I'm pretty sure there are no germies by the time I'm done with that.

[Katico]

Originally Posted by MyLittleWarrior

I ended up doing two chicken tetrizinis. .

Recipe please?

[MyLittleWarrior]

Originally Posted by Katico

Recipe please?

Chicken Tetrazini

I didn't have any Sherry, so I left that out. It's basically noodles with chicken and mushrooms in a cream sauce with Parmesan cheese on top I had chicken in the fridge from the chickens I roasted that needed used up, so this killed two birds with one stone

[vermontmomma]

i'm desperate to figure out a way to make this th routine work better. this place is trashed and i'm so busy with freelance work and dd that i have this problem where i partially clean soomething, get called away, partially clean something else, again i'm interupted, etc etc. nothing actually gets clean and i'm exhasted.
i think i've got a plan now and it's starting to get better a little. i made a schedule with one, maybe two major chore projects per day. if sunday is fold and put away laundry day that's what i do, even if i get interupted a million times i just go back and keep cracking at it. i also put fun chores like a bread day and a walk day and such on it to make it bearable. so since friday is vacuum day i know saturday is yoga day because the floor will be clean and i wont get covered in cat/dog hair. so far so good! even dh got inspired and helped out a bit by picking up the kitchen with me.
if it works out i may add extra chores to each day but i don't want to get overwhelmed again.

[vermontmomma]

Originally Posted by MyLittleWarrior

I ended up doing two chicken tetrizinis. One for us, one for them. It's easy when you can just make a double batch of something so you have an extra. Recipe review on the brownies: they came out kinda dry and chalky and not sweet or chocolaty enough. There are several recipes out there though, so next time I'll try a different one. My 2 and 4 year olds gobbled them up though.

On the chicken stock, I know some people will simmer it on their stove top all day, then just turn it off and place a lid on it over night, and bring it back to a boil in the morning and then simmer the rest of the day. I would think bringing it back to a boil would kill off anything that might be worrysome. Also, I usually can my chicken stock in the pressure canner when I'm done, so I'm pretty sure there are no germies by the time I'm done with that.

this is how we make our stocks, works great!

[1jooj]

OMG vermontmama I have the same issues. I don't know whether it's that I am disorganized or that the household is just too complicated, but I will, for example, go out with a bucket of chicken scraps, feed the chickens, notice the emus or a goat needs something, see red tomatoes and pick them, then return to the house without my dirty chicken scrap bucket to a full sink of dishes, then remember I need to hang laundry for it to dry before nightfall, so I hang laundry, see the mailman came, get the mail, and go back in...to cold dishwater.

I'm not ADHD. I just need to figure out an intuitive flow from job to job.

Today, dh is home so I have yet to complete a household task. We had some admin stuff to do, and then I went for a run. My plans for the afternoon are to pick produce, clean the kitchen and can tomatoes. Keeping it small. Dehydrator needs to be reloaded too, probably mint.

[artparent]

i run into those issues too, whenever i am adding extra to my routine, things tend to fall apart, i work out the bugs, things change again. and small children will turn everything on its head, of course! your new routine sounds reasonable, if you can follow it. i found it hard to do that at first. i was finding that dealing with one room for every weekday and the garden on weekends (though i might end up doing stuff anywhere as well...but that was the minimum) helped me make things increasingly better, at best, and just reset to livable, at worst. also in the winter i haven't got the garden to do much in, but we also make bigger messes being in the house all day! i have my computer send me emailed reminders, but if i can be sure to have someone over once or twice a week that really helps me maintain things at the level where they don't fall apart.

i also planned my daily routine according to the structure of our house, so the first things to do are in the bedroom + bathroom, then go downstairs to the kitchen - etc. and the routines are also put up in all rooms. some things i try to assume i will do each day, if i make it every other day then i just forget completely. if you can connect the thought of doing something with some other regular thing, it is much easier - attach it. so i attach bedroom, where we keep our library books, to the day we visit the library - i'm in there finding them anyway.

i also have one weekly cleaning hour when things get a basic sweep + scrub.

i have begun to enjoy filling the sink, or a small pot in the sink, with hot soapy water when i begin to make a meal, so i can wash up immediately after eating.

i'm completely off most routines, being in canada, so we'll see how our new life looks when we return to the uk!

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[simplespirit]

Ahhh.... the few last post really resonate with me. I have been a 'traditional' homemaker for over 20 years and now, with only 2 kids left in at home (ages 13 and 17) I am coming up against all new challenges.

Last night, after working 12 hours... I come home to nasty dishes in the sink, crumbs and grease all over the counters and the excuse? "we couldn't put dirty dishes in the dishwasher because it was full of clean dishes..."



Now, after raising babies to toddlers to kids to teens... with 2 fully grown and living adult lives... the last two decide to back slide and become helpless? I don't think so!

I will not be 'punsihed' for needing to work instead of tending to the house 24/7. I would love to stay home but at this point; it just isn't possible.

[greenmamapagan]

Originally Posted by 1jooj

OMG vermontmama I have the same issues. I don't know whether it's that I am disorganized or that the household is just too complicated, but I will, for example, go out with a bucket of chicken scraps, feed the chickens, notice the emus or a goat needs something, see red tomatoes and pick them, then return to the house without my dirty chicken scrap bucket to a full sink of dishes, then remember I need to hang laundry for it to dry before nightfall, so I hang laundry, see the mailman came, get the mail, and go back in...to cold dishwater.

I'm not ADHD. I just need to figure out an intuitive flow from job to job.

Oh Mama, you just described my life! Thankyou for letting me know I am not the only one
and, you have Emus?!

[1jooj]

Originally Posted by greenmamapagan

Oh Mama, you just described my life! Thankyou for letting me know I am not the only one
and, you have Emus?!

I know, right?! Then, yesterday while I was picking tomatoes, some company rolled into the driveway, which took half an hour of my time...then a load of hay rolled in, so forget tomatoes. I cooked up dinner, we ate and then went back out and unloaded the hay in the dark (which was good because it rained overnight). Then I read with ds until bedtime. Now I have a kitchen to clean, I am still behind on the tomatoes, and I need to work out before I watch my niece for my sister today.

Whatever. I'll grow into this.

And as for the emus, I'd just as soon not have them...but we have them. I think I will sell their eggs this winter and only hatch a few.

So. Today, I will load the dehydrator again, can some @$!%ing tomatoes, roast a chicken and call that success. Guess I better get moving.

[Dr.Worm]

Hi guys, I am just lurking on here...still reading the very first thread about this. I am sooo inspired by all of you. I am really sad because I don't know where to start. I want to become a good homemaker and I am failing so bad. I have Depression so just to get through the day is hard. But last night I found out my nine-year-old is doing cooking and cleaning with her grandma and it made me so sad. Don't get me wrong....I want her to but I am afraid she will not have many memories of doing cooking and things with me. I mean we do things like bake cookies once in a while and last night she helped make eggs but I am nowhere near where I want to be. I am so ashamed. I tried flylady but she annoys me and I can't do her emails cause I don't have a computer at home. Please...can anyone recommend a book and/or website that will help me? I really want to change and I don't know where to start. Thanks so much!!!

[simplespirit]

Originally Posted by Dr.Worm

Hi guys, I am just lurking on here...still reading the very first thread about this. I am sooo inspired by all of you. I am really sad because I don't know where to start. I want to become a good homemaker and I am failing so bad. I have Depression so just to get through the day is hard. But last night I found out my nine-year-old is doing cooking and cleaning with her grandma and it made me so sad. Don't get me wrong....I want her to but I am afraid she will not have many memories of doing cooking and things with me. I mean we do things like bake cookies once in a while and last night she helped make eggs but I am nowhere near where I want to be. I am so ashamed. I tried flylady but she annoys me and I can't do her emails cause I don't have a computer at home. Please...can anyone recommend a book and/or website that will help me? I really want to change and I don't know where to start. Thanks so much!!!

first... I offer a big because I completely understand where your coming from; I have suffered from clinical depression on and off all of my life. Sometimes, it's under control with meds and 'tools' I have gained over the years of therapy and then there other periods of my life when my depression engulfs me and I end up in bed, not brushing my teeth and staring into the darkness.

I can't stress enough that shame will only hurt you; try your best to release it so you can move forward. The Flylady is a bit much even for the most upbeat homemakers (imo) and programs like flylady can actually hurt someone who is in an already vulnerable spot.

I wish I had a book or website to point out for you but really... I don't know of anything that has helped me other than trying to hold onto myself first and allowing everything to fall into place later. Seriously, there will be dirty dishes everyday for the rest of your life. I was just whining (a few post back) about dirty dishes and yes; it makes me but in the log run- I know that my kids are hurt far less by dust than by their mom hiding in her room with the drapes closed.

I don't think this reply was very helpful to your actual question but I wanted to offer some support because sister, I have been there/done that.

Blessed Be

[Dr.Worm]

Originally Posted by simplespirit

first... I offer a big because I completely understand where your coming from; I have suffered from clinical depression on and off all of my life. Sometimes, it's under control with meds and 'tools' I have gained over the years of therapy and then there other periods of my life when my depression engulfs me and I end up in bed, not brushing my teeth and staring into the darkness.

I can't stress enough that shame will only hurt you; try your best to release it so you can move forward. The Flylady is a bit much even for the most upbeat homemakers (imo) and programs like flylady can actually hurt someone who is in an already vulnerable spot.

I wish I had a book or website to point out for you but really... I don't know of anything that has helped me other than trying to hold onto myself first and allowing everything to fall into place later. Seriously, there will be dirty dishes everyday for the rest of your life. I was just whining (a few post back) about dirty dishes and yes; it makes me but in the log run- I know that my kids are hurt far less by dust than by their mom hiding in her room with the drapes closed.

I don't think this reply was very helpful to your actual question but I wanted to offer some support because sister, I have been there/done that.

Blessed Be

simplespirit,

It was INCREDIBLY helpful because you shared with me your story and made me see I'm not alone. I was just getting so down on myself because everyone is doing these wonderfully creative things and I can barely keep my house clean. I have a lot of guilt too because I am separated from dd's father and my mom lives with us and I want to make their lives easier and happier.

Thanks for what you said about flylady...I thought it was just me but good to know she is hard for others too. She means well but she is overwhelming.

Yes, I am trying so hard to be a patient mother and really be there for my dd. Like when she talks to me about things that happen at school I really try to make the effort to really focus on HER and not all the billions of other things that are on my mind. But last night I was telling her how I need to let her do more things cause she is big and I need to get better at cooking and cleaning and she said not to put myself down..she is such an incredible kid and all the more reason why I feel guilty. Sigh. And this year she told me she wants me to be a party parent at her school. I am nervous about that cause I feel like I dont fit in with the PTA people but she asked so I am doing it.

Thank you again...you have no idea how much your post meant to me. And thank you so much for the hug, I really needed that.

[Dr.Worm]

Sorry to keep hijacking this thread but I also feel so guilty that I haven't taught her much and it's too late. I mean for goodness sake...she is only 9!! LOL I guess there's still hope huh?

[artparent]

(((dr.worm!))) i sometimes struggle a LOT and certainly did when i wasn't feeling well, due to sleep deprivation or mild depression...i've been able to overcome a lot with creating routines and being gentle with myself. not easy. also with taking a natural vit d cod liver oil regularly and eating lots of good fat like butter and coconut oil! it sounds like you are handling a lot already. when i have support of various kinds i can do so much more. also keep in mind that lots of us here may do wonderful things you speak of - but not constantly!! or in just in bursts. things definitely do fall apart around here. my older child is almost nine, and it really is just the beginning of sewing, knitting, cooking for us...and she is very interested. i'm home with her, we homeschool, so this is *what we do* as opposed to fitting it in after all the other things, that is MUCH easier. good health and good support are critical, to be doing many extra things. take it easy on yourself. early in this thread i posted my routines, keep reading and you'll find that and others. you may be amazed at what you can do if you just take flylady's advice of creating a very abbreviated routine for yourself, doing that for a few weeks, and s l o w l y adding things to it. i used to live in pure chaos - passports stacked between papers that were clearly garbage, huge piles of clean and dirty mixed up on the floor in the bedroom, piles of dishes in the sink and the counters, nothing in the fridge and had to order pizza, financial chaos, no wonder i couldn't get out of bed!! it is a fine line at first, but once you start to get rituals established, it gives you more energy.
try to use this thread to inspire rather than to criticize. it is full of ideas and i think we are all aspiring, that certainly doesn't mean success all of the time. for example right now i am spending a ton of time reading about all of this, but very, very little time actually doing. i finished knitting something yesterday, had a visit with friends and then family, and read a huge amount. i certainly didn't sit down and teach my children anything aside from a conversation we had about heating houses, caring for the earth, and other ways we could keep warm - so we all went and put on sweaters! that was lovely! took 5 minutes! but they played hard with lots of people. when i'm back in london i won't have all of that, no doubt i will be tired!
enjoy your mother's participation! i wish i still had my grandmother. it is contributing if you can give your mother the time to be with your daughter, and you can even suggest passing on any other skills she might have, or learning together.
take it easy on yourself. joyful inspiration will give you more energy than punitive demanding.
here's what gets me out of bed, when i cannot seem to. i am very visual, so i vividly picture the kitchen the way i'd like it cleaned up, then either put on some music, the timer, or phone a friend on my cordless phone, and get down to making that image reality. usually what i think will take 4 hours takes only 1/2 an hour. or less.

i hope something here is useful to you.

today is the day to go digging in the crawlspace for the canner, and see if i can bring it with me to england

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[artparent]

my tomatoes finally were delivered! so i can can something for the first time!

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